I referenced Tinn’s a couple posts ago and how they had some of the best French fries in the city. Having not eaten at Tinn’s in a while, I decided to go there for dinner because they make great food and delicious fries. Tinn’s is easy to get to and is located in the strip mall to the west of Wal-Mart north and Sam’s Club, right next to the severely overrated, yet mysteriously popular, Buffalo Wild Wings. Parking is plentiful as the strip mall pretty much runs into Gander Mountain so there are plenty of spaces. They are now building what I think is a Texas Roadhouse restaurant at the back end of the parking lot, so this may result in less parking spaces in the future, but the spaces are still plentiful. I hear that they are also reopening a location downtown in the skyway system or in the mall formerly known as the Galleria.
When you first walk into Tinn’s you will notice a very basic restaurant. There isn’t much in terms of ambiance. The restaurant is much longer than it is wide; a couple TVs are on the wall, you see some tables and booths, on the far end you see a Pepsi machine (ugh…) and condiments, and about half way down you see a long area enclosed with glass windows where the magic happens.
The menu is gigantic and a little confusing. I say this because there are a couple smaller signs throughout the restaurant that have a few menu items on them, but they certainly do not contain the entirety of the menu. Only looking at these you miss out on a significant portion of the offerings. The main menu is above the grill and production area; it is broken down into beef and chicken offerings, as well as other hot sandwiches and cold sandwiches. There is a plethora of options and each one I have tasted has been tasty. They come in three size choices, 6”, 8”, and 12”, and are made with fresh baked bread.
My choice this time was the chicken Parmesan sandwich. Like usual I got the 8” option. After ordering they weigh out the ingredients I assume based on the sandwich size and they hit the grill, unless, of course, it is a cold sandwich. When I was here I was with my sister and she ordered a 6” sandwich and, curiously, the amount of protein looked the same for both of our sandwiches based on the visual presence of it on the grill top. Other than this, however, everything else was fine. When they are grilling the protein or vegetables for the sandwiches, they chop up the ingredients using the spatulas used on the grill. It is fun to watch them do this with relatively precise precision and great speed.
One nice touch that they offer that truly makes a difference is freshly baked bread. My best guess is that it comes in partially baked in a ready to bake form and they finish the baking. I figure this because the bread is always very consistent, both in the same visit and in separate visits. Regardless, the freshly baked bread is a great compliment to a tasty sandwich.
It takes a few minutes to make the sandwich, which is fine because it is still quick and you and see the entire process. This also allows ample time to have fries fried for you. These fries are good and I don’t much care for most fries. I assume they cut them in-house and they partially fry them before you order them. This is essential to have the proper French fry and also to speed up the cooking process of the final fry. The potatoes used are skin on, which I prefer. Once they are done frying they are generously seasoned with a salty seasoning. They are absolutely divine.
The fries can be had as part of a combo meal which includes a sandwich, fries, and a beverage. They also have other sides like cheese curds, though these are a frozen product and not a freshly made product; even so, cheese curds are generally delicious. They also have onion rings, jalapeno poppers, cheddar bacon fries (I don’t know how I have not known about those previously….), and a couple other offerings too. Like I mentioned before, their soft drink choice is Pepsi. And why not? Minnesotans love their Pepsi apparently…. There are no alcoholic beverages served.
When it is finally time to dive into the sandwich you first notice the bread; it is crusty in a good way and fully capable of enclosing your sandwich in deliciousness. Besides being crusty, the bread also has a nice bready chew to it. The first bite, and all subsequent bites, of my chicken Parmesan sandwich had the flavor profiles you would expect from something called chicken Parmesan. The chicken flavor was complimented by melted, slightly salty cheese, the obligatory flavor of oregano, the acidic, sweet freshness of tomato sauce, and the crunch of the freshly baked bread. Between the flavors melding nicely and the textural contrast, the sandwich was a success. As I previously mentioned, I think they could have been a little more generous the chicken portion, but, all in all, the sandwich was as tasty as anything I have ever had there.
That was the first time I had tried that particular sandwich. The fries, on the other hand, I knew how good they were. They did not disappoint. Piping hot, well-seasoned, crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, such a great example of what fries should be like. Many places should take note because fries aren’t just simply frying potato hunks. Unfortunately, though, that is what most places do when they make fries. As a result, they aren’t worth eating. Thankfully, however, Tinn’s understands what a fry can be and takes it to its potential.
Overall, Tinn’s is one of the better options in Rochester, particularly for a sandwich. The service is friendly and efficient, the food is tasty, the prices are fair, and the menu is huge (though can be both good and bad).
To recap.....
Food: Delicious. Prepared fresh right in front of your face when you order it. Consistently tasty and I have never had a bad sandwich there. Also, their French fries are among the best fries I have ever tasted.
Service: Efficient, fast, and friendly. The line moves pretty quickly, even when it is long, and the employees are good at what they do.
Drinks: Pepsi...and why not? No alcoholic beverages. Ambiance: Not a whole lot in the realm of ambiance. The restaurant is pretty basic. But you don't go to Tinn's for a restaurant that is all ambiance and no food (Victoria's would be a good start for a restaurant like that).
Conclusion: A great place for a quick bite to eat; Tinn's is probably the best quick service establishment in town. It is not fancy, but it is tasty. The menu is vast and delicious. Go there and make sure to try the French fries!
No comments:
Post a Comment