Domino's has been advertising that the public try their new chicken -- and to sweeten the deal, they've been offering a pick-two-for-$5.99 deal. My boyfriend and I recently took them up on the offer, ordering a medium two-topping pizza and boneless wings.

I used to really dislike Domino's, eating it only when it was my sole option. But since the company changed the pizza recipe, I've enjoyed it a lot more. It's still not my favorite pizza, but I'll include it in my regular pizza-eating rotation. The two-topping pizza we ordered this time around (with pepperoni and onion) was just as good as the last time I had Domino's.

But the important part of the meal: the chicken. I was a little disappointed with the amount that we got (but then again, it was only $5.99 for that and the entire pizza, so do I really have much room to complain?). But the chicken was good. It didn't taste like mechanically separated meat paste that had been fried, but actually like fried chicken that you might prepare at home. The hot sauce that came on the side was great for dipping, and gives you the option for plain chicken or to choose your own topping.

We didn't get the wings, but now I'm tempted to take Domino's up on this deal again to see how those stack up.

I would order the boneless wings again, but probably only as a side. I don't think the amount you get would be filling enough for a whole meal, so the chicken might best serve as a side to pizza, allowing everyone to share. And the pick-two-for-$5.99 option is a pretty good deal that you might want to consider taking up.

Click here to see the Domino's menu and find a location near you.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Chick-fil-A is adding a new item to its breakfast menu: the Spicy Chicken Biscuit. The restaurant ran a promotion this week that allowed those who signed up at www.getspicychicken.com to try the breakfast sandwich free before it officially appears on the menu Jan. 10. Copy editors Danielle Capriato and Cheryl Sadler tried it this week, and below are their reactions.

Cheryl: The Spicy Chicken Biscuit tastes exactly how it sounds. It's spicy. It's chicken. It's on a biscuit. It was a lot spicier than I expected it to be, but the milkiness of the biscuit countered that pretty nicely.

Danielle: Like Cheryl said, the sandwich is pretty self-explanatory. It's clear that they took the chicken from their popular Spicy Chicken Sandwich and just put it on a biscuit instead of a bun. You know, because a biscuit is just so much more breakfasty. Also as Cheryl said, it was a bit spicier than expected, but in a good way, I think. The spice factor isn't particularly overwhelming, but I think I was expecting a milder version simply because it's breakfast. Initial impressions? It could use some cheese, maybe, or a sauce of some sort. But I'm not sure how much that would enhance the whole experience. It might take away from the biscuit, which was creamy and good on it's own.

Cheryl: I didn't know before that Chick-fil-A even served breakfast, but now I might consider it an option if I am eating early on the go.

Danielle: I definitely didn't know that Chick-fil-A had a breakfast menu until Cheryl asked me if I'd try this new sandwich with her. Their breakfast options definitely intrigued me, and considering the quality of their food in general, I'd be interested in trying more.

Cheryl: The biscuit is the perfect pick for someone who likes Chick-fil-A's Spicy Chicken Sandwich and wants to have it in the morning. For me? Maybe not. I don't know if I want to eat something that spicy that early. And the nutritional data is not yet on Chick-fil-A's website, so I'm not sure yet if it's something I'd want to be consuming in the morning.

Danielle: I would not give the breakfast sandwich a bad review, but I agree with Cheryl that it's just not my thing. I would definitely suggest trying it when it launches. And I know I would like to go back to try more from their breakfast menu.

-- Danielle Capriato, DCapriato@News-Herald.com
and Cheryl Sadler, CSadler@News-Herald.com

I visited the drive through at the Chick-fil-A in Willoughby on Saturday and had to share my experience. I have never been served by NICER people! The person on the other end of the intercom was incredibly friendly as she greeted me, and the girl working at the window was super polite when she gave me my change and my drink and told me it would be a few moments before my food was ready. I did not mind the wait at all because of the kindness the employees extended to me. Each time I have visited this location, I have been greeted with friendly workers, but this weekend that was especially the case.

I would highly recommend that if you're going to get fast food that you stop at the Willoughby Chick-fil-A. You will be hard-pressed to find better service and nicer employees who seem genuinely appreciative of your business and honestly hope you enjoy your experience and food.

Chick-fil-A
www.chick-fil-a.com
35441 Euclid Ave.
Willoughby, OH 44094
440-946-1831


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

This weekend I tried Branding Iron Cookhouse for the first time. I immediately liked the Southwest atmosphere of the bar and grill, with cowboy paraphernalia and photographs covering the walls from floor to ceiling.

The staff was nothing short of friendly, and the manager even spent some time talking with my party and ensuring we were enjoying ourselves. I don't remember the last time I had such good service -- especially from our server, who remembered each of our drink orders and exactly how much ice we wanted in them when she got our refills.

My group ordered chicken wings, pulled pork and a chicken sandwich, and we all got onion rings. The food came out a little slower than I would have wanted (our server explained it was because the wings took a little longer to cook), but it was hot and tasty when it reached our table. The chicken on my sandwich was cooked perfectly, and I really enjoyed the side of honey mustard dipping sauce that came with the onion rings.

The thing I might remember most about my experience there was the special touch that came with our meals: The sandwich buns were branded.

And if you go there for your birthday, you can sit on a horse, wear a cowboy hat and have a picture taken. Those pictures fill the walls in the front of the restaurant.

Branding Iron Cookhouse
8450 Market St. (Route 615)
Mentor, OH 44060
440-266-0000
Open at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays)
Happy Hour 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

-- Cheryl Sadler

Last week I ate at Cabana's Island Restaurant in Mentor. Neither my dining companion nor I had been there before, and we selected the restaurant based on the name and the coupon from the "Our Town and All-Around Dining Directory," which was good for $10 off our meal. And boy, what a place to beat the winter blues! The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant are tropical and relaxing.

However, that relaxed atmosphere translated right to the service, which was slow. It took a long time to be greeted, a long time to meet our server, a long time to get our drinks, a long time to get our food (our appetizer never came at all). But our server was very friendly and accommodating (she was sure to remove our appetizer from the bill), and the food was fantastic and worth the wait!

I ordered the Montego Bay Chicken, while my companion ordered one of the day's specials: Jamaican Java Chicken. Both meals were quite tasty and the perfect portion size for a night out -- not too much, but definitely enough to fill you up. I loved that the chicken I ordered came on a bed of sweet potato fries, a guilty pleasure of mine. And I'm not usually a fan of green beans, but Cabana's were juicy and crispy, with a summery taste that matched the feel of the restaurant.

I was impressed that my cocktail only cost $4, when I've gotten similar drinks elsewhere for twice that amount. The prices are moderate, with both of our meals about $10. After the coupon, our bill for two entrees, a cocktail and two beers totaled only $24.

The food and drinks were tasty enough to entice me to visit Cabana's again, in hopes that the last week's slow service was just a fluke. After all, there are a few more tasty-sounding things on the menu that I'd like to try.

Cabana's Island Restaurant
The Matchworks Building
8500 Station St.
Mentor, OH 44060
(440) 255-0697
info@cabanasrestaurant.com

If you're interested in your own "Our Town and All-Around Dining Directory" coupon book, you can get one when your News-Herald subscription is set up for EZ Pay, which is the automatic deduction from your credit card every month. You can also order one online at www.ourtownandallaround.com.

-- Cheryl Sadler