What To Order (or Not) at Buddy V's Besides Dessert

Max Jacobson checks out Cake Boss Buddy Valastro's Buddy V's Ristorante at the Palazzo three times to find out if there's more to the restaurant than desserts. "Three appetizers soar: tuna caponata; charred octopus on fingerling potato, fennel and orange; and mozzarella en carozza." he says of the appetizers.

Dining with a vegetarian he found that the Margherita pizza was worth returning for, as well as Buddy's Favorite with spiced sausage, caramelized onion, fennel and four cheeses.

On the subject of dessert, he recommends the cannoli, zeppole and the lobster roll.

Al Mancini heads to the third Geisha House for his final review for Citylife. "The food itself is hit-and-miss," he says, citing the scallop ravioli with its four, tiny "ravioli" for $15 and the pork belly skewers, two for $6 during happy hour. "Geisha House has a few problems, but it also has some high points, and I know there's a lot more to discover. I hope those of you who have read this column for the past [10] years feel the same way about me." [CL]

Brock Radke says that South Point's Japanese restaurant Zenshin from Terence Fong reminds him of Yonaka. Cajun albacore with red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lemon-soy reduction being one of those dishes. "[Yonaka]'s a neighborhood place. Here at South Point, Zenshin has a tougher job making everybody happy." [LVW]

Erik Chudy found Du-par's Restaurant & Bakery at the Golden Gate, happily reporting, "They actually had more pre-designed choices of burgers in their menu than some dedicated burger joints in town which made me happy, and also gave me a tough choice." He gives the bacon and Swiss burger an 85 out of 100. [VBB]

HKR tries out Marcus Sgrizzi's Novecento in Centennial Hills, where she had a hard time finding the signs telling her where to order. She gives it an overall A-, with that same grade for the food and atmosphere and an A for the counter service. [LVRJ]