BBQ:
Lightnin' Jack's BBQ
Phil's BBQ
Burgers (local):
Boomerang's
Crazy Burger
Hodad's
Johnny B's
Neighborhood
Burgers (franchise):
A&W
Burger Lounge
Fatburger
Fuddruckers
In-N-Out Burger
McDonald's
Rally's
Cheesesteaks:
Alex's Brown Bag
Gaglione Brothers
Chinese / Japanese:
Chow Noodle House
Emerald Seafood
Jasmine
S & M
Shogun
Deli:
DZ Akins
Fish:
Brigantine
King's Fish House
Red Lobster
The Fishery
The Little Fish Market
The Tin Fish
Todai Seafood Buffet
Hot Dogs:
Chicago on a Bun
Tommy's Original Burgers
Woodie's Chili Dogs
Italian:
Buca di Beppo
Marechiaro's
Olive Garden
Pat & Oscar's
Pizzeria Luigi
Tommy's Italian
Mexican:
Casa de Pico
El Indio
El Pollo Grill
Microbreweries:
Gordon Biersch
Karl Strauss
Other (local):
Studio Diner
Other (franchise):
Chili's
Claim Jumpers
Popeyes
Soup Plantation
Sandwiches:
Submarina
Togo's
No. 157
Neighborhood (Burgers, Beer, Wine)
We first saw this place (during construction) driving by on the way back from court, then Union Trib writer Peter Rowe did a column about it and since we were downtown again yesterday, we stopped by to check it out.
We got there 15 minutes early (it opens at Noon) but Valerie-from-Texas, the opening server, was gracious enough to allow us to sit at the bar and look at the menu until everything was ready.
It's an impressive place.
The biggest thing you'll notice is a gi-normous floor-to-ceiling tile mural of the downtown skyline and a large scale painting of Sigmund Freud holding a hamburger (sometimes a burger is just a burger?) on another wall.
There are other similar paintings around the room; Jimi Hendrix with burger, Mona Lisa with burger, several others we couldn't identify and another painting of Jesus Christ himself (with burger). The wife also tells me that there's a painting of Marilyn Monroe (with burger) in the Ladies room but there aren't any paintings in the Men's room.
There's also a quote by Frank Zappa on the wall behind the large custom built, laminated bar, an imposing item itself. I forgot to write it down but will when I stop by for a second visit (and update this posting). A couple of other oversized features are the huge window which swings open to let the breeze in and a single large flat screen TV, which we applaud as there are way too many bars out there with big screen TV's no matter where you look...
Getting down to the real nuts & bolts of the operation: there are 27 beers on tap (and another coming soon). Valerie tells us that they offer 3 different beer samplers (small glasses of 4 different beers) such as San Diego microbrews, another featuring Belgian beers and another featuring strong ales.
Too bad I was doing the driving or I would have tried one...
There are also numerous bottled beers and even the currently hot (but very retro) PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon).
And there are 8 taps for wines, as well as a huge wine rack on the wall.
Most of the soft drinks are in cans or plastic bottles but they do have Mexican Coke in the glass bottle as well as IBC Root Beer & Cream Soda.
We split an order of the Pale Ale battered Onion Rings, which were H-U-G-E, easily the biggest O-rings I've ever had and they were served with Mustard Seed Mayo with Chives for dipping. There were only maybe half a dozen of them but we couldn't finish them between the both of us.
I also ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger, a hand formed patty served on a Ciabatta roll with wild mushrooms in a red wine (Marsala) reduction sauce. It was pretty good (big, too) and came with a small bag of their freshly made potato chips. I also drank an IBC Root Beer in the glass bottle.
The wife had the Herb Roasted Garlic Chicken Wrap which came with Asian Cole Slaw with Sesame Soy Dressing and brought home a third of it (also huge). As the wife rarely drinks with her meals, she had a glass of iced water, which was served with a slice of either zucchini or cucumber (not sure) but the wife found the idea delightful...
Our total bill was $25.71 and as I only had $32 on me (the last of the money my mom gave us to build the Woodie Weenie Wagon), I made it an even $32, I'm now officially broke (thanks, Steve!)...
I asked about their Kosher Dog (it came from LA) and the menu also features numerous appetizers and other eclectic items (including a $9 grilled cheese sandwich!) but the print is way too small for me to be able to read their To Go menu (even with my reading glasses) and they don't have a web site yet...
We first saw this place (during construction) driving by on the way back from court, then Union Trib writer Peter Rowe did a column about it and since we were downtown again yesterday, we stopped by to check it out.
We got there 15 minutes early (it opens at Noon) but Valerie-from-Texas, the opening server, was gracious enough to allow us to sit at the bar and look at the menu until everything was ready.
It's an impressive place.
The biggest thing you'll notice is a gi-normous floor-to-ceiling tile mural of the downtown skyline and a large scale painting of Sigmund Freud holding a hamburger (sometimes a burger is just a burger?) on another wall.
There are other similar paintings around the room; Jimi Hendrix with burger, Mona Lisa with burger, several others we couldn't identify and another painting of Jesus Christ himself (with burger). The wife also tells me that there's a painting of Marilyn Monroe (with burger) in the Ladies room but there aren't any paintings in the Men's room.
There's also a quote by Frank Zappa on the wall behind the large custom built, laminated bar, an imposing item itself. I forgot to write it down but will when I stop by for a second visit (and update this posting). A couple of other oversized features are the huge window which swings open to let the breeze in and a single large flat screen TV, which we applaud as there are way too many bars out there with big screen TV's no matter where you look...
Getting down to the real nuts & bolts of the operation: there are 27 beers on tap (and another coming soon). Valerie tells us that they offer 3 different beer samplers (small glasses of 4 different beers) such as San Diego microbrews, another featuring Belgian beers and another featuring strong ales.
Too bad I was doing the driving or I would have tried one...
There are also numerous bottled beers and even the currently hot (but very retro) PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon).
And there are 8 taps for wines, as well as a huge wine rack on the wall.
Most of the soft drinks are in cans or plastic bottles but they do have Mexican Coke in the glass bottle as well as IBC Root Beer & Cream Soda.
We split an order of the Pale Ale battered Onion Rings, which were H-U-G-E, easily the biggest O-rings I've ever had and they were served with Mustard Seed Mayo with Chives for dipping. There were only maybe half a dozen of them but we couldn't finish them between the both of us.
I also ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger, a hand formed patty served on a Ciabatta roll with wild mushrooms in a red wine (Marsala) reduction sauce. It was pretty good (big, too) and came with a small bag of their freshly made potato chips. I also drank an IBC Root Beer in the glass bottle.
The wife had the Herb Roasted Garlic Chicken Wrap which came with Asian Cole Slaw with Sesame Soy Dressing and brought home a third of it (also huge). As the wife rarely drinks with her meals, she had a glass of iced water, which was served with a slice of either zucchini or cucumber (not sure) but the wife found the idea delightful...
Our total bill was $25.71 and as I only had $32 on me (the last of the money my mom gave us to build the Woodie Weenie Wagon), I made it an even $32, I'm now officially broke (thanks, Steve!)...
I asked about their Kosher Dog (it came from LA) and the menu also features numerous appetizers and other eclectic items (including a $9 grilled cheese sandwich!) but the print is way too small for me to be able to read their To Go menu (even with my reading glasses) and they don't have a web site yet...
No. 156
Tabu Sushi Bar & Grill
A local (El Cajon) business owner pointed us at this place and we checked it out tonight. After we were seated, we took several minutes to look over the menu before our server appeared. He was a young Mexican guy and he handled the drinks by the rim, our only complaint.
We had the Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura (4 shrimp, an onion ring, a piece of broccoli, red bell pepper and yam or sweet potato), the Vegetable Tempura platter (the same, only more), a California Roll for the wife and Boy (not my cup o' tea) and we all split the Beef Teriyaki Platter (with rice, a small salad with a ginger dressing and a cup of Japanese style minimalist onion soup).
The Boy had a Coke, I had an iced tea and the wife had a pot of hot tea.
Most of the food was fair to good (especially the Beef with mushrooms in a sweet sauce) but I do take issue with the size of the veggies (way too big - isn't it all supposed to be eaten with chop sticks?) and the doneness of several pieces (the bell pepper and sweet potatoes).
The bill was $49 plus, and with a $7 tip (and coin), it came out to $57 exactly.
A local (El Cajon) business owner pointed us at this place and we checked it out tonight. After we were seated, we took several minutes to look over the menu before our server appeared. He was a young Mexican guy and he handled the drinks by the rim, our only complaint.
We had the Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura (4 shrimp, an onion ring, a piece of broccoli, red bell pepper and yam or sweet potato), the Vegetable Tempura platter (the same, only more), a California Roll for the wife and Boy (not my cup o' tea) and we all split the Beef Teriyaki Platter (with rice, a small salad with a ginger dressing and a cup of Japanese style minimalist onion soup).
The Boy had a Coke, I had an iced tea and the wife had a pot of hot tea.
Most of the food was fair to good (especially the Beef with mushrooms in a sweet sauce) but I do take issue with the size of the veggies (way too big - isn't it all supposed to be eaten with chop sticks?) and the doneness of several pieces (the bell pepper and sweet potatoes).
The bill was $49 plus, and with a $7 tip (and coin), it came out to $57 exactly.
It's a small, crowded, noisy place but it sure beats a lot of other Japanese style places around here.
Both the wife and the Boy liked it all and say they'll go back. It's in an older, congested strip mall so parking is hard to find and we missed the late dinner rush by minutes so it'll be during a lull if and when we visit a second time.
Their web site: www.tabusushibar.com
No. 155
The Brew House @ Eastlake:
The wife applied for a job at this place, months ago, before it ever opened.
Anyway, she had a catering gig about a mile from this place last night and having a few minutes to spare (and hungry), I stopped by to check it out.
It's a cavernous place with at least 11 large flat screen TVs around the top of the room. The Olympics opening ceremony was playing on 4 of them and a Padres baseball game and Vikings football game on the others.
And it was L-O-U-D (totally unrelated music from speakers in the ceiling)!
I had forgotten to grab my reading glasses from the truck and had to ask the waitress about the menu, settling on a well done mushroom cheeseburger (with Swiss cheese), mayo on the side, an order of Frings (fries and O rings) and a Hefeweizen. The waitress said the mushroom burger also came with sauteed onions, which I asked her to hold.
When the food came, I had to scrape the congealed sauteed mushrooms off (and realized there were only a few mushrooms), I had to ask for mustard and catsup (and a second time for the side of mayo), the O rings were generic and warm but the fries were already cold. The burger was well done, at least, but it was just one more generic Angus beef patty...
The beer was good (a 16 ounce serving with a wedge of lemon).
I asked for the check as soon as the food arrived as I was getting tight for time and laid a $20 bill on the table. When the waitress brought my change, she laid 3 one dollar bills on the table (I never would have ordered what I did at those prices)...
Overall, service was slipshod, the food was generic bar fare (and expensive), the ambience was just too noisy (hey, I'm old!), the lighting too dim to read the menu (hey, I'm old!) and virtually the entire staff was less than 30 years old (no wonder the wife didn't get hired)...
The wife applied for a job at this place, months ago, before it ever opened.
Anyway, she had a catering gig about a mile from this place last night and having a few minutes to spare (and hungry), I stopped by to check it out.
It's a cavernous place with at least 11 large flat screen TVs around the top of the room. The Olympics opening ceremony was playing on 4 of them and a Padres baseball game and Vikings football game on the others.
And it was L-O-U-D (totally unrelated music from speakers in the ceiling)!
I had forgotten to grab my reading glasses from the truck and had to ask the waitress about the menu, settling on a well done mushroom cheeseburger (with Swiss cheese), mayo on the side, an order of Frings (fries and O rings) and a Hefeweizen. The waitress said the mushroom burger also came with sauteed onions, which I asked her to hold.
When the food came, I had to scrape the congealed sauteed mushrooms off (and realized there were only a few mushrooms), I had to ask for mustard and catsup (and a second time for the side of mayo), the O rings were generic and warm but the fries were already cold. The burger was well done, at least, but it was just one more generic Angus beef patty...
The beer was good (a 16 ounce serving with a wedge of lemon).
I asked for the check as soon as the food arrived as I was getting tight for time and laid a $20 bill on the table. When the waitress brought my change, she laid 3 one dollar bills on the table (I never would have ordered what I did at those prices)...
Overall, service was slipshod, the food was generic bar fare (and expensive), the ambience was just too noisy (hey, I'm old!), the lighting too dim to read the menu (hey, I'm old!) and virtually the entire staff was less than 30 years old (no wonder the wife didn't get hired)...
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