Tag Archives: japanese

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

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I was 22 the first time I ever had sushi.  I can’t believe I spent an entire childhood without it.  This is the part where I would say that we didn’t have that where I grew up but the truth of the matter is modern sushi as we know it dates back to around 1824.  I have to believe at some point someone somewhere in the whole state of Rhode Island said “Where tha f*** can I get some good nigiri ovah heeyah?”.  My parents were afraid of sushi, only referring to it as “raw fish”.  Once I’d moved to San Diego, I now had access to it that I never had on the other coast.  On a lunch break at work, my friend Marci offered me a piece of her California roll from the sushi place next door.  One bite and that was it for me.  I’ve been a sushi fiend ever since.  While my aversion to eating any sea life that was used as a monster in a 60’s Japanese monster movie and bi-valves is legendary, I can crush some spicy tuna, krab and shrimp with the best of them.

Like most cities in SoCal, San Diego has a huge number of sushi restaurants ranging from the most authentic you’ll find outside of Osaka to the equivalent of Arby’s gas station sushi and everything in between.  My personal favorite sushi in the city is called Izakaya Masa in Mission Hills.  I stack every sushi place I go to against it.  With such big shoes to fill, tonight’s restaurant (like all others I cover) has been called the best by someone in my world so expectations are high.  Prepare for your bluff to be called, friendo.  

First off, we gotta talk about the name:  Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub.  On the surface, it’s confusing.  Like naming a strip club Chlamydia on Tap, A Few Missing Screws Car Repair or Amber Alert Childcare.  I could do this all day.  The name comes from founder Davin Waite.  It’s a nod to his English heritage and calls to mind the light hearted irreverence he hopes to convey through the food as well as a commitment to shaking up the food system.  For me, the name evokes the need to sneak a peek in the kitchen and see if the food is actually being prepared by a plucky rat who controls a hapless human by pulling his hair (Could you imagine the pitch meeting for Ratatouille?)

Alongside a set sushi menu, Wrench and Rodent also offers a number of daily specials.  Sustainable sourcing and non-waste are the order of the day, utilizing all cuts of fish and presenting them in innovative and tasty ways.  Plus they also offer a menu of vegan sushi.  Interest is piqued.  Now it’s time to pull up with my own culinary rat pack:

Our faces are huge and our bellies are full.

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

David-Wonder Woman superfan, musical theatre enthusiast, the narrator’s love interest

Harry-The I.T. guy, equal parts Type A and goofy as all get out, He probably knows how to fix that.

Shannan-Medical examiner, pumpkin enthusiast, drives the coolest car you’ve ever seen

Suzanne-My Italian soul sista, can throw down in the kitchen, the cultured one who pronounces everything correctly.

The area of San Diego I live in is about 35-40 South of Oceanside, where Wrench and Rodent is.  In fact, with the exception of Suzanne, everyone in my dining group lives far enough away from this place that travel-worthiness played a big part in everyone’s review.  We started with some cocktails.  David and Shannan both ordered the Tokyo Sunshine (Vodka Soju Spirit, Simple Syrup, Japanese Yuzu and Sweet Citrus with a salt rim).  While the cocktail leaned heavily towards sweet and was less strong than a typical craft cocktail, David still found it enjoyable.  Shannan found it very refreshing and loved the sweetness. 

Tokyo Sunshine. Not the kind Natasha Bedingfield had in her pocket. Or maybe it is. I don’t know her life.

Shannan also had one of the house special cocktails, the Dirty, Surely (Vodka Soju Spirit, Pomegranate and Sparkling Prosecco).  While she loved the pretty presentation of the drink, the flavors did not prove to be as attractive.   Suzanne ordered the Seoul Mule (Gin Soju Spirirt, Black currant, Japanese Yuzu, Ginger Beer and a twist of lime).  She found it refreshing, offering a great balance of light sweetness with the spicy kick of the ginger beer.  She called it “Summer in a glass”.  I tried it and I agree with everything she said.  I just felt like I’ve had this drink many times before at many other places.    

One of the more unique specials on Wrench and Rodent’s menu the night of our visit was their Fish Rib Karaage.   Lightly fried and served with a sweet sauce.  I have this aversion to fish bones (apologies to any 80’s punk/ska/reggae bands that take offense that that sentiment) so I opted out but everyone who tried this dish seemed to really love it.  Harry and Shannan had the Seared Albacore Sashimi with Ponzu and Garlic Chili Sauce.  Harry enjoyed the balance of the delicate fish against the textures and toppings but found the ponzu to be lacking.  Shannan enjoyed the smokiness, layered textures and flavors plus another beautiful presentation.      

Stick-to-your-fish-ribs food!

For my main entrée, I had the Yakisoba (Offered with Chicken or Tofu, I chose tofu) with noodles and stir fried vegetables.  The flavors were very rich and savory.  Tender noodles and really well cooked tofu with a nice chew.  The serving size was a little big given the richness of the sauce but I enjoyed it.  

Send Noods.

I love a good sushi roll and Wrench and Rodent offers several mainstays on their roll menu.  Suzanne and I both ordered the Chronic (Spicy Tuna, Krab, Avocado-deep fried and topped with spicy aioli and sweet citrus sauce).  While I generally don’t love a piece of sushi I can’t eat in one bite, the flavors and textures were all on point.  Nice crispy texture balanced well with the richness of the avocado and the spicy citrus aspects.  Nothing Earth-shattering but I did enjoy it.  I just feel like I’ve had this roll a million times in a million other places.  Suzanne found the roll’s construction to be way too rice-heavy without enough fish to support it plus a noticeable lack of citrus sauce on hers.  

Aimee had the Hedgehog Roll (Krab and Shrimp Tempura topped with Seared Yellowtail, Garlic and truffle Oil).  She loved the smoked salt and garlic on the Yellowtail as well as the pop of the garlic chips.  David tried the Rainbow Roll (Krab, Cucumber and Avocado topped with Tuna, Yellowtail, Salmon and Avocado).  He enjoyed the freshness of the fish and beautiful presentation.  While his ordinary sushi roll order is larger, this roll on it’s own large enough on its own to be a satisfying meal.  Shannan and Harry ordered the Holiday in Cambodia Roll (Spicy Tuna and Cucumber topped with daily whitefish, Thai fish Sauce and Scallion).  She said it had a good spice level with refreshing cucumber and the fish sauce was very tasty.  Harry enjoyed the buttery sweetness of the whitefish against the spicy tuna.  

The table also ordered some Nigiri (raw or cooked fish hand pressed on a ball of rice).  Shannan had the daily special, Black Cod Nigiri with Miso truffle Glaze.  She again praised the beautiful presentation and the nice texture of the fish.  Her favorite of the night.  Aimee and Harry got another special; Swordfish Nigiri with Bacon Guava Jam.  Harry found the jam to be interesting but the dish was otherwise unremarkable for him.  Aimee found herself wishing the sear on the swordfish had gone a bit longer.  While the jam was also a tasty addition for Aimee, she said its inclusion muddled the flavor of the swordfish to the point where you could use any fish and you wouldn’t notice a difference.  David’s curiosity was piqued at the Bacon Guava Jam so our server (who was great, BTW) brought him a small side of it so we could try it.  Very tasty.

Some very unique offerings on the Nigiri menu were the Anchovy Nigiri and the Scallop Nigiri.  Suzanne went for the Anchovy.  While it lacked the briney she was expecting, She really loved the delicate umami flavor, which paired nicely with the mustard.  Even though she admitted ponzu might have been a better choice.  Harry and Shannan went in on the Scallop.  Harry says the nigiri was soft and buttery with a nice umami boost from the truffle oil.  Shannan echoed his sentiments and called the dish quite delicious.  Suzanne also ordered the Salmon Nigiri with Sweet Citrus Salt.  While salmon is a favorite of hers, the Citrus Salt was so overwhelmingly sweet that it was a strike out for her.  

The biggest swing-and-a-miss moment of the night came in the form of Aimee’s Eel Nigiri.  Eel Nigiri is her favorite.  Her go-to at any sushi place.  She said this was the worst she’s ever had; tasting old and rubbery, she likened it to “eel jerky” and struggled to chew it.  She sent it back after the first bite.  To their credit, our server was apologetic and they did take the item off the bill.   Given the better quality of everything else we ordered, I will call it a fluke for this one dish to have gone so poorly.  Shit happens, y’know?

David also ordered the chicken fried rice, which he found to be a very generous portion with tasty chicken and lots of fresh vegetables.  He also enjoyed the addition of cauliflower to the rice.  

Taking a boring standard and making it awesome is a Hell of a flex.

Based on our server’s recommendation, I ordered the Nutella Cookies and Salted Caramel ice Cream for dessert.  The cookies were soft and delicious.  The ice cream had thick ribbons of caramel throughout.  Very tasty dessert, I wouldn’t come here just for it but it was a nice end to my meal.  Shannan had the Rose’ poached Pear served with vanilla whipped cream and berries.  She loved it.  Sweet and delicious with beautiful texture and a striking presentation.  David also tried it and was worried about the Rose being too overpowering but found the balance to be really lovely.  

Suzanne and Aimee both had the Bread Pudding and both found issues with it.  Unlike a usual bread pudding, it’s served cold.  “Refrigerator cold” to use Suzanne’s exact words.  They both said it was extremely dense.  Suzanne called it a missed opportunity to bring in another flavor profile with a sauce.  Aimee said it ate like cold meatloaf from the fridge.  Not a winner.  

My overall feelings about Wrench and Rodent are positive.  I enjoyed everything I had but I’m left feeling like there was nothing particularly special about it for me.  If you find yourself in or around Oceanside, I would say it’s a solid place for a date night.  The design is cool and the patio is lovely.  The food is solid and the service was great.  Would I drive back to Oceanside just go eat there?  Unlikely.  Would I protest if the opportunity to dine there again came up? Absolutely not.  I say run don’t walk.             

Watch the YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/0xqYIUmgg38

Listen to the full podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zqa3y-1630461

Further reading: http://www.seabasstropub.com

Zensei Sushi (52 of 52) (CLOSED)

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I CAN’T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY DID IT!!!!

1 year
52 new restaurants

The mind.  It boggles at the scope of what I’ve done.

For the final restaurant of 2014, I chose some of my favorite food; sushi.  Zensei Sushi, located in the San Diego neighborhood of North Park.  I love me some sushi and was eager to celebrate this last dinner of my challenge with my friends:

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

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villain

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

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

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

Joey-Future music professor, Sazerac drinker, makes a mean cup of coffee

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

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

Suzanne-My Italian soul sista, Can throw down in the kitchen, the cultured one who pronounces everything correctly.

A big thank you to everyone who helped out with this blog both in this picture and not in this picture. Thank you for being so obsessed with my silly descriptions of you.

A big thank you to everyone who helped out with this blog both in this picture and not in this picture. Thank you also for being so obsessed with my silly descriptions of you all.

Once we were seated (kind of an ordeal as we were a big group in a very small space) our server, who was lovely, informed us that only one of their two sushi chefs had shown up for their shift so our food would be coming out at a slower speed with only one person preparing it.

For appetizers, Samantha and Jackie both ordered the Tempura Avocado.  Samantha called it ripe to perfection, which she loved.  While the first two slices were delicious, after a while she began to only taste tempura.  Mandy & Joey started with Miso Soup.  It included sesame seeds, which Mandy doesn’t care for but said the soup was good.  Joey likened the tofu to the kind that comes in freeze dried packets.  He much prefers larger blocks of tofu.  Instead of an Oyster shooter (which they were out of), Jason got Stuffed Oranges (Spicy scallops and crab on rice, wrapped with fresh salmon), which is a favorite of his.  This dish also stood out with others who tasted it.

Durwood had the Fried Chicken Gyoza, which he felt was good but pretty standard.  Suzanne got an Orion Beer.  This isn’t a beer that’s usually found on a menu here in the states so she enjoyed that.  Jackie and I both ordered the Firecracker (Their version of a jalapeno popper).  While she found it nothing outstanding, Jackie did enjoy it.  It was a bit spicy for my whimpy tastes but it was very tasty.  Particularly nice with soy sauce.

Just because my punk ass yankee tummy didn't like the heat, these were delicious.

My punk ass yankee tummy didn’t like the heat but these were delicious.

For main courses, Samantha, David & Kelsey each ordered the Sancho Roll (Shrimp tempura, gobo, cream cheese, avocado inside with spicy crab, sweet sauce outside).  Samantha found the carrots really crispy with delicious crab and great shrimp tempura.  Kelsey found the roll to be very balanced with nothing that tasted like filler.  David called it his favorite roll of the night.   Samantha  and David both followed it with the 30th & Upas roll (Spicy tuna inside, with tuna and avocado on top, and secret spicy sauce),  Which Samantha called amazing.  She loved the salsa and cilantro.  She appreciated the fact that the spice didn’t overpower the tuna flavor.  David also called it delicious.   Less impressive to Samantha were the spicy mayo, which lacked kick and a ponzu sauce that was far too salty for her.  Kelsey also had Seared Ahi Sashimi Salad.  She found the salad to lack a lot of flavor.  While the fish was seared beautifully, Kelsey felt it need something more.  Mandy got the Spider Roll (Soft shell crab, masago gobo, cucumber, and avocado), which she said was well made and well sized.  She followed it with a Yellow Submarine Roll (Eel, crab, cream cheese, avocado, golden tempura, topped with eel sauce).  The roll includes Jalapeno, which is not Mandy’s favorite but she felt it worked really well.   Durwood had the Dragon Roll (Tempura‎ shrimp, cucumber, cream cheese and crab, eel and avocado outside).  He said it was excellent, which each ingredient being present in every bite.  Worth coming back for alone.    Suzanne got Tuna & Salmon Nigiri, both of which she said were good.  She also ordered a Dream Roll (Spicy‎ mix of cucumber, gobo, onions, masago, tuna, yellowtail and crab inside with avocado, thin edible lemon zest and seared pearl white tuna inside).  She enjoyed how fresh it tasted and the tuna was of particular note for it’s buttery-ness.

Joey (following a dashed attempt at ordering out-of-stock Salmon skins) ordered the Takoyaki, which is is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special takoyaki pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced Octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger and green onion (Thank you wikipedia!).  Despite the fact that he compared the cabbage to the Kroger cole slaw blend, Joey said the Takoyaki was pretty solid.  He followed it with a Salmon Roll, which he said was acceptable.  Jackie had the Dragon Roll and the Uptown Roll.  She said they were both well made and well sized but tasted similar to each other.  Craig got Shrimp Udon.  He felt the noodles were good but the broth tasted like little else other than salt and the shrimp used in the soup were tiny.  David also had the Chicken Katzu (Lightly breaded chicken with Japanese bbq sauce, served with steamed rice and steamed vegetables), which he said was fine, if standard.

For my main course, I ordered the Maui Wowi (Crab,‎ avocado, cucumber baked with a special spicy sauce then layered with mango salsa).  I found the tempura a bit tough but the flavors were nice.

Spicy Tuna is everything. I just love it.

Spicy Tuna is everything. I just love it.

I also had the Pizza Roll, not to be confused with Pizza Rolls which I would still have gladly eaten.   This roll is Smoked salmon, avocado, and dynamite sauce, all finished in the oven.  While the roll was tasty, the baking part did made the rice hard and the whole thing was a bit greasy.  Which I realize only makes it more pizza like.

On a scale of Little Caesar's to Pizza hut, I'd say this pizza roll was a solid Dijourno.

On a scale of Little Caesar’s to Pizza hut, I’d say this pizza roll was a solid DiGiorno.

So overall it seems our feelings on Zensei Sushi were positive.  The service was great under pressure.  While there were some hiccups, they took very good care of us.  The food was good and well priced.  While I was not bowled over by anything I had, I would definitely not turn down an opportunity to return.

So, that’s it!  The last restaurant in the challenge.  I’ve had many readers ask what happens from here?  Well, I do plan to continue this blog into the new year. While I will not be dining at a new place every week, I will still be trying some new places and blogging about the places in San Diego that I already love. I want to thank everyone who read this nonsense that I post every week, especially those that comment, like and share my posts on social media. I never thought this blog would catch fire and be read by people all over the world that I don’t even know! I appreciate all of you and wish you the best in the new year. Thank you for taking and continuing this journey with me.

Sincerely,
Anthony Donovan
The Boy who ate San Diego

Teri Cafe (23 of 52)

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The sentiment of “Never judge a book by it’s cover” is truthful, wise and applicable to all areas of life, which is why most people completely ignore it.  I’m guilty of it too.  I’ve refused to even test drive cars because they look angry.  So when it comes to restaurants, I can be a quick judge based on appearance but I always shape my final opinion solely upon the food.  This is why I will eat just about anywhere from “mortgage your house if you want dessert” to “I pray there’s enough alcohol in this beverage to kill whatever’s growing on this glass”.  It’s all good.  Unless it’s not, but I’m getting away from the point here.

Oceanside’s Teri Cafe serves up Japanese/Hawaiian inspired dishes in a cute surrounding with an almost fast food-like method of serving.  You order at a counter, they give you a number for your table, they bring you food.  The place was mobbed (always a good sign).  Luckily we had a smaller group this week consisting of myself & some of the leading ladies of BW8SD:

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

Suzanne-My Italian soul sista, Can throw down in the kitchen, the cultured one who pronounces everything correctly.

Contrary to what this picture suggests, we didn't eat dinner at Trader Joe's.

Contrary to what this picture suggests, we didn’t eat dinner at Trader Joe’s.

Amy was immediately thrilled to see Teri Cafe offers Lilikoi Passion Fruit Drink; a favorite of hers from her time in Hawaii.   With so many Hawaiian inspired choices on the menu, we were surprised to see not a single item on the menu with Spam.  Not that I was sad about this because I’m only just okay with actual ham and don’t do pink, potted, gelatinous food-type items used as props on Monty Python.

Suzanne, the only person in our group who had been here before, had the Beef and Chicken Teriyaki and a shrimp plate served with Miso Soup, green salad and potato salad.   She said the rice was done perfectly and she loved the fact that additional teriyaki sauce is available on the table in a squeeze bottle.  Her beef and chicken were perfectly cooked and well textured with huge portions for a great value.  The potato salad at Teri Cafe has pasta in it.  Yeah, pasta.   While this combining of my two least favorite types of cold salads would be a toasty romp through Satan’s nether regions for yours truly, Suzanne said it was strange but really delicious.  Amy had the Vegetable Yakisoba.  She claimed the Yakisoba is the best she’s had.  The noodles were delicious and the vegetables were not soggy.  The grated ginger on top was a great touch with a pleasing, slightly sweet, sauce.

Aimee ordered the Teriyaki Chicken and Shrimp Tempura, an Aloha Roll, Unagi and Fried Gyoza.  Her tempura was great and the chicken was really good.  The fried gyoza was tasty but she (and I) prefer a softer pan seared style gyoza to the fried crispy kind served here.  Her Aloha Roll (Shrimp Tempura Roll with Tuna & Spicy Mayo) was pretty basic but good.  She praised the lack of “filler” in her sushi.  Good fish with a “no frills” approach.  Not so successful for Aimee was the Unagi (Eel roll).  She felt the dish looked and tasted pre-made.  In comparison to the fresh -tasting Aloha, it was a swing and a miss during what was, otherwise, a very successful meal for her.  I had the Spicy Tuna Roll, which was delicious.  The Tuna was super fresh, which I’m embarrassed to say was a surprise given the fast food-y vibe of this place.  I’m always glad to be proved wrong like this.

I will never doubt you again, food.

I will never doubt you again, food.

The Shrimp Yakisoba wasn’t quite as successful for me.  I found there to be a lot less shrimp and a lot more vegetables.  Plus, some of the shrimp on my plate weren’t properly cleaned.  Granted, these were by no means a deal breaker.  The noodles were tasty and the shrimp were well cooked.  I would be curious to explore more of the menu as it’s affordable and, as Amy pointed out, the portions are generous.

Just use the fork. Don't be a hero.

Just use the fork. Don’t be a hero.

Overall, my experience at Teri Cafe was a positive one and I would certainly come back for lunch or take out.  The menu is pretty extensive and there’s way more stuff to try in future visits (Suzanne highly recommends the Bonzai Ramen Bowl).  So if you’re up in Oceanside and are craving Japanese style take out without spending a fortune, go to this place.

Further reading: http://www.tericafe.com/

You can also see pictures of all the dishes we ordered by following theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!!