The Old Man's Profile
near Hollyhock House? near The Getty Villa?
Didn't Hennessey & Ingalls Bookstore close the Santa Monica location many years ago? I think it's now in "Hollywood."
Dark Dining - Anyone try it?
Yes, you eat on beds in total darkness, using chopsticks. Wine is served in dog bowls and is meant to be lapped up. Oh, you also must use your clothes as a napkin--none are provided.
Old Town Pasadena has the worst
Actually I was just having a conversation about this with my wife. I think we're going to see many chains closing, then Old Town will turn again into an abandoned blighted area. Than 20 years from now brave pioneers will move back in and the cycle will repeat itself.
What's Good in Carlsbad?
Thank you--it takes people of great intelligence to recognize it. However if you come again, and will expand your radius to about 10 miles I'm sure there are people here who will show you excellent things. For example, as you hear over and over, the greatest sushi in San Diego county may be at Kaito in Encinitas. I can't vouch for it, I don't eat sushi--it's too underdone for my taste. ; )
Old Town Pasadena has the worst
I was horrified to read this. I used to hang out there when Goldstein's was a pioneer and the scene was just setting up. Is there really a Buca de Bepo, Gordon Biersh, Hooter's, and a Cheesecake Factory? You knew it was all to go hell when the Gap opened.
It's enough to make you cry.
What's Good in Carlsbad?
Though I don't know the history it's currently called Norte, but it is Fidel's. As it says at Dining Guide Network, "Can You Really Have Bad Mexican? Fidel’s Answers, 'Yes!!'" Or as it says at the Carlsbad Inn's website, "The famous Mexican Restaurant, Norte's, is located on-site." Weren't you lucky?
What's Good in Carlsbad?
"We went to the Mexican restaurant next to the Carlsbad Inn(where we stayed). I knew from the spicy tomato sauce salsa that it wasn't going to be my best dining experience. Probably the worst Mexican food I have ever had."
Are we talking about the tremendously overrated Fidel's? Or the used to be good, 10 years ago, Southwest style, Coyote Café?
Jeremy's On The Hill - Julian
It was great to read this review, but man is that location the definition of a kiss-of-death spot. In the last 5 years I believe that Jeremy's is the 3rd restaurant there with many months of an empty building in between. Another problem, is the food the right type of the people who drive up there? Time will tell, but I definitely will check it out.
Carlsbad, Final Night
There are a number of areas in Carlsbad that have hotels, where are you? I don't know why anyone would think you'd want your last meal here to be at a taco truck with a 3 & 7 yeas old. I also wouldn't think you want to go to the overrated taco dive Juanitas. Fidels is not good.
For sushi everyone raves about Kaito in Encintas (this is worth the trip, but very small and difficult on Sat.)--which touches the south tip of Carlsbad. Also across the street from there is the highly regarded Bety's Tacos (much more than just tacos).
Mikko at on Carlsbad Blvd. is a place my wife likes. Opinions are all over the place on it however.
San Diego Best/Worst Neighborhoods for Restaurants
"Is there really a neighborhood in San Diego that doesn't have something good to eat?"
Yes, many. Not really a great restaurant town.
Los Angeles coffee - I'm calling you out (many boos, and one hooray)
Wow, you must drink a lot of coffee. One of the longest posting I've ever seen. Followed by another posting 2 minutes later, followed by another 5 minutes later. Are those typing hands shaking?
Great San Diego Restaraunts?? Need a recommendation
Are you coming down to eat or is there a destination you are going to? That would help.
SD: Anthology - Anyone been recently?
That's what I've heard. It seems like a very oddly configured room that only works for a small number who want to see the music.
San Diego - great burger + waffle fries?
Oh God, here we go again.
--My soon to be deleted post--
I really wanted to like Mozza....
I believe that Frommtron was being tongue-in-cheek, but it wasn't clear from the way it was written.
I really wanted to like Mozza....
"..poor/random combination of ingredients..."
What is a random combination? Is it one in which they just looked around the kitchen and whatever was there they put on the pizza? Or is that they place the ingredients on the pizza while looking at something else?
Plus I just reread your review, "I really wanted it to be good... I wanted to be shocked... I wanted to tip my hat to the outsider, the American girl with curly hair that looks and acts so completely non Italian."
What condescending drivel. American girl with curly hair? I think she's in her 50's. And she acts so completely non Italian? You will find that most of us Americans act very non-Italian. Guess what? It's because WE'RE NOT! Nor are we Greek or Spanish or...but a few of us are very good cooks.
I really wanted to like Mozza....
And again the place is not called, "Nancy Silverton's 'Authentic' Italian Pizzeria."
I really wanted to like Mozza....
"What better than a total outsider to the Italian culture and community (Nancy Silverton) opening up an "authentic" Pizzeria."
Whether you liked it or not I don't think this was Silverton's purpose. I believe she wanted to make the best pizza she could in her style.
Origin Of Ketchup [Split from Calif board]
Careful, this will wind up split into a separate "wikipedia thread."
Origin Of Ketchup [Split from Calif board]
"The Old Man is right."
I knew there was no translation for the Chinese word, "ketchup."
Origin Of Ketchup [Split from Calif board]
I believe that tomato ketchup, which is what we think of when we think of ketchup, is American in origin.
Seasoning Wineglasses (split from Los Angeles board)
Yes, that is standard operating procedure. But not, unless it's for show, when a single wine is being served per glass.
Seasoning Wineglasses (split from Los Angeles board)
I just don't see how a rinse of of a small amount of wine is going to do anything to residues left in a glass. Perhaps the aroma will help mask the dish washing scent--but it's still there. Why not stick you nose in the glass before it's filled and have it hand re-rinsed if you notice a smell?
Seasoning Wineglasses (split from Los Angeles board)
"'Seasoning' the glasses with a very small amount of wine is an important and oft overlooked step."
I think you missed his point. This did not occur, he was just using it as a mocking comment toward his (ill)-advised point about the lack of oil or butter for the bread.
As for your point about seasoning the glass--I'm happy to say I've never seen this done. Properly washed glassware should have a neutral smell--that's what the rinse cycle is for.
Osteria Mozza - Disneylandesque and Terrible Service
"If you've ever watched his cooking show, he's all about singing the phrase "a little extra virgin olive oil" as he pours generous amounts of it in to his pan."
I'm not sure how oil to cook with is the same as oil to dip bread in.
Bety's Tacos In Encinitas (SD)
If you are good at throwing a baseball you could stand on the sidewalk in front of Brett's and throw it across Encinitas Blvd and it would bounce in the parking lot and roll up to the spot were Bety's is.
Osteria Mozza - Disneylandesque and Terrible Service
I don't care about it being a "name" restaurant. It's a popular, crowded restaurant. I've waited 20 minutes at restaurants. It's not fun, but I don't expect free wine and appetizers waiting at the table. I'd just need (which apparently he didn't get) a "sorry, it should be a few minutes (of course that's always a lie, but at least it's an acknowledgment).
The butter issue was a non-issue and the "hostage wine" was just a bizarre complaint.
Osteria Mozza - Disneylandesque and Terrible Service
FWIW I don't think 20 minutes is really that long a wait at a very popular restaurant. No I wouldn't be happy, but a "sip of wine offered to hold us over"? I never even heard of this especially for a 20 minute wait..
"No amuse waiting at the table to acknowledge the delay." Never heard of this either--what before you sit down they're suppose to hold you up longer while they put food down on your table?
"The wine service was awkward. I hate it when they hold the wine hostage off the table without communicating to the guests where the wine is being stored." Another strange comment--so you can get up, go across the room, and get it yourself.
"Bread is not offered with butter or olive oil. Maybe that's sophisticated. I think it's pretentious. Come now." I guess I'd ask for it if it needed it.
No, it didn't sound like you had a great experience and if I felt the way you do I would definitely scratch it off my list.
I need a hamburger so bad! [San Diego]
"I do not know if the meat is grass fed, etc. I guess I should find that out."
Probably not or I think they'd mention it. We do like their BBQ!
I need a hamburger so bad! [San Diego]
You say, "Therefore if I want a good burger...[I'll] drive to Santa Monica and get a Father's Office burger."
If your willing to do that perhaps you could spend 1/10th the effort to check out the places here first. There must be a better hamburger in San Diego than Red Robin.
Now pizza--well that's a different story. :)
