Welcome To The Restaurant Rant

A friend of mine gave me the idea that I should blog about what I know, and what I do know is food. Especially in our little, but not so little town of Bakersfield.  I also like to go on Road Trips, Vacations and Outings with the family, and we are always eager to try something new. So there will be that occasional what I will call a "Road Trip Rating".
For years I have grown up in Bakersfield, California and seen restaurants come and go. I've seen them rated by only one food critic, and I just think that food critic is over critical to what the Bakersfield person wants. This is not L.A., this is not Chicago, and this is definitely not Paris. People's idea of good dining is different here in the Central Valley. We appreciate the simple things in life, nice simple fare. However, we also like to paint the town red and go all out for good meal in an well thought out ambient setting. We don't mind paying more for the extras at these places as long as the food is worth it. But don't want to be nickeled and dimed at the every day fare. In Bakersfield and the Central Valley we work hard for our money, so we don't need someone to come in say you have to pay extra for this or that, when Joe Schoom's place up the way has just as good food and not charging for this or that.
Now, don't get me wrong, I have no real degree in food, but I am well traveled and spent many years in the food industry. From the lowly fry cook at your favorite fast food place to line cook at a nice restaurant to short order cook at a greasy spoon to a supervisor at food stand, plus more. Many in my family were servers in many industries, so I grew up with an insight into what good service is. This includes my mom, she spent many years on her feet in a restaurant, bar, banquet hall and more raising me. And she prided herself on good service, otherwise the tips didn't come. And believe me, those were always important to go out of town and family road trips or pay the bills. Your food server (i.e., waiter, waitress, bartender, etc.) depend on those tips as part of their wage. So tip often and tip well if they have made your experience a good one.
I'll have different ratings depending on where I visit and eat.

1. Road Trip Ratings: For the out of town eats.
2. High Class: The restaurant that's just above the rest in atmosphere and food
3. Chain Gang Game: Lot's of Chain restaurants reside here in Bakersfield, I do eat at many.
4. Good Bakersfield Fare: Your average restaurant eats, from small to large, from the truck to the around the corner place.
5. Fast Food Fare: We all eat them, but just because the name is the same at one location as it is at another location doesn't mean it's the same service or food, plus many of these places are always introducing new stuff.

I will rate on a simple 5 star rating system, (no halfs, I mean come on is it 2 stars or 3 stars, what is that) 0 being the absolute worst, and 5 being the best. I will rate the eateries on Surroundings, Service and of course food. So now that you have some information from this ranter. I hope you will stop by once in awhile and see what might be some good food or a bad food rant.
Michael - The Restaurant Ranter