Tag Archives: BW8SD

Foster’s Freeze (50 of 52)

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On a chilly jet black night, we stood motionless on the cold concrete staring up at the structure before us.  Our faces illuminated by the giant neon sign pulling us forward like a beacon in the darkness.  Tomy walked up behind me and asked with more fear in his voice that I can ever remember hearing; “Where are we?”  It was as though we’d stepped into a time machine and waiting to greet us when we stepped out of our Delorean, was this week’s restaurant, Foster’s Freeze.  Thankfully, I packed my tardis full of cohorts who both love fast food and appreciate references I make about British TV shows that I don’t actually watch…

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villain

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Joe-Theatre and beer enthusiast, podcast co-host, Co-Creator of World’s Cutest Baby

Joe “Bish”-Computer wunderkind, Husband of Kate, a tall drink of water

Kasey-Rocky Horror performer, Coffee wife,  Occasional Drag King

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Lily-World’s Cutest Baby (a Joe & Nicole production)

Nicole-Stage Manager, Cupcake diva, Co-Creator of World’s Cutest Baby

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

Not pictured: Jack and Diane who are outside sucking on chili dogs.

Not pictured: Jack and Diane who are outside sucking on chili dogs.

Foster’s Freeze is a Southern California institution.  Calling itself “California’s first fast food chain”, Foster’s Freeze began as an Inglewood-based soft serve cone place that branched out into other foods and has been a staple since 1946, making it the second oldest SoCal relic that I’ve seen in person! I was really unsure what to expect. I mean, this wasn’t exactly snooty upper crust dining but I can’t imagine you last that long in the food service game without bringing something good to the table.  Besides, I’m no snob and I love a good burger.  Let’s do this.

For dinner, Joe ordered the Big Boss (with Swiss and American cheeses, bacon, onion rings, lettuce, pickles, tomato and Foster’s Special Sauce).  He expected the burger quality to be on par with a Dairy Queen/A&W type place and he got it.  He also loved the crinkle cut fries on the side.  Tomy also ordered the Big Boss minus Onions, tomato & pickles.  While he appreciated the thick cut condiments, he felt the meat was a bit on the chincy side for such a big burger.  He also liked his waffles fries and the fact that they have Diet Dr. Pepper on tap was a plus for Tomy.  David got the Double Cheeseburger with crinkle cut fries, which he said was a nice departure from the standard fast food fries.  He also really liked that the soda machine was well stocked with ice.  Like, he mentioned it twice.

Aimee ordered the Patty Melt with Onion Rings and a chocolate milkshake.  She was delightfully surprised to see they used traditional rye bread and thought it was a great value for $4.99.  She also enjoyed the onion rings because the passed the “Onion Ring test” (With a single bite, the onion did not come out of the breading).  She also gave high marks to the milkshake’s flavor and the fact that she didn’t pull a lung trying to drink it with a straw.  Kate had the Double Old fashioned with chili fries and a root beer.  She really enjoyed the burger and felt it was well proportioned with the amount of toppings.  She added that the chili fries were FOR REAL.  Sebastian had the corn dog and was very enthusiastic about it.

Kasey got the double cheese burger with a root beer float.  She like so many others praised the amount of toppings.  She also enjoyed the amount of ice cream used in her root beer float.  Joe B had possibly the best review of his meal in saying “Never has 1600 calories tasted so good!”  He also praised the amount of pickles included on his Big Boss Burger.  I had the Double Decker with Waffle Fries.  I have to say I was unsure what my experience of dining her was going to be like but I have to be honest: This is was damned delicious.  It was big, messy and full of flavor.  Loaded with toppings and well made.  A great value.  The waffle fries were also terrific.  A hugely satisfying meal.

I've paid up to 8 bucks for burgers like this elsewhere. That was stupid of me...

I’ve paid up to 8 bucks for burgers like this elsewhere. That was stupid of me…

I could’ve gotten a milkshake with my burger but I wanted to do a proper dessert so I went back and ordered a mud pie twister.  One of my favorite desserts is a mud pie.  My Mom would always make it for Thanksgiving when I was growing up so it both hugs and feeds my inner fat kid.  This dessert delivered the flavor perfectly and just as remember it.  A home run.

Not gonna lie. Googling "Mud Pie" for a recipe link made me very afraid of what results might come up. Fortunately, my imagination was far more perverse than the internet, for a change.

Not gonna lie. Googling “Mud Pie” for a recipe link made me very afraid of what results might come up. Fortunately, my imagination was far more perverse than the internet, for a change.

So I have to say this was one of the biggest surprises of the challenge.  I really loved Foster’s Freeze and would come back as soon as possible to get my fast food on.

 

Further reading

Big Kitchen (49 of 52)

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I’ve been very fortunate in this challenge to dine at some of San Diego’s premiere upscale restaurants.  Trendy, hip, swanky and (in some cases) just plain too good for the likes of me have all been explored but I’ve also loved going to the smaller, mom & pop-style hidden gems of the city.  I’ve learned that a restaurant experience doesn’t have to be expensive or have a celebrity chef attached to it to be unique.  Enter this week’s restaurant:  Big Kitchen.  As this was a breakfast, most of the usual early morning foods fans were in attendance.

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Anna-Educator, flannel wearer, still mad at us for going to Snooze without her

Calei-Vegan food lover, a Mrs and a Mom, fellow Disneyland fan

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Joe-Theatre and beer enthusiast, podcast co-host, Co-Creator of World’s Cutest Baby

Kelsey-Project manager, Advanced level foodie, Has been known to drop it like it’s hot after a few cocktails

Liam-Star Wars fan, Lego enthusiast, the Earl of Sandwich

Lily-World’s Cutest Baby (a Joe & Nicole production)

Nearly everyone in this photograph is from a place where we'd get made fun of for dressing like this in December in San Diego.

Nearly everyone in this photograph is from a place where we’d get made fun of for dressing like this in December in San Diego.

Big Kitchen has some serious history to it.  A San Diego staple for nearly 35 years, I may actually be the last person in this city to not have eaten here.  Many notables have come through and even worked here.  Most famously Whoopi Goldberg who left behind a promising career as a dishwasher at Big Kitchen to settle for becoming an Academy Award winning actress.  The staff, most notably owner Judy, are colorful friendly and so welcoming you really do feel like you’re a guest in someone’s home. Much like in my home, they only accept cash.  It actually makes dining with a large group easier, so it was no problem for me.  Those select few in my group who didn’t bring cash were back in a jiffy (yeah, I said jiffy) after hitting up a nearby ATM.  Jiffy.

Harry ordered the Turkey Omelette with a side of potatoes.  He enjoyed all facets of the dish and the roasted garlic was of particular note.  Calei got the Tofu Rancheros, which was originally brought to her with cheese but was made vegan at her request with absolutely no hassle.  She said the rancheros was super delicious and worth coming back for.  For Liam, she got the kid’s pancake, which he liked.  Amy had the Biscuit with veggie gravy with sauteed veggies,  fruit, Rye toast and fresh squeezed orange juice.  She’s been here several times and this dish is a favorite of hers.  Amy calls it the best veggie gravy she’s ever had with an amazing flavor and herbiness.  The sauteed veggies were a bit oily for her taste but she loves this place.  Anna ordered the Kirk Scramble.  She said it was awesome.  She loved the Blue Cheese, bacon and mushrooms.  Anna also found the potatoes to be top notch.

Kelsey had the Biscuits and gravy.  She found the gravy to be way too lumpy and the sausage was overwhelmed by the Sage and Thyme.  There was no parsley because Paul Simon didn’t make her breakfast.  She said it wasn’t bad but also wasn’t what she wanted.   Joe also had the biscuits and gravy.  He praised how big the food was but wished for more sausage.  Lily enjoyed her pancake.  I could tell she appreciated the fresh ingredients from the look of joy she wore while rubbing pieces of the ripped pancake into her hair, which she did because baby.  I had the spinach and mushroom omelette with bacon and potatoes on the side.  My breakfast also included an iPad-sized piece of coffee cake.  It was delicious but ridiculously large.

LARGE Coffee cake. I left the giant novelty fork in the picture for scale.

LARGE Coffee cake. I left the giant novelty fork in the picture for scale.

My main was course was fluffy and delicious.  While new ground certainly wasn’t broken, it was simple breakfast food done right.  Also, super affordable.

If they had drive thru, this place would be perfect.

If they had drive thru, this place would be perfect.

So in closing I would say Big Kitchen is definitely worth your time.  It’s charming, kitchy, cozy and fun.  Most importantly, good coffee and yummy breakfast food that will fill you up and make you happy in that special way that only breakfast, and occasionally tequila, can.

Further reading

 

Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Cafe (47 of 52)

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In this town you can’t fling a dead cat without hitting 5 Mexican food restaurants. What you’ll find (in addition to some really grossed out people in the path of a flying feline carcass) is a variety of styles of Mexican food.  You’ve got fusion, upscale, hole-in-the-wall to white washed gringo chow and everything in between.  This week’s restuarant is Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Cafe.  Contrary to my first thought, it was not founded by our 39th president but by a guy named Jimmy Carter in 1991.  It was classic diner food but after noticing a lack of authentic Mexican food in the area, he reopened it as a Mexican cafe and it’s been there ever since.  It took 23 years for me to have my first meal here but better late than never, right?  Joining me were some of my Mexican food loving friends:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy J-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Joe “Bish”-Computer wunderkind, Husband of Kate, a tall drink of water

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

You will be shocked to learn that this picture was taken post margaritas.

You will be shocked to learn that this picture was taken post margaritas.

Margaritas were a must for starters.  Amy Ordered a Mezcal Margarita.  She thought it was a tasty and different take on a smoky mezcal.  Harry had a Cucumber Margarita.  He loved it and found it to be very refreshing.  Aimee got a Azul Margarita which looks a lot like Windex in a glass.  She said it was very good and they didn’t spare the hooch!

For appetizers, Aimee had the Calamari Strips.  She thought it was a little unusual that they actually sell Calamari by the piece but she enjoyed them.  A bit chewy but that was more than made up for by the outstanding sauce that came with it.  Harry started with a cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup.  He said it was tasty but nothing he would lose his mind over.  I started with Chicken Taquitos.  They arrived, as it traditional, buried under a pile of shredded lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole.  I’m sad to say what awaited me under all that was less than impressive.  In fact they were kind of burnt to all hell and back.  The Chicken on the ends was so charred it almost had a bacon-like consistency.  They could have done with a quicker journey through the fryer.

There are rolled tacos under here, I just know it.

There are rolled tacos under here, I just know it.

For our main dishes, Harry had the Shrimp Tostada.  He said it was fine but nothing spectacular.  Joe had the Calamari Al Mojo de Ajo.  He loved the big, tender pieces of Calamari and the sautee in butter and garlic.  Also high marks came from Joe for the side of Telaquepaque Sauce.  Kate ordered the build-your-own-plate with shredded beef crispy taco, chicken enchilasa with green sauce and Chili Relleno with Red Sauce.  She also enjoyed it and praised the moist beef, the Chili Relleno which was “Larger than my head” and had a unique texture outside of the normally runny fillings.  She loved that the enchilada was so fresh and made with hand made corn tortillas.  Chris had the Chile Colorado.  He said it was competently executed but not outstanding . This particular dish, according to Chris, can be found done better elsewhere.

Aimee also had the Chili Colorado with pork.  She loved it and praised the tender pork with just the right amount of heat on the finish.  Amy got the Taco Salad with Soy Ground Beef.  She said it was good but there were some issues with the taco shell-to-filling ratio . Also she mentioned the salad would likely be better served tossed than layered.  Overall she found her dinner to be not much better than what could be found at a drive thru Mexican place (of which there are roughly 12,345,678 in San Diego).  I ordered one of the house specialties, the Comidas Del Mar Enchiladas (Shrimp).  I was really not impressed with this dish.  The shrimp were tiny.  The kind you can add to a salad for 50 cents at most chain restaurants.  The sauce, billed as “Creamy chipotle” tasted like reheated Tostitos cheese dip.  It was really greasy and gross.  I’m sad to say I really did not enjoy it.

Unfortunately the flavor spectrum on this dish was about as wide as the color spectrum.

Unfortunately the flavor spectrum on this dish was about as wide as the color spectrum.

In closing while my experience at Jimmy Carter’s was not the best, others seemed pleased with their drinks and some of the things they had but I got the distinct impression that better Mexican food can be found at too many other places in San Diego.   This is why we try new things.  Well, that and my obsessive need to publicly state my opinions on everything.  Anyway, you get the point.  Walk don’t run.

Further reading

To see all of the photos from this dinner, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

Cafe 21 (46 of 52)

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When you have a bustling food and drink area as large as downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, it can get confusing knowing which places are good.  Don’t worry, I’m here for you.  In addition to having lived in the Gaslamp Quarter for 4 years, I’ve also covered several restuarants located in this area such as BiCE, The Neighborhood, South Paw Social Club and Cowboy Star.  I’ve had great success with all these places so I was looking forward to seeing if this week’s restaurant would stack up.  With me were the few, the curious and the thirsty:

Abby-Swim instructor, Disneyland buddy, Stresses about making food for my other food-savvy friends

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villain

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Kelsey-Project manager, Advanced level foodie, Has been known to drop it like it’s hot after a few cocktails

Mandy-Writer, Top-shelf level geek girl, lives in my pocket

 

BRING US ALL THE SANGRIA. Also food.

BRING US ALL THE SANGRIA. Also food.

Cafe 21 began as a small place in Normal Heights which grew, both in popularity and size and eventually opened a spacious location downtown offering world food, local cuisine and live music.  We got our fill of all 3 this evening.

Abby started with a Peach Basil Sangria, followed by a flight of 6 seasonal sangrias.  She was a fan of 4 of them, going on to say that the other two tasted like wood and were overly fermented.   Amy had Persimmon, Grape and Cardamon Sangria, followed later in the night by a classic Sangria.  She enjoyed all of them and said they were each spiced really well.

For food starters, Harry ordered the Fontina Fondue; a Fontina, and Cream Cheese Blend served with House Made Bread Crostinis and Steamed Chef’s Choice Vegetables.   There were disagreements over this dish.  While it was certainly tasty, Kesley and Amy both strongly felt that the consistency of it did not merit the title “fondue” and was more like “Cheese dip”.  Amy felt the dish could’ve also benefited from more dippables.  It was very tasty but I’m more inclined to call it a sort of pub cheese instead of proper fondue.

That's not ranch dressing, It's fondue. Well strictly speaking, it's not fondue either. It's... It tastes good. Eat it.

That’s not ranch dressing, It’s fondue. Well strictly speaking, it’s not fondue either. It’s… It tastes good. Eat it.

David had the Cristo Crepes; Free Range House Roasted Chicken Breast, Handmade Crepes,  Mozzarella Cheese, House made Apricot Jam, and House made White
Wine Apricot Puree, Powdered Sugar.  It was a strange combination of sweet and savory which he found weird but good.

For our main courses, Harry ordered the Apricot braised Lamb Shank in Apricot, Tomato, Onion Sauce, served with Apricot Squash Couscous , and Sautéed Organic Spoon Spinach.  He said it was perfect.  It fell right off the bone with wonderful spices.  David had the Masala Chai Tea braised Short Ribs with Mission Figs, Red Onion Honey Braising Sauce served with Sautéed Green Beans and House Made Curry Potato Gallette.  He said it was delicious with the braising sauce being the real stand out.  Abby got the Curry seared Scallops with Potato Leek Puree and House Yellow Curry Yogurt Sauce.  She said they were amazing.

Amy and Mandy both got Veggie Cabbage Rolls with Isreali cous cous organic tomatoes, garlic onions, carrots and house made tomato sauce.  Mandy was a big fan of the sauce.  Amy also said cabbage rolls offered a nice mix of flavors and were very satisfying.  Kelsey ordered the Flat Iron Steak Flat Bread with Heirloom Tomatoes, House Avocado Pesto Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese.  She thought it was good but could use a bit more variety in the dish.  It reminded her more of a quesadilla.  She also pointed out that the menu online was very  different from the menu offered, in which she found the choices to be a little meh.  I had the Grilled Pear Salad with Mixed Greens, Butter Grilled Fresh Pear, Almond Slivers, Dehydrated Cranberries, Feta Cheese, House Honey Balsamic Dressing and grilled chicken added in.  For a salad, this was full of flavor.  Really nice components making for a light but very satisfying healthy dinner.  I don’t eat light much in this challenge so this was a refreshing change of pace.

It's a salad that eats like a meal! This is why skinny people are always trying to sell me on this shit!

It’s a salad that eats like a meal! This is why skinny people are always trying to sell me on this shit!

For dessert, we got all three of the offerings:  a flourless chocolate with vanilla ice cream and raspberry puree, creme brulee cheesecake & A pumpkin cream cake roll.  While I liked all three, I felt the real stand out was the creme brulee cheesecake.  It combined two of my favorite dishes flawlessly.  Less impressive was the flourless chocolate cake, which was served in a cast iron skillet that had clearly cooked too long.  It was burnt and too hot to eat for nearly the entire time we were at the table.  The pumpkin cream cake roll was super tasty but many at the table felt the dish could use a warm element instead of being served cold.

Cafe 21 demonstrates an adept creme brulee technique. The proper way to burn a dessert.

Cafe 21 demonstrates an adept creme brulee technique. The proper way to burn a dessert.

So in closing the final word on Cafe 21 seemed to be a swing and a miss on desserts, some positive reviews for the food but the real ace in the hole at this place is the drinks.  It’s a charming location with a nice staff and minimally invasive live music.  While I won’t be rushing down there again when the first opportunity arises, I certainly would have no problem with winding up there again for dinner and drinks.

Seriously, though.  That wasn’t fondue.

Further reading

To see all the photos from this dinner be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram

 

Bijou (45 of 52) (CLOSED)

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Several hours after this week’s challenge, I awoke in a darkened room feeling the fire of a thousand volcanoes rumbling in my chest.  As I chewed a fist full of Tums & went back to bed, I said in my best Madonna voice “Absolutely no regrets”.  Obviously, this serves as proof that I don’t eat 14 pounds of fried butter on the regular (So yes, Dr. F, you can rest easy).  This can only mean this week’s challenge is French food!  Bijou in La Jolla is the Sister restaurant of a place I covered earlier this year on the blog, the fabulous Addison Del Mar. Expectations were high as my friends and I arrived in our fanciest eatin’ pants.

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Amy J-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Craig-Jackie’s lucky and mysterious other half, picture unavailable

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Jackie-Awesome Soprano, fellow East Coast transplant, Has a Vegas story or two

After this dinner we started to think that French people may actually be too lethargic to move when someone starts playing a Jerry Lewis film and that's how that whole rumor got started.

After this dinner we started to think that French people may actually be too lethargic to move when someone starts playing a Jerry Lewis film and that’s how that whole rumor got started.

Bijou is luxurious and elegant without feeling super stuffy.  The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable.  They made us feel very at home and did a bang up job at keep a straight face while we butchered every word on the menu.   Fortunately booze transcends all language barriers, so we started from there.  Aimee had the Peche Champgane Cocktail, which she said was great.  Chris ordered a Blue Mint. Chris and Amy B both had a “starter” cocktail (Pear Vodka, Germain, Lemon Juice, Grapefruit juice and basil).  They said both cocktails were flawless.  Amy B also had Aligote for her wine.  Harry got the Kentucky Bees Knees.  Amy J had the “Yellow Jacket”.  They both enjoyed their drinks.  High marks to the bar.

The chef was feeling generous (or bored.  Either way, Yay.) that night so he sent out a few bites for the table to enjoy.  The first was the Oeufs Mayonnaise.  Basically the French version of a deviled egg.  I’m not a fan of eggs, so I gave mine to Aimee.  She said it was good.  Nothing to scream about but a really good deviled egg.  The second bite he sent out was a beautiful pork belly.  I don’t think I’ve ever used the word “creamy” to describe meat before but it just melted in your mouth.  Really spectacular.  A perfect bite of pork.

For starters, Aimee ordered the Salmon Rillettes (with toasted baguette, radish and onions).  She said the dish was incredibly rich and sized for sharing.  The radish and cornichons really added great crunch and broke up some of the fattiness of the fish.  Chris and Craig both got the Escargot en Croute.  Craig said the dish was well prepared.  Jackie started with the French Onion Soup.  She said it was awesomely cheesey and she loved the browned part of the cheese on top.  I ordered the steak tartare.  I’d had it before but had forgotten that it came with a raw egg yolk on top. While I almost always bend to my ridiculous food fussings, I decided it was time to man up (er, “boy” up?) and try it.  I quickly cut up the egg yolk and just told myself it was a sauce.  It added a great richness to an already lovely pile of raw steak.  I love a good tartare.  true story.  Still not eating eggs though because gross and no.

Like all things I don't like, I quickly sliced it up and ate it before I even had time to think about what was happening.

Like all things I don’t like, I quickly sliced it up and ate it before I even had time to think about what was happening.

For our main dishes,  Aimee got the Steak Frites.  She called it easily one of the top 5 best steaks she’s had in her life.  She loved the compound butter on top that added great saltiness.   Chris had the Coq au Vin.  While he said it was good, it struggled to meet expectations after our experience at Addison.  Harry ordered the Loup de Mer (Ratatouille).  He said it was pretty much the second best meal he’s had this year (behind Addison, of course.  Have I mentioned how hardcore we ride that place’s jock?).  Rich, savory and buttery.  He loved it all.  The Amys split the Gnocchi al la Parisienne, Mushroom Ragout and Haricots Verts.  Amy B found the gnocchi to be delicious with an usual texture (Bijou makes its gnocchi from flour rather than the traditional potato.  Super light!)  and a great buttery sauce.  She also gave high marks to the Haricots Verts (green beans) and mushrooms.  Amy J also found the gnocchi to be a flavorful highlight.  Craig ordered the Veal Pailiard (with arugula, tomatoes and mushrooms)  Jackie and I both ordered the Lobster Gratin.  The dish was incredibly rich and flavorful.  Warm and savory with huge, tender and delicately sweet chunks of lobster with mushrooms and various veggies that married perfectly with the rest of the dish.

I printed this picture out so instead of wasting both our time with a list of foods I shouldn't be eating, my Doctor can simply point to it.

I printed this picture out so instead of wasting both our time with a list of foods I shouldn’t be eating, my Doctor can simply point to it.

Dinner in a French restaurant without having dessert almost seems stupid.  So we ordered just about everything on the dessert menu.  Hilariously the only thing we didn’t order was the creme brulee which I don’t doubt was awesome but stomach real estate for all involved was at a premium by now.  We were looking to break some new ground and we did with one particular dessert, which I’ll get to in a moment.   Other dishes served were Brown butter Clafoutis.  Macarons Du Jour.  Pot de Creme.  Fruit tart with Lemon Curd.  The standouts according to most diners were the Clafoutis & Pot de Creme.  All of the desserts were fabulous but one simply rose above to a whole different level altogether.  The “Paris Brest” is a light pastry with a hole in the center (Think a croissant shaped donut.  Hey, what a novel idea!) in the center they pipe in almond cream, sprinkle toasted almonds on top and drizzle with caramel.  It’s the best dessert I’ve had on this entire challenge.  It’s also only $10 and I dream of it fortnightly.  Life changing-level fat kid bliss.

As gay man, here is a pair of brests I would happily throw my face between forever.

As gay man, here is a pair of brests I would happily throw my face between forever.

The final verdict from me on Bijou is a positive one.  While others with me felt there are better places to go to drop that kind of money on dinner, I really liked what they had to offer.  Addison is not special occasion dining, it’s once a year dining but I feel that Bijou is a good special occasion place, especially if you love French food.  You’ll drop a pretty penny but it’s accessibly priced for upscale dining and you will get an expertly crafted, elegant and tasty dining experience.

Further reading

To see all of the photos from this dinner, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

Tam’s (44 of 52) (CLOSED)

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One of the things I’ve developed a great fondness for in the last few years is Thai food.  I first tried it when I was dating a guy some years ago who loved Thai food.  In the years since I’ve been unable to shake neither my love of spicy basil noodles nor younger guys who are completely wrong for me.  Fortunately, tonight I was only revisiting one of these life choices.  Tam’s is the first restaurant in this challenge that is literally walking distance from my home.  I still drove because lazy, but I totally could have walked there if I was so inclined.  Joining me was a small but dedicated group:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

We stood on the stage for this pic. Does that sound odd? You ain't seen nothing yet...

We stood on the stage for this pic. Does that sound odd? You ain’t seen nothing yet…

Located in a tiny strip mall in Normal Heights, Tam’s defies expectations.  Unless you were expecting to walking into an empty restaurant in November with Valentine’s decorations up, Christmas lights, Disco ball lights, a stage and a tiny Asian lady asking what you’d like her to make for you, in which case you nailed this place.  Tam is delightful.  She’s such a character I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out she’s an actress playing the part of an old lady from a Kung Fu movie who has a Katana in her broom closet and the secrets of a thousand-year-old empire hidden in her spice rack.  I’m actually still unsure those last two aren’t true.  She speaks broken English, she’s sassy and she cooks all the food.  It’s very much like we were guests in her home and she treated us as such.

She bulldozed us into recommended we start with a curried potato egg roll with pumpkin sauce.  Not wanting to offend our hostess, we smiled politely and sipped our bottled water (which she brought us free of charge and insisted twice we weren’t drinking fast enough)  Turns out Tam knows what the hell she’s talking about and can throw down in the kitchen.  These were a massive hit with the table.  Crispy, rich with just the right amount of heat.  Easily worth coming back for alone.  This whole night just got as awesome as it was bizarre.

Asian fusion? Indian-inspired? Call it what you will, it was delicious.

Asian fusion? Indian-inspired? Call it what you will, it was delicious.

It wasn’t long before we had collectively finished enough of our water that we were allowed to order our dinners.  Tam was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of food but seemed up to the challenge of feeding this table full of hungry Americans (Look, for all I know she could also be a citizen but it’s way funnier to paint her as the near-offensive film cliche so just go with me on this.  Did I mention we love her?)

Aimee had the Amazingly Rich Pork (Batter fried pork loin with coconut ginger sauce and a Yellow Curry paste).  She said it lived up to it’s name.  Impressively moist for such a thin cut of pork.  Aimee called the Yellow curry a nice touch.  Harry ordered the Broccoli Stir Fry with Shrimp (with carrots and onion in oyster sauce).  He said it was awesome and tasted like Tom Yam Soup.  Amy got the Veggie Fried Rice.  She found the dish surprisingly light with very fresh vegetables and generously portioned.

Durwood had the Orange Chicken Pad Thai (yeah, that’s a thing) and Lard Nar with chicken (Rice noodles stir fried with garlic and broccoli).  He thought the pad thai was wildly innovative and delicious.  He called the dish “Some Top Chef-type shit”.  He also loved the flavor of the Lard Nar, calling it “Home made with a touch of love”.  I tried each one of these dishes and they were fabulous.  Loaded with flavor and super tasty.

Then something went wrong.  Very very wrong.  So wrong that I’m left confused and befuddled.

I ordered the Spicy Thai Curry Noodle (with snow peas, jalapeno, mushrooms, basil and curry powder).  My food came out last.  I was excited because, remember, I love Thai food and the evening had such promise and got off to such a strong start.  This dish…  It was awful.  It was absolutely flavorless.  It tasted like boiled pasta noodles with boiled vegetables.  Also a shit ton of curry powder which only added heat.  There had to have been a sauce she just forgot to add.  There HAD TO HAVE BEEN.  Everything else had been so good and so flavorful.  I poured some of my left over egg roll sauce all over my dinner and it barely helped.  I couldn’t get through it.  I was so upset.  Also confused but mostly upset that I was going to have to write about this dish during what had otherwise been a stellar evening of food.

We didn’t order dessert.  We didn’t have to because Tam brought us donuts.  I don’t mean she served us a house dessert based on donuts.  I mean an actual pink box of donuts from a nearby bakery.  Again, free of charge.  This made the evening even more awesomely strange.  I was pretty sure at that point Durwood was going to propose to her.

Yeah, totally not kidding about the donuts.

Yeah, totally not kidding about the donuts.

As for my dinner snafu, I have to chalk it up to a swing and a miss.  My dish was a mistake.  A smudge on an otherwise perfect record.  I am determined to return to Tam’s for another go at dinner.  She was too nice.  Too talented a cook and again, SHE GAVE US A DOZEN F**KING DONUTS.  I MEAN COME ON! I’m going back and you should go there too.

Further reading

To see all the photos from this meal be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram

 

Little Tokyo (43 of 52) (CLOSED)

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Right now, in 2014, there are actual people who are still afraid of sushi.  My Mom is one of them.  You could even be related to one of them.  You could even be one of them and need smelling salts whenever you read about Aimee ordering Octopus on this blog.  I am here to break it down for you as it relates to this week’s restaurant.  Everything you need to know about what sushi is and isn’t and can be found on this clearly from the 90’s website.  I want you to read it before we continue.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait…

My love of sushi is well documented so I need little to no prodding (maybe a little prodding to get my fat ass loaded back into the car when I try to go home after eating 17 rolls) to go get some sushi.  When Little Tokyo was recommended to me, adding it to the list seemed like a no-brainer.  Joining me was a small but dedicated bunch.

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

Little Tokyo 1

Smile pretty! Everyone except Dylan, who finds selfies indulgent.

 

Located in the San Diego neighborhood of Carmel Mountain, Little Tokyo is quiet (very quiet this particular night) strip mall sushi place with charm and an affordable, if standard, menu.

Kate ordered the Crunchy Roll, which she says was good and right in line with white person sushi (or Gaijin as the Japaneses call it!).  Kate’s baseline gauge of the quality of any sushi place is its Spicy Tuna roll, which she also ordered and said was excellent. Finally she got an order of Yellowtail Nigiri, which she said was well cut and fresh.  Sebastian was a tough sell on Little Tokyo’s Orange Chicken with white rice due to the multi-colored sesame seed garnish but Kate bravely picked them out and Sebastian did put a dent in his dinner, which something I understand not all parents have as much luck with.  Dylan was less picky about her dinner as Kate’s boobs did not have sesame seeds on them.  This time.

Durwood had the Devil Roll (Shrimp Tempura, Crab, Avocado topped with Eel and Eel sauce).  He called it “Everything I love about sushi in one roll!” So well done.  He also had the Sesame Chicken Plate, which he called simple with good, tangy flavor.  He’s happy to see things like this available on the menu.  Harry had a Kirin Ichiban beer to drink along with Sunomono Salad, which he said was lacking in it’s customary wakame seaweed but was otherwise good.   Harry also had the Albacore Sashimi, which he said was “like buttah”.

I ordered Shrimp Tempura (*my* go-to sushi place appetizer).  God bless the Japanese and their penchant for lightly battering and frying anything at all.  There’s not much variant in how to prepare shrimp tempura but most of the menu at Little Tokyo is pretty standard fare.  It did the job it was meant to do.  Not the greatest I’ve had but certainly not bad either.  Competently made.

Little Tokyo 2

Like a warm hug from an old friend, so is the sight of fried seafood on a doily for me.

Up next was a spicy crab and tuna roll which tasted very fresh and was a really decent size for what I ordered.  I quite enjoyed it.

Little Tokyo 3

Random fact about me: I NEVER eat the end piece of sushi first or last. Sorry for the twitching, all my readers suffering from OCD.

Finally, I had a Surimi roll, which was tasty but HUGE.  Seriously, this was a hockey puck of sushi.  perhaps the most flagrant bastardization of Japanese sushi is America’s need to supersize everything.  It’s intended as finger food and while it was tasty enough, I’m not a big fan of sushi that I can’t eat in a single bite.  I don’t like to hold conversations while I’m trying to deep throat tuna.

Enjoy your sushi loaf.

Enjoy your sushi loaf.

The overall review of Little Tokyo is satisfying but nothing Earth shattering.  The atmosphere is quiet, the place is clean and the staff was very nice.  It’s also very affordable.  It did its job for me and while I could get very much the same type of food closer to home, I wouldn’t make it a point to drive up to Little Tokyo.  But if you are located near by and looking for some decent sushi, this is your place.

Further reading: http://www.yelp.com/biz/little-tokyo-san-diego

To see all of the pictures from this restaurant, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

 

 

Nine Ten (41 of 52)

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La Jolla, California (the neighborhood I work in) is known for being a lavish beach side community where the wealthiest of San Diegans enjoy fine dining, art museums and occasionally perform charitable acts of handing a dollar to any lost middle class folks they see wandering the sidewalks.  The restaurants are known for being equally swanky and unapproachable but this week’s restaurant, Nine Ten, is here to dispell that image.  Joining me for this upscale dining romp are the following friends:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Samantha-My co-star in “Five Course Love”, Aubrey Award winner, A sometimes Amish Jew

Party of 6, here at 7 to see if Nine Ten is the one.

Party of 6, here at 7 to see if Nine Ten is the one.

We found the atmosphere at Nine Ten to be surprisingly chill and welcoming.  They couldn’t seat our party in the regular dining room so they instead gave us our own back patio table, complete with crisp night air, the gentle sound of the ocean and a busser that looked like 80’s TV icon, my boyhood Daddy fantasty and Father of hot-but-douchey pop misogynists, Alan Thicke.  Throw in a delightful singing server named Amy and it made for one magical evening.

For pre-dinner cocktails, Chris ordered the “Ryes an Fall” (Rye whiskey, cognac, Peche de Vigne & Lemon), which he seemed to enjoy.  Harry had a Saserac, which he said was tasty.  He and I also both had the “Endless Summer” (Sailor Jerry, Apricot Brandy, Ginger Beer & lemon) It’s like adult lemonade with alcohol.  Anything that takes my childhood and mixes it with copious amounts of liquor that doesn’t involve an abusive home life, I’m all for!  Samantha got a traditional martini with blue cheese stuffed olives.  She was a huge fan of this drink and particularly the blue cheese.

For our appetizers, Aimee had the house version of Chicken & Dumplings.  She said it was delicious with a great both.   Chris got the Shrimp Toast at the bar, which he said was not amazing but was a beautiful presentation.  He also had the House Cured Smoked Salmon (cucumber, apple, baby potatoes, fennel, radish, rye bread, charred dill oil & whey crème fraiche vinaigrette) which he called a “great starter”.  Harry had the Lamb Tartare (black garlic, orange chili oil, pickled onion, cured egg yolk & masa cracker).  He really enjoyed the pine nut flavors and delightfully delayed kick on the finish.

Samantha got the Jonah Crab Salad (pickled avocado, lobster knuckle, blood oranges, pickled ramps bulbs, herbs, buttermilk dressing and hot sauce powder) She had no idea there was even such a things a lobster knuckles but said the Buttermilk dressing was SO good with the fresh crab meat.  Amy had the Heirloom Tomato Salad (Chino farms tomatoes, Spring onions, Shaved Turnips, Watermelon Radish, Smoked Feta, Mustard Frill, Purple Cress, African Basil Vinegar & Vadouvan Oil).  She loved the amount of flavor in such a simple salad.   I had the Maine Lobster & Hiutlacoche Agnolotti (Chino Farms corn, lobster mushrooms, herbs).  It was pretty damned fantastic.  As one always ready to rub my native-New Englander bragging rights in anyone’s face, the lobster was on point.  Fresh, tender, delicately sweet.  The Corn and pasta were amazing together.  Really solid opener.  Would go back for this alone.

Nine ten 1

I don’t know which cave man got the idea to crack open a giant sea bug one day and eat it’s innards but, boy am I ever glad they did.

For our main courses, Aimee ordered the Pumpkin Seed Crusted Lamb Loin (torpedo onions, roasted acorn squash, kale, pomegranate seeds, lamb pancetta, squash puree & lamb pomegranate jus).  She called this the best lamb dish she’s had in this entire challenge.  She said it was perfectly executed with an outstanding sauce.  Amy had the Chino Farms Butternut Squash rice Grits (roasted mushrooms, acorn squash, pickled squash, pumpkin seed crumble, brussel sprouts & herbs)  She called them amazing with great flavors and textures.  She appreciated the fact that the vegetarian dishes offered were all well thought out and not just “Non-meat stuff”.

The head chef at Nine Ten, Jason Knibb, was offering something special the night we were there.  He hails from Montego Bay, Jamaica and cut up a whole goat (not, like, at our table.  My God.  Could you imagine?)  Harry felt a need to jump on this opportunity, for science.  It was his first time having goat and he really liked it.  It included a mushroom cream which he thought was divine.  I don’t have any more details about the dish because it’s not on the menu but I did want to include it because it speaks to the skill set of a very talented chef.

Chris had the Hay Smoked Duck (Not be confused with Hey!  Smoked Duck!) with roasted asian pears, anson mills farro, huckleberries, duck egg sabayon, puffed wild rice & duck jus.  He said it could actually be the best duck he’s ever had.  As Chris taught me “If pigs could fly, they’d taste like duck”.  It’s a nice metaphor best taken at face value because the mechanics of such an image are really upsetting.  Samantha and I both ordered the Braised Prime Beef Short Rib (roasted beets, baby artichokes, brussels sprouts, savoy cabbage puree, fried brussells sprout leaves & horseradish beet vinaigrette).  Samantha thought they were amazing.  Fork tender with a great sauce.  She also enjoyed the crispyness of the brussells sprouts.  As for me, I thought they were another hit at what had so far been a pretty impressive meal.  Rich, tender and full of flavor.  Chef Jason for sure knows how to cook some meat.  Delicious!

Nine Ten 2

I tried to do some tie-in joke with the In Living Color sketch about that Jamaican family who each had a dozen jobs but every single version had me coming off as a huge racist, so instead I offer you this: Hey! Meat! Tasty!

With such a great meal so far, there was no way we were skipping dessert.  Aimee had the Maple & Apple Butter Cream Puff (white cheddar crumb, local apples, maple & hay ice cream).  She loved its beautiful texture and thought the cheese crumb was great.  She mentioned that the ice cream wasn’t really even necessary for this dessert, one of the best composed we’ve tasted.  Chris ordered the Vanilla Flan Tart (Caramelized Hazelnut, poached pear & Hazelnut whipped cream).  I got the 1/2 Baked Chocolate Cake (with caramel sauce and Vanilla ice Cream) It was sweet, ooey, gooey, warm and chocolatey.  The smartest aspect of this dish is that it’s served in a cup about the size of a coffee cup: the perfect amount.  A great, decadent cap off to a great meal.

Nine Ten 3

Half baked chocolate cake. Had I known doing a half assed job at something could lead to such amazing results, I would’ve exerted far less effort in my life.

So in closing, we really had a great night.  Nine Ten offers upscale fine dining tastes with a friendly attitude.  This place is certainly on the more high-end price wise but it wasn’t so expensive that you would only eat there once a year.  Everyone at the table would go back (that includes the most important opinion: mine!)

Further reading: http://www.nine-ten.com/

To see all of the pictures from this meal be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

West Coast Tavern (40 of 52)

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A great thing about setting myself on this challenge (and there have been many) has been discovering places that I not only have never eaten at before but many that I would have otherwise never even heard of because they’re so hidden.  Such is the case with this week’s restaurant.  Located in the trendy area of North Park is the Birch North Park Theatre.  It’s a cool place that I’ve been lucky enough to sing on the stage of.  I love it because it looks like the Muppet Show Theatre.  In the lobby of the birch theatre is a bar and restaurant: West Coast Tavern; this week’s restaurant.  Joining me for a fun night of food and drink were the following:

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Amy J-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Brad-Rocky Horror performer, Fluent in most nerdisms, Still thinks Miley Cyrus is sexy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Elisa-Singer, my Hebrew homegirl, Intense stare

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Ky-Rocky Horror performer, Disneyland enthusiast, Roommate of Brad

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

Representin' for the west coast. Only in Cali where we riot not rally.

Representin’ for the west coast. Only in Cali where we riot not rally.

First thing you should know about West Coast Tavern:  It’s LOUD.  It was pretty packed but the music and atmosphere is way more bar/night club than restaurant.  I felt like my Grandmother making everyone repeat everything they said because they weren’t nose to nose with me.  A positive note to counter would be the staff.  They were terrific.  They were able to get us in (they don’t take reservations) with minimal hassle and the wait staff were very knowledgeable about food and drink…  and speaking of drinks…

Tomy ordered the Mommy Dearest (Skyy Vodka, Basil, Strawberries and Lime).  He deemed it Alright but nothing special, having ordered it mostly for the name because gay.  Amy J got the Smoke and Honey (A bourbon concoction of some sort).  She gave the drink a “10” and loved that our server asked if she was familiar with the type of drink she was ordering.  Harry had the Cucumber Basil Gimlet (Hendrick’s Gin, Cucumber, Basil, Lime & Simple Syrup).  He found it nice, refreshing and strong.  For his 2nd drink, Harry ordered the Old Fashioned with Bulliet Rye, as did Amy B and Chris (Templeton Rye for him).  It was a winner for Harry and Chris seemed pleased with it but for Amy, she felt it was decent but not the best available in North Park.  Brad ordered a Mezcal Mule (Xicaru Mezcal, Lime, Ginger Beer & Bitters) He felt it needed more smokiness but thought it was a great cocktail.   Ky had a Strawberry Margarita.  She felt it was alright but very effective.  Apparently this place has a heavy pour.  We are okay with this.

For appetizers, Durwood ordered the Hot Wings.  He called them pretty standard but good.  Harry got the Oysters on the half Shell, which he said were exactly what he wanted.  Brad had the Marrow (Bone marrow with grilled Scallions, Ranch, Pickled Radish, fried Onions and a warm baguette).  The dish reminded him of Escargot in texture and flavor, which he enjoyed.  Brad likened it to eating “Beef butter”.  Gross.  Amy J ordered the grilled asparagus, which was well done if unremarkable.  Ky and I both ordered the bowl of Chipotle Bacon Fondue with bread and veggies.  Ky found it a bit greasy but I really enjoyed it.  Hearty, salty and thick.  The consistency of it was much closer to pub cheese than fondue but it was super tasty.

Now, how to recreate this dish at home in a bacon bowl...?

Now, how to recreate this dish at home in a bacon bowl…?

For main courses, Ky and Tomy both ordered the Spinach and Chicken Mac n’ Cheese (with Goat Cheese, Bacon and Bread Crumbs) .  They both mostly enjoyed it but Tomy did mention the cheese used was a bit stank and bitter, like many of my ex’s.  Ky said it was good and enjoyed the sharpness of the cheese.  Tomy also advised not getting the version offered without chicken as the protein seemed to anchor the dish flavor-wise.  Brad got the Pork Belly & Waffles (with Bourbon infused Maple Syrup, Garlic Butter & Bacon).  He said it was really good, particularly the syrup, which was not too sweet.  The pork was well cooked and the waffle combined sweet and savory flavors.  He deemed the bacon unnecessary.  Amy B & Elisa both had Veggie Sliders (Veggie patties with chipotle Aioli, Tomato & Arugula).  Amy said they were good.  Elisa found the patties to be thick, moist and crispy with a really enjoyable Aoili.

Durwood also ordered the Chicken and Spinach Mac n’ Cheese.  He enjoyed it but the spinach seemed more like a garnish than an ingredient to him.  Amy J ordered the Al Fresco Veggie Flatbread (with White Bean Hummus, grilled red Onions, Tomatoes,  Feta Cheese & Basil).  She found this to be really uninteresting, as though the item were added to the menu as nothing more than an afterthought.  Both of our Amys found West Coast Tavern’s menu  to be surprisingly veggie un-friendly.  Harry got the same Marrow (appetizer that Brad ordered) for his entree and he loved it for some reason.  I had the Angus Beef Sliders (with Cheddar Cheese, caramelized Onions, Garlic Aioli, Lettuce and  Tomato).  As Elisa mentioned with her sliders, these were actually way more food than they looked.  They were well cooked and very flavorful.  The accompanying fries were also great with the dipping sauces available (the best being a very good garlic aioli).

Any opportunity to double-fist burgers and I'm there.

Any opportunity to double-fist burgers and I’m there.

The dessert menu was small but we decided to sample the Pistachio Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel.  This was a smash hit at the table, with everyone pretty much raving about it.  I myself am not a huge fan of pistachio but even I have to say, this was really tasty.  Warm, melty, nutty and rich.  Great dessert.

Melty, gooey, moist and a slew of other filthy-not-filthy adjectives can be used to describe this dish.

Melty, gooey, moist and a slew of other filthy-not-filthy adjectives can be used to describe this dish.

Overall the experience of West Coast Tavern was a mixed one.  The drinks were well received and most of us enjoyed the food.  I had a really great dinner but the atmosphere was totally not conducive to dining.  Others found it to be forgettable.  With so many new places springing up all over North Park, this place has some serious stepping up to do to keep up with the serious competition.  As for me, I would love to eat there again but I would make a point to not do it on a busy Friday night.  But for lunch or even brunch (which they do offer), I would happily pop in again.

Further reading: http://westcoasttavern.com/

To see all of the pictures from this meal be sure to follow theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!

 

Mona Lisa (39 of 52)

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I grew up in an Italian American household.  That sounds so pretentious.  Like my parents were immigrants who looked like extras from a movie about the cold war (For the record, they aren’t).  Rhode Island was called “Little Italy” by many due to it’s large Italian population and surplus of gold chains and hair gel.  A number of family restaurants have been there for generations and my favorite one growing up was Marcello’s in Cranston, Rhode Island.  Old world charm, amazing classic style Italian food and best of all, on a busy Friday night, my family could show up unannounced and be instantly led past a line full of people waiting to our table.  How cool is that?!  Years later, Marcello’s has long since closed and the only clout I have is when the cashier at McDonald’s smiles at me and says “See ya tomorrow, Andy!” but I digress.  I have great memories of a time long since gone.

or is it?

Mona Lisa, located in a place actually called  Little Italy, is an old school Italian restaurant.  When I say “old school”, I mean dark 70’s wood paneling, romantic paintings on the walls and opera playing on the loud speakers.  At least 4 more square inches of chest hair sprung up on me the moment I crossed the threshold.  While dinner at a family-style Italian restaurant back in the day meant I ate with my family, today I embark on this culinary journey with the chosen family:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Jason-Rocky Horror performer, 75th level-coffee snob, token minority

Joe “Bish”-Computer wunderkind, Husband of Kate, a tall drink of water

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Ky-Rocky Horror performer, Disneyland enthusiast, Roommate of Brad

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

Dine with us. We'll figure out together what, precisely, is a-matta-you.

Dine with us. We’ll figure out together what, precisely, is a-matta-you.

I really can’t talk about Mona Lisa without talking about the deli right next to it, owned by the same folks.  My boss was very enthusiastic about me hitting this up and after one quick walk through, it was easy to see why.  The place is full of all sorts of cool stuff.  Amy was a particular fan of the fact that they sold drums of cannoli cream.  I was shocked to discover a type of pasta I’ve never seen outside of Rhode Island is sold there.  It reminded me of delis in New York. which I love.  I also hear they make some killer sandwiches there so a trip back for lunch may need to be a thing.

We started off with beverages.  I had a real Italian vanilla cream soda with Torani syrup and actual cream.  It was a different texture but super good and sweet.  When they brought my house salad before dinner was when I knew this place was legit.  Oil and vinegar-based dressing.  This place tastes like home.  Very nostalgic.  At this point I was very excited to see how our main courses would fare.

I know it looks like used dish water with extra foam whip but trust me, it's damn delicious.

I know it looks like used dish water with extra foam whip but trust me, it’s damn delicious.

Aimee had the Gnocchi alla Vodka with meatballs.  Her dish was preceeded by a minestrone soup that she described as “meh” and mentioned that the broccoli in the soup looked and tasted a bit tortured.  The Gnocchi, on the other hand, was a home run for Aimee.  She said it was perfect, light and pillow-y dumplings with a really nice sauce.  The meatball she ordered with it was very flavorful.  Tomy ordered the Chicken Parmgiana with Canadian bacon and minestrone.  He, like Aimee, was not in love with the minestrone and said it needed some pasta in it.  He found is his main dish to be good but not spectacular.  He also made mention of the food being ridiculously large (it’s true, these plates are sized for sharing).  He did however love the cheesy garlic bread that he and Ky shared.

Amy got the Lasagna Marinara with a bowl of minestrone.  She felt the minestrone was solid with good spice.  She found the lasagna to be very good but nothing mind blowing.  She enjoyed the use of quality cheese and sauce in the lasagna.  The whole thing gave her a very comfort-food style vibe and reminded her of similar places she visited as a kid, much like I did.   Durwood ordered the Pesto alla Genovese with chicken with a Caesar salad.  He said his salad was really good; lightly tossed in just the right amount of dressing with quality cheese.  He gave another solid nod to the garlic bread.  While Durwood prefers a more traditional pesto, he really enjoyed his pasta.

Kate got the Chicken Marsala.   She found it to be good but nothing spectacular with a really good portion size.  Her most specific criticism was for the lack of flavor from the onions, which traditionally provide a sweet note.  She suspects they may not have been reduced enough.  Joe and Sebastian shared the Pepperoni Pizza.  This was a surprising hit.  As pizza is usually served as an after thought at restaurants that don’t specialize in it, this pizza was delicious, according to Joe.  He said it was so flavorful, it almost didn’t need sauce.  Ky had the cheese ravioli with meatballs.  She really enjoyed it, praising it’s great spices, cheeses and sauce.  Having tried it, I can honestly say it was my favorite thing at the table.  Super delicious.

Jason ordered the Lingiune with Clam Sauce.  He loved it, saying the dish was beautifully made and had a generous number of clams.  Furthermore, he loved the fact that the clams weren’t sandy, which I took to mean they must instead be Danny.  I had the Chicken Parmigiana.  One thing I found to be a bit odd was the accompanying linguine was served on a separate plate.  I’m used to the meat being served on top (Pause for gay joke).  The cut of chicken was good.  Great breading and moist chicken with a solid marinara sauce.  As Tomy had mentioned, it was huge but very satisfying and made for a great lunch at work the next day.  As Amy and Kate suggested, this was straight up Italian comfort food done well.

Vegetables, you've never been more unnecessary.

Vegetables, you’ve never been more unnecessary.

With the sheer mass of the food, it was tough to think about dessert but we are dedicated to sitting in true judgement about this place, so we soldier on.  Aimee ordered the Lemon Sorbet.   She loved it, calling the sorbet refreshing, light and zesty.  Plus points for presentation as it was served in a hollowed out lemon.  Amy got the Cannoli, which she dubbed really solid.   Durwood had the Tiramisu.   To say he loved it would be an understatement.  He called it fresh, light, creamy.  Basically a mouth orgasm.  It had him dancing in his seat.  Jason echoed that sentiment, calling it the best Tiramisu he’s ever had.

Sebastian and I ordered the Spumoni Ice Cream.  This is a dessert I hold near and dear to my heart.  When I was little, Marcello’s had a spumoni ice cream dish that I loved.  Spumoni is a molded ice cream dish (think Neapolitan) with fruit and nuts.  They would top it off for me with Creme de menthe.  I’m not sure why they would serve a 6 year old alcohol but my parents sure appreciated how quiet the ride home from the restaurant was.  I was disappointed that Mona Lisa did not have Creme de menthe but they offered Kahlua and it wasn’t the same but did call to mind the flavors of the dish as I remember it, which I loved.  Sebastian had his sans Kahlua and really loved the pistachio layer of the ice cream.

The Kahlua made it melty. Come to think about it, it also made me a little melty.

The Kahlua made it melty. Come to think about it, it also made me a little melty.

In closing, while some of the food was hit or miss for the group, we overall really enjoyed the experience of dining here.  Most of us plan on coming back and Durwood said it would be a great spot for a date.  The staff was friendly and very helpful.  It was nice family meal, which is really what a good Italian restaurant is for.

Further reading: http://www.monalisalittleitaly.com/restaurant.php

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