Visiting this week, & am curious...
where should I go for the best Portuguese chicken meal?

Rotisserie Romados?
Portugalia?
Coco Rico?
Chez-Doval?
somewhere else?

Thanks.

Taste of Newport begins this evening and I'll be there this weekend.

Seems like the restaurant roster is a bit leaner in quality this year, but I want to collate a list of the best options.

Based on visits in the past, I'll contribute two:

* Palm Terrace's Macaroni and Cheese.
Some of us (like me) may have a hard time scraping up the cash to make a reservation at the Island Hotel's Palm Terrace, so this would be a great chance to sample one of its signature dishes.
Creamy and tart and very satisfying. Tip...keep your eye on the chef manning the pan and try to order right when a batch of it is ready.

* Sabatino's Sausage and Pepper boat with sauce.
The scent that will be wafting from their grills will sell this itself, but the sausage is truly Brooklyn-esque...moist, rich, not at all greasy, great texture, and no bad aftertaste. I lived in a Neapolitan nabe in Brooklyn for a long time so I know the real deal. The sauce is thick and flavorful too.
What's more, it's great outdoor festival food...and there's plenty of Newport Beach Chamber of Commercers pouring wine that can complement your sausage and peppers.
Nice people always working at Sabatino's set-up, too.

Here's the list of participants...where else to go?:

http://www.tasteofnewport.com/menus.aspx

-----
Sabatino's
251 Shipyard Way, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Palm Terrace Restaurant & Lounge - Island Hotel
690 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Marche Moderne is in Costa Mesa, not Newport...and so is Golden Truffle.

Golden Truffle is on Newport Boulevard...but in Costa Mesa.

.

-----
Golden Truffle
1767 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Marche Moderne
3333 Bristol Street, Suite 3001, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Hi,

In every city, there are eateries that are beloved for aura, stability/longevity, etc. by its citizens, and are equally well-known outside its borders.

For example, in LA, everyone knows about Spago (on the high-end) and the delicious french dip sandwiches of Philippe's (on the modest end). In Philadelphia, it was places like Bookbinder's [now closed] and the ever-thriving Pat's and Geno's Steaks. NY...Peter Luger, Nobu, Katz's Deli, etc.

In Seattle, are there any quintessential dining experiences...especially on the moderate end?
In my limited research and experience, the only two I can come up with are
Salumi [which unfortunately I will miss since this is a Friday night-Monday night visit] and
13 Coins.

Visiting Aug. 19-22. Based downtown near the Pike Place Market but willing to travel.
NYC native now in Southern California.

Thanks for your help.

I appreciate all the input so far.

Now that we've got a list, the second part is ranking 'em.

I did quietly imply that I want to avoid Las Brisas.
Scott, after Mosaic, what would be a couple of other bankable scenic patios?
I guess after having an unobstructed view, the criteria in descending order would be:
Food, Comfort (capacity, wait times, parking), and finally Service being last.

I could be wrong but is the patio at Coyote Grill extremely small and (more importantly) one that has an obstructed view?

Also - does Splashes have an outdoor patio or just a window view?

Title says it all...
I'm looking to compile a list of all Laguna Beach establishments that have an *outdoor patio* with an ocean view.

Las Brisas is the most well-known and from what I can piece together from other topics and from surfing the Web, there may be 5 other places that have outdoor patios with ocean views:

* Saphhire
* Beach House
* Mosaic Bar and Grille (at the Montage)
* The Cliff
* The Rooftop Lounge

If anyone can either add to this list or comment on this list, would be greatly appreciated.
Money is no issue. Meal will be lunch or brunch.

I really am not familiar with Laguna...thanks for the help

I am trusting all the cheesecake lovers to direct me to a bakery/restaurant where I can walk out with a heavenly cheesecake, a gift for a great friend.

Preferably in Orange County [but am curious about LA too]
and bonus praise if you know of a place that bakes a great strawberry one.

Thanks!

I thought if I wrote "zhengjiao" or "jiaozi" in my original post I might scare away comments from those who know where to find good dumplings but couldn't easily associate the Chinese or Mandarin word with the specific wrapped delicacy. In a similar way, I wouldn't use the phrase "sundubu jjigae"... I'd say Korean tofu stew.

Maybe a better phrasing would be...where in OC can I find dumplings of any type which are the most traditionally eaten on New Year's Day. Be it zhengjiao, jiaozi, XLB, etc....whatever and whichever would stamp my luck passport in the Year of the Rabbit.

Let's say Chinese New Year fell on a weekday, and a guy didn't want to drive to Hacienda Heights or Arcadia for a plate of steamed Chinese dumplings. Is there any place in OC that would be a reliable source?

Jim, I agree completely, and I mourn with you.
The food at Cono's was consistently excellent, especially if you knew what to order.
Fantastic seafood, stellar tomato sauce, tasty veal cutlets...I can go on and on.
Linguine alla Cono with Fish Sauce will now exist only in my memory.

And yeah, that takeout window was a gem.
Can't tell you how many times I was there for a Veal Cutlet Milanese hero (with sauce).
The last time, on a visit to NY in Oct. 2009, I felt like eating the tin foil it was wrapped in.

The fact that there are only 5 comments posted before this one belies the quality of Cono's, for food and atmosphere. R.I.P.

Am curious to know if a common dish in the Philippines, known as 'pares'
[or pares-pares]
is on the menu at any restaurant in the LA area.

Magic Wok
(the excellent Filipino eatery in Artesia)
apparently does not serve it.

Will be at the Yankees-Dodgers game on Sunday evening...
sitting in the Field Level.

Other than Dodger Dogs, what do you recommend to eat?

Desperately need a suggestion for a dinner in the Dana Point/San Juan Capistrano area
(or anywhere nearby in South OC).

There will be a 7 y.o. and a 3 y.o. in attendance, so looking for kid-friendly, and not exotic.

"Tourist-friendly" also a plus, too.

Cost is not that important....
Anywhere but Ruby's, Dave and Buster's or similar chains.

Help!
Thanks.

Claro's in Tustin was one of the only places I found that sells Locatelli Romano cheese. A few years ago, to save on time and cash, I tried Trader Joe's Romano...and found it was the closest thing to Locatelli I have ever tasted, anywhere.

So, you might be just fine with TJ's Parmagiano Reggiano, but I know that Claro's is also an excellent choice for cheese if you want to see if you could crank it up a notch. Claro's would be worth a trip just because you could scoop up some other goodies along with your aged, grass-fed cow's milk.

Looking for solid, reliable, Southern Italian "red sauce" anywhere in LA, the SFV, or thereabouts.

Something
* low-key, unpretentious
* family-owned
* similar to places you stumble upon all over in the outer boroughs of NY or South Philly
....would be a plus.

Absolutely NO places that have pizza or "brick-oven" pies on the menu.
(Envision menus with 10 appetizers, then about half a dozen pasta/chicken/veal/fish items,
including at least one "Chicken a-la [Chef's name]" and/or "Vitello a-la [Chef's name].)

I really am clueless about LA Italian and I welcome all the help. Thanks.

There seems to be no consensus as to which is the best place to get Hawaiian BBQ in OC.....
anyone feel strongly about a reliable place? Thanks.

In a past life I must have lived in Hong Kong 'cause I'm dreaming of fish kew today.

Is there any reliable place in OC....or the SGV, or LA....
where I can find a hot plate with chunks of lightly-battered filet sauteed with broccoli and other vegetables in a garlicky sauce?

Hi,

Looking for a very casual, low-key, unpretentious breakfast/brunch spot in the Gramercy area, walking distance from 22nd St and Park Avenue South.

Something

* not upscale (Eleven Madison Park, City Bakery)
* not infamous or notorious (Friend of a Farmer)
* not a greasy spoon.

Anything come to mind? Thanks in advance.

I'm curious...which location?
I have dined at the one on De Maisonneuve many times
(though not in several years)
and always thought the service was great.
My only thought about what happened is that a manager should have immediately appeared and not left your table until all was well.
The waiter's gesture was actually noteworthy considering the embarrassment and anxiety he must have felt. It's the manager's responsibility to mediate and calm an accident scene such as this.

Looking for a modest, low-key, unpretentious Italian establishment that's off-the-beaten path,
far away from downtown and tourists.

I love veal and seafood, so a geographic skew to the South would be on target, if that helps.

Would appreciate any ideas.
Thanks!!

Hi,

A taxi will be depositing me at a hotel near the Berri Metro station on a Thursday night at around 10:30 p.m.

Will be looking for a decent, light, unpretentious hot meal...
seafood soup...or a small protein-rich platter...or chili...
...something like that.

Time will definitely not be on my side
(especially if I'm delayed),
and I would rather walk someplace than travel to downtown or elsewhere.
Desperately need some ideas from a native who is familiar with the Latin Quarter or Village area, say bounded by St. Denis on the west, Ontario on the north, Papineau on the east, and Rene Levesque on the south.

Le Commensal on Rue St Denis would be great,
but I fear it will either be closed at that time or they'll be packing up the buffet.
There also is/was a narrow Asian noodlery on the south side of Rue St-Catherine [circa Beaudry] that would be good, but may be winding down close to 11:00.

Any thoughts?
Thanks!!

Dined at Anita's on Harbor Blvd. in Fullerton for breakfast/brunch.
Was o.k....
airy, pleasant atmosphere in the dining room (at least at about 10:30 a.m.) and rapid, attentive, courteous service from 'Alex,' as he was identified on the check.

Carne Adovada con Huevos was just slightly disappointing. The pork, while fork tender, was somewhat dry and could have been even more spicier. I know it can be a challenge to keep stew from being dry, but I was hoping the seasoning would be potent enough to keep my mouth involuntarily moist. Alas, it wasn't.

The home fries on the plate were above-average, though, and good home fries are one of my benchmarks of a kitchen staff that really does care about everything that exits its doors and is destined for a table.
Would like to return for dinner...maybe to get something with chile verde, which allegedly is more indigenous to New Mexico, instead of the red chiles of adovada fame.

-----
Anita's
600 S Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92832

Coincidentally I was in Chino (or was it Chino Hills?) too, about 3 Sundays ago.
While seated on a patio outside Starbucks, I couldn't believe I was suddenly staring at a Jollibee and a Red Ribbon Bakery right across the landscape.

The Filipino footprint is ever-broadening
(which is a good thing...especially if you like tocino
LOL)
I'm still hoping a flag will be planted in coastal OC someday.

Feeling some pre-Swine Flu symptoms the other night, I stumbled into the Moscow Deli (on Harbor Blvd. near Baker in Costa Mesa) in search of some Slavic gastro-tonic.

Much of the modest square footage is a deli and grocery store, the Euro-kind typical in large Eastern and Midwestern cities, but extremely rare here in big-box, Pacific-skewed Cali. If you can snag one of the two tables for dining-in, the deli-grocery backdrop (including the staff of friendly, maternal ladies behind the counter) begets a charming atmosphere.

I ordered a bowl of borscht (how could I not) and stuffed cabbage (but not the combo, which I believe came with a salad and assorted carbohydrates). Was surprised that the borscht was so tomatoey...I was expecting beet flavor, beet color, and uniform beet-beetiness, but Moscow Deli's version blends in a considerable amount of tomatoes. Fortified with lots of chopped cabbage and a dollop of sour cream, it was still satisfying, if not what I expected. One disappointment, it was served at a thermo-nuclear temperature, probably due to the fact I arrived around 6:00 p.m., i.e. closer to closing-time than opening-time. They need a lower-powered microwave back there.

The stuffed cabbage was extremely good...Moscow Deli makes it with ground beef, not ground pork as I was accustomed to from previous Ukrainian dines...and it was spicy, too. You'd think spicing up Eastern European food would be a disaster, but the slight kick worked well in execution.

Everything on the menu is available for take-out, and had my refrigerator at home not already been well-stocked, I would have departed with more stuffed cabbage. Cabbage roll cost was the oddly-priced $6.38, plus $4.99 for the soup...somewhat pricey but worth it if you can't bear the thought of another night of Japanese or Mexican food.

Moscow Deli
3015 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa
[just north of Baker Street, near Rite Aid, and across from Target Greatland]
714-546-3354

What type of Italian (Southern, Northern, etc.)?

Upscale or casual?

For an experience with more atmosphere and distinction, Onotria on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa would do it. Cuisine is more aligned with Tuscany and the central region.

For a casual, red sauce meal, I'd recommend Luigi's d'Italia on State College Boulevard in Anaheim. Haven't been there in awhile, but the food, service, and neighborhoody atmosphere has always been great, and it's also a place I'm comfortable taking dining companions who are less adventurous.

Hi,

A female friend will be solo for a couple of days this week, staying at the Sheraton.

Any recommendations for casual, moderately-priced eateries near the hotel?
(esp. places with local flavor... esp. where dining solo is no issue?)

Thanks.

Sad news.
I went in about a year ago for cannolis, and it was like stepping back into my childhood in NYC.

They don't make places like this anymore, and there aren't that many left.

In case you haven't noticed, it's been raw outside in the evening...
and several times recently I've enjoyed a heaping bowl of udon noodle soup at Sanuki Sandou, the excellent vendor adjacent to the "Hello Kitty" kitsch store in the Mitsuwa food court in Costa Mesa.

Am wondering if anyone has any other recommendations for udon soup in OC.
Thanks.

Hi,

Looking for Sunday brunch ideas anywhere within a few miles radius of Rosemead Blvd. & Mission Drive in Rosemead.

Me + friend don't know if we'll be in the mood for American brunch fare or dim sum, so all suggestions, all cuisines, are welcome.

Even any location along the Rosemead Blvd. corridor toward Pasadena Gold Line station would be o.k.

Thanks!