Worst Eating Establishments In The Shoals,....

 

Well,... most people know I like to grill, smoke and bbq. Love me some bacon too. We'll save that for another blog post.

For the record, the picture above does not represent any food from the three places I'm about to mention. It would be an upgrade. 

Today I want to talk about three of the worst places to eat in the Shoals area. There are far more than three trust me so we'll save those for another time also. 

All of these places are graded on the same scale. Service, food quality and cleanliness. We all like convenience because we stay so busy. We don't have time to cook or we've just grown to lazy to do so. Most of the time though it is that we are too busy. 

I know for myself, being tired at the end of the day is a driving factor of what I cook or where we eat. I like eating out but I want it to be a good experience when I do. 

That said,... here is one of the worst places to eat in the Shoals.

Fiesta Mexicana on Avalon Av in Muscle Shoals. The food quality is lacking. It's Tex-Mex at its worst. We haven't been in a while due to poor service AND roach parts in the drinks. That's right, parts of cockroaches served in the drink. In plain view. So maybe the server thought this was the norm. For me, it shows a major problem. Kind of turns you off and you lose your appetite. Roaches also in the mens room,... some dead from someone squashing them, some alive waving hello. Not sure how the place stays open. Hardly any cars in the parking lot. I have my theories.

The next place is also a Tex-Mex place out on 2nd St in Muscle Shoals. Cozumel. When you see roaches in the dining area on the walls and behind pictures, you know they have a problem in the kitchen. Trust me, I used to do Cooks commercial route way back when. I've seen things. While we did go back the last time there, the food just wasn't good. The lack of meat (which might be a good thing) and the blandness of it just wasn't a good value for my money. I did see some wings that actually looked nasty. They looked boiled with sauce on them. Guess I'm too used to my cooking. 

The next place is in Sheffield. Stanfields. I don't really do salad but I do hear good things about the salad bar. For the most part, the compliments stop there. We've been a few times and the food is really bland. No seasoning that I could taste anyway. Steak was tough with no taste. For me it's a no no to use A1 on anything but it would actually improve this steak, taste wise. Service was good the times we were there. As a painter though, this has nothing to do with the dining experience, the shiplap in the booths were not primed. The knotholes showing through that look like water stains or nicotine is called tannin. It bothers me that the owners let this slip by. Maybe they didn't know to oversee construction as it happened. Anyway it's just one of those pet peeves of mine. It's a curse actually but like I said, no bearing on the dining experience,... for most. 

Pet Peeve About Our Flag,...

 People either just don't know or just don't care. Proper displaying of our American flag, affectionately know as Old Glory seems to have been lost. Go by a cemetery that displays the flag. Is it torn and raveled? Is it taken down at night and raised the next morning? If left to fly 24/7, is it illuminated at night? 

The post office in North Florence once was flying a flag that was worn out. It was like that for a while. A government agency flying our flag that way was a disgrace. This also includes flags mounted on residential housing. Is the flag illuminated at night? If not, take it down and put it back the next morning. I've driven by several cemeteries that display the flag. No lighting is to be found. 

It saddens me that people have died, shed blood for our Stars and Stripes and people are ignorant as to the proper displaying technics. 

There isn't a finer site than to see Old Glory waving in the wind. Knowing the history behind the red, white and blue. It just irks me to no end seeing people and places disrespecting the flag. 

 This is from the Veterans of Foreign Wars site,.... 

 The American flag has a long history, and the members of our organization have spent nearly as long defending and honoring our nation's most iconic symbol of freedom. Whether you're looking for the historic details of how the U.S. flag came to be, or the rules and regulations that encompass her daily flight, we're here to ensure you can find the information you need.  

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  Displaying the Flag

  On Same Staff 
  U.S. flag at peak, above any other flag. 
  
  Grouped 
  U.S. flag goes to its own right. Flags of other nations are flown at same height. 
  
  Marching 
  U.S. flag to marchers right (observer's left). 
  
  On Speaker's Platform
  When displayed with a speaker's platform, it must be above and behind the speaker. If mounted on a staff it is on the speaker's right. 
  
  Decoration
  Never use the flag for decoration. Use bunting with the blue on top, then white, then red. 
  
  Salute
  All persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the armed forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. 
  
  Over a Street Union (stars) face north or east depending on the direction of the street. 
  
  Half Staff
  On special days, the flag may be flown at half-staff. On Memorial Day it is flown at half-staff until noon and then raised. 

  Special Rules
  Do not let the flag touch the ground. 
  Do not fly flag upside down unless there is an emergency. 
  Do not carry the flag flat, or carry things in it. 
  Do not use the flag as clothing. 
  Do not store the flag where it can get dirty. 
  Do not use it as a cover. 
  Do not fasten it or tie it back. Always allow it to fall free. 
  Do not draw on, or otherwise mark the flag. 

  Illumination Guidelines
  Per Federal Flag Code, Section 2, paragraph (a), it is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.