Slapfish (Hilton Head Island, SC)

 1024 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC

 

Slapfish is a national chain of upscale fast food fish restaurants with currently some 20 locations across the US. It has an eclectic menu, which reflects more a fish restaurant than a fast food chain, including Chowder Fries, Lobster Roll, Fish & Chips, and various salads.

 

I get the Fish & Chips, choosing two pieces rather than one ($14), which comes with home-made Tartar sauce. The two pieces of fish are lightly breaded and well fried: very good! The fries are thick and crispy, with light seasoning. The Tartar sauce is yellowish and has a bit of a citrusy taste.

 

VERDICT: 90/100

Very good fish & chips and the other, healthier options, were good too (although the salad had a lot of fries in them).

Palmetto Dunes General Store (Hilton Head Island, SC)

1 Trent Jones Ln, Hilton Head Island, SC

 

Palmetto Dunes General Store is a grocery annex tourist store in the big tourist community of Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island, they have a small buffet that serves mostly Southern (fried) food -- I took the picture when they were closed already. Their fried chicken, in particular, is famous in town — they make it at 11 AM and run out fast.

 

I get one big piece of fried chicken and two chicken thighs in hot sauce ($4.99). The fried chicken was a bit dry but the taste of both the chicken and the coating were great (bet it tastes awesome when it is freshly fried). The thighs were really meaty.

 

VERDICT: 88/100

Seems like the hype is deserved. Next summer I’ll be back, at 11 AM!

 

B & D Burgers (Pooler, GA)

238 Pooler Pkwy G, Pooler, GA 31322

 

B & D Burgers, which stands for Blake & Duncan, is a local chain of burger restaurants with currently four locations in and around Savannah. I visit the large new restaurant in a strip mall in Pooler, just outside Savannah. It serves mainly burgers, with a variety of options (beef, bison, chicken). In addition to about 10 options you can also create your own.

 

I get a Bison Burger, which comes with lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, and I add fresh jalapeños, bacon, and B&D sauce ($23.27). I order it “pink”. The patty is well-done, not medium, but juicy. Overall, the burger is big and salty. The fresh jalapeños add the kick, the B&D sauce has little taste. The fries are softer than I like but tasty (if, also, too salty).

 

VERDICT: 85/100

Good but expensive burgers. A bit too salty too.

Royal Donuts (Saarbrücken, Germany)

Dudweilerstraße 2A, 66111 Saarbrücken, Germany

 

Royal Donuts is a chain of donut shops with some 170 locations in Germany. This particular one is rather big and situated in downtown Saarbrücken. It serves only fancy (and expensive) donuts. The donuts themselves are regular size but they have big toppings.

 

I get a Chocolate-Raspberry and a Pistachio donut (both are €3.50). As they have been made a long time ago, they are a bit cold and hard. The chocolate has not much flavor but the raspberries do, including the filling in the dough. The pistachio donut has a good taste.

 

VERDICT: 82/100

Original but they look better than they taste.

Imbiss (Saarbrücken, Germany)

Berliner Promenade, 66111 Saarbrücken, Germany

 

This Imbiss does not seem to have a name and is not indicated on Google maps, but it is in the center of Saarbrücken and is one of the few places that serves food after 2 PM on a Sunday (don’t get me started). It serves various sausages, some other meats, and rolls or fries.

 

I get a Currywurst (€3.40), where you choose your type of sausage (red or white). The sauce is liquidy and warm but very original and tasty. The sausage is a bit overcooked.

 

VERDICT: 88/100

Very good Currywurst

Café Plancken (Mannheim, Germany)

O6 6, 68161 Mannheim, Germany

 

Café Planken is a large ice cream place in the shopping center of Mannheim, which is very busy on this very hot summer day. They serve some 25 flavors of Italian gelato, mostly classic ones, some vegan options too.

 

I get Hazelnut and Lemon. The flavors are really good, not too creamy, not too sweet. The hazelnut is smooth and the lemon has mint in it, making it fresh with a distinct flavor.

 

 

VERDICT: 92/100

Excellent gelato!

 

WestFood & Coffee (Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland)

 Rue Roger de Quinps 29, 1400 Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland

 

WestFood & Coffee is a new and hip US- and TexMex-type restaurant just outside of the shopping part of Yverdon-les-Bains, which does burgers and sandwiches but also nachos and chili as well as coffee.

 

I get the Large West Curry Chicken Sandwich (CHF 15.90 or ~$16.35), a long baguette with slices of spiced chicken, tomato, rucolah, and curry sauce. It tastes really fresh and tasty. 

 

I also get 5 Chicken Tenders (CHF 12 or ~$12.30), which comes with a choice of sauce. The tenders are big but thin, coated more tempura style, and a bit too dry.

 

VERDICT: 90/100

Great sandwiches in nice setting. Snacks are not all top.