http://www.chow.com/boards/3 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:35:22 GMT Keep track of the lastest threads on Chowhound http://www.chow.com/topics/668585#5201547 "thier coffee will beat Starbucks any day" - That's not terrible difficult since Starbucks has low quality coffee and mainly serves milk based drinks with some remote coffee flavor. There is a hardly any coffeeshop worse than Starbucks. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:21:00 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668585#5201547 http://www.chow.com/topics/669126#5201463 For your brewing needs: Hydrobrew: 1319 South Coast Highway (Oceanside). Home Brew Mart: 5401 Linda Vista Rd. Suite #406. American Home Brewing Supply: 9295 Chesapeake Dr., Suite E. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:41:34 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/669126#5201463 http://www.chow.com/topics/626191#5201447 What did you have? Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:25:27 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/626191#5201447 http://www.chow.com/topics/668064#5201440 Went Saturday night, sat on the patio. Didn't try any of their food but tried several of their Ales. Was impressed with that I drank although I wish I had remained sober enough to recall what it was I imbibed! I'll definitely go back as long as I can snag a table. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:11:24 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668064#5201440 http://www.chow.com/topics/632916#5201334 Sounds good. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:02:27 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/632916#5201334 http://www.chow.com/topics/664715#5201324 Jay, thanks for a great experience. First time to the linkery and I had an excellent meal. Will be back soon, no doubt. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:56:37 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/664715#5201324 http://www.chow.com/topics/668659#5201106 If you are willing to drive south a little, Laetitia in Arroyo Grande makes good sparkling wine. I also recently tasted a really good sparkling wine at Baileyana in Edna Valley. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:00:11 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668659#5201106 http://www.chow.com/topics/664952#5200829 Yes, SD has some truly good sushi places that don't hide behind bling and frou frou fanfare. Kaito is excellent, no frills decor but it's truly outstanding w/ the freshness and laid back atmosphere. No frozen fish. Morita only serves what is fresh and seasonal. If you search for "Kaito," you'll pull up lots of posts. We have not been to Shirahama, but the board consensus is that it is a close 2nd to Kaito. The ding appears to be that if you aren't Japanese and/or Japanese speaking, you have to "earn your stripes" and go several times to prove your mettle. Kaito is definitely not of that ilk. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:23:26 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/664952#5200829 http://www.chow.com/topics/662787#5200629 "The place is fairly small because it's actually the basement room of one of the big bars next to it." Yeah, there used to be a mexican place called Tesara there that was I think three floors. The street level turned into Sloppy Joes (a terrible name for a place, even by gaslamp standards.) The basement is now prohibition. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:49:53 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/662787#5200629 http://www.chow.com/topics/591788#5200623 Seems to be open again. Now it is called "809 Lounge". Not sure what the "809" means. The address I think is 503 fifth street. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:45:52 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/591788#5200623 http://www.chow.com/topics/668928#5200386 Well, you do need a taste-off...since hubby sticks to chicken as his taco meat....shunning the good stuff - (lengua, carnitas, etc...). But interestingly enough, what he REALLY raved about was the vegetarian quesadilla stuffed with various chopped and sauted veggies and cheese.....said it was to die for! Also, he really liked their salsa verde...... Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:39:36 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668928#5200386 http://www.chow.com/topics/667810#5200199 I meant Lilly's at the end of Chapala, yes. Have not gone so only word of mouth. I would not eat at Arnoldi's, glbtrtr - went for drinks for a friend's birthday gathering and left to forage for food elsewhere (ended up at Bouchon). Birthday girl and partner had mediocre food at best, some reported as inedible. Like the bar and bocce, tho. Note to Matt - Opal also has a full bar with some good house drinks. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:07:09 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/667810#5200199 http://www.chow.com/topics/668744#5200175 If you're looking for a raw, fresh ham or pork shoulder with skin on, check out the butcher counters at the mexican supermercados like Mi Pueblo in Salinas or Mi Tierra in Seaside. Worth a call. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:55:20 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668744#5200175 http://www.chow.com/topics/668995#5200037 Restaurants within a couple of blocks of El Camino Avenue;;; Anybody been to the Flaming Grill? Seems they have a ton of different meats, ostrich, buffalo, venison etc...And they have a good beer selection. I only know this place going by on the bus, so I have not stopped yet. But it sure looks interesting. El Camino between Watt and Ethan.... Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:29:35 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668995#5200037 http://www.chow.com/topics/665052#5199801 So glad to read this post. Blind Lady IS worth a visit. Sometimes I get sad on CHOW because places who survive, who put out good food day by day, get eclipsed by newer places or by bad news, like closures. I miss woodfire on my BLAH pizzas, but they are inventive and fresh. The dough is real. The love is all there. Chef Aaron has VERY high standards-- and what other pizza place in town has a real chef? Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:21:07 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665052#5199801 http://www.chow.com/topics/668903#5199514 A classic. Aceitunas rellenas de anchoa. Best straight from the can. Go Spanish tapas the whole way. Queso manchego and then add chorizo, the Spanish kind, and jamon serrano. Whole Foods and other upscale markets will have Manchego and maybe a domestic chorizo. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:13:52 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668903#5199514 http://www.chow.com/topics/630821#5199409 ...just glad it's out of the hands of KingVentures, and into the care of people who actually create something of their properties, and know how business should be done. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:12:14 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/630821#5199409 http://www.chow.com/topics/668896#5199133 Would love to hear from anyone who has been to the new incarnation of the Wine Cask. Debating going there or Cafe Luck for dinner Friday after turkey day with my folks. Thanks. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:48:45 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668896#5199133 http://www.chow.com/topics/668884#5198992 Has anyone tried the Bonnie Doon Cellar Door Café in SantaCruz? Looking for a report. Thanks. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:10:38 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668884#5198992 http://www.chow.com/topics/650283#5198907 Just noticed that Luigi's in Little Italy is now "Landrini's Pizza". Anyone know the story? (I also posted this in the restaurants opening thread) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:18:50 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/650283#5198907 http://www.chow.com/topics/666496#5198848 I ended up ordering the duck. It was very good and a good bargain. I also had wor won ton soup as I convinced myself I felt a cold coming on. The wontons were great the broth was good but the other ingredients were so so. I think I was craving more veggies. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:34:23 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666496#5198848 http://www.chow.com/topics/668640#5198632 If you are inclined to drive east, the cafe at Lake Cuyamaca serves an excellent Austrian breakfast. The owner is from Austria, and he imports sausages from his home country. They also make an excellent potato pancake. Husband and I ate there last Monday, and I swear my sunny side eggs were so FLUFFY, they looked like small puffs of marshmallow cream. And their pie is wonderful. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:14:48 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668640#5198632 http://www.chow.com/topics/485770#5198414 I would dearly love for them to be here in San Diego Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:03:17 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/485770#5198414 http://www.chow.com/topics/88666#5197847 I haven't gone to S.C. Diner yet-just found out about it. However, I did hear that the owners area a husband and his wife who is Vietnamese so am assuming she knows her way around a hot bowl of pho. Will let you know when I go. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:19:20 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/88666#5197847 http://www.chow.com/topics/631354#5197817 Fortunately, I cannot agree with you on this. World Famous continues to be my favorite spot in San Diego. The view is amazing, and the food is delicious. I absolutely LOVE the Nut Crusted Brie and Shrimp Martini for starters, their Salmon or Steak dishes for entree's, the warm spinach salad to accompany the entree and top it all off with the creme brulee. Oh man, just talking about it make's me want to get there now. Talk to management about your experiences, I feel as though they would do something to change your experience. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. I do not work for the company, I am just passionate about the food and atmosphere. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:51:26 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/631354#5197817 http://www.chow.com/topics/642030#5197750 Call this one a group effort...we'll keep each other in the loop. I asked why not Hillcrest? and received the expected "rent, overhead etcetera" answer. Really wish this could be closer to home, but I really trust him to do it right wherever he sets up. An addendum: the fried teba have recovered their wingtips. I love eating the crispy bits, and missed them. But they're back. The only place I'll order fried chicken ... Actually, Sab-e-Lee makes a good one too... Finally, a burden of plenty in SD for "asian" fried chicken. Good city, good city. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:26:25 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/642030#5197750 http://www.chow.com/topics/653058#5197731 Welcome back to the boards, Nick. Hadn't seen you, here in a while. Did you ever get to Esperanza? Unfortunately my reply comes a bit late, but I was in Watsonville last night, and decided to follow up on this lead. Esperanza is a bit off the beaten track, in a residential neighborhood, but not hard to find. The parking lot was more crowded than several other places I passed; a good sign. Entered to a large-ish place with two rooms lined with plastic booths. You order at the counter and they bring your order to you. The menu is fairly extensive, with numerous shrimp dishes, fish tacos, grilled and fried fish, oyster shooters, enchiladas de mariscos(per their sign outside, mariscos are a specialty), sopes, flautas, various meat tacos. I went for the camarones a la diabla, with corn tortillas, and a Negro Modelo. My dinner was $19 with tax (shrimp are, of course, one of the more expensive items on the menu). With my beer, the server brought a basket of fresh, warm chips and a small bowl of red salsa, that had a nice, high level of heat and was very good. Unfortunately, that salsa might have been my favorite part of the meal. The shrimp consisted of about five large prawns, served still in the shell. They had been grilled and then covered with the sauce, and were quite sweet and fresh tasting. That was the good news. The bad news is that they were overcooked (and probably cooked even more in the sauce, which was still quite hot temperature wise). Worse yet, while the sauce was truly spicy as a Diabla should be, it had an unpleasantly sour off-taste to me. Not enjoyable. My dinner came with six corn tortillas that tasted fresh though probably not house made, good refried beans, and some rather dried out rice. My sense was that they get the concept of the dish, but that execution was lacking. I'd probably to back to Esperanza, but would try other dishes if I did. Not sure though: it was definitely disappointing that what is apparently a signature dish was unappealing. On my way out of town I passed Real Colima, further down the same street (East Lake). Has anyone tried the mariscos there? Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:55:26 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/653058#5197731 http://www.chow.com/topics/668670#5197704 According to reports on another board, it is closed, and has been for some time (since Spring). Sounds like a new place may be going in. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:31:45 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668670#5197704 http://www.chow.com/topics/668435#5196852 Just got an email from Luc's Bistro (Board Favorite) that the last day to order is today 11/20. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:47:25 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668435#5196852 http://www.chow.com/topics/668142#5196642 There is a lot of good wine and food to be had. Take a cab or a bicycle. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:21:21 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668142#5196642 http://www.chow.com/topics/668421#5196515 Get the Philthy Phil's. You get four choices. Love to learn what Alabama would do differently because having tried some of the four offerings here, there is definitely a difference and I am guessing Philthy Phil is not even a traditional southern one but a tweak by someone named Phil that may never have gone south of the Mason Dixon line. But they are d*mn fine for Coastal California which also deserves to be on the map with Mo's fine efforts. After all (you know the chant) Mo knows BBQ, but he don't know fish and he don't know chowda. Will love getting your report and please tell us more about 'Bama BBQ. Thnx and have a great trip. Let's do draw a Foodie 101 map for Chowhounders because this is an often asked question. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:18:39 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668421#5196515 http://www.chow.com/topics/668527#5196452 We were there on the fourth of July weekend. It was quite good, nice atmosphere, good wine list. I don't remember what we had but we were both happy ! Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:42:59 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668527#5196452 http://www.chow.com/topics/668126#5195393 When I clicked on stevewag23's link, it pulled up the 2009 announcement but the 2008 list. My hunch is that the 08 list hasn't changed much in a year. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:29:58 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668126#5195393 http://www.chow.com/topics/436994#5194742 There are actually a few Burger Lounge locations in San Diego, I think the closest would either be Kensington or Little Italy... But this is a great little loungy burger joint, they've got fresh organic food and if either of you aren't typically beef lovers they also offer turkey & quinoa vegetarian burgers. I highly recommend you guys try it out while in the SD area! Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:47:24 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/436994#5194742 http://www.chow.com/topics/666100#5194714 Buavaman 29 Palms does suck foodwise. It was already dark and freezing when I checked in so that left me with the choice of the Pizza Hut or Del Taco which were either of the motel. I chose the Pizza Hut. To tell the truth I would have eaten anything at that point and did. However going back home I noticed a Indian /Pizza Restaurant in Joshua Tree. If I am in the same situation next year I mught try that. I'd love to hear your Ramona's story sometime. :-) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:36:13 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666100#5194714 http://www.chow.com/topics/660084#5194251 Really happy you had a good experience. I'm headed back to the Wine Vault on Sunday for the Paso wine makers dinner, really looking forward to it. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:52:30 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/660084#5194251 http://www.chow.com/topics/667905#5193848 Ha! Yes indeed. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:05:23 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/667905#5193848 http://www.chow.com/topics/666436#5193454 I went when they first opened: retarded. One year after open: demented. Last summer: beyond retarded. Seriously, the worst bar I have ever been in my entire life. None of that matters though. It is still a bargain basement rendition of a boutique hotel from 1995. (And that is giving it the "diego benefit of the doubt"). And a crap imitation at that. Lets put it this way, if Tower 23 was my hotel, I would kill myself. Over and over again. And after I died, I would hope people would kill me over and over again until the Mayan Calendar ended all our lives. And then people would kill me again. And again.. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:34:10 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666436#5193454 http://www.chow.com/topics/635858#5193430 My wife got the burger at Whisknladle a few weeks ago, which we both thought was excellent. Worth trying for sure. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:33:05 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/635858#5193430 http://www.chow.com/topics/666031#5193244 thanks for reporting back! Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:01:06 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666031#5193244 http://www.chow.com/topics/668080#5193227 I have to agree w/ honkman...George's downstairs dining room is better than the bar and patio. I've been underwhelmed by the upper 2 levels' food and really liked the formal dining room food. For the OP, Tapenade in La Jolla has good French but no view. George's has the best combo of food and view. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:51:48 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668080#5193227 http://www.chow.com/topics/605773#5192866 Crate and Barrel has a mix that you can buy: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=831&f=35221 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:41:39 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/605773#5192866 http://www.chow.com/topics/666260#5192829 Albert's inside the SD Zoo does a nice Thanksgiving meal. And you are in the zoo when you're done, so you can walk off the stuffing. You just have to be okay with their traditional substitution of free-range gibbon for turkey. Mmmmm...roasted gibbon. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/zoo_alberts_menu_thanks.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:23:33 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666260#5192829 http://www.chow.com/topics/668206#5192668 I've been wanting to try this little spot in downtown Santa Cruz because of its good reputation. Cafe Campesino did not disappoint. The ingredients are organic and sustainable. They advertise as 'farmhouse' Mexican food. No rice, not a lot of grease. And though they serve meat (hormone free), all sauces including the mole are made without any meat or broth. What a treat for vegetarians. I ordered a build-your-own taco with spicy guacamole, potatoes, roasted poblano peppers, and beans. I asked for the mild red salsa on the side. The tortilla was fresh, just the right thickness, and slightly crispy on the edges. The flavors were subtle, roasty, slightly tangy, and had the perfect amount of salt. This was a very satisfying lunch for $6-$7. To top off a great experience, the people who run it are friendly and patient. It's a kiosk, so seating is in the fresh air. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in Santa Cruz during the day - they don't serve dinner. I would love to hear about others' experiences at Campesino, because I only tried the one thing. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:03:29 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668206#5192668 http://www.chow.com/topics/667939#5192549 this sounds like something which might work. granted Cavillon and the brunchmaster site I will both look into. thank you all. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:10:25 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/667939#5192549 http://www.chow.com/topics/667423#5192350 OMG..love love love their stuffed Clams! They are so good and I had them make them as an entree for me too.. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:51:51 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/667423#5192350 http://www.chow.com/topics/664932#5192186 good luck and I look forward to your report! Too bad you can't drive with a stop in Fresno! Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:53:03 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/664932#5192186 http://www.chow.com/topics/667735#5192057 Yeah, I just heard that. I guess it is a chain from Italy. I heard they had one in san diego before in the 90's as well. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:05:58 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/667735#5192057 http://www.chow.com/topics/553937#5190598 I'd love to hear a full description. I bet this would get moved to another thread, but still, I want to know what you're doing. Cheers. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:02 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/553937#5190598