Shooting for the Moon at Luna

Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen

980 Montecito Dr.

Corona, CA 92879

We have had some real good luck with what I would call, "upscale Mexican" restaurants. In OC we have several good options for this genre of cuisine. Sol Cocina, Gabbi's, Cha Cha's, and some would even include Javier's in the mix (I wouldn't though!). The trend has even spread to the Inland Empire, and lucky for us we were going to be meeting up with our good friend Anthony, and his wife Sabrina.

Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen is kind of in an awkward area, so if you are not looking for it you might miss it. The area is dominated by some office buildings and the aroma of Lone Star Steakhouse nearby. In fact, Luna is located on the bottom floor of one of these office buildings. After entering the restaurant we had the feeling we were not in Corona anymore. The vibe here reminded us of a Vegas restaurant. A high tower of all the tequilas they feature are enclosed in a glass case behind the hostess stand, the lighting, and the wood dominated interior all lend to this Vegas aura.

We had made reservations for seven o'clock on a recent Saturday night. Even though this restaurant is in an out of the way place, it was filled to the brim with people. We were originally going to be sat on the patio, but with the stifling heat we have been having lately, it would have been way to uncomfortable. The hostess was very accommodating, and found a comfy booth for us in the air conditioned bar area.

Luna opened a year and a half ago. The owners and management are very hands on from what we observed. I also noticed online that they take time to answer their critical reviewers on Yelp. I really like when a restaurant is willing to state its case in this public forum, and explain or apologize for a guests experience. At this point I was curious to see how we would like this place, so let's get to the food.

So be it a modern Mexican restaurant or a "hole in the wall" joint, most will start you off with chips and salsa. Luna was no different. The chips here were okay, but the salsa was the thing that caught our taste buds. Not wickedly hot, but just enough heat to get ya going. I liked the thickness of the salsa as well.

Making anything tableside is an added plus in my book. It is kind of like getting a show to go along with your food. That is the way Luna prepares their Guacamole Autentico ($7.50). Here they use three avocados, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and chilies. The preparer asked us if we wanted this mild, medium, or hot. We chose the medium to start, but added more jalapenos later on. This was a very clean tasting guacamole. The ingredients were all fresh, and the added elements really complimented the avocado well.

We were pretty hungry, so we ordered another starter, Chef Ruben's Sampler Platter ($13.95). This platter came with BBQ sticky pork ribs, grilled cheese quesadilla, chicken taquitos, and steak and chorizo empanadas. All of these were pretty tasty, with the steak and chorizo empanada being the best. The flavor of the filling was really unique, they added dried fruit, Oaxaca cheese, and creme fraiche to the meats here. The BBQ sticky ribs had a very sweet sauce that went well with the tender pork. The cheese quesadilla was fine, and lacked the grease that I thought it would posses. The only appetizer here that failed to satisfy was the chicken taquitos. Not that they were awful, but they really had no taste to them, and kind of were forgotten.

Main course time, so let's start with Katie's selection, the Grilled Chicken Breast Fajitas ($14.50). As I have written on this blog before, I usually shy away from ordering chicken in Mexican restaurants because it usually comes out dry. This was not the case here. The chicken was moist, and had a nice sweet sauce over the top of it. Almost like a sweet BBQ sauce, just a little less thick. The veggies were cooked well, and while the plate that this was on was not huge, they did give out a fair share of chicken. Katie was pretty pleased with this dinner.

Anthony really looked like he was having a hard time deciding what he wanted here. He ended up having the Carne Asada Enchiladas ($11.95), and seemed pretty happy with his choice. He called this dish excellent, adding that the meat had a great flavor, while being tender. He was also a big fan of the sauce. The only complaint Anthony had about this plate was the beans. He felt they really added nothing to the dinner. He did find the rice to be very light and flavorful.

I hate to say this, but both Sabrina and I wanted the same dinner on this night, but I relented and let her have the Carnitas De Lechon Pibil ($12.95). I can be nice to this hard to please woman sometimes. At Luna, they steam their carnitas in banana leaves to help make it moist. It was moist, and had a different flavor from what we are used to. Not bad but different. The meat almost tasted like it had cinnamon in it. It was a little on the sweet side. Sabrina really enjoyed her dinner.

Even though Sabrina swiped my dinner choice, I still managed to have a different variation of it, with the Pibil Carnitas Burrito ($11.00). This burrito had the same sweet carnitas that was on Sabrina's plate. I liked this burrito, but was not wowed by it. I think it was missing something, not sure what. I did add their smoked chile de arbol salsa to this, and it did boost the flavor quotient up a notch or two,  The rice was fine, but like Anthony was saying, the beans were very average. When I saw this plate, I felt it was not going to fill me up, but it was deceptively large. I finished this plate, but it was a struggle to pack it all in.

We did not have too much room for dessert, but we had gone this far, so we all decided to split the Envueltos De Crispy Sweet Banana ($5.25). Here they wrapped a banana around a flour tortilla and cinnamon, then fried it. Kind of like a banana churro. This was served with a espresso piloncillo chocolate sauce. I liked the thin sauce, but it dd not stick to the tortilla too well. As with all of the fried items at Luna, the absence of grease was worth noting. I thought this was going to be greasy, but it wasn't.

I usually do not post about the drinks that I have on this blog, but these were pretty unique. The one on top is an El Pepino Margarita ($8.00). I liked the mix of flavors with this drink. The cucumber was way more prevalent than the jalapeno, which resulted in a much more subtle cocktail. It was really refreshing on this very warm Corona night. The Strawberry Fields Margarita ($8.50) did not hit me the right way at all. It was not sweet, and kind of plain tasting. I would get the El Pepito over this one for sure.

My dining partners really enjoyed Luna Modern Kitchen a lot. I liked it too, but was a little less wowed by it. I might have just chosen the wrong item on this night. I do think that this restaurant is a great alternative for people that are looking to try a more upscale Mexican restaurant. The flavors are definitely different from traditional Mexican eateries. The meats at Luna were more on the sweet side, which was a nice change of pace. The food is well made, and the ingredients were all very fresh. We had great service on this night. Our waitress was very attentive, even though they were so busy. Glad to see that the upscale Mexican trend has made it out to the Inland Empire.

Out of five hunks of cheese, (because Luna in Spanish is translated as moon, and some people thought the moon was made of cheese), five being best to zero being worst, Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen gets 3 hunks of cheese.

For more information on Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen, click here: http://lunammk.com/

 

Steak and Sangria Meal at Fleming's

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse

455 Newport Center Dr.

Newport Beach, CA 92660

I am a little disappointed in myself. I like to think that I am "in the know" about restaurants and some of the great deals that they offer. So I was a little upset to learn that one of my favorite steak restaurants has been having a three course meal for $39.99 all summer long, and we haven't made it here yet. Luckily this deal was brought to my attention before it expires on August 26th, so we still had time to make it in before it was over.

The deal I am talking about is the Steak and Sangria Menu. A three course meal that includes, salad, steak, and a dessert, all for under $40. Customers also have the opportunity to add a glass of sangria for $7.95 as well. This special has been going on all summer with a different menu every two weeks. Unfortunately these are the last two weeks of the special offer, but at least we got to Fleming's in just the nick of time to try it.

For those of you that do not know about Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, they are an OC born steakhouse. They started back in 1998, at this very same location, which is still the only one in our great county. They have expanded to 63 locations in 28 states. Since 1998 Fleming's has gained a reputation for great service, a sophisticated ambiance, and of course fantastic food. I had been thinking about this meal all day, so lets see what Fleming's had cooked up for us.

Before we get to the meal, a quick shot of the Bread and Spreads. The bread came out very warm, and was very fresh. We actually went through two loaves of this. The spreads helped enhance our pleasure of the bread. The Sundried Tomato and Basil spread was good, but the Feta Cheese spread was so much better. This cheese spread had just a touch of Chardonnay and had big time flavor. This spread really brought the bread to life.

As stated above, the sangria is an optional item for this menu, but at under $8 we had to at least try it. I am not much into sangria, but this one surprised me. The Sailors Sunset Sangria featured Sailor Jerry's spiced rum, Red Diamond Merlot, peach schnapps, and fresh fruit. This sangria really tasted more like a light punch, than a wine based drink, which is more my preference. Very refreshing.

To be honest with you, this is the only portion of the Steak and Sangria menu I was not looking forward to. The salad option for these two weeks is the Tomato and Mozzarella Salad. I am not a big fan of tomatoes, but I ate almost all of this salad. The sliced beefsteak tomato was joined by fresh mozzarella, arugula, and a red onion balsamic vinaigrette. Katie called this one of the best salads she has had. The mozzarella was very creamy, and you could taste the freshness. The red onion was really a great addition to this salad. Guess I was nervous about this salad for no reason.

Now the main event! With each Sangria and Steak Menu, there is a different preparation of the Prime New York Strip. These two weeks they are serving it with a crispy Gorgonzola, alongside grilled asparagus, pickled fennel and baby golden beets. The steak was great! Seasoned with just salt and pepper on the outside, and cooked to a perfect medium rare on the inside, this is the way steaks need to be made. The Gorgonzola of course added a real nice flavor to the meat, while still allowing the flavor of the steak to be in the spotlight. The asparagus was good, but the pickled fennel and beets were a little overpowering. They kind of had a real strong citrus/vinegar flavor. I also want to note that Katie did not get her steak well done this time, she went with it medium well. She enjoyed it very much, but is still afraid to get her meat medium. Baby steps.

Dessert for these two weeks is the Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies, served with vanilla ice cream with a warm apple ginger sauce. How could this be a bad scene? It can't. The cookies were very light, the ice cream was very cold, and the warm apple ginger sauce was a pleasant surprise. I did not get a lot of lemon flavor from the cookies, but this was a good serving size for this dessert, and this was a great way to end a very good meal for us.

So now that you know that this deal is out there, go out and get it. $39.99 for all of this food was a great bargain. If you were to order all of these items by themselves, it could easily cost you up to $65, so it really is a steal. We just wish we had known about this deal sooner.

We really need to thank everyone at Fleming's. Starting with our waitress for the evening, Christy. She was so nice and attentive, while keeping our meal moving along. Also thanks go out to the Manager Tai and Operating Partner Russ Bendel. It was really great chatting with both of you. Thanks for letting us know about your remodel that just got underway, and the new location of Fleming's that will be opening in Beverly Hills later this Fall. It was also a pleasant surprise when Chef Partner, Christopher Hutten came by our table to chat with us for a few minutes. It is always great talking with the man behind the food, and we were grateful for his time during the dinner rush. Lastly, a big thank you to magnificent marketer, Lee Healy, for letting us know about this great deal, and allowing us to share it with all of you. Thanks for everything Lee!

For more information, including other locations, and to keep up with other happenings at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, visit their homepage here: http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/

Popping the Cork on Champagnes New Dinner Menu

Champagnes Bistro and Deli

1260 Bison Ave.

Newport Beach, CA 92660

One of the best parts about writing this blog is getting invited to some great food events. We have been asked to come to some fantastic restaurant openings, great "taste of" nights, and some really awesome roll outs of new menu items. I am usually permitted to bring a guest, and it is usually Katie. She really enjoys these events, more for the social aspect, than the food. This was not the case with this event. In the three years we have been going to events, she has never been this excited, than the one we went to the other night at Champagnes Bistro and Deli.

Katie has a long relationship with Champagnes. She has worked in the area for about seven years, so she has had lunch here pretty frequently in that time. Also, when she lived down in Newport, she picked up some of their fresh packaged dinner selections as an alternative to fast food.

Champagnes has been around since 1989. In those twenty plus years they have always been in the same shopping center, right at the corner of MacArthur and Bison, but they have moved locations within the same center. Now they are in a more prominent, free standing building at the front of the center. When they opened, Champagnes was more of a market and deli than a restaurant. Since the move they are now refocusing on the dining aspect of the business. This past week they started serving dinner with waiter service beginning at 4:30 daily. This event was used to highlight their dinner offerings. I was getting pretty hungry, and lucky for me there was a lot of food on the way for us to try.

The new hot item in restaurants has got to be Brussels sprouts, and this is what they led off with at Champagnes. The Caramelized Brussels Sprouts ($8.50) are cooked with lemon, garlic, capers, and anchovies. My Mom never force fed us these miniature cabbages, so I have no ill will towards them like others might. I really enjoyed the version served here. Good caramelization and they really had a good char on them. This was a table favorite.

When we were coming to Champagnes, I would have never thought that they would have had Firecracker Shrimp ($10.95) on the menu. This Asian inspired dish came with a confetti cole slaw and a wasabi cream sauce. Although I did not observe the wasabi in this dish, the shrimp had more than enough flavor to help this along. The shrimp was moderately spicy on its own, and the cole slaw helped cool down this plate. The crispness of shrimp should be noted here. Very good appetizer.

I am really picky when it comes to crab cakes, and the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cake ($12.95) at Champagnes was pretty good. The crab is wild caught, and served over a bed of field greens, with mandarin oranges, basil aioli, and fizzled leeks. This crab cake was devoid of filler, like other restaurants crab cakes. You could actually taste the freshness of the crab here. I would have liked a creamy sauce, maybe a light tarter sauce to go along with this, but that would be my only complaint about this starter.

We were lucky enough to try Champagnes brick oven pizzas. The first one was the Classic Margherita ($10.95 / $14.95). This thin crust, handmade pizza came with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. What I noticed most here was the cheese, and the fresh taste of the ingredients used on this. The second pizza was more my style, and really hit the spot. The PSM - Pepperoni, Sausage, and Mushroom ($11.95/ $15.95) was a solid pie, and I would not hesitate to order this again. Both meats were good, the mushrooms plentiful, and the sauce really complimented the pizza. Good sized pizzas, and enough for leftovers the next day.

Anyone that reads this blog knows that I have a bias against salads with fruit in them. These are always the kind of salads I see little old ladies eat at Mimi's Cafe. I do not want to be grouped with these women, but I must admit that The "Farm-acy" Superfood Salad ($10.95) did come out pretty good. This salad was chalk full of items. Mixed greens, baby spinach, strawberries, blueberries, red grapes, apples, oranges, dried cranberries, celery, red onion, cucumber, spiced almonds, blue cheese, and an orange champagne vinaigrette. Basically this was the entire produce section in your local grocery store. The items were fresh and  the dressing allowed the  produce to be front and center.I am not going to switch to fruit salads anytime soon, but this is a good option for those of you that enjoy a little extra vitamin C with your greens.

Now on to the dinners from Champagnes. The first one we tried was the Chicken Breast "Paillard" ($13.95).  While I was writing this review I learned that paillard refers to a quick type of cooking. Three years into writing this blog and there is still so much for me to learn. Anyways, this chicken came with a lemon caper sauce, and was served with a salad of mixed greens, tender greens beans, mixed veggies, cherry tomatoes, and shaved Parmesan cheese. The salad portion of this was okay, but the chicken was very tender, and the lemon caper sauce was spot on.

It's summertime now, but eating the Braised Short Rib Beef Bourguignon ($18.95) advanced me six months into the future, when it is colder weather, and I could imagine eating this comfort food classic to heat me up. The short rib is cooked in a red wine with bacon, mushrooms, carrots, peas, and one of my favorites, pearl onions, alongside a flat noodle pasta. The meat was very tender and  the veggies were cooked just like you would like them. This is the kind of food that hugs you from the inside.

By this time I was getting pretty full, but they might have saved the best item for last. The Signature Champagnes Burger ($11.75) was well worth the wait. This Angus patty was topped with Tillamook cheddar cheese, caramelized onion relish, lettuce, tomato, and roasted garlic aioli. When eating burgers I am usually more about the toppings, but at Champagnes, the meat was cooked well and it was pretty juicy. The Tillamook cheese is always a winner in my book too. Great burger!

Dessert is not to be missed at Champagnes. We started off with the Sweetheart Coconut Cake ($5.95). This cake was moist, with a subtle cream icing and shredded coconut. I really enjoyed this cake. It is called the sweetheart cake because they place hearts of raspberry sauce and creme anglaise on the plate. I would call this cake the heartbreaker, because it could cause a fight between a couple sharing this, when deciding on who gets the last bite.

For all you chocolate lovers out there, this one is for you. The Callebaut Belgian Chocolate Mousse ($5.95) was served with whipped cream, strawberries, and shaved chocolate over it. The mousse was very light and the serving size was very generous. This was a rich dessert, without being overly heavy.

Before we left I wanted to snap a few pictures of the Market Center at Champagnes. This is the place to come if you want to take some fresh pre-packaged dinners to go. They also offer salads, freshly made deli sandwiches, and baked cookies and cakes. There is also a very large assortment of beers and wine that can be purchased here as well.

Our night at Champagnes could not have been better. The food was great, our fellow blogger's and media peers are always great dining companions, and of course the staff, from the owner on down to our servers were excellent.  Champagnes is a great dinner option that will not empty out your wallet. Nothing on their dinner menu is over $20, and the quality of the food is what will bring you back. This is a true family business. Owners Rand, Terry, and Tina are very involved in every aspect of this restaurant, and ensure that every guest leaves happy.

Thanks very much to everyone at Champagnes for a wonderful evening. Rand, Terry and Tina were very gracious hosts and you could tell that they are very proud of the food they serve, and it shows. Also thanks to our servers on this evening, Aman and Kelly. They worked very hard to keep all glasses full, and kept things moving at a very efficient pace. Thanks also goes out to one of the hardest working PR woman in OC, the great Jane Gillespie. She had to endure sitting next to me all night, so she definitely did her duty on this night. One last thanks goes to Phyllis Ann Marshall. She was so wonderful, and was eager to showcase this great family run restaurant. We look forward to coming back soon.

For more information on Champagnes Bistro and Deli, check out their web site here: http://www.champagnesdeli.com/index.php

Welcome to the Neighborhood Bruxie! CLOSED

Bruxie

22205 El Passeo, Suite A

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

When we heard Bruxie was coming to town we could hardly believe it. Both Katie and I felt that we had hit the food lottery. She moved to this inland city early this year, and to say that the dining scene was a little thin would be an understatement. Of course it is not all dour in RSM when it is time to eat. Pizza E Vino, Tutto Fresco, and Cinnamon Productions lead the way when it comes to some above average eats in  this master planned city. Now you can add Bruxie to that list.

We have made two trips to this third location of Bruxie. Both times there have been lines, but the lines do move pretty fast. It is a good sign that people in South OC have found out about this restaurant, and have kept supporting it. For those of you that do not know what all the buzz is about Bruxie, they basically offer hand held waffle sandwiches, that are either sweet or savory. Just like their web site says, imagine a  panini, but instead of bread you have a light, crisp waffle.

This idea started way back in 1999, when owner Dean was in Belgium, and noticed all the street vendors selling made to order waffles. He came back to the US, and started working on his own waffle recipe. By 2006 he had mastered his waffle recipe and was selling them to hotels and cruise lines. In 2009, Executive Chef Kelly Mullarney came on board to help broaden the waffle into something that was not just for breakfast, but for other meals as well. The hopes were that these lunch and dinner items would help launch a multi-unit full service restaurant. I am sure it is no surprise to you, since they now have three locations, that yes, they were successful in opening a multi-unit restaurant. Let's check out the food at this newest RSM location to see if it is on par with the other Bruxie locations.

On our first trip to Bruxie, Katie ordered the Albacore Tuna Melt ($7.95). This tuna melt came with cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato. I am not much of a tuna fan, but Katie thought this tuna melt was great. She really has a hard time getting anything else here. She really enjoys the fresh tuna, and also appreciates the produce being fresh.

So when I have come to Bruxie, it is hard for me to pass up on their daily specials. They rotate them pretty frequently, so if one is not available on the day you are here, it will most likely come around again soon enough. I could not resist their Patty Melt ($7.95). This one-third Angus patty was served with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, toasted caraway seeds, and a secret sauce. Delicious was one way to describe this burger. As good as it looks in these pictures, it tasted even better in person. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium, the caramelized onions and secret sauce added some sweetness, and the Gruyere was a very nice subtle choice here. The waffle really held together well, and had a nice crunch to it. I did not detect the caraway seeds, but it did not matter. This burger was finished too quick. I even contemplated getting another one, but dessert was next on trip number one to Bruxie.

Desserts are not to be missed at Bruxie. This visit we had one of my favorite sweet items on the menu, the Nutella and Bananas ($5.95). This not only had bananas and Nutella, but it also had a sweet cream that kind of held it all together. Very solid dessert, and this, like my patty melt, disappeared quickly. I really enjoyed the simplicity of this dessert.

Trip number two to the RSM Bruxie location was with my friend, and food nemesis, Richard, and his much better half, Lindsay. We started this time with Bruxie's version of Irish Nachos ($6.95). Fittingly, they serve waffle fries at Bruxie, and this nacho version comes with a homemade cheese sauce, crumbled bacon, sour cream and chives. I am not usually a big fan of cheese sauces, but this one is nice and mellow. The fries were crisp, and the bacon added some nice saltiness. More than enough for two people to share.

Okay, this could be the worst picture of a pretty good sandwich. Richard selected the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffle ($6.95). Bruxie's version of the chicken and waffle comes with a chili honey and cole slaw. Richard had no complaints about this sandwich, and ate in record time. This is the kind of sandwich that proves that some items that do not seem like they belong together, actually can work out quite nicely. Kind of like jerk face Richard and the lovely Lindsay.

The Turkey Club ($8.95) was Lindsay's choice for dinner. At Bruxie they use Boar's Head turkey, along with bacon, Gruyere cheese, tomato, lettuce, avocado, and pesto aioli to make up their version of a club sandwich. Lindsay liked the fresh produce used here, and was happy that the pesto aioli was light, and did not detract from the other elements of the sandwich.

Again I was too distracted by Bruxie's daily specials to order anything off of their regular menu. This visits culprit was the Carolina Pulled Pork Bruxie ($8.95). This was made up of shredded pork, cider slaw, cheddar cheese, and their own BBQ sauce. This was another winner. The pork was pretty tender, and really had a nice meaty flavor. The cider slaw worked well to balance out the sweetness of the BBQ sauce, while adding a little texture to the sandwich. The only drawback I see with this sandwich was that there could have been more meat, but other than that I really enjoyed it.

Since we were two couples, that meant that we could get two desserts. The first was ours, the S'Mores ($5.95). They use Belgian chocolate, graham cracker and toasted marshmallow to create their version of the campfire treat. I have had this dessert numerous times and have never been able to detect the graham cracker in this. Regardless though, it is still a very tasty treat. The marshmallow is house made here, and the chocolate is very rich. I also enjoy the crispness of the waffle.

Richard and Lindsay opted to go for the Lemon Cream and Berries ($6.50) for dessert. This straightforward sounding Bruxie had a very tart lemon cream to go along with the strawberries and boysenberries. I am not too big a fan of fresh fruit, nor lemon, so this one was not for me. Everyone else seemed to like this one though.

I am happy to report that the new Bruxie is just the same as the other two locations. I have really enjoyed everything that I have ordered here. The ingredients are fresh, and the waffles are an interesting vessel to carry them. The waffles are good, but still allow the contents of the sandwich to be the star of the show. My one minor complaint would be that the sandwiches could be stuffed more. Not that you are going to get cheated or anything, but I am a big eater, so I could easily eat more than one of these sandwiches. Ordering is done at a counter, and brought to your table. The operation runs very smoothly, and the employees here are all very nice. After leaving here we are still very happy that Bruxie moved into the neighborhood.

Out of five paintbrushes, (because the country of Belgium has produced a great many painters, and Bruxie was inspired by this Low Country), five being best to zero being worst, Bruxie gets 3.5 paintbrushes.

For more information about Bruxie, click here: http://bruxie.com/

Bacon Coma at Slater's 50/50 - CLOSED

Slater's 50/50

17071 Beach Blvd. 

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

My love for Slater's 50/50 is probably well-known to almost anyone who reads this blog, checks out our Facebook page, or reads our Twitter posts. I always inform people about the latest happenings from the home of the 50 percent ground beef and 50 percent ground bacon restaurant. Writing this blog, we only sometimes try too many restaurants twice, or even more than that, but Slater's is in a relatively consistent rotation of places we frequent.

Why do we go to Slater's so often? I will not tell you that Slater's is the best burger I have ever had. I will not tell you that Slater's is the best burger we have in OC today. We keep coming here because they constantly add new things to their menu. They almost always hook me with their burger of the month. This was the case for our July visit. Also, we had yet to review their Huntington Beach location, so that was enough reason to head over to HB.

Here is a brief history for the three of you who need to learn about Slater's 50/50. This restaurant is the concept of owner Scott Slater. An avid San Diego Chargers fan, he was tailgating with his buddies when the idea of bacon and ground beef patty came into the conversation. He toyed with the idea for a while, and then in 2009, he teamed up with Executive Chef Brad Lyons to open up their first location in Anaheim Hills. This restaurant rocked the OC food scene and brought many people to this out-of-the-way shopping center. Two years later, they opened another location in HB, with a San Diego spot quickly following. Today, they are expanding yet again, with the announcement of a new location in Pasadena.

Slater's offers customers the choice of creating their own burger off of a checklist of almost anything they could imagine on a burger. They offer 5 kinds of breads, 20  sauces, 30 toppings, and 12 types of cheese. The combinations are nearly endless. Not in the mood for their signature 50/50 patty? They also offer six other kinds of meat to stuff between the buns. For those who have difficulty making decisions, Slater's already has 10 designed burgers and other sandwiches and salads. I had no indecision on this visit. I knew what I was coming here for. So, let's get to the food.

I am always a fan of dips, and the Slater's Vampire Dip ($8.95) never disappoints. This garlic, cheese, and artichoke dip is served in a sourdough bread bowl and fried pita chips. You will want to share this very rich appetizer with friends. The dip is best with the bread bowl I think. Always a great choice to start with.

As much as I like the Vampire Dip and the burgers at Slater's, I have never been too excited by the appetizers. One good thing about them is that Slater's offers you a sampling of any number you want. We went with the Pick Three ($6.95), which gave us our choice of three. We selected the Panko Fried Mac N' Cheese, Sweet Potato Fries, and Beer Battered Onion Straws. The fried mac n' cheese served with a Tapatio ranch was the best. How could fried macaroni and cheese ever be a bad idea? Sweet potato fries are not really my thing, but the pumpkin sauce served with them made them bearable. The onion strings were very light, but I could not taste the onion here. The breading also broke away from the onion too easily. With the appetizers done, it was time for the burgers.

Okay, not a burger, but Katie proves that you do not have to eat 4000-calorie burgers when you come to Slater's. She went with a Chicken Sandwich ($8.95). She added avocado, garlic aioli, onion, spring lettuce, tomato, and asparagus to this sandwich. As for the bread option, Katie had them put it on a ciabatta roll. This sandwich's highlight was the chicken, which she called well-cooked, and the asparagus, which she claimed was very fresh and added an excellent flavor to this sandwich. Katie was not too excited by her choice of the ciabatta roll here because it was too much with all these toppings. She will also forgo the garlic aioli in favor of the pesto aioli next time because the garlic aioli overpowered the sandwich.

Most of the time, people tell me I overdo it and shrug them off. On this trip, even I knew I should not have done this! What you see here is the burger of the month for July, The 'Merica Burger ($14.95). This burger was a 100% bacon patty with a sunny-side-up egg, two strips of bacon, bacon island dressing, and bacon cheddar cheese. Talk about bacon overload! To make matters even worse, I let the waiter talk me into getting the pound size of this burger because he had not seen anyone order it and finish it. Man, I am a sucker! After the first bite, I was in bacon heaven. Bacon flooded all of my taste buds. As I ate this burger, though, the bacon really became too much. There was nothing to cut the bacon taste other than the egg, and that was too tough of a job for this poor egg. After eating this, I could feel the bacon course through my veins for the next few days. Yes, I finished this burger, to the great amazement of my table mates, the waiter, and curious onlookers, but I will never do it again.

After a bit of snafu with her burger, Kat got her Build Your Own Burger ($11.95) almost when I finished mine. She got the two-thirds-pound all-bacon patty but managed to only eat less than half of it. Kat filled out the next item I will show you. She got this burger with Swiss cheese, baconnaise, pastrami, more bacon, tomato, onion, and vampire dip. I have never seen Kat finish anything, so Slater's conquered her.

Kat ordered the Maple Bacon Shake ($5.45) if we did not have enough bacon. This shake really tasted more like a vanilla shake with bacon bits added. We only got the bacon flavor when we sucked up a piece of bacon, which by the end of our bacon odyssey, was a nice change of pace.

This trip to Slater's was not the best I have had. You can say that I overindulged to the highest degree. I will not make that mistake again. The HB location is larger than the Anaheim Hills location. We still had about a fifteen-minute wait at 4 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. The service was as good as we have always gotten at Slater's. All the workers seem to be having a good time here. I understand that Slater's is not for everyone, but I like it. It could be classified as the ultimate in "guys' food." It is not something I would eat every day, but even after my experience here, they already got my attention with their next burger of the month. I am not going for the whole pound, though.

Out of five Porky Pigs (because I felt like I ate five pigs on this trip to Slater's), five being best to zero being worst, Slater's 50/50 gets 3 Porky Pigs.

For all things, Slater's 50/50, check out their web site here: http://www.slaters5050.com/