Hitting All the Numbers at Keno’s

Keno's Restaurant

5750 East La Palma Ave. 

Anaheim, CA 92807

This is another long-overdue review. For those unaware, I grew up in Yorba Linda and lived in North OC for the first two decades of my life. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Yorba Linda and the surrounding area were not a hotbed of excellent restaurants. Even today, it still isn't going to rival other parts of OC, but the restaurant scene has gotten a little bit better. Keno's Restaurant is one spot that helped change the restaurant landscape back in the days of yore. 

Keno's has been around since 1983. Back then, just to get to a Denny's or another coffee shop, you had to go to Orange or Brea. Keno's helped cut our drive time in half, and it quickly became a local favorite. The current owner, Steve Cooper, and his father-in-law bought the restaurant in 1993, and locals still flock here for weekend breakfast, karaoke nights in the lounge, early bird breakfast specials on weekdays, and their famous fried chicken special on Tuesdays. 

Walking into Keno's, you feel instantly transported into the past. Every table is a booth, eliminating overcrowding in the dining room. The servers seem to have been here forever, and the darkened lounge brings to mind the Peppermill I visited as a kid in Reno. You can also eat at a counter, which you don't see in many restaurants anymore. 

The menu at Keno's is enormous. Highlights include burgers, melts, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, pasta dishes, Mexican food, and comfort food classics like meatloaf, country fried steak, a turkey dinner, and others. To be honest, I have only had breakfast here. Their breakfast menu is filled with all the classics and served all day. We were meeting our good friends Ozker and Bianca for a long overdue catch-up. We had about a five-minute wait for our party of five at 9 on a Sunday morning, which was way shorter than when we had been here before. Let's take a look at how our breakfast went this particular morning. 

I'm going to spark a little controversy with my following sentence. Chicken fried steak is the most photogenic of all breakfast foods. It's almost impossible to take a bad picture of this delicious dish. Eggs Benedict might be a close second, but then there's a sharp drop-off for third place for the most beautiful breakfast plate. Anyway, Katie chose the Keno's Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($17.79). Keno's uses sirloin tri-tip, which is breaded and topped with a country gravy. It was in the fryer just a minute or two too long, but the gravy helped to cover up that mistake. It's not the biggest country fried steak plate she has had, but the inclusion of the three eggs and the mound of crispy hashbrowns more than filled her up/ 

Many people would describe Bianca as special, so it was fitting that she ordered the Special Gourmet Omelet ($16.99). The omelets at Keno's are all made with three eggs, and this one came with mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, and cheese and was topped with avocado. Bianca was happy with this omelet and even more thrilled that she did not have to do the dishes afterward. Instead of toast, you have the option of getting two pancakes instead. She did that so she could share it with her four-year-old daughter. Both mother and daughter were happy with their breakfasts. 

I'm always partial to skillets; the more meats, the better. That meant the Farm House Skillet ($16.99) would be placed before me. Just like the omelets, the skillets are made with three eggs. This skillet came with the holy trinity of breakfast meats; ham, bacon, and sausage, and was finished with bell pepper, onions, and cheese topping the hashbrowns. This was not heavy on the bell pepper or onions, which allowed the meats and cheese to stand out more. I liked the contrast between the crispiness of the hashbrowns and the eggs. Very filling and satisfying.  

I always try to pair savory and sweet when eating my first meal of the day, so it was no surprise that I opted for pancakes instead of toast. However, I added chocolate chips for an additional $2. From the picture, you probably think I got ripped with the number of chocolate chips they gave me, but they were plentiful in the batter underneath. The pancakes were delicious, and it's easy to see why they are so popular with their guests. 

It's easy to see why Keno's has been such a hit with the people of North OC for the last 40-plus years. There are few coffee shops like this around anymore. The food will not blow you away, but it's a place where you can get a nice and honest breakfast with large portions for a fair price. After having breakfast here, we skipped lunch and ended up having just a light dinner. I wish I remembered our server's name, but she was excellent and ensured our every need was met. With an experience like this, it's easy to see why the people of Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, and other surrounding cities have supported Keno's for so many decades. 

Out of five stone blocks (because the Great Wall of China is believed to have been financed by an early version of the gambling game keno, and they used quite a few blocks for this massive structure), five being best to zero being worst, Keno's Restaurant gets 3 stone blocks.  

For more information about Keno's Restaurant, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.kenosrestaurant.com/

Buzzing Into the Hive Sports Bar and Grill

 The Hive Sports Bar and Grill

6362 East Santa Ana Canyon Road 

Anaheim, CA 92807

One thing that drives me crazy is how restaurant influencers exaggerate how great a place is. I know most of them are getting paid by the restaurant to be there, or maybe they are trying to drive traffic to their accounts by over-hyping a restaurant. That's not my style. I like to tell it like it is, which probably accounts for all my two-and-a-half and three-star reviews. I don't give a glowing review because I occasionally get a free meal. I don't want to see the three of you who read this blog throw your money away by going to an average restaurant. I also always add a disclaimer at the end of every post that my meal was comped, which these food influencers rarely do.

Okay, end rant. A well-known Instagrammer had visited The Hive in Anaheim Hills and gave a glowing review. I needed a place to meet my parents for dinner and decided to try it. The Hive is in the former spot where the original Slater's 50/50 used to be. This shopping center, anchored by a Big Lots and a few smaller storefronts, has always seemed out of the way, lacking the foot traffic to make a restaurant successful. For a point of reference, it's between Imperial Highway and Weir Canyon, on the corner of Fairmont and Santa Ana Canyon Road. 

On a recent Friday evening, when we visited, many people found themselves here. There was a steady stream of guests throughout our stay. The inside of the restaurant is similar to when this was Slater's. They made the bar wrap around the dining room side, which helped to open up the space and make the bar the focal point of the restaurant. They also added more flatscreens, so there's no bad seat in the house when watching a game. 

The menu here is top-heavy with many appetizer options, which makes sense while watching sports. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more extensive entree options are also available. Prices for starters range between $8 and $16, while entrees will set you back anywhere between $10 and $26. They offer breakfast on weekends, and their happy hour is Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Let's see if I thought the food was as good as the Instagrammer did. 

My dad is probably the most unpredictable eater I know. A definite wild card, he tried the Fish and Chips ($16.99) this evening. Four pieces of fried cod, french fries, and coleslaw were sat before him. The fish had a lighter batter than most places, which was nice for a change. The cod was nice and flaky underneath, and the tartar sauce kept him interested throughout his meal. The fries were almost to the point of being over-fried, but they were saved from the fryer just in time. They had a good outer crunch to them. The coleslaw was bland, without a lot of dressing. It was mainly used to cut the richness of the fried food. 

My mom connected with her inner child by ordering Chicken Fingers ($14.99) from the appetizer menu. These come four to order and also include fries. These seemed like basic tenders, but my mom enjoyed them and even took two home for lunch the next day. Again, the fries and chicken were left in the fryer for too long, a trend that will continue with the next item. 

Katie does not often eat burgers, but she was intrigued by the Hive Burger ($18.99 + $3.50 upcharge for onion rings instead of fries). Their namesake burger features melted provolone, caramelized onion, plenty of arugula, and fig jam on a glossy bun. The burgers are a half pound and include Angus beef and brisket. She described this as an elevated bar burger. She enjoyed the way the sweet onions and arugula interacted with the cheese. The burger patty was tender and juicy. As you can see from the picture above, the onion rings were obviously over-fried and almost burnt. They were not worth the $3.50 upcharge for three onion rings. The provided ranch helped mask the burnt parts of these rings, but she'd just stick with the fries next time.  

Since all the Marie Callenders by my house closed several years ago, I've been craving their famous Frisco Burger. This craving led me to get the Big League Deluxe ($19.99 + $2.50 upcharge for tater tots instead of fries). This burger/sandwich includes bacon, sliced avocado, Swiss cheese, and buzz sauce on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. The bread was a little light on the parmesan, but I enjoyed this burger. Like Katie's burger, the patty was tender and juicy, and the creaminess of the avocado and cheese went well with the smoky bacon and the beef. I will ask for extra of their buzz sauce next time, as I need more, and I'd like to dip the sandwich into it. The tater tots were a good choice. They had a nice crunch, and I alternated between dipping them in ketchup and ranch. 

Our visit to The Hive was a mixed bag. We all liked the mains, but Katie's burnt and lack of onion rings and the over-fried fries were a bummer. Their prices were a tad high, especially when you get hit for an upcharge by not getting fries. The portion sizes are big, which helps lessen the hit to your wallet. We experienced excellent service this evening, as plates were cleared, drinks were refilled, and the pacing of our meal was nicely timed. Unlike the food influencer who came here before me, this is not a glowing review, but The Hive is a great place to catch a game, have one or two cocktails, and have some solid food. Something that this area of town sorely needs. 

Out of five drones (because male bees in a hive are called drones), five being best to zero being worst, The Hive Sports Bar and Grill gets 3 drones.  

For more information about The Hive Sports Bar and Grill, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thehivesportsbar.com/

A Long Overdue Visit to Rosine’s Mediterranean

 Rosine's Mediterranian

721 South Weir Canyon Road

Anaheim Hills, CA 92808

We try to be there for our families, even though I've become a real homebody the last few years. I've gotten into binge-watching tv, listening to audiobooks, and of course, trying to write as many restaurant reviews as possible for all of you. We were wrangled from our home cocoon by my niece Lillie, who was performing a comedy show at her high school. Always a patron of the arts, you could not keep me away. It was also a great chance to try another restaurant. 

That restaurant is Rosine's. I'm almost ashamed that it has taken this long for me to make it here. It's arguably the most popular restaurant in Anaheim Hills. I can't tell you how many people around these parts have asked me if we have done a review at Rosine's yet. They have earned a four-star rating on Yelp, with close to 1,000 reviews. Not bad for a restaurant that most of OC overlooks because it's not geographically desirable unless you live in the area or are visiting someone around here. 

Rosine's has been in business since 1995, and in those 27 years, they have expanded from a single unit to take over the adjoining Starbucks that used to share this detached building with them. So now there's only a Subway sandwich shop left in their way if they want to expand even further. Rosine's is named after Executive Chef Rosine Najarian. She and her son, Hagop, are still involved in the day-to-day operations of this bustling Mediterranean restaurant in the rolling foothills of Anaheim. 

Back when they started out, this Mediterranian restaurant was mostly unknown to most people in OC. Rosine's got by selling their rotisserie chicken, an instant hit from day one. As the years have rolled along, much like their square footage, their menu has expanded as more people have become accustomed to this food. It's also helped that many more Mediterranian restaurants are operating these days. As a result, people have become much more comfortable with food from this world region. 

We arrived at Rosine's on a busy Friday evening at half past 5. The restaurant was crowded, but there were a few empty tables. The host asked if we had a reservation, and when we replied we did not, he said he'd seat us but only if we were done eating by 7, as they were booked for the evening. We agreed that we had to be at the comedy show by then. He led us to a table adjacent to the packed horseshoe-shaped bar in the center of the space. 

Rosine's menu is broken up into hot and cold starters, soups and salads, sandwiches, and mains. They also have a burger, but I couldn't find a picture of it online, so I assume they don't have too many coming out of the kitchen. I was not going to be having a burger here, but let's check out what we consumed this evening. 

We started with a duo of their cold starters. If you've followed along on this food journey with us for any length of time, you know that Katie is a garlic spread fiend, and when she spotted the Rosine's Famous Garlic Spread ($10.95) on the menu, she had to order it. This could be the most potent garlic spread we have ever experienced. After I learned of this potency, I pulled back, which was much more enjoyable. I used it with the provided pita triangles and my entree. The Hummus ($9.95) was a nice contrast to the garlic dip. It was much more mellow, with a silky smooth texture that was nicely achieved. I'd suggest both of these dips, which were good-sized, so you can use them when your main meal arrives.  

Speaking of main meals, Katie selected this Chicken Pita ($15.95) as hers. This pocket bread was filled with lettuce, tomato, garlic sauce, and shredded chicken. Katie liked this sandwich but would get something else the next time she visited. It was bland, as all the sauce settled at the bottom. This was remedied with the extra sauce that we had from our appetizers. The chicken to vegetable ratio was also off, which detracted from the chicken standing out. For her side item, she went with the rice pilav, which she enjoyed, especially when mixed with the hummus. 

I do not eat enough lamb, so I tried to rectify that at Rosine's by getting this Lamb Kebab ($26.95). This California lamb ate more like steak than any I have had previously. It was not gamey but still had the outstanding flavor one associates with lamb. It was spiced nicely and grilled expertly. This came with ratatouille and garlic mashed potatoes. This ratatouille was more like the Turkish dish saksuka, rather than what most people expect to see when they think of the French version, which is way more common. This version was okay. It gets a lot of love from the people on Yelp, so I think I might not be a ratatouille person, as I found it too mushy, and the flavor did not appease me at all. I did enjoy the garlic mashed potatoes way more. They were fluffy and light and went well with the lamb. 

Even after this one visit, it's easy to see why this neighborhood loves Rosine's. Their food is well executed, authentic, and fresh. I look forward to visiting again and trying more of their kebabs and maybe even their rotisserie chicken which helped to put them on the map. The service was friendly and cordial. Their prices were not too outrageous. It took us a long time to visit Rosine's, but with another three years of high school plays, shows, and musicals, we will have plenty more opportunities for return visits. 

Out of five banjos (because the city of Rosine, Kentucky, is the birthplace and home of the father of bluegrass music Bill Monroe, a type of music usually involving a banjo), five being the best to zero being the worst, Rosine's Mediterranian gets 3 banjos. 

For more information about Rosine's Mediterranian, head to their website by clicking here: http://www.rosines.com/.

Celebrating a Step Closer to Normalcy at Bandeno Mexican Food

 Bandeno Mexican Food

466 South Anaheim Hills Road

Anaheim, CA 92807

It was my first vaccination day. I had been working with the public for the last year with the threat of coronavirus looming over my head with every customer that reached over me as I was stocking my shelves. I knew I was going to be fine, but the thought of bringing the virus home to Katie was enough to make me want to decrease the risk and get the vaccine as quickly as I could. 

Orange County did not really have their stuff together in early March, with no appointments available to front-line grocery workers. My friend suggested that I try my luck making an appointment at Corona High School in Riverside County. I was able to make an appointment that day for two days later. The process could not have been easier, and I was in and out of there in 30 minutes, including being observed for 15 minutes for complications after my shot. Since I was near my parents, I took this opportunity to meet them for lunch at Bandeno Mexican Food in Anaheim Hills.  

I don't really know too much about Bandeno. I know they are a family-run business that opened up in late 2019. Thanks to some hints from their website, I think their family is from the state of Gerrero in Mexico, which is located south of Mexico City and borders the Pacific Ocean. They took over a Mediterranian restaurant in a sleepy shopping center tucked deep inside Anaheim Hills, which is also home to a Papa John's, Subway, a CVS Pharmacy, and a small supermarket. 

For such a small place, Bandeno really has a pretty diverse menu. There is plenty to choose from with many varieties of combo plates, burritos, seafood options, tacos, bowls, tortas, appetizers, and plenty of breakfast choices to pick from. Ordering is done at the counter and we were able to sit inside since we were the only ones in the place, except for a steady stream of people getting to-go orders during the duration of our stay. Let's see if Bandeno Mexican Food was a worthy spot to celebrate my first step towards being fully vaccinated for covid. 

Let's start off with what my parents got first. They are pretty predictable when it comes to eating in Mexican restaurants. My dad most of the time gets a Chile Relleno ($4.75) and a Shrimp Taco ($3.99), while my mom usually veers towards a quesadilla of some sort, this time it was a Plain Cheese Quesadilla ($5.90). My dad called this the best chile relleno he has ever had, and he's eaten a lot of them over his 70 plus years. The poblano chile was fried well and was plated with plenty of cheese surrounding it on the plate and inside of it as well. My dad was also impressed with the shrimp taco because they used bigger shrimp than what he usually gets at other places where he orders shrimp tacos. The shrimp was cooked wonderfully and the sauce topping it tied everything together perfectly. My mom was pleased with her quesadilla and really enjoyed the guacamole that they included with it. 

My parents were paying, so I went a little large here, sorry pop. I started things off with two tacos, Asada ($3.25) and Pastor ($3.15). Both were very good. The pastor was my favorite of the two with its big flavor, but the asada was tender and not bland at all, which is not always the case with asada. The meat to tortilla ratio was a plus in my book also. The Beef Taquitos ($5.50) was bigger than most and filled nicely with plenty of shredded beef. Next time I'll order three for sure, as it's only an extra buck and a half. The Carnitas Plate ($10.75) was pretty good-sized with lots of sliced pork, rice, and beans included. There were a few bites of the pork that were a little on the dry side, but the majority of the pork was tender and moist. The beans and rice were a nice vehicle for the pork and I could have easily made at least four tacos with the provided flour tortillas that came with this. A very good value. 

Bandeno Mexican Food ended up being a very good neighborhood spot. It's probably not destination dining if you are reading this from half an hour away or more, but if you are in the area and are looking for some good Mexican food nearby that won't break the bank, this is the spot for you. The service was very friendly and it felt great getting to eat indoors again. Now I'm just looking forward to getting my second shot and getting back out there to do more restaurant reviews for all of you. 

Out of five health care professionals, (in honor of all the people who have been working on the vaccine and all that are involved in getting it out to all of us), five being best to zero being worst, Bandeno Mexcian Food gets 3 health care professionals.  

For more information about Bandeno Mexican Food, head to their website here: https://bandeno.com/

History Lesson and Dinner at El Cholo

El Cholo 

8200 East Santa Ana Canyon Road

Anaheim, CA 92808

Yes, I know this is my third straight Mexican restaurant review. No, I am not turning this into Orange County Mexican Restaurants, although I do wish Christian would come back and write some new reviews, but, I guess he's a little busy with Naugle's comeback. It's just as the weather turns a bit cooler, it makes me yearn for some Mexican food to warm me up. Also, it was my mom's birthday, and she was looking for a place we haven't been to for a long while. Enter the historic El Cholo.

I say historic because El Cholo has been operating since 1923, with only a short break when they shut their doors due to food rationing during World War 2 and did not want to sacrifice food quality. They may have been the first Southern California restaurant to feature nachos on their menu (1959), added combo plates way back in 1938, and at one time were the world's largest user of Jose Cuervo 1800 tequila.

All of this as they remained a family business, now in their third generation of family ownership. OC restaurant legend Ron Salisbury is the grandson of the original owners of El Cholo #1 in Los Angeles. They have now grown to six locations, with three of these in OC, (La Habra and Corona Del Mar are the other two). Ron also picked up three other restaurant concepts to join the El Cholo family; Louie's on the Bay and The Cannery, both situated in Newport Beach, and the legendary Cat and the Custard Cup in La Habra.

This Anaheim Hills spot opened in 2013 and used to be the site of another Mexican restaurant, Chevy's. Remember them? Anyways, back to the present day, we arrived here on a Monday evening around 6. This big restaurant was half full, and our party of 9 was seated comfortably off by ourselves in a corner of the restaurant. The menu is pretty much just like every other Mexican restaurant in Southern California. Appetizers, enchiladas, combo plates, and specialties of the house are listed here. What I enjoy most about their menu is that they list the year that they started selling that particular item right next to it. Like they did not start selling fish tacos until 2001, fajitas made the menu in 1984, and it took until 1977 that they added a burrito. It's kind of a history of when different kinds of Mexican food became popular. Enough buildup, let's see how my mom's birthday dinner choice turned out for everyone.

First, a shot of the Chips and Salsa we were served on this evening. The chips were light, but not much to them. The salsa was kind of the same. Not enough spice to it, but I did like the consistency that it had. Lots of chunk to it, but it needed a pop of flavor to be considered good in my book.

Katie and I were a little bit late to dinner, so we missed the tableside presentation of this Guacamole Molcajete Style ($12.95). Just like the salsa, this needed some seasoning to make it taste anything better than bland. It's a shame really because the consistency was there, but it failed to stand out.

The combo meals started coming out for us fast and furiously and Katie got hers first. She went with the No. 1 ($17.95) which is a Rolled Beef Taco and a Chicken Enchilada, which was a two-dollar upcharge. She had heard this was the thing to get at El Cholo. Katie thought the rolled beef taco was better than the enchilada, which she thought was bland. Combo meals are rounded out with Spanish rice and refried beans.

My dad got the No. 2 Combo ($15.95) which comes with a Chili Relleno and a Cheese Enchilada. He liked the relleno a lot, as it had a little kick to it and was filled with plenty of cheese. The cheese enchilada was good, but he wished it would have had a little extra sauce. Beans were fine, but he called the rice just filler. He was not a fan of it.

The birthday girl went with a One Item Combo ($9.95) and picked a Cheese Enchilada as her one item. She seemed pretty pleased with this. It had plenty of cheese and she really enjoyed the cheese topping the refried beans. Glad this plate could make my mom happy on her big day.

My sister and brother in law broke our streak of combo plates when they split this Fiesta Platter ($15.95). This comes with a big mound of nachos and is then surrounded with chimichangas, crab and beef taquitos, quesadilla segments, and sour cream and guacamole on the side. Predictably they had plenty to take home.

As usual, when I'm eating at a place for the first time, I'm going to get the plate that allows me to try the most things. At El Cholo that would be the Taste of History ($19.23). This came with four of their most popular items; a Chile Relleno, Cheese Enchilada, Pork Tamale, and a Rolled Beef Taco. All of them were kind of average. I think they all kind of tasted like each other, which is a little bizarre to me. Nothing really stood out on this plate for me. The rice and beans were just hanging out. I was not overly impressed, but on the bright side, I was not overly disappointed either. I guess that's something.

Not the most adventurous of eaters, like she is with boyfriends, my niece Kaylie got these two plain Chicken Soft Tacos ($5.95). She requested just chicken and cheese and they complied with her wishes. They looked really boring from across the table, but this was the way she wanted them and it seemed like she was pretty happy with the result. Glad I grew out of my picky eating phase by the time I was her age. Maybe someday she will like other things on her tacos like hot sauce or even lettuce. Here's hoping that she grows a little more courageous in her food exploration in the next few years.

Another picky eater is my niece Lillie. I took a quick shot of her Kid's Taco Plate ($6.95) before it was whisked away because she had wanted her taco with no lettuce and tomato. Man, this younger generation. I did not bother taking a picture when it came back, but she seemed pretty content and even ate a good majority of her beans and rice. Great job Brownie Booster.

El Cholo was not horrible, but nothing I had here would make me want to come back anytime soon. I'd put this restaurant right there with El Torito and Alcapulco's based on their food, and just a tad below what you can get at El Ranchito or Rodrigo's. I love the history here and how they celebrate it, but the meals themselves were pretty average. We live in an area where great to very good Mexican food is readily available, so I'm not entirely sure why people like these chain Mexican restaurants so much. Maybe it's familiarity or convenience, which are my guesses. Service was good on this evening, as our server made sure our party of nine had everything that we needed during our stay. Sorry again for the three Mexican restaurant reviews in a row, but anything for mom on her birthday.

Out of five traffic signals, (because not only was 1923 the year that this restaurant opened, it's also the year that the traffic signal was invented), five being best to zero being worst, El Cholo gets 2.5 traffic signals.

For more information about El Cholo, head to their website here: https://www.elcholo.com/

A Reader's Tip Brings Us to Antonio's

Antonio's Mexican Food

5771 La Palma Ave. 

Anaheim, CA 92807

I'm not usually this fast at getting around to readers tips. For the most part, people will give me a restaurant suggestion, and then I put it on my restaurant wish list. It usually sits there until we are in the area of the restaurant, and then we end up visiting. John from Twitter had told me that I must give Antonio's in Anaheim a try.

That tweet was from December 1st, and I found myself at Antonio's six days later. It just so happened that I had a dentist appointment nearby, and after a trip to the dentist, I definitely felt like I should reward myself with some Mexican food. I called my sister and had her meet me at Antonio's, which is located in the same shopping center as a Marie Callender's, Carl's Jr., and a Wholesome Choice at the corner of Imperial Highway and La Palma Avenue.

John had given me a little info on his favorite Mexican restaurant. It was run by two brothers, Mario and Eddie, and the rest of the family pitches in and works there as well. He also said that it's a very local place, as they know almost everyone that walks in the door. I was definitely intrigued.

We got to Antonio's just before noon on a Wednesday. John wasn't kidding, this place is small but cozy. If you are getting your food for here, take a seat at one of the ten or so tables and they'll take your order there. The menu is pretty basic, with combo plates, burritos, a few seafood items, and tostadas. Make sure to check out their white erase board for additional specials and offerings. Prices are pretty inexpensive, as only a few items reach the double-digit mark, and most of those are the seafood options. 

Since I was running a little late, my sister had ordered a side of Guacamole ($3.89) to go along with the Chips and Salsa. The guacamole was very fresh and had a good flavor to it. I thought the serving size for the small was very generous. The chips and salsa were okay. The salsa was a little too thin for my taste. I like a little more chunk to my salsa. It did have the tiniest of spice kicks to it, which was appreciated. The chips were pretty average.

My sister had wanted just an enchilada and taco ala carte, but it ended up being cheaper getting this Cheese Enchilada and Carne Asada Taco Combination ($7.49). She was pretty excited by this meal. She really liked the cheesiness of the enchilada and the mellow enchilada sauce that they use here. The carne asada at Antonio's is pretty solid, and a lot of it was included in her taco. I liked that they were pretty heavy handed with the cilantro and onions on this, and they chop their beef into very little pieces. I did not try the beans or rice, but no complaints from my sister.

I was hungry after skipping breakfast because of my dentist appointment, so I ordered both a Carnitas Burrito Supreme ($7.49) and a small order of their Asada Fries ($7.99). This ended up being quite a bit of food. The burrito supreme comes with your choice of meats, beans, and cheese on the inside, and then is topped with sour cream and guacamole. The burrito was okay. Not too much pork inside of it, and I think they forgot to add the cheese. It basically ended up being a bean burrito with sour cream and guacamole on top. The asada fries looked really pretty on the plate, but they kind of fell flat. The asada was good, but the rest of the plate kind of suffered. The fries came out lukewarm at best, there was not enough cheese, and the cheese that was on here melted onto the paper plate. I ended up leaving almost half of this.

Antonio's ended up being fine, but I did not really think it was anything above average. It's a decent choice if you are in the neighborhood and craving Mexican food. John wasn't kidding when he mentioned that these are some really nice people that run this place. They really made us feel welcome from the start. Prices seemed more than fair and the portion sizes were generous. I'm glad we could get to John's suggestion quickly, and look forward to going to more readers restaurant picks this year.

Out of five footballs, (because Antonio Brwon lead my fantasy football team to a solid third-place finish this year, and in honor of the football playoffs starting this week), five being best to zero being worst, Antonio's Mexican Food gets 2.5 footballs.

Antonio's does not have a website, but you can find more information about them on their Yelp page here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/antonios-mexican-food-anaheim

Marching to Their Own Beat at Tempo

Tempo Urban Kitchen

731 South Weir Canyon Road #147

Anaheim, CA 92808

Here's another restaurant that I've wanted to try for more time than I can remember. It's also an overdue meet-up with our good friends Erven and Rocio, who we can never see enough of. They have triplets and another kid, so it's hard to get together between soccer games, school functions, and family vacations. Persistence paid off, though, as we planned to meet near their house and try Tempo Urban Kitchen.

Since I first heard of Tempo, they have gone through an evolution and quite a few high-profile chefs. From the outside, it seems like they were trying to find their identity. When they first opened in late 2014 in Brea, they were described as a molecular-styled menu, frequently changing. Then they switched things up and focused more on a traditional menu with twists and turns on almost every item. The food can be described as Mexican cuisine, which is influenced by other cuisines worldwide. Since we ate here a little over a month ago, they now have another new menu, which features ten new items.

The man behind Tempo is Jorge Cueva, the president of the Lascari Restaurant Group. He worked at Daphne's Greek Cafe and Sharkey's Woodfired Grill. Tempo has been described as his passion project. Besides the original Brea location and this one perched up in Anaheim Hills, there's also been a lot of talk about expanding this concept to other areas. Las Vegas, Downey, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Newport Beach, Tuscon, Buena Park, and even across the border in Mexico have been mentioned. It'll be interesting to see how these lofty expansion plans work out.

We arrived at the Anaheim Hills spot, located in Ralph's shopping plaza and is also home to the wildly popular Mediterranean restaurant Rosine's, just before 5 pm on a Sunday afternoon. The restaurant was busier than I expected it to be at this relatively early dinner hour, and by the time we left the restaurant, it was full of patrons. Nevertheless, I liked the feel of the place, with its hanging light fixtures, the active bar along the space's back wall, and the decor hanging on the walls, including the plate installation along the far wall. I imagine this restaurant can seem a little cramped during peak times, and the tables did seem a little too close together, but that might be necessary because they are so busy.

Before we get to the food at Tempo, I have to highlight this Tableside Hickory Smoke Old Fashion ($16). I'm a sucker for any dramatic tableside presentation, and this one was pretty special. Our waitress came over to our table, smoked some hickory under the glass, then blow-torched an orange rind, and then finished this little presentation by concocting this delicious cocktail. I'm not much of a bourbon drinker, but this was one of the best old fashions I have ever had. Not that I've had too many. Erven loved this drink so much that he had it again, but they made it behind the bar, which saved $4. I kind of missed the dramatics, though.

Tempo has an awe-inspiring happy hour lineup, and the good news is that it's offered seven days a week, most days from 4 to 6 pm, and then it starts up again at 9 pm until close. Along with drink specials, there is a boatload of $5, $7, and $9 priced bar bites, and we took advantage of a few of them before moving on to the entrees. The Tinga Taquitos ($7) was a good choice. The chicken inside of these taquitos was solid, and they also came with lime crema and a serrano sauce, which added a touch of heat. I've said it a million times, if you see pork belly on a menu, you need to order it. I took my own advice by ordering the Pork Belly Bites ($9). These cubed pieces of pork were a little overcooked, but some parts had the spongy quality I look for when consuming pork belly. They were accompanied by spicy honey and corn tortillas, which I did not use. The Fresh Oysters ($5) were an Erven pick, and I always think it's a roll of the dice to get oysters at a non-seafood-specific restaurant. These oysters were fresh, tasted great, and lacked the grittiness that can ruin an oyster experience for me.

I've been on a taco kick all summer, and it continued at Tempo with this House Taco Selection ($15). This is an excellent option for indecisive people or someone that wants to get the lay of the land at Tempo. This taco platter came with a beef cheek, carnitas, a Korean pork belly, and a short rib taco. I loved the variety of this. My favorite out of the bunch was the Short Rib Mole, which included pickled red onion, lime crema, and crispy carrot shards. The short rib was predictably tender, and the mole was excellent. I was also fond of the way the different textures combined with each other while consuming this taco. The beef cheek taco was prepared with pickled red onion and cilantro, allowing the beef cheek to be the show's star. My usual favorite carnitas was relegated to third place here, as the carnitas were kind of bland and not really enhanced by the roasted pepitas or the mole verde. The worst was the Korean pork belly, which had too much going on. The mango, red cabbage slaw, chile-soy, and lime crema ended up masking the pork on this, which is a shame because, unlike the pork belly bites appetizer, the pork belly on this was not overcooked.

Sorry for the poor picture quality of this Costa Azul ($14), but my camera was having issues. These bacon-wrapped shrimp were stuffed with cheese and were as good as they sounded. The shrimp were very good-sized; the bacon was crisp, but the cheese got lost in the shuffle. I did enjoy the sauce that came with this, which I'd describe as a chipotle mayo. These also came with spiced honey, but I stayed away from that.

I guess Katie wasn't feeling any of the entrees at Tempo, as she got these Nachos Gordos ($14) off the appetizer menu. Based on this name, I expected a lot bigger pile of chips on this, but it was the perfect size for Katie this evening. The chips were topped with an exciting blend of cheeses; mozzarella, cheddar, pecorino, jalapenos, pico de gallo, guacamole, pinto beans, and her choice of a protein, chicken tinga, rounded out this plate of nachos. She felt this was a lighter version of nachos than she was expecting. The chicken was good, but there could have been more of it on here, along with more cheese and everything else.

The best item for the night for me was this Seafood Rice ($16). Saffron rice was mixed with octopus, shrimp, calamari, and other seafood, and it was all tied together with a chipotle sauce. Very flavorful, and the seafood was very fresh and prepared well. This was a very comforting dish and one I would usually overlook, so I was glad that Erven wanted to try it. This will not be my last time having this at Tempo.

Rocio went a little rouge at Tempo when she ordered this Chili Relleno ($12). The usual chile relleno at Tempo comes with short-rib chorizo beans and is encased in a corn dog batter. Instead, Rocio went for a more traditional version, with just the cheese inside of it and a red sauce ringing the chili relleno. She seemed to like this a lot but was getting full before finishing it. I like that Tempo was very accommodating with modifications to their menu items, which is not too common in chef-driven restaurants like this.

Dessert was the last thing on our agenda this evening, not that I needed it. We all split the Tres Leches Cake ($8). This was a decent rendition of this classic cake. However, it was not as moist as a lot of them that we have had, and the frosting could have been a little sweeter. I'd probably try the churros the next time I'm here.

Glad we finally made it to Tempo. Where does Tempo rank in my most recent Mexican restaurant experiences? I like Tempo better than Puesto, but not as much as Urbana in Anaheim. It's definitely in the middle of these two other similar, upscale Mexican restaurants. It will not be our last trip to Tempo, as there's way more to explore on their menu than we could have managed on this trip. The shareable urban grills, tortas, and flatbreads have caught my eye for next time. Service was exceptional on this visit, as our server Lana did an impressive job taking care of us during our nearly two-hour stay. It'll be interesting to see how Tempo evolves because with their impending expansion and the feeling I get that their menu will constantly be tweaked here and there, with items being switched back and forth depending on the whim of the person in charge of this kitchen. As for now, this is a pretty solid spot, and it was an excellent restaurant for Erven and Rocio to catch their breath from chasing around their four kids.

Out of five gold stars (because Tempo is the name of the largest brewer in Israel, and one of their three brands of beer they manufacture is Goldstar), five being best to zero being worst, Tempo Urban Kitchen gets 3 gold stars.

For more information about Tempo Urban Kitchen, head to their website here: https://tempourbankitchen.com/