Saturday, April 2, 2011

Ocean City Chinese Restaurant

Located in the ex-Chalet gift shop on main street, Ocean City has been tempting us with a new culinary option for months. Now that the doors are finally open, how does this latest Chinese place stack up?

The Looks
The remodeled Chalet building is nice. A week attempt at creating a chinese atmosphere has been done, but nothing very elaborate or fancy (this is Marshalltown Iowa remember?). The seating seems a little cramped for a corpulent individual such as yours truly. On my lunch trip the service was slow, but hopefully that's just due to the opening rush.

The Cost
Lunch specials run from $5.55 to $6.25 for a good sized entree, soup and your choice of an egg roll or Crab Rangoon. Probably One of the better lunch deals around. Dinner is a little more costly and runs from $8 to $12, but with many more options.

The Grub
The typical list of Chinese favorites. Chicken, Beef, Pork, and Shrimp, each drenched in the sauce of your choice. Many items claim to be hot and spicy, however the Szechwan chicken this reviewer had certainly was not. All the other favorites such as Lo mein, Chow mein, and Egg Foo Young are available as well. The food seems to be a step up in quality from your other local Chinese options.

Ocean City Chinese Restaurant
5 West Main Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 752-1508
Hours: 11:00am - 9:30pm

Monday, January 10, 2011

Little Caesars

Ah K-Mart, that stalwart of cheap retail goods. If you've been to the Marshalltown K-Mart in the last decade, you'll know it's usually empty and slightly rundown. Most shoppers have abandoned it for Wal-Mart. However this K-Mart has something Wally World does not. A Little Caesars pizza station. Who wouldn't want to eat at the same place they buy underwear?

The Looks
Nothing says fine dinning like the inside of an old K-Mart. It certainly feels strange (or good?) eating your lunch/dinner while watching women shop for cloths. There are tables and booths in the cordoned off eating area, and chances are they won't be clean. If you come around lunch time, expect high-school kids.

The Cost
The cheapest carryout pizza you'll get in town, a large, 1 topping goes for the paltry amount of just $5. Although most people will spring for the $5 - 1 topping pie, additional toppings are cheap, and so are the sides. So much food for so little money, they know what a hungry man wants.

The Grub
Not the worlds best pizza but not the worst. A hungry man will certainly leave satisfied. Other highlights include the famous crazy bread which drips and oozes with delicious grease. Thumbs down for making us purchase the dipping sauce. And of course this Little Caesars is integrated with the standard K-Mart snack bar, so there are Icee frozen treats, popcorn, etc.

Little Caesars
1720 S Center Street, Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 753-3270