Boathouse Pub in Kenosha

4917 7th Ave
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262)654-9922
website

We stayed at the Best Western on the harbor and the Boathouse Pub is just down the street from there so we chose this location to eat at while in town. Don't quote me on this, but it looked like they even had boat parking on the lake (and after checking their website, they do offer this!).
You have two choices for where to sit: inside or outside. We chose to sit outside because it was such a beautiful day and as long as the weather is good, I definitely recommend sitting out there.
Our waitress was so friendly. She was so nice to my son and very patient with him while he tried to decide what he wanted for dinner. He ended up having chicken strips, fries, and an apple juice. I had a taste and it was pretty good. I would say the kids menu is pretty on par with most kids menus that we're used to.
I chose to start off with a side salad. It came out nice and fast so that was good. I got the Barge Buster which is a ½ pound burger grilled and topped with cheddar, pepper, and swiss cheese, crispy onion strings, bacon and BBQ sauce and served on a toasted bun. It was seriously delicious. And huge. I only ended up eating about ½ of it. It came with fries, which were very good. Now, if you're the drinking type, I would suggest looking at their huge selection of Long Island Iced Teas. First of all, the list is huge. Second, they all look amazing. I only had the chance to try one of them and it was fantastic. I tried the Tidal Wave which has Blue Curacao and 7-UP in it. And these aren't small either. It's a large 32 oz.
The full menu is available online so check it out ahead of time.

WWoHP: The Three Broomsticks

located in Hogsmeade

Our family got a chicken platter with half a roasted chicken, corn on the cob and potatoes and a kid's fish and chips with fish, fries, and grapes and a frozen Butterbeer (the best drink ever – kind of like a mild cream soda infused with butterscotch in slushie form). We all shared everything. The chicken was tender. Everything was so delicious. I was full by the end. The portions are fairly large and you won't want to carry around leftovers so (especially if you want to save some money) I suggest sharing meals. We only ended up ordering 2 meals (an adult meal and a child's meal) for 3 people (2 adults and 5-year-old). It worked for us. If you're going to be at the WWoHP, you need to stop here and eat. If you come during normal lunch hours (or dinner hours, I assume) then you will wait in line to get in.

Once you get into the building, you will wait in another line inside (where the building is air conditioned, thankfully). While in this line, you will get the chance to look at sample plates of items on the menu, helping you decide what you want before you even get up to the counter.
Then, you will be told which line to go to for someone to take your order. Whichever line you were told to go in is then the line you will wait in to receive your food once it is ready.
Then when you are ready to sit, there will be a woman that will show you to your table. That means you don't have to find your own seat. I think this is a wonderful concept.

WWoHP: The Leaky Cauldron

located in Diagon Alley

Our family went in for a mid-morning (10am) snack. We decided to just split the American breakfast and get a cold Butterbeer (amazing!). It came with bacon, eggs, sausage, potatoes, and a croissant. It was amazing. It was filling and exactly what we needed. The atmosphere is great. And the servers were very friendly and joked with my husband that he looked like Hagrid's cousin. (He's a hairy guy with a beard and mustache.) Overall, it was a great time.

Orlando, FL: Mel's Drive-In in Universal Studios

We had chicken strips and fries, a kids mac n cheese with grapes and carrots, a root beer float, and a milkshake. Everything was really good. The atmosphere was pretty cool too. We loved looking at all the cars outside. Eat here! It's a great break. There is indoor seating and outdoor seating.

Orlando, FL: Golden Corral

Golden Corral
5535 Kirkman Rd
Orlando, FL
(407) 447-1032

Our son is notorious for going places and then not eating. Well, good old Golden Corral had tons of choices and he ate an entire plate full. They had cotton candy for dessert. Everything was delicious. If our picky family can find things to eat, anyone can. And the price was good too. The biggest downside to this place are the people that work there. They seem to be quite trashy and very loud, which is not the greatest when you have a small child with you.

Fort Lauderdale: Duffy's Take Out

We searched online for someplace to get take-out because we just really weren't in the mood to go to dinner. We found Duffy's and decided to give it a try. I got Maryland crab cakes with a house salad with ranch and a baked potato. My husband got Caribbean jerk chicken with coleslaw and french fries plus a bowl of lobster bisque. Our son got thin spaghetti with marinara sauce with french fries and mandarin oranges plus chocolate milk.

When my husband went to go get it, thy kept forgetting things. First, they forgot our son's oranges. Then, they forgot his chocolate milk. Then, after my husband came all the way back to our hotel, he realized they forgot my salad. So he graciously went back to the restaurant to get it. Thankfully, the food was quite delicious.

I would have given this place a 5/5 because the food was absolutely delicious. However, since they couldn't get their act together, I can only give them a 3/5. I really hope their service inside is much better than their take-out service.

Fort Lauderdale: Rainforest Cafe in Saw Grass Mills

We decided to go here since we were already at Saw Grass Mills for the day. It's very touristy, but our son LOVED it. We sat right next to the tigers. Our son got mac 'n' cheese and corn (which he of course ate all of). My husband and I ordered off a special menu for their 20th anniversary that had some favorites from years past. My husband had Taste of the Islands (caribbean coconut shrimp, dynamite scallops and shrimp, and blackened tilapia topped with mango salsa plus a side of Caribbean rice) and I had an Awesome Appetizer Adventure (Chimi-cha-chas, spinach and artichoke dip with tri-color tortilla chips, cheese sticks, and chicken tenders served with fresh guacamole, marinara, and coconut curry sauce). We both really enjoyed our meals. I would suggest anyone with kids going here. However, if you don't have kids that are going to be really amazed by the animals that make noises every so often and the fish tanks, it's just an ordinary restaurant.

Fort Lauderdale Vacation: Pelican Landing

We decided to go here after a little research about different restaurants in the area. Honestly, after we parked, the reataurant was a little difficult to find (across the parking lot, down the sidewalk, at the end of the pier, and up the stairs). But when we eventually did, we really enjoyed our experience. It was divided into two sections, an indoor seating area with a bar and an outdoor seating area. It was a little chilly outside (especially for Florida) but we still chose to sit outside because at sunset and after dark, the views are amazing! Pelican Landing is located right on the water.

The food was pretty good, too. The kid got a hot dog and fries. The fries were delicious! My husband got blackened swordfish and a side salad with passion fruit dressing. He thought it was awesome. I thought it was pretty good. I got Bahamian conch fritters and a side salad with ranch. The fritters were amazing. The salad was weird. It had some fruit and cashews on top. The waitress was very kind to our four-year-old son. I really appreciated that. She joked with him so he had a great time at dinner.

Overall, I would give this place a 4/5.

Fort Lauderdale Vacation: Zona Fresca

Zona Fresca
1635 North Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
(954) 566-1777

I did some research (mostly on TripAdvisor and Fodor's guide) and found some different restaurants. We landed on this one one night. We went on a Saturday night in November. I don't know if I would say they were busy, but they weren't dead.
I would describe this place as a fast food Mexican restaurant in how you order alone. The food is delicious. And the prices are good too. The burritos are pretty good. I got the original and my husband got the Siesta maker while my son got a chicken and cheese taco with rice and beans on the side and we got a quesadilla to share. Everything got chips and there's even a salsa bar. Everything was really delicious. Overall, I would give it a 4.5/5.

Fort Lauderdale Vacation: Dough Boys

Dough Boys Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
829 Southeast 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 761-7652

We ordered delivery from this place. They came earlier than expected so that was good. The pizza itself was really good. Everything else like the chicken parm and meatballs were just okay. The garlic rolls were just too garlicky for us.

Overall, I would give it a rating of 3/5.

Station 220 in Bloomington, IL

My husband and I went on a date night the weekend before Valentine's Day. We went to a movie, then Station 220 for dinner, and Eleven for drinks after dinner. It was great! And you know what the best part was? Our dinner! It was seriously AMAZING!

We made reservations. Then, when we got there, we saw that they were having a celebrity guest chef.

How exciting, right? Well, for those of us in Bloomington, it's exciting. Everyone that we saw was very professional and proper. The waiters served the women first. Everyone was dressed nicely. They were very courteous and polite. It's definitely a warm welcome in Bloomington where nice restaurants and professional employees are hard to find.

Straight from Station 220's website: “Station Two Twenty, cultivated by Epiphany Farms Enterprise, is bringing Midwestern cuisine to the global stage. Our mission is to blend socially conscious farming techniques with comfortable fine dining in order to produce something that customers not only enjoy, but also understand. We strive to create food systems that provide exceptional quality and a sustainable, regenerative future. As Central Illinois' only farm-to-fork restaurant, we are committed to creating food that glorifies the cultural heritage tying us to our community. Station Two Twenty is a place for families and foodies alike. Here, you'll find familiar ingredients, grown right in McLean County, prepared with respect and presented with excitement and flair.”

Since they get the majority of their ingredients locally, their menu changes seasonally. Since we ate in February, we had the winter menu. For starters, we had the “Anju” Roll. It has Yellowtail Amberjack, Atlantic Salmon, Korean Gim, and Fresh Vegetables. I am not a sushi fan and I thought it was absolutely delicious!

For dinner, my husband got the Seared Scallops with Classic Risotto, Spiced Foam, and “Sugar Bear” Pumpkin. I had some of his and it was good. I don't LOVE scallops so they were only okay to me. However, the risotto was pure perfection. In case you're curious about the spiced foam and pumpkin or are thinking about not getting this dish just because of these two things, don't worry about them. They are small little things on the side. They're both good, but if you don't like them, it's a not a big part of the dish.

For dinner, I got the Braised Lamb Shank with Lemon Spaetzle, Herb Salad, Mint Oil, and Semolina Crouton. It was so amazing. The lamb just fell of the bone and melted in my mouth. And it was a lot of food. These were no small portions. I was a little hesitant about the lemon spaetzle. I'd never had spaetzle before so I was excited to try it, but it was the lemon part I was unsure of. Honestly though, it was pretty good. The lemon flavor wasn't overwhelming. It was like a small taste at the end. I really enjoyed it. I didn't finish it though (I was leaving room for dessert) so our waiter boxed it up for me.

My husband had a cup of coffee after dinner while we waited for our dessert and it came with sugar cubes. Like homemade sugar cubes! (I'm not sure why that impresses me, but it does.)

Then for dessert, we had a large chocolate souffle. It came with a couple homemade marshmallows, some kind of soft peanut butter squares, raspberry sauce, vanilla sauce, chocolate sauce, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a bed of crushed peanuts. It was way too much food for us (we probably only ate half), but it was absolutely delicious! It does take a while to cook so we actually ordered this when we ordered our dinner. And I would say it's more for 4 people, if not more.

Our total was just under $100 before tip for the two of us. So for Bloomington, it is a little on the pricey side, but for how nice the restaurant, service, and food are, it's a good deal. I suppose it depends on your priorities when picking a restaurant. When I review Station 220 on TripAdvisor, I will be giving it 5 Stars. I loved it!