Sometimes you go out to dinner expecting a repeat performance of a restaurant you’ve enjoyed before, and instead you leave wondering if you accidentally visited its less-impressive twin. And sometimes, a little gelato helps turn the evening around!
Welcome to this week’s Foodie Friday, where Mom and I went looking for a good dinner, found a few disappointments, and discovered a sweet little stop that helped salvage the night.
🐟 Lure Fish House: When Expectations Meet Reality
Mom and I were trying to decide where to go for dinner. Chinese? Nope. Italian? Nope. I suggested Lure Fish House because I’d been there before and remembered being genuinely impressed with it.
I was looking forward to going back. Unfortunately, my original plan hit a snag when I discovered they were out of trout. So I went with the sole almondine instead.
And, well… this time around, Lure just didn’t have the same sparkle.
The presentation wasn’t particularly appealing, and the fish looked a little greasy and sad. The preparation seemed to involve enough butter to start a small dairy operation. I like butter as much as the next person, but I don’t necessarily want my dinner to look like it needs an oil-change appointment.
The potato cake wasn’t much more exciting. It was essentially mashed potatoes mixed with red peppers, formed into a cake, and pan-fried on the top and bottom. It sounded promising enough, but the result was greasy and underwhelming.
Then there was the pineapple coleslaw.
Mom had talked it up as great coleslaw, and while the pineapple itself was tasty, the slaw didn’t do much for me. It needed more flavor and personality. It wasn’t terrible; it just wasn’t the memorable side dish I’d been led to expect.
Now, here’s where I have to be fair: Andrew ate my leftover fish and potato cake later, without hearing my review first, and he actually liked both of them!
So perhaps it was a matter of taste. Perhaps the kitchen was having an off night. Or perhaps my memory of my previous visit had set the bar a little too high.
I know I enjoyed Lure before, so I’m not going to pretend one disappointing dinner erases that experience. But this visit? It didn’t live up to my expectations.
My verdict:
Not a disaster, but definitely a disappointment compared with my previous visit. I’ll give credit where it’s due, though—Andrew was perfectly happy with the leftovers!
🍨 Luna Gelateria & Caffetteria: A Sweet Little Detour
Fortunately, dinner wasn’t the end of our evening.
Right there in the same parking lot, we found Luna Gelateria & Caffetteria. And because dessert is always a potential opportunity for redemption, I decided we should investigate.
I ordered a medium cup split between two flavors: pumpkin gelato and cinnamon roll gelato.
Now we’re talking about some fall flavor goodness!
Both flavors were tasty, and I enjoyed getting to try two different options. Pumpkin and cinnamon roll made a lovely seasonal combination. It was the kind of dessert that reminds you there are still good things happening in the world, even when your dinner plate has disappointed you.
But… we need to talk about the portion.
Eight dollars.
For my itty-bitty, itsy-tiny cup of gelato.
Listen, I understand that gelato isn’t the same as buying a giant tub of ice cream at the grocery store. I understand that small specialty shops have expenses. And I am absolutely willing to pay for a delicious treat.
But for $8, I wanted a little more gelato to love.
Earlier in the week, I had visited Brooker’s Founding Flavors and gotten four scoops with toppings for $13. That comparison was still fresh in my mind, so Luna’s portion felt especially tiny.
Was the gelato good? Yes!
Was I thrilled with the amount I received for the price? Not particularly.
My verdict: Delicious flavors and a fun little dessert stop, but the portion-to-price ratio left me wanting more. Literally.
⭐ The Foodie Friday Scorecard
Lure Fish House
– The good: I’ve enjoyed it on a previous visit, and Andrew liked the leftovers from this one.
– The not-so-good: My sole almondine and potato cake seemed greasy, and the pineapple coleslaw lacked the flavor I expected.
– Would I go back? I’m not ready to write it off, but this visit didn’t impress me the way the last one did.
For the record, whatever fish my mom ordered looked amazing. She got the same potatoes and coleslaw and she wasn’t impressed with the sides either.
Luna Gelateria & Caffetteria
– The good: Pumpkin and cinnamon roll gelato were both tasty, and it was a convenient dessert stop. Mom got a cherry flavor of some kind in a waffle cone. It looked fantastic!
– The not-so-good: That $8 medium cup felt awfully small.
– Would I go back? Maybe! I’d be tempted to try other flavors, but I’d keep the portion size and price in mind.
💜 The Final Scoop
Not every restaurant visit is going to be a five-star experience, and not every dessert is going to deliver the best bang for your buck.
Sometimes a restaurant you remember fondly doesn’t quite hit the same notes on your next visit. Sometimes someone else loves the very food that left you unimpressed. And sometimes the dessert is delicious but leaves you wondering if you should have ordered a second cup—or just gone back to the place where you got four scoops for $13.
That’s the thing about food reviews: they’re personal. Andrew liked my leftovers, Mom enjoyed the coleslaw more than I did, and I found myself wishing both dinner and dessert had delivered a little more.
Lure lacked its usual luster, but Luna gave us a sweet ending to the evening—even if it was a tiny one.
Because around here, wellness without perfection applies to dinner, too. And sometimes the most honest review is simply: “I’ve had better, but at least I got gelato.”
Until next Foodie Friday, may your fish be flavorful, your sides be spectacular, and your gelato cup be worth every penny!
Still counts. Always! 🍽️🍨💜
🚶♀️ A Little Incidental Exercise on the Side
And here’s a bonus for my Wellness Whiskers Silverballs wellness crew: we didn’t even have to get back in the car to go find dessert!
Luna Gelateria & Caffetteria was literally around the corner, so Mom and I got to stroll right through the parking lot to reach it. No extra driving, no complicated logistics—just a little walk to our next food destination.
Was it a long walk? Nope. Was it enough to qualify as a hiking expedition? Also nope. 😂
But those steps still count! And since I’m working on my Carrots for a Cause October walking challenge, I’ll happily take a few bonus steps wherever I can find them.
Wellness without perfection, people. Even dessert can come with a side of movement!
Still counts. Always!🚶♀️🍨💜