Tag Archives: Restaurant review

Special Report: The Boy Who Ate Phoenix

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I’ve been to Phoenix, AZ exactly twice.  Both times for the same reason; to see Madonna.  I mean see her in concert.  I didn’t, like, go visit Madonna at her lavish Arizona compound where we’d do yoga and I’d film Instagram reels of her behaving in a manner unbecoming a pop icon her age.  I don’t fantasize about being besties with Madonna.  That would be silly.  I do however enjoy a rich fantasy life where I am Taylor Swift’s fabulous gay uncle.  We’d talk about boys over cheap red wine and pints of Ben and Jerry’s.  My dog would fight with her cats.  I don’t know if Taylor Swift even owns a cat, let alone multiple cats.  Just a hunch.  I’d tell her how proud I was of her for re-recording her first 5 albums to gain full ownership of her masters while gently reminding her that Prince did that first and probably better.  Y’know, normal Uncle stuff.  That seems like something that would happen in Phoenix.

What DID happen in my recent visit to Phoenix was time spent with lovely friends, experiencing the Pride parade and a long weekend spent with my partner eating a city other than San Diego.  Since I only know two people who live there (shout out to Michael and Daniel for being fantastic hosts and adventurous dining companions), I took their suggestions, along with whittling down a lot of top 10 lists from the always trusty internet, and mapped out an impossibly long list of places to try.  What you are about to read are the places that made the final cut and what we thought.  By sheer happenstance, most of them are within a mile or two of each other!

First up Hula’s (5114 N. 7th Street, Phoenix.) Boasting a menu of fused island and mainland flavors, Hula’s offers up a twist on the classic tiki bars and restaurants of yesteryear.  The vibe is cute, kitschy and festive.  I saw a cocktail on the menu called Dr. Funk and felt almost obligated to order it on the name alone.  Coconut rum, vodka, crème de banana, coconut, pineapple and orange juice served in a tall tiki mug.  It tasted like the luau scene in Grease 2.  In other words, absolute perfection.  David and I shared the samurai beef sticks (grilled Mongolian beef skewered with pineapple and scallions).  Really tasty but the star of this appetizer was the lime curry dipping sauce. 

I could not have ever imagined myself walking into a tiki bar and eating tacos but here we are.  The Crunchy Spicy Chicken Tacos sounded too interesting to pass up.  Marinated roasted chicken, jack cheese, taco slaw and salsa roja in a deep fried corn tortilla.  The freshness of the chicken made all the difference, super juicy and flavorful.  The hot crunch of the fried tortilla hit perfectly with the cold crunch of the slaw.  A nice kick from the jack cheese tied it all together.  Fantastic.    For his main course, David chose more traditional island fare with Duke’s Luau Pork Plate (slow roasted pulled pork, soy glaze, pineapple with rice and slaw on the side).  Tender and well seasoned, it also offers up a generous portion of food.  Hula’s is officially on my “must return again” list when next I am in the city of Phoenix.  Strong start. 

Fried Tacos. At a Tiki Bar. Day one and Arizona is already out here doing the most.

Capping off night one was dessert at Sweet Republic (6054 N 16th Street, Phoenix.)  Handcrafted ice cream scoops, sundaes and shakes with unique flavors in a casual setting (“casual” meaning “minus the panic attack I’m having internally when faced with having to choose ice cream flavors or really anything at all.”)  Actually, it was pretty easy to make this choice.  I got a cup of Blueberry Lemon Custard Pie (Lemon custard ice cream with swirls of blueberry and chunks of waffle pie crust).  The ice cream base was so light and creamy, it ate more like gelato but still had that nice richness of the custard.  The lemon was front and center with sweet tangy goodness and the pie crust chunks kept it all in check.  Really, really great.   David got two scoops: the Hummingbird Cake (think carrot cake but with pineapple instead of carrots) and the Bananas Foster.  While the Bananas Foster was good, the clear winner for him was the Hummingbird Cake ice cream, which exactly mirrors the taste of its namesake cake.  This place is worth seeking out. 

It’s pie but it’s not. It’s gelato but it’s not. It’s wrong but it’s right.

Day two started with breakfast at Matt’s Big Breakfast (3118 E Camelback Road, Phoenix.)  While the first two places were recommended by my friends, this was the first place I went to that came from the Phoenix top ten lists Google showed me.  Located in the Biltmore Plaza, Matt’s Big Breakfast offers “Scratch cooking and honest ingredients,” according to their website.  I have to agree.  Not one thing on my plate looked like it was trying to sell me Bitcoin or a timeshare in Florida.  I ordered the Five Spot Platter (breakfast sandwich on a roll with two eggs, thick cut bacon, American cheese, grilled and onions alongside some home fries).  I also had to order a short stack of blueberry griddle cakes because I love them.  My overall impression from my meal was that it was solid but nothing outstanding.  I do love crunchy bacon but some of the bacon on my sandwich was so burned, it belonged in an urn.  Not a deal breaker.  Again, I love crunchy bacon and the meal was well done.  The griddle cakes were tasty and well made but I’d had them before many, many times at many, many places. 

I love me some griddle cakes. These were delicious, if uninspired.

Wanting something a little more original than a basic bacon-and-eggs breakfast, David ordered the Chop and Chick (two eggs and a skillet-seared Iowa pork chop served alongside toast and a choice of potato.)  He found the pork chop to be really well-seasoned and delicious (I tried some and can confirm.  Also, props for offering a different protein for breakfast!)  He was also appreciative that his request for extra crispy hashbrowns was honored and they were able to offer a side of banana slices instead of the evil gluten of toast.  Final verdict: While I’d certainly come back to Matt’s Big Breakfast, I wouldn’t make it a point to visit.

Dinner was a local recommendation, George Yang’s Chinese Cuisine  (6048 N 16th Street, Phoenix)  With a specialty in Chinese food, George Yang’s also offers dishes of Thai, Burmese and Vietnamese descent.  An appetizer that caught my eye early on while perusing the menu was the New York Style Egg Roll, made with shrimp, pork and PEANUT BUTTER.  Yeah.  While my New York native friend Michael swore he ate them like that all the time back East, David (also a New York native) had never heard of that.  Now, I’ll admit, East Coast Chinese food and West Coast Chinese food are worlds apart, even though both are awesome in their own ways.  But, yeah, I have never heard of peanut butter used in this way.  Peanut sauce?  Sure.  Anyway, I had to get to the bottom of this and I have to say it was pretty tasty, particularly when paired with the spicy mustard at the table. 

David and I shared the Chicken Lettuce Wraps (minced chicken with water chestnuts and mushrooms).  This was my favorite dish of the entire meal.  Each ingredient was well-featured and not at all muddied in the overall flavor.  Simple, well-executed and very tasty.  Would come back for that alone.

Simple and delicious lettuce wraps, presented without a questionable regional claim.

For my main course, I forewent my usual go-to, Kung Pao Chicken.  George Yang’s does not serve peanuts in their Kung Pao Chicken and they say as much in the menu.  I can only assume all of the peanuts are being ground to make the peanut butter in the egg rolls. I instead ordered Firecracker Shrimp (served with mushrooms and zucchini in a garlic and ginger sauce.)  The dish was served with a family-style bowl of rice.  “Everything comes with rice…You idiot.” Said our delightfully curt server.  Okay, she didn’t say that last part, but her tone did.  Anyway, it was my bad for asking.  Moving on.  I didn’t quite get the heat the name of the dish promised but the shrimp were well cooked and the sauce was more garlic than ginger but very tasty. 

David ordered the Tres Amigos.  Yes, that classic Chinese favorite, Tres Amigos.  A house specialty at George Yang’s, it’s a trio of shrimp, chicken and beef stir fried with vegetables in a brown sauce.  He found the veggies to be well-cooked without losing their crispness.  The meats were delicious.  It was also cool that they sat our group of 8 at a large circular table with a glass lazy Susan, so it was very easy to sample a little bit of everything (which is how I discovered their orange chicken is legit)

Morning brought brunch at The Genuine (6015 N 16th Street, Phoenix.)  This place was a recommendation from a stranger I met in a bar the night before.  Shout out to Butch the realtor for the list of more places to try!  The Genuine bills itself as an elevated dining experience centered around shareable wood fired cuisine and craft cocktails.  A lot of thought clearly went into the design of this place.  The vibe is retro and cool.  I started with a cocktail called a Spicy Prick, chili-infused blanco tequila, Malibu pineapple, prickly pear puree, fresh lime and a smoked sea salt rim.  Well, “rim” in that it starts at the rim and cascades down the entire side of the glass.  That’s not a complaint btw.  I love salt with my tequila.  This cocktail was delicious.  Sweet heat with a pinch of salt.  Good stuff. 

This drink is one of very few instances I can point to in my life where a positive decision started with tequila.

A shareable brunch option that I partook in was the Jumbo Cinnamon Roll with cream cheese frosting.  While the Genuine and I clearly have differing opinions on what the definition of “jumbo” is, this was really well done.  The frosting was not the usual thick sugar spackle but was instead a creamier, smoother, less aggressive cream cheese icing.  It gave nice flavor without turning it into a total sugar bomb.  Even the light sugar glaze on the roll itself managed to keep itself in check.  I will say, if you’re a diehard fan of the classic cinnamon roll and icing, it might not be your jam.  But kudos to The Genuine for a unique twist on a classic.

Unfortunately, my main course was more forgettable.  I ordered the Classic Breakfast (two eggs, grilled country bread and house bacon).  Everything on the plate was well-made, but nothing about it felt elevated or special.  Granted, I know a “classic breakfast” doesn’t exactly give exciting, new, or special in its description but I felt like I’d had this dish a hundred times at a hundred different places. 

David ordered the Wood Oven Meat and Potatoes Skillet (with roasted potatoes, bacon, sausage, peppers, onions, cheddar cheese and scrambled eggs.)  He loved it – flavorful sausage, crispy potatoes and well-cooked onions. I sampled and it was much better than what I ordered.  It’s worth noting that of our 4 diners, David was the only one who was totally happy with his meal.  I would come back, but only for drinks.

My internet research gave us the choice for dinner.  Not only did it appear in multiple top ten lists but I would later discover that this place was also awarded “Best Restaurant in the Country” by Yelp!  Cocina Madrigal (4044 S 16th Street, Phoenix) offers classic Mexican fare with a focus on tacos and tequila.  It’s off the beaten path and it isn’t much to look at.  Hyper-designed, Instagram-ready hipster vibe this is not, but HOLY SHIT was it ever amazing.

We started with the Oaxaca Fundido which featured Oaxaca cheese melted over longaniza sausage, roasted jalapenos, mushrooms, caramelized onions and epazote (a Mexican herb.)  They serve it in a cast iron skillet with fresh house-made corn tortillas.  The fundido contains an almost absurd amount of flavor.  Smooth, velvety cheese with a touch of tang playing off the rich, earthy mushrooms and sausage and finishing with just a bit of jalapeno heat.  Once we ate our corn tortillas, we were scraping the skillet with our chips.  One of the best dishes of its kind I’ve ever had.  Like, EVER.  The fundido can be ordered on its own or included in a trio with Guacamole and salsa, which is how we had it.  While the guac was legit and the salsa was smoky and delicious, the fundido was the absolute undisputed Diana Ross of this trio. 

Thanks to our server Antonio who gave great suggestions on what to order.  I took his advice and had the Two Enchiladas, one chicken (achiote-braised chicken, jack cheese, New Mexico hatch green chile sauce and chipotle cream) and one wild mushroom (a mix of 3 wild mushrooms, jack cheese, ancho mole cream sauce, avocado relish and sour cream).  They were served alongside traditional rice and beans (the latter of which I asked to be left off and they gladly obliged).  The chicken was so fresh and loaded with great flavor.  It meshed perfectly with the creamy spice of the cheese and sauces.  I’ve never had something so simple, done so expertly.  The mushroom enchilada was absolutely delicious as well.  The umami of the mushrooms paired so well with the mole.  Antonio did right by ya boy with this suggestion.

I know this looks like a plate of Enchiladas you could get at any corner Mexican restaurant but these were next-level, poetry-worthy culinary achievements. Seriously. I’ll be talking about this meal for years.

David had one of the chef’s features – crispy salmon served over mashed potatoes with a roasted tomatillo sauce, topped with Oaxaca shrimp and avocado relish.  He said it was absolutely fantastic.  The tomatillo sauce was flavorful without overpowering the dish and there was a generous amount of shrimp.  

There are only three desserts on the menu at Cocina Madrigal, so we ordered two of them.  The Chocolate Chipotle Pie was smooth, creamy and rich, yet was surprisingly light.  Topped with whipped cream and spicy candied pecans, this dessert was anything but an afterthought.  The other dessert we tried was Classic Churros. These are made to order so they’ll take a minute, but they are well worth the wait.  Filled with a Bavarian cream, the churros were fried to absolute perfection and served alongside a delicious leche dipping sauce.  I will RUN back to this place the next time I’m in Phoenix.  It was the absolute best place I went to and I cannot recommend it enough. 

Our final full day in Phoenix included more local recommendations, starting with brunch at Fez (105 W Portland Street, Phoenix.)  With a menu that includes trendy burgers, cocktails and Mediterranean fare, the restaurant had a very cool vibe and a large crowd inside (always a good indicator).  I started with a cocktail called the B-Spot (blueberry and lime vodkas, blueberry liqueur, muddled blueberries and lime pressed).  I did not see any fruit muddled in this glass but it was bright ICEE-blue and tasted like Hypnotiq, so I have zero complaints.  

I tried two of the appetizers.  One was a success, the other not so much.  The Cauliflower Wings were really great.  Like, surprisingly great.  The panko breading held up and brought lots of great flavor.  The cauliflower drummettes were tender and very well cooked.  Paired with buffalo sauce, this dish was a winner.  The Lettuce Wraps were the only sour note in an otherwise lovely meal.  Diced grilled chicken, almonds, apricots and cherries tossed in pomegranate vinaigrette with romaine lettuce cups.  The chicken was inedible-level dry and the vinaigrette could not revive it.  In fact, David could taste so little of the dressing, he was surprised to learn it was there.  Without the proper flavor of the chicken to balance it, the fruit and nuts  were left to fend for themselves.  Not good.

For his main course, David ordered the weekend-menu-only Fresco Fritatta (oven-baked eggs with sauteed spinach, caramelized onion, crumbled bacon and creamy goat cheese served with a side of roasted potatoes.)  He felt that while the flavors were good, the frittata itself was a bit dry.  He would’ve preferred some cheddar instead of goat cheese and some avocado on top to cut the salt.  He asked for fries instead of the standard roasted potatoes.  He normally orders them “crispy,” but *for some reason* didn’t remember to do that (shout out the cocktails at Fez.) They arrived less done than he prefers (“floppy” to use his words.)  I, on the other hand, love fries like that, so I helped out as clean up crew.

My main course was another weekend-brunch-only item that looked too interesting to pass up.  The Golden Curry Egg Scramble is herbed rice scrambled with eggs, green onions and sweet corn topped with curry sauce.  I added crispy chicken on top.  This was such a cool, new way to enjoy breakfast for me.  While curry for breakfast is common in both Indian and English culture, I come from the very pale state of Rhode Island and this was uncharted territory to me.  (“Hey Alexa, play ‘a whole new world’ from Aladdin.”)  I love curry, I’ve just never had it with rice and eggs and, friends, this will not be the last time I order this dish.  The rice was tender, the eggs were fluffy and the rich, spicy creaminess of the curry pulled it all together.  Plus, my addition of crispy chicken only elevated the dish for me.  It was giving Japanese curry and that is MY JAM.  I’m basically a culinary genius, meshing worldwide cuisine.  Please don’t correct me.  Just let me have this.

Eggs, Rice, Curry and fried chicken. Magic. Absolute magic. I need to know where I can get something like this in San Diego. If you know, holla atcha boy.

Our final dinner in the lovely city of Phoenix was TexAZ Grill (6003 N 16th Street, Phoenix.) While Phoenix is not a place I’d expect to find homestyle Southern food, here we were.  The interior is…a lot.  Neon, Christmas lights, license plates, vintage metal signs, snapshots, it’s all here.  Like, ALL of it.  Even on the ceiling. It’s either paradise or a waking nightmare, depending what specific type of ADHD you have.  I gotta give a shout out to our server.  There were only 4 of us but we ordered a lot and there were multiple substitutions and requests.  If you have ever worked in a restaurant, I know you’ll see the exact red flag that I get in this situation.  He didn’t write anything down.  DANGER WILL ROBINSON.  He got it completely right.  Respect, sir.  I will take my anxiety elsewhere.         

I was told by a local that the chicken fried chicken was where it’s at.  While TexAZ Grill is known for their Chicken Fried Steak, I’ve always preferred the chicken version (see also: “The Great Escape.”)  What I hadn’t anticipated was how much food this would be.  The steak usually is pounded flat and thin to make Chicken Fried Steak.  This dish featured two huge chicken breasts!  Served with steak fries (the undisputed love of my life), a bowl of corn and a biscuit, the chicken is batter fried and smothered in cream gravy (or “country gravy” for you “Try That in a Small Town” folks).  I followed our server’s instructions and sprinkled the can of Zatarain’s creole seasoning he brought atop my gravy.  Again, he did not steer me wrong.

In college, my best friend convinced me to take a Labor Day weekend trip with her back to her hometown of Dothan, Alabama.  Once we rolled into town, we were hungry after the long drive from South Florida.  We stopped for lunch at a restaurant called Po’ Folks.  I ordered the fried chicken sandwich and, for the first time in my young life, had actual Southern fried chicken fried by actual southerners in the actual South.  It was delicious and stuck to my ribs with such tenacity, I could not eat for another 2 days.  Not even kidding.   Aimee teases me about my “tender yankee tummy” to this day.  But that was then, this is now.  My tummy (while still tender at times) is built to handle this and handle it, it did at TexAZ Grill.

The chicken was perfect.  Juicy and delicious.  The breading was on the “just enough” side of “too much” but they did it up right.  It honestly took me right back to that small town in Alabama when I was 20 and thought sweet tea came in a can marked Lipton.  I don’t eat this kind of heavy food often but, if I lived closer, this is the place I’d go.  David ordered the TexAZ Grill Burger.  Made to order and customizable, David’s burger (Taylor’s Version) included avocado, bacon, sauteed onions.  A staunch opponent of steak fries (star-crossed lovers up in this bitch – you don’t even know,)  he instead chose mashed potatoes.  David found the burger patty to be thick and delicious and the toppings were perfect.  The final thing that was ordered at the table was the Mac n’ Cheese.  All you need to know about my feelings on this can be found in my review of Louisiana Purchase earlier this season.  So let’s just leave it at that and move on.

Chicken Fried Chicken is the star of a classic and delicious beige plate. IYKYK.

Overall, TexAZ Grill was legit.  A surprising but delightful discovery that’s worth checking out whether you’re a Southern food novice or a pro.  Big thumbs up.  I was not hungry for at least 24 hours (compared to the 48 hours in Alabama).  You know that that is?  Growth.So if you live, visit or find yourself for some random Madonna-related reason in the city of Phoenix, AZ, keep this post in your back pocket for some helpful suggestions.  Feel free to let me know if I got it right, got it wrong, or missed out on some great hidden gems.  Happy eating, Y’all!

Louisiana Purchase

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In 2014, I took one of the best trips of my entire life when I made my very first excursion to New Orleans.  In fact, I was so impressed with it, I blogged about it.  You can read that here: https://theboywhoatesd.com/2014/03/19/special-report-the-boy-who-ate-new-orleans/

Sad to say I’ve not been back to the big easy since but hopefully someday.  In the years since, any place with New Orleans-style eats on the menu automatically gets my attention.  While choosing what places to cover on this first season of BW8SD: The New Class was no easy feat, the fact that this place was named among the “must-try’s” made it an immediate contender.

Louisiana Purchase is located on the corner of Louisiana Street and University Avenue in the San Diego neighborhood of North Park.  The fact that the place is called “Louisiana Purchase” AND located on Louisiana Street is either an incredible real estate coincidence or was by design because I can’t imagine the place being called “University Purchase”, unless it was opened by Lori Laughlin (Jokes ripped straight from the headlines of 2019!  You’re welcome!)  Drawing on the famously bold flavors of New Orleans, Lousiana Purchase bills itself as an “intimate cocktail restaurant”.  Executive Chef (and NOLA transplant) Quinnton Austin is serving up inventive takes on classic Southern cooking while the bar eschews the more “sugary” New Orleans standards in favor of a more modern focus on “Quality and craftsmanship”, per their website.

Joining me on this maiden voyage to Lousiana Purchase was my own delightful band of anthropomorphized bayou critters to my Princess Tiana.  But let’s face it, I’m more Charlotte. 

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

Dan-Lawful pirate, metal lover, can tell you everything about a great beer.  And he will.

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.

Kelsey-Project manager, Keeper of Christmas, has been known to drop it like it’s hot

Joseph-Music educator, loves just about every food I won’t touch, masterclass Dad joker

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

Laisse les bons biscuits au babeurre rouler

Louisiana Purchase is the type of place that lets you know straight out the gate who they are and what they’re about.  The buy-in for me was immediate.  From the purple lights of the bar to the portraits of Snoop Dogg and Britney near the restrooms but for myself and others at my table, the biggest non-food highlights was the music.  All night we were treated to a sublime curated mix of 90’s-early 2000’s R&B.  I’m talking full-on Bill Bellamy MTV Jams-era bliss.  As more and more plates arrived to our table throughout the night, their arrivals were set to the sounds of Lauryn Hill, SWV, Maxwell, Soul For Real and Mary J. Blige.  What sold me was hearing the 12” version of Jodeci’s undisputed 1992 boot knockin’ classic “Come and Talk To Me”.  THE TWELVE INCH.  Remember 12” remixes and Maxi-Singles?  Kids, ask your parents.  The 90’s were it.  We were a PROPER COUNTRY.  Seriously, wall-to-wall bangers all night.

While their food is undoubtedly the focus, Louisiana Purchase also offers a full menu of fun, Nawlins-inspired cocktails, both traditional and with a twist.  I was eager to partake of said cocktails since I enjoyed so many in the Big Easy (from what I’m told, I had a lovely time) but your boy was unfortunately on a round of antibiotics for a UTI that night so I had to lean entirely on my amazing krewe to drink and dish on my behest.  And boy, were they up to the challenge.  Aimee had the French Margarita, with cognac, fresh citrus and agave nectar.  She gave it a thumbs up for the sweet, refreshing balance of the agave nectar and the cognac.  Shannan had the Hand Grenade, a frozen cocktail blended with Jameson, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Fresh Citrus and mint.  It had a really nice flavor without being too strong.

Harry and Dan both ordered the Praline Old Fashioned (Bourbon, pecan orgeat, orange bitters and chicory bitters).  Harry found the drink very accessible with controlled flavors and a mild sweetness.  Dan found it had a woody taste but no buzz (“Alexa, play ‘You’ve Got a Friend In Me’”)  Harry also gave high marks to the Jamaican Superman (LP LIT Mix, sorel, lemon, simple syrup and starry).  David went the classic New Orleans route and tried Lousiana Purchase’s very fun take on a Hurricane.  Made with a house rum blend, house fassionola (A word I absolutely did not have to Google), almond orgeat, fresh citrus and burlesque bitters, which I can only assume is the flavor of a disastrous 2010 film starring Cher and Christina Aguilera that only gay men are able to enjoy.  Served with a side of Pop Rocks (yes, really), it takes the experience to a whole new level.  He said the drink was (surprisingly) not too sweet.  Also, shout out to our server, Abraham, for letting David pick out another flavor pop rocks after being brought strawberry, which he is allergic to.  I was delighted watching him and Shannan toss back pop rocks and giggle while they drank a sip of hurricane like two adorable children getting drunk on a Wednesday night.

The cocktails continued to appear at various points through the night.  At one point, David had the Strong Island Iced Tea.  As a native of Oceanside Long Island, New York, this was a no-brainer for him to try.  Made with LP LIT Mix, orange curacao, lemon, simple syrup and cola, the Strong Island changes up the recipe of a classic Long Island but, according to David, very successfully and deliciously evokes the flavor of a young person trying to get as drunk as possible for as little money as possible.  Y’know, the good ol’ days.   

We started with several small dishes for the table.  Garlic Cheddar Biscuits arrived.  They were large, fluffy and served with jam and honey butter.  A nice mix of savory and sweetness.   The taste and textures were a hit with the table overall.  Among the most anticipated dishes of the night was an original creation by chef Austin; Alligator Andouille Cheesecake.  Savory cheesecake, alligator, andouille and a crawfish cream sauce.  Wildly creative, original and absolutely not for me.  I know. I KNOW. CALM DOWN.  I got no problem with alligators.  In fact, one used to live in our yard in Florida and my Mom made the front page of the local newspaper in her efforts to stop wildlife authorities from killing it (That story is 100 percent true).  I just can’t get down with reptiles as food.  It’s a me problem.  This is why I bring other people with me.  According to the more adventurous eaters at my table, the cheesecake (which, btw, this isn’t a slice of cheesecake, it’s a whole mini cheesecake about 4” in diameter) was rich, creamy and intensely flavorful.  A wholly satisfying experience for everyone who tried it.  There was also some discussion about what constitutes a “cheesecake” and whether or not this dish qualifies.  More on that on this week’s podcast episode.  The point is, the dish brought raves from those brave enough to give it a go.  Love that for them. 

Hot, moist and full of unexpected alligators. Kinda like Florida but better!

 My first plate of the night was the crawfish Mac and Cheese.  Homestyle Gouda Mac and Cheese with big chunks of tender crawfish.  This might be the best Mac and Cheese I’ve ever had.  Where most homestyle Mac and Cheese dishes get it wrong for me is the texture of the pasta.  It’s almost always overboiled and mushy.  These elbows were al dente.  Perfectly cooked.  The cheese was kept in check, giving the right amount of rich, velvety, sauce consistency without being overly stringy (which I’m also not a fan of).  There was just the right amount of crisp on top and a slight heat on the finish.  An absolute stunner of a dish.  I would go back for this alone.

The mere existence of this dish means I can no longer call San Diego the “Bullshit Mac and Cheese Capital of America”. 

Harry was a fan of the ACME Chargrilled Oysters, seven gulf oysters with garlic lemon butter and parmesan.   David ordered the Crawfish Garlic Parm Wings.  Chicken wings are smothered in a rich garlic sauce with crawfish and dusted with parmesan.  The dish is traditionally offered with fries but, as said fries include a batter, Gluten-unfriendly David had a side of brussels sprouts instead.  David said the wings were very messy but cooked to perfection.  Agreed on both counts.  The crawfish adds so much richness to the crispy wings while the parmesan glides in with just the right kick of salt on the finish.  Kelsey had the Spinach N’ Artichoke Toast (Spinach and artichoke dip on toasted sourdough with fried jumbo crab).  She had some issues.  While the dish is listed among the ‘shareables’ on the menu, she found it barely appetizer sized and a bit of a non-bargain at $22. 

The main courses started arriving.  David had the shrimp N’ grits, served with a garlic tomato creole sauce and topped with bacon lardon (Which, as any culinary expert will tell you, is simply fully erect bacon).  He says the shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked with expertly flavored cheese grits.  The only possible drawback to this dish (and I have to agree) is the tomato sauce which doesn’t overpower the rest of the dish but, if overdressed, could easily do that.  It skirts the line of “too much”.   Kelsey ordered the Crab Stuffed Shrimp and was underwhelmed.  The accompanying jerk ranch dip helped but does not rank among her favorite sauces.  Joseph had the Shrimp N’ Fried Cabbage.  Served with andouille sausage, peppers, bacon and jerk spices, he found the Shrimp to be the most delicious part of the dish with a nice mix of sweet and spicy from the cabbage.  The only real misfire here for him was the rice, which was more undercooked than he liked.  In his words “Unintentionally crunchy rice is something that is hard to reel me back in from”.

My main course for the night was the Uptown Kitchen Sink Gumbo.  A blonde roux gumbo (which I can only assume means it’s dumber but hotter than the other rouxs and never has to pay for a drink at the bar), roasted chicken, andouille sausage, crawfish and shrimp with a scoop of rice taking centerstage.  There’s a certain feeling to gumbo done right.  An unctuousness, a depth of flavor that half-assing any step of the process will immediately destroy.  You can taste the time in a good gumbo.  You can taste the care.  Plus, if you’re going to open a New Orleans-style restaurant and your gumbo is a buncha bullshit, don’t bother.  Bestie, this is the real deal.  While I think it’s weird to anthropomorphize food, it felt like this dish exuded actual swagger and confidence.  It walked into the room and did what it does in a “Stay humble but let bitches know” kinda way.  I see you, Gumbo.  We all see you.  So good.      

This was everything I wanted in one bowl. The season can honestly only go downhill from here. 

Aimee had one of the house specials (A rotating menu at Louisiana Purchase); Halibut with crawfish chowder, grilled cajun corn, red potatoes, applewood smoked bacon and grits.  The richness of the chowder had Aimee wishing it had been served over rice instead.  She was also convinced the dish was served with polenta and not grits.  She insists there is a difference that she can spot immediately; an innate ability to those born and raised in Southern Alabama, along with the ability to make any topic of conversation about college football.  She said the halibut was perfectly cooked and delicious. 

Dan ordered the Lemon Pepper Catfish with two sides (he chose brussels sprouts and LP’s Gouda Mac and Cheese that I lost my shit over just 4 paragraphs ago).  He found the fish to be wonderfully flaky with balanced seasoning and a non-greasy fry.  The maple butter on the brussels made the side cloyingly sweet while the Mac and Cheese felt too heavy and overpowering in contrast to the rest of his meal.    For his main course, Harry had the Crafwish Monica Ribeye, A USDA Prime 14oz cast iron seared ribeye paired with nola’s famous spice cream sauce.  He said it was cooked to a perfect medium rare.  In fact, he found the sauce to be a detractor and could almost be left off for him.   

The dessert menu at Lousiana Purchase doesn’t offer a whole bunch in terms of selection (with only two options) but at least we got to try all both of them.  First up, the Ooey Gooey.  Yellow cake with cream cheese topped with cinnamon, bananas foster and vanilla ice cream.  The cake was light, buttery and fluffy with just enough ice cream to keep the bananas foster in check.  We were all pretty full at this point in the night so Harry and Shannan got the other dessert (classic beignets) to go and play Lousiana Purchase: The Home Game.  Follow up reports were fabulous.  Sweet, doughy with a light crisp that gives way to soft insides.  Again, this is another NOLA classic that I feel like you need to get right.  Lousiana Purchase was up to the challenge.   

The evening didn’t go perfectly (I’ll get to that in a minute) but I have to highlight the service at Louisiana Purchase, which was top shelf.  Our server, Abraham, was charming, knowledgeable, helpful and even nice enough to split the bill for us, even though everyone had obeyed my threats to bring cash. That having been said, there were some missteps with the pacing of our meal.  A cocktail and side dish were forgotten but no one seemed particularly peeved about it.  It was a Wednesday night and we were a big group.  

I can’t see myself ever ordering that much rich food again in one sitting BUT, I really loved what I had and I am already planning to return.  If you love New Orleans food, Louisiana Purchase is a San Diego must.  The good times will roll.  No diggity.  No Doubt.

Be sure to watch the YouTube Series episode about my visit!: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoyWhoAteSanDiego/featured

For a more deep dive discussion among the panel, check out the Podcast!: https://theboywhoatesandiego.podbean.com/

Further reading: https://www.louisianapurchasesd.com/

It’s Hard Out Here for a Restaurant

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When I decided to relaunch this blog series, I got very curious to see how many of the original 52 places I reviewed were still even open.  While not as bad as it could have been, my findings were still pretty grim, at least to me.  So, let’s pour one out for the ones we lost, for better or worse….

IN MEMORIUM:

Bistro 760

Searsucker (Fear not, gentle reader, Brian Malarkey has opened many more restaurants)

Empire House (If this was the Oscars, the sausage bread from this place would undoubtedly win the audience dead-applause-o-meter)

BiCE Ristorante

Cafe Japanego

Carnitas Snack Shack (Just the North Park location, there are others)

Heat (NOT. MY. FAULT.)

Southpaw Social Club

Pure Burger

Alchemy

Saigon on Fifth (The absolutely CAVERNOUS space it occupied remains empty to this day in Hillcrest until some plucky new upstart can meet the 7 million dollar-a-month rent.  I made that last part up.  It’s probably much higher.)

Fat Sal’s

Bruxie

The Patio

Little Tokyo

Waypoint Public

Saltbox

Bijou

Tam’s

Zensei Sushi

Bonus reviews:

Burger Miester (San Francisco)

Farmer Brown (San Francisco)

Neptune’s Waterfront (San Francisco)

Out of the 52 places I covered, only 32 remain open at press time (I feel like the Clark Kent-yest MF on Earth just writing the words “press time”.  Am I a journalist?!?!).  That’s a good sign no matter which way you slice it but in the restaurant business, it’s damn near a miracle.  According to Bin Wise, about 60% of restaurants fail in their first year of operation.  80% fail within 5 years of opening.  That’s crazy to me.  When you consider the original BW8SD list is now a decade old, bravo to those that held on. And of course I get that the list was a VERY wide net.  It encompassed everything from celebrity chef vanity projects to unknown holes in the wall with bomb ass food and that was very much by design.  While the fate of Tam’s always hung in the balance, I doubt anyone at Addison was saying “Well guys, time to tighten the belt.  We need to switch to dollar store brand for the men’s room mouthwash carafes”.  If you aren’t a celebrity chef, other reports claim that restaurant owners can operate their business for between 10-20 years before raking in a substantial profit.  To say nothing of the mental health and stress challenges that come with restaurant ownership.  This is why “The Bear” was so stressful to watch!

Plus there’s the added complexity of operating a restaurant in the age of COVID.  The bounce back from the initial shutdown has been a wild ride.  According to a rep from the National Restaurant Association, even though restaurants made record sales in 2023, the industry is still extremely fragmented.  While takeout, delivery, drive-through and curbside sales have increased since 2020, on-site dining traffic has remained down.   Many factors can contribute to a restaurant shuttering prematurely but according to Google, the number one lifespan killer of a restaurant is location.  I think I’m just a weirdo because that never really bothers me.  I’ve driven hours just to go to a place I like but, now that I think about it, those places aren’t ones I can get to regularly enough to keep their lights on. 

It was during the initial shut down that I realized how much of a difference supporting the local restaurants you love can make.   The ugly vibes of fear, misinformation and racism made Chinese restaurants an early target.  We made it a mission in our house to make take out from our favorite Chinese spot a standing weekly appointment.  This place shall remain nameless as they recently changed ownership and I have not yet been back to see if the food is still good at press time (THERE I GO AGAIN).  As time went on and restrictions eventually lifted in San Diego, I never took my favorite places for granted again.  It’s important to support the places you love in your communities.  I went from a “good” tipper to a “great” tipper.  I want everyone at every job level in this business to do well.  I want everyone to win.  Yes, even the places I give less than stellar reviews to.  That can mean spending more money but, for me, the experience is worth it.  Y’know, usually.  They can’t all be Addison.  Because if they were, I’d need a sugar Daddy and at my age the sugar daddies are all sugar corpses.  Related: Great podcast and YouTube Ad sponsorships available!  Help a brotha out cuz some of y’all got expensive taste.

In the meantime, hopefully this here blog can be a resource for you to find some great new places to support in San Diego (and elsewhere).  LET’S EAT!!!!

And We’re Back.

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If you work (or have ever worked) in theatre, you know these words well.  They are said by an often tired, overworked, underpaid and underappreciated stage manager to let actors and musicians know that it’s time to stop whatever you were doing and return to your places in rehearsal.  And that “whatever” we were doing has never, ever, EVER been anything important.  But once those fateful words hit the air, the energy in the room changes.  It means we are all now focused on the thing.  Back to business.  No fooling around. 

I’ve always viewed my break from this blog as kind of like an intermission or rehearsal break.  Just a brief pause for things like, pursuing other interests that don’t make me feel like I have nightly homework for the rest of my life, or working 3 other jobs to try to maintain some quality of life in the most expensive city I’ve ever lived in, or a global pandemic that had the entire food service industry circling the drain for a hot minute.  Y’know, normal stuff.

I wanted so badly to not discuss the pandemic on this blog.  Whether you were on the frontlines as an essential or stuck at home trying to stave off boredom, everyone went through their own flavor of Hell during Season 1 of COVID and I would love nothing more than to eternal Sunshine that shit right out of my brain forever but that’s not how the world works.  And it’s impact was too severe on the food service industry for me to ignore it now.  Plus, it’s not over.  Not by a longshot.  We’re back, indeed.

I know it’s highly dramatic to say that I feel like I’m relaunching this blog in an entirely different world than the one I created it in, but am I wrong?  This blog coming back was the furthest thing from my mind when I drove past my neighborhood Chilis in June of 2020 to see sad picnic tables in the parking lot with sad people eating even sadder food packaged to-go from 10 feet away but somehow was already cold once it got to their table.  All over San Diego, once respectable dining establishments now looked like a Hillbilly wedding reception (I’ve been to several Hillbilly weddings, do not @ me).   Seeing someone’s Dad trying to cut his soggy chicken crispers with plastic cutlery really broke something in me for a while there.  Just like his knife broke before he tossed his useless compost flat wear  to the ground and tearfully went at his sweaty chicken tenders with bare hands to glean some shred of the now-dead thrill of dining out.  Don’t even get me started on Little Italy.  I can not.

It was during this time that I saw a BUNCH of my favorite San Diego eateries shuttered.  But a few rolled with the punches, acted fast and got creative with how to keep serving the community and keep their business afloat while doing it safely in the face of a seemingly impossible public health crisis.  A few of these places, through these actions, gained me as a customer for life.  Others went the opposite way and will never again see me inside their establishments, many of which were shitty even before they served their food on the “good Chinet”.  As the years went on and the world at large attempted to stumble forward in the age of COVID, more and more places sprang up and shut down just as fast.  To quote Olivia Rodrigo (I’m very young and current) “It’s brutal out here”

Pandemic aside, keeping a restaurant afloat anywhere at anytime is a Herculean task at best (Blog post about this very subject coming soon) so I salute those who make it work to keep doing what they love.  Once enough time had passed, I decided I really missed doing this and was ready to give it another go.  A much bigger go than before.

And so The Boy Who Ate San Diego is back but I’m doing things a little differently this time.  I once again asked the internet where the best meal in San Diego is and they once again buried me beneath a list of names that took weeks for me to categorize and research before choosing the 10 places I’m starting with this season.  While I have not been to the majority of these restaurants, some I have already and want to share them with you.  Plus, I’m including some of what I call the San Diego “Icons”.  Places that locals have known and loved for decades.  I want to explore why they’ve stood the test of time and share that with you.  I’m still a pain in the ass when it comes to food preferences so my stalwart team of friends is once again coming with me to round out the menu and give additional perspective on the gross things I won’t eat or drink (BEER).

Plus, the Boy Who Ate San Diego is now a web series on YouTube.  youtube.com/@TheBoyWhoAteSanDiego Hosted by yours truly, I take you inside the places themselves and give you the “moving pictures” experience of the restaurants I’m reviewing.  You’ll hear from not just me but also my dining companions (a rotating and delightful bunch) as we recap our visit in our homes while making other food that we love to eat.  Since we’re the “talk about what’s for dinner over lunch” type of folks, this is very much in step for how my chosen family and I do life together and we can’t wait to have you at the table with us for all the fun.

PLUS The Boy Who Ate San Diego is also now a podcast!  The BW8SD: The Podcast will give listeners a deeper dive into the places and experiences that we cover.  We’ll discuss not only the place we ate that week but great food topics in general.  The best part is, unlike the YouTube series, you can play this in the car while driving and not wind up in a ditch!  I hope.  Please drive safely.  It will be available wherever you listen to podcasts.  I don’t know your life.  Link coming soon.

Does all this sound like sensory overload?  Has the modern age reduced your attention span to that of a sperm?  I GOTCHU, FAM.  The Boy Who Ate San Diego is also now on TikTok, serving up bite size morsels of highlights of my reviews and fun outtakes.  If you are over the age of 30 and don’t have access to a salty teenger to show you how TikTok works, I didn’t forget about you.  You can also enjoy these same videos on Instagram Reels, located on The Boy Who Ate San Diego Instagram.  Where I proudly stand as the first ever middle aged homosexual white guy with an influencer complex  in known human history.  Ever. I’m still just as wildly unqualified to review restaurants as ever (maybe even moreso now) so whether you’re a faithful OG reader of this here blog or you’re just now discovering me, good or bad I promise I will make it entertaining and if I can hip you to a new spot or infuriate you with a bad review of some bullshit place you love, all the better!  I’m so excited to bring this new chapter of The Boy Who Ate San Diego to you.  LAUNCHING JANUARY 18th, 2024, Y’ALL. LET’S EAT!

Pizzeria Luigi (51 of 52)

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I was a surprisingly normal kid.  Like any boy my age there were two things I loved: Pizza and wrapping my lower half in a blanket to pretend I was a beautiful mermaid.  I never really lost my fondness for either.  So a trip to this week’s restaurant was a no brainer.  Pizzeria Luigi was founded by an actual Italian named Luigi in 2004.  They started with a location in Golden Hill and branched out to a second location in North Park 5 years later.  This is the place I’m at tonight with my pizza loving friends:

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

Arturo-Raw Story reporter, Rocky Horror community main stay, Mr. DJ

Christy-Rocky Horror performer, Cat lover, We’ve all seen her boobs

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

Esparza– Rocky Horror performer, once played Rock Band naked at a party, don’t ask him about the door.

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

Nick– Gamer extraordinaire, Once made a rap video in a tub with me, Colorado resident

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

We are here to judge your pizza and surprisingly few Mario Bros jokes.

We are here to judge your pizza and make surprisingly few Mario Bros jokes in the process.

The place was small but busy.  Many people picking up whole pies to go or eating at the bar.  There was a line to order for in-house dining.  Pizzeria Luigi offers a great deal of 2 slices and a soda for 6 bucks.  They also stay open late which is another plus.  Hopefully the pizza would live up to this promise.

Arturo ordered the Pepperoni slice and the Capone (Pepperoni/Sausage/Meatball) slice.  He felt it was disappointing.  The kind of pizza that is better elsewhere in the city.  There was no real kick to the flavors and the flavors that did come through could be more lively.  Nick and Craig both had the Capone & the Leonardo (Parmesan Cheese/Mozzerella/Pesto).  Nick felt the cheese was underwhelming on the Leonardo while Craig thought it completely lacked flavor.  Nick added that the crusts on both pizzas were middle-done. They both said the sausage was great but the Capone overall needed more meat on it.  Jackie had the Fresh Prince (Spinach/Tomato/Mushroom/Onion/Artichoke/Garlic Marinara) and the Spinach Ricotta.  She noted that she needed to add salt to her pizzas, which is not a good thing. She overall felt like the slices were not satisfying and felt more like a appetizer than a meal.  Tomy got The Sports Bar (Potato/Bacon/Sour Cream/Cheddar/Green Onion) and the Leonardo.  He also ordered a Pabst Blue Ribbon for reasons unclear to the rest of us but Tomy assured us he’d stop drinking it before he grew an ironic mustache.  He felt the Sports Bar was good but he would refrain from ordering a whole pizza of it. He also said The Leonardo was tasty.

Aimee ordered two slices from the case but was unhappy with the selection, saying they tasted a bit old and she also found the staff to be unhelpful..  She would be interested in ordering a whole pie to see if freshness would make a difference.  Esparza had the Buffalo Chicken Pizza and the Capone.  He found them both to be okay but overall lacking flavor.  As Esparza is not a big fan of thin crust pizza to begin with, these did little to sway him.  Christy got the Spinach Ricotta and The White Girl (Chicken/Bacon/Spicy Ranch).  While she enjoyed the Spinach Ricotta, the real stand out for Christy was the White Girl and I have to agree with her.  She insisted I try it and it was fresh!  Hot out of the oven and super tasty!  It was a nice change of pace from what a lot of other folks at the table seemed to be experiencing.

As for me, I had the Spinach Ricotta and the Sports Bar.   I have to say there were good points and bad points about this meal.  The good was that they were good for what it was and the value of 2 slices and a soda for 6 bucks is kind of amazing.  I also liked the fact that they are open later.  Not so successful was the fact that the pizza had clearly sat in that case for a while.  In fact, having some of Christy’s White Girl only made me realize what a divide in taste there was from Luigi’s pizza fresh versus not so fresh.  It seemed very strange to me that this was what was available by the slice on a busy Saturday night with a sizeable crowd.  That having been said, I would also come back.  Both slices gave hints of what could await a taster when the pizza’s at it’s best.

Like pizza from New York! After the flight...

Like pizza from New York! After the flight…

The overall feeling with Pizzeria Luigi was that better pizza could be found elsewhere but what we had was good enough in price and taste that it would be worth coming in for again.  Many (myself included) felt it would be worth trying a whole pizza as freshness would be less of an issue than it was for the individual slices offered in the case.  My dining companions also praised the selection of inexpensive beers.  So basically this is the place you want to come after drinking at the bar and before heading home.  I’ve also been told the Golden Hill location is a difference experience so it’s safe to say that even though it was not phenomenal, Pizzeria Luigi has not seen the last of my business.

Further reading

 

 

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

Saltbox (48 of 52) (CLOSED)

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San Diego’s booming downtown nightlife is centered in the Gaslamp Quarter.  Whether you want the warm salty safety of TGI Fridays, the eat-it-with-a-fork dark beers of The Field or to be harassed by homophobic crazy homeless drifters, you can find all of it downtown. This is the setting of tonight’s challenge restaurant, Saltbox.  Located in the Palomar Hotel, the interior is posh, modern and hard to find (For me anyway, you may be better with directions.  You likely are.)  It also features an incredibly unique unisex bathroom with individual stalls built into the walls.  Ready to face this challenge were a few salty friends I brought with me:

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

Molly-Recent San Diego transplant, jewelry maker, The new girl

When were we ever going to get another chance to do group photo in the bathroom? Never. This isn't Ally McBeal.

When were we ever going to get another chance to do group photo in the bathroom? Never. This isn’t Ally McBeal.

For cocktails, Harry ordered the “Diamond in the Ruff” (Bombay saphire, dry vermouth, luxardo, st George absinthe & orange bitters).  He said it was really good. David and Amy both had the “Ginger Rogers” (Dickle rye, lime juice, ginger syrup, cinnamon syrup & rhubarb bitters).  Both gave high marks to the very good cocktails of this place.  Amy followed that up with an “Old Thymer” (Wild turkey, housemade thyme syrup & angostura) which was another hit.  Molly got the “L’il Miss” (Smirnoff, elderflower, lemon &  rose water).  She followed suit and said the drink was really good.  This place’s bar is obviously a highlight.

Ginger Rogers: Does everything a Fred Astaire can but backwards and in heels.

Ginger Rogers: Does everything a Fred Astaire can but backwards and in heels.

Right about here is where the problems started.

Right next to our table (no exaggeration, I had to hold my phone up because he could probably read my phone screen) a man showed up with a guitar, a harmonica and began an uninterrupted 90 minute set of 70’s classic rock covers at full volume. All hope my friends and I had of speaking to each other over our dinners were dashed as anything we attempted to shout at one another only looked like we were lip synching for our lives to the tunes of Elton John, Kansas & Neil Young.  Now, don’t get me wrong: this guy was very talented.  He played well and was a proficient enough vocalist, despite bringing “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” down a few octaves (The rumors are true, we high tenors are the judgiest bitches in the world).  But the bigger problem I have here was not with this guy who was simply doing what he was paid to show up and do.  It’s with Saltbox and other trendy places like it that don’t seem to understand that you can’t have it both ways.  You can’t do upscale dining *and* dive bar cool.  You just can’t.  You gotta choose.  This place passed itself off as a restaurant and bar but a much more accurate description would be “hotel bar with food available”.  And said food was why we were all here.

Right about here is where the problems continued…

For dinner Molly ordered the Half Kale Caesar Salad & The Burger on brioche with bacon, cheddar, lto, grain mustard aioli & pickles with a side of fries.  She said the salad was flavorless and barely had any dressing.  The fries were tasty but when Molly asked for the “House made ranch”, she was informed that they didn’t have it.  Her burger was equally disappointing.  Though cooked correctly, it was really bland.  She concluded that she could get a better burger at In-n-Out at a quarter of the price.  Amy got the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Buerre noisette, sage, pomegranate & chanterelle.  She found the raviloi to be really sweet and unbalanced.    As a table we shared side items of Cauliflower Gratin & Broccolini.   The cauliflower was found both by Amy and Harry to be nothing more than mushy and inside a low grade cheese sauce.  By definition; not a gratin.

Harry had the Skirt Steak with Achiote marinade, herbed rice, chimichurri & plantain chips.  Harry found the steak to be overcooked and the rice to be severely under-cooked.  He was thoroughly unhappy with it and planned to mention it to our server (who we were all pretty sure was a bartender assigned to our table) but after bringing our food, our server disappeared for nearly 45 minutes (or 12 acoustic rock covers).  not good.   David ordered Roasted Pumpkin Soup (with Pepitas, pea tendrils & chives) and the 1/2 Roasted Chicken with root vegetables, bordelaise, parsley and celery leaf salad.  In a change of pace, he really enjoyed the soup.  He said it was great.  The chicken however was dry and flavorless.

One of the few hits of the evening's food: David's Pumpkin Soup.

One of the few hits of the evening’s food: David’s Pumpkin Soup.

I got the Yukon Potato Flatbread with chicken added and a side of Fries.  Though  I was charged for it, the chicken never made its way onto my flatbread but I was so hungry by the time they brought it, I didn’t care.  It was more food than I thought it was going to be but it was good enough.  Nothing astounding but competently made.  The fries were fries and I got more than I thought I would.  Still on the expensive side (even after they took the missing chicken off my bill).

Upscale bar food. Tasty but not worth the wait.

Upscale bar food. Tasty but not worth the wait.

There were some dessert items on the menu but after a very long wait, numerous service snafus and having to spend an entire night texting each other at the table to save our voices, we weren’t interested in trying any of them.

So, you’re probably thinking that we hated this place and would never come back.  Not true.  The drinks were successful across the board so if you are a business professional in San Diego needing to take the big wigs out for a cocktail on the company’s dime, take them here.  I think Saltbox is really doing themselves a disservice in the way they are marketing themselves.  This is a hotel bar with some food available.  Passing it off as a restaurant first gives the wrong impression and sets up diners for a disappointing dinner experience, which is what we had.  Come back for cocktails.  After you’ve eaten somewhere else.

Further reading

To see all the pictures from this dinner be sure to follow The Boy who Ate San Diego on Instagram!

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!