Aloha Chicken and Shrimp

As soon as you walk into Aloha Chicken and Shrimp, you’re greeted by the soft melodies of lofi hip-hop and an impressive Pokemon collection that you simply can’t miss out on seeing. Aloha is well-furnished, with warm and inviting interiors decorating the light, airy restaurant. Next to the entrance, if you look closely, is a framed $1 bill. Underneath is the origin story of the restaurant, how a couple stumbled upon the newly opened restaurant and sought shelter inside, and how they paid for their meal with that very same $1 bill. It’s a sweet, touching story, and really shines a light on the overall atmosphere of Aloha and the generosity of the owners. The menu features an impressive variety of Hawaiian-esque dishes and I ordered the Aloha chicken and rice option, while my friend ordered the popcorn shrimp box. I was surprised to notice that my food was being prepared in front of me, and I got to watch as my chicken was fried and served upon a steaming plate of rice. From a customer standpoint, it was entertaining and the 5-10 minute wait seemed to pass by in moments. There were also a surprising amount of drink options, namely: ramune, several types of teas, iced coffee, water, soda, and various fruit juices. The cashier told me to help myself to as much bottled water as I wanted, which I appreciated because I normally can’t stand when I have to ask for cups of water. There was also a small ice-cream corner sponsored by Churn and Bake, but I couldn’t try it because it was empty. My food arrived quickly, and was still steaming hot for several minutes afterwards. Talk about fresh! The dish also came with a side of mac salad, which is Aloha’s most famous special. It was saucy, creamy, and well-seasoned – not like one of those regular mac salads. It was personally a little too rich for me, but my friend really liked it and ordered another side for himself. As for the main dish, the chicken was perfectly cooked and tender without being dry and the rice was soft and fragrant. The popcorn shrimp box was another star, crispy and juicy even without the special seafood sauce that it came with. If you’re fixing for a spicy, savory treat, that’s the one to order. Overall, Aloha Chicken and Shrimp is definitely true to its namesake. The chicken and shrimp were top tier, so if you’re ever craving a light, refreshing meal, this is the place to go.

Food: 8/10

Price: 9/10

Vibes: 10/10

Rocco’s

Rocco’s is a quaint little Italian place where the food outshines the furnishings. Although it doesn’t look like much, the thousands of positive reviews may change your mind. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted and told to sit anywhere I pleased. We chose a spot near the TV – which we soon learned exclusively played Deal or No Deal – and browsed through the concise menu when we were pleasantly surprised by a complimentary bowl of garlic knots. None of those freezer-burned, microwavable, sad and soggy garlic knots either. The good stuff. Thick and salty, these hit a spot I didn’t even know I was craving. We then ordered our respective dishes: I chose the Pasta al Angelo, sans tomatoes, and my friend ordered the macaroni and cheese balls. The pasta came with a caesar salad, and despite hating vegetables, I absolutely loved it. The lettuce was crispy with a satisfying crunch, the vinaigrette was sweet without being overbearing, and the dressing was light enough that I felt like I wasn’t filling up on salad. Truly a top-tier salad, and I despise salads. Take it from me. As for the Pasta al Angelo, oh my god. You will never taste a better chicken alfredo, and I mean it. It required no extra cheese, no extra salt or pepper, and no extra chili flakes. It was seasoned to perfection. The chicken was juicy and didn’t have any of that distinct chicken flavor that always reminds me that I’m eating an animal, and the mushrooms were soft and chewy. The macaroni and cheese balls were hot and cheesy and the breaded exterior provided a nice contrast to the softer, warmer macaroni. We were given three large macaroni and cheese balls, and despite thinking to myself that there’s no way it would satisfy anyone, we still had one more left after we both ate our fill. The pasta was also a good portion, and I cleaned my plate without feeling stuffed, or worse, still hungry. As another bonus, I visited the bathroom and was delighted to find a physical sliding bolt lock in addition to the built-in lock on the handle. I have an irrational fear that the built-in locks don’t actually lock and some poor unsuspecting soul will walk in on me, so seeing the physical lock provided another layer of security. The waitstaff was also another amazing part of Rocco’s, as each and every person looked excited to be there and seemed genuinely happy to work there. It warmed my heart to see them look so happy, and I enjoyed my meal thoroughly. We ordered tiramisu for dessert, and although it seemed to come out straight from the freezer and was ice cold, it was delicious and we finished it in moments. If you’re looking for a quality Italian restaurant with a home-town feel and charm, Rocco’s is the place for you. 

Food: 10/10

Price: 8/10

Vibes: 4/10