Ruyi Express

In Kingman, Arizona there is a dive of a restaurant in a middle-of-nowhere town. When I first came upon this rundown building, I wondered if this was a good idea to eat here. I considered every possibility from disappointing meals to food poisoning. Luckily, neither extremes were the case. Once we entered the block of cement, I saw the interior decor was barely better than the outside. The only improvement was it looked clean and the fake plants with a wall of mirrors behind it was a nice touch. We were immediately seated and our drink orders taken by a bubbly waitress. She was very friendly, efficient, and did not rush the end of the meal. This was a nice change than many other Chinese restaurants I had been whose waiters and waitresses were keen on getting the customers in and out despite the fact that some wanted to linger. When she came back with the drinks and we told her what we wanted for food, she read back what she wrote to confirm she had everything we decided upon. Yet another nice change. Though the food was surprisingly good, there was room for improvement. The pork fried rice was not as greasy as other Chinese restaurants, and the taste was more delicious than the fatty fried rice you'll sometimes find. The chow mein was a  little bare and the noodles too starchy. The sesame chicken was flavorful, however its breading was a little dry. I was surprisingly satisfied with the restaurant and its service; definitely better than first glance. Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover.

Big Sur Oyster Bar

In South Point casino, in Las Vegas, Big Sur Oyster Bar has a happy hour of half off oysters and clams and a special on king crab legs. When I ordered the crab legs, I was very excited because crab is my favorite seafood meat. When the legs arrived on a plate, and I tasted them, I was less than unimpressed. Having been cut in half, the legs were cold and still tasted of seawater. Mostly flavorless and dry, I had to dip them in the melted butter they provided me with on my plate. As I ate, I began to understand why there was such a good deal and yet thought that $29 for  a 1.5lbs of crab meat was a bit expensive for what I got. The crab legs were a huge disappointment, while the oysters and clams had to be doused in lemon juice to ignore the gritty and dirty texture that signifies lesser shells. The chefs and servers were nice, however that did not make my experience much better. I come there mainly for food not because the waiters are efficient, which they weren't entirely fast either. I do not recommend the Big Sur Oyster Bar. There are other places you can get better oysters and clams that are worth the higher price than the ones at Big Sur.

Primarily Prime Rib

In Las Vegas casino, South Point, there is a restaurant on the second floor called Primarily Prime Rib. With very few windows, curved booth seating, and tables with velvet chairs, the alcove felt like being on a cruise ship. I went there with my ears still ringing from praises about this place. With my expectations already set high, I did not expect the food and service to be above excellent. My server was efficient, personable, and yet professional. When one of my table mates asked for no chives on her baked potato, the waiter immediately said "Let me get you another one," without a flinch or flicker in his happy demeanor. In fact, even his assistant was diligent; always keeping our drinks refilled without a purposeful look or question from me or any of my table mates. When the food came out, I had ordered a 26oz, thick cut, bone-in prime rib. I personally like horseradish with my prime rib, and the waiter, having already thought ahead, had brought out a mild and strong horseradish. Though the prime rib did not need any, it had enough flavor on its own, I like the kick the additive brings. The meal also came with bread, mashed or baked potato, and a soup or salad. I chose the split pea soup which was laced with carrots and ham chunks, and the mashed potatoes. Most mashed potatoes I've had always could've been improved. This one was fresh and lightly buttery texture; though I could see no butter in the food. By the end of the meal, I was completely satisfied with not only the food, but the service as well. If you ever happen to be in Las Vegas, Primarily Prime Rib is a must for those meat lovers reading this.