Extraordinary Desserts

City: San Diego (Balboa Park & Little Italy), CA

Food type: Desserts! Beverages. Other food options available at Little Italy location, but it's still mainly about the sweets.

Restaurant link: http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/

Price range/person: $5-10

Wait time: None-20 minutes; Take-out orders available (5-10 mins)

Ambiance: Romantic, elegant, soothing.

Dish Focus On:

All sorts of delectable desserts





Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: Original restaurant in Balboa Park is smaller and more cozy. Little Italy location is more chic and grand. Cannot go wrong with any dessert on the menu. Décor and presentation is impeccable, with fresh flowers and gold trim used as finishing touches. A great place to have small group gatherings, a girls night out, or a romantic date. Always a pleasure to make a trip here! Kind of pricey, but it's a special treat.

Karl Strauss Brewery & Restaurant - "The Brewery Gardens"

City: Sorrento Mesa, CA

Address: 9675 Scranton Road - Sorrento Mesa, CA 92121

Phone Number: (858) 587-2739

Food type: Brewery, Fusion American, Continental

Restaurant link: http://www.karlstrauss.com/
http://www.karlstrauss.com/PAGES/Locations/Group_Events/ locations/KSBG.htm

Price range/person: $15-25 lunch/dinner; Sunday brunch buffet ~$25

Wait time: None with reservation; 20-45 minutes for brunch when busy

Service: Sweet, but slow. Drinks took awhile, but we eventually got them!

Ambiance: Jovial yet serene, casual excitement.

Dish Focus On:

Disclaimer: My pictures did not do the food justice.

My 1st platter with a freshly prepared omelette, breakfast sausage, potatoes, hot spinach & artichoke dip with chips, Ahi tuna appetizer, smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail, and grilled chicken with mushroom sauce.















Hot and fresh omelette with all my favorite fillings (choose from: ham, spinach, green bell peppers, olives, fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, cheese); spinach and artichoke dip was rich and creamy, Ahi tuni was cooked perfectly and very fresh, smoked salmon was thick and not too salty, chicken was tender and flavorful, shrimp cocktails were average, potatoes average, ended up not eating the sausage. Not pictured: Tri-tip, blackened salmon topped with pineapple, salads, pasta, other breads and pastries.

My dessert platter with fresh fruit, carrot cake, warm waffle topped with chocolate chips, whipped cream and chocolate.















DE-licious waffle dessert topped with my favorite sweets; carrot cake was rich and packed with walnuts, fruit was good. Not pictured: Cheesecake, chocolate cake, coffee cake, chocolate brownie, cookies, various danishes. Portions for desserts were too large for one person, so sharing is caring!

The omelette maker! He makes your eggs the way you like em.





















Yummmy Factor: 4/5

Yummmy Rambles: Exciting place for a Sunday brunch. Live music, unlimited champagne and Mimosas (I was a little tipsy after the meal), one free beer, happily satisfied mouths and lots of fun! Beautiful scenery with Koi ponds adjacent to the restaurant. Location used to be that of a Japanese restaurant. Nice selection of foods, with stations for pasta, omelettes, carved meats, pastries, and other desserts. Although selection was not as grand as Vegas style buffets, there was no food shortage here. I couldn't even get to everything on the tables! A YUMMMY thanks to Mr. C-H and Miss V for the fabulous afternoon adventure.

Refreshing views from the restaurant





















Colorful fish can be seen swimming in the ponds.

Mario's De La Mesa Restaurant

City: La Mesa, CA

Food type: Mexican

Price range/person: $10-15/lunch or dinner

Wait time: None if you come early; 15-30 mins during busy times

Service: Extremely FAST (we got 2 dinner entrees in about 5 minutes!), cheerful, pleasant.

Ambiance: Casual, home-like, festive.

Dish Focus On:

Chicken Mole: Served with beans, rice, and choice of corn or flour tortillas




Holy Mole! Never knew that savory chocolate could be so scrumptious and mouth-licking good! I have a new favorite sauce now. Couldn’t taste a distinct chocolate flavor, but I don’t doubt that it was there. Not only was the sauce incredible, but the chicken pieces were extremely tender and well seasoned. Rice was perfect, especially with some sauce. Flour wraps were served warm and fresh. YUMMM!

Chile Colorado: Beef served with fresh guacamole, vegetables, beans, rice, and choice of corn or flour tortillas


Super tender beef that melts in your mouth. Guacamole is clearly fresh with chucks of avocado in each bite. Sides are delicious! "Chile Colorado" refers to the special red sauce flavoring the meat.

Blended strawberry margarita

Fun and fruity drink served in a unique and chilled cactus glass. Have a few!

Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: Absolutely tummy-boggling Mexican food. This place certainly serves more than your average tacos and burritos! Had my first experience with “Mole,” pronounced “Moh-lay,” here.

A little backgroud from Wikipedia: Mole poblano is prepared with dried chile peppers (commonly ancho, pasilla, mulato and chipotle), ground nuts and/or seeds (almonds, indigenous peanuts, and/or sesame seeds), spices, Mexican chocolate {maybe this is why I LOVED it????} (cacao ground with sugar and cinnamon and occasionally nuts), salt, and a variety of other ingredients including charred avocado leaves.

Restaurant had comfortable happy feel, with a few TVs lining the walls. Chips served as guests are seated. Colorful and educational placemats with common Spanish phrases line the table tops. Restaurant is tucked away in a charming little neighborhood, but once you make this discovery, you WILL be back. Small parking lot available in back.

The Mission - SOMA

City: San Diego, CA

Food type: Breakfast foods, lunch, Chino, Latina

Restaurant link: http://www.missionsoma.signonsandiego.com/1.html

Price range/person: $10

Wait time: 15-45 mins; busy on weekend mornings

Service: Relaxed, friendly, calm.

Ambiance: Casual, bustling, comforting.

Dish Focus On:

Mission Rosemary: Crispy rosemary potatoes, scrambled eggs, sautéed tomatoes, and grilled rosemary bread.















What a breakfast TREAT! The rosemary toast is incredible – light, crunchy, thick and fresh with delicate rosemary infused throughout. The rosemary potatoes are crispy on the sides, yet soft and moist on the inside. Flavor is bursting! Didn't even need to use the ketchup. The gentleman next to us ordered an extra side of potatoes in the middle of the meal and left his plates sparkling clean. The toast and potatoes are so good that they are each available as sides. Eggs great as well! YUMMMY!

Breakfast Burrito: Stuffed with eggs, cheese and scallions. Served with beans, fresh tomatoes and salsa.















Moderate sized burritos with delicious filling in a fresh flour wrap. Beans are soft and flavorful, topped with luscious red tomatoes and sour cream.

Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: The perfect breakfast place! Parking may be tricky, the wait may be long, and your food preparation takes awhile, but your tummy will be THRILLED you waited. Quaint place to enjoy a beautiful morning with friends and family, or even alone! Great coffee menu as well. Indoor and outdoor seating available. DELICIOUS! And what a deal for the price you pay. Can't wait to try the pancakes next time.

Zip

City: Los Angeles (Korea Town), CA

Food type: Korean fusion, finger foods, bar

Price range/person: $10-15, depending on alcoholic orders and party size

Wait time: None

Service: Quiet, professional, friendly.

Ambiance: Chic, colorful. Decorations appropriate for holiday season (in December at least), with golden lights twinkling throughout the rooms. There are indoor and outdoor seating areas, with the outdoor area covered with a large tent-like construction. Large TV available outdoors.

Dish Focus On:

Assortment of fish-ball dumplings with seaweed, in hot broth






One of the on-the-house items we received with our meal. Tasty little fish balls in a light broth. Nothing too original or spectacular, but it does warm the stomach on a cold night.

Paper thin french fries, with a touch of sugar


Some of the most creative and delicious fries I've ever tasted. Light, crisp, thin, and beautifully seasoned with sugar and salt. You cannot stop at one bite.

Fried dumplings


A light finger food snack. Slightly on the oily side, but still a crisp, hot, and tasty little treat.

Omelette with fried rice filling, topped with gravy

A heavier evening snack. Rice inside was moist and flavorful. Egg surround was overshadowed by the rice and thick gravy.

Sake anyone?

A large assortment of flavored sake drinks available. The peach is a sweet choice!

Yummmy Factor: 3.5/5

Yummmy Rambles: This restaurant offers FREE on-the-house items (at least when we visited)! We were given scrumptious crisp french fries and a fish-ball and seaweed soup appetizer as we enjoyed our sake and appetizers. Parking is limited, valet is available. Large bar present in the restaurant. Fun place for group gatherings, dates, or late-night excursions. Lots of items on the menu were in Korean, so it'd be helpful to take a Korean speaking friend!

Urban Solace

City: San Diego, CA

Food type: Modern American, comfort food

Restaurant link: http://www.urbansolace.net/

Price range/person: $10-15/lunch

Wait time: None

Service: Friendly, relaxed, attentive

Ambiance: Modern, warm, sharp. Wall near the bar is all brick, which adds a warm, cozy touch to the restaurant. Modern paintings decorate the place. Furniture is clean and sharp.

All entrees served with carefully portioned salt, pepper, and ketchup. A sharp knife accompanies the condiments.
















Dish Focus On:

Pulled chicken salad sandwich, with pecans and grapes. Served with sweet potato french fries.










Sandwich was sufficient. Chicken was tender and flavorful, but only a few sliced grapes were in the salad sauce and no pecans were noted at all.

Sloppy Joe with crunchy onion rings, on a freshly toasted bun. Served with sweet potato fries.

YUMMMY! Perfectly seasoned beef in sloppy joe. Fried onions add unique flavor and texture to bite. Warming and soothing sandwich. Would order again.

Yummmy Factor: 4/5

Yummmy Rambles: Opens for lunch (11:30 am) and dinner. Brunch served on Sundays. Polite and quick service - our waitress said "lovely" too much, but it was her first day and she was nice. The sweet potato fries are addictive! Relatively new restaurant in the area that certainly brightens up the neighborhood. Classy and fun place to dine. A large bar is present as well, so an evening rendezvous sounds like fun!

Pacific Beach Bar and Grill

City: San Diego, CA

Food type: American, grill, appetizers, bar

Restaurant link: http://www.pbbarandgrill.com/grill_home.htm

Price range/person: $10-15, depending on how many drinks ordered

Wait time: None usually; may have trouble finding a seat during popular sports games

Service: Friendly, hurried.

Ambiance: Casual, TONS of flat screen TVs line the walls playing all your favorite sports games, loud, fun. A water fountain/firepit adorns the outdoor patio. Heaters available in cold weather.

Dish Focus On:

Lumpia, Seasoned ground beef and vegetables in light crisp spring roll wrappers served with sweet & sour plum sauce and spicy Asian chili sauce

Fresh and hot fingerfoods. Just your typical appetizer food. The taquitos are better.

Seafood Martini, Lobster, shrimp, crab, crisp vegetables and a splash of Alsolut Pepar with zesty cocktail sauce





















One for the seafood lover. A heap of seafood accompanies moderately sized shrimp. Olives and celery stick give color and height to the fun martini dish.

Yummmy Factor: 3.5/5

Yummmy Rambles: The PLACE to go for happy hour, which is 4-8:00 pm DAILY. Specials vary by day: Monday sushi, Tuesday Tacos...and more. $3 off all appetizers. Beers and wines are $3, frozen margaritas (sweet and tangy blended treat! Love the strawberry one) are $3.50. Street parking may be difficult, but get there early and claim your table before the big game starts (whatever sport it may be)! Indoor and outdoor seating available. Fantastic taquitos and only $4.50 during happy hour.

Bertrand at Mister A's

City: San Diego, CA

Food type: Fine Modern American Cuisine with French and Mediterranean influences

Restaurant link: http://www.bertrandatmisteras.com/

Price range/person: $45-65/dinner

Wait time: Make a reservation

Service: Very attentive, helpful with menu items, pleasant, courteous. Carefully cleans table between dishes.

Ambiance: Romantic, grand, elegant. Gorgeous panoramic views of San Diego from the 12th floor of the building.

Dish Focus On:

(Appetizer)
HOUSE MADE SPINACH GNOCCHI AND VEAL
fresh porcini mushrooms































Gnocchi is perfectly cooked with authentic spinach flavor. Veal is meaty and tenderly melts in your mouth. Mushrooms and grated cheese accent the dish nicely. Few scattered olives add a punch to the entree. Food presented on beautiful dishes, with a delicate doily layered between the larger and smaller dish.

PAN SEARED FILET OF KING SALMON
bordelaise sauce, beluga lentils and sea beans















WOW. What a beautiful masterpiece! Looks almost as good as it tastes. Salmon is delightfully tender - flakes gently melt on your tongue. Sides of mushrooms, beans and vegetable medley are delicious. Lightly toasted (or fried?) patch of salmon skin tops the delicate dish. Skin is crunchy and light, with just the right amount of saltiness.

SPECIAL: WARM CHOCOLATE TART, served with churros, caramel ice cream on a thin wafer, and bittersweet chocolate infused with mandarin oranges.













Scrumptious warm chocolate cake with a crunchy crust. Rich chocolate oozes from the center. Twin churros are sugary and yummmy. Ice cream is decadent and presented on a delicately thin wafer. Bittersweet chocolate infused with oranges makes a great dipping sauce for the churros. I would gladly hang this plate from any room in my house.

Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: Entrees are works of art for the eyes and palette. Service is impeccable. Views are delightfully stunning. Dishes are tantalizing to the tongue. Desserts are beautifully presented and absolutely decadent. Although very pricey, you get what you pay for. A place to impress any guest, co-worker or friend. Portions are just right – leaving you happily satisfied. A truly impressive dining experience.

Tea Station

City: Cerritos, CA

Food type: Teas, other fancy drinks, finger foods

Restaurant link: http://teastation.us/

Price range/person: $4-7 a drink

Wait time: Short

Service: Variable, dull, slow.

Ambiance: Bright, clean, mellow.

Dish Focus On:

Almond Milk Tea



Warming and delicious tea. Almond flavor is nicely infused. Served in a cute little tea pot.

Yummmy Factor: 3.75/5

Yummmy Rambles: What an expensive, but delightful drink! Definitely not the place to go for a quick ordinary cup of tea. Beverages are served like delicacies – with cute cups, saucers, and tea pots. A large assortment of flavored teas, coffees, other drinks. A fun place for large groups or hang-outs. Prepare to order pricey drinks!

Hurry Curry of Tokyo

City: West Los Angeles, CA

Food type: Japanese, Curry

Restaurant link: http://hurrycurryoftokyo.com/

Price range/person: $10

Wait time: 5-15 minutes, busy during lunch hours

Service: Hurried, courteous, fast.

Ambiance: Casual, modern, crowded.

Dish Focus On:

Garden salad with special house dressing















Superb salad - fresh, tasty and just the right portion! Delicious house dressing - tangy, sweet and yummmy.

Chicken Curry - simmered juicy chicken pieces served in exclusive curry sauce















Mild curry was not too spicy. Generous amount of chicken and rice. However, chicken was rather tasteless without the sauce. Meat pieces were shredded chunks immersed in curry. Portion would definitely cause some afternoon food coma.

Chicken Cutlet Curry - Their most popular dish! Tender breast meat filet lightly breaded in panko flakes fried to golden brown and served with curry sauce.















Crispy cutlet with thin chicken filet inside. Not bad. Not shockingly wonderful.

Yummmy Factor: 3.5/5

Yummmy Rambles: Perfect place for some nice, warm, tummy filling food. A curry lover’s dream. Curry comes in mild, medium, or spicy. Dishes not extremely unique or extravagant, but satisfying. Parking is limited, but street parking is available. Delicious salads!

Yakitori Yakyudori

City: San Diego, CA

Food type: Japanese, Yakitori style (lots of food on skewers)

Price range/person: $15-20/dinner; maybe more if you like good sake

Wait time: 0 minutes

Service: Prompt, friendly, professional.

Ambiance: Comfortable, simple, clean.

Dish Focus On:

Chicken Hearts















Hard to imagine you are eating chicken hearts on a stick, but they are very tasty. Firm yet delicate consistency, very flavorful, very good.

Shu-Mai















Twist on an original Chinese dish. Solid inside, appears to be mixed batter of seafood, gently fried.

Shitake mushrooms















Not a huge fan of the mushrooms. They were too dry. The topping was fun to eat though!

Chicken meat ball















Certainly does not look too appealing, but tastes great! Soft yet meaty texture with lots of flavor.

Okra















Would not order this again. The outside was dry and the inside was mushy, slimy, and made my mouth feel sticky. Could not swallow the unique vegetable.

Yummmy Factor: 3.75/5

Yummmy Rambles: Very unique place with exotic foods. There is a list of favorite items ranked for “Americans” and “Japanese” on the walls inside the restaurant. Good place to start if you have no idea what to order. More exotic foods on the “Japanese” list of course. Unique foods and reasonable price. Good place to go with friends or on first date to stimulate conversation. Items come with usually 2 skewers per order. Chicken hearts are actually very delicious. Shu-mai, beef, and chicken meat ball are good as well. Not the place if you are looking for sushi! Meals served with fresh raw cabbage.

Home Fried Teriyaki Chicken

A big thanks to Miss A for the tasting!

Crispy on the outer, soft and tender lovin on the inner...

Freshly prepared chicken drums and wings. Battered up and fried in a pan. Then lightly pan fried with some yummmy teriyaki sauce. Be careful not to burn your tongue.

The Buffet at the Wynn Hotel

City: Las Vegas, Nevada

Food type: International, Buffet

Price range/person: $30-40, depending on day, time of year

Wait time: 30 mins – 4 hours (YES, 4 hours, so prepare to wait in line). Nice waitresses in little dresses serve bottled water to guests waiting in line.

Service: Self-serve, except for drinks

Ambiance: Exotic, colorful, fun, charming. Beautiful flowers and bouquets adorn main entrance into buffet hall.

Dish Focus On:

Platters with: Shrimp ceviche, king crab legs, pork dumpling, california roll, grilled asparagus, tandori chicken, mushrooms, steak
















And more with: shrimp cocktail, sushi, seaweed and cucumber salad, sticky rice with chicken wrapped in lotus leaf, cheese ravioli, smoked salmon, cheeses, veges, lamb, rabbit cold salad



































































Yummmy Factor: 4/5

Yummmy Rambles: Prepare to wait in line. They are not kidding when they say the wait is long. However, good company makes the time pass. Exciting assortment of foods – all kinds to please everyone! Disappointed that there was no sea bass, but there was plenty of seafood to make up for it. A feast for the eyes, mind and tummy! Must try: cheesecake with green tea cake bed, mac and cheese (who knew?!?), shrimp cocktail, lamb, seaweed and cucumber salad, crème brulee… bring an appetite!

Blue Fin

City: Newport Beach, CA

Food type: Japanese

Restaurant link: http://www.bluefinbyabe.com/

Price range/person: $30-50

Wait time: 30 mins – 1 hour. Make a reservation or come early!

Service: Polite, clean, nice.

Ambiance: Modern, fresh, sharp.

Dish Focus On:

Salmon Skin Salad
















Deliciously fresh and unique salad. Perfect combination of cherry tomatoes, sliced raddishes, greens, and tasty salmon skin. Surprisingly large pieces of salmon meat are mixed in. A treat for the tongue!

Assorted Rolls: Caterpillar roll and Soft Shell Crab Roll
































Rolls are finely prepared. Rice is not overwhelming. The caterpillar rolls has egg inside - different but tasty change from the norm. Nice presentation.

Chilean Sea Bass - Broiled Chilean Sea Bass with truffle oil ponzu sauce.
















Fish melts in your mouth and leaves you wishing you had more. Flavorful assortment of mushrooms and veges hidden below the filet of fish. Sensational dish!

Green Tea Creme Brulee, with vanilla bean ice cream












Beautiful presentation - almost too cute to eat. Sweet delight to end a fantastic meal.

Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: If you like Japanese food, this IS the place to go. A bit on the pricey side, but worth every dollar. Restaurant opens for lunch and dinner, and there may be a line outside even before the place opens up. Food is pleasant, fresh, and very tasty. Beautiful presentation and clean atmosphere.