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

Superb Steak in San Clemente?

 Rare Society

226 Avenida Del Mar

San Clemente, CA 92672

Man, these birthdays roll around way too quickly these days. It feels like just a month ago when we celebrated my birthday at Bourbon Steak in Dana Point. That meal was one of the best I have had in a long time, and not only was the food great, but the service was first-rate. Very memorable. I wanted the same thing for this birthday, so I picked another restaurant that has gotten lots of great press, Rare Society in San Clemente. 

Rare Society burst onto the San Clemente dining scene in May 2023. It is the brainchild of Chef and Restaurateur Brad Wise, who has five restaurant concepts up and running, most of which are in the San Diego area. Rare Society is his breakout hit, with six locations operating or opening soon. Be on the lookout for one in Las Vegas, poised to open sometime this year. It is across the street from the Durango Casino and Resort, about fifteen minutes west of the Vegas Strip, depending on traffic.

Back to the Rare Society in San Clemente. This restaurant was the hottest in OC for the first six months of its operation. Reservations were booked months in advance, and I made my reservation two months early for my June birthday. I recently checked for tables, and they have reservations for most nights. However, Saturdays appear to be their busiest night by a mile. If you eat here on a Saturday, plan ahead at least a few weeks in advance and place your reservation for your desired dining time. 

This is Chef Brad's homage to the vintage steakhouses of a bygone era, which evoke the specialness of upscale dining. Each of the Rare Society locations includes an on-premises dry ager filled with cuts of beef prominently displayed near the hostess stand and a wood-fired grill that utilizes American red oak to cook these cuts. The bar area is the focal point of this two-story restaurant, with stunning circular lighting hovering above the bar to the top of the second-level ceiling. Even though it's close to the ocean, you'll have to crane your neck to glimpse the Pacific. 

I was hoping that the food at Rare Society would be enough to make up for the lack of ocean views. The menu here has plenty of options, leading off with chilled seafood and a wide array of starters, and then you get to the star of the show, the proteins. They offer six steak options ranging between $52 to $91, along with pork, seafood, and a fried chicken option. Also of note, and quite popular from what I've seen online, are their two boards featuring a selection of chef cuts. These did not work for us, as Katie is one of those who likes her steak way too cooked for my tastes. Next time I'll have to bring someone else. Ha! Ten sides are available, which are served family-style. So, now that you know what's going on here, let's see how my birthday dinner was. 

Salads are listed under the starter portion of the menu, so we took the subtle cue to start our meal with those. Katie selected the Iceberg Wedge ($18), while I had my usual Caesar ($19). Of the two, I liked the iceberg version better, but barely. This quarter of iceberg lettuce was topped with plenty of bacon, grape tomatoes, red onion, and Danish blue cheese and drizzled with balsamic. Even though this did not have a dressing other than the balsamic to tie it together, it was one of the best versions of a wedge I have had. The bacon was crisp, the onions and blue cheese added a nice flavor punch, and the balsamic provided its usual flavor profile of sweet and tart in equal parts. Very well-balanced, and I was grateful for each forkful that Katie allowed me to have. I did not even have to throw out the birthday guilt to get more bites. She's the best. 

The Caesar was not to be dismissed either. As described on the menu, it includes a lot of pecorino, but under all that cheese, there is some romaine, fried anchovy, and lemon. The cheese is present but does not overpower, as it's light and almost melts in your mouth. The romaine was fresh, and the fried anchovy added a nice textural element. I'm a big dressing guy, but these salads did not need to be doused with dressing to be among some of the best we've had in recent memory. 

Our server highly recommended the Parker House Rolls ($15), so we ordered them while waiting for our main course. They come five to an order and come out scaldingly hot on a cast iron skillet. They are topped with truffle butter and herbs. These were everything that you want when eating Parker House rolls, soft, slightly sweet, and a cloudlike texture when bitten into. I would have liked the truffle butter to be served on the side, as it pooled around the top of the rolls and could be more evenly spread if served on the side.  

Chef Brad has ties to the Central California coast, and Santa Maria tri-tip is king in that area. It's no wonder that his menu features this Snake River Farms Wagyu Tri-Tip ($53), and it came out so well. This 10-ounce meat plate came sliced from the kitchen, allowing for easy eating. The tri-tip is known for its rich, beefy flavor, and this one did not disappoint. It was incredibly tender and lean. It was cooked perfectly medium, the way that Katie had requested. Our server suggested that their Santa Maria Salsa ($5) be paired with this, but it didn't need it. The salsa was watery, with no big flavor bump. 

I've always been a ribeye guy, and that held true this evening when I got the Cedar River Prime Bullseye Ribeye ($68) at Rare Society. This sixteen-ounce steak glistened on the plate before cutting. I liked the seasoning on the outside of the steak, and most bites were very satisfying. I know ribeye steaks include a lot of marbling, but this one had too much fat in the center. I felt a little cheated. I tried the Bearnaise Sauce ($5), which was way better than the salsa. It was rich and creamy and went well with the steak. 

Sides are always a must at a steakhouse, so we tried two. The better of the two was the Potato Au Gratin ($28). This version of this classic side was laden with black truffle and a truffle mornay sauce. It was very rich, as you'd expect, and it was lava-hot when it hit our table. If you'd like to skip the richness, the whipped potatoes might be more your scene. The Truffled Cream Spinach ($14) was a big letdown. As you can see from the picture above, the consistency was more like soup. The spinach was drowning in the sauce and did not cling to the spinach. I almost wanted to ask for a straw to eat this. This was very disappointing.  

The only thing more disappointing than the spinach was this Butter Cake ($15). I sing the praises of Buttercake wherever I go. It's easily my favorite dessert, and I've had many good ones, but this was not one of those. This was served with sour cream ice cream on top, which melted over the cake. The sour cream ice cream really hijacked this dessert. It's all I could taste, and I was not a fan. The cake portion was soggy and, again, overwhelmed by the sour cream taste. If you've never had butter cake before and want to try this one, just know that this is a unique version and might not be for you. It definitely was not for me, but it was comped for my birthday, which was very nice. 

Pun intended, but the dessert left a real sour taste in my mouth towards Rare Society. But, while writing this review, I softened my opinion of this restaurant. Things started out strong with the salads and Katie's tri-tip, but maybe I just got a lousy ribeye with too much fat in the middle. I did have some delicious bites, so maybe my steak was a fluke. The potato side was nicely done, but the creamed spinach was not one of my favorites. The butter cake was brutal and would be a hard pass on future Rare Society visits. There's enough on this menu that I'd visit again and try other things like their blue crab dip, steak boards, New York strip steak, and the pork tomahawk. As is true in most steakhouses, the service here was exemplary. Our server and food runners met our every need during our stay. Was this birthday meal as good as last year's at Bourbon Steak? No, but that dinner was also over a hundred dollars more, which makes Rare Society more approachable to most of us. 

Out of five footballs (because San Clemente was once the home of Pop Warner, a successful college football coach, and he is memorialized in the youth football league that bears his name), five being best to zero being worst, Rare Society gets 3.5 footballs. 

For more information about Rare Society, head to their website by clicking here: https://raresociety.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/

Doing a Blooming Business in San Juan Capistrano

 Bloom Restaurant and Bar

31760 Old Mission Road

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

I owe the guys from RJB Restaurant Group an apology. No, I never dissed one of their seven restaurants in one of my reviews. To this day, I've always had nothing but great experiences at all of their eateries. Russ and his partners probably do not know I'm still writing this blog. But, in 2013, when blogging was in its heyday, I was invited to their media day at their first restaurant, Vine, in San Clemente. It was excellent, and I became a fan. 

I then ate at their next few spots, Ironwood, Olea, and Sapphire, and was kind of bummed that they were almost all the same. Still good, but I expected them to branch out a bit. All their locations had more than half the same or similar menu items. I figured that they all had different names, so I was surprised they were more or less copies of each other. I felt gypped. I guessed they came upon a winning formula and did not feel the need to change it. That was until Bloom Restaurant and Bar came along. 

Bloom opened late in 2022, across the street from Mission San Juan Capistrano. The building dates from the 30's and was once a city hall, fire station, and pharmacy. The red brick building features large arched windows, a ten-seat bar that runs alongside the right-hand side of the space, comfy booths that occupy the dining room, and a glass-enclosed kitchen that allows spying on the inner workings of the preparers of the food. 

We were meeting our dear friends Michelle and Rudy for a long overdue meetup. It had been ages since we had seen each other, and true to form, Michelle was late. That at least allowed us to catch up with her much better half, Rudy, who would have difficulty getting a word in once his blushing bride showed up. It also allowed us to peruse the menu, which differed significantly from their other restaurants. I was proud of them and excited at the same time. 

Chef Jared Cook put together a menu that is approachable and unique at the same time. It's divided into starters, salads, entrees, and desserts. Entrees start at $24 for their sandwiches and burgers and then go up to $62 for a 45-day age bone-in ribeye. I had my eye on about three different items, but you'll have to read ahead to see everything the four of us had this evening. 

Before Michelle made her grand appearance, we started with some Warm Artisan Rosemary Focaccia Bread ($8). It's good she was late, as there were three pieces, one for each of us. The bread was grilled and came with a lovely whipped honey butter. The bread could have been taken off the grill a minute earlier, as it was nearly burnt. Luckily, only the ends got charred. The rosemary tinge was present, and I liked the honey butter, but I wish we had been given more of it. 

The bread was fine, but this Skillet Mac and Cheese ($14 plus $4 with bacon added) was spectacular. I thought about this mac and cheese for weeks after I had it. I don't even know the best part of this was; the five-cheese blend coating the macaroni, the crispy chicken skin topping, or the generous amount of bacon that topped this scalding skillet. Add everything together, and you have the best mac and cheese I have had in a decade. This is a must-get when visiting Bloom, or we might not be friends anymore.  

It's entree time, and we might as well start with our latecomer, Michelle. She's very special to everyone who knows her, so it was no surprise that she got the seafood special offered this evening. I'm pretty sure this was the Shrimp Scampi ($39). It was served over pasta with a really delicious sauce. The shrimp were good-sized and cooked perfectly. Michelle really enjoyed this meal. 

I usually avoid ordering chicken, but looking at Rudy's plate from across the table has me reconsidering that. The Jidori Half Chicken Picatta ($29) had my mouth watering. The golden chicken was topped with a Meyer lemon and caper butter sauce and was plated with fingerling potatoes, bacon braised kale underneath the good-sized chicken, and cippolini onions. I tried a bite of the chicken, which was as tender and juicy as the picture makes it look. Very well done. 

Katie also went the chicken route and picked the Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($24). This upscale chicken sandwich came with garlic dill aioli, dill pickles, and tangy coleslaw, all on a challah roll. The roll did a masterful job of staying together, and the chicken's breading was crunchy but lighter than she thought it would be. I thought all the dill would overpower, but it was mellower than I imagined. This also came with their hand-cut herb fries, which are addictive. I was excited when Katie threw in the towel but left a third of her fries for me to pilfer. 

I was torn between getting the burger or the Applewood Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf ($29), and from the pictures above, you can tell which way I went. I was one happy camper with this plate. The meatloaf at Bloom is a blend of beef, pork, and chicken wrapped in bacon, then topped with wild mushrooms and a sherry reduction. How can that not be good? The meatloaf was dense and flavorful, and I enjoyed the bacon's smokiness. The savory meatloaf paired wonderfully with my new best friend, their mac and cheese, this time with truffle. This was just as good, but I'll have to give a slight nod to the skillet mac and cheese with bacon. The cheese and truffle combo made this very decadent and rich. I used some of the bacon from the meatloaf to cut the richness a bit. 

It was a week after Michelle's birthday, so we mentioned that while our server was around, and they surprised us with this free dessert. It was a large scoop of vanilla ice cream with cake crumbs and a drizzle of caramel sauce. It was very nice of them and a sweet way to end our meal at Bloom. 

I left Bloom Restaurant and Bar feeling good about the meal we had just eaten there. Not a clunker plate was on the menu. This is proof that the boys from RJB Restaurant Group can do more than excellent wine country food; they can also do comfort food classics just as well. Months later, I still dream of their skillet mac and cheese, hand-cut french fries, and droll over pictures of their burgers on Instagram. I'll be returning for them soon. As with all of their restaurants, service was top-notch, and we had no issues. Another hit restaurant for San Juan Capistrano, which has quietly become one the top cities in OC for foodies. 

Out of five emus (because the only petting zoo in South OC is in SJC, and one of the star attractions is Angel the Emu), five being best to zero being worst, Bloom Restaurant and Bar gets 4 emus. 

For more information about Bloom Restaurant and Bar, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.bloomsanjuancapistrano.com/