Some Really Fine Mexican Food at Casa Fina

 Casa Fina

1842 1st Street

Los Angeles, CA 90033

Usually, when we are driving up this way, it's a happy occasion. We leave OC to cruise up the 5 Freeway to Burbank for a family party, graduation, or baby shower. This was more of a somber trip, as Katie's uncle Jim passed away suddenly a month before, and we were up this way to lay him to rest and have a celebration of life. 

Uncle Jim would have loved a celebration. When I went to my first big family party in 2009, he was the first person I felt a real connection with. He was the life of the party, cracking jokes, making sure people were having an excellent time, and introducing me to people who would eventually become my family as the years passed.  

Katie and I had to leave a little later in the day than we would have liked, so we drove up around 5pm and headed straight to our hotel. We needed to grab dinner along the way, so I tried to find a freeway close spot with some good reviews. I checked out Eater LA, and they raved about the food at Casa Fina, also adjacent to the freeway, so we plugged it into our map app and were on our way.  

Casa Fina is one block from the historic Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights. The restaurant is conveniently located in a little swath of land between three freeways, the 5, 10, and 101, which makes it super convenient. Casa Fina opened in 2017 and took over the spot that La Serenata de Garibaldi had for 32 years. They moved to the West Side, and Casa Fina has thrived here. 

The Casa Fina menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, pasta (?), combo plates, house specialties, entrees, and seafood. Most plates hover around the $20 price point, with only the molcajetes eclipsing the $30 mark. Our server, Emily, quickly took our order, so let's take a look at what came out for us. 

Before our ordered food arrives, let's check out their chips and salsa setup. This was, for sure, the most neon-green salsa we've ever had during the course of this blog. I'm partial to red salsa, but this one was good, as it was not too acidic and had a good amount of heat. It was not an uncomfortable amount of heat, but enough so it was noticeable. We were not presented with any red salsa, even though their pictures on Yelp show it as being served here at Casa Fina. The chips were fresh and crispy, with just a few blue corn chips in our basket. 

Queso Fundido ($16.50) is one of our favorite starters in a Mexican restaurant, and this version at Casa Fina was a good representation of it. They give you the choice of having this with either chicken, steak, or chorizo, which we chose. The chorizo was in big hunks when it came out, but it broke up easily once we mixed it with the bubbling cheese. This might have been our first fundido with sour cream on top, which disappeared quickly because of the heat coming off the skillet. I liked this flavor; the contrast between the chorizo and the cheese was excellent, and the tortillas, which I did not snap a picture of, were delicious. A very comforting start to our meal here. 

After a big breakfast, Katie was less hungry, so she selected this Taquito Appetizer ($9.50) with a Side of Rice ($2.95). The plating looked odd, but the taquitos were good. They had a nice amount of crema and maybe an avocado salsa on top. They were crunchy, and the chicken inside was tender, which is not always true in Mexican restaurants. Katie really enjoyed the rice. 

When I'm eating in a Mexican restaurant for the first time, I'll get the Carnitas ($19.95), a plate that I can use as a barometer to judge how good a Mexican restaurant is. I enjoyed these carnitas. There was a good mix of fatty and lean pieces; the tips were crispy and had a good depth of flavor. All good signs when I'm eating carnitas. The beans were delicious and helped with the few bites of pork that were a little dry. I enjoyed the rice more than usual in most other Mexican restaurants. This was a very solid meal. 

Casa Fina was just what the doctor ordered this evening. The food here was delicious, and I had no complaints about anything we had. They passed my carnitas test, so I'd like to try one of their combo meals or the shrimp enchiladas on my next visit here. We received some outstanding service from our server, Emily, and everyone we encountered this evening was very friendly. It was a slow Sunday night, but parking might be tricky during peak times. We got lucky and found a spot right out front on the street after circling the block only once. For a sad reason, we were up this way, but Casa Fina was a sliver of sunshine in a rather dreary time. 

Out of five anchors (in honor of our Uncle Jim, who served proudly in the US Navy, and an anchor is included on the United States Navy Seal), five being best to zero being worst, Casa Fina gets 3.5 anchors. 

For more information about Casa Fina, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.casafinarestaurant.com/

JW Hayes Enters the Barbecue Conversation

 JW Hayes BBQ at Minute King Market

3530 Irvine Ave. 

Newport Beach. CA 92660

Barbecue restaurants can be challenging to eat at. I should clarify that delicious barbecue restaurants are challenging to eat at. It's easy to pull up to a mediocre barbecue spot at 6 p.m. on a Saturday, have some bland biscuits with apple butter, and then choke down some dry brisket or small ribs with a minuscule amount of meat. Yes, I'm bashing Lucille's, which far too many people seem to love for some reason. It could be because it's easy to eat there.  

The great barbecue places have the following things in common: They are open for a limited number of hours because once they are out of something, they are out for the day. People usually stand in line well before they are open, and it takes a long while to get in because they have to weigh each order. Lastly, if you spy a smoker on the premises with a strong wood smoke aroma in the air, odds are that you are in for some excellent barbecue. JW Hayes BBQ ticked all of these boxes, and I was excited. 

Jeff Hayes started out on the competitive barbecue circuit back in 2013. He grew a loyal following at barbecue festivals. Still, he yearned to open up his own place where he could have more direct contact with customers and share his barbecue prowess with a more significant number of people. He ordered two 500-gallon smokers and started selling his barbecue out of the Minute King liquor store in February 2023. 

Since then, his Saturday-only stint at the liquor store near the corner of Irvine and Bristol has drawn crowds of barbecue lovers. I had a rare Saturday off from work, so I traveled the twenty minutes from home to try them. I arrived at 11am and was met with a line of twenty people snaking around the inside of the store's perimeter. It took me about 45 minutes from when I got in line until I left with my haul. Next time, I'd get here closer to their opening time of 10am. 

The menu featured ten kinds of meat and five sides when I visited. Meats included barbecue standards like brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs, tri-tip, pork steaks, pork spare ribs, turkey breast, chicken, and a prime brisket burger. The sides offered were sweet corn, coleslaw, mac and cheese, beans with or without brisket, and deviled eggs. Side go for $7 to $12, while the meats range from $16 to $45 a pound for the beef ribs. I made my selections and resisted trying anything until I got home. It was hard because of the wonderful smell of smoked meats coming from my passenger side, but I persevered.  

Let's start with the Beef Brisket ($20 for half a pound) and the Pork Spare Ribs ($18 for a half pound). The menu at JW Hayes is very detailed regarding where they source their meats. A quick Yelp search of their menus over their two-year run shows that they have gotten their meat from the same farms for the brisket Creekstone Farms in Kansas and Compart Family Farms in Minnesota source their pork. Side note, they also haven't raised their prices since they opened for business, which is not something most places could say. 

The brisket here was excellent. A good balance between lean and fatty, a nice looking pink smoke ring in most places, and it was tender without falling apart too easily. Very well done and one of the better briskets you can get in OC. I also was a big fan of the outer edges, which were seasoned very well. A must-get when visiting JW Hayes. 

The pork spare ribs were also a winner. Half a pound will get you about five ribs with plenty of meat. They also had a nice pink smoke ring and were very tender. The pork came off the bone with a slight tug, all in one piece, which signifies they would be good. They were. I should have gotten another half pound. 

Katie is always keen to try a Pulled Pork Sandwich ($15) from any barbecue spot we try for the first time. This pork sandwich came with some coleslaw and a squirt of their barbecue sauce. They did not use a lot of sauce here, so the smokiness of the pork could shine through. The pork was good—not too moist, but not dry either. I can't stand pulled pork that is as wet as a mop. The glossy bun kept everything together while Katie scarfed down this sandwich. She was a big fan. 

I can't remember the last time I had a burger from a barbecue restaurant, but something drew me to this Prime Brisket Burger ($12). I don't know if this burger was one hundred percent brisket or its percentage, but I know it was one of the better burgers I've had in a long while. I'm not sure what kind of cheese was used in this, but I found myself trying to make this burger last as long as possible. Well worth trying this as well. 

I never grew up eating mac and cheese. In fact, to this day, I have never had Kraft mac and cheese out of the blue box. Yes, I know. I was deprived as a child. That's why I always try the Smoked Mac and Cheese ($8) at any barbecue spot I visit, including JW Hayes. The mac and cheese had a smokiness, but I would have liked adding a textural element, especially since it was cheesy. Maybe some bread crumbs or some pieces of brisket. The Coleslaw ($7) was just how I like it; it's very saucy. It had a slight tang to it, but the end of each bite contained a sweetness. Good, but I could see some people not liking this. 

I have to admit, I really enjoyed JW Hayes BBQ. Is it the best in OC? As Heritage BBQ still holds that title, it's not, but I'd slot them into my number four spot, right behind Heritage, Evan's Smokehouse, and Craft by Smoke and Fire for the best barbecue in OC. I wish they had sausage and were more creative with their sides. For those of you looking to eat here, there are very few tables and chairs out front, so this is definitely a take-out spot during busy hours. Speaking of their hours, as I was writing this review, I saw on Instagram that they will be increasing their days of operation to Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 8pm and keeping their Saturday hours the same (10:30-4pm). So, maybe JW Hayes BBQ will become easier to consume, and more people will see how good this barbecue is. Perhaps someday, people will also learn that Lucille's is not a good barbecue restaurant. I'm not holding my breath, though

Out of five race cars (because this barbecue spot sits at the end of the runway of John Wayne Airport, and in 1950, the abandoned airstrip was used for drag racing until 1959), five being best to zero being worst, JW Hayes BBQ gets 3.5 race cars.  

For more information about JW Hayes BBQ, head to their Instagram page for all the latest about them by clicking here: https://www.instagram.com/jwhayesbbq/?hl=en

Overindulging at Fogo de Chao in Irvine

 Fogo De Chao

623 Spectrum Center Drive 

Irvine, CA 92618

The Irvine Spectrum Center has stepped up its restaurant game in recent years. Gone are the days when Red Robin, Ruby's, and Fox Sports Grill ruled the roost. Now this Irvine center at the interchange of the 5 and 405 freeways is drawing some big names to their roster of eateries. Din Tai Fung and Mastro's Ocean Club are confirmed to be coming soon, joining already operating big hitters like Cucina Enoteca, Habana, Paul Martin's, and Shake Shack. I visited recently to try another spot I had always wanted to try out, Fogo De Chao. 

I'm a little embarrassed that this Fogo De Chao location has been open for more than five years, and this was the first time I had eaten there. It seems like just a year or two ago, I was at this location attending the grand opening party of Kona Grill, a restaurant that only lasted two years. That party was nine years ago though. Man, time does fly by. 

Back in the present day, my good friend George had the great idea of visiting Fogo De Chao during their Best of Brazil event, where you get to try a slightly pared-down version of the whole Fogo experience. For the set price of $44, you get to partake in eleven of their fire-roasted meats carved tableside until you cry uncle, you also get unlimited trips to their Market Table, which consists of salads, seasonal recipes, smoked salmon, fogo feijoada, which is a black bean stew with sausage served over rice, and a load of other items. My competitive eating days are behind me, but I put on my stretchy pants and headed to meet George for this gargantuan meal. 

When we arrived at just past 6 p.m. on a Wednesday, we were seated near the bar, on the outskirts of the dining area. I was afraid the gauchos who sliced the meat would pass us by. If you're a lighter eater, they have a couple of seafood entrees and an option to choose just one of their cuts. They are served continuously, and the market table is included with this selection. Our server greeted us, and we took off for the market table. 

I was blown away by the market table, but I knew I was here for the meats, so I only tried a small amount of the Fogo Feijoada, the black bean stew in the picture above. It was excellent, but very filling, so I only had a small amount. The rest of the table items looked fresh and were refilled quickly. Maybe someday I will revisit Fogo just for the market table, but I doubt it. Bring on the meats!

Remember when I said the Taste of Brazil menu offered eleven options? We were only presented with five, and although they did come around quite often, I would have liked to have tried their pork offerings, which were missing entirely. I have heard that some meats are done at different times, so maybe we were too early for the pork ribs, pork chops, and parmesan-crusted pork. Also absent was the Fire-grilled Brazilian cheese served by the gauchos. 

The quintet of meats that we were served were all good. My favorite of the five was the Picanha, the prime part of the sirloin, and the signature cut served here at Fogo De Chao. Like all their meats, they are seasoned simply with a liberal amount of salt added. This allows the natural flavor of the beef to shine through. The Alcatra is also top sirloin, but is sliced much thinner to ensure tenderness. The Linguica was coiled around the skewers like a snake, and very photogenic and delicious. The Chicken was surprisingly tender, and the portion size was very generous. The Bacon Wrapped Steak was probably the weak spot. Some pieces were good, while others needed to be left over the fire a bit longer to help the bacon get a little crisper. 

Another way they try to curb meat intake is by bringing garlic-mashed potatoes, caramelized bananas, polenta fries, and pao de queijo, more commonly known as cheese rolls, to each table. When these things are brought to your table, you subliminally feel like you need to eat them—at least, that's how I always feel. I picked at them a little bit. I liked the mashed potatoes and the rolls, but left the polenta alone after my first bite. It was kind of boring. 

Fogo De Chao is one of the best Brazilian churrasco restaurants I've visited. Even though I did not get the whole experience here, since they had limited meats and I chose to take advantage of their Best of Brazil special, which is limited in the kinds of meats you can get, I still enjoyed my time here. I checked the Fogo De Chao website and they have just started up the special again, but this year it's going for $54, which is still a good deal for all you can eat meats. To save even more money, Costco usually has $100 Fogo gift cards for $80, a $20 savings that gets this closer to last year's price. As I had predicted when we sat down, the gauchos sometimes skipped us because of where we sat in the dining room's outskirts. However, our server took excellent care of us. Fogo is definitely a special occasion restaurant, and I want to try them again.  

Out of five umbrellas (because Brazil is home to the largest rain forest in the world, the Amazon is roughly the size of the 48 contiguous United States, so you better have an umbrella when visiting it), five being best to zero being worst, Fogo De Chao gets 3.5 umbrellas. 

For more information about Fogo De Chao, head to their website by clicking here: https://fogodechao.com/

It’s a Rager at Pasta Party in Orange

                         

Pasta Party

124 E Lincoln Ave. 

Orange, CA 92865

As I get older, I enjoy quiet nights at home binge-watching TV series or listening to audiobooks, cooking dinner, and, of course, trying to catch up on my restaurant reviews. However, this restaurant blog would be impossible to maintain without going out, so some nights we forgo the couch and head out with friends and family to catch up and explore a new spot. This particular Friday evening, the restaurant of choice was Pasta Party. 

Just mentioning this restaurant's name instantly brings me joy. Who doesn't love pasta or celebrations? Some individuals might not enjoy either, but they must be rare exceptions. In 2021, Pasta Party took over the old Orange Tree Deli. It's situated at the corner of Glassell and Lincoln, in the same small shopping center that includes Orange Tree Liquor and Jumbo Donuts.  

The man who brought Pasta Party to life is Chef Alexsanodro Orlando. He grew up in restaurants because his father, Antonio, is a well-known chef who primarily worked in notable Italian restaurants. He spent a decade at the famous Valentino in Santa Monica before opening a series of successful Italian establishments. Most recently, he was at Il Gatto Trattoria in La Habra, which took over the old Cat and Custard Cup space, and it’s definitely a restaurant I need to try right away. 

Alright, back to Pasta Party, which can best be described as a build-your-own pasta restaurant. The format is fast-casual: You order at the counter, and your food is brought to your table. Chef Alexsandro uses the same recipes that his family made in Southern Italy. You choose the pasta you want, your preferred sauce, and any add-ons you like, such as meatballs, sausage, chicken, or shrimp. The base price starts at $15.99 and increases depending on your selected options. 

Not in the mood for pasta? What are you even doing here then? Kidding of course. They also have pizza, sandwiches, and salads. Don't want to make a lot of decisions about what kind of pasta you want? They have signature dishes that come as they are listed on the menu. We ordered and found a seat in their oddly shaped, but comfortable dining room, and waited only ten minutes or so for our food to arrive. Let's see if this party was a rager or a snoozefest, like all the parties I threw in high school. 

First up for us was the Chopped Salad ($15.99) and Garlic Bread ($4.99). The salads at Pasta Party are meant to feed 2 people, but we stretched it out a bit to feed four. Who needs a lot of salad when you have plenty of carbs coming, right? The chopped salad consists of salami, mortadella, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, finely chopped iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and a white balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was fine, and did the trick for us to give ourselves a good base while waiting for our entrees to appear. 

The garlic bread came to the table and my mom assumed wrongly that it was complimentary, and asked for some. After we explained that we paid for it, they still brought some out for her. Outstanding service here. They did not have to do that. The garlic bread was buttery, and the parmesan and garlic flavors came out in bursts. Looks wise, it reminded me of the frozen garlic bread we had as kids, but better. 

The build-your-own pasta starts at $15.99 and goes up depending on your desired add-ons. I got the Penne with Pink Sauce, Sausage, and Meatballs ($25.99). Yes, this was a little pricey for a plate of pasta, but I like my pasta to come with a lot of meat. The pasta was cooked well, not overdone, with a subtle chew. The pink sauce was creamy, and the meats were good, but I assume they are straight from the freezer, as I'm sure they are not making them here. The serving size of this was good, and if I had any willpower, I would have saved some for lunch the next day. 

Katie had the classic Penne Chicken Alfredo ($22.49). Their tomato basil sauce is the only sauce that does not incur an additional charge. Again, the serving size was plentiful, and the Alfredo sauce tasted rich. Katie liked the chicken-to-pasta ratio, and she claims she should have stopped midway through but ended up finishing it, too. I guess we are a perfect pair. 

My brother-in-law did not feel like having pasta, so he ordered the Sausage and Pepper 12-inch Sandwich ($18.99) instead. The sandwich was cut into three four-inch sections, and included bell pepper, onion, giardiniera, provolone, and chopped sausage. The bun was fresh and soft. From my vantage point across the table, they could have filled the sandwich more. I also would have liked the sausage to be left whole so you could get sausage in each bite. There were some pictures online where they leave the sausage whole, instead of chopped, so maybe it's just the chef's whim about how you get your sandwich.  

My mom selected the 12-inch Pepperoni Pizza ($16.69). This was a basic pizza. The pepperoni was sparsely added, but there appeared to be a good amount of cheese to compensate for the absence of pepperoni. This will not win many pizza contests, but if you do not want pasta, at least they have other options. 

My dad loves to try Pastrami Sandwiches ($13.49), but only after he inquires about the thickness of the slices. The thinner the slice, the better for him, so he must have been assured that the pastrami would be to his liking. This pastrami sandwich was dressed simply with Dijon mustard and pickles on the side. He seemed to like it well enough and finished the whole thing, which is rare for him. 

Okay, I liked Pasta Party but was not blown away by it. If you're looking for authentic Italian food, you might want to try another Italian restaurant. I enjoy the concept of building your own pasta dish, but once you add everything you want, it can be pretty pricey. The other items we had this evening were okay, and nothing special. Good food, but I would not classify this as a drive-worthy restaurant. That said, Pasta Party could be a good option if you are in the mood for pasta and are in the area. The staff were delightful, and seemed like they were genuinely happy we were here. They also have lovely backdrops in their dining room that would be perfect for social media types. I'm glad we made it up here to meet my family and leave the house for a change. 

Out of five steamboats (because the city of New Orleans, known for the steamboats on the Mississippi River, also plays host to the world's most enormous bowl of pasta every year before the St. Joseph's Day Parade, weighing 800 pounds of noodles, sauce, and cheese), five being best to zero being worst, Pasta Party gets 3 steamboats. 

For more information about Pasta Party, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.pastapartyusa.com/

A Lot of Eating to Do in San Diego

The Lot

2620 Truxtun Road

San Diego, CA 92106

People often ask me when we will visit San Diego for restaurant reviews. If you click on the interactive dining map link at the top left of this page, you'll see that it's a valid question. In the fifteen-plus years I've been writing this blog, I've only reviewed one restaurant in our nation's eighth-most populous city, which is just an hour and a half away from Orange County. It's a bit embarrassing. 

I know I would love San Diego's restaurant scene. They have all my favorites: California burritos, fish tacos, carne asada fries, excellent Italian food, breakfast burritos, and plenty of great burger options. That just scratches the surface, and I can't explain why we haven't visited America's Finest City to explore their culinary offerings. I can only promise that we will correct this oversight. Let's start with this review now. 

Like my other San Diego restaurant review, we met up with Katie's cousins in the area. After far too much back and forth via text messages, the difficult Yvette finally agreed to a restaurant I suggested. Although she initially said any restaurant would be fine, she began to impose parameters on my suggestions: the place needed to accept reservations, she changed the area where we had to eat, and then the number of people changed. I really feel for her husband Steve, who has the patience of a saint to put up with her. 

We finally settled on The Lot, located at Liberty Station. This former naval training center has been transformed into a commercial development featuring retail shops, hotels, art galleries, and restaurants. Liberty Public Market has been on my list of places to try since it opened nine years ago, but a food hall isn't suitable for dining with a party of eight. 

Honestly, the rest of Liberty Station's restaurant options did not really impress me. They have some chains we have back home, like Slater's 50/50, Oggi's, Luna Grill, and Tender Greens, and other establishments didn't seem like they would suit a group of eight with different tastes. The Lot took our reservation for eight people at 6:30 on a Friday night without any issues, and surprisingly, the rest of our group arrived right on time. 

The Lot combines a movie theater, bar, and full-service restaurant. They have four locations, including this one, with another at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. From what I understand, they rebranded all their restaurants late last year. They are now known as Zentrl Kitchen and Bar, a California-Asian fusion restaurant with a Mexican twist. I’m unsure if the food we tried is still available at their restaurant, but the menu we ordered from is available at the movie theater, so it all may come from the same kitchen. I've rambled longer than one of Yvette's lengthy stories, so let's check out the food. 

We were excited to meet Gabi's new man, Brennan, and he could not have been nicer when I shoved my phone in front of him to take a picture before his first bite of the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($23) he ordered. The menu states that this sandwich was dressed with cilantro mango coleslaw and roasted habanero BBQ sauce, all in a brioche bun. Since I had just met Brennan, it may have been too much too soon if I had asked him for a bite. He had no complaints I could hear, but he was primarily focused on Gabi as it should be. 

Yvette was very proud to show off her Tuna Poke Bowl ($23) and we were all excited when it got to the table as well, because that would mean that she would be busy eating it, and it would give one of the other seven of us a chance to speak. This good-looking bowl came with a big mound of sticky rice in the center, then cubed tuna, cucumbers, sliced avocado, seaweed salad, and cherry tomatoes surrounding the rice. This did not seem like it would be served at a movie theater. The poke was dressed well and the ingredients were all very fresh. Two thumbs up from Yvette. 

I'm unsure who got these Ahi Poke Nachos ($23), as I hurried around the table snapping pictures before eating my meal. A bed of wonton chips was topped with yellowfin tuna, green onions, avocado, pickled red onions, and furikake seasoning then drizzled with a cilantro sriracha aioli. This looked good in the picture, but upon closer inspection, they appeared stingy with the amount of tuna on here. I zoomed in and could only see twelve small pieces, unless they hid underneath the wonton chips. The tuna poke bowl might be the better value, as they cost the same.  

The night's least impressive-looking item was The Lot Chicken Tenders ($20). These came five to an order and were served with french fries. They were straight from the freezer but were good sized and served their purpose. The fries were okay, but could have been crisper. 

Katie is always a wildcard regarding what she will order when we are out to eat. I've been with her for 16 years, and this might be the first time I've seen her get a Chopped Turkey Cobb ($22). This take on a Cobb salad had just what you'd expect: blue cheese crumbles, avocado, cubed turkey, crumbled bacon, hard-boiled egg, cucumber, lettuce mix, and a champagne vinaigrette to tie everything together. This was also supposed to have tomatoes, but Katie opted to have them removed. She felt this salad looked better than it actually was. She questioned the freshness of the lettuce, and was not too thrilled with the bland vinaigrette dressing. She'd get something else next time. 

My dining partners were all over the place with what they chose for dinner this evening. These Pretzel Bites ($16) were a hit on the other side of the table. The pretzel balls were salted and served with a jalapeno nacho cheese dip. 

A salad or appetizer would not quell my hunger after our drive down here, so I selected the Lot Burger to satisfy my hunger. This good-looking burger included lettuce, tomato, onion, secret sauce, and cheese on a glossy brioche bun. The menu called for American cheese to be included here, but I chose cheddar instead. The burger was good, but not in the upper echelon of burgers I've had. They need more seasoning and secret sauce included here. The produce was relatively fresh, and I was happy they used leaf lettuce, instead of the usual humdrum iceberg most places use. This burger would have also been better if I had gotten some bacon, it would have woken up my taste buds. 

Okay, so this is not a great representation of the food scene in San Diego, but it was good for movie theater food. Not that I've ever eaten anything other than popcorn or candy at the movies before this. It was way more appetizing than those hot dogs that rotated around at the concession stand when I was growing up. The food was restaurant quality, but what we had this evening would never be described as craveable. We did experience some outstanding hospitality, as our server was right on top of everything we needed during our visit. I promise we will return to San Diego in the future, as I know I have a lot of eating to do in this scenic city to our south. 

Out of five roller coasters (because San Diego is home to the Giant Dipper, a 100-year-old wooden roller coaster at Belmont Park in Mission Beach), five being best to zero being worst, gets 2.5 roller coasters. 

For more information about The Lot, check out their website by clicking here: https://www.thelotent.com/movie-theater/libertystation

Filling Our Pie Holes in Los Alamitos

 Gourmet Pie and Cafe

5350 Katella Ave. 

Los Alamitos, CA 90720

Fresh off our brisk pace of one hour and three minutes in our latest 5K race along the beautiful coastline of Long Beach, we needed a place to refuel before going home and taking a much deserved nap. A quick search of Yelp brought us to Gourmet Pie and Cafe in nearby Los Alamitos. 

Gourmet Pie and Cafe's story started in nearby Cypress in 1984. It was founded by Tony, Ruthie, and their son, Mike Richards. Back then they were primarily a bakery, but they slowly added some of their family's favorite meals to their menu. In 2004, they relocated to their present spot on Katella Avenue, across from Costco. 

When walking into Gourmet Pie, Bar 29 is off to the left, and the name refers to the temperature at which they serve their beer. The bakery case is right behind the hostess stand, and features an assortment of pies, cakes, and cookies. We chose to sit in the dining room, with booths lining the walls and traditional tables in the center. I was surprised that we did not have to wait for a table at 9am on a Sunday morning, but this restaurant is bigger than it appears from the outside. 

Breakfast is served until 2pm at Gourmet Pie and Cafe. The menu here is relatively large, with very few surprises to anyone who has eaten in a coffee shop. The menu includes omelets, egg dishes, house specialties, French toasts, waffles, Mexican breakfast items, and pancakes. As of this writing, nothing on their breakfast menu has surpassed the $20 mark, but with egg prices skyrocketing, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before they reach that threshold. Let's see what we ordered to celebrate another 5K in the books. 

I'm a sucker for breakfast items with the most ingredients included in them. The Mexi-Mess Potatoes ($14.40) fit that criteria rather nicely. This starts with a base of bacon and potatoes sauteed with green chili, cheese, onions, and mushrooms, then topped with salsa, two eggs, avocado, and sour cream. See, lots of things going on here. The serving size was larger than most places, and they were not stingy with the bacon and cheese included here. I would have liked the potatoes to be a little crisper to give this a little diversity when it comes to texture. Even though I was famished when I sat down, I took half of this home and had it for lunch the next day. Still good.   

After drinking almost a gallon of liquids after sitting down, Katie was ready for something with more substance. She chose the Spinach, Avocado, and Mushroom Omelet ($15.40). I'm guessing by the size that it was a three egg omelet. Katie enjoyed this omelet, which was not overstuffed with cheese, so it allowed the veggies to be the star of the show here. She also ordered a Side of Bacon ($4.95), which she crumbled onto her plate. I was lucky enough to get an extra strip for my meal also. You can never have enough bacon is my mantra. She also got rye bread with her meal. 

A place called the Gourmet Pie and Cafe, and we did not get pie? Yeah, I opted to order the Cinnamon Roll ($3.35) for here and the Chocolate Chip Cookie ($1.95) on the way out for later. The cinnamon roll was nicely done with plenty of sugary icing on top and a good amount of cinnamon inside the folds of the roll. This brought back memories of the Hostess cinnamon rolls I had as a kid before school. I loved those things. This one was bigger and better though. The cookie was a letdown though. As you can see from the picture, chocolate chips were seriously lacking. A few were on the bottom, but this was a boring chocolate chip cookie. 

Gourmet Pie and Cafe was a good breakfast option in this area. I would not classify this as destination dining, as I don't foresee us traveling all the way from South OC to eat breakfast here, but if we were in the area, I wouldn't mind returning to try more of their breakfast options. Our server was pleasant, and it seemed like she'd been here for quite a while, as she knew many of the customers that populated the dining room. Thanks, Gourmet Pie and Cafe, for nourishing us enough so we could get home and recuperate from our grueling 5K. 

Out of five rodeo clowns (because across the street from this restaurant is the Los Alamitos Race Course, which features quarter horses, which are also a popular breed on the rodeo circuit as well), five being best to zero being worst, Gourmet Pie and Cafe gets 3 rodeo clowns. 

For more information about Gourmet Pie and Cafe, head to their website by clicking here: https://gourmetpieandcafe.com/