Bushwackers at Lulu's

There's really not a whole lot I care to eat at Lulu's. Mostly things are fried, and I've never walked way from a meal there feeling really happy about the food. I absolutely marvel at the summer crowds who wait for hours for a table. Sure, the place has its charms — the live music and chance to dump your kids in the sand while you get sauced — but I wouldn't wait five minutes for a table. Instead, make your way to the bar and order a Bushwacker. Lulu's version is the champagne of Bushwackers (and Florabama's is the PBR). It's thick and ice creamy and made extra special with a generous squirt of chocolate syrup and a swirl of whipped cream on top. Might as well call it dessert.

Tomato Basil Seafood Chowder at Guy Harvey's

Does anyone successfully make the leap from famous [fill in the blank here] to restaurateur? In just four months' time that Vegas restaurant that Nick Lachy and Nicky Hilton opened was pronounced a dismal failure. And remember that restaurant that a bunch of models opened? No, of course you don't. Most people should just stick to their day jobs. And that includes marine wildlife artist Guy Harvey.

Last week I had dinner at The Wharf outpost of Guy Harvey's Island Grill. And I have two words for you: Skip. It.

My date and I each had a Blue Moon and a bowl of tomato basil seafood chowder. I wasn't looking for a heavy meal, but I am always looking for a good one. Before ordering, I asked the waitress to rate the soup on a scale of 1 to 10. She gave it a 5, but assured me that people raved. I know better than to listen to "people." But I got the soup anyway.

And I was disappointed. Not thick. Not rich. Not what I would call chowdery. It was a watery tomato soup with a few little shrimps and a flake or three of crab meat. I salted it. My date crushed up three packages of saltines in his.

It was edible, so the lack of flavor really wasn't the worst of it. The value, or lack thereof, was the tipping point. It's why I won't go back to Guy Harvey's. If that was a bowl of chowder, they're serving the cup-a-soup in a demitasse. Skimpy. Skimpy. Skimpy. At $6.99 I think it came out to $1 per spoonful.

Maltese Cake at Bruno's

Let's start this puppy off with, well, a puppy! I just love these little Maltese cakes from Bruno's on 59. This guy's got his Easter bonnet on, but the baker accessorizes them for all occasions (Christmas, Mardi Gras, Fourth of July). So cute! Now granted, these are grocery store cakes and probably full of trans fat (not cute), but the fun factor can't be beat.