Best Restaurants of 2020

Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said about the year that we just went through together? It's been said way too many times that 2020 has been the most challenging year. The year started off normal but spiraled in March. Mask wearing, hoarding, political strife, hand sanitizer, covid, vaccines, and social distancing became part of our vernacular for the last nine months of the year, and probably well into next year.  

It's an understatement to say that this year has been extremely difficult for the restaurant industry. An industry that I have such an affinity for, one that I've written about on this blog for the last 11 years. It's been a roller coaster ride for the servers, kitchen staff, bussers, owners, management, suppliers, and anyone else who makes their living in restaurants. With the shutdowns, the pivoting to outdoor dining, and then to-go orders, restaurants have had to adapt on the fly, all the while trying to keep up with all of their bills. It's become not just a matter of making a profit, but just surviving. 

Unfortunately, with everything I've read, the prognosis for restaurants is not good. Massive closures of restaurants have already taken place, and others will follow in the coming months. It was already a tough business, but now with months of only making it by on takeout orders and a limited number of customers allowed on the premises, restaurants are facing a tough uphill battle just to get by. 

That's the reason I have continued to write this restaurant review site. I feel it's essential to promote places and let you and everyone else know that local spots are still operating and serving our local communities. Restaurants have sponsored your kid's schools and youth programs all these years, and now it's time to return the favor. Also, as you will see when you scroll down, this might be the most impressive group of restaurants that I have had the pleasure to eat at and write about in any of the 11 years of this blog. Very impressive spots.  

Yes, indeed, I have only reviewed 47 restaurants this year, far below what I've been averaging the last several years, and there are a few reasons for this. First, since I work in a supermarket, and while the restaurants were shut down, we were very busy and it made for some very long days, and that curtailed my writing. We also tried to limit our time out, eating more meals at home, finally unwrapping some of the kitchen stuff we got at our wedding... five years ago. 

So here's to a better 2021. May things get back to a semi-normal state as soon as humanly possible. As usual, I'd like to thank all of you who have faithfully read this blog, or at least looked at the pictures. I'd also like to thank all my social media followers, who put up with me not updating things quite as often as I would have liked. My appreciation also goes out to restaurant workers, who have sacrificed their health to ensure that we have places to eat. You guys are true heroes. I'd also be remiss not to mention my partner in crime, my forever dining companion, Katie, who I know was a little uneasy when we ate out at times this year, but was a trooper as we stayed safe during these turbulent times. You are the best. 

So without further ado, here are my top ten restaurants of 2020. 

#10 Gonzalez's Restaurant - Orange

This is the only Mexican spot to land on my top ten list this year. I loved the family feel of this restaurant that is tucked into the back of a nondescript shopping center off of busy Chapman Avenue. The food was pretty stellar, and this was my first introduction to an alambre, and it won't be my last. 

#9 Ahba - Laguna Beach

This is another blink and you'll miss this place. Located in South Laguna, far from the hustle and bustle of the busy downtown area, we had a great brunch during our visit. It was excellent, but I am yearning for their delicious looking burger that I've seen online. Going back very soon. 

#8 Da Hawaiian Kitchen - Huntington Beach

I feel like Hawaiian cuisine is kind of having its moment in OC right now. There used to be only a handful of spots to get your island fix, but recently some very good spots have set up shop in OC. This place is not new, but it's definitely a standout. Loved their poke and mixed plate, along with an excellent rendition of potato mac salad. 

 

#7 The Ramos House Cafe - San Juan Capistrano

Katie and I are not big Valentine's Day people, but this year we snuck out for brunch at this South OC favorite. Yes, it was a Prix-fixed menu, but very impressive egg dishes, which had us clamoring for more. Situated on the oldest street in California, a visit to Ramos House is like a little mini-vacay. 

#6 Hammer Burger - Orange

Smashed burgers are pretty popular right now, and the best burger I had this year was this one. They were doing pop-up events in front of their house in Orange for a time, but now they have a steady gig working out of the Heritage Barbecue spot in San Juan Capistrano on Sundays. More on Heritage in a bit. 

#5 Cluck Kitchen - Irvine

It seems like almost every time I turned on my computer there was another hot chicken place opening up. The best I had this year was this one, which comes to us from the guys that started the very good burger restaurant The Cut. The chicken here is juicy, had an excellent heat to it, and the fried pickles and potato salad were fantastic as well. I was also a fan of all of their housemade sauces. 

#4 Oliver's Osteria - Laguna Beach

Our visit to Oliver's could not have started any worse. Being sat an hour after our reservation time and then having to change tables because they sat our party of four at a table that was meant to seat two snuggly. The food that made its way out of the kitchen and to our table more than made up for the first impression that we had here. This is the most authentic Italian food in OC by a long shot. As the Italians would say, ottimo cibo!

#3 Oliboli Donuts - Tustin

My love for donuts is well known. I've driven at least an hour to try what people consider a great donut. Luckily, this place is less than 20 minutes away from most points in OC. These are easily the best donuts available in OC and they always rotate new and delicious flavors to keep things fresh.

#2 Porch and Swing - Irvine

Not sure what Charleston, South Carolina food entails? It doesn't really matter because all you really have to know is that whatever you order here, it's going to be delicious and well-executed. You can count us as big fans of Chef Justin Werner and his impressive resume. OC is lucky to have him right in our own backyard. 

#1 Heritage Barbecue - San Juan Capistrano

As if there was going to be any doubt which spot was going to be number one this year. For years I've lamented the fact that there wasn't a great barbecue place in OC. That all changed when Heritage came on the scene in San Juan Capistrano. I waited for two hours for my first taste, and it was definitely worth it. Go during the weekdays for shorter wait times, and they also offer curbside service to eliminate the line altogether. You'll never be able to go back to mediocre Lucille's ever again. 

So there's my list for the best restaurants of 2020. I'd have to say that even though it was a crazy year, this group of restaurants might be the best year-end list I have put together in the life of this blog. Thanks again for reading, and I hope you and yours have a great new year. 

 

Hiho Hiho up the Coast We Go

Hiho Cheeseburger

1320 2nd Street Suite B

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Katie and I were breaking free. She took a vacation day on a Friday, I had been off all week. We were flying the coop. Getting out of dodge. Breaking free of the shackles of our normal routine. For the first time in what seemed like forever, we were taking some time for ourselves. 

I had booked a hotel by the beach in Ventura, so it was natural that we'd stop somewhere in LA to get lunch on the way up. When we are going to be eating in LA, my go-to guide is always Eater LA, and more specifically, their map section. I was definitely feeling like a great burger, so I used the 19 Essential Los Angeles Burgers Map to narrow my search. I had a handful of places to choose from that were close in proximity to the 405 Freeway. I decided we'd give Hiho Cheeseburger a try. 

Hiho is situated on 2nd Street, right next door to their sister restaurant Uovo on one side, a casual pasta place, and Mediterranian favorite, Cava on the other. From what I can gather Hiho Cheeseburger started out in Ojai some time ago, and then that location closed. They moved farther south to Santa Monica in 2017, then opened another location in Mid-Wilshire late last year. 

In that time they have garnered tons of awards. They were deemed the winner in LA Magazine's Burger Bracket in 2018 and again the next year, they were a people's choice winner in the LA Times, named an essential burger by Eater LA, and they own a four and a half star rating on Yelp, with close to 900 reviews. Pretty impressive stuff for a spot that's been open for just three years. 

What makes Hiho special? They're the only restaurant that exclusively uses 100% grass-fed wagyu from New Zealand for their burgers. They add only salt and pepper to it and let the beef, cheese, and ketchup speak for itself. They hand-cut their potatoes for their fries. Buns are baked daily with locally milled flour and zero preservatives. Lastly, their pies are made from scratch every day. This all must be working as they have had great success in such a short time. 

We arrived here at just after 1pm on an overcast Friday in late October. Ordering was done inside the restaurant in an orderly fashion. The menu at Hiho is pretty easy to navigate. They have three burgers to choose from, fries, a caesar salad, a kid's grilled cheese, and a trio of desserts.  After ordering, we were given a pager as we went to get a table outside. Not sure if they are still doing outdoor dining here, but they were back in October, and it allowed for some great people watching as we awaited our food. After about ten minutes our food was ready. Let's see if this truly is one of the better burgers in LA. 

I'll share my meal first. I went with the Triple Hiho Cheeseburger ($10.95). This half-pound burger came mustard grilled and dressed with two slices of cheese, ketchup, lettuce, onion jam, and pickles. After my first bite, I knew this was a very special burger. The bun was fresh and had a nice crunch along its outer ring due to a short amount of time on the flattop. The beef patties were juicy and rich, but not greasy. Obviously a high-quality beef. The cheese was melted perfectly over the beef. They could have been a little more heavy-handed when it came to applying the condiments, but maybe that helped to showcase the beef and cheese. 

The hand-cut, twice-fried French Fries ($3.95) are not overshadowed by the burger. These fires were addictive. A great crunch to them because of being twice-fried, while being soft and pillowy on the inside. Every one a practically perfect french fry. Other restaurants should study what they do here and copy it. 

Yes, I know. It's not the most appetizing thing you have ever looked at, but there's a good reason why Katie got this Lettuce Wrapped Hiho Double Cheeseburger ($7.95). She's been on a program to help reverse her type 2 diabetes. After just a few short months, I'm happy to say she is doing great and taking only a quarter of the insulin that she was in July. I'm really proud of her and am in awe of her willpower, especially when my burger and fries were so stellar. Even though she had no bun, she was completely satisfied with her experience at Hiho Cheeseburger. She claimed that her burger was extremely juicy and that the onion jam was a great compliment to the beef and cheese.  

I had heard good things about the pies at Hiho Cheeseburger, and with my banana cravings growing by the day, I had to finish up my meal with a slice of their Banana Cream Pie ($7.00). This well-crafted pie was full of sliced bananas with a fluffy layer of cream topping it. This is not an overly sweet pie. It relies on the natural sweetness of the bananas to sweeten up each bite. I admit I was not overly in love with this slice, as I like my desserts to be a bit more sugary. This did have a good crust though, which was not soggy in the least.  

Hiho Cheeseburger definitely has its place alongside the great burgers of LA. It seems that anytime you make a statement like this, people always wonder if a place is better than In-N-Out, which seems to be the gold standard for almost everyone in LA, (not in my opinion, but that's a post for another day). Even though burgers have different price points, options, and varying quality of sides, what should really matter is how a burger tastes. After my first bite of my burger here, I knew this was in the upper echelon of burgers I've had in Southern California. Add in the hard to stop at just one french fries, and this is a place I would definitely visit again and again. Hiho Cheeseburger proved that Eater LA knows what they are talking about, and it was an excellent place to get some nourishment for the rest of our drive up the coast. 

Out of five baskets of cherries, (because the name of this restaurant brought to mind the board game Hi-Ho Cherry-O, which had players try to collect cherries in their baskets, yes, a simpler time), five being best to zero being worst, Hiho Cheeseburger gets 4 baskets of cherries. 

For more information on Hiho Cheeseburger, head to their website here: https://www.hiho.la/

Starting off Vacation at El Durango Grill - CLOSED

El Durango Grill

730 East Imperial Highway 

Brea, CA 92821

For those of you that are unaware, my real job, the one that makes me just enough money to eat at all of these restaurants, is working in a grocery store. I'm probably one of the few people that you will meet that is still working at their job they had while in high school. Yes, that's right, 32 years and counting at the same place. The end is near, as I think I have about 3 more years left in me before I can retire and head off to my next chapter. 

I bring this up because this is the time of year that really drains me. Holiday time in a supermarket is not a fun place. You can see people's eyes glaze over when they are deciding what kind of butter to buy, they forget basic things like nonfat and fat-free means the same thing, and they are so rushed for time that common courtesy goes out the window. So, as we approach the last couple of months of the year, I try to sneak in a vacation, and that's why I was meeting my mom and dad on a recent early afternoon at El Durango Grill in Brea. 

El Durango Grill came across my radar after reading an article from Brad A. Johnson in the Orange County Register a year and a half ago. As I faintly recall, he was very high on their carne asada, calling it one of the best around. I'm not usually one to order carne asada, as I prefer pork, but I was pretty impressed because Brad is a pretty tough critic. 

I arrived at the restaurant right at 11am, and true to form, my parents were way ahead of me patiently waiting. El Durango Grill is Brea Mall adjacent, as it's just past it if you are coming from the 57 Freeway on the left side of Imperial Highway. There's a 99 Cents Only Store, Fitness 19, and a Lamps Plus in this center if that helps you out a bit. 

This is an order at the counter place with a pretty good-sized menu. Their offerings include a good number of burritos, tacos, tortas, quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas, and breakfast items, which are served all day long. Almost everything here is in the single-digit range, except for a couple of entrees and a lobster burrito. They have moved some tables outside into their parking lot during these challenging times. Good thing too, since they had a very steady stream of people throughout our visit coming here on their lunch breaks. I was excited to find out if it was the great food that brought everyone to El Durango Grill. 

Since it was Tuesday, it was logical that my parents would take advantage of the Taco Tuesday specials that they have here all day long at El Durango Grill. My mom went with the Carnitas Taco ($1.50), while my dad had the Adobada ($1.50), Chile Verde ($1.50), and the Chicken ($1.50). They seemed pretty happy with their $6 lunch. My mom liked the carnitas and was impressed with the amount of pork that they included in the corn tortilla. My dad liked the chile verde and adobada tacos the best, while he thought the chicken was nothing to write home about. Not sure why he's still writing letters in the digital age, but to each his own. 

The taco train kept on chugging away with my three selections. I selected the Carnitas ($1.50), Asada ($2.75), and the Chicken Taco ($1.50). I'm not sure why mine came with salsa and chips on a real plate, while my parent's tacos came out on a paper plate without any chips and salsa. They probably just liked me better. The asada was as advertised, as it was the best of the bunch. Moist and tender, dressed simply with a sprinkling of onion and cilantro. I usually find asada to be a bit bland, but this version wasn't. The chicken taco was fine, but the tortilla on this one did not stand a chance as it ripped apart as I picked it up. I ended up just eating the insides of it with my fork. The carnitas was the weakest link here, as it was bland and dry. The salsa did end up helping though.  

Man can not live by tacos alone, or maybe they can, and I was just ravenous during this lunch. When I saw this Frontera Burrito ($11.99) online, I knew that I was going to have to give it a whirl, as it was one of the most photogenic burritos I have seen recently. A homage to the Mexican flag, the insides of this burrito was steak, onions, and peppers. It was fajita-style, wrapped in a tortilla. The steak was good, but as is the reason I avoid fajitas in most places, they used too many onions and peppers and the meat did not shine through. I was also a little disappointed with the size of the burrito for the price. It was a little on the small size, as I was expecting a bigger version. I'd save the three dollars and just get the regular steak burrito on my next visit.  

My parents did also get this Chicken Taquito ($1.50) to round out their meal at El Durango Grill. This was not a frozen then fried taquito you get at a lot of places. It was hand-rolled, filled with plenty of chicken, and then fried. Nicely done. I'm getting their beef taquitos next time. 

A few hiccups at El Durango Grill for me, but for the most part, this is a solid Mexican spot alongside busy Imperial Highway. Their Taco Tuesday deals are pretty stellar, and they do not skimp on the meat like you see at a lot of other Taco Tuesday spots. There's much more I'd like to try on return visits, like their alambre taco, adobada quesadilla, and chilaquiles. If I lived in the area this place would definitely be in my rotation of restaurants I'd return to on a fairly consistent basis. This was a good place to start off my vacation of eating, catching up on things around the house, and getting ready for the busy holiday season. 

Out of five scorpions, (because the state of Durango in Mexico is famous for their abundance of these dangerous arachnids), five being best to zero being worst, El Durango Grill gets 3 scorpions. 

El Durango Grill does not have a website, so click here to visit their Yelp page for more information: https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-durango-grill-brea

Swinging by for Some Carolina Vibes - CLOSED

Porch and Swing

2010 Main Street Suite #170

Irvine, CA 92614

When I first met Katie's family back in 2009, I have to admit I was not in love with their restaurant choices. They'd head to Mimi's Cafe, Cedar Creek, El Ranchito, and Coco's on a reasonably consistent rotation when Papa was in town —not exactly top-notch spots. I always found things to eat at these restaurants, but I knew there was better out there. 

I might have been the one to gently push them to expand their culinary horizons, but the real catalyst for better restaurant experiences was Katie's mom, Lynn. She became enamored with food and restaurant programs on TV. As Netflix became more popular in the later years of the last decade, she became entranced by immersing herself in Chef's Table, The Great British Baking Show, Salt Fat Acid Heat, Ugly Delicious, and others. 

Seeing these shows and the creativity that the chefs possessed got her to expand her restaurant repertoire by trying new places she read about in magazines, newspapers, and, of course, her son-in-law's fantastic restaurant blog. When I mentioned Porch and Swing as a possible dining option for a long-overdue meet-up with her and her cantankerous husband, Dennis, she could not say yes quickly enough. 

It was a slam dunk, especially after I mentioned Chef Justin Werner's impressive resume. He won Chopped on Food Network, worked at Noma, the Copenhagen spot called the best restaurant in the world, spent significant time at high-end restaurants in New York, and then moved to OC to work for Jason Quinn at Playground DTSA for the last four years.  

Venturing out on his own now, Porch and Swing is his tribute to the cuisine of Charleston, South Carolina. This city borders the Atlantic, so it's a mixture of seafood and soul food. Chef Justin highlights this cuisine with the highest-quality ingredients, a seasonal menu that changes quite often, and a relaxed and cozy atmosphere at his restaurant. 

Burger lovers will remember this space as the old Mick's Karma Bar at the Irvine Concourse Office Towers. It has been expanded a bit, with a lovely patio for al fresco dining, which is about 300 days per year in OC when the weather permits. 

The inside has been very open since they were serving hamburgers here. The ceiling has been raised, the walls painted white, and a 12-seat bar in the corner conveys a very open and airy space. The one-page menu is divided into four parts: a bread section, then salads and starters, an eight-pack of entrees to select from, and a trio of sides to finish things. Instead of writing about the menu, let's look at what we had this evening. 

Since I was eating with three people in keto life, I was surprised when Lynn suggested we start with this Skillet Cornbread ($10). This skillet came out scalding hot, with a dollop of spiked honey butter melting rapidly atop the cornbread. I'm not positive what it was spiked with, but it added just the right amount of muted sweetness to each bite of the cornbread. My first bite was okay, but as I ate this, I warmed to it. It's not a sweet cornbread, but I liked the dense texture of it. 

Lynn called the shots this evening as she jumped to try these Suncoast Farm Figs ($16). The fresh figs included creamy goat cheese, pistachio pieces, and a gastrique. I'll admit I'm not much into figs or goat cheese, but I found myself coming back for my fair share of forkfuls. The figs were fine, but what made this for me was how the other ingredients enhanced them. You get the earthy feel from the pistachio, the creaminess of the goat cheese, and the sweet and savory from the gastrique. It became a winning combination. 

Katie will lead us in the first of our four entrees this evening. Even though she requested that the Imperial Farms Wagyu Flank Steak ($36) be cooked well, it was actually edible, which is not always the case in some restaurants. Maybe someday she will venture into having her proteins cooked in the medium range. The steak had a good crust on the outside, while the inside was juicy, even though it was well done. It made me think that if they could make this well-done piece of meat taste this good, their medium rare flank steak has to be out of this world. This came paired with some crispy kale with shallots strewn on top. This kale was much to Katie's liking.  

It's always a crapshoot about what Dennis will have for dinner when we go out. His tastes run the gamut from soup for dinner to a big entree. He again surprised me this evening by going for the Seared Scallops ($27). These three scallops were perched above a very tasty corn puree. The scallops were done perfectly, with a wonderful tenderness to them. The whole plate did not last long, as Dennis enjoyed it very much. 

The Braised and Glazed Short Rib ($26) is what made an appearance in front of Lynn. As is the case with everything we had from the entree portion of the menu, it was plated in a sauce, puree, or, as you will see in my upcoming meal, grits. The puree was composed of sweet potato and brown butter for the short rib. It featured a tinge of sweetness, which helped counteract the slight savoriness of the fork-tender short rib. I liked the give and take of the bite that Lynn allowed me to have. The flavors were vying for my attention. A very well-crafted plate. 

Not every day do you see Roasted Pork Jowl ($26) on a menu. Hopefully, that will change after this stellar plate. The pork was juicy and tender, with all the bites resembling the moistest bite of carnitas you've ever encountered. The richness was broken up by adding a surprisingly spicy pepper jam. The grits were one of the best I've had in OC and paired nicely with the pork. Definitely, a meal that will keep you comfy on these colder winter evenings. 

Our last hurrah at Porch and Swing for the night was the Rice Pudding Cloud ($12). This simple dessert was created using one of the lightest rice puddings I have ever had, a sliced banana, and a salted caramel drizzle on top. The pudding was light and fluffy but not crazy sweet. The banana and the salted caramel provided the sweetness for this dessert. 

Porch and Swing impressed me and lived up to Chef Justin's impressive resume. The food was well executed, great ingredients were used, and the subtle ways he infused flavors into each plate were nicely done. The portion sizes will not overwhelm you at Porch and Swing, but the superior level of the meals and technique will make anyone who appreciates fine food happy that they came here for lunch or dinner. Service was first-rate, and they have a good-sized patio for people who are more at ease sitting outdoors. We had a wonderful conversation with Chef Justin at the end of our meal, where we got to talk about food and the restaurant industry. Also, we got a quick tutorial on all the microgreens he uses at the restaurant and how he uses them to infuse flavor into his dishes. Most importantly, we had the chance to witness my mother-in-law show her inner fangirl for chefs, as she was practically swooning by the end of our evening at Porch and Swing. 

Out of five birdies (because the first golf club in the United States was established in Charleston in 1787, the same year my father-in-law got his first and only birdie on a golf course), five being best to zero being worst, Porch and Swing get 4 birdies.  

For more information about Porch and Swing, head to their website here: https://www.porchandswing.com/ 

Another Hit for the Dynamic Duo?

Tavern House Kitchen and Bar

333 Bayside Dr. 

Newport Beach, CA 92660

In recent years I've made it a point to try new restaurants. Unfortunately, this was not always the case. So when I started this restaurant review site, I made it my policy to wait a year or so to try a place to ensure a restaurant had some staying power. I didn't want a long list of closed restaurants cluttering my blog. Then it dawned on me that you all might want to know if a newer place is worth spending your hard-earned money at. 

That's when I started paying closer attention to notable restaurant openings featured in the Orange County Register, OC Weekly, and especially Orange Coast magazine. In recent years I've tried to hit up as many of their best new restaurants as I've been able to. Last year I think I made it to six out of ten. With all the craziness of this year, this is my first visit to a restaurant on this year's list. 

Tavern House took over the long-time spot of 3-Thirty-3 Waterfront, which sits adjacent to Sol Cocina on PCH. They opened their doors in July last year and are brought to us by a pair of well-respected restauranteurs in OC, Gregg Soloman, and David Wilhelm. Between them, they are the creators of some of  OC's most iconic restaurants;  Bistro 201, Sorrento Grille, Kachina, French 75, and Jimmy's Famous American Tavern, to name a few. 

I had never been to 3-Thirty-3 before, but the renovation into Tavern House took only two weeks to complete, so I imagine this was more or less what the restaurant looked like. We had made reservations and requested to be sat near a window overlooking the tranquil waters of Newport Bay. The view was very comforting, as the bay's gentle waves lapped easily against the sides of the big yachts as the sun slid from view on the horizon. 

The inside vibe of Tavern House was a little more raucous as we arrived, just as the Sunday Funday crowd was shuffling out, but the Dodger game was just starting up. The game was being played on numerous TVs surrounding the bar, which is centrally located in the center of the restaurant. The dark woods are reminiscent of Jimmy's Famous Tavern, but with a much better view and lightened up a bit. 

The menu features many starters and share plates, with many featuring different seafood offerings. There are eight soup and salad selections, with most running in the $12 to $20 range. In addition, there are 13 of what I'd call big entree plates and five burger and sandwich options. Fans of Soloman's and Wilhelm's past restaurant ventures will see some of their old favorites on this menu. Let's see if we can add Tavern House to this dynamic duo's long list of hit restaurants. 

We started our culinary adventure at Tavern House with their BBQ Buffalo Style Meatballs ($17). Unfortunately, these ping-pong-sized orbs of meat were bathed in a way too sweet to be called buffalo-style sauce. The provided garlic ranch helped cut the sweetness, but I was expecting these to be a bit spicy, which they were not. Also, at $3.40 per meatball, I thought they should have at least been a little more tender.  

Our good friends Cynthis and Scott were joining us this evening, and Cynthia gave the New England Style Clam Chowder ($8) a try. This creamy chowder came with plenty of clams, potatoes, and a good amount of bacon which lent a smokiness to each bite. She was very excited by this version, as she considers herself an expert in all things clam chowder. 

Not only one of the most photogenic soups you will ever see but one of the tastiest you will have as well. As good as the clam chowder was, I could not see myself visiting Tavern House without getting their classic French 75 French Onion Soup ($12). This just exuded comfort food with each spoonful. The tangy, sweetened onions complimented the savory broth wonderfully, but the gruyere cheese blanketing the top layer of this was, of course, the show's star. Each bite was a pleasure, a little crispy on the edges and bubbly and creamy in the middle. It's hard for me to get too excited about soup, but this is one to shout about. 

Cynthia is pretty special to all of us, especially to her beaming husband, so it was very appropriate that she picked the fresh fish special this evening. This Sea Bass Special ($34)  came with a good-sized piece of sea bass in a butter sauce with sliced almonds and capers. The fish was cooked perfectly, with good flakiness to it. Rounding out the meal were some vegetables, most of which were french-cut green beans and mashed potatoes. 

Scott is a man of simpler tastes, as he quickly zeroed in on this Cowboy Burger ($21). This burger was heavy on condiments and toppings, including barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, green chile, strips of bacon, and fried onion strings. A definite upgrade to his usual Western Bacon Cheeseburger from Carl's Jr.  Scotty is a man of few words when it comes to anything but poker. Still, he called this burger above average, which translates to him being impressed with his meal selection. 

Katie has been doing the keto thing for the last five months, and I have to say that I'm very proud of her. She's cut her insulin intake to a quarter of what it was, and she's been feeling great. I was a little worried that she would be unable to find meals at the restaurants we visit, but that has not been the case. At Tavern House, she partook in the Chopped Salad with Chicken ($19). This bowl contained romaine lettuce, bacon, heirloom tomatoes, red onion, and a delicious blue cheese dressing. The six-dollar upcharge for the chicken was softened a bit with the amount of poultry she got and how it added some protein to her meal. She also got a side of Green Beans ($8). Unfortunately, these were kind of lackluster. The menu proclaims that they come with bacon and shallots, but their was so little bacon and no trace of a shallot anywhere on the plate, so this was a bit of a letdown. The beans were okay but could have been better.  

I decided to get something a little out of character this evening at Tavern House and went with the Pork Schnitzel ($28). This breaded pork tenderloin was topped with a buttery caper sauce. I would have liked a little more sauce, as this was fine, but it did not wow me. The breading on the pork had a good crunch, but the pork itself needed to be a bit more tender. This was served with a scoop of buttery mashed potatoes and an interesting cabbage braised with apples and bacon. I ended up liking both sides better than the pork.  

The grand finale for our foursome this evening was Trissa's Peanut Butter Pie ($9). This came highly recommended by our server. It featured an Oreo cookie crust, peanut butter mousse, a layer of chocolate, lots of caramel, and a dollop of whipped cream. The peanut butter mousse was spot on, light, and flavorful, but this needed a bit more chocolate for my tastes. I believe it would have been even better if they had used a chocolate drizzle instead of caramel.  

Tavern House had its ups and downs for me on this visit, but it was still a very solid spot for dinner. Their menu is diverse enough to satisfy even the pickiest of your friends. I really enjoyed the view and the ambiance, and as is the case with restaurants with lovely views, prices tend to be a bit on the higher side. The food was all a bit above average, except the french onion soup, which is a must-get. Our server, Lenora, who told us she had been with David Wilhelm for almost all of his restaurants, was warm and efficient in her duties, keeping our evening moving along and ensuring we were well taken care of. It feels like these two veteran restauranteurs have another hit on their hands. 

Out of five riverboats (because near this restaurant is where the famous Reuben E. Lee Riverboat Restaurant was located, which I never got a chance to eat at, but always wanted to), five being best to zero being worst, Tavern House receives a solid 3 riverboats. 

For more information about Tavern House, head to their website here: https://www.tavernhousekb.com/ 

Adding Moe's to Our Lunchtime Routine?

 Moe's Deli

23052 Lake Forest Drive

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Since I'm always talking about food, giving restaurant recommendations, and giving my opinion about what restaurants I like and ones that I don't, it's not surprising that I have become the food guy at work. When someone is going somewhere on vacation, it's my job to give restaurant recommendations. Someone needs a special occasion spot, it's me to the rescue. I don't really mind because it gives me a chance to talk about and research restaurants, something that I really enjoy doing, and it also gives me a chance to stop working, something that I'm not too fond of. 

My restaurant obsession has also made me the guy to pick a place for lunch. With nearly 260 workdays a year, our heavy rotation of places we eat at can make our midday reprieve from our work seem humdrum. So, I'm always on the lookout for something new to breathe new life into our dreary life as supermarket workers. That means checking out Yelp, which helped me find Moe's Deli. 

As with any place we try for lunch, I like to visit a restaurant solo for the first time, to see if it's any good. Moe's gets a perfect 5 stars on Yelp, with close to 300 reviews. Pretty impressive. A potential lunch spot also must have a good diversity to their menu for our usually hard to please 4 person lunch brigade, and most importantly, it must be close enough that we can get to it, eat, and get back before our hour is up and we have to get back to the rest of our glorious day, (yes, you are right to detect the sarcasm there). 

Moe's Deli had enough variety for all of us. They boast 24 sandwiches on their menu, an eight pack of salads to pick from, and a build your own sandwich section, just in case you are not feeling any of their regular sandwich offerings. All sandwiches come in either an 8-inch size or a footlong version. The extra four inches will cost you $2 more, which makes that choice pretty easy for me. 

Ordering could not have been easier. You could call in, but I'd suggest that you take advantage of their easy online ordering option. Their website was extremely easy to navigate, and a lot easier than ordering sandwiches over the phone with all of the options you can add and subtract on each sandwich. Yes, my friends at work are very picky. There was also a 10 percent discount for first-time customers. A very nice touch. Let's see if this dry run at Moe's Deli will make us want to add them to our rotation of places we frequent during the workweek. 

The most popular sandwich online at Moe's is their Hot Pastrami Sandwich ($10.25) and for good reason. This was a very good pastrami sandwich. They use navel black pastrami, which was lean and flavored well. The rest of the sandwich was made up of swiss cheese, sauteed onion, mustard, pickles, and a touch of mayo. I'm not the biggest fan of mayo and pastrami, but it worked on this one, maybe because they used it sparingly. The bread was pliable and had a good chew to it. I'd probably ask for double meat next time, but that's the only thing I'd change about this sandwich. 

Since I was doing a reconnaissance mission for my friends at work, I had to try another sandwich, so I went with one of my favorite sandwiches, the Philly Chz Steak ($10.50). Moe's Deli makes there's with a house cream cheese aioli, sauteed onions and peppers, and double provolone. This was a very mellow cheesesteak. The meat was fine, but this sandwich was missing something. The onions and peppers really didn't represent here. I'd maybe add jalapenos next time to liven things up. Not bad, but there's better cheesesteaks out there. 

I have a Broccoli Cheese Soup ($3.00) addiction, so when I saw that they offer it, I had to give it a try. How can I put this politely? It was not very good at all. Very watery, no substance to it, and I'm not even sure that there was any cheese present in this cup. It sure didn't taste like it. To be fair, I'm pretty sure that they are not making their 5 soups on the premises, but maybe they should think about switching soup vendors, and if they do make their soups in house, don't forget the cheese and broccoli next time. 

Even though the soup was a real bummer, the sandwiches at Moes Deli definitely warrant repeat visits. I'd like to try their meatball, Italian, and french dip on upcoming trips. I felt the prices here are more than fair, the ordering process was easy, and the sandwiches were ready at the time they were promised. Moe's Deli will definitely make it into our lunch rotation. 

Out of five bar stools, (because when I hear the name Moe, it always makes me think of Moe from the Simpson's, who runs Moe's Tavern), five being best to zero being worst, Moe's Deli gets 3 bar stools. 

For more information about Moe's Deli, head to their website by clicking here: https://moesdelioc.com/