Watch Out Roadrunner, Here Comes the Crazy Coyote!

Crazy Coyote Tacos

13033 Fields Road

Banning, CA 92220

The drive from Phoenix back to OC is a real long haul. Long stretches of nothing. Vast wide open desert scenes flash by as you drive the 10 Freeway towards home. When reaching Palm Springs/Indio it is like you are arriving in a mega metropolis. Most people would probably stop here, stretch the legs, grab something to eat, and get back on the road. We had another destination in mind. We drove past the bigger desert towns to Banning, and a restaurant I had on my list of places to eat, Crazy Coyote Tacos.

Crazy Coyote is not even really a restaurant. It is more like a shack, located right off of the highway, near the Cabazon Outlet stores. Anthony Bourdain has eaten here. On the show he is eating out front, but never mentions the food. They used to have dinosaurs out front, but they were nowhere to be seen when we rolled up at one on a Saturday afternoon.

After dong a few stretches, we headed to the order window. The basic menu features tacos, nachos, and burritos. All pretty standard fair at Mexican restaurants. Nothing too out of the ordinary. We placed our order, Katie drove to the restroom at the Chevron down the block, and I found a table out front to wait for the food. After a less than five minute wait our food was ready. This is how it came out.

Before Katie got back from the restroom, I snapped a few pictures of her food and got a few bites in. She ordered the Giant Taco with Chicken. The giant taco comes with guacamole, onions, cheese, salsa, and cilantro. The chicken is marinated in an orange sauce and when I inquired about it, they politely told me it is a secret what goes into it. Whatever it is, it is delicious. The chicken was tender and the the tortilla should not be overlooked. The tortillas here are homemade, and available to be taken to go by the dozen. The beans and rice were good here as well. Katie loved this taco, calling it, "the best taco I have had". She seems to make these claims with too much regularity that they kind of lose their punch. I will not say it is the best, but it is right up there.

I went with a regular Steak Taco to start. Their regular tacos differ from the giant taco by omitting the cheese and guacamole. The meat was tender, the tortilla was fresh, but the salsa really kicked this taco to a higher level. Really spicy, but it did not obliterate the fillings inside the taco. I would have liked bigger bites of steak here. They were all too small for my liking. Really good though.

Almost three years into writing this blog, I still find it hard to take a decent picture of a burrito. Not the most photogenic of foods to photograph. Anyways, this is the Chili Verde Burrito in all of its glory. Very flavorful meat, with rice, cheese, and salsa. This was also really spicy. Great kick to their salsa. The homemade flour tortilla was even better than the corn version, but I am really partial to flour tortillas. My Dad hates rice in burritos, but here the rice added great texture. Not a lot of cheese in this burrito.

Crazy Coyote Taco was a very nice way to end our Southwest trip. As you can see from the picture above, this is a no frills place. Seating is all outside, and it can get windy out in the desert. The girls in the trailer were all very nice. Prices were a little on the high side, but portions were very good sized. Tacos are $3.25 and the giant taco was $6.50, and could satisfy a very large appetite. My burrito was $6.50 also, and was the size of a guys forearm. In the weeks since our trip, this is the place that Katie has brought up the most. She wants to take a trek out there again very soon. Glad it is also the closest place we ate on our trip. Only two hours away.

Out of five stagecoaches, (because the city of Banning is known as "Stagecoach Town USA", and they still have an annual Stagecoach Days Parade), five being best to zero being worst, Crazy Coyote Taco gets 3.5 stagecoaches.

Crazy Coyote Taco dos not have a web site, but you can find info about them here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/crazy-coyote-tacos-banning#query:crazy%20coyote%20taco

Really South Side of Chicago!

Chicago Hamburger Company

3749 East Indian School Road

Phoenix, AZ 85018

Phoenix is the Chicago of the southwest. Tons of former Windy city residents have set up residence in the warm Arizona sunshine. When I have watched Cubs/Diamondbacks games on TV it is hard to tell that the game is being played at Bank One Ballpark, because there are so many cheers for the Cubs. So it is natural that there would be a restaurant in Phoenix called Chicago Hamburger Company.

Chicago is a great food city. Deep dish pizza, hot dogs, and beef dip sandwiches come to mind when I think of the grub I have had there. While I am sure that Chicago has its fair share of great hamburgers, the burger is not one of the foods that come to mind when I think of Chi-Town. so I was very intrigued to be eating here.

Chicago Hamburger Co. is a little divey. Not the cleanest restaurant we have been to, but the place had charm. Of course, there are tons of Chicago memorabilia all over the place. Pennants, pictures, and Windy City references are everywhere you glance. The sign above is actually posted right next to the menu. Of course, it has been over 103 years and counting since the Cubs have won the World Series, but miracles could happen. Free sliders might make me a fan of this place, but great food would make me love it. Let's see how it all turned out for us here.

Chili Fries started us off. Not really into chili with beans especially on fries, but these were actually pretty good. The fries were average, but the good amount of chili made up for this. Wish I would have gotten some cheese on these to round them out a little.

Katie was a little wiped out from our busy day around Phoenix, so she just had this One-Third Pound Cheddar Burger. This burger was very juicy, and the bun was very good. The hamburger here is made out of the chuck and then broiled. Makes for a pretty good burger.

Apparently, sliders are very popular in Chicago and the Midwest. I guess you can make a case for that just based on the success of White Castle. These Windy City Sliders come with ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions. I could have eaten a whole bunch of these. Not really sure why a slider fast food restaurant would not work in OC. Wish we had one.

This Hot Dog looked and tasted just like the one I had in the shadow of Wrigley Field. The hot dogs in Chicago all resemble a salad bar on a bun. They are dressed in tomato, onions, pickle spear, mustard, and the greenest relish you have laid your eyes on. This neon green relish is the key. Also important, they use Vienna beef hot dogs. Good meaty dog, with a decent snap to it. The poppy seed bun is also key. Soft, but still able to support the contents of the hot dog.

After leaving Chicago Hamburger Company I was a little disappointed. I was disappointed that I did not try some of their other interesting items on their menu. Frito Pie, Italian Beef Dip Sandwich, and the Italian Sausage sound fantastic. I froze when I was ordering, and even writing this review I am still kicking myself for not going big here and getting more food.

The atmosphere at Chicago Hamburger Company was that of a local burger joint. Do not come here expecting cloth napkins, or waiter service. Ordering is done at the counter. The menu is large. We watched customer after customer come in and just stare at the menu for a good amount of time before ordering. It is a little overwhelming. Prices are very good here. Sliders start at 99 cents, full-sized burgers are reasonable at $5, and the hot dogs were $4.65.  Glad we made the trip here and wish we lived closer to try more of their menu. They could save us on the airfare to Chicago.

Out of five shoulders, (because Chicago is sometimes called, "the City of Big Shoulders"), five being best to zero being worst, Chicago Hamburger Company gets 3 solid shoulders.

For more information on Chicago Hamburger Company, click here: http://chicagohamburger.com/

Rising Up For Breakfast in Phoenix

Matt's Big Breakfast

801 North 1st St. 

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Spring in Arizona! The weather is beautiful. The smell of fresh cut grass is in the air. This time of year can only mean one thing, it is time for some spring training baseball. We were going to be having the ultimate Phoenix sports day. We were planning on touring Bank One Ballpark, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the morning. After that we were headed to Tempe to watch our hometown Angels play the Padres. Then, after that we were going across town to tour University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. If we were going to accomplish all of this, we were going to have to have a big breakfast. That is where Matt's Big Breakfast comes in.

Matt's Big Breakfast is a Phoenix institution, and just what the doctor ordered for our very full day ahead. This place has been written up in almost all of the local magazines and newspapers. Been featured on local TV, as well as Diner's, Drive-Ins and Dives and Best Thing I Ever Ate on the Food Network.

We got to Matt's at 10 on a Friday morning. There was of course a wait. I think a lot of people were visiting the Phoenix area watching their favorite baseball teams, just like us. After writing our name on the waiting list outside the door, we finally got our name called forty minutes later. I had heard that Matt's was small, and this is an understatement. We were seated right next to the front door. Not the best seat in the house, but I was just happy to finally be closer to eating. After looking at the small menu, we made our selections and waited for the food to come our way.

As usual when we are eating at a place that been featured on TV, I try to get what the host got. At Matt's, Guy Fieri was all about the Chop and Chick. I very rarely order pork chops in restaurants, because most of the time they are over done, tough, or just don't have enough flavor. This was not the case here. I can honestly say that this was the best pork chop I have had in a restaurant. Very simply made, tender and thick, with a great meaty flavor. It went well with the eggs, and the perfectly cooked hash browns served with this. I really noticed a lack of heaviness after eating this meal. Very good!

It is not everyday that I write about a side of bacon, but this is not just your run of the mill swine. This bacon is special. Thick cut and peppered from Iowa. Well worth the $2.50 for three pieces. Not crazy salty, but still with a good meaty flavor. Some of the best I have had. A definite must get when you come here.

Katie went with the special they were running when we ate here. This egg scramble included asparagus, mozzarella cheese, red peppers, and bacon. Every veggie was fresher than the next. This was easily the best asparagus that Katie had ever eaten. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. Very flavorful dish. Katie summed this plate up by saying, "this is one of the best breakfasts I have had".

Both of our breakfasts came with toast. I had the sourdough above. It was very hearty bread, which had a good chew to it, and a good flavor. Katie selected the cinnamon raisin bread. She liked the subtle sweetness of this. The preserves that are served with the bread were worth note as well. They are made by a local farm, Terra Verde. Not as clumpy as store brand preserves, these were a little more runny, but spread easily. Very fresh tasting. 

After reading this review, I bet you can guess how this place will be rated. Breakfast is a very simple meal in theory, but there is so much that can go wrong with it. This is not the case at Matt's Big Breakfast. The breakfast's are very simply done, but done right. It all comes down to the quality ingredients that they use. Cage free eggs, organic produce, grain fed Iowa pork, and Angus beef are the cornerstones that make up this great first meal of the day.  Prices are very wallet friendly here. No breakfast item on their menu even comes close to double digit territory. The pork chop and egg is the closest at $8.  Service was no issue here. They were very quick getting the food out and kept our glasses full. The next time we are in the Valley of the Sun, we will definitely come to Matt's for breakfast.

Out of five camels, (because it is illegal to hunt the humped animal in the state of Arizona), five being best to zero being worst, Matt's Big Breakfast gets 4.5 solid camels. 

For more information on Matt's Big Breakfast, click here: http://www.mattsbigbreakfast.com/

Pizza Paradise Near Phoenix

La Piazza Al Forno

5803 West Glendale Ave.

Glendale, AZ 85301

After our drive from the Grand Canyon, checking into the hotel, and a quick nap we were ready to get to the the hockey game we had tickets for. Where to eat though? Of course I had planned where we were going, just wanted to make it a little more dramatic. We were headed to Glendale, so it was an easy decision, La Piazza Al Forno would be our destination.

La Piazza wants everyone to know that they make  "real" pizza. Neapolitan pizza. Pizzas like the ones being baked in wood fired ovens in Naples. They use San Marzano tomatoes, double 00 flour, and mozzarella that they actually make at the restaurant. On their website they discredit square, stuffed, round, and extra thick pizzas, stating that they, "are not real pizza". La Piazza is actually certified by the Italian government to adhere to the set of guidelines based on Neapolitan tradition. With these boastful claims I was very excited to try their real pizza.

We arrived at the restaurant at 5:30 on a Thursday night. We must have hit it at a good time, because we did not have to wait and were seated immediately. This restaurant had a cool vibe to it, but still seemed warm and inviting. That might be due to our waitress, Sandy. She had a lot of tables, but her charming personality was very evident, and she kept things moving. The menu is not overly large. Pastas, salads and appetizers are on the menu, but we were here for pizza, so that is what we got.

Katie selected this Bianca Pizza. Their version of a white pizza had fresh mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, ricotta cheese, garlic, and basil included on it. Katie really enjoyed this pizza. She liked the big cloves of garlic, fresh dough, and top notch ingredients. I ate a piece of hers and it was a little mellower than I like my pizza, but some red pepper flakes remedied that situation. I know that Katie liked the dough here, because she ate all of her crust.

Here's a pizza that is much more my style, the Italian Stallion. This meat lovers dream included Prosciutto di Parma, Sopressata, Schreiner’s Sausage and Pepperoni. When this hit the table the first thing I noticed was it was served smoking hot. There was plenty of meat on this pizza, but it was not greasy at all. All the ingredients worked well together and formed a cohesive unit that made the pizza great. You can tell that they really take the time and care into only adding items that will make a pizza taste great. One of the best pizzas we have had outside of NYC.

I was not really too hungry for dessert, but the Homemade Cheesecake looked really good. I am not really a cheesecake guy, because sometimes it can be chalky, but this was very creamy. It is made on the premises, with a good solid flavor and not too rich. The chocolate syrup was a nice touch. Nice finish to the meal.

La Piazza Al Forno was all it was cracked up to be. The pizzas were great, and the dessert put this place over the top. Prices were pretty fair here. The pizzas are more than enough for one person, and they run $8 to $14. Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives visited here two years ago, and the waitress told us that this place hasn't been the same since. Expect a wait on most nights. Also be advised that they are closed on Sundays and Mondays. The restaurant can tend to be a little on the warm side, even in March. The brick oven is probably the cause of this, but this is Arizona so most people are probably used to this already. Well worth the trip here.

Out of five antiques, (because the city of Glendale is known as the antique capital of Arizona), five being best to zero being worst, La Piazza Al Forno gets 4 antiques.

For more information on La Piazza Al Forno, click here: http://www.lapiazzaalforno.com/index.html

Spicing It Up at Salsa Brava?

Salsa Brava

2220 East Route 66

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

When I looked at the map and saw that we would be going by Flagstaff on our way to Phoenix, I knew we had to make a slight detour. I had it planned just right too. After seeing the Grand Canyon the day before, we could sleep in a little, leave Williams at 10:30, and be in Flagstaff just before lunchtime. We would still be able to make it to Phoenix for our hockey game that night. What was the cause of all this timing? A restaurant of course! Salsa Brava.

Salsa Brava has been featured on Diners, Drive In's, and Dives, been featured in travel books, and is almost always picked as one of the best Mexican restaurants in Flagstaff. With all of these accolades, I was really looking forward to eating here. So much so, that we actually got here five minutes before they opened. Yes, we may have been going faster than the speed limit to get here.

Salsa Brava is kind of off by itself, not really in the center of town. The interior is a little on the loud side. Lots of bright colors. After placing our order with our friendly, young, waitress we headed for the salsa bar and waited for the food to come out.

Sorry I did not get a real good shot of the salsa bar here. On this trip, we have hit quite a few places that have had salsa bars. I don't really know how I feel about them. On the one hand, it is good to have a variety of salsas to choose from, but it is also kind of a pain to have to walk up there every time you want more salsa. Most places give you very small cups to put the salsa into, thus making for extra trips up to the salsa bar. This was the case here. They offer five different salsas ranging from very mild to hot, or warm in this case. I am not really a fan of tomatillo salsa, but this one had a nice flavor. The best of the bunch was the pineapple habanero salsa. This salsa tricked you into thinking it was going to be sweet, and then on the way down it had a nice kick to it. Very good with the just average chips.

Let's start with Katie's lunch, the Navajo Taco. Here Navajo fry bread is topped with beans, chicken, cheese, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, and queso. Kind of a like a puffy taco. The chicken was very tender with a good amount of white meat served on this. Katie really enjoyed adding the tomatillo salsa to this, adding extra flavor. The serving size for this taco was very generous.

On Guy Fieri's trip to Salsa Brava, he had the Stuffed Sopapilla, so of course, I had to try it too. To be honest, before I came here I had no idea what a sopapilla was. I can not recall seeing it on any menus I have encountered while doing this blog. Basically, it is a fry bread filled with beans, cheese, and your choice of meat. I went with carnitas. They kind of got a little lost here. The sopapilla was kind of like a chimichanga, but with fry bread. The beans were the dominant portion of this plate. After eating this I wrote in my notes, "good, but not spectacular". The rice was good, very light, and had a subtle garlic flavor.

Was Salsa Brava worth the slight side trip here? Yes, it was. The food did not blow my mind, but it was very solid. Portions are on the big side, which is always a plus. I actually liked the Navajo taco better than the sopapilla. This place is not really about heat either. The items we had that advertised heat did so but without a big punch. The prices were pretty good. Our meals were under $10, and almost all of the other meals are right around this price point. A good scene for the amount of food you receive. The service was solid throughout our lunch. As the lunch hour approached this place filled up quick. Glad we made time to try it.

Out of five lumberjacks, (because the mascot of Northern Arizona University is Louie the Lumberjack), five being best to zero being worst, Salsa Brava gets 3 lumberjacks.

For more information on Salsa Brava, click here: https://www.salsabravaflagstaff.com/

Punching In at Pizza Factory

Pizza Factory

214 W. Route 66

Williams, AZ 86046

After a long day, we did not want to go to a sit-down restaurant. We had driven from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, and then back to our motel in Williams. When we were checking in at the Howard Johnson's, we enquired about a pizza place in the area. The woman at the desk mentioned Pizza Factory, saying that it is better than Pizza Hut. With that ringing endorsement, how could we not choose to try it?.

I was surprised to learn that Pizza Factory is a chain pizza place. I have never heard of them before. When I was writing this review I looked it up and they have 120 units in five western states. They started in 1979 in Oakhurst, California, and by 1985 they started franchising their concept across the west. One reason I may have never heard of this pizza place before was that they seem to open in out of the way places. Some of their restaurants are located in; Orofino ID, Lovelock NV, Medical Lake WA, and Weed CA. Not exactly big cities on this list.

The City of Williams definitely fits in on this list as well. After checking into the motel, we called Pizza Factory to order one of their pizzas to go. The very friendly voice on the other end took the order and told us it would be twenty minutes. We braved the 19 degrees cold and got to the pizza place fifteen minutes later. The pizza was all ready for us. There were about five other parties eating at the restaurant. This was your average pizza place, with a few video games in the corner, some TVs showing some sporting events, and a small salad bar off to the side. We were eager to get back to the motel and relax, so we grabbed some red pepper packets and Parmesan cheese and hunkered down for the night.

As you can see from the pictures above we went with a pretty basic pizza, Large Pepperoni and Sausage on half, then Olives and Pepperoni on the other side. Before biting into the pizza I noticed that they were very generous with the toppings here, especially the olives. Of course, I have never known a pizza place to go easy on the olives. It seems like they use a dump truck to pour them on top of pizzas. Anyways, this pizza was still hot after our five-minute drive back to the motel. The crust was pretty good here, nice chew and decent flavor. It did its job of holding the toppings, and staying firm. The cheese was okay, and the toppings were plentiful. A pretty solid pizza, and definitely better than Pizza Hut. 

Out of five route markers, (because the city of Williams was the last to have its section of Route 66 bypassed in 1984), five being best to zero being worst, Pizza Factory gets 2.5 route markers.

For more information about Pizza Factory, click here: https://williams.pizzafactory.com/

Cruising Down Route 66 to Twisters - CLOSED

Twisters 50's Soda Fountain

417 E. Route 66

Williams, AZ

The drive from Vegas to the Grand Canyon is a long one. It always looks so much shorter when you look at the distance on a map. Anyways, we made it to Williams at about 1pm on a Wednesday. On the way to this small town, which is at the start of the road to the Grand Canyon, we needed to stop and stretch our legs. It was also a good time to get something in our stomachs for the final hour that we had to drive before we reached the canyon.

Before leaving for our trip I had written Twisters 50's Soda Fountain down as a possible lunch location for us. Twisters is located right on Route 66, the main drag of this tiny tourist town. Twister's really has the roadside diner vibe down to an art. They have the old car stationed out front. There is a gift shop with souvenirs off to the back of the restaurant. The menu even features classic diner foods, some even named after famous 50's icons.

We are one of two parties of two at this time of the day here. It is also evident that this is not the peak of the tourist season around these parts. I am sure in the summer, or even a little later, during spring break this restaurant and town will be crawling with tourists. After checking out the menu, we made our selections and waited until the food hit the table.

Started off with the Chili Cheese Fries. Chili out of a can, average fries, but lots of cheese made these pretty average tasting. We did enjoy the serving size of this appetizer though.

For a lunch option, Katie selected the Fried Chicken Sandwich. This chicken sandwich was served on a sesame bun with all the fixings, red onion, tomato, lettuce, and pickles. Katie called this sandwich, "solid and good for a snowy day". She felt the produce used here was fresh.

I had worked up a pretty big appetite during our drive, so I had the Big Bopper Burger. This half-pound double patty cheeseburger was nothing spectacular. In fact, it was very average. Could have been frozen patties, which I would expect from this tiny place. This burger was served with the same fries used with the chili fries.

Twisters was what I expected it to be. It is a 50's diner run by a local family. The food is okay. It serves its purpose of feeding road-weary travelers and tourists that have just come back from the Grand Canyon. We did not have anything from their soda fountain, but the reviews for their ice cream are pretty good. They even serve a Brooklyn Egg Cream, which you do not see a lot of places. Service was fine here, but of course, we were the only ones in here at the time of our departure. Prices were pretty good for a sit-down restaurant. Burgers and sandwiches were $8.66, and most appetizers were $4.66. Yes, you read that right. All menu items ended in 66 cents, in honor of the route that they are situated on. Just another thing that makes this little diner unique.

Out of five railroad tracks, (because the city of Williams is the starting point for the once-daily round trip to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railways), five being best to zero being worst, Twisters 50's Soda Fountain gets 2 railroad tracks.

For more information on Twisters 50's Soda Fountain, click here: http://www.route66place.com/Twisters_50_s_Soda_Fountain_s/32.htm

Stumbling Upon Serendipity - CLOSED

Serendipity 3

3570 South Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Many of New York's most popular restaurants have opened branches in Las Vegas. Grimaldi's Pizza, Carnegie Deli, and this place Serendipity 3. I am sure I'm missing others I can not think of right now. It is funny that none of these places have opened at the New York, New York Hotel. It seems like they would fit right in there.

New York export Serendipity 3 is on the strip at Caesar's Palace. Detached from the rest of the resort, Serendipity is off by its lonesome in a freestanding building that is hard to miss. It is nice that you do not have to walk through a large mall or casino to find this restaurant. It is right in front, where you can not miss it.

Serendipity was started in 1954 by a trio of friends. Since then, they have had a strong list of celebrity customers, had a sappy John Cusack movie named after them, and become a part of pop culture. Besides the Vegas and NYC locations, there are also Serendipity's in Boca Raton and Georgetown, in the Washington, D.C. area.

We got to Serendipity at 3pm on Tuesday and still had a fifteen-minute wait. If there was a wait at this slow time, this place must be packed on weekends and at mealtimes. Be advised of this. This Serendipity is larger than the location in New York. Their trademark Tiffany lamps are not hanging from the ceiling but are placed on the tables. This place reminds me of Farrell's but with loud pop music. We got a steady dose of Britney and Taylor Swift to accompany our lunch. After perusing the extensive menu, this came out of the kitchen.

Katie selected the High Heel Sandwich. This sandwich comprised prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, arugula,  basil pesto, and balsamic glaze. Katie liked every part of this sandwich except the prosciutto.  She thought the meat was too fatty and lacked a pleasant flavor. The produce was fresh, and the balsamic added an interesting taste to this sandwich. She mentioned that she would avoid this sandwich in future visits here. I did not try this; it was not my cup of tea.

If you ever wondered what a $16 Chili Cheese Dog looked like, wonder no more. This foot-long hot dog featured Serendipity's chili with bits of filet mignon. It was good, and the portion size was enormous, but it was not worth $16. No chili dog is worth that. The chili could have been a little spicier here. The hot dog had a decent snap and a nice meaty flavor. This chili dog really needed the cheese to be melted. It's definitely a knife-and-fork hot dog.

Now, to the reason almost everyone comes here, the Frrrozen Hot Chocolates. They now have eight versions of this famous drink. We ordered the Peanut Butter Frrrozen Hot Chocolate for Two. Wow, this was worth the visit here. This is just like it sounds. Imagine a hot chocolate frozen to a slushy consistency you could drink through a straw. Peanut butter settled in the bottom of the glass, and every once in a while, you would get a good taste of it mixed with the chocolate. Perfect finish to our meal here.

The food here was good, but it could have been better. The portions are enormous, and so are the prices. If you must eat here, I would stick with the basics, hot dogs, burgers, and salads. The presentation is fun and whimsical, with oblong dishes and swirls of sauces applied to the food. The real draw here is the dessert portion of their menu. You can never go wrong with a sundae or frrrozen hot chocolate on a warm day in Vegas. That will be our game plan next time we are here, skip the food portion of the menu and head straight to the desserts. Now, if only Doughnut Plant would follow the NYC to Vegas trend and open a location in Sin City!

Out of five pillbox hats (because pillbox hat-wearing First Lady Jackie Kennedy once tried to buy the frozen hot chocolate recipe but was declined), five being best to zero being worst, Serendipity 3 gets 3 pillbox hats.

For more information about Serendipity 3, click here: http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/serendipity-3-detail.html

Hoping for an Encore at Society Cafe - CLOSED

Society Cafe

3131 South Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Breakfast in Las Vegas! Okay, maybe more like an early lunch depending on how much fun you had the night before, but still breakfast type foods. If you have read this blog before, you know I love breakfast. I like big plates of food. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast, kind of like a sampler plate of what breakfast has to offer. I am, however, versatile. I can also appreciate a nicer, more refined breakfast. After reading the reviews of Society Cafe, I knew this was the kind of breakfast I would be getting here.

Society Cafe is located at the Encore Hotel. I had never been to the Encore before. It is really big and fancy. We came here because I did a little search for the best breakfast spots in Las Vegas, and this place kept getting mentioned. In fact, Society Cafe was voted one of the top 10 best new restaurants in America by Esquire magazine. So needless to say I was expecting a lot here.

Society Cafe is located just off of the casino floor, right by the shops that link Encore with the Wynn. We are greeted by a very nice host who shows us to our table. The vibe here at SC is that of a very elegant coffee shop. There is absolutely no crowd of people here at 10am. There are people here though, and it might just be that restaurant is spread out so you are not right on top of other diners. After checking out the one-page breakfast menu, we made the following choices.

Katie selected a healthy option to start her breakfast journey a Bowl of Granola. According to her the granola was really fresh and had an almond and coconut flavor. I, of course, did not try this granola. Too healthy for me.

I did about a 180 degree turn from Katie's granola with this Extra Large Sticky Bun. This pastry was served hot, topped with caramel and candied pecans. I really liked that they added extra caramel sauce to the bottom of the plate. The roll itself was soft, with a slight chew to it. One of the best sticky buns I have had. I definitely would get this again.

For the main part of Katie's breakfast, she had the Egg White Frittata. This frittata was stuffed with Crimini mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, asparagus, and goat cheese. Katie really enjoyed this. The produce was farm fresh and there was plenty of pepper used in this to wake up the taste buds. For bread, she went with the rye. I always think it is weird when people go for rye bread with breakfast until I snuck a piece of it and it goes really well with breakfast.

When the Ultimate Steak and Egg Sliders were placed in front of me I felt a little ripped off. I am used to big platters of breakfast foods, and all that was here were two small sliders. Let me tell you though, these really packed a punch. They were filled with filet mignon, scrambled eggs, and creamed spinach, all sandwiched between split bacon and cheddar muffin. The steak was cooked very tender, the spinach really added a nice dynamic here, and the egg was buttery and spiced well. The real star was the bacon and cheddar muffin. The muffin actually had pieces of real bacon inside of it, which added lots of flavor to these beauties. These two sliders really filled me up. Very rich breakfast, and I am not just talking about the price.

Society Cafe surprised me. I was expecting it to be good, but maybe not this good. The portions were on the smaller size, but they still filled me up. The menu is small but is still filled with some items that we would love to try in the future. The Frosted Flake French Toast and the Mini Quiche Trio come to mind. I am not going to lie and tell you this place is a great value because it isn't. All breakfasts are going to set you back at least a $20 bill, which is a lot for breakfast. If you win a little in the casino, the high standard of food here will more than makeup for the loss of a twenty. Service was great, even though we noticed they had a hard to please crowd the morning we were here. Society Cafe has taught me that good things can come in small portions.

Out of five microphones, (because there was a famous nightclub in New York City called Cafe Society in the '30s. Acts included Pearl Bailey, Carol Channing, Lena Horne, and others), five being best to zero being worst, Society Cafe gets 3.5 microphones.

For more information about Society Cafe, click here: http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/Restaurants/CasualDining/SocietyCafe