Por Favor in Lemon Grove: Shredded beef taco plate with refried beans and rice ($5.25 at lunch time)
31 July: The Philadelphia Sandwich Company
We sent last month's issue early to clear the deck for a special issue of The Frankfurter Chronicles (National Hot Dog Month)
And I know I swore the last time I was there that I'd never darken their doorstep again (they used sliced roast beef instead of ribeye steak) but there was a massive wreck on I-8 and I had to take another route home which passed very close by there and as I really couldn't make my mind up about what I wanted for dinner this evening...
I had a small (6 inch) mushroom cheese steak with extra Cheez Whiz (they don't fold the cheese into it, like an omelet (the hot cheese doesn't squirt from the meat when you bite into it, like it should), generic fries, Pepsi, no Coke...
The total was $8.61
1 August: Goody's Bar & Grill - No. 78
The sign out front says Steaks & Burgers but there is no steak sandwich on the menu (haven't found one anywhere here yet).
I ordered the cheeseburger with fries and an iced tea.
The burger had good flavor but they put the garden on the bottom and after you add mayo and mustard, it's a big, sloppy, slippery mess.
There were lots of hot shoestring fries, more than I could eat and as they tend to cool down quickly, I left at least a third of them on the plate.
Much of the menu features burritos and other Mexican items, a holdover from the previous incarnation in this building, a Mexican eatery and the owner says that there will be a steak sandwich when they redo the menu.
Goody's used to be in a different building (on East Main) and they recently swapped locations with the Mexican restaurant.
The old place had lots of glass; a classic car hop style place right on the main drag at the extreme end of El Cajon's revitalized restaurant row, where the El Cajon Classic Cruise Night events are held.
I really don't understand why they would relinquish that location for what they have now, a thick walled, traditional Mexican restaurant style building with arches over the window openings and metal awnings to shade the place nicely in the glare of the hot summer sun.
Both streets are major thoroughfares but they appeared to be much busier at the old location and it had the added advantage of the weekly car show, obvious overflow possibilities (when customers find that their favorite restaurant is too busy, they usually go to the next closest place, a traditional strategy for locating some chains of restaurants such as The Magic Wok (next to a Good Earth Restaurant, whenever possible)...
I was the only one in the dining room and the people from the other 10 cars in the parking lot were all in the bar.
The total was $9.00 including a fairly generous tip.
4 August: Lemon Grove Fish & Chips II
We (the wife and I) had visited this place for lunch last month but this time, it was me and the Boy for dinner.
It's not in the best of neighborhoods and the building has seen better days but...
The Boy ordered the 2 fish, 2 shrimp plate with a mound of hush puppies (instead of fries) and a Coke.
I had the 2 fish, 4 shrimp, fries plate, a Sprite for me (I gave Boy one of the fish filets)
The total was $14.73
It was extremely hot inside and the owner (Rafael) was constantly busy which can be explained by the great food at a very reasonable price.
6 August: Por Favor in Lemon Grove II
Fish tacos for the wife (garnished with black olives and a hefty chunk of lime), a couple of shredded beef tacos for me (see photo at top).
And of course, there were chips & salsa (the chips were stale).
Iced tea for me and water for the wife.
And the wife pointed out that for some reason, they don't seem to use onions here (I hadn't noticed until she brought it up)...
We also had a rather large helping of horrid service (some of the worst ever)...
Waitress points off for:
1) Didn't listen - I ordered a la cart but the waitress brought me the combination meal because she doesn't listen or bother to ask questions if there is any doubt.
2) Not checking back to see if everything was OK or if we needed something (she finally asked when we were done eating). It was too late by then as the tortillas for the fish tacos had split open and we kept doing the head-swivel-around thing to get her attention until it was too late as the food was getting cold. Most waitresses are trained to look for heads swiveling around but obviously she must've played hooky that day.
3) Not scanning the table on a regular basis (once at least would have been nice). We took turns watching to see if she ever glanced our way after we realized that we were not going to get a couple of tortillas to replace the ones that had split open and Darla had already started to eat her fish tacos with a fork.
4) Avoiding eye contact (studiously in fact). I caught her deliberately looking away when I stared directly at her from across the room.
5) Not removing dirty dishes from table, even when we moved them to the very edge of the table, a standard signal in this trade.
6) Presented the check in a dirty glass - absolutely unclear on the concept: hygiene is everything in food handling.
7) "Do you want your change back?"
Wrong, wrong, wrong...
That's exactly how NOT to do it (it pisses the astute customer off royally and in our case today, it was the straw that broke the camel's back).
What she was trying to do was give herself a 21% plus tip with our money, very brassy of her, to say the least and a move that ultimately cost her fairly dearly.
The correct way to do it is: "I'll be right back with your change" which gives the customer the chance to say "never mind, keep it".
Our total was $16.52 and we put out a total of $18.00 including a very small (8.95% or $1.48) tip
We'll never go back there because we might get her as our server again as well as the wildly fluctuating food quality at all of their locations.
Lee also related a similar experience and an hour plus wait for their food at the El Cajon location a few days later.
They really need to get their act together.
They recently ran an ad in the paper for new servers and (assistant) managers but I think it needs to go higher up, to the level of the GM, as it's only been more of the same, a steady decline in the last year plus that we've eaten there.
Bullo's: The sign says fresh lobster for $14.95 / Mariscos Playa Azul
9 August: Bullo's in Ensenada - No. 79
Note: Never stop at the first place you see, even if you are starving.
The Old Bait & Switch @ Bullo's:
The sign outside said "Fresh Lobster $14.95"
Instead, we were shown a platter of three lobsters and told that they were $30, $40 and $50 (no thanks, we'll pass)...
While we were there, we decided to order anyway, maybe some appetizers to tide us over until we tracked down the elusive Buttafuoco and had time to find the 12 pound lobsters we came down here to eat, one of the major reasons for this trip.
JP had the shrimp burrito, I ordered the prawns diabolo plate (we all shared a taste of the spicy prawns) and Wild Bill had a shrimp tostada.
And of course, there were the chips & salsa (the salsa was easily the worst we've had in a while, almost like dipping your chip in tomato juice).
The Boy and I had a Coke and JP had a Diet Coke
Our total was slightly over $26 for a total of $31 including a $4 plus tip.
9 August - Mariscos Playa Azul in Ensenada - No. 80
JP (Son of Wild Bill) and I both ordered the lobster which was done Baja-style (split down the middle and then grilled over an open flame), served on a metal platter with rendered butter, tartar sauce, salad, beans and rice.
These aren't like Maine lobsters as they don't have the giant claws and they are a muddy brown with no meat in the legs, unlike a good crab).
Wild Bill ordered the grilled sea bass with bell peppers and onions and a roasted jalapeno, rice, beans and pico de gallo.
The wife and Boy had shrimp and fish ceviche tostadas as well as a taste of everything else we had ordered.
And there was fish soup all around (with chunks of sea bass); I'm not really a soup guy and Darla was more than happy to eat mine too.
Everyone agreed the freshly made tortillas were excellent.
Instead of a few lemon or lime slices or wedges, they brought us a tray with maybe a dozen very small limes, a fun thing and visually exciting.
And, of course, there was the obligatory chips & salsa (it's the law down here; you can't have a meal without it)...
We also saw some huge bacon wrapped prawns being prepped in the kitchen but unfortunately, we forgot to order some of them too...
Drinkies: JP and I had Cokes (in the can, with Mexican labels), the Boy wanted a Sprite this time and Wild Bill had a Sol but The Darla didn't drink anything all day as she didn't want to use the toilets while we were there.
In the military, generals (and other officers) are frequently given nicknames characteristic of their leadership style.
For instance, General George S. Patton was called "Old Blood & Guts" by his troops (never to his face, of course).
Officers who spend their careers at headquarters (desk jockeys) are often referred to as "Old Iron Butt" by subordinates (under their breath).
In this case, The Darla has earned her nickname: "Old Iron Bladder"...
The restaurant itself was fairly attractive with an ocean theme; cool blue neon accents, glass blocks, sea green and blue paint scheme and swordfish, octopus and lobster sculptures on the walls, etc.
It was also kind of surreal sitting there watching "Animal Planet" on the Mexican satellite while devouring a number of the local species...
Service was formal, with the waiters all in traditional black and white (penguin style) and they were fairly attentive as well. Like a lot of places, a different server may deliver your food (or several of them in this case), another may bring your drinks to the table and yet still others may stop by to refresh the chips and salsa, see if there's anything else you need, etc as fish is especially perishable and has be delivered immediately.
And as everything was cooked to order, service was nice and leisurely and we left well fed, refreshed and relaxed about an hour later.
The total was just over $64 for all of that food and drink and we left an extra $10 for our waiter.
Dining @ Darla's:
Besides the 80 new restaurants we've eaten at since we got here last year (some of them numerous times as well), we've also tried a number of new dishes at home, easily several dozen a year, very likely more, and the 18 listed directly below account for less than the last 2 months.
Below that is a section detailing our regular menu around here which we think you may find amusing.
New recipes (email if they sound good to you):
1) Vegetable Fruit Salad from Rachel Ray's "30 Minute Meals"- Tomatoes from the garden, red onion, red bell pepper, cucumber, celery, pineapple, lime juice, chili powder, EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) and hot sauce. Refreshing.
2) Kokoho Rose - Our favorite brand of rice is sweet, nutty and sticky and can be eaten by itself, it's that good.
We couldn't find it anywhere in Squarefield but found it here, at our local Albertson's.($15 for a 20 lb bag).
Before we moved here, we bought 40 lbs of regular white rice, just in case it proved to be more expensive than we had estimated.
Evidently it was as we have used almost all of it up now...
And we've done a number of other rice dish experiments over the last year plus, possibly as many as a dozen (garlic butter rice, Spanish rice, lemon rice, cilantro rice, wild rice and various pilafs, etc).
3) Shrimp & Pork Potstickers - The wife recently discovered the pleasures of Dim Sum and served these combination potstickers with 4 different dipping sauces: Chinese Hot Mustard, a light soy sauce, a sauce made of sautéed ginger, green onion and celery and then pureed with olive oil and the fourth one was made with chili oil, chili paste, garlic and rice vinegar.
A little Kokoho Rose steamed rice, a small bowl of egg flower soup and a large glass iced tea rounded this delightful meal out very nicely.
4) Italian Tomato Salad - Fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden, fresh mozzarella cheese, drizzled with EVOO as they say on TV.
We also tested a new pasta dish; pepper infused olive oil drizzled over angel hair pasta with lemon zest.
Both recipes are keepers.
5) We also had a bottle of Director Francis Ford Coppola's Rosso, essentially a house red, a mixture of 3 varietals.
It's a little fruity and sweet for my taste (it starts out tasting like raisins), but very reasonably priced at around $7 a bottle.
6) Oven Baked Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Olive Oil: We did this one 3 times recently, until we got it right (almost)
7) Cioppino - Another Rachel Ray concoction ("30 Minute Meals"), not bad...
8) And we've done extensive BBQ sauce research recently (I got the baby back rib smoking thing down pat but we just need the right sauce).
9) Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches - A Mid-Western favorite and we've pretty much perfected it now.
10) Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches - This is wonderful, in spite of the lack of real meat. Best with a slice of home grown tomato, some nice mild cheese melted over it on a poppy seed bun with red onion, French's new Bold & Spicy Brown mustard, a touch of mayo, lettuce, etc.
11) Stir Fried Beef with Oyster Sauce - This featured 3 different types of mushrooms and we're going to eliminate 2 of them the next time we do it as it's hard to tell the difference anyway as the sauce overpowers them and we might as well save a buck or two...
12) Balsamic Bloody Mary - Not bad either but the wife's regular Bloody Mary is spectacular (as are her margaritas).
13) Italian Style Green Beans - Fresh green beans from the garden cooked in olive oil, garlic, red onion, fresh mint and red pepper flakes
14) Martha Stewart's Ginger Lemon Cookies - These are a keeper. Very subtle and delicious
15) Muffaletta - Well worth adding to your regular menu (minus the artichoke hearts).
16) Coconut Lime Chicken Wraps - These are one of the Boy's and the wife's new favorites and I have to admit that they're pretty good too.
17) Slightly Asian Cole Slaw from the "Sam The Cooking Guy" show - A great alternative to plain slaw, especially with a delicate fish.
19) Easily a dozen pasta dishes as well - On a certain level, they're all the same to this German / English / Dutch / Hillbilly Boy...
18) Local Yellow Tail, Albacore and Clams - Courtesy of Wild Bill (a serious fish guy)
Anne Moore:
We've also continued the Burger / Cheesesteak / Ribeye Steak Sandwich research here at The Institute...
And we've also added a great Bratwurst to the rotation (lightly stewed in beer and onions and finished off on the grill, like in the TV ads).
Invariably, there are a few we can't remember.
We're stalled out on the Italian Beef, Monte Cristo and several other sandwich experiments at the moment...
No more Rotisserie Hell?
And we are happy to report that we recently cooked maybe our 7th chicken in a row (we've lost count) with the latest rotisserie motor and it's absolutely wonderful, nothing beats a good rotisserie chicken (and this from a guy who really doesn't like chicken)!
Our regular menu (from a list we use to plan our weekly meals)
Beef: Beef Stew, Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches, Italian Beef, Roast Beef Dinner with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy , Roast Beef Hash, Shredded Beef Enchiladas, Shredded Beef Tacos Steaks: Cheese Steaks, Cube Steak, Filet Mignon with Shallot Sauce, Rib Eye Steak, Salisbury Steak, Shish Kebabs, Sirloin Tips, Skirt Steak Fajitas, Smoked Steaks, Swiss Steak, Teriyaki Steak Ground Beef: Chili, Moon's Ground Beef Tacos, Hamburgers, Meat Loaf, Pizza, Spaghetti, Stuffed Bell Peppers
Other: Calzone, Deep Fried Calzone
Pork: BBQ Pork Sandwiches, BBQ Ribs, Chop Suey, Ham (baked or fried), Ham Hocks & Beans, Honey Mustard Pork Roast, Kielbasa with Cabbage, Potatoes and Pot Liquor, Pork Chops, Roast Pork, Ribs & Kraut
Chicken: Beer Can Chicken, Beggar's Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Chicken & Dumplings, Fried Chicken, Lime Chicken, Roman Chicken (a version of Chicken Cacciatore), Salsa Chicken, Santa Cruz Chicken, Roast Chicken, Rotisserie Chicken
Turkey: Club Sandwiches, Hot Turkey Sandwiches, Roast Turkey with Dressing & Gravy, Turkey Sandwiches
Fish: Catfish, Crab, Red Snapper, Halibut, Lobster, Mesquite Prawns, Prawns with Bacon on a Skewer, Salmon Patties, Tilapia, Trout
Chinese/Japanese: Beef Teriyaki, Black Bean Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Fried Rice, Lemon Chicken, Szechwan Shrimp, Sweet & Sour Pork, Tempura Vegetables
Appetizers: Chips & Guacamole, Chips & Salsa, Deviled Eggs, Green Onion Pancakes, Nachos, Quesadillas, Spring Rolls
Soups: Egg Flower Soup, French Onion Soup, Hot & Sour Soup, Mexican Rice Soup, Portobello Mushroom Soup, Potato Leek Soup, Spicy Potato Soup, Tortilla Soup, Vegetable Beef Soup
Salads: Chef Salad, Cucumber & Onions, Cole Slaw, Cottage Cheese & Fruit, Crab Louie, Fruit Salad, Garden Salad, Jicama & Peppers Salad, Mexican Tuna Salad, Moon’s Pasta Salad, Persian Salad, Potato Salad, Shrimp Salad, Wilted Lettuce Salad
Pasta, Potatoes & Rice: Egg Noodles, Linguine with Shrimp, Macaroni & Cheese, Pasta with Alfredo Sauce, Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Pasta with Pesto Sauce, Baked Potatoes, Candied Sweet Potatoes, French Fries, Hash Browns, Mashed Potatoes, Pan Fried Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Yams, Cilantro Rice, Green Onion Rice, Steamed Rice
Side Dishes: Apple Sauce, Fried Apples, Baked Beans, Green Beans, Lima Beans, Peas, Pork & Beans, Refried Beans, Corn on the Cob, Creamed Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, Artichokes, Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Grilled Vegetables, Roasted Bell Peppers with Balsamic Vinegar, Sauer Kraut, Sautéed Mushrooms, Stuffed Mushrooms, Zucchini
Breads: Baguette, Biscuits, Corn Bread, French Bread, Garlic Bread, Sour Dough, Rolls
Other: 3 Weenie Salad, Beets & Eggs, Salami, Cheese, Crackers & Fruit
Desserts: Bananas Foster (3 ways: Flambé, On the Grill, Microwave version), Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Banana Pudding, Brownies, Cookies, Strawberry Shortcake
Lunches: BLT, Black Forest Ham, Bratwursts, Burgers, Cheese Steaks, Chili Dogs, Club Sandwich, Corn Dogs, Cottage Cheese & Fruit, Egg Salad, Fried Ham Sandwich, Good Earth Tuna, Grilled Cheese, Ham & Swiss, Ham Salad, Hot Dog, Italian Sausage Sandwich, Polish Sausage Sandwich, Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, Roast Beef Sandwich, Salami & Cheese Sandwich, Steak Sandwich with Grilled Onions, Submarine Sandwich, Turkey Sandwich
Breakfasts: Bacon, Biscuits, Cereal, Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast, Eggs, French Toast, Grits, Ham, Oatmeal, Pancakes, Sausage, Toast, Waffles
