The first Taste Unlimited in Ghent opened in 1976 on Colley Avenue, and I became a regular when I moved to Ghent in 1992. It became my weekly source of Dave's Gourmet Insanity Hot Sauce, which I could not find anywhere else. They left Ghent and relocated to Hampton Boulevard in 2010.
The new Taste Unlimited in Ghent opened last month in the former Blockbuster Video on 21st Street, next to Bangkok Garden. This is now their largest location with about 6,000 square feet of space, an enclosed outdoor patio, and a seating capacity of over 225 people.
They've been doing a brisk and booming business and are usually packed during lunch. Parking can be a challenge.
The new location includes a Borjo Drinkbar, which serves coffee and other specialty drinks and snacks. Borjo was first established in Norfolk in 2004 and joined the Taste family in 2016.
The menu at Taste includes 18 Signature Sandwiches. Their Summer menu included 5 heated sandwiches and 13 unheated sandwiches. Their new Fall menu includes only 2 heated sandwiches and 16 unheated sandwiches.
After five visits, I can report the following:
THE GHENT: House Roasted Chicken Breast, Provolone, Roasted Red Peppers and Basil Mayo on Ciabatta.
This is an unheated sandwich, and I ordered it to be eaten inside. Yet, it was delivered to my table tightly wrapped and sealed. I would expect this for a takeout order, but not when eating inside.
It presented a sad and sickly appearance with a bland and lifeless taste. A sandwich named after Ghent surely deserves better than this. My Rating: 2 Stars.
THE CATWICH: Cornbread Fried Catfish with Pickled Veggie Slaw and Lemon Remoulde on a Brioche Roll.
This was a heated sandwich from the Summer menu and is not on the Fall menu. A small chunk of catfish delivered a nice crunchy texture and a bit of flavor, but not as fresh as I like.
Only a few strands of the pickled veggie slaw peeked out of the bun. I found this one to be undersized and overpriced. My Rating: 3 Stars.
THAI SALAD: House Roasted Chicken Breast, Red Cabbage, Shredded Carrots, Cucumber, Roasted Red Peppers, and Crushed Peanuts on Romaine, tossed with Thai Peanut Vinaigrette and Crunchy Noodles.
Kudos for the young lady at the counter who told me up front they were out of red cabbage and asked me if I still wanted it. I ordered it anyway.
The veggies delivered a healthful and pleasant taste. The peanut vinaigrette was flavorful. On the downside, the chicken left me with a dry and sterile taste with little or no seasoning. My Rating: 3.5 Stars.
THE HECTOR: Bacon, Cage-Free Fried Egg, Cheddar, Avocado, and Week Knees Gochujang Sriracha on a Brioche Roll.
This is one of their Signature Breakfast Sandwiches and is the tastiest menu item I've had here to date. The avocado was fresh and sparkled with flavor in combination with the other ingredients, pairing especially well with the crispy bacon..
I would have liked more of the Gochujang sauce. Otherwise, this one scored well with me and hit the spot. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.
BRUNSWICK STEW: Any chance of a rally to a 4-star rating was snuffed out with this offering. It was served in an unsightly cardboard cup with a lid, even though I had ordered it to be eaten inside at my table.
The taste of the stew was passable, but its presentation was a letdown. I like my soup served in a real bowl, made without plastic or cardboard. My Rating: 2.5 Stars.
I stopped in again today to try their Butternut Squash Soup, which is a new addition for their Fall menu, but it was sold out. Curiously, their Facebook page features an attractive photo of this soup served in a bowl. But according to the menu, it is still served in a cup, just like with the Brunswick Stew.
An impressive showcase of specialty gourmet foods and wines is a highlight of their store and well worth an extended tour. Speedy's Hot Sauces and their newly released Bloody Mary Mix are available here.
Some of their items are overpriced. To cite one example, the GT brand of Kombucha drinks sells for $4.49 a bottle.They cost a dollar less at $3.49 a bottle at the nearby Harris Teeter.
My favorite section is their sampler display of Taste Signature Specialty Nuts. Six different varieties are provided with a self-serve teaspoon for each one. If you are still hungry after your meal, you can help yourself to a spoonful of each and quickly become full. It worked for me.
I like the bright and spacious atmosphere of the new Ghent location. Customer service has been exemplary and friendly..
Taste Unlimited has become a very streamlined and well oiled operation over the years. Their employees work hard and are well trained. But much of the food they serve has become too formulaic for my tastes.
I want to see them step up their soup and sandwich game before I give them a higher rating. My scorecard shows a 3-star rating for now.
I'll be back in a few months to see if they deserve a raise. In the meantime, so much for taste and so much for Taste. read more