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)...
No. 154
Yeung's Place in La Mesa
I saw an ad for this place in the paper this morning, while I was waiting for the wife to do the weekly grocery shopping. After she put it all away, I convinced her to go with me to check it out.
The location is a small hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall, their second, and they are also marketing a line of Chinese sauces (see the web site address below).
It's clean, the woman behind the counter was personable, everything is cooked to order and it was decently priced as well...
We ordered the #3 combination plate ($7.40) with Kung Pao Chicken (the stir fry veggies were mainly carrots and celery), 6 nuggets of Sweet & Sour Chicken and nondescript Fried Rice. We also ordered the small Fried Shrinp (3 for $3.80), but they were really just deep fried donuts of shrimp pieces. We also had the small Egg Rolls (2 for $4.25) and they were large, the batter was heavy and the predominant vegetable was lots of cabbage.
And I had a can of Coke for a total of $17.99 plus $2 tip...
The trouble with writing something like this is that I have to be fair so I have to admit that I don't care much for chicken (the wife did the ordering) and I have to balance it against many, many other restaurants we've eaten at over time. We've had some wonderful, wonderful Chinese food over the years, but most of it is only mediocre and that's what we'd have to say about this place.
We'll be back, at least to try something on the menu that isn't chicken, but this certainly isn't anywhere near the best we've had here, much less when we lived in The City or Silicon Valley...
Their sauce web site: www.lewsgourmet.com
PS: And since they are in the sauce business, wouldn't you think that that's what they'd serve at their own place instead of those little plastic packets of soy sauce?
UPDATE: The Boy and I visited them a second time a couple of days later. This time, we had the Mongolian Beef, an order of their deluxe fried rice, the egg rolls and 3 Cokes. The deluxe fried rice was adequate and the beef sauce was good but that's it for me...
I saw an ad for this place in the paper this morning, while I was waiting for the wife to do the weekly grocery shopping. After she put it all away, I convinced her to go with me to check it out.
The location is a small hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall, their second, and they are also marketing a line of Chinese sauces (see the web site address below).
It's clean, the woman behind the counter was personable, everything is cooked to order and it was decently priced as well...
We ordered the #3 combination plate ($7.40) with Kung Pao Chicken (the stir fry veggies were mainly carrots and celery), 6 nuggets of Sweet & Sour Chicken and nondescript Fried Rice. We also ordered the small Fried Shrinp (3 for $3.80), but they were really just deep fried donuts of shrimp pieces. We also had the small Egg Rolls (2 for $4.25) and they were large, the batter was heavy and the predominant vegetable was lots of cabbage.
And I had a can of Coke for a total of $17.99 plus $2 tip...
The trouble with writing something like this is that I have to be fair so I have to admit that I don't care much for chicken (the wife did the ordering) and I have to balance it against many, many other restaurants we've eaten at over time. We've had some wonderful, wonderful Chinese food over the years, but most of it is only mediocre and that's what we'd have to say about this place.
We'll be back, at least to try something on the menu that isn't chicken, but this certainly isn't anywhere near the best we've had here, much less when we lived in The City or Silicon Valley...
Their sauce web site: www.lewsgourmet.com
PS: And since they are in the sauce business, wouldn't you think that that's what they'd serve at their own place instead of those little plastic packets of soy sauce?
UPDATE: The Boy and I visited them a second time a couple of days later. This time, we had the Mongolian Beef, an order of their deluxe fried rice, the egg rolls and 3 Cokes. The deluxe fried rice was adequate and the beef sauce was good but that's it for me...
Then there's this...
Mr Frank Webster, we received your message and appreciate your taking the time to contact Pepperidge Farm.
At this time, there are no plans to bring back the Molasses Crisps Cookies.
However, we have forwarded your comments on to the appropriate department.
We appreciate feedback like yours because it helps us become aware of consumer preferences and concerns.
Thank you for visiting the Pepperidge Farm website.
Pepperidge Farm Web Team
At this time, there are no plans to bring back the Molasses Crisps Cookies.
However, we have forwarded your comments on to the appropriate department.
We appreciate feedback like yours because it helps us become aware of consumer preferences and concerns.
Thank you for visiting the Pepperidge Farm website.
Pepperidge Farm Web Team
Another one bites the dust...
Our local panini palace is gone.
When I drove by the other night, the sign out front had been covered over with a sheet of black plastic and the stuff that was in the front windows appears to have been stripped out...
RIP Rosanna's Panini Grill 2007 - 2008
UPDATE: 30 January 2008
Rosanna's Panini is going to be a chocolate shop.
Evidently the business was built for the daughter but she didn't want anything to do with it so he sold it to the new people...
Their web site: www.dallmannconfections.com
When I drove by the other night, the sign out front had been covered over with a sheet of black plastic and the stuff that was in the front windows appears to have been stripped out...
RIP Rosanna's Panini Grill 2007 - 2008
UPDATE: 30 January 2008
Rosanna's Panini is going to be a chocolate shop.
Evidently the business was built for the daughter but she didn't want anything to do with it so he sold it to the new people...
Their web site: www.dallmannconfections.com
Number 153:
El Ranchero Factory Taco Shop
This is a new place, in El Cajon, in the same building Tijuana Taco Shop used to be in (and, coincidentally, they serve Tijuana style tacos).
They have been working on the building for the last month (I stopped by to check it out when the new sign went up) and they opened on Monday.
The menu is simple: tacos, burritos, soup & fruit flavored drinks (raspados).
For the tacos, burritos, etc, you have a choice of pot roast (barbacoa), fish, shrimp, carne asada and cabeza (head meat, which they refer to as cheeks).
There are the usual side dishes such as beans and rice, they have a full salsa bar and the other items you'd expect, such as brand name sodas and beer.
For my visit, I had the carne asada taco, a shrimp taco and a Coke (in the can).
The carne asada was a little too well done for me (or maybe old), the cilantro was too dominant and it was too spicy from the sauce they added in the kitchen (the guy who took my order said it was mild).
The shrimp may have been past their prime and the salsa was also too spicy.
They tossed me a side of fresh, hot rice as well.
The total was $8.77, a bit too pricey for a couple of tacos and a Coke and I now see I was charged for a second shrimp taco, which I did not get.
The carne asada taco is $2.25 on the menu board, the shrimp taco is $2.50 and the Coke was only 85 cents...
Parking is tight, there are 6 stools at the counter, 4 four top tables and one 4 seat booth, I was their only customer and it was already after 11:00 AM.
They have several other locations (2 in Chula Vista and 1 in San Diego) but apparently there is no web site.
UPDATE: 9 January 2008
The wife and I dropped by for lunch today and my opinion has changed for the better. Without the hot sauce, everything was just about perfect.
I had a barbacoa taco and another shrimp taco. The wife had a carne asada taco and a fish taco. We both agree the barbacoa is probably their best.
Again, the carne asada was tough, meaning it may be overcooked or old.
And they set out free chips for their salsa bar and we thoroughly enjoyed both salsas (in moderation); a green chili verde style and the other salsa had a nice smoky flavor, even if both were a little to hot for me...
Number 152:
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood:
We were celebrating the Boy's promotion and having a nice meal as well...
I had the jumbo prawn cocktail (they were the size of small lobsters), a very nice Dungeness crab Louie and an iced tea (which unfortunately had mango flavoring), the wife had the halibut with chipotle sauce and baby fingerling potatoes with hot tea and the Boy had a small bowl of lobster bisque (they both said it was great), the swordfish with mashed potatoes and a Sprite.
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood:
We were celebrating the Boy's promotion and having a nice meal as well...
I had the jumbo prawn cocktail (they were the size of small lobsters), a very nice Dungeness crab Louie and an iced tea (which unfortunately had mango flavoring), the wife had the halibut with chipotle sauce and baby fingerling potatoes with hot tea and the Boy had a small bowl of lobster bisque (they both said it was great), the swordfish with mashed potatoes and a Sprite.
The prawns were excellent, the crab was wonderful (even the wife liked it), the halibut rates right up there with the best she's ever had but the Boy was slightly disappointed with the swordfish as it was a little dry.
The bread and butter were also excellent, an essential ingredient with crab louie, our total was $115 and change and I tossed in a $20 bill for the tip.
Architecturally, the place was stunning (it's in the Omni Hotel, right behind PetCo Park and across from the Convention Center), service was almost perfect, it only cost us a buck to park, we made good time in both directions and we all agree we'd go back again.
This was on our Restaurants To Do list and there are only 7 more places (3 steak houses, 3 fish houses and an Italian place) before we're done checking out everything of interest to us...
Their web site: www.mccormickandschmicks.com
PS: So the wife says to me "I thought you'd order black tea, brew it in the pot, then ask for a glass of ice and some lemon"...
Doh!
Number 151:
Antonelli's Deli in El Cajon (on the border of Santee):
NOTE: That's only half of a 12 inch sandwich above...
I've been meaning to check this place out for quite some time now as the Boy eats there fairly often (it's close to where he works).
Their T-shirts says they've been around since 1984.
The place isn't much to look at on the outside; no sidewalks, a dirt lot out front, a small paved parking lot and it's in an older building but inside, it's a lot of serious tile work and a good sized staff.
They're open 6 days a week (closed Sunday).
And they close at 4:00 PM every day so it's a breakfast and lunch thing only.
I ordered the large (12 inch) well done roast beef sub with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo and it's huge; approximately the size and weight of the Sunday paper, easily a couple of pounds, all for only $8.95 plus tax.
I brought it home to share with the wife and just a half sandwich covered an entire picnic plate.
I ate my half (and drank a 7-Up) but she cut her half in half again and will have the other part between classes tonight (not bad, 3 meals for $8.95)...
The beef had good flavor, the bread was mediocre, tomatoes are always bad here, I'm not much for shredded lettuce but I'll stop by at least once more to give it a second try (I'll ask the Boy what he normally has there)...
I asked the girl behind the counter if she knew the Boy (she did but couldn't remember what he usually orders).
And apparently they don't have a web site...
Number 150:
Fred's Old Fashioned Burgers in Alpine:
There's no need to check the settings on your monitor and no, the image hasn't been Photo Shopped; that's the real deal.
It's the 2 pound Alpine Monster Burger ($9.95) and the Boy and I finally made it over there yesterday to check it out.
It's a 2 lb patty of ground beef very much like you'd make at home, served on a grilled sesame seed bun and topped with 6 slices of American cheese, a number of slices of tomato, lettuce, onion and thousand island dressing.
Fred (above) tells us he bought this place approximately 3 years ago now and that he used to run Beef & Bun in nearby La Mesa and before that, he was with Arby's for a number of years.
The menu also has regular size burgers, hot dogs, onion rings, etc but we didn't get a chance to sample anything but this beast and didn't even get halfway through it (we split a small fries and had 2 sodas for $15.71 total)...
The Leftovers: Ya gotta be hungry, real hungry!
Fred's Old Fashioned Burgers
2754 Alpine Blvd.
Alpine, Ca. 91909
(619) 445-1264
Number 149:
Pernicano's Italian Restaurant in El Cajon
Pernicano's is a locally owned small chain with maybe half a dozen locations. The original one is in Hillcrest and has sat vacant for over 10 years now, since the founder retired (he's in his 90's now). He hasn't done anything with the building (it's a great location) other than keep it up to code and repair the damage when it gets vandalized (repeatedly) as he says all of his memories are there, such as visits from many Hollywood types, like Frank Sinatra...
The original one was started in 1946 but the one here in El Cajon is nowhere near that old. I'd never eaten there before although the Boy had as it's right across the street from the local Ford dealership and when we first got here, we had to have the dealer reconnect the Ford Ranger's U-joint at the rear axle, which was removed to tow it from Squarefield. As dealerships generally move at the speed of a glacier, he found himself waiting around through lunch time and popped across the street for a bite.
He wasn't impressed and neither am I although the wife enjoyed her torpedo sandwich with side salad. I had a small pepperoni pizza and an iced tea.
Our total was $24.48 and the server's name was Bri (your guess is as good as mine; is it Brittany, Bridget, Brianna or maybe even Brian?). Even after putting my empty tea glass on the very edge of the table, then asking for more tea when she didn't get the hint, another server finally came around with a pitcher of tea, no ice, so I had to ask for that too, and the check...
Pernicano's is a locally owned small chain with maybe half a dozen locations. The original one is in Hillcrest and has sat vacant for over 10 years now, since the founder retired (he's in his 90's now). He hasn't done anything with the building (it's a great location) other than keep it up to code and repair the damage when it gets vandalized (repeatedly) as he says all of his memories are there, such as visits from many Hollywood types, like Frank Sinatra...
The original one was started in 1946 but the one here in El Cajon is nowhere near that old. I'd never eaten there before although the Boy had as it's right across the street from the local Ford dealership and when we first got here, we had to have the dealer reconnect the Ford Ranger's U-joint at the rear axle, which was removed to tow it from Squarefield. As dealerships generally move at the speed of a glacier, he found himself waiting around through lunch time and popped across the street for a bite.
He wasn't impressed and neither am I although the wife enjoyed her torpedo sandwich with side salad. I had a small pepperoni pizza and an iced tea.
Our total was $24.48 and the server's name was Bri (your guess is as good as mine; is it Brittany, Bridget, Brianna or maybe even Brian?). Even after putting my empty tea glass on the very edge of the table, then asking for more tea when she didn't get the hint, another server finally came around with a pitcher of tea, no ice, so I had to ask for that too, and the check...
Number 148
Dakota Grill & Spirits
901 Fifth Ave
San Diego, Ca.
(619) 234-5554
16 ounce ribeye steak with sherry demi glaze (L), chipotle butter for corn (R)
We've been meaning to check this place out for some time as Robbin, one of the wife's co-workers from La Jolla Country Club has been there forever.
The bread basket was fairly amusing with a nice, crunchy crust on the warm white bread, dark bread similar to the squaw bread at Outback Steak House, with a taste of honey and multiple grains and their own whipped butter.
Our appetizers were bacon wrapped sea scallops with sauteed mushrooms and a balsamic reduction (absolutely superb) and the 5 onion soup (I love French Onion Soup and have eaten it virtually everywhere we've had the chance and I have to admit that this is one of the best we've ever tasted).
We ordered the 16 ounce ribeye, medium well, as per the wife's instructions and split it (it was huge, with enough left over for Dog Boy's dinner).
I had the grilled corn on the cob with chipotle lime butter for $4.95 (yeah, I know, $5 for an ear of corn) and the Darla had garlic mashed potatoes.
And, as usual, I had an iced tea and the wife ordered a pot of hot tea.
They "comped" the appetizers, everything was great, service was impeccable (of course) so we left Robbin a fairly nice tip. Parking wasn't so reasonable: $10 for just over an hour, but at least it was right around the corner
And I should probably also mention the piano bar...
The web site: www.cohnrestaurants.com/cohn/cohnrestaurants/dakota.php
UPDATE: 2 February 2008
We took the Boy with us for our second visit last night and had essentially the same meal except the wife ordered the halibut with a Parmesan / Potato crust. It was all excellent, of course. Fries were mediocre and $5 a pop...
901 Fifth Ave
San Diego, Ca.
(619) 234-5554
16 ounce ribeye steak with sherry demi glaze (L), chipotle butter for corn (R)
We've been meaning to check this place out for some time as Robbin, one of the wife's co-workers from La Jolla Country Club has been there forever.
The bread basket was fairly amusing with a nice, crunchy crust on the warm white bread, dark bread similar to the squaw bread at Outback Steak House, with a taste of honey and multiple grains and their own whipped butter.
Our appetizers were bacon wrapped sea scallops with sauteed mushrooms and a balsamic reduction (absolutely superb) and the 5 onion soup (I love French Onion Soup and have eaten it virtually everywhere we've had the chance and I have to admit that this is one of the best we've ever tasted).
We ordered the 16 ounce ribeye, medium well, as per the wife's instructions and split it (it was huge, with enough left over for Dog Boy's dinner).
I had the grilled corn on the cob with chipotle lime butter for $4.95 (yeah, I know, $5 for an ear of corn) and the Darla had garlic mashed potatoes.
And, as usual, I had an iced tea and the wife ordered a pot of hot tea.
They "comped" the appetizers, everything was great, service was impeccable (of course) so we left Robbin a fairly nice tip. Parking wasn't so reasonable: $10 for just over an hour, but at least it was right around the corner
And I should probably also mention the piano bar...
The web site: www.cohnrestaurants.com/cohn/cohnrestaurants/dakota.php
UPDATE: 2 February 2008
We took the Boy with us for our second visit last night and had essentially the same meal except the wife ordered the halibut with a Parmesan / Potato crust. It was all excellent, of course. Fries were mediocre and $5 a pop...
Number 147:
Los Panchos:
Not to be confused with other Los Panchos across the state, Dos Panchos, Aiberto's, Alberto's, Adalberto's, Berto's, Ramberto's, Roberto's, etc).
This unit, on Broadway in El Cajon, is one of at least 10 local outlets and was an Arby's until a couple of years ago.
And I was pleasantly surprised by my visit as we have one very close to the house and yet we've never bothered to check it out before...
Their specialty seems to be some serious Mexican soups and I'll be taking the wife there soon to do the research as she's a serious soup freak. The best appears to be the Siete Mares (7 Seas) and features 7 different seafoods.
There's also the Mexican equivalent of a jumbo shrimp cocktail, only with octopus as well as the prawns.
I was there for lunch however and had the standard Gringo Combinacion # 1: a beef taco, cheese enchilada, beans and rice ($6.25). The taco was as good as any I've ever had although the beans were not quite hot enough for me.
I'm not a big fan of the cheese enchilada and can offer no real comment here.
With a soda and tax, the total was $8.23 and I tossed the coin in the tip jar...
Update: Later that afternoon, the wife and I stopped by for the 7 Seas Soup.
It was a bit spicy (red pepper flakes), the octopus tentacles were a bit chewy, there was a lot of shrimp and the crab leg was almost rubber (boiling caused the shell to go soft) so we couldn't crack it open. The total was just over $10, it was a huge bowl (she didn't finish it) but she says she'll be back for more...
Not to be confused with other Los Panchos across the state, Dos Panchos, Aiberto's, Alberto's, Adalberto's, Berto's, Ramberto's, Roberto's, etc).
This unit, on Broadway in El Cajon, is one of at least 10 local outlets and was an Arby's until a couple of years ago.
And I was pleasantly surprised by my visit as we have one very close to the house and yet we've never bothered to check it out before...
Their specialty seems to be some serious Mexican soups and I'll be taking the wife there soon to do the research as she's a serious soup freak. The best appears to be the Siete Mares (7 Seas) and features 7 different seafoods.
There's also the Mexican equivalent of a jumbo shrimp cocktail, only with octopus as well as the prawns.
I was there for lunch however and had the standard Gringo Combinacion # 1: a beef taco, cheese enchilada, beans and rice ($6.25). The taco was as good as any I've ever had although the beans were not quite hot enough for me.
I'm not a big fan of the cheese enchilada and can offer no real comment here.
With a soda and tax, the total was $8.23 and I tossed the coin in the tip jar...
Update: Later that afternoon, the wife and I stopped by for the 7 Seas Soup.
It was a bit spicy (red pepper flakes), the octopus tentacles were a bit chewy, there was a lot of shrimp and the crab leg was almost rubber (boiling caused the shell to go soft) so we couldn't crack it open. The total was just over $10, it was a huge bowl (she didn't finish it) but she says she'll be back for more...
Number 146:
Westcoaster BBQ & Catering:
I recently read about this place and finally got a chance to check it out.
Evidently, the principals had been caterers before retiring, did the permanent travel thing, got bored with it and decided to get back into the rib game.
They advertise themselves as West Coast Style so I emailed to ask what kind of wood they use, a trick question because a few places we've checked out here calling themselves "west coast style" used no wood of any kind.
Olga emailed back this afternoon to say they use oak and that yes, I can get the meat with no sauce or on the side.
After I dropped the wife off at her Tuesday evening class, I stopped by. The customers appeared to be stacked out the front door and onto the patio so I slid past them to ask if they had a single seat for me (yes).
I ordered a combo platter ($15.99) with baby back ribs, a nice slab of beef brisket and the pulled pork. For side orders, I had the beans and wedge cut fries. And, of course, there was the mandatory iced tea.
When they brought my tea (and before I had placed my order), they also brought a warm roll with sesame seeds, poppy seeds and butter.
The food arrived quickly and it was kind of a mixed bag as the beef was great and the sauce is easily the best I've had in years but the ribs weren't cooked near enough and bordered on tough, the beans and wedge cuts were both under done and the pulled pork wasn't really pulled so much as it had been worked over with the meat cleaver. I could smell the smoke the minute I walked into the front door but the only place I tasted it was in the ribs.
They also included a BBQ house specialty; several burnt ends, the best part of the meal.
I recently read about this place and finally got a chance to check it out.
Evidently, the principals had been caterers before retiring, did the permanent travel thing, got bored with it and decided to get back into the rib game.
They advertise themselves as West Coast Style so I emailed to ask what kind of wood they use, a trick question because a few places we've checked out here calling themselves "west coast style" used no wood of any kind.
Olga emailed back this afternoon to say they use oak and that yes, I can get the meat with no sauce or on the side.
After I dropped the wife off at her Tuesday evening class, I stopped by. The customers appeared to be stacked out the front door and onto the patio so I slid past them to ask if they had a single seat for me (yes).
I ordered a combo platter ($15.99) with baby back ribs, a nice slab of beef brisket and the pulled pork. For side orders, I had the beans and wedge cut fries. And, of course, there was the mandatory iced tea.
When they brought my tea (and before I had placed my order), they also brought a warm roll with sesame seeds, poppy seeds and butter.
The food arrived quickly and it was kind of a mixed bag as the beef was great and the sauce is easily the best I've had in years but the ribs weren't cooked near enough and bordered on tough, the beans and wedge cuts were both under done and the pulled pork wasn't really pulled so much as it had been worked over with the meat cleaver. I could smell the smoke the minute I walked into the front door but the only place I tasted it was in the ribs.
They also included a BBQ house specialty; several burnt ends, the best part of the meal.
Our favorite baby back rib recipe:
Salt & pepper rub
At least an hour of indirect hickory smoking (two hours would be better)
Low & slow the rest of the afternoon, 225 to 250 degrees in the oven
Kick it up to 350 degrees for the last hour
It's that simple!
It makes the meat so tender it really does just fall off of the bone and they'd be almost perfect with their sauce recipe (on the side, of course)...
Although the sign says maximum occupation is 42.9 people (I have to ask: exactly how does a supposedly intelligent fire inspector come up with that number?), there are 50 seats inside, a small room with mostly 2 top tables and mirrors on the end wall to make it look much larger than it really is...
There are also enough seats outside to fit maybe a dozen more people.
And I should mention that most of their clientele are in their 60's on up...
Service was quick and efficient although the waitress took forever to refill my iced tea glass. The total was just over $20 so I left the change and a couple of bucks more for the tip and brought the rest back here for the wife's lunch (and a second opinion) tomorrow.
Their web site: www.westcoastcater.com
UPDATE: The wife liked the sauce but says it's just a little too sweet for her. We used it and the "pulled" pork to make a sandwich on a generic hot dog bun and it was quite good. She (and Dog Boy) both loved the beef brisket and she agreed with me that the ribs really need to be cooked low & slow...
There are also enough seats outside to fit maybe a dozen more people.
And I should mention that most of their clientele are in their 60's on up...
Service was quick and efficient although the waitress took forever to refill my iced tea glass. The total was just over $20 so I left the change and a couple of bucks more for the tip and brought the rest back here for the wife's lunch (and a second opinion) tomorrow.
Their web site: www.westcoastcater.com
UPDATE: The wife liked the sauce but says it's just a little too sweet for her. We used it and the "pulled" pork to make a sandwich on a generic hot dog bun and it was quite good. She (and Dog Boy) both loved the beef brisket and she agreed with me that the ribs really need to be cooked low & slow...
Another Eureka Moment!
I'm not lovin' it...
For years, McDonald's pricing structure has been somewhat of a mystery to me. For example, why does a Big Mac cost so much more, when all it is is a little more beef and a differently sliced bun, than their quarter pounder?
And many of you know how I railed about their always cold fries until I figured out to order them with no salt...
Today, I cracked the code on the last problem I've had with them: how to get a simple burger (no cheese), for a reasonable price (hey, us senior citizens don't eat much so why should we pay more for less?).
By now, almost everyone is aware of their long term special, the 99 cent double cheeseburger. For years, I've tried to convince them to sell me a single, small burger (no cheese) for 99 cents (it used to be 59 cents), a lot less food than that double cheeseburger for the same price but no, they insist I pay them a buck 29 or so when I can actually get more food for less money (the 99 cent double cheeseburger).
This time, I ordered a couple of the double cheeseburgers (hold the cheese on the side), took out the second burger patty on each, and had 2 burgers for 99 cents each, with a couple of patties left over to feed the dog twice and enough cheese to make 4 grilled cheese sandwiches as well.
I made it a point to show the manager on duty what I was doing and why.
He, of course, pointed out that he does not set policy and that perhaps I should pass this along to corporate but the chances of them understanding it or effecting such a policy are almost infinitesimal...
For years, McDonald's pricing structure has been somewhat of a mystery to me. For example, why does a Big Mac cost so much more, when all it is is a little more beef and a differently sliced bun, than their quarter pounder?
And many of you know how I railed about their always cold fries until I figured out to order them with no salt...
Today, I cracked the code on the last problem I've had with them: how to get a simple burger (no cheese), for a reasonable price (hey, us senior citizens don't eat much so why should we pay more for less?).
By now, almost everyone is aware of their long term special, the 99 cent double cheeseburger. For years, I've tried to convince them to sell me a single, small burger (no cheese) for 99 cents (it used to be 59 cents), a lot less food than that double cheeseburger for the same price but no, they insist I pay them a buck 29 or so when I can actually get more food for less money (the 99 cent double cheeseburger).
This time, I ordered a couple of the double cheeseburgers (hold the cheese on the side), took out the second burger patty on each, and had 2 burgers for 99 cents each, with a couple of patties left over to feed the dog twice and enough cheese to make 4 grilled cheese sandwiches as well.
I made it a point to show the manager on duty what I was doing and why.
He, of course, pointed out that he does not set policy and that perhaps I should pass this along to corporate but the chances of them understanding it or effecting such a policy are almost infinitesimal...
Heineken's Draft Mini Keg (5.0 liter)
I've went through 2 of these and they varied widely in the amount of beer in each keg, the ratio of foam to beer and my overall impression of them.
Heineken's web site says they should yield approximately 20 (twenty) 8 oz pours (a buck each) but I got much more than that in the first one (21 pours using a 12 oz pilsner glass). The web site: http://heinekendraughtkeg.com/
In the case of the second keg, I only got maybe 12 or 13 (I couldn't believe it was already gone) and at that rate, it would be over $1.50 per 12 oz glass...
And according to my calculations (5.0 liters divided by 12 ounces), you should get a little over 23 pours (or just UNDER a buck a glass).
I suspect that the second keg may have been tapped at the liquor store or somewhere else along the way since the pour spout mechanism is just like a spray can nozzle and there's no way to prevent such a thing (no real seal)...
Heineken designed the keg to see service in a number of countries (USA, Mexico and France) and uses a system of icons rather than language so the little pamphlet that comes with the keg is next to useless. For instance, the web site says the keg should be refrigerated for 10 hours before you use it yet the icon simply shows a clock face with an arrow running around the outside, starting at zero and ending at 10, with no explanation at all.
What that does (using it too soon) is produce a pour of maybe 70% head (foam) and 30% beer.
On the second keg, it was close to 50 / 50 at first but in both cases, by the end of the keg, there was almost no head at all...
There's a small internal CO2 cannister that makes sure the carbonation lasts throughout the entire keg but it imparts a slight flavor toward the end as well.
And, maybe the correct way to use this product is to have a draft for your first beer, then switch to whatever you normally drink the rest of the night...
And, if you once again "do the math", you'll find that this is no bargain, no matter how you slice it as the kegs sell from $19.95 to $21.95, depending on where you buy them. That works out to over $1.50 a glass when you factor in the foam, differing numbers of pours from keg to keg, significantly higher than what you'd pay by buying a 6 pack of Heineken in the glass bottles at either $4.99 or even $5.99 (a buck a beer or even less if you get it on sale).
Finally, a little keg of your own does have a certain amount of cachet and I imagine most people will do the same thing I did; that is, pop for one or two of them and then that'll be that as the "numbers" just aren't there, no way.
Of course, mishandling beer (temperature fluctuations and exposure to light) can give it that strong, skunky nose and flavor, something which is virtually impossible in an aluminum keg...
UPDATE: 19 November 2007 - I've seen the mini kegs on sale now, for as little as $15.99, and they don't appear to be selling that well so I suspect their days are numbered...
Heineken's web site says they should yield approximately 20 (twenty) 8 oz pours (a buck each) but I got much more than that in the first one (21 pours using a 12 oz pilsner glass). The web site: http://heinekendraughtkeg.com/
In the case of the second keg, I only got maybe 12 or 13 (I couldn't believe it was already gone) and at that rate, it would be over $1.50 per 12 oz glass...
And according to my calculations (5.0 liters divided by 12 ounces), you should get a little over 23 pours (or just UNDER a buck a glass).
I suspect that the second keg may have been tapped at the liquor store or somewhere else along the way since the pour spout mechanism is just like a spray can nozzle and there's no way to prevent such a thing (no real seal)...
Heineken designed the keg to see service in a number of countries (USA, Mexico and France) and uses a system of icons rather than language so the little pamphlet that comes with the keg is next to useless. For instance, the web site says the keg should be refrigerated for 10 hours before you use it yet the icon simply shows a clock face with an arrow running around the outside, starting at zero and ending at 10, with no explanation at all.
What that does (using it too soon) is produce a pour of maybe 70% head (foam) and 30% beer.
On the second keg, it was close to 50 / 50 at first but in both cases, by the end of the keg, there was almost no head at all...
There's a small internal CO2 cannister that makes sure the carbonation lasts throughout the entire keg but it imparts a slight flavor toward the end as well.
And, maybe the correct way to use this product is to have a draft for your first beer, then switch to whatever you normally drink the rest of the night...
And, if you once again "do the math", you'll find that this is no bargain, no matter how you slice it as the kegs sell from $19.95 to $21.95, depending on where you buy them. That works out to over $1.50 a glass when you factor in the foam, differing numbers of pours from keg to keg, significantly higher than what you'd pay by buying a 6 pack of Heineken in the glass bottles at either $4.99 or even $5.99 (a buck a beer or even less if you get it on sale).
Finally, a little keg of your own does have a certain amount of cachet and I imagine most people will do the same thing I did; that is, pop for one or two of them and then that'll be that as the "numbers" just aren't there, no way.
Of course, mishandling beer (temperature fluctuations and exposure to light) can give it that strong, skunky nose and flavor, something which is virtually impossible in an aluminum keg...
UPDATE: 19 November 2007 - I've seen the mini kegs on sale now, for as little as $15.99, and they don't appear to be selling that well so I suspect their days are numbered...
Number 145:
Pei Wei Asian Diner:
This is just down the row from where The Darla is working now, Chulajuana (Chula Vista, the fastest growing city in the country). It's fairly nicely done (nice decor as well and the wife says the restrooms are almost a work of art).
I did the research earlier today (looked at their web site) so I knew the general layout (and the menu) by the time we walked in the door.
It's a very limited menu, (a sign of serious restarateurs in our opinion), and we decided to try one dish from each category; spring rolls, hot & sour soup, pork fried rice and Mongolian shrimp stir fry (although the Mongols very likely never saw a shrimp in their lives, living a thousand miles from the sea)...
I had iced tea (in this case, it was Mandarin orange flavored green tea - not too bad in spite of the fact that I generally abhor fruit flavored tea), the wife had a glass of ice water and after placing our order at the register, we took a seat and the food started arriving almost immediately (I wasn't really prepared for service to be that prompt and efficient).
The spring rolls had a bit of carrot and maybe some 5 spice in them so they were just a little too sweet for my taste (but still far short of how they do that to you at Pick Up Stix), the hot & sour soup really wasn't heated through, a point off there, the fried rice was good as was the Mongolian shrimp with a fair amount of green onion , mushrooms and a nice, rich dark sauce.
We didn't finish any of it so the wife packaged it up and The Boy will be all over it when he sees it in the refrigerator.
The only thing the wife says she won't order again are the spring rolls, pretty much my opinion as well.
Our total was $30.71 (no tip, no servers, only runners) and my fortune cookie said "Be content in your lot. One cannot be first in everything..."
Huh?
Anyway, see their web site here: www.peiwei.com
Notice they also feature a gluten free menu.
This is just down the row from where The Darla is working now, Chulajuana (Chula Vista, the fastest growing city in the country). It's fairly nicely done (nice decor as well and the wife says the restrooms are almost a work of art).
We counted 2 long banquettes, 4 booths, maybe a dozen 2 and 4 tops inside and maybe that much more outdoor seating on the wrap-around patio.
The wife had gotten off of work a couple of hours early and she has a cold so I figured I'd get her in there for some hot & sour soup therapy and maybe some hot Chinese mustard to burn it out of her before her class this evening.I did the research earlier today (looked at their web site) so I knew the general layout (and the menu) by the time we walked in the door.
It's a very limited menu, (a sign of serious restarateurs in our opinion), and we decided to try one dish from each category; spring rolls, hot & sour soup, pork fried rice and Mongolian shrimp stir fry (although the Mongols very likely never saw a shrimp in their lives, living a thousand miles from the sea)...
I had iced tea (in this case, it was Mandarin orange flavored green tea - not too bad in spite of the fact that I generally abhor fruit flavored tea), the wife had a glass of ice water and after placing our order at the register, we took a seat and the food started arriving almost immediately (I wasn't really prepared for service to be that prompt and efficient).
The spring rolls had a bit of carrot and maybe some 5 spice in them so they were just a little too sweet for my taste (but still far short of how they do that to you at Pick Up Stix), the hot & sour soup really wasn't heated through, a point off there, the fried rice was good as was the Mongolian shrimp with a fair amount of green onion , mushrooms and a nice, rich dark sauce.
We didn't finish any of it so the wife packaged it up and The Boy will be all over it when he sees it in the refrigerator.
The only thing the wife says she won't order again are the spring rolls, pretty much my opinion as well.
Our total was $30.71 (no tip, no servers, only runners) and my fortune cookie said "Be content in your lot. One cannot be first in everything..."
Huh?
Anyway, see their web site here: www.peiwei.com
Notice they also feature a gluten free menu.
A Eureka Moment...
Recently, the wife started a new job near one of the few Krispy Kreme donut shops left in this county. I stopped by to grab one of their great, hot glazed donuts after dropping her off at work early one morning.
Unfortunately, this particular Krispy Kreme does not make the donuts there and drives them in from the only shop in town that has the necessary equipment for the job, the Clairemont Mesa store, easily 25 miles north.
And, when I asked, no, they are always made up the night before and they are cold (room temperature, actually) when they get them...
I thought about it for a few days and went back again this morning and asked if they have a microwave on premises (they do) and how about zapping one of them for about 5 seconds for me, if you'd be so kind?
Viola!
That's the ticket!
They are close enough that you would never know the difference.
It was heated just enough (from the inside) so as not to melt the glazing and still deliver the full, diabetic coma inducing load of teeth rotting sugar we've all come to know and love. Now imagine sucking one down with an ice cold Mexican Coke in a glass bottle, with close to 2 teaspoons of real sugar in it...
I bought 2 more home so the Boy can try it when he gets up in a while.
Try it yourself!
Unfortunately, this particular Krispy Kreme does not make the donuts there and drives them in from the only shop in town that has the necessary equipment for the job, the Clairemont Mesa store, easily 25 miles north.
And, when I asked, no, they are always made up the night before and they are cold (room temperature, actually) when they get them...
I thought about it for a few days and went back again this morning and asked if they have a microwave on premises (they do) and how about zapping one of them for about 5 seconds for me, if you'd be so kind?
Viola!
That's the ticket!
They are close enough that you would never know the difference.
It was heated just enough (from the inside) so as not to melt the glazing and still deliver the full, diabetic coma inducing load of teeth rotting sugar we've all come to know and love. Now imagine sucking one down with an ice cold Mexican Coke in a glass bottle, with close to 2 teaspoons of real sugar in it...
I bought 2 more home so the Boy can try it when he gets up in a while.
Try it yourself!
Numbers 143 & 144:
The Burger Lounge:
This is the first of at least 2 San Diego area locations; this one is in La Jolla and they have a second one in the Kensington area coming online soon.
They feature meat from cows raised on grass, not grain or feed.
The Boy was off and the wife is at work (it's Labor Day Weekend Saturday) so we made the drive over to check it out for ourselves. We parked in a 15 minute zone (the Boy was nervous), placed our order and sat down at a table on the sidewalk on the corner of the block, diagonally across the street from Karl Strauss. The weather was nice, too; something I can't say about it here in East County, at least for the last week where it's 100 plus degrees.
The staff were all 20-somethings and friendly.
Design-wise, it's pretty austere with lots of sheet metal and modern, minimalist tables and chairs, smooth and industrial looking.
I counted 8 four tops outside and maybe 10 stools inside, period.
We split a well done burger with cheddar cheese (she forgot to add the bacon), small fries and a coke and the total was $12 and coin so I threw the change and another buck into the tip jar.
The burger had good flavor, the bun was toasted nicely, wasn't too heavy and most of all, like a previous reviewer had said, it's nothing more than an upscale In-N-Out Burger. Like In-N-Out, the meat tasted like it had never been frozen and had no bad aftertaste, like you see in a lot of fast food.
The fries were a mild disappointment as they needed a little something more, maybe garlic, but they were hot and fairly good, just not spectacular...
Finally, I should point out that the wife replied to a Craig's List ad for a GM position but since the entire staff is so young, I don't think they'll even interview her, despite her obvious abundance of qualifications.
See the web site here: www.burgerlounge.com
Olde City Grill:
This place is in Pacific Beach and they advertise a cheesesteak made from Wagyu (aka American Kobe) beef so we dropped by there after stopping at Burger Lounge. Traffic was horrible, of course and it cost $5 for short term parking around the block.
We came in through the rear alley and the first thing you notice is that the music is way too loud and I still have a headache now, almost an hour later.
We split a 12 inch mushroom cheesesteak with extra white American cheese, a small fry and another Coke. The meat itself was not very different from the standard ribeye at Gaglione Brothers but we spent $5 more than we would have spent at "the brothers" ($16 plus coin).
The fries were generic, crinkle-cut, frozen fare and I should have saved the money there as I only ate a couple of them.
Traffic wasn't quite as bad going out the back way and now it's time for a quick nap in the chair, watching the Saturday afternoon PBS cooking shows.
Their web site (coming soon): www.oldecitygrill.com
This is the first of at least 2 San Diego area locations; this one is in La Jolla and they have a second one in the Kensington area coming online soon.
They feature meat from cows raised on grass, not grain or feed.
The Boy was off and the wife is at work (it's Labor Day Weekend Saturday) so we made the drive over to check it out for ourselves. We parked in a 15 minute zone (the Boy was nervous), placed our order and sat down at a table on the sidewalk on the corner of the block, diagonally across the street from Karl Strauss. The weather was nice, too; something I can't say about it here in East County, at least for the last week where it's 100 plus degrees.
The staff were all 20-somethings and friendly.
Design-wise, it's pretty austere with lots of sheet metal and modern, minimalist tables and chairs, smooth and industrial looking.
I counted 8 four tops outside and maybe 10 stools inside, period.
We split a well done burger with cheddar cheese (she forgot to add the bacon), small fries and a coke and the total was $12 and coin so I threw the change and another buck into the tip jar.
The burger had good flavor, the bun was toasted nicely, wasn't too heavy and most of all, like a previous reviewer had said, it's nothing more than an upscale In-N-Out Burger. Like In-N-Out, the meat tasted like it had never been frozen and had no bad aftertaste, like you see in a lot of fast food.
The fries were a mild disappointment as they needed a little something more, maybe garlic, but they were hot and fairly good, just not spectacular...
Finally, I should point out that the wife replied to a Craig's List ad for a GM position but since the entire staff is so young, I don't think they'll even interview her, despite her obvious abundance of qualifications.
See the web site here: www.burgerlounge.com
UPDATE: Yesterday (5 Sept 2007), they called the wife to set up an interview for this afternoon. About an hour before the interview, Skye (one of the 3 partners) called to say they'd filled the position, please tell Darla.
OK...
Olde City Grill:
This place is in Pacific Beach and they advertise a cheesesteak made from Wagyu (aka American Kobe) beef so we dropped by there after stopping at Burger Lounge. Traffic was horrible, of course and it cost $5 for short term parking around the block.
We came in through the rear alley and the first thing you notice is that the music is way too loud and I still have a headache now, almost an hour later.
We split a 12 inch mushroom cheesesteak with extra white American cheese, a small fry and another Coke. The meat itself was not very different from the standard ribeye at Gaglione Brothers but we spent $5 more than we would have spent at "the brothers" ($16 plus coin).
The fries were generic, crinkle-cut, frozen fare and I should have saved the money there as I only ate a couple of them.
Traffic wasn't quite as bad going out the back way and now it's time for a quick nap in the chair, watching the Saturday afternoon PBS cooking shows.
Their web site (coming soon): www.oldecitygrill.com
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