Mariachi Madness at Casa Del Sol

 Casa Del Sol

2497 Park Avenue

Tustin, CA 92782

Opening a new restaurant has got to be one of the most nerve-racking experiences to undertake. There's just so much that goes into it that it's got to feel like a tidal wave coming at you from all directions, and all that you can hope for is that you can withstand the onslaught of everything going on around you. It's probably even more so in these crazy times that we have been going through for what seems like the last seven years, but in reality, it has only been 20 months. 

I used to have a very strict policy of waiting a year before reviewing restaurants on this blog. Then I had a change of heart as many people wanted to know if that new place they were thinking of going to was worth parting with their hard-earned money. Always one to listen to my readership, all three of you, I now go to all restaurants, regardless of how long they have been in business. 

Casa Del Sol, which took over the Auld Dubliner spot at the District at Tustin Legacy opened in mid-September, and we visited during their opening weekend. This visit was almost a near-miss because they were having problems with their computer system, but they got it all figured out and opened their doors a half-hour after their posted 5pm opening time. We did not have a reservation, so we had to wait while they seated people with reservations first, but we eventually got a nice table out on their patio. 

The backstory of Casa Del Sol is pretty interesting. The restaurant is owned by legendary mariachi musician, Jose Hernandez, who has been nominated for multiple Grammy's, and to the right of the hostess stand, there's an enclosed case with plenty of information about him. This restaurant used to be Cielito Lindo, but not the one that is famous for its taquitos on Olvera Street in Downtown LA.  This one was in El Monte since 1986 and held nightly mariachi shows which drew people from all over. 

The pandemic hit them hard, along with all of the LA County restrictions on restaurants, so they looked to move their operations to OC. When we visited they had paper menus, and we were told this was a slimmed-down version of their menu, but it looks pretty similar to the menu that is posted online. They still have their mariachi shows twice an evening but are closed on Mondays. Check the link at the bottom of this review for more info. We were too early for the 7pm show, but I was here for the food anyway. Let's check out this new kid on the block. 

As is the custom on this blog, we have to start with the Chips and Salsa we were presented with as we were seated. The chips were lightly fried, and the salsa was fine, it just needed a bit more pop of spice. I also like a little more chunk to my salsa, but the abundance of chopped onions was a nice touch. 

Katie and I have become Queso Fundido ($12) fiends, so we definitely needed to start our evening off with Casa Del Sol's version. The bubbly cheese blend was topped with chorizo, diced tomatoes, and some cilantro, and was served with flour tortillas. I really enjoyed the cheese and the bigger chunks of chorizo which really made this stand out. The downside of this appetizer was the diced tomatoes topping this and that we were only given three tortillas to split between the four of us. Still, it was worth trying for sure.  

My mom is pretty predictable when she's eating Mexican food. Nine out of ten times she's going to have a cheese enchilada. At Casa Del Sol that meant the 2 Cheese Enchilada Plate ($15) would be sat in front of her. These enchiladas came with red sauce covering them with a drizzle of sour cream on top. She's a light eater, so she only had one and took the other one home, but she exclaimed that she enjoyed these enchiladas. She was not a fan of the rice since it included a few peas. Peas have been her arch-nemesis since she was a child. 

As sure as my mom gets enchiladas, my dad is going to get a Chili Relleno ($19). Coming two to a plate, these chile Rellenos were filled with Monterey jack cheese and finished off with more cheese, sour cream, and a slight amount of ranchero sauce. My dad liked these but stated he'd probably get something else next time he visited. 

Birria Tacos ($23) are all the rage right now, and Casa Del Sol appears to want to get in on that action right now as well. These were the best item of our evening. The beef was nicely flavored and provided an even better flavor bomb when dipped into the provided consume. This came with rice only, which I thought was odd, especially when you are paying nearly eight dollars per taco. Seem like some beans should have been added to this as well. 

I've been trying a new tactic when eating in Mexican restaurants, and it's to try something off of the specialties section of their menu. At Casa Del Sol the one that piqued my interest the most was the Carnitas Uruapan Style with a Cheese Enchilada. The carnitas texturally was just the way that I like them, a good mix of fatty, crispy, and savory pieces, but these needed a bit more in the flavor department. The cheese enchilada was just as my mom stated, good, and was a nice diversion between forkfuls of the carnitas. This plate was good sized with the provided rice and beans. The beans were fine, but I rather enjoyed the lightness of the rice, which was not as heavy as most other Mexican restaurants. 

After our meal, we walked around the District for a bit, and then we wandered back inside Casa Del Sol on our way out to the parking lot to check out the mariachi show. The place was jam-packed with people listening to the very talented musicians on the stage. If you are into mariachi music, you have to check this place out. The food on the other hand was just a bit above average. Nothing that we encountered on this evening was mind-blowing, even though the birria tacos were quite good, but you can get better at other spots nearby for quite a few dollars less. For being a new restaurant the service and kitchen were on point. We got our food in a very timely manner and our server was juggling at least five to six tables with ease during our visit. I'll be interested to see how this place does going forward.  

Out of five cradles, (because Cocula, Jalisco Mexico is nicknamed the cradle of mariachi due to the fact that this type of music started in this town), five being best to zero being worst, Casa Del Sol gets 3 cradles. 

For more information about Casa Del Sol, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.casadelsoloc.com/

Hoping for Some Good Sandwich Mojo in Huntington Beach - CLOSED

 Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar

16446 Bolsa Chica St.

Huntington Beach, CA 92649

There are certain areas of OC that I've neglected over the years. Mostly because I have lived in South OC for the entirety of the run of this blog, it's been hard to get to the north end of our grand county. Buena Park, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, and North Huntington Beach have some great places to eat, but most days, it will take me about an hour one way to get to these cities, but I have decided I need to remedy this.  

My buddy Steve lives nearby in Los Alamitos, so it was an excellent time to catch up, talk some hockey, and try a place in an area I have long shunned due to geography. Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar came across my radar a few months ago when a long-time reader suggested I try it. Constantly aware of someone who has taken the time to reach out with a tip, I added it to my list of restaurants to try and waited until the perfect time to try them out. 

Mojo opened in August of last year in the middle of the pandemic. They are located at the intersection of Bolsa Chica and Heil, at the far left of the small shopping center that includes several small shops, including The Hangout Restaurant, Domino's Pizza, and Sea Salt Japanese Eatery. The restaurant layout has half indoor seating and an umbrella patio out front, with a circular bar bridging the two. The inside is decorated smartly with painted yellow walls, large TVs showing sports, and paintings of blues legends adorning the walls. 

The menu here is divided into hot and cold sandwiches and subs. The price point hovers right around the $10 mark per sandwich and only varies by a buck or two in either direction. There's also a trio of salads, snacks, and sides. My friend Steve and I quickly ordered, got a few beverages from the bar, and grabbed one of the prime spots on the patio while waiting for our food. 

Steve and I decided we were going to split three sandwiches on this visit, which would help us get a better grasp of what Mojos was all about, plus I'm always up to eat an extra half sandwich. You don't see muffuletta sandwiches often in OC, so the Mojo's Muffuletta ($13.99) was a must-try for us. This version was made with salami, mortadella, and salami, with sliced provolone, and olive salad, all sandwiched between sliced ciabatta. My first few bites of this were not very inspiring, but this sandwich grew on me, even though I am nowhere near the biggest fan of olives that you will ever meet. The olive salad needed to be balanced with some oil and vinegar to moisten things up, but it was still a solid start to our sandwich odyssey at Mojos. 

Not to ruin the rest of this review, but this Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ($9.99) was our best one on this early afternoon. This sandwich featured buffalo fried chicken, tangy coleslaw, pepper jack cheese, and spicy aioli. You might think this would overwhelm you with heat, but you'd have been wrong. It was a very manageable heat level, providing a big flavor burst in each bite. I really enjoyed the different textures of the crispy coleslaw, tender chicken, and the soft and chewy ciabatta, which held its form wonderfully. Yes, I would have liked more chicken on here. But I'd get this one again for sure. 

Last but not least for us was this Mojo's Reuben ($10.99). With big hunks of corned beef intertwined with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye, this sandwich impressed both of us, but some Russian dressing or even mustard would have made it even better. The corned beef they use was nicely done and was rightfully the star of this sandwich. 

Not that we needed it, but I had to give the Reese's Fried PB and J with Ice Cream ($6.95) a whirl. When this was placed in front of us, I knew we made the right choice in getting it. This was simply a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich with peanut butter and berry sauce drizzled over it, with two scoops of ice cream. It was sweet, but the savory peanut butter muted the sweetness. While eating this, I used to spoon some ice cream and take alternating bites from the spoon and the quartered sandwich. It was like fair food but elevated and did not cost $14 like it would at the OC Fair.  

Mojos could be the very definition of a hidden gem. I follow many food people, peruse many online restaurant blogs, and read the mainstream media about OC restaurants. This is a sandwich spot that no one has written about until now. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Huntington Beach or the surrounding area. When I return here, I look forward to trying the Pastrami, Philly, Meatball, and Buffalo Chicken we had on this visit. The service was pleasant and cordial, and the price point at Mojo's was very fair. This is another reason Huntington Beach is the sandwich capital of OC. The number of great sandwiches found within its city limits is almost unfair. More of a reason that I need to get to the parts of OC that I have neglected for far too long. 

Out of five Powder Puff Girls (because the main villain in this animated series is Mojo Jojo, not that I've seen this, of course), five being best to zero being worst, Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar gets 3.5 Powder Puff Girls. 

For more information about Mojo's Sandwiches and Blues Bar, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.mojossandwiches.com/

Falling in Love With Cupid’s Hot Dogs? - CLOSED

 Cupid's Hot Dogs

106 North Harbor Blvd. 

Fullerton, CA 92832

Hot dogs need to have their moment in the spotlight. Hot chicken sandwiches, bacon on everything, poke, frozen yogurt, and even kale were a thing for a hot minute a while back. What we need now are more hot dog restaurants in OC. With a few exceptions, restaurants relegate hot dogs to the kid's menu or offer one at the bottom of their regular menu as a throw-in. Hot dogs should be front and center more often. Luckily, the people of North OC now have a new option for hot dogs, and it's called Cupid's. 

If Cupid's Hot Dogs sounds familiar, you must have grown up in the Valley. They have been serving hot dogs up there since 1946 and are now being run by the third generation of the Walsh family. I did not grow up in the Valley but had heard of them when I visited PCH Dogs in Orange. Owner Scott Browning grew up there, and when he moved to OC, he missed their hot dogs so much that it inspired him to open his own place. See, the power of the hot dog is a powerful thing. 

A new family has brought Cupid's to OC, but they have been working with the Walsh family to ensure that the consistency is the same here. The menu is similar to the ones in the Valley, with the difference being that the Fullerton spot offers fries, but they don't sell soft-serve ice cream. In the six months they opened, they have amassed a perfect five-star rating on Yelp, which, along with my love of hot dogs, was enough for me to make a lunch date with my parents recently. 

Plenty of parking was in the back of the storefront, but the entrance is on the Harbor Boulevard side. When I was growing up, this was a baseball card shop, and more recently, it was a jewelry store. The long, narrow space is sparsely decorated with their logo on their white walls. A couple of tables and a four-seat counter face one of the walls. There is not much seating, so avoid mealtimes or plan ahead and order to go, as we saw several people do during our visit. 

The menu is really very simple here. They have five hot dogs to choose from, and the sixth is a build-your-own option. Sides include fries, chili, and chips. For those who care, there's no fountain drink service here, as they only have beverages in bottles. With such a limited menu, we quickly made our selections and took the one unoccupied table to wait for our food. 

Let's start out with the Chili Fries ($4.75). With the exception that Cupid's uses crinkle-cut fries, I thought these resembled Tommy's chili cheese fries. The chili had the same taste and texture but needed more cheese to help balance things. This was layered well, so I was not just left with a bunch of fries at the end. The fries stayed crispy throughout my whole time eating this. 

This Reuben Dog ($5.80) missed the mark for me. The hot dog had an excellent snap to it, but the sauerkraut really overpowered here, so I could not taste the mustard or cheese. This hot dog is misnamed, as a true Reuben has Swiss cheese and Russian dressing, not mustard and cheddar cheese. It was okay, but I'd skip this in favor of the two hot dogs still to come. 

My mom is pretty basic regarding what she likes on her hot dogs, so it was no surprise that she opted for the Make It Your Way Hot Dog ($4.85). With this option, you can choose any toppings that you wish. I don't know if this includes chili or if there are any limitations; the menu is a bit vague. My mom went with mustard and light relish on her hot dog. She loved the all-beef hot dog and the pillowy soft bun, which was spongy and held its shape well. Way better than her beloved Weinerschnitzel hot dogs that she has monthly. 

One of the better, if not the best, chili cheese dogs I have had in OC. Their namesake Cupid Hot Dog ($5.35) comes with plenty of chili, onion, mustard, and shredded cheddar cheese. What made this so good? It starts with the all-beef Vienna hot dog that they use here. Its casing really snaps when bitten into, and you can taste the high quality of the hot dog in every bite. The bun held up nicely to the meaty chili. I wish more onions were involved here or placed on top of the chili to get them more involved in each bite. Still an excellent chili cheese dog. 

Based on my chili cheese dog, I can see why people in the Valley are so passionate about Cupid's. Their menu has limited options, but if you crave a hot dog, this place will satisfy those cravings. Service was straightforward, and the price point for some of you might be higher than what you are used to paying at your local Wienerschnitzel, but these are far superior hot dogs and worth the extra dollar or so. I have doubts, but I'm still hoping this might get the ball rolling so that hot dog spots start popping up so I don't have to drive 45 minutes to visit Cupid's every time my hot dog cravings hit.  

Out of five leftovers (because when Cupid's opened in 1946, it was also the same year that Tupperware was invented, which helped keep leftovers fresher longer), five being best to zero being worst, Cupid's Hot Dogs gets 3.5 leftovers. 

For more information about Cupid's Hot Dogs, head to their website here: https://www.cupidsoc.com/

We Pledge Our Allegiance to the Kabob Republic - CLOSED

 Kabob Republic

1781 Newport Blvd. Suite C

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

I've written about it before, but Katie is obsessed with garlic sauce. She's been looking for one as good as she used to have when she worked in Ontario about ten years ago. We've had some good ones, but nothing compared to the garlic sauce from Alina's Lebanese Cuisine. That is until we ventured into Kabob Republic in Costa Mesa on a recent Saturday evening. 

We had just finished walking the Newport Back Bay Trail and needed nourishment after our three-mile stroll. Kabob Republic has been written up in the OC Register four times by their restaurant critic, Brad A. Johnson. He named it one of the best new restaurants back when they started out in 2017, one of the best 75 places to eat in OC in 2018, hailed their doner kebab as the best available in OC, and lastly listed this restaurant as one of the top 20 spots for cheap eats in OC. You can say he really enjoyed this place. 

We arrived just after 7 p.m. and were met with an empty restaurant, but the phone was going crazy with people calling in orders to go. Ordering is done at the counter, and the food is brought to you. The space is bathed in light colors, with the predominant color being ocean blue, which is very calming. The wooden chairs are not the most comfortable; maybe some padding would help make things a little better. 

The menu at Kabob Republic is divided into appetizers, salads, wraps, bowls, entrees, specialties, and sides. All the greatest hits of Mediterranian cuisine are represented here; falafel, hummus, beef gyro, and chicken shish kabob, among others, are offered. There are also some deeper cuts of Mediterranean cooking that I need to familiarize myself with. Those will have to wait for future visits, as I'm a creature of habit when trying a spot for the first time. Let's see if all the love that Brad Johnson heaped upon this place was warranted. 

For the most part, Katie and I get along famously. Yes, I'm not a big fan of her Starbucks obsession, and sometimes, when I let her pick an appetizer, she whiffs. It happens to everyone, so I chalk it up to experience. That's what happened when she chose these Feta Cheese Rolls ($8.99). These came three to an order and were stuffed with feta and herbs. I'm not a big feta fan, as I only like it in limited amounts. This was too much for me. Katie liked them, though, and would not let them go to waste. 

My strategy when eating out is to get a combination plate to get a feel for a place. At Kabob Republic, that meant the Duet Doner Gyro Kabob ($14.99) would be placed in front of me. With this entree, I chose the beef tri-tip doner shwarma and the lamb gyro. Both were extremely good. The lamb was just a bit better, with its well-spiced and tender curls of deliciousness. The beef was heartier, and both proteins were made even better with the excellent garlic sauce, which I'm happy to report is the best we've had in OC. With this meal, I got to pick two sides, and I went with the spicy hummus and the fries. The fries were okay, but the spicy hummus was as advertised, it was spicy. Most other places just call their hummus spicy, which doesn't deliver. This one had some kick to it, which I appreciated.  

Katie got this Chicken Gyro Bowl ($14.50) to go along with her soon-to-be favorite garlic sauce. This bowl had plenty of chicken, vibrant cabbage, mixed greens, tomatoes, red onion, and a pickle mixture. She loved this, with the well-seasoned chicken, the fresh veggies, and, of course, the garlic sauce. The portion size was more than she bargained for, as she could not finish it in one sitting. No need to worry, as I stepped up and ate the rest. It's the least I could do. 

When we walked out the door after our meal, stomachs full, we both felt that this was one of the better  Mediterranean meals we've had in recent memory. It was made even better with the brief, but our conversation with the owner on our way out was fantastic. He's very proud of the food he serves here, which shows in their execution. The portion sizes were pretty generous, especially when portions are shrinking as prices increase. Our garlic sauce quest has ended, but maybe there's another one out there that's just as good. We will head to Kabob Republic when we are craving Mediterranean food. 

Out of five Peeps (because this horrible Easter candy was introduced in 1953, the same year that Costa Mesa was founded), five being best to zero being worst, Kabob Republic gets 3.5 Peeps. 

For more information about Kabob Republic, head to their website here: https://kabobrepublic.com/

Birria Bonanza at Navarro’s Taqueria

 Navarro's Taqueria

1535 South Standard Ave.

Santa Ana, CA 92707

I'm slowly going through my restaurant wishlist, trying to get to some of the places that have been on my list for a couple years or more. One of those spots is Navarro's Taqueria, which opened just over two years ago, near the intersection of Standard and Edinger Avenues. They won rave reviews from some food writers that I really respect. That was enough to get me up and out of the house on my day off, driving thirty minutes each way for an early lunch. 

Located between a gas station and an auto mechanic, across from Madison Park, Navarro's is a blink and you'll miss it spot. According to my friend that lives in the area, this location has been a number of restaurants over the years, but nothing has stuck. I have a feeling that with all the great press and the four and a half star reviews that they receive, Navarro's might be around for a long time. They also feature the one thing that might be hotter than Nashville hot chicken sandwiches right now, birria. 

For those of you that are not familiar with birria, here's a little history. Birria comes to us from Jalisco, Mexico, where it was made centuries ago. It's basically a stew, traditionally made with goat. The birria tacos we know today are birria de res, which is made with beef. The tortillas are dipped in the broth, which gives them their trademark orange hue. The beef is shredded and the tacos are served with the consomme, which is the broth that the meat is cooked in. It's topped with cilantro and onions, and the tacos are dipped in it for an even greater flavor enhancement. 

Navarro's gets a lot of love for their birria, but they also offer eight other kinds of proteins which can be made into tacos or burritos. There are also ten tortas to try, along with quesadillas, taquitos, nachos, and loaded fries. Breakfast is also done here for early risers. Prices are pretty modest, with only a couple plates exceeding the $12 mark. Their online ordering worked well for me, as my food was ready when I arrived. It was wrapped well to avoid spillage and was all accounted for. Let's see if my sixty-minute drive for lunch on my day off was worth it.  

First up, the famous Birria Combo B ($13.99), which includes three birria tacos, beans, rice, and consomme. The tacos are street taco-sized, but they provide plenty of the birria in each one, topped with plenty of cilantro and diced red onion. I was expecting the tortillas to be a little moist, but they were fried crisp. On its own, the birria was good, but when dunked into the consomme it became even better. The moisture and big flavor of the consomme burst through in each bite The beans and rice were pretty solid as well. 

With the exploding popularity of birria, it was just a matter of time before some hybrid birria items became mainstream, and that leads us to this wonderful Quesabirria ($9.99). Even better than the tacos, this quesadilla filled with birria and cheese was the perfect vehicle for the birria. Very cheesy and filling, these four pieces did not last too long. I especially liked the crispy tortilla which added a nice texture to each bite. You have to get this when visiting Navarro's. 

It was not all birria for me on this trip, as I had to give their other tacos some love. I tried the Al Pastor ($1.55), Asada ($1.49), and the Carnitas ($1.49) tacos. The best of the bunch was the pastor, which had a pleasing marinade seared into the pork, with a touch of sweetness from the pineapple dripping down the trompo. My silver medallist here was the asada, which was more tender than I was expecting, and got a nice jolt of flavor from the provided hot salsa that was packed tightly in my bag. The carnitas was, unfortunately, a bit dry, and lacked any depth of flavor that I was hoping for. Not awful, but it could not hold a candle to the other proteins at Navarro's.  

Navarro's Taqueria was definitely worth visiting on my day off from work. The birria, especially in the quesabirria was delicious and has gotten me inspired to seek out more of it as soon as possible. I was also impressed with their regular tacos, which were filled with way more than I was expecting, based on the price, and were anything but lackluster. If any of you have any birria places you think we should try out, don't hesitate to reach out via social media or with the email at the top right of this page. 

Out of five shot glasses, (because Jalisco, Mexico was not only the birthplace of birria, but also tequila, and as every college-aged student knows, a shot glass of tequila is a great way to start an evening of partying), five being best to zero being worst, Navarro's Taqueria gets 3.5 shot glasses. 

Navarro's Taqueria does not have a website, but you can get more information about them on their Yelp page by clicking here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/navarros-taqueria-santa-ana

A Taste of the Motor City in San Clemente - CLOSED

 Gibroni's Pizza

215 South El Camino Real

San Clemente, CA 92672

When I was growing up, I was naive about pizza. I never knew there were regions where pizza differed from the ones I consumed with great vigor after soccer games, birthday parties, and rounds of miniature golf. After a trip to the East Coast in the mid-eighties (yes, I am that old), I realized that all pizzas were not created equally after eating a pizza in New York City. That pizza we ate on that sidewalk in Manhattan all those years ago helped me see that there was way more to pizza than what I'd been eating at Chuck E Cheese or Pizza Hut. 

As I grew older, traveled more, and became a more adventurous eater, I soon realized that whether a pizza was made in the style of New York, Neopolitan, Chicago, New Haven, or Sicilian, they all had their own merits. Luckily, as the restaurant scene has evolved in OC, these pizzas are readily available without needing a plane ticket. 

The latest craze in the pizza game is Detroit-style pizza. Pizza Hut has been promoting it on TV, and my Instagram feed has featured plenty of it when I'm scrolling. There are now two places that serve pizza from this Midwestern city in OC, along with others in LA. I could not take seeing the glowing reviews and drool-inducing pictures anymore, so I gathered up two friends, and we headed to Gibroni's Pizza in San Clemente. 

Gibroni's operates out of the kitchen at JD's Bar, in the heart of downtown San Clemente, alongside El Camino Real. Tony and Lindsay Gioutsis had run a food truck in Texas but decided to make a dash for the beautiful shores of the Pacific. When the pandemic hit, they began perfecting their Detroit-style pizza, which they deeply missed from their youth in Michigan. They now run this pizza spot, Tony, in his trademark Detroit Tigers cap, Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

But what exactly is Detroit-style pizza? It's pizza baked in a pan with sauce on top, cheese to the sides, and a buttery crust that is crispy on the edges and soft in the middle. Just like deep-dish pizza, making this kind of pizza takes a little time. They suggest you order on their website about 30 to 40 minutes before you want to eat longer during peak times on Fridays and Saturdays. We were going to be enjoying some beverages at JD's, so we just ordered online and waited for our pizzas to be ready. I was excited about my first Detroit-style pizza. Let's check it out. 

First up is the mushroom-centric Fun Guys Pizza ($16). This eight-by-ten-inch pizza comes with crimini mushrooms and is joined by sausage, white truffle oil, and porcini cream sauce. It is then finished with some parsley on top. Mushroom fans need to get this pizza stat, and even if you are not the biggest fan of shrooms, this flavor was very pleasing. It was hearty, and I loved how the crispy edges and soft dough in the middle contrasted. This could have had more sausage for my tastes, but it was an excellent start to my maiden voyage of having Detroit-style pizza. 

At Gibroni's, they feature a pizza of the month, and while we were there, we had this delicious Colonel Barry Sanders ($16). Hopefully, this one comes back soon. It's their take on the Nashville hot chicken craze at its peak right now. This one is topped with fried chicken pieces, pickled jalapenos, green onions, and their custom cheese blend. I detected a bit of heat and some sweetness in some bites, but I don't know where that came from. This pizza came with a side of their Cranch, which is what they call their house-made buttermilk ranch, which was excellent. For fans of buffalo wings, this would be your jam. 

This From the D Pizza ($16) is the most traditional pizza on the menu at Gibroni's. Double pepperoni, marinara, and parmesan made this pizza a winner. I loved the pepperoni they use here, which crisped up and formed little cups. The pizza was savory, with a touch of sweetness from the marinara. Because everything is layered on top of the pizza, it makes everything more prominent. 

We all split this Cheesy Bread ($11 with bacon added) as if we did not have enough carbs. The menu failed to mention that some sliced bell peppers and green onions would be included on top of this, which was not a big deal to me, but if you are not a fan, be advised. This was like their pizza but in breadstick form. It comes with either marinara or cranch, and we went with the ranch, which is always a good choice. 

Gibroni's lived up to the hype I had expected before my visit. You can now count me as a devotee of the Detroit-style pizza movement sweeping the country. This is more than a fad; this is some seriously great pizza. I loved the crispy edges and pillowy soft middle. This is a hefty pizza, much like a deep dish, which will make you full after only a few slices. The small pizzas will feed two adults, as two squares are enough for most people; even though I went through four during our visit, I was pretty stuffed for the rest of the day. Even though this was my first Detroit pizza, this is one of my top three pizza experiences in OC, joining Tony's Little Italy in Placentia and Terra Mia Pizza in Laguna Hills. I'm glad my tastes have evolved since I was a kid, and I loved all that mediocre pizza we got from Pizza Hut, Domino's, and others. 

Out of five Lakers (because Tony and Lindsay, the owners of Gibroni's, met at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and their school mascot is Louie the Laker), five being best to zero being worst, Gibroni's Pizza gets 4 Lakers. 

For more information about Gibroni's Pizza, head to their website here: https://gibronispizza.com/

Brother, Can You Spare Some Barbecue?

 Brothers Barbecue

618 South Center Street

Reno, Nevada 89501

Lake Tahoe had been fun but went by way too quick. It was a great weekend getting to spend time with Katie's work family and seeing firsthand how generous her workplace is to their employees and families. We had some hours to kill before our plane left Sacramento to take us back home at 7pm. We had to vacate our hotel room at 11, so that gave us four hours to explore, minus the two-hour drive back to Sacramento. Where to kill some time?

I had thought of maybe exploring Virginia City, or maybe checking out the capital of Nevada, Carson City. As is usually the case, food was the guiding force as to where we would be heading. A quick check of the restaurant scene in both of these towns kind of discouraged me from visiting. Instead, we headed to Reno, which had numerous restaurants to choose from and had some casinos where we could lose our money. 

After a quick drive downtown, a selfie under the Reno sign, a quick jaunt to the Truckee River, and an hour or so of gambling, we were ready for lunch before hitting the road back to Sacramento. I'm not even sure how I settled on Brother's Barbecue, which is located in the Midtown area of Reno. They have a really respectable 4 and a half star rating on Yelp with over 600 reviews, which is something that I definitely look for, but I really think both Katie and I were just craving some barbecue this afternoon and were hoping that Brothers would be an excellent send-off to our getaway weekend. 

Brothers Barbecue has been open for business for the last seven years. They specialize in Texas-style barbecue, which means that they cook their meats low and slow, with smoke added for flavor. That means my favorite barbecued meat was on the horizon for me, brisket. Along with the brisket, Brothers also offers pulled pork, spicy sausage, and pork ribs. Beef ribs are available on weekends, while turkey is offered on Thursdays. The meats are available in sandwiches, bowls, plates, or by the pound until they sell out, which is usually a great sign that you've found a great barbecue spot. Let's see if that would hold true at Brothers Barbecue.  

As is the case when I'm eating in a barbecue restaurant for the first time, I get a plate so I can try as much as possible in one visit. At Brothers that meant that I'd have the Bro's Semi-Famous Brisket and Three Pork Rib Plate ($20). The brisket here was first-rate. It had a very nice pink-hued smoke ring running alongside it, had just enough fat which added a lot of flavors, and was not too moist where it would fall apart too easily. A very sturdy piece of brisket. The pork ribs were also good, with the requisite smoke ring present and plenty of meat on each rib. Each rib was kissed with just enough sauce so it was not too intrusive. No sauce was needed for either of these two proteins, but if you just gotta have sauce, both the original and the habanero were nicely done, but I was partial to the habanero one more, which had a very manageable heat level based on my palette. With my plate, I got the choice of two sides, and I went with the homemade potato salad and the mac and cheesy. The potato was the better of the two. The chunks of potato were fork tender and I liked the mayo-based dressing that coated each cube of potato. The mac and cheesy was a miss for me. It was served at room temperature with grated cheese topping it that had no chance of melting. It was devoid of the flavor that I get from other versions of mac and cheese. 

Katie strategically got her Bro's Two Meat and Two Side BBQ Plate ($17) with different items than myself, so we could try even more of the food at Bothers Barbecue. She went with the pulled pork and the spicy smoked sausage, both of which were very good. The pork was moist and flavorful with some nice pieces of bark intertwined into the pile. I was a bit more partial to their sausage, which definitely had some heat present along with a nice snappy casing. I'm not really a big fan of macaroni salad, but she enjoyed this version. The southern corn was a simple dish of corn kernels that were seasoned nicely and went well with the rich meats. The cornbread was not as sweet as I usually like, but Katie could not get enough as she took mine for herself. 

Brothers Barbecue was an excellent choice for what was going to be our only meal in Reno, before heading back home. The meats that we had were all standouts. I felt the sides were fine, but none really blew me away. Prices were not too bad for the amount of food that you get. Service was friendly and they got the food out to us in a very quick manner. I would not hesitate to return if I found myself back in Reno anytime soon. 

Out of five catcher's mitts, (because Reno is home to the largest sporting goods store in the world, Scheels has a 65-foot tall Ferris wheel inside, a 16,000-gallon aquarium, and  I'm sure they sell plenty of catcher's mitts), five being the best to zero being worst, Brothers Barbecue gets 3.5 catcher's mitts. 

For more information about Brothers Barbecue, head to their website here: https://www.bbqreno.com/