Fat Man Reviews

05/09/2026

On a recent Saturday night, looking for a new fine dining restaurant, the Fat Man and his wife ventured north to Georgetown to try Rodney's On Broadway.
Rodney's is a genteel bar/eatery in a restored house with an upmarket seafood & steak menu, plus outdoor seating.

For our opening course, we tried the Sea Divers Scallops. These were tandoori-rubbed and served with a sweet Thai chili sauce. The scallops had a good sear and a slight crunch, with the tandoori rub offering a mild, earthy kick and a hint of chili powder flavor. The scallop was light and melted in your mouth. The Thai chili sauce added a sweet heat combo that complemented the scallops perfectly.

We then shared the Lobster Bisque, which our server recommended. The bisque was very creamy, with a slightly thicker, velvety texture than typical bisques. It was so creamy that it almost tasted like it had cheese in it, which it did not. It had a salty, slightly paprika-spiced flavor, while the sherry added a slight nutty note. This was an excellent dish and worth the drive itself.

For my main course, I ordered the Lamb Chops. They were char-grilled with roasted garlic mint demi-glace and the Potato de jur, which is smoked Gouda au gratin. My lamb was spot-on medium-rare; however, the char was a little hard and bitter, especially on the edges. This was present in most bites. The mint sauce added a touch of sweetness and depth to the meat's flavor. The potatoes were cooked through and offered a slight chew. The Gouda was creamy and nutty, pairing well with the potatoes, though it needed a bit more seasoning.

My wife chose the Filet for her main course. She ordered it medium rare with Weisenberger white cheddar grits and green peppercorn cream sauce. Her grits were cooked well and not overdone; the cheddar was only topped on the dish and not melted into it, but it did offer a sharp bite. We both found them to be bland and in need of seasoning. The peppercorn sauce was creamy, with the onions adding texture, crunch, and a slight sweetness, while the peppercorns popped with flavor and mild heat. The steak was seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium rare; it melted in your mouth. However, the hard char on the edges added a heavy, bitter flavor to most bites.

Rodney's menu features appetizers, soups, salads, prime beef selections, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. They offer a full bar with beer and soda selections. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and will offer suggestions and advice. The Fat Man says that Rodney's on Broadway is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.

04/23/2026

The Fat Man and his wife love to travel. We recently took a trip across the pond and visited Ireland. We started in Dublin with a tour of the Guinness Brewery and an engraved pint glass, and drove around the island through the south and west. We visited Killarney, drove the Ring of Kerry, saw the coast of Di**le, and stayed in Galway. We visited castles and ruins, walked along paths, and looked out over beautiful cliffs to the sea. We drove on the opposite side of the road and met several interesting locals while enjoying a beautiful, green, lush, and old country. It is a beautiful island with lovely people and views. But what about the food? You know the Fat Man is going to find some good food joints.

We ate at several places that had some great food. We started in Dublin with a full Irish breakfast, complete with black and white pudding, both of which are delicious. In Kerry, we enjoyed vegetable soup, which was basically the soup of the week everywhere, and a delicious lamb shank, complemented with mashed potatoes. In Di**le, we had a great sampling of Fish & Chips. Ballyseede Castle offered a delicious Apple Tart to finish off a great meal. After leaving the Cliffs of Moher, we swung by Doolin to sample an amazing Guinness Stew and Chicken Fillet(Fill It) sandwich at Gus O'Connor's. In Galway, we ate a great pizza at Dough Boys, ranked #15 in the world. We sampled food in a lot of different food places, but these were at the top of the list. The Irish love their snacks, especially Tayto chips, but I found my favorite to be O'Donnell's Relish & Cheddar crisps.

Ireland is a great place full of awesome people and loads of food, especially in pubs and petrol stations. If you are thinking about going, then you absolutely should. Take it from the Fat Man that the Emerald Isle is absolutely worth the price, the flight, and learning to drive on the other side of the road. Anthony Bourdain once said, “It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.”Eat well, my friends.

04/18/2026

Not one of my usual posts, but this is a great Richmond restaurant that could use some support. A fire burnt their place down, so they made shirts to make light of it. I can't wait until their new spot opens so I can give you guys the review that they deserve. Support local. Eat well, my friends.

SORRY FOR THE LONG POST.

We are beyond appreciative of the generosity of First Gear for these awesome shirts! So many people have reached out wanting to help, and these shirts are absolutely amazing. We love them and we hope you will too. We can’t wait to see them all over Richmond.
We also want to be transparent. Yes, we do have insurance on our building, and our agent is working diligently with us to move everything forward. However, we did not estimate our assets as well as we should have, and as the saying goes, “when it rains, it pours.” Our family has been facing a few unexpected obstacles other than the fire, but we know we will get through them with the help of our Lord and Savior.
This temporary closure has given us time to address those challenges, but it obviously has put a strain on us.
Because of that, we are incredibly appreciative of any extra love and support from the community that we were initially hesitant to receive. We are deeply grateful for every single person who has reached out. Our family is blessed to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
We had a group of people asking to do a fundraiser that will be happening soon, and we will share details as soon as everything is finalized and we know their plans.
For those who have asked how they can support us directly, we do offer gift certificates for purchase on our website. Every bit of support helps our family and our business as we work through this season and prepare to reopen stronger than ever.
Thank you, Richmond, for loving us, lifting us, and standing with us. Your support means more than you will ever know.

UPDATE ON PROGRESS.
We’re making steady progress. The building is almost completely cleared out, and the tear‑out phase has officially begun. It’s a full gut job, but our goal is to start rebuilding as soon as possible.
We do have to bring in an engineer to evaluate the steel beams and determine the proper repair method, but once that step is complete, we pray things will move forward much more quickly.

https://first-gear.printavo.com/merch/straight-from-texas-online?fbclid=IwdGRjcARNEyZjbGNrBE0TDmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHqYQ_sd-fSUoa8rHzm9_p3-ib2ymBw4rmSzUh0EIzF_eAHbXbIpD8quaJnvG_aem_pq0-AHk5w9h3laEzUcFwwA

04/04/2026

In the area that I live in, there is no shortage of Mexican food. We have several restaurants, grocery stores, and food trucks. The Paradox of Choice isn’t a bad thing to have if you have several good restaurants. On a recent adventure, we tried Viva Mexico Mexican Cuisine in Richmond, KY.

To talk about a Mexican restaurant, the first order of business is Chips and Salsa; we also added Queso. The chips were fresh and had a good corn flavor. The salsa was thick, with a really nice tomato flavor and a sweet lime finish. The Queso had a mild spice and was thick, with a great ooey-gooey texture.

My wife had the Steak Fajitas. Her steak had really good seasoning and a good, tender chew. The grilled onions and green peppers were the stars of the show, offering good crunch and texture with each bite while also adding a nice sweet flavor. The refried beans were 100% not from a can and had a really nice, smooth, creamy texture and good seasoning. The flour tortillas were homemade, fresh, and slightly chewy.

I tried the Tamales Platter. My rice was cooked well and had a nice, subtle flavor. The guacamole had a really nice flavor, good chunks, but could have used some salt. The tamale masa was light, not super thick, and had a nice salty corn flavor. The chicken, however, was dry and lacked seasoning and flavor.

I also sampled their Steak and Chicken Taco, both on crispy tacos. They were both served with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. The taco shell was fresh and crunchy, the vegetables were fresh, the cheese was salty, and the steak was tender and had some really good flavor. The chicken was moist and tender, with a really lovely, subtle flavor, enhanced by the green pepper.

Viva Mexico has a very large menu with loads of Mexican dishes, including tamales, fajitas, house specials, tacos, seafood, and enchiladas. They have a full bar and also serve beer and Coke products. Viva Mexico has three locations, one in Richmond and two in Lexington. The Fat Man says that Viva Mexico Mexican Cuisine is Fat Man Approved with 1 chin.

03/05/2026

When the wife said that she wanted the Fat Man to take her for a nice dinner, he had several places in mind. We looked at several menus and eventually decided on The Obstinate Sons in Lexington’s Chevy Chase area. The Obstinate Sons is known for its Southern comfort food with a fusion twist, extensive bourbon selection, and craft cocktails in a cozy, stylish setting.

We decided to try a couple of appetizers, starting with the Maryland Crab Cakes, which were pan-seared with roasted heirloom tomatoes, apple cider vinaigrette-tossed arugula, and whole-grain mustard aioli. The sear on the cake was perfect. Inside the crab cake was a proper amount of crab and cake, making for a great bite, texture, and taste. The crab was meaty, tender, fresh, buttery, and delicate. The mustard aioli cut through the cake like a surgeon, giving each bite a nice tang. The salad is a nice side with the cake, and the apple cider really complements the arugula.

Next up were the Roasted Oysters. These were made with a Herb lemon Parmesan panko crust, mozzarella, Parmesan, and roasted red peppers. The oyster was cooked perfectly; it had a slight chew and had tremendous flavor. The crust had a nice crunch, the peppers added texture, and the lemon really comes through from start to finish. The Mozzarella and Parmesan give the dish a little nutty, salty flavor that pairs well with the oyster.

Next, I tried the French Onion Soup. This was prepared with caramelized sweet onions, a port wine reduction, gruyere cheese, and Parmesan toast. The cheese was melted to a great ooey gooey texture and had an amazing cheese pull. The onions were caramelized perfectly. The port wine reduction, along with the onions, makes the dish sweet rather than its traditional savory flavor. The toast adds a mushy texture to the dish while helping to combine all the flavors.

My wife tried the Andouille Sausage and Chicken gumbo with dirty rice made with corn, okra, green onions, and bay leaves. The rice was cooked perfectly, with good flavor, a puffy mouthfeel, and slight heat. The broth was layered with flavor, had a velvety texture, and a great spice level that lingers at the back of the tongue. The chicken and sausage were both tender and flavorful, giving the soup body and chew. The okra and corn went well in the dish, although my wife still found the okra a little slimy.

We split the Prime Pork Chop, a 10-oz boneless center-cut sauteed over creamy portobello risotto with sauteed spinach, roasted garlic, and Dijon cream. The chop was seasoned and cooked perfectly. It had a great salt level and almost melted in your mouth. The risotto had great mushroom flavor, and the sauce had an awesome creamy texture. The risotto was slightly overcooked, but it still tasted extremely good. The sauteed spinach was cooked down to a nice, wilted texture; however, I found it a little salty. The Mac and cheese were maybe the only miss, but not by much. The amount of cheese was perfect, and it had great flavor. The noodles were overcooked and mushy, and the cheese sauce had broken, leaving the dish grainy. That being said, it was still not the worst I had ever had.

The Obstinate Sons offers appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, and seasonal specials. They have a full bar offering handmade cocktails, beer, and wine. The service was really good, and everything came out perfectly timed. The Fat Man says that The Obstinate Sons is Fat Man Approved with 3 chins.

02/13/2026

My buddy Grizz let me know that there was a new burger joint in Wi******er that we needed to check out. So we met at The Urban Stack & Co with his boys to give it a go. Urban Stack meticulously curates the freshest ingredients to ensure every menu item meets its high standards of quality and taste.

I ordered the Classic Smash Burger, double, which came with American cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and Urban Sauce. The bun was fresh and soft, out of a bag. The veggies were fresh, crispy, and offered texture to the burger. The cheese was melted well and added that salty ooey gooeyness that you love from American cheese. The patties were smashed well, with crisp edges and a good salty seasoning. The beef flavor is present throughout every bite. The urban sauce, similar to Thousand Island dressing, was lightly slathered on the burger; it added a little sweetness to cut through the salt of the cheese and the burger.

I also tried the Monster Fries made with sautéed onions, cheese sauce, and urban sauce. The fries were shoestring style, like McDonald's. They were a little undercooked for my tastes, but they did have good seasoning and flavor. The sautéed onions were caramelized with great flavor and a little crunch. The cheese melted well, adding another level of taste and saltiness to the fries. The urban sauce, again, added sweetness to the fries and cut through the saltiness.

Urban Stack offers several burgers on its menu with various toppings, or you can order them however you like. They also have chicken sandwiches, onion rings, and several appetizers. They offer fountain Pepsi products, shakes, and various canned sodas. The Fat Man says that The Urban Stack & Co. is Fat Man Approved with 1 chin.

01/31/2026

I had been hearing some buzz about a burger joint in Lexington, and we decided to head out and give it a try. Son of a Burger, S.O.B., is known for its creative, loaded burgers, including the "Cowboy SOB" with BBQ sauce and onion rings and the "Hangover SOB" with a fried egg and bacon.

I ordered the S.O.B. Deluxe double with fries. My wife had the same burger, but as a single. The fries were out of a bag, but they were cooked perfectly and seasoned extremely well. They are served with S.O.B. sauce, a typical fry sauce made with ketchup, mayo, and a few spices. They had a great crispy crunch and were pillowy on the inside. The bun was fresh, a typical hamburger bun out of a bag. The veggies were fresh and crispy, but they were a little thin to hold up to the burger. The pickles are sweet pickles instead of dill, giving them a unique taste with a burger. The cheese melted well and was added to the burger, giving it some much-needed salt. The two 1/4lb burgers were smashed well and had a good crust. The beef flavor was pleasant, but it was light on seasoning for my taste. The S.O.B. sauce added a little extra sweetness to the burger, but it could have used more to amp up the beef's flavor.

Son of a Burger offers a small menu featuring 10 burgers with loads of toppings, including a vegetarian black bean burger. They have a couple of appetizers, and the sides are classic burger fare: fries, onion rings, or slaw. They offer water and sodas, but there is a full bar in the same space if you would like beer or other alcohol. The Fat Man says that Son of a Burger is Fat Man Approved with 1 chin.

01/25/2026

After passing it many times, curiosity led the Fat Man and his wife to Mama Devechio’s Pizzeria in downtown Stanford, Kentucky, known for its Neapolitan-style, stone-fired pizzas made with local ingredients.

We decided to try a couple of different pies to see what this place had to offer. We started with The Kentuscany. This pizza was made with smoked pork, goat cheese, sweet red onions, and bourbon sorghum reduction. The crust had a great chew, texture, and crunch. There is a great buttery, salty flavor that melts in your mouth. The pork was dry but had good taste and some smoky notes. The red onion adds crunch, while the goat cheese has an incredible salty creaminess that the sorghum reduction mellows out and cuts through with its sweetness.

The next pizza we sampled was a Cheese pizza with pepperoni, beef, and banana peppers. Once again, the crust was phenomenal with a great crunch, buttery flavor, and chew. The cup pepperoni was mild in spice with good beef flavor. The beef had a good, mellow taste, but it was dry and overcooked. The banana peppers add a great acid from the vinegar, but the cheese didn't have the melty, ooey-gooey stretch that pizza should have, almost like the cheese was out of a bag.

Mama's also offers a Savor Flight of their sauces or dips. We tried the Marinara, Tuscany Ranch, Calabrian Chili Ceaser, and Pesto. The ranch was very thick, fresh, and dill-forward, with a cooling balance and a hint of salt. This was some of the best homemade ranch that I have ever had. The chili was salty, with a lot of heat on the backend, and the Parmesan cheese added texture. The marinara was thick and chunky, with delicious tomato flavor. The pesto was vibrant green, chunky, fresh, and had great flavor and texture from the pine nuts. However, all of the sauces were served cold. The ranch and Calabrian Chili were fine that way, but the marinara and pesto should have been served warm.

Mama’s features a small menu of pizzas, salads, sandwiches, breadsticks, and desserts, plus a full bar with beer and wine. The Fat Man says that Mama Devechio’s Pizzeria is Fat Man Approved with 1 chin.

01/14/2026

I’ll be honest, I’m not much of a sweets or dessert person. I like what I like, but I usually don’t order or go looking for sweets outside of holiday candies or my birthday. The Fat Man’s wife, on the other hand, has a bit of a sweet tooth. So, when she says, ‘Let’s find dessert,’ that’s what we did. We were in Louisville and headed over to Pinnamel Sweets to see what they had to offer. Pinnamel Sweets is a modern patisserie in Louisville, Kentucky, known for its artistic and innovative pastries, cakes, and Cuban-style treats.

We ordered a few different options, including the Blue Lemon Tart. The blueberry flavor in the blueberry sauce and mousse was very pronounced, and the lemon came through in the background, complemented by a delicious lemon curd. It was sweet but not overly sweet, allowing for the savoring of all the flavors at once. The lemon cake was dry, but it had a good taste. The crust was dehydrated and stiff to cut through, but it had a good flavor and mouth feel.

We sampled the Green Apple. The apple flavor of the filling was slightly tart, with a good cinnamon flavor, while the vanilla bean mousse is light and fluffy, with a good texture and taste that is not overly sweet. The green Jell-O top is vibrant and beautiful, with a unique texture and an apple flavor.

We also had a Chococaramel Éclair. The caramel was really flavorful and thick, with an excellent mouthfeel. The chocolate mousse was light and had a subtle chocolate flavor. The eclair is slightly bitter, with an enjoyable crunch from the crackling, while the filling has a pudding-like texture and good chocolate flavor.

Pinnamel specializes in French-inspired pastries with a tropical flair, as well as coffee and catering. They offer a variety of desserts, including eclairs, unique cream puffs, macarons, and cakes, with some gluten-free options available. The Fat Man says that Pinnamel Sweets is Fat Man Approved with 2 chin. (Extra pictures to show off their creations)

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone who follows my reviews. I appreciate all of you and hope that this is the best holiday yet. Eat well, my friends.

12/16/2025

Sometimes, while visiting towns, you have to ask a local where to eat. Some suggestions work out, and others don’t. Well, my buddy, Karl, had a pretty good suggestion for a recent trip to Louisville. My wife and I stopped by Yummy Polo to give it a try. Yummy Polo is a Peruvian-style charcoal-fired rotisserie chicken, slowly char-broiled and paired with southern-style mouthwatering sides—big flavors, big servings, designed to hit anyone’s spot.

I had the Half dark chicken with cilantro rice and chickpeas. The rice was cooked well, buttery, and had a hint of salt. I wasn’t getting much cilantro flavor, but it was still tasty. The chickpeas were tender but still had a nice chew to them; the sauce they were cooked in had some subtle heat on the back end, and the dish needed a little salt. The chicken was very tender and juicy, and it was a good-sized portion. The skin was the star of the show; it was crispy and popped from the salt and spices. My wife and I both agreed that we could eat just a plate of the skin by itself.

My wife tried the Half white chicken with chicken fried rice and green beans. The rice was cooked well and had a good flavor, but this dish tasted as if it had been sitting out for a while. The green beans were cooked perfectly, neither mushy nor overcooked, and they had a mild yet pleasant flavor, with a hint of sweetness on the finish, which was unexpected but not unwelcome. The chicken is where it was—tender, salty, juicy, and packed with flavor. Again, the skin was the star of the show and the money.

Each dish was served with a green sauce and a mayo sauce. The green sauce was likely cilantro-based, adding a hint of heat to the dish, while the mayo sauce was creamy and sweet. The real trick was to mix them, which offered the best of both worlds and made a fantastic bite. The flavors, juiciness of the chicken, the crunch of the skin, and those sauces, that is the stuff dreams are made of.

Yummy Polo offers their chickens in quarter, half, or whole portions. They have several sides, most of which are in a southern style. They offer a selection of desserts and various bread options. The restaurant is small; if there is a line, it’s worth the wait. They also offer several varieties of soda and teas from a cooler or a Pepsi fountain machine. The Fat Man says that Yummy Polo is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.