9170 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 271-8341
www.phocowcali.com
WHAT. THE. PHO.
I have found you, my perfect pho place. The one pho place which I have been wandering aimlessly in the dark for, the one I thought I would never exist -- a cheap (allow me to emphasize again - CHEAP! Especially among the hoards of greedy restaurant-owners who coexist in San Diego...on how I loathe thee), generous, and consistent. Consistent in the sense that they give an abundant amount of noodles, savory broth, and juicy meat EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Unlike many pho places, it's not a hit or miss.
Might I mention the egg rolls? I usually don't like shelling out dough for egg rolls, but these egg rolls leave me speechless. How do they get them out to the table so fast, yet they are still piping hot? Wrap those babies up in a lettuce wrap, some mint, dip it in fish sauce, and you've got yourself a party in your mouth.
One con: I love this place so much, I find myself going here 2-3 times a week. The MSG levels in my body must be off the charts.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Morning Appetite Satisfied at Huge Tree Pastry (Monterey Park, CA)
423 N Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 458-8689
For a peculiar reason I am unable to fathom, I have never in my 21 years of life had Chinese breakfast. And yes, I am Chinese, grew up with Chinese parents, even spent a good portion of my childhood growing up in Oakland Chinatown.
Or perhaps this is Taiwanese breakfast? I'm pretty sure it is, but the owner also spoke Cantonese, which I am fluent in.
I stumbled upon these place on Yelp after scrounging around for a good breakfast place Sunday morning. The pictures and excellent reviews sold me!
I'll cut to the chase; this is what I ordered:
1 - Chinese donut in sweet soy milk - I got a "small" soy milk, which was pretty darn big. Ahhh...if you've never had fresh, crispy Chinese donut soaked in hot sweet soy milk...you're missing out! And I have indeed been missing out my entire life until this moment.
2 - Pan fried egg - Thin tortilla wrapped around egg. I expected the egg to be extremely greasy/oily, as all Chinese foods go, but to my delight it wasn't. Tasted like steamed egg.
3 - Salted pork in sticky rice - delicious! Again - WHY HAVEN'T I HAD THIS BEFORE? By this time, I was so stuffed with everything else I saved half of it to be eaten later.
4 - Beef noodle soup - the boyfriend ordered this, claiming he needed his "meat" fix. Excellent noodle soup, broth wasn't as greasy or oily as others as I have eaten.
The whole breakfast/brunch cost me ~$15. When I ordered, I awkwardly pointed at the menu items since I didn't know Mandarin, but it turns out the cashier was Cantonese too! I read previous reviews commenting on the language barrier, but I had no problem ordering. There are also very helpful and friendly staff who speak fluent English if you don't know either dialect.
I would definitely come back, and highly recommend anyone looking for a hot, delicious, and affordable Taiwanese breakfast!
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 458-8689
For a peculiar reason I am unable to fathom, I have never in my 21 years of life had Chinese breakfast. And yes, I am Chinese, grew up with Chinese parents, even spent a good portion of my childhood growing up in Oakland Chinatown.
Or perhaps this is Taiwanese breakfast? I'm pretty sure it is, but the owner also spoke Cantonese, which I am fluent in.
I stumbled upon these place on Yelp after scrounging around for a good breakfast place Sunday morning. The pictures and excellent reviews sold me!
I'll cut to the chase; this is what I ordered:
1 - Chinese donut in sweet soy milk - I got a "small" soy milk, which was pretty darn big. Ahhh...if you've never had fresh, crispy Chinese donut soaked in hot sweet soy milk...you're missing out! And I have indeed been missing out my entire life until this moment.
2 - Pan fried egg - Thin tortilla wrapped around egg. I expected the egg to be extremely greasy/oily, as all Chinese foods go, but to my delight it wasn't. Tasted like steamed egg.
3 - Salted pork in sticky rice - delicious! Again - WHY HAVEN'T I HAD THIS BEFORE? By this time, I was so stuffed with everything else I saved half of it to be eaten later.
4 - Beef noodle soup - the boyfriend ordered this, claiming he needed his "meat" fix. Excellent noodle soup, broth wasn't as greasy or oily as others as I have eaten.
The whole breakfast/brunch cost me ~$15. When I ordered, I awkwardly pointed at the menu items since I didn't know Mandarin, but it turns out the cashier was Cantonese too! I read previous reviews commenting on the language barrier, but I had no problem ordering. There are also very helpful and friendly staff who speak fluent English if you don't know either dialect.
I would definitely come back, and highly recommend anyone looking for a hot, delicious, and affordable Taiwanese breakfast!
Wine and Dine - Wine Vault & Bistro
3731-A India St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 295-3939
www.winevaultbistro.com
A highly recommended place to try for Restaurant Week!
I love Restaurant Week, I really do. It gives me an opportunity to try restaurants I otherwise, due to the constraints in my budget, would not be willing to try. But $20 for a pre-fixe meal is quite reasonable, considering the amount restaurants charge nowadays for a single entree.
With that said, the boyfriend and I chose the best bang for our buck when seeking restaurants that fit the $20/meal criteria: steakhouses. And among one of these results was Wine Vault and Bistro. After some intensive research (read: Yelping and comparing the other choices), we settled for Wine Valut because of its high reviews and the fact that we knew it would not be a restaurant we would regularly eat at, due to its small portions (we are big eaters).
I made the reservation for 7:15 pm several days in advance, and on the day of, I even received a courtesy call reminding me of my reservation! I haven't been to a lot of fancy restaurants, per se, but even when I ate at Donovan's/Ruth Chris, they never called to remind me.
Dinner night: we parked and walked to our destination. The restaurant can be easy to miss if you're driving past at night, since there is no lit up sign and it is tucked away behind some walls (it appears to be one of those adorable restaurants where it was made from a house). Luckily, we found it and made it in time for our reservation.
We were seated promptly by the firepit -- they had no other tables left when I called to make the reservation, and I actually had no idea what the firepit was so I agreed. It was simply a smaller, lower table, where my boyfriend and I leaned over to eat. It wasn't a problem for me, but others may have found the position a little disconcerning.
Our server introduced himself as Alex (I believe), and was extremely informative about the menu, gratuity, etc. As it was Restaurant Week, an automatic 20% gratuity was added to our bill. I normally detest this policy because many, MANY, restaurants find it as an excuse to give despicable service since they knew their tip was already in the bag. I was happy to know that this was not the case. All our servers were extremely attentive -- our water cups never ran empty, our bread basket was constantly refilled, and for every course, someone would come out and inquire how we liked it. I especially like how they explained what was exactly in each dish. Among the best service I have ever received in a restaurant.
As for the food - impeccable. As previous reviews have noted, the servings are not large as it is one of those "fancy pants" small serving type places. Not a problem for us, though, as we gorged ourselves through three baskets of bread -- what can I say, we love our carbs!
Appetizer: crispy duck confit and the ravioli. I've never had duck confit, but it was absolutely delicious. Ravioli -- easily the best ravioli I ever had, since for once it didn't taste like it was out of the frozen section at Costco.
Entree: my boyfriend and I both got the prime hanger steak (3 oz). And let me say - WOW! The steak was so tender, so flavorful...one of the best steaks I've ever had. I only wish there was more of it. It was accompanied by a potato ... thing (my apologies for my lack of culinary expertise and laziness to look up the menu), avocado mousse (??), and a ...vegetable. Anyway, moving on!
Dessert: my favorite meal of the day! I had the 3-apple-smith, and it was crisp and refreshing. Definitely felt my palatte cleansed! My boyfriend had the dessert which included the butterscotch pudding - I highly recommend this! In fact, I wanted his dessert instead of mine. I was extremely tempted to ask the waiter if he could smuggle us another one under his shirt.
Wine pairings are available for $15, but we opted out of this option.
Our bill came to roughly $51 including tax and gratuity, extremely reasonable for the food and fast, friendly service we received. I highly recommend this place!
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 295-3939
www.winevaultbistro.com
A highly recommended place to try for Restaurant Week!
I love Restaurant Week, I really do. It gives me an opportunity to try restaurants I otherwise, due to the constraints in my budget, would not be willing to try. But $20 for a pre-fixe meal is quite reasonable, considering the amount restaurants charge nowadays for a single entree.
With that said, the boyfriend and I chose the best bang for our buck when seeking restaurants that fit the $20/meal criteria: steakhouses. And among one of these results was Wine Vault and Bistro. After some intensive research (read: Yelping and comparing the other choices), we settled for Wine Valut because of its high reviews and the fact that we knew it would not be a restaurant we would regularly eat at, due to its small portions (we are big eaters).
I made the reservation for 7:15 pm several days in advance, and on the day of, I even received a courtesy call reminding me of my reservation! I haven't been to a lot of fancy restaurants, per se, but even when I ate at Donovan's/Ruth Chris, they never called to remind me.
Dinner night: we parked and walked to our destination. The restaurant can be easy to miss if you're driving past at night, since there is no lit up sign and it is tucked away behind some walls (it appears to be one of those adorable restaurants where it was made from a house). Luckily, we found it and made it in time for our reservation.
We were seated promptly by the firepit -- they had no other tables left when I called to make the reservation, and I actually had no idea what the firepit was so I agreed. It was simply a smaller, lower table, where my boyfriend and I leaned over to eat. It wasn't a problem for me, but others may have found the position a little disconcerning.
Our server introduced himself as Alex (I believe), and was extremely informative about the menu, gratuity, etc. As it was Restaurant Week, an automatic 20% gratuity was added to our bill. I normally detest this policy because many, MANY, restaurants find it as an excuse to give despicable service since they knew their tip was already in the bag. I was happy to know that this was not the case. All our servers were extremely attentive -- our water cups never ran empty, our bread basket was constantly refilled, and for every course, someone would come out and inquire how we liked it. I especially like how they explained what was exactly in each dish. Among the best service I have ever received in a restaurant.
As for the food - impeccable. As previous reviews have noted, the servings are not large as it is one of those "fancy pants" small serving type places. Not a problem for us, though, as we gorged ourselves through three baskets of bread -- what can I say, we love our carbs!
Appetizer: crispy duck confit and the ravioli. I've never had duck confit, but it was absolutely delicious. Ravioli -- easily the best ravioli I ever had, since for once it didn't taste like it was out of the frozen section at Costco.
Entree: my boyfriend and I both got the prime hanger steak (3 oz). And let me say - WOW! The steak was so tender, so flavorful...one of the best steaks I've ever had. I only wish there was more of it. It was accompanied by a potato ... thing (my apologies for my lack of culinary expertise and laziness to look up the menu), avocado mousse (??), and a ...vegetable. Anyway, moving on!
Dessert: my favorite meal of the day! I had the 3-apple-smith, and it was crisp and refreshing. Definitely felt my palatte cleansed! My boyfriend had the dessert which included the butterscotch pudding - I highly recommend this! In fact, I wanted his dessert instead of mine. I was extremely tempted to ask the waiter if he could smuggle us another one under his shirt.
Wine pairings are available for $15, but we opted out of this option.
Our bill came to roughly $51 including tax and gratuity, extremely reasonable for the food and fast, friendly service we received. I highly recommend this place!
Trying Trulucks (San Diego, CA)
8990 University Center Ln
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 278-3300
www.trulucks.com
A coworker of my boyfriend's recommended that we try this place for happy hour, and so we acquiesced. We always go to Fleming's next door for their happy hour, but after our experience at Truluck's, we decided it was a much better place.
A lot of restaurants use happy hour pricing at their restaurants as an excuse to serve smaller portions, but this definitely did not apply at Truluck's.
For one, the ambiance is much nicer. The bar area is slicker and more chic. There is an average-looking man sitting at the piano, but he is only average until he opens his mouth and starts to sing; my gawsh, that voice! The music was a pleasant addition to our meal.
We ordered (note: yes, we are fat asses. We are people who like to eat.):
1 - Shrimp and lobster wontons with cream cheese ($7) - so delicious! One of my favorite dishes.
2 - Crab sliders ($8) - Also one of my favorites! A must try.
3 - Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders ($6.50) - For some reason, my boyfriend ordered these without thinking; we did not mean to actually order it. It just slipped off his tongue when ordering, and we didn't notice until afterward. The patty was very juicy, but it was not the best thing on the menu. I recommend trying the other dishes, since this is something you can (kinda) get elsewhere.
4- Salt and Pepper Calamari - ($6.50) - not bad, not bad. Very crunchy and better than most places!
5- Lychee Martini ($6-$7) - strong and good! I love me some Lychee-infused alcoholic drinks whenever the chance. I bit into the lychee afterward and wow-weeeee~
6- Carrot cupcake ($2) - best carrot cupcake I've ever had. The frosting had these delectable glazed nuts, with sugar crystals in every bite. The cake itself was moist and smooth. I am drooling as I am writing this.
Portions were good-sized considering it's a nice restaurant.
I will definitely come back! Ashley (?) was friendly and an excellent server, and the food was delicious!
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 278-3300
www.trulucks.com
A coworker of my boyfriend's recommended that we try this place for happy hour, and so we acquiesced. We always go to Fleming's next door for their happy hour, but after our experience at Truluck's, we decided it was a much better place.
A lot of restaurants use happy hour pricing at their restaurants as an excuse to serve smaller portions, but this definitely did not apply at Truluck's.
For one, the ambiance is much nicer. The bar area is slicker and more chic. There is an average-looking man sitting at the piano, but he is only average until he opens his mouth and starts to sing; my gawsh, that voice! The music was a pleasant addition to our meal.
We ordered (note: yes, we are fat asses. We are people who like to eat.):
1 - Shrimp and lobster wontons with cream cheese ($7) - so delicious! One of my favorite dishes.
2 - Crab sliders ($8) - Also one of my favorites! A must try.
3 - Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders ($6.50) - For some reason, my boyfriend ordered these without thinking; we did not mean to actually order it. It just slipped off his tongue when ordering, and we didn't notice until afterward. The patty was very juicy, but it was not the best thing on the menu. I recommend trying the other dishes, since this is something you can (kinda) get elsewhere.
4- Salt and Pepper Calamari - ($6.50) - not bad, not bad. Very crunchy and better than most places!
5- Lychee Martini ($6-$7) - strong and good! I love me some Lychee-infused alcoholic drinks whenever the chance. I bit into the lychee afterward and wow-weeeee~
6- Carrot cupcake ($2) - best carrot cupcake I've ever had. The frosting had these delectable glazed nuts, with sugar crystals in every bite. The cake itself was moist and smooth. I am drooling as I am writing this.
Portions were good-sized considering it's a nice restaurant.
I will definitely come back! Ashley (?) was friendly and an excellent server, and the food was delicious!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Manna BBQ (San Diego, CA)
4428 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 278-3300
www.mannakoreanbbq.com
Now, I try to be healthy. I try to exercise everyday, and eat healthy. But occasionally, I allow myself to gorge out on buffets and fatty foods. OH WAIT WHO AM I KIDDING. I LOVE eating.
My family asked me where I wanted to go as a graduation dinner, and I suggested all you can eat korean BBQ. (I originally wanted sushi but it was closed). There was this korean bbq place I always pass by, "GRAND OPENING" sign adorning its canopy. I also heard from friends this place was pretty good.
We waited 30 minutes to be seated as it was prime dinner time on a Sunday. Luckily the NBA finals game was on (Go Mavs, woo hoo!) to keep us entertained while we ate.
We all ordered the $19.99/person option. Side dishes magically came out, and we stuffed ourselves with that while waiting for our meats. I wish I could tell you exactly what the side dishes were, but it has been a while so I do not recall...there were, however, fishcakes, seaweed, kimchee, and the mashed potato things I love.
Service was not bad in the beginning -- the waitresses promptly brought out our meats, which were well marinated and juicy. Compared to other all-you-can-eat korean bbq places I have been, this place takes the cake. Very good quality meats, and an excellent array of choices even with the $19.99/person option. The short ribs were especially tasty. The meat kept flowing and flowing---until it was a-flowing-no-more.
If the service at Manna was illustrated on a chart, it would have been steadily increasing until an immediate drop.
For some reason, the waitresses simply stopped bringing out our food. We requested many times for our dishes, but the meat never came...we would remind them again and again, and STILL it would not come. We pressed the buzzer multiple times, and told them, "we ordered this, how come it hasn't come yet?" to no heed. What?? How can you just suddenly stop bringing us our orders?? (Or sometimes, we asked for one order and they would bring us four orders. Or something entirely different.)
It was obvious they wanted us to leave, and this was the most passive-aggressive way they could think of. But oh no, we were still hungry! So on our war waged, us, the customers who kept ordering and the waitresses who kept pretending to take our orders but never actually filling them. Eventually they caved and brought out maybe a quarter of what we ordered, to which were satisfied with.
Verdict: while the food is good, service is certainly something to be cautionary about. If you want a lot of meat, this is the place in SD to go to!
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 278-3300
www.mannakoreanbbq.com
Now, I try to be healthy. I try to exercise everyday, and eat healthy. But occasionally, I allow myself to gorge out on buffets and fatty foods. OH WAIT WHO AM I KIDDING. I LOVE eating.
My family asked me where I wanted to go as a graduation dinner, and I suggested all you can eat korean BBQ. (I originally wanted sushi but it was closed). There was this korean bbq place I always pass by, "GRAND OPENING" sign adorning its canopy. I also heard from friends this place was pretty good.
We waited 30 minutes to be seated as it was prime dinner time on a Sunday. Luckily the NBA finals game was on (Go Mavs, woo hoo!) to keep us entertained while we ate.
We all ordered the $19.99/person option. Side dishes magically came out, and we stuffed ourselves with that while waiting for our meats. I wish I could tell you exactly what the side dishes were, but it has been a while so I do not recall...there were, however, fishcakes, seaweed, kimchee, and the mashed potato things I love.
Service was not bad in the beginning -- the waitresses promptly brought out our meats, which were well marinated and juicy. Compared to other all-you-can-eat korean bbq places I have been, this place takes the cake. Very good quality meats, and an excellent array of choices even with the $19.99/person option. The short ribs were especially tasty. The meat kept flowing and flowing---until it was a-flowing-no-more.
If the service at Manna was illustrated on a chart, it would have been steadily increasing until an immediate drop.
For some reason, the waitresses simply stopped bringing out our food. We requested many times for our dishes, but the meat never came...we would remind them again and again, and STILL it would not come. We pressed the buzzer multiple times, and told them, "we ordered this, how come it hasn't come yet?" to no heed. What?? How can you just suddenly stop bringing us our orders?? (Or sometimes, we asked for one order and they would bring us four orders. Or something entirely different.)
It was obvious they wanted us to leave, and this was the most passive-aggressive way they could think of. But oh no, we were still hungry! So on our war waged, us, the customers who kept ordering and the waitresses who kept pretending to take our orders but never actually filling them. Eventually they caved and brought out maybe a quarter of what we ordered, to which were satisfied with.
Verdict: while the food is good, service is certainly something to be cautionary about. If you want a lot of meat, this is the place in SD to go to!
Pho Ca Dao (San Diego, CA)
8373 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 564-0917
www.phocadao.net
And here comes yet another review about yet another pho restaurant.
I admit it -- my boyfriend has an addiction to pho. We'd have it one day, and the next day he would crave it. Heck, if we have it as lunch, he'd still want it for dinner. As a result, I have been dragged across San Diego in search of the perfect pho.
But no, I'm kidding; I like it too.
It was Thursday, after work. We both had suffered a particularly unpleasant work week (being a grown up sucks, might I add), and craving something warm, something brothy -- PHO?! We wanted to head to our regular spot, but rush hour traffic was determined to prevent us from going anywhere. So we went somewhere closer to our work places: Pho Ca Dao.
Sidenote: Why are all the pho places in San Diego devoid of the standard pho restaurant? You know, the dirty ones with the chopstick/spoon stand? Why are they all so...NICE?
Pho Ca Dao's employee greeted me with a smile and a "hello!" when I walked in. (Wow...good service at PHO? The world is a-changing. Or San Diego is just weird). The menu was very cheap as San Diego goes ($3.55 for spring rolls is considered a bargain). We got:
Meatball pho. I ALWAYS get meatball pho. I've gotten this since I was a small child, and everytime I try to deviate and try something new, I don't like it as much as the meatballs. I don't know why. And I always get a "regular" size, even though it's better value to get the "large". It was $5-$7.
My boyfriend got...what he usually got. It was $6-$7.
Verdict: (in Joey Tribbiani's voice in the episode where Rachel makes a "beef custard") service, GOOD. Noodles, GOOD. Broth, GOOD. Meat, GOOOOOD.
Watch out, Pho Fusion, this just might be my new pho spot!
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 564-0917
www.phocadao.net
And here comes yet another review about yet another pho restaurant.
I admit it -- my boyfriend has an addiction to pho. We'd have it one day, and the next day he would crave it. Heck, if we have it as lunch, he'd still want it for dinner. As a result, I have been dragged across San Diego in search of the perfect pho.
But no, I'm kidding; I like it too.
It was Thursday, after work. We both had suffered a particularly unpleasant work week (being a grown up sucks, might I add), and craving something warm, something brothy -- PHO?! We wanted to head to our regular spot, but rush hour traffic was determined to prevent us from going anywhere. So we went somewhere closer to our work places: Pho Ca Dao.
Sidenote: Why are all the pho places in San Diego devoid of the standard pho restaurant? You know, the dirty ones with the chopstick/spoon stand? Why are they all so...NICE?
Pho Ca Dao's employee greeted me with a smile and a "hello!" when I walked in. (Wow...good service at PHO? The world is a-changing. Or San Diego is just weird). The menu was very cheap as San Diego goes ($3.55 for spring rolls is considered a bargain). We got:
Meatball pho. I ALWAYS get meatball pho. I've gotten this since I was a small child, and everytime I try to deviate and try something new, I don't like it as much as the meatballs. I don't know why. And I always get a "regular" size, even though it's better value to get the "large". It was $5-$7.
My boyfriend got...what he usually got. It was $6-$7.
Verdict: (in Joey Tribbiani's voice in the episode where Rachel makes a "beef custard") service, GOOD. Noodles, GOOD. Broth, GOOD. Meat, GOOOOOD.
Watch out, Pho Fusion, this just might be my new pho spot!
The Golden Arches, Fancy Edition: McDonalds Gourmet Bistro (San Diego, CA)
3505 Del Mar Heights Rd
San Diego, CA 92130-2122
(858) 755-8588
*Update: this place has since closed. Only the regular-McDonald inside remains.
We all are familar with the symbolic golden arches. McDonalds, in all its Dollar-Menu, Chicken McNugget-strewn glory. We often correlate this with french fries, Big Mac, even Ronald McDonald. But quesadilla, paninis, pasta, and -- GELATO?? -- not so much.
Little did I know there was a McDonald's "Gourmet Bistro" waiting to be tried off Del Mar Heights in San Diego, CA. That's right folks, you heard me: a FANCY McDonalds! Two friends (one of them being the token boyfriend, of course) and myself decided to try it on a Tuesday night. We were already cracked out from the workweek and it wasn't even halfway over.
Upon first stepping in, my first thoughts were, "wow, this is really not a normal McDonalds!" I rushed eagerly to the "fancy" counter. This McDonalds was divided into two -- the "regular" half, and the "gourmet" half. To my dismay, many customers ordered from the regular side. I wanted to shake them by the shoulders and yell - C'MON GUYS, this is a FANCY McDonalds! Why are you not getting FANCY FOOD!
But I digress.
There were many things on the menu, ranging from quesadillas, salads, pasta, paninis, ravioli...and even a gelato stand! Prices ranged from $5 (like sandwiches/paninis) to $8 (the salads, pasta, ravioli).
I tried the Rosemary Chicken Ravioli with cranberry in a fettucine sauce ($8).
Verdict: DELICIOUS! It beats even the ravioli I had at Fleming's (word of advice: don't get it folks). It came with delciously toasted bread, which went very well with the sauce. The raviolis were big and tasty...just the way I like it ("That's what she said!").
Peter had the Chicken Penne Sandwich. While it looked good in the stand, it was not too great in person. The chicken, however, was fried, which was a nice change up.
Will had the steak panini, which was accompanied with a side salad. Pretty good! Encased in bread that was crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.
The service was friendly, and excellent! I did not manage to catch the name of the guy manning the counter, but he recognized and greeted all his regular customers like old friends. He was very personable and conversational, joking around with us.
After our dinners, Peter and I got gelato. Me: pink grapefruit and hazelnut (tasted like Nuttela); Peter got pink grapefruit.
Gourmet McDonalds gets an A in my book! Good food, friendly service, and a switch-up from the norm.
San Diego, CA 92130-2122
(858) 755-8588
*Update: this place has since closed. Only the regular-McDonald inside remains.
We all are familar with the symbolic golden arches. McDonalds, in all its Dollar-Menu, Chicken McNugget-strewn glory. We often correlate this with french fries, Big Mac, even Ronald McDonald. But quesadilla, paninis, pasta, and -- GELATO?? -- not so much.
Little did I know there was a McDonald's "Gourmet Bistro" waiting to be tried off Del Mar Heights in San Diego, CA. That's right folks, you heard me: a FANCY McDonalds! Two friends (one of them being the token boyfriend, of course) and myself decided to try it on a Tuesday night. We were already cracked out from the workweek and it wasn't even halfway over.
Upon first stepping in, my first thoughts were, "wow, this is really not a normal McDonalds!" I rushed eagerly to the "fancy" counter. This McDonalds was divided into two -- the "regular" half, and the "gourmet" half. To my dismay, many customers ordered from the regular side. I wanted to shake them by the shoulders and yell - C'MON GUYS, this is a FANCY McDonalds! Why are you not getting FANCY FOOD!
But I digress.
There were many things on the menu, ranging from quesadillas, salads, pasta, paninis, ravioli...and even a gelato stand! Prices ranged from $5 (like sandwiches/paninis) to $8 (the salads, pasta, ravioli).
I tried the Rosemary Chicken Ravioli with cranberry in a fettucine sauce ($8).
Verdict: DELICIOUS! It beats even the ravioli I had at Fleming's (word of advice: don't get it folks). It came with delciously toasted bread, which went very well with the sauce. The raviolis were big and tasty...just the way I like it ("That's what she said!").
Peter had the Chicken Penne Sandwich. While it looked good in the stand, it was not too great in person. The chicken, however, was fried, which was a nice change up.
Will had the steak panini, which was accompanied with a side salad. Pretty good! Encased in bread that was crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.
The service was friendly, and excellent! I did not manage to catch the name of the guy manning the counter, but he recognized and greeted all his regular customers like old friends. He was very personable and conversational, joking around with us.
After our dinners, Peter and I got gelato. Me: pink grapefruit and hazelnut (tasted like Nuttela); Peter got pink grapefruit.
Gourmet McDonalds gets an A in my book! Good food, friendly service, and a switch-up from the norm.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
*NOT* Cheap: Donovan's (La Jolla, CA)
4340 La Jolla Village Drive
La Jolla, CA
(858) 450-6666
www.donovanssteakhouse.com
Let me get this straight: I do not dine at places like Donovan often. I am a struggling college student, preferring to spend her part-time earnings on cheap eats and clothes instead. HOWEVER, I warranted my boyfriend's birthday a very special occasion and wanted to take him somewhere special. Fine dining + steakhouse = Donovan's! I made reservations via Open Table, careful to include "it is my boyfriend's birthday!" on the special notes section. On the special day, I took him to Donovan's.
His mouth literally dropped when I parked outside the restaurant. It dropped further when we stepped up to the door and discovered a door leading into a room --- with just another door! (Yes, I know the rest of you may not find this very fascinating, but this is our first fine dining experience other than House of Prime Rib in San Francisco! Give us a break.)
Once inside, we were greeted by a friendly hostess who assured us our seats would be ready in a few minutes, and also wished my boyfriend a happy birthday. It did indeed only take a few minutes, and soon we were lead into a small, intimate part of the room.
I'll cut down to the chase: our server Bobby was conversational, friendly, and very helpful. I ordered the Prie Fixe meal ($45 for appetizer, entree, and dessert), and my boyfriend ordered the 16 oz. NY Steak ($61). I changed my order to the Prie Fixe Meal after hearing the Soup du Jour -- some carrot ginger soup with crab meat, avocado, and won ton strips.
1. Soup du Jour - (as described above): simply the best soup I have ever consumed in my entire life. I've had lobster bisque at other restaurants and the flavor was always too overwhelming for me to finish. Not here! The soup was absolutely delicious, especially accompanied by the crab meat and won ton strips. I scraped every last piece off my bowl.
2. Twin Prime Rib Medallions: as steak should be. Tender, juicy, and flavorful with every bite. Cooked just how i want it -- medium rare.
3. Cheesecake - fluffy and delicious, not too sweet. Best cheesecake I've had aside from the Cheesecake Factory.
4. Boyfriend's NY Steak: the thing certainly LOOKED like 16 oz. Not bad, but I liked my steak better. :)
All the servers/staff we encountered also made a note to wish my boyfriend a happy birthday. :)
They also gave us creme brulee as it was my boyfriend's birthday! Not the mini, bite-sized bowl of creme brulee either -- the thing was humongous. Even though I was breathing heavilly and struggling to chew, I put every last spoonful in my mouth. Hands down the best creme brulee I have ever eaten in my life. A thick, caramel top..I am salivating as I type this.
The check came out to be $140 including tax and tip. Worth every penny for a meal like this, on top of excellent service! The staff will certainly cater to their guests and ensure a delightful meal. If only I was a big baller and had the opportunity to come more often...*sigh.
La Jolla, CA
(858) 450-6666
www.donovanssteakhouse.com
Let me get this straight: I do not dine at places like Donovan often. I am a struggling college student, preferring to spend her part-time earnings on cheap eats and clothes instead. HOWEVER, I warranted my boyfriend's birthday a very special occasion and wanted to take him somewhere special. Fine dining + steakhouse = Donovan's! I made reservations via Open Table, careful to include "it is my boyfriend's birthday!" on the special notes section. On the special day, I took him to Donovan's.
His mouth literally dropped when I parked outside the restaurant. It dropped further when we stepped up to the door and discovered a door leading into a room --- with just another door! (Yes, I know the rest of you may not find this very fascinating, but this is our first fine dining experience other than House of Prime Rib in San Francisco! Give us a break.)
Once inside, we were greeted by a friendly hostess who assured us our seats would be ready in a few minutes, and also wished my boyfriend a happy birthday. It did indeed only take a few minutes, and soon we were lead into a small, intimate part of the room.
I'll cut down to the chase: our server Bobby was conversational, friendly, and very helpful. I ordered the Prie Fixe meal ($45 for appetizer, entree, and dessert), and my boyfriend ordered the 16 oz. NY Steak ($61). I changed my order to the Prie Fixe Meal after hearing the Soup du Jour -- some carrot ginger soup with crab meat, avocado, and won ton strips.
1. Soup du Jour - (as described above): simply the best soup I have ever consumed in my entire life. I've had lobster bisque at other restaurants and the flavor was always too overwhelming for me to finish. Not here! The soup was absolutely delicious, especially accompanied by the crab meat and won ton strips. I scraped every last piece off my bowl.
2. Twin Prime Rib Medallions: as steak should be. Tender, juicy, and flavorful with every bite. Cooked just how i want it -- medium rare.
3. Cheesecake - fluffy and delicious, not too sweet. Best cheesecake I've had aside from the Cheesecake Factory.
4. Boyfriend's NY Steak: the thing certainly LOOKED like 16 oz. Not bad, but I liked my steak better. :)
All the servers/staff we encountered also made a note to wish my boyfriend a happy birthday. :)
They also gave us creme brulee as it was my boyfriend's birthday! Not the mini, bite-sized bowl of creme brulee either -- the thing was humongous. Even though I was breathing heavilly and struggling to chew, I put every last spoonful in my mouth. Hands down the best creme brulee I have ever eaten in my life. A thick, caramel top..I am salivating as I type this.
The check came out to be $140 including tax and tip. Worth every penny for a meal like this, on top of excellent service! The staff will certainly cater to their guests and ensure a delightful meal. If only I was a big baller and had the opportunity to come more often...*sigh.
Grade for B-Spot: Solid C: The B-Spot (San Diego, CA)
4646 Convoy Street ste#103
San Diego, California 92111
(858) 571-6038
I think I tried the B-Spot at an inopportune time: when I was starving and not thinking straight. Let me elaborate: I've seen a few plugs about the B-Spot and all its glory around Yelp and Facebook here and there, and the following keywords piqued my interest further: "cheap", "huge", "burgers" (though I suppose that just might have been one keyword...but nevermind). In any case, I thought of the B-Spot while my stomach was growling to be fed. The boyfriend agreed to try this place with me.
Note: We often like to try new places to eat in the hopes we find a new place we like even better; unfortunately, more often than not we end up being disappointed and chastising ourselves for being disloyal in the first place.
And we tried it -- and was somewhat disappointed. I was literally shaking from my hunger and my attention was immediately diverted to the "SPECIALS' board. Now, now, I am more than aware the specials board is usually a restaurant's way of advertising their most expensive meal, that if served, generates a 300% profit margin. I usually do not fall for this dastardly ploy, but on this specific day I was just THAT hungry. The day's special was the Fish Poboy, and I do love my fish sandwiches! It promised lettuce, tomato and colesaw on top of the sandwich. Coleslaw?? I thought, On top of a sandwich???
The boyfriend ordered some burger (sadly I do not remember), but it was $4.99 WITHOUT fries (why don't their burgers come with fries? I found it very strange).
We were the only customers in at this time and subsequently our orders did not take long to make. I was very disappointed with my fish sandwich...it was literally several pieces of fried fish -from Costco's freezer section, I suspect-, lettuce and tomato, and "coleslaw". The coleslaw consisted of heavy mayonaise slapped on top of a few pieces of lettuce. The bread outside was cold and not great. I definitely felt ripped off for $7.99!
I thought the boyfriend's burger was pretty good -- meat was thick, tender and juicy, but it was $4.99 without fries.
The service was fast and friendly - I think the owner was the cashier - and the NBA playoffs were on the TV; it was nice to enjoy the game with the meal. If I do come back --not sure I will--, I will stray far away from everything but the stuffed sandwiches since everyone seems to be a-raving bout them.
San Diego, California 92111
(858) 571-6038
I think I tried the B-Spot at an inopportune time: when I was starving and not thinking straight. Let me elaborate: I've seen a few plugs about the B-Spot and all its glory around Yelp and Facebook here and there, and the following keywords piqued my interest further: "cheap", "huge", "burgers" (though I suppose that just might have been one keyword...but nevermind). In any case, I thought of the B-Spot while my stomach was growling to be fed. The boyfriend agreed to try this place with me.
Note: We often like to try new places to eat in the hopes we find a new place we like even better; unfortunately, more often than not we end up being disappointed and chastising ourselves for being disloyal in the first place.
And we tried it -- and was somewhat disappointed. I was literally shaking from my hunger and my attention was immediately diverted to the "SPECIALS' board. Now, now, I am more than aware the specials board is usually a restaurant's way of advertising their most expensive meal, that if served, generates a 300% profit margin. I usually do not fall for this dastardly ploy, but on this specific day I was just THAT hungry. The day's special was the Fish Poboy, and I do love my fish sandwiches! It promised lettuce, tomato and colesaw on top of the sandwich. Coleslaw?? I thought, On top of a sandwich???
The boyfriend ordered some burger (sadly I do not remember), but it was $4.99 WITHOUT fries (why don't their burgers come with fries? I found it very strange).
We were the only customers in at this time and subsequently our orders did not take long to make. I was very disappointed with my fish sandwich...it was literally several pieces of fried fish -from Costco's freezer section, I suspect-, lettuce and tomato, and "coleslaw". The coleslaw consisted of heavy mayonaise slapped on top of a few pieces of lettuce. The bread outside was cold and not great. I definitely felt ripped off for $7.99!
I thought the boyfriend's burger was pretty good -- meat was thick, tender and juicy, but it was $4.99 without fries.
The service was fast and friendly - I think the owner was the cashier - and the NBA playoffs were on the TV; it was nice to enjoy the game with the meal. If I do come back --not sure I will--, I will stray far away from everything but the stuffed sandwiches since everyone seems to be a-raving bout them.
Los Promos - Muy Mal: Los Primos (San Diego, CA)
7770 Regents Rd # 109
San Diego, CA
(858) 638-0003
losprimosmexicanfood.com
I have never been so disappointed with Mexican food, and this counts Taco Bell. I paid close to $10 for a Monster Surf & Turf Burrito, and instead received something hastilly wrapped in overheated tortilla which closely resembled the microwavable burritos I purchase from Food 4 Less. On top of that, it was filled to the brim with beans--- where are the other fillings?? Are you kidding me? Also, the wait was terrible -- customers who came after me received their orders first. Next time, I'll save my money and head over to Vallarta's.
San Diego, CA
(858) 638-0003
losprimosmexicanfood.com
I have never been so disappointed with Mexican food, and this counts Taco Bell. I paid close to $10 for a Monster Surf & Turf Burrito, and instead received something hastilly wrapped in overheated tortilla which closely resembled the microwavable burritos I purchase from Food 4 Less. On top of that, it was filled to the brim with beans--- where are the other fillings?? Are you kidding me? Also, the wait was terrible -- customers who came after me received their orders first. Next time, I'll save my money and head over to Vallarta's.
No bueno: KalbiQ (San Diego, CA)
twitter.com/kalbiq
Alas, KalbiQ, our relationship was not meant to last. I had such high hopes for us, and envisioned our happy life together. But you tricked me with your LIES! What happened to your tacos, which used to be *reasonably* sized on Taco Tuesday? Why have they shrunk to the circumference of a tennis ball? -- and to top it off, where is the FILLING in these tacos? I ordered two tacos, not four slices of miniature tacos with half a teaspoon of sauce. I certainly hope they aren't this size for $2.50. The short rib burrito was decent, but relatively small for $6.
$.35 for credit card transaction fee? Your lives deceive me no more, as I am well aware it is illegal for merchants to charge a credit card surcharge in the state of California.
Sorry, KalbiQ, it's me -- not you. It just wasn't meant to be.
Alas, KalbiQ, our relationship was not meant to last. I had such high hopes for us, and envisioned our happy life together. But you tricked me with your LIES! What happened to your tacos, which used to be *reasonably* sized on Taco Tuesday? Why have they shrunk to the circumference of a tennis ball? -- and to top it off, where is the FILLING in these tacos? I ordered two tacos, not four slices of miniature tacos with half a teaspoon of sauce. I certainly hope they aren't this size for $2.50. The short rib burrito was decent, but relatively small for $6.
$.35 for credit card transaction fee? Your lives deceive me no more, as I am well aware it is illegal for merchants to charge a credit card surcharge in the state of California.
Sorry, KalbiQ, it's me -- not you. It just wasn't meant to be.
Siam Nara (San Diego, CA)
8993 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 566-1300
siamnara.com
This place was, say, an accidental discovery. I was on my way to get my frozen yogurt fix next door when I noticed a large crowd congregated outside a thai restaurant. I tried to peek in through the throngs of people; and you know what they say: if there's a big group of people waiting to eat at a restaurant, it must be good!
As such, the boyfriend and I decided to try it for our anniversary on a Friday around 6pm. There was no wait and the restaurant was half-empty, yet they decided to squeeze us into an inconveniently placed table where the sun outside nearly blinded my boyfriend by hitting him square in the eye.
"If another table clears up, we can change your tables," they promised. I looked around and there were plenty tables open (guess they didn't want to waste a four-person table on us two). Another one did, and we requested to be placed there, but they told us a reservation for four had just come in and they would place us elsewhere soon. Soon never came...ah well, the sun eventually set and my boyfriend's full vision was restored.
I was indecisive about what to order so I asked the waitress...but of course she would recommend the most expensive item on the menu...
We ordered:
-chicken skewers ($8) - you cannot mix and match the skewers (i.e. put 2 pork and 2 chicken ;( ). These were okay...fairly expensive when you only get four. I would not recommend it.
-pineapple fried rice - $12. It comes in half a pineapple, and this was delicious. They give you a fair amount of chicken, but I would want more pineapples. It is PINEAPPLE fried rice, after all.
-some curry my boyfriend ordered. It was slightly spicy and pretty good! ($8)
-thai ice tea ($2.50). Very good, but they cheap out by putting a lot of ice. They also try to trick you by asking if you want more without mentioning there's no free refill! Sneaky sneaky.
Overall, a pleasant experience. Attentive service as our waters never ran empty and they were prompt in taking away our empty dishes (except for their stingy seating...). Very nice decor. However, our meal totaled to about $40, which is just too expensive for thai food. Perhaps I will come back to try their lunch specials, and get more bang for my buck.
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 566-1300
siamnara.com
This place was, say, an accidental discovery. I was on my way to get my frozen yogurt fix next door when I noticed a large crowd congregated outside a thai restaurant. I tried to peek in through the throngs of people; and you know what they say: if there's a big group of people waiting to eat at a restaurant, it must be good!
As such, the boyfriend and I decided to try it for our anniversary on a Friday around 6pm. There was no wait and the restaurant was half-empty, yet they decided to squeeze us into an inconveniently placed table where the sun outside nearly blinded my boyfriend by hitting him square in the eye.
"If another table clears up, we can change your tables," they promised. I looked around and there were plenty tables open (guess they didn't want to waste a four-person table on us two). Another one did, and we requested to be placed there, but they told us a reservation for four had just come in and they would place us elsewhere soon. Soon never came...ah well, the sun eventually set and my boyfriend's full vision was restored.
I was indecisive about what to order so I asked the waitress...but of course she would recommend the most expensive item on the menu...
We ordered:
-chicken skewers ($8) - you cannot mix and match the skewers (i.e. put 2 pork and 2 chicken ;( ). These were okay...fairly expensive when you only get four. I would not recommend it.
-pineapple fried rice - $12. It comes in half a pineapple, and this was delicious. They give you a fair amount of chicken, but I would want more pineapples. It is PINEAPPLE fried rice, after all.
-some curry my boyfriend ordered. It was slightly spicy and pretty good! ($8)
-thai ice tea ($2.50). Very good, but they cheap out by putting a lot of ice. They also try to trick you by asking if you want more without mentioning there's no free refill! Sneaky sneaky.
Overall, a pleasant experience. Attentive service as our waters never ran empty and they were prompt in taking away our empty dishes (except for their stingy seating...). Very nice decor. However, our meal totaled to about $40, which is just too expensive for thai food. Perhaps I will come back to try their lunch specials, and get more bang for my buck.
Cookies Rule Everything Around Me: CREAM (Berkeley, CA)
2399 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510)649-1000
creamnation.com
Sigh, Berkeley really does have it all. If I attended Cal, surely I'd be poor and fat with so many tempting treats around...
I first noticed Cream (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me? What's up with the slogan?) walking through Telegraph for some eats. My first thought - they replaced Beard Papa with a cookie place? After noticing it was ice cream sandwiches, I was eager to try some on the walk back. After all, I am an avid fan of Diddy Riese near UCLA (where I had my first ice cream sandwich) and I am just an all-around sucker for sweets. Cream offers, chewy yet nicely toasted cookies encasing half a scoop of creamy ice-cream.
Good experience, will definitely be back to satiate my late-night dessert cravings!
P.S. The cashier told me I couldn't take pictures (why? It's not like ice cream sandwiches are such a novel concept...)
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510)649-1000
creamnation.com
Sigh, Berkeley really does have it all. If I attended Cal, surely I'd be poor and fat with so many tempting treats around...
I first noticed Cream (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me? What's up with the slogan?) walking through Telegraph for some eats. My first thought - they replaced Beard Papa with a cookie place? After noticing it was ice cream sandwiches, I was eager to try some on the walk back. After all, I am an avid fan of Diddy Riese near UCLA (where I had my first ice cream sandwich) and I am just an all-around sucker for sweets. Cream offers, chewy yet nicely toasted cookies encasing half a scoop of creamy ice-cream.
Good experience, will definitely be back to satiate my late-night dessert cravings!
P.S. The cashier told me I couldn't take pictures (why? It's not like ice cream sandwiches are such a novel concept...)
So You CAN Go Wrong With Pasta: Leucadia (San Diego, CA)
7748 Regents Rd
San Diego, CA 92122
(858)597-2222
leucadiapizza.com
My boyfriend and I came here after foolishly deciding to try something new (we get into these fits of madness where we try a new restaurant, mistakenly thinking it will miraculously become a new favorite. It never does.). We also had a dollar stretcher coupon from UCSD for free spaghetti with any purchase of an entree.
And so we ordered the Santa Fe pasta based on its description: Pieces of tender chicken, mixed bell peppers, onions and pasta. Mixed with our creamy-spicy Santa Fe Sauce, topped with Cilantro.
"This sounds good!" I suggested. My boyfriend nodded in agreement.
It wasn't good. This mysterious Santa Fe sauce tasted odd and left an unpleasant aftertaste. And not to toot my own horn, but my boyfriend claims I make better spaghetti. However, they do give you big portions.
They gave us a generous portion of garlic bread, but it was your average, run-of-the-mill garlic bread.
I don't think I would come back here again, simply because the food is not up to par and it isn't too cheap either. There are much better pasta places around. Step it up, Leucadia!
San Diego, CA 92122
(858)597-2222
leucadiapizza.com
My boyfriend and I came here after foolishly deciding to try something new (we get into these fits of madness where we try a new restaurant, mistakenly thinking it will miraculously become a new favorite. It never does.). We also had a dollar stretcher coupon from UCSD for free spaghetti with any purchase of an entree.
And so we ordered the Santa Fe pasta based on its description: Pieces of tender chicken, mixed bell peppers, onions and pasta. Mixed with our creamy-spicy Santa Fe Sauce, topped with Cilantro.
"This sounds good!" I suggested. My boyfriend nodded in agreement.
It wasn't good. This mysterious Santa Fe sauce tasted odd and left an unpleasant aftertaste. And not to toot my own horn, but my boyfriend claims I make better spaghetti. However, they do give you big portions.
They gave us a generous portion of garlic bread, but it was your average, run-of-the-mill garlic bread.
I don't think I would come back here again, simply because the food is not up to par and it isn't too cheap either. There are much better pasta places around. Step it up, Leucadia!
Regent's Pizza (San Diego, CA)
4150 Regents Park Row #170
San Diego, CA 92037
(858) 550-0406
regentspizza.com
I remember the first time I heard about Regents. It was when I just moved off campus my 3rd year of college, and I received a "welcome to the neighborhood!" letter from them, offering me a free cheese pizza. Thrilled, I claimed the offer and shared with my friends. From my first bite onward, I knew it would be a beautiful friendship.
Their pizzas are absolutely delicious -- I've never had a negative experience. The crust is crispy, cheese just the right amount, the sauce is never overpowering.
In addition, I only recently tried their chicken pesto pasta. For less than $8, the portion exceeds anything any restaurant chain (i.e. Cheesecake Factory, Buca di Beppo) has to offer. They don't skimp out on the meat either! From now on, Regents is my go-to pasta place.
Oh and one more thing - garlic knots! Warm crispy bread encasing gooey, warm cheese with just the right balance of garlic. A good sized basket for under $4.
San Diego, CA 92037
(858) 550-0406
regentspizza.com
I remember the first time I heard about Regents. It was when I just moved off campus my 3rd year of college, and I received a "welcome to the neighborhood!" letter from them, offering me a free cheese pizza. Thrilled, I claimed the offer and shared with my friends. From my first bite onward, I knew it would be a beautiful friendship.
Their pizzas are absolutely delicious -- I've never had a negative experience. The crust is crispy, cheese just the right amount, the sauce is never overpowering.
In addition, I only recently tried their chicken pesto pasta. For less than $8, the portion exceeds anything any restaurant chain (i.e. Cheesecake Factory, Buca di Beppo) has to offer. They don't skimp out on the meat either! From now on, Regents is my go-to pasta place.
Oh and one more thing - garlic knots! Warm crispy bread encasing gooey, warm cheese with just the right balance of garlic. A good sized basket for under $4.
Not Just Good Food: Chop Sooey Food Truck (San Diego, CA)
880 Harbor Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 929-0167
chopsooeytruck.com
After a long but exhilerating night of dancing in various clubs in downtown San Diego, our stomachs needed a little nourishment. We passed by Chop Sooey while stumbling back to our parking spot and our stomachs could not withstand our hunger pains any longer. We rushed to the window and ordered ourselves some food: the pulled pork quesadilla ($3) and 2 tacos -- I apologize, my memory fails me as to which kind ($5). We inhaled our food and it was absolutely delicious -- the perfect crispiness, with the perfect amount of meat and the perfect amount of seasoning. To top off our experience, the guy working was so kind to play "Who's That Chick" by David Guetta and Rihanna from our IPhone -- we had been badgering the DJ in the club to play it but he claimed he didn't have it (DIDN'T HAVE IT? WHAT KIND OF DJ ARE YOU??). And thus we danced like fools on the sidewalk singing with our mouths full. It was great.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 929-0167
chopsooeytruck.com
After a long but exhilerating night of dancing in various clubs in downtown San Diego, our stomachs needed a little nourishment. We passed by Chop Sooey while stumbling back to our parking spot and our stomachs could not withstand our hunger pains any longer. We rushed to the window and ordered ourselves some food: the pulled pork quesadilla ($3) and 2 tacos -- I apologize, my memory fails me as to which kind ($5). We inhaled our food and it was absolutely delicious -- the perfect crispiness, with the perfect amount of meat and the perfect amount of seasoning. To top off our experience, the guy working was so kind to play "Who's That Chick" by David Guetta and Rihanna from our IPhone -- we had been badgering the DJ in the club to play it but he claimed he didn't have it (DIDN'T HAVE IT? WHAT KIND OF DJ ARE YOU??). And thus we danced like fools on the sidewalk singing with our mouths full. It was great.
No to Nozomi (San Diego, CA)
4150 Regents Park Row # 190
La Jolla, CA 92037-9139
(858) 452-7778
gonozomi.com
Nozomi, Nozomi...where do I begin? I've only tried this place 2 times, the first time being a mediocre experience, but the second time -- I just don't know. It was a series of unfortunate events.
My friends and I were planning to grab a quick bite before hitting downtown San Diego for da dansings and da drinkings. What's closeby and won't cause our bellies to bulge out of our skin-tight clothing?? Sushi! Nozomi!
We, a party of 3, arrived on a Saturday at ~6:45 pm. We had meet up our friends at 8:30, so we figured there would be sufficient time to eat, get ready, and meet up in time. The restaurant was not too packed at this time. We were seated within 5 minutes of our arrival, but were not given menus until we requested them.
The waitress did not so much even glance in our direction to see if we were ready to order. I believe we spent the better part of 15 minutes idly staring off into space, until my friend waved his arms wildly to grab her attention.
We place our orders. 10 minutes go by. Then 20. Groups of people seated after us got their food orders, including a sashimi boat. Then 30...when it was the 35 minute park, I marched up to the cashier to ask them where our food was. As I was asking the cashier, our waitress said, "it's coming, it's coming!"
The owner (or who I assumed to be the owner) brought our rolls, apologizing profusively. "The food was there, it just wasn't served yet," she explained. What? So we were sitting here for nothing? "It's a busy day, everyone just started ordering their sushi at the same time!"
As it turns out, one of our rolls we ordered was made incorrectly so she gave us a sushi roll on the house. That slightly soothed our tempers.
The prices are admittedly a bit steep, but the presentation of the rolls were aesthetically appealing. The portions are decent when compared to the size-to-price ratio, but there are better sushi deals to be found near Convoy.
After we finished eating, we decided to go up to the cashier to pay to avoid any further unnecessary delays. Two of us were panicking at this point, knowing time was tickin' and we still had an entire makeover routine to undergo before we hit the bars.
My friend and I each had half a roll left, and we planned to bring it back...I suppose it was our fault for leaving the table, because they cleared it immediately (the service was so slow, but somehow they were extremely fast with cleaning up). Along with our food!! I almost cried.
The owner and our waitress once again apologized profusively and even offered to make us another roll, but at this point we were extremely, extremely late and we did not have any more time to spare. So as redemption, she gave us ice cream to go. Better than nothing, I suppose.
Our entire meal lasted over an hour, which is a lot considering we scarfed down half our rolls as fast as we could. I'm guessing this place is just extremely understaffed considering the restaurant was not that even that busy...the food isn't BAD, but I'm not sure I'll be coming back knowing how long the food takes to come.
La Jolla, CA 92037-9139
(858) 452-7778
gonozomi.com
Nozomi, Nozomi...where do I begin? I've only tried this place 2 times, the first time being a mediocre experience, but the second time -- I just don't know. It was a series of unfortunate events.
My friends and I were planning to grab a quick bite before hitting downtown San Diego for da dansings and da drinkings. What's closeby and won't cause our bellies to bulge out of our skin-tight clothing?? Sushi! Nozomi!
We, a party of 3, arrived on a Saturday at ~6:45 pm. We had meet up our friends at 8:30, so we figured there would be sufficient time to eat, get ready, and meet up in time. The restaurant was not too packed at this time. We were seated within 5 minutes of our arrival, but were not given menus until we requested them.
The waitress did not so much even glance in our direction to see if we were ready to order. I believe we spent the better part of 15 minutes idly staring off into space, until my friend waved his arms wildly to grab her attention.
We place our orders. 10 minutes go by. Then 20. Groups of people seated after us got their food orders, including a sashimi boat. Then 30...when it was the 35 minute park, I marched up to the cashier to ask them where our food was. As I was asking the cashier, our waitress said, "it's coming, it's coming!"
The owner (or who I assumed to be the owner) brought our rolls, apologizing profusively. "The food was there, it just wasn't served yet," she explained. What? So we were sitting here for nothing? "It's a busy day, everyone just started ordering their sushi at the same time!"
As it turns out, one of our rolls we ordered was made incorrectly so she gave us a sushi roll on the house. That slightly soothed our tempers.
The prices are admittedly a bit steep, but the presentation of the rolls were aesthetically appealing. The portions are decent when compared to the size-to-price ratio, but there are better sushi deals to be found near Convoy.
After we finished eating, we decided to go up to the cashier to pay to avoid any further unnecessary delays. Two of us were panicking at this point, knowing time was tickin' and we still had an entire makeover routine to undergo before we hit the bars.
My friend and I each had half a roll left, and we planned to bring it back...I suppose it was our fault for leaving the table, because they cleared it immediately (the service was so slow, but somehow they were extremely fast with cleaning up). Along with our food!! I almost cried.
The owner and our waitress once again apologized profusively and even offered to make us another roll, but at this point we were extremely, extremely late and we did not have any more time to spare. So as redemption, she gave us ice cream to go. Better than nothing, I suppose.
Our entire meal lasted over an hour, which is a lot considering we scarfed down half our rolls as fast as we could. I'm guessing this place is just extremely understaffed considering the restaurant was not that even that busy...the food isn't BAD, but I'm not sure I'll be coming back knowing how long the food takes to come.
This Would Be My Last Meal On Earth: The Buffet at The Bellagio (Las Vegas, NV)
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV
(877) 234-6358
BEST. F*^&ING BUFFET. IN VEGAS. Hands down.
Perhaps I am but a Vegas buffet noob; I've tried Planet Hollywood's Spice Market, the buffet in Caeser Palace, Rio's Carnival Buffet. I've also tried MGM's buffet, but that was quite a while ago and not fresh in my memory. In whatever case, I found something lacking in each of these buffets -- something that I could not grasp quite what it was, the je ne sais quoi that these buffets desperately needed. Everything that was missing, and then some, was found in the Buffet at the Bellagio.
I vividly recall our long journey there. We set out from the Palazzo, preparing ourselves for the cold, bitter winds of the desert. Our stomachs growling, our limbs fragile from our fatigue...but we kept our eyes on the prize, focusing on the glowing lights that was the Bellagio.
After what seemed like an eternity, we set foot in the Bellagio. But our hopes plummeted when seeing the line that snaked around the wall. "NOOO," we cried in devastation. "We'll NEVER get to eat!"
But we had made the long journey there, after all, so we sought to see it through. The minutes seemed like hours, ticking by at a snail's pace.
1.5 hours later, on a Sunday night, we reached the front of the line. $29.95 for dinner buffet! Not bad, not bad at all. We split our group of 8 into two small groups to avoid the mandatory 18% gratuity, and off we were!
I almost plowed the waiter over in my haste to collect my prizes. "Whoa, calm down there, miss!"
I threw a hasty, "sorry!" over my shoulder before continuing onto the beauty I would soon behold. I piled mountains of smoked salmon, crab legs, sashimi (I have never, ever before found sushi at a buffet good, but Bellagio is the exception to this rule). At the table, my friends and I ate in silence, only pausing to say one of the following sentences:
"This is good."
"Is that good?"
"You should try this, it's good."
Less than an hour later, we laid in our chairs, breathing heavily. I had to mentally tell myself to breathe, or else I'd forgot to. I believe I ate every single thing in the buffet...
Note: THE CREME BRULEE IS TO DIE FOR.
Ever since my visit, I have dreamt about this buffet. I kid you not. It was certainly the highlight of my trip to Vegas.
Las Vegas, NV
(877) 234-6358
BEST. F*^&ING BUFFET. IN VEGAS. Hands down.
Perhaps I am but a Vegas buffet noob; I've tried Planet Hollywood's Spice Market, the buffet in Caeser Palace, Rio's Carnival Buffet. I've also tried MGM's buffet, but that was quite a while ago and not fresh in my memory. In whatever case, I found something lacking in each of these buffets -- something that I could not grasp quite what it was, the je ne sais quoi that these buffets desperately needed. Everything that was missing, and then some, was found in the Buffet at the Bellagio.
I vividly recall our long journey there. We set out from the Palazzo, preparing ourselves for the cold, bitter winds of the desert. Our stomachs growling, our limbs fragile from our fatigue...but we kept our eyes on the prize, focusing on the glowing lights that was the Bellagio.
After what seemed like an eternity, we set foot in the Bellagio. But our hopes plummeted when seeing the line that snaked around the wall. "NOOO," we cried in devastation. "We'll NEVER get to eat!"
But we had made the long journey there, after all, so we sought to see it through. The minutes seemed like hours, ticking by at a snail's pace.
1.5 hours later, on a Sunday night, we reached the front of the line. $29.95 for dinner buffet! Not bad, not bad at all. We split our group of 8 into two small groups to avoid the mandatory 18% gratuity, and off we were!
I almost plowed the waiter over in my haste to collect my prizes. "Whoa, calm down there, miss!"
I threw a hasty, "sorry!" over my shoulder before continuing onto the beauty I would soon behold. I piled mountains of smoked salmon, crab legs, sashimi (I have never, ever before found sushi at a buffet good, but Bellagio is the exception to this rule). At the table, my friends and I ate in silence, only pausing to say one of the following sentences:
"This is good."
"Is that good?"
"You should try this, it's good."
Less than an hour later, we laid in our chairs, breathing heavily. I had to mentally tell myself to breathe, or else I'd forgot to. I believe I ate every single thing in the buffet...
Note: THE CREME BRULEE IS TO DIE FOR.
Ever since my visit, I have dreamt about this buffet. I kid you not. It was certainly the highlight of my trip to Vegas.
Don't Worry, It's Not Really A Strip Club: La Jolla Strip Club (San Diego, CA)
4282 Esplanade Court
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 450-1400
lajollasteak.com
My friend lured me with the prospect of a $10 10 oz. steak accompanied with garlic bread and salad. "$10 for a steak?!" I thought to myself, "What a deal!" So I agreed to meet her and her friends at La Jolla Strip Club.
Service was extremely slow as it took a while for someone to get our order; we flagged several people down who each hastilly hurried away with a reassurance someone would "soon be with us". At long last, someone took our order~ my friend and I split a 10 oz "grill your own steak" and the Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese (happy hour $7!)
Service continued to crawl by -- why did a few drinks take so long to get? Why did uncooked steak and garlic bread take so long to reach us? After 25-30 minutes of waiting, we finally had to get our food, which yes, we had to make ourselves.
The plus part is that the salad and garlic bread seemed to be unlimited - we asked for more and our waitress happily gave it to us. She was also very friendly and helpful for the moments she did tend to us.
And so we cooked our own steak; pretty cool how there is seasoning on the side to sprinkle on the steak. After I cooked mine to a medium rare, I plopped it down on my plate with my garlic bread to try. It wasn't anything exceptional--I've had better steak at other places-- and tasted like steak I could purchase at a nearby grocery store. But the garlic bread and salad were pretty good.
This place is definitely not worth it at their regular prices and not in big groups either (gratuity of 18%). But otherwise if you want to give it a go with a small party or with one other person it's a little fun. I DO want to go back to try the porterhouse steak (20 oz) because it looks huge!
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 450-1400
lajollasteak.com
My friend lured me with the prospect of a $10 10 oz. steak accompanied with garlic bread and salad. "$10 for a steak?!" I thought to myself, "What a deal!" So I agreed to meet her and her friends at La Jolla Strip Club.
Service was extremely slow as it took a while for someone to get our order; we flagged several people down who each hastilly hurried away with a reassurance someone would "soon be with us". At long last, someone took our order~ my friend and I split a 10 oz "grill your own steak" and the Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese (happy hour $7!)
Service continued to crawl by -- why did a few drinks take so long to get? Why did uncooked steak and garlic bread take so long to reach us? After 25-30 minutes of waiting, we finally had to get our food, which yes, we had to make ourselves.
The plus part is that the salad and garlic bread seemed to be unlimited - we asked for more and our waitress happily gave it to us. She was also very friendly and helpful for the moments she did tend to us.
And so we cooked our own steak; pretty cool how there is seasoning on the side to sprinkle on the steak. After I cooked mine to a medium rare, I plopped it down on my plate with my garlic bread to try. It wasn't anything exceptional--I've had better steak at other places-- and tasted like steak I could purchase at a nearby grocery store. But the garlic bread and salad were pretty good.
This place is definitely not worth it at their regular prices and not in big groups either (gratuity of 18%). But otherwise if you want to give it a go with a small party or with one other person it's a little fun. I DO want to go back to try the porterhouse steak (20 oz) because it looks huge!
Sin City's Finest: Earl of Sandwich (Las Vegas, NV)
3667 Las Vegas Blvd S # 760
Las Vegas, NV 89109-1955
(702) 463-0259
earlofsandwichusa.com
I ate here a total of 3 times this past weekend and every time was bliss.
1. Carribean Jerk Chicken - while good, this was not among my favorite. I didn't really like it and I had to drink a sip of water with each bite.
2. Earl's Club - MY OH MY THIS WAS GOOD. After a night of dancing, my very tired self demanded Earl's. I almost cried with happiness when I found out it was open 24/7! I inhaled the sandwich on the spot. Definitely my favorite sandwich of the bunch.
3. Full Montague - Delicious, delicious, delicious. While I am not normally a cheese person, somehow Earl makes the cheese on this sandwich heavenly.
I was also fortunate to try the limited edition Holiday Sandwich -- grilled turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. It tasted like Thanksgiving! A must try.
In order of my favorite to least favorite:
1. Earl's Club
2. The Holiday Sandwich
3. Full Montague
4. Hawaiian BBQ
5. Carribean Jerk Chicken
I love this place so much I truly believe it's better than the buffets in Vegas. It would be AWESOME if they had an Earl of Sandwich buffet...I would surely pay for it.
Las Vegas, NV 89109-1955
(702) 463-0259
earlofsandwichusa.com
I ate here a total of 3 times this past weekend and every time was bliss.
1. Carribean Jerk Chicken - while good, this was not among my favorite. I didn't really like it and I had to drink a sip of water with each bite.
2. Earl's Club - MY OH MY THIS WAS GOOD. After a night of dancing, my very tired self demanded Earl's. I almost cried with happiness when I found out it was open 24/7! I inhaled the sandwich on the spot. Definitely my favorite sandwich of the bunch.
3. Full Montague - Delicious, delicious, delicious. While I am not normally a cheese person, somehow Earl makes the cheese on this sandwich heavenly.
I was also fortunate to try the limited edition Holiday Sandwich -- grilled turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. It tasted like Thanksgiving! A must try.
In order of my favorite to least favorite:
1. Earl's Club
2. The Holiday Sandwich
3. Full Montague
4. Hawaiian BBQ
5. Carribean Jerk Chicken
I love this place so much I truly believe it's better than the buffets in Vegas. It would be AWESOME if they had an Earl of Sandwich buffet...I would surely pay for it.
No, It's Not A Typo: OHOP
3906 Convoy Street
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 565-1740
Original Pancake House
I believe I may have just tried the best pancakes in the world.
Okay--that may be too far of a stretch. What I mean is, I have tried the best pancakes I've ever eaten in my entire life. And I'm not a super big pancake fanatic either--as a matter of fact, I abhored pancakes as a child. But that is irrelevant.
I had the eggs benedict and switched out the potato pancakes for buttermilk. And I enjoyed my pancakes than the main entree itself...they were so delightfully fluffy, soft, and buttery. Accompanied by the thick syrup and I had myself a little mouthgasm.
The eggs benedict was alright, every eggs benedict from breakfast restaurant tastes similar to me. So OHOP's did not particularly stand out. Prices are average, with my meal around $10 (Pancakes as a meal by itself are $7-$8).
Service is fast as they try to get you in and out as quickly as possible. My friend and I were running late to meet our friends there (who were already seated), and they were pressuring them to order, which is understandable. When we did order, our meals did not lag far behind from when everyone else began digging in.
I will definitely come back to try more pancakes, but not in a bigger group (they add mandatory gratuity). It's good, but not good enough to fork over the extra cash.
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 565-1740
Original Pancake House
I believe I may have just tried the best pancakes in the world.
Okay--that may be too far of a stretch. What I mean is, I have tried the best pancakes I've ever eaten in my entire life. And I'm not a super big pancake fanatic either--as a matter of fact, I abhored pancakes as a child. But that is irrelevant.
I had the eggs benedict and switched out the potato pancakes for buttermilk. And I enjoyed my pancakes than the main entree itself...they were so delightfully fluffy, soft, and buttery. Accompanied by the thick syrup and I had myself a little mouthgasm.
The eggs benedict was alright, every eggs benedict from breakfast restaurant tastes similar to me. So OHOP's did not particularly stand out. Prices are average, with my meal around $10 (Pancakes as a meal by itself are $7-$8).
Service is fast as they try to get you in and out as quickly as possible. My friend and I were running late to meet our friends there (who were already seated), and they were pressuring them to order, which is understandable. When we did order, our meals did not lag far behind from when everyone else began digging in.
I will definitely come back to try more pancakes, but not in a bigger group (they add mandatory gratuity). It's good, but not good enough to fork over the extra cash.
Can't Go Wrong for $1: John's Ice Cream (Berkeley, CA)
2204 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 981-0370
I don't mean to rain on everybody's parade but while $1 for a scoop of ice cream is a spectacular deal, I wouldn't pay more than that for the ice cream. I tried different flavors--
1. Strawberry Cheesecake - pretty good, actually.
2. Green tea - why doesn't it taste like green tea?
3. Cake batter - tastes sort of strange, and had ice chunks in it...
My friend also had Cookies N Cream and it had ice chunks in it.
You get what you pay for! I LOVE how there's no tax though; don't have to dig up the extra dime or suffer an excessive amount of change in your pockets.
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 981-0370
I don't mean to rain on everybody's parade but while $1 for a scoop of ice cream is a spectacular deal, I wouldn't pay more than that for the ice cream. I tried different flavors--
1. Strawberry Cheesecake - pretty good, actually.
2. Green tea - why doesn't it taste like green tea?
3. Cake batter - tastes sort of strange, and had ice chunks in it...
My friend also had Cookies N Cream and it had ice chunks in it.
You get what you pay for! I LOVE how there's no tax though; don't have to dig up the extra dime or suffer an excessive amount of change in your pockets.
Cafe-styled sushi: Niban (San Diego, CA)
7081 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
Ste 101
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 268-0465
I've been here a total of two times. The first time was a-okay (I ordered a katsu don and it was only average), but the second time was commendable!
Certainly cheaper and serves larger portions than Sushi Deli. GREAT for college students! We ordered the:
-Crunchy Roll (I didn't know it came with cream cheese...I'm cheese-adverse so I didn't like the aftertaste in my mouth, but otherwise good).
-Dynamite Roll -- yum!
-Rainbow Roll - for $6.25, you can't get any better!
-Katsu bentobox - lots of food for cheap!
In conclusion, Niban is a great place for the average sushi-loving, budget-conscious college student. Cheap eats with huge servings! And while other Japanese restaurants charge for green tea (why? WHY? So-cal is WEIRD.), Niban does not, and offers free refills.
Keep in mind it's less of a restaurant, and more of a stand in-line to order, sit yourself, and have them bring the food to you. The longest wait is waiting in line to place your order. Service is also very friendly.
Ste 101
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 268-0465
I've been here a total of two times. The first time was a-okay (I ordered a katsu don and it was only average), but the second time was commendable!
Certainly cheaper and serves larger portions than Sushi Deli. GREAT for college students! We ordered the:
-Crunchy Roll (I didn't know it came with cream cheese...I'm cheese-adverse so I didn't like the aftertaste in my mouth, but otherwise good).
-Dynamite Roll -- yum!
-Rainbow Roll - for $6.25, you can't get any better!
-Katsu bentobox - lots of food for cheap!
In conclusion, Niban is a great place for the average sushi-loving, budget-conscious college student. Cheap eats with huge servings! And while other Japanese restaurants charge for green tea (why? WHY? So-cal is WEIRD.), Niban does not, and offers free refills.
Keep in mind it's less of a restaurant, and more of a stand in-line to order, sit yourself, and have them bring the food to you. The longest wait is waiting in line to place your order. Service is also very friendly.
BEST BURRITOS IN TOWN: Lucha Libre (San Diego, CA)
1810 W Washington St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 296-8226
tacosmackdown.com
If it's one thing I laud San Diego for, it's its burritos.
The best of the best I have eaten is Lucha Libre. Unbeknownst to me, I had been passing this place for over a year on the way to and from work. I discovered what I had been missing out on when the b-friend and I decided to try it one day.
Delightful decor, certainly not your average Mexican restaurant. We opted for a TJ dog and the Surf and Turf burrito . Our cashier was extremely friendly and the longest wait was in line to order, for our food came relatively fast. The SALSAS are the BEST. Fruity with a little tinge of spiciness? J'adore! (Sidenote: I took French in high school so I am unsure of how to say the equivalent in Spanish).
HANDS DOWN, BEST California burrito I've had in San Diego. For the price ($5-$6), you get the best bang for your buck--the burrito is huge and I always have to take the leftovers home for a snack later.
Note: parking is slightly difficult as it is hard to turn into the parking lot...no worries, there is some parking near the freeway entrance!
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 296-8226
tacosmackdown.com
If it's one thing I laud San Diego for, it's its burritos.
The best of the best I have eaten is Lucha Libre. Unbeknownst to me, I had been passing this place for over a year on the way to and from work. I discovered what I had been missing out on when the b-friend and I decided to try it one day.
Delightful decor, certainly not your average Mexican restaurant. We opted for a TJ dog and the Surf and Turf burrito . Our cashier was extremely friendly and the longest wait was in line to order, for our food came relatively fast. The SALSAS are the BEST. Fruity with a little tinge of spiciness? J'adore! (Sidenote: I took French in high school so I am unsure of how to say the equivalent in Spanish).
HANDS DOWN, BEST California burrito I've had in San Diego. For the price ($5-$6), you get the best bang for your buck--the burrito is huge and I always have to take the leftovers home for a snack later.
Note: parking is slightly difficult as it is hard to turn into the parking lot...no worries, there is some parking near the freeway entrance!
Big Servings, But That's About It: Guppy House (Irvine, CA)
2730 Alton Pkwy
Ste 101
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 851-9788
myguppyteahouse.com
I shudder in embarrassment when I recall the days when I was actually a Guppy's fan. I visited this place recently and my oh MY the service is horrible.
I suppose what the waiters and waitresses render as "service" here equates to apathetic college students who have really underwent absolutely no customer service training. To the servers: seriously, if you hate your job here so much --and I can only assume you hate your job because of the way you stick your noses up at your customers and the way you blatantly ignore us-- why don't you quit and find another job?
Sadly, the quality of the food does not make up for the service either.
Ste 101
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 851-9788
myguppyteahouse.com
I shudder in embarrassment when I recall the days when I was actually a Guppy's fan. I visited this place recently and my oh MY the service is horrible.
I suppose what the waiters and waitresses render as "service" here equates to apathetic college students who have really underwent absolutely no customer service training. To the servers: seriously, if you hate your job here so much --and I can only assume you hate your job because of the way you stick your noses up at your customers and the way you blatantly ignore us-- why don't you quit and find another job?
Sadly, the quality of the food does not make up for the service either.
Dessert in Class? Sounds alright to me: Class 302 (Rowland Heights, CA)
1015 S Nogales St
Ste 125
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 965-5809
Dear Class 302,
While I have been here several times before and know that while your shaved snow is all I ever dream about, I also know your service is nothing short of shoddy. However, I have been able to ignore this based on the sheer deliciousness of your shaved snow, and also for the fact that there is a lack of supply of other cafes/restaurants providing said shaved snow.
Unfortunately, I will have to make a note of my past visit to Class 302 because I am astonished at how far your servers will go to provide horrible service.
First, we (a party of 2, the bf and I) stood around for 5-10 minutes while your cashier raced around accomodating everybody BUT us. There was an open table right in front of us, but we were not told to sit down until after he noticed us looking pointedly at the table and looking rather annoyed. "Oh, you guys can sit there..." Hm. Thanks.
Second, why did we have to flag your waiters down to take our orders? Shouldn't THEY ask US?
Third, how on earth did the party of 6 get their food--actual food-- before our shaved snow when we were indeed the ones to order first? How does shaved snow take 20+ minutes to prepare?
Fourth, why did it take several reminders to get us our check?
Sadly, despite all my complaints, I will most likely return again. The shaved snow just cannot be missed. Their BBQ Stinky Tofu was also delicious.
Note: Cash only, which can be a pain. Make your trip to the ATM prior to your visit! And be prepared for unattentive service.
Ste 125
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 965-5809
Dear Class 302,
While I have been here several times before and know that while your shaved snow is all I ever dream about, I also know your service is nothing short of shoddy. However, I have been able to ignore this based on the sheer deliciousness of your shaved snow, and also for the fact that there is a lack of supply of other cafes/restaurants providing said shaved snow.
Unfortunately, I will have to make a note of my past visit to Class 302 because I am astonished at how far your servers will go to provide horrible service.
First, we (a party of 2, the bf and I) stood around for 5-10 minutes while your cashier raced around accomodating everybody BUT us. There was an open table right in front of us, but we were not told to sit down until after he noticed us looking pointedly at the table and looking rather annoyed. "Oh, you guys can sit there..." Hm. Thanks.
Second, why did we have to flag your waiters down to take our orders? Shouldn't THEY ask US?
Third, how on earth did the party of 6 get their food--actual food-- before our shaved snow when we were indeed the ones to order first? How does shaved snow take 20+ minutes to prepare?
Fourth, why did it take several reminders to get us our check?
Sadly, despite all my complaints, I will most likely return again. The shaved snow just cannot be missed. Their BBQ Stinky Tofu was also delicious.
Note: Cash only, which can be a pain. Make your trip to the ATM prior to your visit! And be prepared for unattentive service.
Oh no: Onami (San Diego, CA)
1640 Camino Del Rio N
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 295-9774
o-nami.com
My good friend Peter N. and I stumbled into this restaurant while listlessly wandering around the mall one day. Fatigued and slightly starving, we spotted an oasis up ahead -- Onami's sushi buffet! We scurried to the front door to take a glimpse at the prices. YIKES! $25 for dinner? A big no-no for our college-student wallets. We vowed to come back to try at lunch, which we did within two weeks on a Friday ($14.95).
We thought we were so clever. "Har-har," we cackled to each other. "We're eating the same buffet for so much cheaper! He he he!" Clasping our hands and laughing maniacally, we began our eating adventure with grabbing a plate.
There's many a sushi selection to choose from. Crunchy roll, tempura roll, California roll, spicy tuna roll, something called the "burrito roll" (interesting), unagi, and some special rolls which the chefs probably made up. There was even sashimi! Additional food available were beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, udon, bulgogi, egg rolls...etc etc. All were so-so, except for the udon, which was fairly decent. There was also quite a few desserts to choose from -- cheesecake, fruits dipped in chocolate, green tea cake, sponge cake, cookies-- but my favorite was the green tea ice cream. Fruits and salads as well.
BUT -- where's the seafood??
Turns out that the lunch buffet is $10 cheaper for a reason. There was no seafood, except for baked mussels (which frankly, were sub par). No crab legs, no lobster, no oysters...sigh.
So for $15 + tax + tip, you're not getting much for your money. The sushi is decent, but perhaps better spent at an actual sushi restaurant. The hot food is certainly not something to rave about. The desserts were decent; the cheesecake and white chocolate dipped apple were pretty good.
If you are torn between whether or not to try Onami's, I would not suggest it unless you have money to blow and just want to stuff yourself silly. In that case, I recommend my favorite item in the whole buffet -- the green tea ice cream.
P.S. I have to hand it to the customer service, though, our empty plates were always immediately collected and our servers were extremely pleasant.
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 295-9774
o-nami.com
My good friend Peter N. and I stumbled into this restaurant while listlessly wandering around the mall one day. Fatigued and slightly starving, we spotted an oasis up ahead -- Onami's sushi buffet! We scurried to the front door to take a glimpse at the prices. YIKES! $25 for dinner? A big no-no for our college-student wallets. We vowed to come back to try at lunch, which we did within two weeks on a Friday ($14.95).
We thought we were so clever. "Har-har," we cackled to each other. "We're eating the same buffet for so much cheaper! He he he!" Clasping our hands and laughing maniacally, we began our eating adventure with grabbing a plate.
There's many a sushi selection to choose from. Crunchy roll, tempura roll, California roll, spicy tuna roll, something called the "burrito roll" (interesting), unagi, and some special rolls which the chefs probably made up. There was even sashimi! Additional food available were beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, udon, bulgogi, egg rolls...etc etc. All were so-so, except for the udon, which was fairly decent. There was also quite a few desserts to choose from -- cheesecake, fruits dipped in chocolate, green tea cake, sponge cake, cookies-- but my favorite was the green tea ice cream. Fruits and salads as well.
BUT -- where's the seafood??
Turns out that the lunch buffet is $10 cheaper for a reason. There was no seafood, except for baked mussels (which frankly, were sub par). No crab legs, no lobster, no oysters...sigh.
So for $15 + tax + tip, you're not getting much for your money. The sushi is decent, but perhaps better spent at an actual sushi restaurant. The hot food is certainly not something to rave about. The desserts were decent; the cheesecake and white chocolate dipped apple were pretty good.
If you are torn between whether or not to try Onami's, I would not suggest it unless you have money to blow and just want to stuff yourself silly. In that case, I recommend my favorite item in the whole buffet -- the green tea ice cream.
P.S. I have to hand it to the customer service, though, our empty plates were always immediately collected and our servers were extremely pleasant.
Burgers Galore: Hodad's (San Diego, CA)
5010 Newport Avenue
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
(619) 224-4623
hodadies.com
After a failed attempt to another restaurant, my boyfriend and I were debating where to bring our respective group of friends who were visiting for the weekend. We wanted to bring them to a place in SD where they could tell their friends upon returning back, "We went to ___ and it was great!"
We had never gone but had heard of Hodad's. We decided to try it, and we were not unhappy. The restaurant is decorated with a plethora of license plates (have fun playing the license plate punching game!) and decorations everywhere. It was pretty crowded when we went, but they were able to find us a long table for our group of 12 to sit at. The waitress was friendly and service was prompt. We ordered our meals (hamburgers, cheeseburgers, bacon-cheeseburger, etc, ranging from $5-$10, and fries, onion rings, or FRINGS) relatively quickly. The Frings arrived pretty quickly -- a delicious blend of fries (more like seasoned potato wedges..AHH soo goodd) and crispy onion rings! I like, I like. I also took a sip of my friend's chocolate milkshake--definitely worth getting.
However, the food took a while to arrive--probably because we were a large group and they wanted to have all our orders out at the same time. The most impressive part of our visit was the waiter stacking 12 burgers in his arms and carrying them over to our table! What a sight; we even took a picture. The burgers were HUGE and there was a moment of silence while everybody inhaled their food.
Hodad's is definitely a place worth visiting again! Service is friendly, the restaurant is fun, and what is better than good food in good company.
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
(619) 224-4623
hodadies.com
After a failed attempt to another restaurant, my boyfriend and I were debating where to bring our respective group of friends who were visiting for the weekend. We wanted to bring them to a place in SD where they could tell their friends upon returning back, "We went to ___ and it was great!"
We had never gone but had heard of Hodad's. We decided to try it, and we were not unhappy. The restaurant is decorated with a plethora of license plates (have fun playing the license plate punching game!) and decorations everywhere. It was pretty crowded when we went, but they were able to find us a long table for our group of 12 to sit at. The waitress was friendly and service was prompt. We ordered our meals (hamburgers, cheeseburgers, bacon-cheeseburger, etc, ranging from $5-$10, and fries, onion rings, or FRINGS) relatively quickly. The Frings arrived pretty quickly -- a delicious blend of fries (more like seasoned potato wedges..AHH soo goodd) and crispy onion rings! I like, I like. I also took a sip of my friend's chocolate milkshake--definitely worth getting.
However, the food took a while to arrive--probably because we were a large group and they wanted to have all our orders out at the same time. The most impressive part of our visit was the waiter stacking 12 burgers in his arms and carrying them over to our table! What a sight; we even took a picture. The burgers were HUGE and there was a moment of silence while everybody inhaled their food.
Hodad's is definitely a place worth visiting again! Service is friendly, the restaurant is fun, and what is better than good food in good company.
C-Level Gets An A: C-Level (San Diego, CA)
880 Harbor Island Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 298-6802
islandprime.com
I had initially wanted to take my boyfriend elsewhere for a fancy dinner, but something came up and we were unable to make it -- and I'm very glad, as otherwise we would have not stumbled upon C-Level!
After days of meticulous thought and research, I thumbed through pages and pages of reviews from different websites for a good place to eat in San Diego. C-Level was one of them, and I utilized it as a backup plan in case the other restaurant did not pan out. I read bits from various reviews, even one raving a San Diego visit is wasted if C-Level is not included.
We arrive at the restaurant and were immediately greeted by two hostesses. After a brief 15 minute wait, we were led to a booth inside.
"The outside looks so nice!" I gasped, and we requested to be moved outside. The VERY friendly manager (reminded me of Ken from Toy Story 3--he had a smile on his face which matched his persona. You know these people are good if they look like they want nothing more than to make your dining experience nothing short of excellent.) said it would be no problem; within several minutes, we had a table. Sitting down, I spied another table near the window/edge of the water.
"Can we sit THERE instead?" I pointed. The hostess smiled and said she would see if we could. She returned later with "it's not a problem!".
I have to say, this is the only way to dine--by the San Diego Bay waterfront. The view was breath-taking and I snapped dozens of pictures, much like a tourist.
Everything on the menu also looked delicious! After much deliberating we ordered--
1. Some appetizer with clams and mussels. SO GOOD. They certainly did not skimp out on the quantity. They were also soaked in a broth which we soaked our bread in. After we were done with the seafood, our waitress brought out more bread...YUM.
2. Herb-something onion rings. These were not too great, I actually regret ordering them.
3. Lobster BLT w/ Lobster Bisque. I very much enjoyed my sandwich--a very interesting combination as I've never had lobster in a sandwich before. Certainly were generous with the lobster! The bisque was very good, extremely creamy. Unfortunately, it was too overwhelming for my taste buds after the first few spoonfuls.
4. The bf got the filet mignon, which was accompanied by mashed potatoes w/ goat cheese, and string onions. Filet mignon was a little smaller than the size of my fist, and while the meat was extremely tender, I felt the sauce was too salty. The string potatoes were very good! I'm not a big fan of cheese so the goat cheese was extremely cheesy for me.
5. A glass of champagne.
Service was VERY good! They never let our water cups went empty and Ken (I shall dub him this name, for I do not know his actual one) came out to ask how our meal was going. Our waitress was super nice and attentive.
My next visit shall be during their happy hour, which ends at 5:30. They have appetizers for $5!
I am taking off one star because while the food was delicious and the service more than I could ask for, it's on the pricier side for a college student such as myself. The bill came out to be approximately $77 dollars for everything we ordered. However, I do say it was worth it for the view + quality of the food.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 298-6802
islandprime.com
I had initially wanted to take my boyfriend elsewhere for a fancy dinner, but something came up and we were unable to make it -- and I'm very glad, as otherwise we would have not stumbled upon C-Level!
After days of meticulous thought and research, I thumbed through pages and pages of reviews from different websites for a good place to eat in San Diego. C-Level was one of them, and I utilized it as a backup plan in case the other restaurant did not pan out. I read bits from various reviews, even one raving a San Diego visit is wasted if C-Level is not included.
We arrive at the restaurant and were immediately greeted by two hostesses. After a brief 15 minute wait, we were led to a booth inside.
"The outside looks so nice!" I gasped, and we requested to be moved outside. The VERY friendly manager (reminded me of Ken from Toy Story 3--he had a smile on his face which matched his persona. You know these people are good if they look like they want nothing more than to make your dining experience nothing short of excellent.) said it would be no problem; within several minutes, we had a table. Sitting down, I spied another table near the window/edge of the water.
"Can we sit THERE instead?" I pointed. The hostess smiled and said she would see if we could. She returned later with "it's not a problem!".
I have to say, this is the only way to dine--by the San Diego Bay waterfront. The view was breath-taking and I snapped dozens of pictures, much like a tourist.
Everything on the menu also looked delicious! After much deliberating we ordered--
1. Some appetizer with clams and mussels. SO GOOD. They certainly did not skimp out on the quantity. They were also soaked in a broth which we soaked our bread in. After we were done with the seafood, our waitress brought out more bread...YUM.
2. Herb-something onion rings. These were not too great, I actually regret ordering them.
3. Lobster BLT w/ Lobster Bisque. I very much enjoyed my sandwich--a very interesting combination as I've never had lobster in a sandwich before. Certainly were generous with the lobster! The bisque was very good, extremely creamy. Unfortunately, it was too overwhelming for my taste buds after the first few spoonfuls.
4. The bf got the filet mignon, which was accompanied by mashed potatoes w/ goat cheese, and string onions. Filet mignon was a little smaller than the size of my fist, and while the meat was extremely tender, I felt the sauce was too salty. The string potatoes were very good! I'm not a big fan of cheese so the goat cheese was extremely cheesy for me.
5. A glass of champagne.
Service was VERY good! They never let our water cups went empty and Ken (I shall dub him this name, for I do not know his actual one) came out to ask how our meal was going. Our waitress was super nice and attentive.
My next visit shall be during their happy hour, which ends at 5:30. They have appetizers for $5!
I am taking off one star because while the food was delicious and the service more than I could ask for, it's on the pricier side for a college student such as myself. The bill came out to be approximately $77 dollars for everything we ordered. However, I do say it was worth it for the view + quality of the food.
Put A Little SOUL In It: Bonnie Jean's Soul Food Cafe (San Diego)
1964 54th St
San Diego, CA 92105
Neighborhoods: Rolando, Oak Park
(619) 262-8854
bonniejeanssoulfood.com
I looooovelovelovelove soul food. And after a friend recommended this place after seeing its ratings on Yelp, we all decided to trek all the way there to enjoy some good food with good company.
Upon setting food inside the restaurant, I notice that it is very homey. Nothing like what you would expect a restaurant to look like. in the front, there is a shop with cards and other miscellaneous merchandise, and random tables scattered here and there. They sat us down and handed us all menus; the servers were all pleasant and friendly.
We ordered our respective meals, and our server tells us there would be a 20 minute wait for them to cook the chicken. This is understandable, since we did have a big group, the majority of which who ordered chicken.
I am the type of person who gets rather unpleasant on an empty stomach. I have three phases: 1) the beginning pangs of hunger, where I whine about how empty my stomach is starting to feel, 2) apathy, where I can no longer summon the energy to maintain a conversation, and 3) anger. Anger is where I snap at every mistake the waiter makes, and complain loudly where my food is -- well, let's just say it's not a pretty sight and I am not proud of it.
The clock slowly ticked 20 minutes, 30 minutes, then eventually 40 minutes. I was on the verge of Apathy and Anger. Anger almost busted out, but fortunately, they brought out our food and Anger buried itself back inside.
I ordered the Chicken with Waffle, smothered. Note to any other yelpers: I had assumed smothered meant gravy on top of fried chicken, but nope, it is just chicken covered with gravy. The waffle was light, fluffy, and crispy on the outside -- very delightful! The chicken itself was succulent and extremely tasty. I also got to try my companion's foods: the deep fried pickles were REALLY good, and while I am averse to Mac-and-Cheese (yes, I know, I know, appalling), the deep fried Mac-and-Cheese were something to swoon about. The mashed potatoes were among the best I have tasted, as was the coleslaw. I also tried the fried chicken, and have to agree it far surpasses my smothered chicken. Reminder to self: if I should ever return, I will get the FRIED chicken.
Overall, not a bad experience.
San Diego, CA 92105
Neighborhoods: Rolando, Oak Park
(619) 262-8854
bonniejeanssoulfood.com
I looooovelovelovelove soul food. And after a friend recommended this place after seeing its ratings on Yelp, we all decided to trek all the way there to enjoy some good food with good company.
Upon setting food inside the restaurant, I notice that it is very homey. Nothing like what you would expect a restaurant to look like. in the front, there is a shop with cards and other miscellaneous merchandise, and random tables scattered here and there. They sat us down and handed us all menus; the servers were all pleasant and friendly.
We ordered our respective meals, and our server tells us there would be a 20 minute wait for them to cook the chicken. This is understandable, since we did have a big group, the majority of which who ordered chicken.
I am the type of person who gets rather unpleasant on an empty stomach. I have three phases: 1) the beginning pangs of hunger, where I whine about how empty my stomach is starting to feel, 2) apathy, where I can no longer summon the energy to maintain a conversation, and 3) anger. Anger is where I snap at every mistake the waiter makes, and complain loudly where my food is -- well, let's just say it's not a pretty sight and I am not proud of it.
The clock slowly ticked 20 minutes, 30 minutes, then eventually 40 minutes. I was on the verge of Apathy and Anger. Anger almost busted out, but fortunately, they brought out our food and Anger buried itself back inside.
I ordered the Chicken with Waffle, smothered. Note to any other yelpers: I had assumed smothered meant gravy on top of fried chicken, but nope, it is just chicken covered with gravy. The waffle was light, fluffy, and crispy on the outside -- very delightful! The chicken itself was succulent and extremely tasty. I also got to try my companion's foods: the deep fried pickles were REALLY good, and while I am averse to Mac-and-Cheese (yes, I know, I know, appalling), the deep fried Mac-and-Cheese were something to swoon about. The mashed potatoes were among the best I have tasted, as was the coleslaw. I also tried the fried chicken, and have to agree it far surpasses my smothered chicken. Reminder to self: if I should ever return, I will get the FRIED chicken.
Overall, not a bad experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)