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/

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/

Birthday Lunch at Nep Cafe

 Nep Cafe

14346 Culver Drive 

Irvine, CA 92604

I feel like I'm in a game of Whac-A-Mole. Whenever I feel like I have a handle on the restaurants that Kei Concepts has going on, they open up another restaurant or concept. After looking at their website, they list ten restaurants, one of which has closed (GEM Dining) and one coming soon, QUA, which is seafood-focused. It's like that old arcade game where you must hit a mole with a hammer, but they just keep coming. 

It was my birthday. My good friend David and I have the tradition of treating each other on birthdays. Since I'm the restaurant guy, he usually lets me pick the restaurant. I was surprised he chose Nep Cafe in Irvine for me this time. Yes, it's another Kei Concepts place and one that I had never been to until now. 

Unlike other Kei Concept restaurants, Nep Cafe is not really a fusion restaurant. According to its website, it serves modern Vietnamese cuisine, blending traditional flavors with contemporary culinary techniques. This must resonate with many people because this is the restaurant's second location, the other being in Fountain Valley. In just 18 months, it has a very impressive 4.5-star rating on Yelp, with over 1,300 reviews and counting. I was intrigued, even though I have really enjoyed all of their restaurants. 

I met David at Nep Cafe on a Wednesday at 3pm. For those unaware of where this is, it's in the Heritage Plaza shopping plaza, which is always jammed with cars, no matter what time you visit. No wonder since it butts right up to the 5 Freeway and has numerous dining options, like Baekjeong Korean Barbecue, Buffalo Wild Wings, Boiling Point, Spicay City, Habit Burger, and Sup Noodle Bar, which is a sister restaurant to Nep Cafe. 

There are two menus at Nep Cafe. The brunch menu is offered seven days a week from opening to 5pm, and then it's the dinner menu only after that. There's some overlap between the two,  but the dinner entrees jump anywhere from $29 to $65 for the ribeye. Brunch is more modestly priced, with the ribeye only going for $39, and everything else is right around the $20 price point. The brunch menu includes bowls, rice and noodle dishes, and appetizers. There's also a wide selection of coffees, cocktails, beer, wine, and matcha drinks. Let's see if Nep Cafe is another hit for Kei Concepts. 

I looked at the online menu and could not find this Fried Chicken ($10). I believe this has been replaced by chicken wings. Anyway, I really enjoyed this version of fried chicken, which used thigh meat seasoned with five-spice seasonings and a very pleasant spicy mayo for dipping. The chicken lacked the greasiness that almost always goes hand in hand with fried chicken. I'm hoping this comes back on the menu in the future. 

The early leader for the most photogenic plate I've had this year is this Filet Mignon Banh Mi Chao ($25), which is almost impossible to snap a bad picture of. I learned that the name of this translates to "bread with combo pan."  This is a very apt description of what this is. In the pan is some cubed filet in a black pepper sauce, two eggs, tomatoes, pork roll, onions, and some pate served with a rather large loaf of bread. With so many ingredients, I thought they might cancel each other out, but that was not the case. Each had its moment. The steak was tender, and the black pepper sauce was a nice compliment. I also felt I would miss a base like rice, but the sunny-side-up eggs kind of worked as a substitute for a base. I was unsure if I would need so much bread, but I used it by sopping up the remnants of the skillet at the end of my meal. 

David got Chicken Fried Rice ($17), which is not on the Nep Cafe menu. They do offer fried rice, but only with beef tongue or shrimp. This came with a fried egg on top and soy and aji sauce on the side. The portion size seemed a little on the meager side to me, but David did not seem to mind. I also did not mind when David did not utilize his aji sauce, which I used with the remaining chicken. 

Nep Cafe was good, and it reminded me of what I had at their sister restaurant, Vox Kitchen, a while back. I enjoyed what I had here, but with such a limited menu, I'd be afraid I'd tire of having the same things repeatedly on frequent return visits. My burnout would also be inevitable because all of their items are similar, but at least the execution is there, as everything here is made to a high standard. Nep Cafe is a great introductory restaurant to Vietnamese flavors and more tame dishes. A restaurant where I could feel confident bringing my less adventurous parents to, which I think is part of the goal for the founders of Nep Cafe. Mission accomplished, guys.  

Out of five mules (because this restaurant is located on Culver Drive, which is named after Frederick Culver, a farmer in the early days of what would become Irvine and who was a very adept mule handler), five being best to zero being worst, Nep Cafe gets 3 mules. 

For more information about Nep Cafe, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.nepcafe.com/

All Fired up to Try Bushfire Kitchen

 Bushfire Kitchen

24420 Alicia Parkway Suite D

Mission Viejo, Ca 92691

I've had my eye on the corner of Alicia Parkway and Charlinda for a long time. As long as I've lived in this area, I've always thought Target's parking lot was too big for the number of people who shop at this particular Target location. Even during Christmas time, the lot was never more than half occupied. The owner of this plot of prime real estate must have felt the same way as me and decided to build an addition to this underutilized piece of land. 

I got even more excited as the project progressed, and it was revealed that some of my favorite restaurants would be opening in this newly christened Alicia Landing shopping complex. Dave's Hot Chicken, The Taco Stand, Philz Coffee, and Mendocino Farms were familiar to me. Still, I was unaware of the fifth restaurant, Bushfire Kitchen, which has its roots in the Inland Empire and northern San Diego County. I quickly did a Google search to learn more about Bushfire Kitchen.

Bushfire was founded by two cousins in 2012. Their mission is to serve healthy, delicious food at an affordable price. Fast-forward thirteen years, and this restaurant chain has expanded to eight locations, most in the Inland Empire. This is their first opening in OC, and they have also announced they will open their doors in Long Beach later this year. 

The menu at Bushfire is broken up into bowls, sandwiches, burgers, salads, plates, empanadas, and hot sides. Most items here are priced right around the $15 mark, with only two plates costing more than $20. Ordering is done at the register, and then the food is brought out to you by a food runner. We have made two visits here, one of which was during their friends and family event, which I won the chance to attend on their Instagram page, and everything was free. The other visit was two months later, and we paid for everything we ate then. Whether we are hosted or visit incognito, I'll always give you my honest feelings about any restaurant I choose to write about. Now, on to my take on Bushfire Kitchen. 

Empanadas are a big deal at Bushfire Kitchen. They are handmade, baked in-house daily, and are featured prominently in a case right near the register. They offer three versions every day; beef, chicken, and veggie. There's also an empanada of the month, which, from what I've been able to tell from their Instagram, is primarily a sweet incarnation of this Argentine staple. We got the Cage-Free Chicken ($4.60) on our maiden visit. It was filled with marinated chicken, red onion, sundried tomato, basil pesto, and feta cheese and came with a chimichurri dipping sauce. The flaky crust was sturdy, had a nice crunch, and was soft inside. The inside was a little mellow for my tastes, but the chimichurri sauce provided the needed flavor boost. It's not bad and a nice starter while waiting for your food to arrive. 

I selected their Chimichurri Tri-Tip Plate ($19.95) as my meal. I liked that they asked what doneness I would like my meat to be, and it did come out to my desired medium rare. The tri-tip was tender and flavored well, especially the outer edges. Again, I used the chimichurri to punch up the flavor of the beef that needed it. Plates come with your choice of two sides, and I selected the Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grandma's Mac and Cheese. Their website's mac and cheese picture includes a panko/orange top, which you can clearly see was not included on my plate. Maybe it was an opening day blunder, but the crunchy top would have elevated this mac and cheese to even greater heights. As it was, I loved the creamy texture and flavor of the mac and cheese I was presented with. The Brussels sprouts were halved and topped with a balsamic glaze, which needed to be applied with a heavier hand. 

Katie had her eye on the Gaucho Steak Sandwich ($14.50). The tri-tip was joined on the soft and pliable ciabatta with sliced tomato, caramelized onions, and chimichurri. They piled the tri-tip higher than I imagined, and Katie was happy with this sandwich. The bread was soft, and the steak was tender. She would ask for a touch more chimichurri next time, though. The French fries she had for her side were crisp and went nicely with the provided ranch dressing.  

Like the empanadas in the case near the register, I could not resist the cookie case either. This Chocolate Chip Cookie ($3.25) was soft and filled with chocolate evenly spread throughout the cookie. I would have liked this even more if it was slightly heated, but it's a nice end to any meal at Bushfire Kitchen. 

On visit number two, I should have looked back to what empanada we had on our first trip because we got the same one, the Cage-Free Chicken Empanada ($4.60). It was equally good, but the chimichurri texture was a little more solid in form, which did not affect the taste much. I promise to try the beef version next time. 

This colorful Garlic Butter Mahi Mahi Plate ($15.95) was a limited-time special when we visited, and Katie jumped at the chance to try it. The mahi mahi was light and flaky, according to Katie, and she was thrilled that they included some extra garlic butter on the side so she could dip her fish into it. For sides, she went with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes with garlic. In her opinion, both side items were stellar, and she would get this plate again if it was available when she was here. 

After I had the tri-tip my first time here, I selected this Grass-Fed Braised Brisket Bowl ($14.75). The brisket was served in a sauce of onions, tomatoes, smoked peppers, and garlic. I was expecting these items not to be cooked down as much, which left the brisket to stand alone. The brisket fell apart easily but bored me after a few bites. I gave their Brussels sprouts another try, and I still wish they had added extra balsamic glaze. The garlic mashed potatoes were the star of this plate. A good creamy consistency, buttery, and just the right amount of garlic included made these the best side of my two trips to Bushfire. 

Bushfire is a welcome addition to our neighborhood, but I would not call this drive-worthy food. It's a good option if you want something more elevated than fast food, but it's not destination dining. Bushfire reminded me a lot of Urban Plates, as they both have the same concept, but Urban Plates does it better based on these couple of visits. Bushfire is reasonably priced, and the portion sizes are generous based on how much you pay per plate. I've yet to find my favorite meal here, but I have my eye on their burgers, spicy chicken sandwich, or chicken curry bowl. On both visits, we found the Bushfire staff very helpful and friendly, and the food came out promptly, even during peak dining times. I'm glad they turned this little used corner of the parking lot into more dining options. The neighborhood is grateful.  

Out of five soccer balls (because the city of Mission Viejo was the site where the US Men's soccer team trained before the 1994 FIFA World Cup), five being best to zero being worst, Bushfire Kitchen gets 3 soccer balls. 

For more information about Bushfire Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.bushfirekitchen.com/

Horsing Around in Downtown Fullerton

 High Horse Saloon

102 North Harbor Blvd. 

Fullerton, CA 92832

No one would ever consider me a country boy. I've never been a fan of country music. In my early twenties, I took a country line dancing class, but that was to impress a girl who ultimately started dating the class instructor. If I were a songwriter, that story would make for a great country song, but that experience might have altered my view of the country music scene. My scars have healed from that event thirty years ago, enough that I had no problem entering High Horse Saloon in Downton Fullerton. 

I needed a place to have an early dinner with my parents, and as they have gotten older, I find myself picking spots closer to their home so they don't have to drive so much. High Horse gets excellent reviews on Yelp (4.3 stars with over 400 reviews), frequently helps out at community events, and was mentioned by OC Register Restaurant Columnist Brock Keeling as having one of the best patty melts in OC. I was sold. 

We met my parents at 5 pm on a Saturday, a couple of hours before Fullerton gets slightly rambunctious. We have been to this location before when it was Florentine's Grill, and even farther back, when my sister used to work here when it was Pete and Tony's. Due to the early hour, we had no problem finding parking behind the restaurant. I'm sure that's not always the case, but Fullerton has done a great job adding parking structures, which helps alleviate parking struggles. 

High Horse Saloon comes to us from Mario Marovic and Andrew Gabriel, who know a little about bars and restaurants. Their roster of spots includes Muldoon's, Malarkys, Madero 1899, Playa Mesa, Wild Goose Tavern, Country Club, and Mickey's Irish Pub, which is located right next door. Predictably, they did a great job transforming this place into a country bar/restaurant. Plenty of exposed wood, hanging wagon wheel lighting fixtures, saddle seat bar stools at the bar, and a stage that features live music most nights and a DJ later in the evening. 

We were, of course, more interested in the food scene at High Horse Saloon. The lunch and dinner menu includes starters, soups and salads, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, sides, and desserts. Items are modestly priced, all under $20, except four entrees that will set you back a bit more. Their happy hour menu is offered from 3 to 7 pm and includes many of the same food items as their regular menu but at three to four dollars less per item. I don't know if happy hour is limited to the bar area or the whole restaurant, but it's something to be made aware of. Let's check out what we had on this visit. 

I'm not the world's biggest cornbread fan, but everyone else wanted to try this Corn Bread Skillet ($9). This came to the table scalding hot in the cast iron skillet and was brushed with honey butter. I liked the contrast between the sweet honey and the cornbread itself, but the menu mentioned some jalapeno, which I did not detect. It would have been better if it had some heat to accompany the sweetness. Not a bad cornbread, though. 

Katie was not content with just the cornbread, so she ordered the Ranch House Salad ($10). For ten dollars, this was a good-sized salad. It came with a base of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, avocado, cheddar jack cheese, cornbread croutons, and a choice of dressing. She went with the blue cheese dressing, which she enjoyed, and found it was distributed evenly throughout the salad. The cornbread croutons were also a treat, but the avocado was turning brown, as seen in the photo above. However, it was not a deal breaker as Katie would get this salad again. 

These Pa's Pulled Chicken Potato Skins ($14) were listed under the starters section of the menu, but my mom had them as her entree. The potatoes were fried nicely, filled with jack and cheddar cheese, pulled chicken, green onion, and drizzled with a ranch crema. My mom generously offered me one, and I rather enjoyed it. The chicken-to-cheese ratio was on point, and the potato was nice and crunchy. I would have liked the ranch crema to be served in a ramekin instead of drizzled over the top, as it was unevenly applied. This would have allowed the guest to control how much went on each potato skin. 

I've said it before, but my dad is always a wild card when eating in a restaurant. When I look at a menu ahead of time, I'm never quite sure what he will get. This time, it was the Tri-Tip French Dip ($19). The tri-tip was piled high between ciabatta with Swiss cheese and fried scallions.  It came with a side of horseradish sauce and an au jus. The tri-tip was average by itself but made better with the cheese and sauces. I really enjoyed their bread, which held up to the contents of the sandwich, au jus, and the creamy horseradish sauce. With the sandwich, you can pick between fries and onion rings. I did not try their fries, but the onion rings are the way to go here at High Horse Saloon. They had a nice breading, seasoned well, and the onion stayed encased inside the outer shell of the breading. The provided ranch crema was an excellent dipping sauce for these rings. 

Katie also chose the sandwich route when she picked this Nashville Chicken Sandwich ($16). This large piece of chicken was joined on the brioche bun with slaw, pickles, chipotle aioli, and Nashville oil, which I just learned is a concoction of cayenne and other spices mixed with oil from the fryer and then brushed over the chicken. Katie liked that this sandwich had a muted heat, which allowed the tender chicken to be highlighted. I found this to be a very mellow spiced chicken sandwich, so if you are expecting more heat, you might be able to ask for that. The coleslaw added a good texture, and the pickles added some tanginess. Next time, a little more of the aioli could be added to the sandwich. 

Since I had just had a burger the night before, I decided to try one of their entrees. I settled on the Saloon Steak ($25). This was good for a mid- to lower-priced steak. The flat iron steak is grilled or blackened and served with chimichurri, pickled red onions, seasonal veggies, and garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked nicely to my desired temperature of medium rare and was reasonably tender. The chimichurri was not as pronounced as others I have had, but still added a nice flavor boost. The veggies were seasoned well, and the mashed potatoes had a good texture but could have used more garlic. 

After reflecting on our meal at High Horse Saloon, I was delighted with everything we tried on this early evening. Food at bars is usually pushed to the background, as the primary focus is to sell cocktails and other libations. This was not the case here or at any other bars/restaurants these guys operate. The food was well thought out and surprisingly affordable. Nothing here will blow you away and demand that you return immediately, but if you are here for some country music or to soak up the pleasing atmosphere, you will not have to eat before or after you leave High Horse Saloon. We also experienced outstanding service, but I did not catch our server's name. I'm not going to be running out to buy cowboy boots anytime soon, but this visit helped me put my sorted past with country music to rest a little more. 

Out of five suits of armor (because the term "high horse" originated in medieval times when soldiers wearing suits of armor rode on high horses to show their superiority over everyday people), five being best to zero being worst, High Horse Saloon gets 3 suits of armor.  

For more information about High Horse Saloon, click here to visit their website: https://www.highhorseoc.com/

Blow the Whistle, We’re at Penalties Sports Bar and Grill

 Penalties Sports Bar and Grill

469 Magnolia Avenue, Suite #101 

Corona, CA 92879

There are many things I love about Katie. Everything about her is lovely, but when we first started dating, one of the things I liked the most about her was that she had a big family. She is one of four kids in her immediate family, but what struck me was how close all her cousins, uncles, and aunts were.  Coming from a family of four with only one uncle and a couple of cousins, it was a little overwhelming initially, but I loved every minute of it. 

I met Katie's cousin Alyson at one of my first big family parties. She was awesome, and we have seen each other a few times through the years. As people usually do, we follow each other on social media, which helps us stay in touch and keep up to date with what's happening in our lives. As luck would have it, I was on vacation for the week and planned on meeting my good friend Ozker for lunch in his hometown of Corona. Alyson works at a sports bar nearby, so meeting at Penalties Sports Bar and Grill was natural. 

Penalties opened in April 2023 and has quickly become one of Corona's favorite places to watch sports. As we walked in the door, it was easy to see why. Wherever you sit, lift your head, and you'll have access to at least four TVs within your eyeline. Whether you choose to post up at the bar, a high-top table, or a booth, you won't miss any of the action on the field. When we visited at noon, many people were watching soccer and Dodger baseball. After an introduction between Alyson and Ozker and ordering drinks, it was time to get down to business and eat. 

The Penalties menu will not surprise anyone who has eaten in a sports bar before. Wings, nachos, and mozzarella sticks are prominent on their appetizer menu, while the compact entree portion features a burger, a couple of sandwiches, tacos, and two salad options. No entree is more than $20, and starters are modestly priced at $15 or less. Let's see if the food would be a touchdown or a fumble out of bounds. 

Ozker is a big fan of chicken wings and considers himself a connoisseur of all things chicken. Naturally, we started out with the Penalties Kickin Wings ($18). A boneless version is available, but bone-in is the way to go, according to Ozker. These came ten to an order, and we chose the traditional buffalo sauce to coat these rather large drums and flats. They also offer BBQ or a mango habanero, which I will try next time. These wings were fried well, had a perfect crunch, and the meat inside was tender and juicy. It's one of the better wings I have had in some time. The buffalo sauce could have had more heat, but it was worth getting these. Solid ranch, too. 

After the wings, our entrees were out next. First up was Ozker's choice, the Philly Fans Cheesesteak ($16). He eats like a three-year-old sometimes, as he ordered this without onions and peppers, and it came out by mistake with them. I quickly snapped a picture before Alyson took it away to remake him another one. This cheesesteak is made with grilled ribeye, provolone cheese, onions, and peppers on a hoagie roll. Ozker liked this once it returned to the table sans onions and peppers. From across the table, it looked like it had a good amount of beef, and the bun was soft, holding the sandwich's contents well. 

I asked Alyson what her favorite item on the menu was, and she claimed the Penalties Burger ($18) was the way to go, but with her favorite modifications. She always adds avocado and grilled onions, a $3 upcharge for the avocado. They use a short rib/ brisket mix for their patties, then pile on the sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and burger sauce. A delicious, straightforward burger. The beef was juicy, and the avocado and cheese added a nice creaminess to each bite. Unfortunately, they don't offer bacon, which would have made this an even better burger.  

This was a great meetup with Alyson and, of course, Ozker. We stayed for two drinks each, and then it was back home for me. Penalties is the kind of sports bar most people wish would be in their neighborhood. I wish it was closer to where I lived. It is a chill spot to catch a game and have some excellent bar food. I would like them to expand their menu, add a hot dog, patty melt, or more sandwiches. Even though Alyson was the only one working when we were here, she handled things like a pro and seemed to have a good relationship with many of her customers, many of whom I imagine to be regulars. I'm thrilled that Katie and her big family brought us to Penalties Sports Bar and Grill.  

Out of five whistles (because the sure sign that a penalty is being called is to listen for a referee's whistle), five being best to zero being worst, Penalties Sports Bar and Grill gets 3 whistles. 

Penalties Sports Bar and Grill does not have a website, but you can find out information about them on their Yelp page by clicking here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/penalties-sports-bar-and-grill-corona