Sunday, September 14, 2008
Brophy Bros Restaurant
City: Santa Barbara
The freshest seafood in town! The clam chowder and steamed mussels are a MUST.
Yummmy Rambles: Our server/cook at the bar was super friendly and made our mussels right in front of us! The most plump and juicy little bivalves I've ever had. Gorgeous views of the bay.
Yummmy Factor: 5/5
The freshest seafood in town! The clam chowder and steamed mussels are a MUST.
Yummmy Rambles: Our server/cook at the bar was super friendly and made our mussels right in front of us! The most plump and juicy little bivalves I've ever had. Gorgeous views of the bay.
Yummmy Factor: 5/5
Sunday, June 22, 2008
French Market, Disneyland
Guess the ride and character!
City: Anaheim, CA.
Address: Disneyland, New Orleans Square
Food type: American, Cajun-Creole
Price range/person: $10-20/lunch
Wait time: 5 mins in line to get food.
Service: Nice. Self seating.
Ambiance: Colorful, jazzy, pleasant. Shaded outdoor seating. Occasional performances by jazz band (just not when we were there...)
Dish Focus On:
Kid Grill Chicken, served with fresh fruit and apple juice box drink. $5.99
Yes, ordered from the kids menu. Shockingly, it seemed better than the other options. Fruit was actually fresh, and meal was much healthier than other options (lots of fried chicken, which I heard was OK). Loved the plate! Rice was kind of hard, and chicken was kind of dry.
Yummmy Factor: 2/5
Yummmy Rambles: Food at Disneyland is so expensive! Admission and parking is already close to $100 ($66 for one day/one park, $91 for one day/both parks [California Adventure] for person age 10+, and $12 parking, to be exact), so if the food is so expensive, it should at least be better! I still enjoy “the happiest place on earth,” for several reasons, but just wish the food could be kinder to all. Didn’t really get the Cajun-Creole jive. Maybe because we missed the band? Maybe because I didn't order the "adult" food. The french fries were like salted cardboard.
City: Anaheim, CA.
Address: Disneyland, New Orleans Square
Food type: American, Cajun-Creole
Price range/person: $10-20/lunch
Wait time: 5 mins in line to get food.
Service: Nice. Self seating.
Ambiance: Colorful, jazzy, pleasant. Shaded outdoor seating. Occasional performances by jazz band (just not when we were there...)
Dish Focus On:
Kid Grill Chicken, served with fresh fruit and apple juice box drink. $5.99
Yes, ordered from the kids menu. Shockingly, it seemed better than the other options. Fruit was actually fresh, and meal was much healthier than other options (lots of fried chicken, which I heard was OK). Loved the plate! Rice was kind of hard, and chicken was kind of dry.
Yummmy Factor: 2/5
Yummmy Rambles: Food at Disneyland is so expensive! Admission and parking is already close to $100 ($66 for one day/one park, $91 for one day/both parks [California Adventure] for person age 10+, and $12 parking, to be exact), so if the food is so expensive, it should at least be better! I still enjoy “the happiest place on earth,” for several reasons, but just wish the food could be kinder to all. Didn’t really get the Cajun-Creole jive. Maybe because we missed the band? Maybe because I didn't order the "adult" food. The french fries were like salted cardboard.
Paula's Pancake House
City: Solvang, CA.
Address: 1531 Mission Drive
Telephone: (805) 688-2867
Food type: American, diner-style, breakfast!
Price range/person: $10/breakfast
Wait time: None
Service: Casual, friendly, sweet. Servers all wore cute, matching Danish outfits.
Ambiance: Old fashioned inside. Quaint patio seating outside. Makes you feel like you are definitely not in California.
Dish Focus On:
Danish pancake combination. Served with sausage (or bacon) and two eggs. $8.95
Oh my goodness greatness, this pancake was incredible! Light, thin, prepared to perfection. Beware of inhaling the delicate powdered sugar in your excitement to chow down! And the sausage was HUGE. I'm not a huge fan of sausage due to the high fat content, so it was OK. But, my friend sure enjoyed it.
Diced ham and scrambled eggs, served with a fresh baked biscuit (or toast), and fruit cup (or hash brown potatoes or sliced tomatoes). Topped with cheddar cheese. $8.50
Satisfying ham and eggs! Fruit was really fresh, and topped with a bit of sugar (I believe) to make the strawberries super tasty. Biscuit was served warm.
Yummmy Factor: 5/5
Yummmy Rambles: A delightful find in Solvang! Fantastic prices on really scrumptious and tummy warming food. Comfortable seating both outdoors on sunny days and indoors for a pleasant “mom and pop joint” feel. The Danish pancakes are heavenly! Would definitely go back… yummm….
Address: 1531 Mission Drive
Telephone: (805) 688-2867
Food type: American, diner-style, breakfast!
Price range/person: $10/breakfast
Wait time: None
Service: Casual, friendly, sweet. Servers all wore cute, matching Danish outfits.
Ambiance: Old fashioned inside. Quaint patio seating outside. Makes you feel like you are definitely not in California.
Dish Focus On:
Danish pancake combination. Served with sausage (or bacon) and two eggs. $8.95
Oh my goodness greatness, this pancake was incredible! Light, thin, prepared to perfection. Beware of inhaling the delicate powdered sugar in your excitement to chow down! And the sausage was HUGE. I'm not a huge fan of sausage due to the high fat content, so it was OK. But, my friend sure enjoyed it.
Diced ham and scrambled eggs, served with a fresh baked biscuit (or toast), and fruit cup (or hash brown potatoes or sliced tomatoes). Topped with cheddar cheese. $8.50
Satisfying ham and eggs! Fruit was really fresh, and topped with a bit of sugar (I believe) to make the strawberries super tasty. Biscuit was served warm.
Yummmy Factor: 5/5
Yummmy Rambles: A delightful find in Solvang! Fantastic prices on really scrumptious and tummy warming food. Comfortable seating both outdoors on sunny days and indoors for a pleasant “mom and pop joint” feel. The Danish pancakes are heavenly! Would definitely go back… yummm….
Friday, June 13, 2008
Cesar
City: Berkeley, CA.
Address: 1515 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709 (in the Gourmet Ghetto)
Telephone: (510) 883-0222
Website: http://www.barcesar.com/
Food type: Spanish style tapas, often shared. Nice place to go with small to moderate sized groups.
Price range/person: $20-30/dinner
Wait time: Variable, none when we visited.
Service: Sophisticated, suave.
Ambiance: Rustic, jovial, chic.
Dish Focus On:
Grilled asparagus with smoked salmon & caper-lemon sauce, $9.75
Cold dish with delicious fillets of smoked salmon and plump grilled asparagus. Comes out really fast!
Paella de la semana: pollo estilo andaluz (chicken, asparagus, green beans, almonds, mushrooms, jamón serrano & saffron in a chicken broth; Need 25 minutes for preparation), $19.75
Larger than expected plate of flavorful rice, mixed with various veges and mushrooms. Resembles Chinese flavored sticky rice, but with a Spanish twist. Dish is actually very shallow, but portion large enough to share among at least 3 people.
Type of seafood cake…
Marinated olives (the first dish is complimentary), $4.75
Not shown.
Yummmy Factor: 4/5
Yummmy Rambles: Location on popular street in Berkeley. Place is often busy, as a local hang out for swanky minglers. Large bar. Much attention given to small plates of food. Dishes are pricey, but presentation and ambiance make for a fun night out!
Address: 1515 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709 (in the Gourmet Ghetto)
Telephone: (510) 883-0222
Website: http://www.barcesar.com/
Food type: Spanish style tapas, often shared. Nice place to go with small to moderate sized groups.
Price range/person: $20-30/dinner
Wait time: Variable, none when we visited.
Service: Sophisticated, suave.
Ambiance: Rustic, jovial, chic.
Dish Focus On:
Grilled asparagus with smoked salmon & caper-lemon sauce, $9.75
Cold dish with delicious fillets of smoked salmon and plump grilled asparagus. Comes out really fast!
Paella de la semana: pollo estilo andaluz (chicken, asparagus, green beans, almonds, mushrooms, jamón serrano & saffron in a chicken broth; Need 25 minutes for preparation), $19.75
Larger than expected plate of flavorful rice, mixed with various veges and mushrooms. Resembles Chinese flavored sticky rice, but with a Spanish twist. Dish is actually very shallow, but portion large enough to share among at least 3 people.
Type of seafood cake…
Marinated olives (the first dish is complimentary), $4.75
Not shown.
Yummmy Factor: 4/5
Yummmy Rambles: Location on popular street in Berkeley. Place is often busy, as a local hang out for swanky minglers. Large bar. Much attention given to small plates of food. Dishes are pricey, but presentation and ambiance make for a fun night out!
Cafe De La Paz
City: Berkeley, CA.
Address: 1600 Shattuck, Berkeley, CA. 94709
Website: http://www.themenupage.com/cafedelapaz.html
Food type: Tapas, Nuevo Latino
Price range/person: $15/brunch (not including alcohol)
Wait time: None to be seated (choose your own seat and take your own menu); 20-30 mins for the food (even on a relatively quiet afternoon)
Service: Slow, relaxed, short-staffed. Seemed like there was only one server for the day.
Ambiance: Colorful, Cheerful, Casual.
Dish Focus On:
Cachapas De Jojoto - The café’s signature, Venezuelan corn pancakes
Delicious moist pancake patties, topped with special sauce and cheese. I would be fine with this as the main entree rather than an appetizer.
Chicken Scramble served with home-fries and cornbread (jalapeno)
Corn bread has a kick. Eggs are tasty and filling. Potatoes are a bit excessive.
Yummmy Factor: 3.5/5
Yummmy Rambles: Not the place to dine if you are in a hurry. Service is unbelievably slow. Restaurant is very spacious with large rooms available for private parties, but it appears that the smaller room upstairs is the most often utilized. Food is decent, but not spectacular. Street parking. Not in a rush to go back soon...
Address: 1600 Shattuck, Berkeley, CA. 94709
Website: http://www.themenupage.com/cafedelapaz.html
Food type: Tapas, Nuevo Latino
Price range/person: $15/brunch (not including alcohol)
Wait time: None to be seated (choose your own seat and take your own menu); 20-30 mins for the food (even on a relatively quiet afternoon)
Service: Slow, relaxed, short-staffed. Seemed like there was only one server for the day.
Ambiance: Colorful, Cheerful, Casual.
Dish Focus On:
Cachapas De Jojoto - The café’s signature, Venezuelan corn pancakes
Delicious moist pancake patties, topped with special sauce and cheese. I would be fine with this as the main entree rather than an appetizer.
Chicken Scramble served with home-fries and cornbread (jalapeno)
Corn bread has a kick. Eggs are tasty and filling. Potatoes are a bit excessive.
Yummmy Factor: 3.5/5
Yummmy Rambles: Not the place to dine if you are in a hurry. Service is unbelievably slow. Restaurant is very spacious with large rooms available for private parties, but it appears that the smaller room upstairs is the most often utilized. Food is decent, but not spectacular. Street parking. Not in a rush to go back soon...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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