Eating Out of the Vox in Fountain Valley

 Vox Kitchen

16161 Brookhurst Street

Fountain Valley, CA  92708

If you search Yelp for the most reviewed Orange County restaurants, Vox Kitchen is ranked number seven, with over 5,300 reviews. What's even more astonishing than that is that Vox Kitchen is the proud owner of a four-and-a-half-star rating. Yelp is notorious for its reviewers getting on their platform to complain about restaurants, so a place with such a high rating and many reviews has excited me. 

I was also excited because we were finally going to be able to eat at Vox Kitchen after a false start. About six months ago, we had come here and were met with a two-hour wait, which was not conducive to how hungry we were. We found a Peruvian spot a few miles away, but I knew we would be back to try this busy spot. With the help of the Yelp waitlist, we got our name on their list and timed it ideally to arrive at the restaurant just as our table was ready. It worked like a charm. 

Vox Kitchen is part of the Kei Restaurant Group, run by Executive Chef Viet Nguyen, who started Sup Noodle Bar in 2014. From there, he and his team opened up Vox Kitchen three years later and now have a full roster of restaurant concepts under their tutelage. Their website boasts 11 restaurants, most located within striking distance of the Little Saigon area. 

Vox Kitchen is described as Asian Comfort Food inspired by chifa cuisine. What is chifa cuisine, you ask? I had to look it up as well. It's the culinary fusion of Chinese and Peruvian cuisine brought to Peru in the 19th and 20th centuries by East Asian immigrants. The menu resonated with the community, as they are packed almost every night. Let's check out what all the hoopla is about. 

We started things off with two small plates, the first of which was these Bacon Brussel Sprouts ($12). Everyone is doing a brussel sprout dish these days. This one from Vox is topped with crispy bacon, an egg, and pork sung, which I'd describe as pork dust. I liked that they did not try to do too much with this. They did not rely on a sweet sauce to make these sprouts enjoyable. Instead, they doubled up on the pork and allowed the runny egg to tie everything together. The sprouts could have been left to get a bit crisper, but they are a solid starter.  

Elote ($13) was not something I was expecting to find at Vox Kitchen, but they nailed it. Sweet corn mixed with parmesan, parsley, and spicy crema came together to create a nicely done version of this Mexican street food staple. It was not on the cob, so it was easier to eat this way. 

Our good friend Adrienne will start the entree part of our meal with her selection, the House Fried Rice with Chicken Thigh ($16). The fried rice is mixed with scrambled eggs and scallions and topped with a fried egg. The cubed chicken is served to the side, which I liked, as it lets the chicken stand out a bit more. The chicken was seasoned well and tender. No complaints from Adrienne with this one, as she took half of it home to be eaten for lunch the next day. 

Katie switched things up by getting the House Garlic Noodle with Filet Mignon ($20). They use an organic wheat noodle here and mix it with a little dusting of parmesan, butter, garlic, scallions, and a secret sauce. The result was quite delicious. Very comforting, and it went nicely with the cubed steak and onions. Katie enjoyed the tender beef, but it was overshadowed by the garlic noodles, which she called wonderfully delicious. She was also a big fan of the green aji sauce. 

I'm a sucker for a good Saltado with Filet Mignon ($20), and this one was one of the better ones I've had. Another comforting dish, this had a base of french fries with tomatoes, onions, and steak heaped over it. It was good, but their spicy green aji sauce raised this a level. The fries picked up the juices from the steak and made them a little mushy, which was fine. I steered clear of the big hunks of tomato and used my leftover aji sauce to mix with the scoop of rice to ensure my carb consumption was even higher than it typically is. 

Unlike me, my buddy Chris is very carb conscious, so he steered clear of the mound of rice on his  Mushroom and Rib-Eye Stir Fry ($17). Instead, the plentiful shimeji mushrooms are mixed with little bits of ribeye in a soy beurre blanc sauce. I thought the mushroom to steak ratio was one-sided here, in favor of the mushrooms, but no complaints from Chris about this. 

We made another visit to Vox Kitchen with my aunt and uncle a month or two later, and on that visit, I tried the House Fried Rice with Rib-Eye ($27). This was even better than my first meal here. Even though I'm a big fan of their saltado, the fried rice will be my go-to meal at Vox from here on out. The rice, fried egg, and the nicely done medium rare steak worked together to create a well-balanced meal. 

It's easy to see why Vox Kitchen is so popular. Their food is very comforting and appeals to a wide range of people. I could even see taking my parents here, who are not exactly the most adventurous eaters, and I bet even they would enjoy the food at Vox Kitchen. The prices here will not break the bank, but you need to be aware of something when eating here. They get their food out incredibly quickly, which is usually good, but not when you eat in a sit-down restaurant with family or friends. We felt rushed on our two trips here and were only here for 45 minutes. However, that doesn't change the fact that we really enjoyed Vox Kitchen and will return soon. I'm sure their popularity on Yelp will continue to grow. 

Out of five comic books (because there's a character in the DC Universe known as Vox), five being best to zero being worst, Vox Kitchen gets 3.5 comic books. 

For more information about Vox Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.eatvox.com/

Doing More Than Win-Dow Shopping in Venice - CLOSED

 The Win-Dow

1827 Ocean Front Walk

Venice, CA 90291

Before I met and married Katie, I had never really been an LA guy. Instead, I was content to go about my regular routine in OC. Sure, I had made a couple of trips to LA; visiting Universal Studios, going to Pasadena for the Doo-Dah Parade, watching our friend run the LA Marathon, and then going to Philippe's for a French dip sandwich. But that was really about it. 

When I told her I had never been to the Valley, Katie was flummoxed. It almost rocked her to the core that I had never been there. She was even more shocked when I rattled off that I had never been to Santa Monica, Malibu, Westwood, or Griffith Park. We have since crossed most of these off this list, and it was time for another initial visit to an LA tourist spot, my first trip to Venice Beach. 

We were on vacation this week and decided to take advantage of the light midday traffic and try some burgers in Venice Beach. I had an excellent burger at Great White for lunch. As we walked the famous Venice Boardwalk, I spied The Win-Dow, which has gotten glowing reviews from the good folks over at Eater LA, with a well-researched article by Farley Elliot, which you can read here. I've also seen this spot featured on local TV, and even though I was not precisely hungry when we walked by, I felt obliged to stop and try it out because who knows when I will get back up this way again. 

The Win-Dow debuted in 2019, serving burgers from a window at American Beauty from 11-5pm on weekdays and 8am to 5 on weekends. They have since expanded to two other locations, one in Silverlake and the one we were visiting on this day, on the Venice Boardwalk. The Win-Dow is part of the same restaurant group as Superba, The Tasting Kitchen, and American Beauty, all of which have gotten glowing reviews in their own right. 

The menu at this beach location is very simple and straightforward. There are three burgers: a fried chicken sandwich, a grain bowl, a kale salad, and fries. They also have shakes and dipped cones for dessert. Nothing on their menu is over $7.95, even cheaper than Carl's Jr. Even though we had just eaten, I was excited about my first Win-Dow experience. Let's check it out. 

My plan was that I was just going to have a single bite of whatever I got here and save the rest for later. However, after my first taste of the Double Cheeseburger ($6.50), I knew things would not go as planned. Nevertheless, I could not stop myself from eating the whole thing. The Angus patties were grilled on the flattop, allowing a bit of crispiness to surround the outer edge of the burger. This contrasted with the melted American cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and house sauce. The soft and pliable potato bun was structurally sound enough to keep everything together nicely. Everything on this burger worked in perfect harmony to create an excellent sensory experience. I had wished I got one more to go, but I wasn't sure it would have lasted the hour's drive home. 

The second of my two sandwiches was the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($6.25). This was on the same bun as the burger and featured a very well-made fried chicken, coleslaw, and a small amount of what I assumed to be mayo. The chicken had crunchy breading with tender chicken inside. It's just what you want with a chicken sandwich. This just needed more mayo and coleslaw added to it to make it stand out more. It's not awful, but you should bring your own jar of Best Foods mayonnaise if you order this sandwich.  

I was impressed with The Win-Dow. Not only is their food reasonably priced, but their stuff is also high quality. It makes you think that national fast food places are serving subpar food to us at inflated prices. For them, it's all about making money, unlike The Win-Dow, which is about making their customers happy by serving them a delicious burger at a more affordable price. We experienced good service this afternoon and got our food promptly. I'm glad I could cross the famous Venice Boardwalk off my list, but even more happy that I got to experience the burger at The Win-Dow. 

Out of five dumbbells (because this restaurant is close to Muscle Beach, the famous spot where many renowned bodybuilders get their start lifting dumbbells), five being best to zero being worst, The Win-Dow gets 3.5 dumbbells. 

For more information about The Win-Dow, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thewin-dow.la/

Swimming With the Sharks at Great White in Venice

 Great White

1604 Pacific Avenue

Venice, CA  90291

I get my restaurant tips from many sources. It used to be that I'd read other people's blogs, but there aren't that many people blogging these days, except for yours truly. So that means I usually get my tips from Instagram, local press, and magazines. However,  most of my restaurant suggestions come from my readers and people I encounter daily. Almost everyone has an opinion on where the best food is, and they are not shy to give me their recommendations, which is awesome and welcomed. 

So who got me off my comfy couch to drive 62 miles north for lunch? It was none other than Phil Rosenthal. If you have not watched Somebody Feed Phil, which airs on Netflix, put it on your list of things to watch. His joy in eating and life is infectious. I usually binge the whole season within the first week of its release. It's that good, and the places he visits are definitely some I'd like to try one day. 

Anyways, Phil tweeted a picture of a burger he had, and it looked so good that I decided I had to try it. Both Katie and I had taken a vacation day, and it was the perfect time to visit Great White in Venice Beach. I had never been to Venice before, and with the light midday traffic, we made it up from South OC in under an hour. Parking was no problem this warm early June afternoon as we walked the few blocks to Great White. 

Great White is self-described as an all-day, casual cafe focusing on coastal Californian, fresh, and seasonal cuisine. This Venice location opened five years ago, followed by a Larchmont spot just under a year ago. The two Australian owners have created a light and breezy resort vibe in their dining room. Wicker basket light fixtures, white painted walls, and arched entryways are the dining area's focal point, attracting a young, hip, and good-looking clientele. 

The menu at Great White has a little bit of something for everyone. They serve breakfast from 8 to 3pm, lunch begins at 11, and the five main entrees are available after 3pm. The lunch menu is broken into six sections; salads, bowls, sandwiches, share plates, pizzas, and desserts. Most items on their lunch menu are around the $20 price point, which is reasonable these days. Let's see if the 50 minutes drive for lunch was worth it. 

Up first for us was some Avocado Dip ($14). The smashed avocado was combined with diced red onion, a sprig of cilantro, and some Aleppo pepper, which is moderately spicy, but added a tinge of cumin flavor to this dip. I liked the originality of this guacamole. It was fresh, and the Aleppo pepper made it a bit unique. This was served with some taro chips, which I would usually turn my nose to, but these provided a lightness that let the guacamole shine through a bit more. An excellent and light start to our visit to Great White.  

Chicken sandwiches are all the rage right now, and Great White has a very good one. Their Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($18 plus $2 for the sweet potato fries substitution) is not of the spicy Nashville variety. Instead, it's a straightforward version with cabbage slaw, pickles, and a secret sauce added to the nicely crisped breading coating the moist chicken. This was a very clean-tasting chicken sandwich, which was fried well and lacked the greasiness one associates with other inferior chicken sandwiches. The brioche bun held together nicely, but I would have asked for a little more of the secret sauce if this was my meal. Sweet potato fries are not really my thing, but Katie found these to be enjoyable. 

Here's why we came up to Venice, the Tremendous Burger ($18) I saw Phil Rosenthal having on Twitter. It was just as good-looking as what I remembered in that photo. The glossy bun with the wonderfully melted American cheese covering the two smashed burger patties is finished with some shredded lettuce, secret sauce, and caramelized fennel. This burger was worth the drive. It reminded me of a higher-quality In-N-Out burger, made with better ingredients and seasoned way better than anything that has come out of the kitchen at the aforementioned overrated fast food favorite. Due to all the cheese, it was a little messy to eat but worth getting dirty for. The fries were crisp, salted, and made even better when I asked for a Side of Garlic Aioli (.50). 

With just this one lunchtime visit, it's apparent that Great White is not only a beautifully designed restaurant, but they have some delicious food here too. If we lived closer, I could see us eating our way through their rather extensive menu often. I've heard good things about their breakfast burritos; the fish tacos, pasta dishes, and pizzas look worth trying. We experienced friendly service on this visit, as our server was pleasant but did not make a habit of sticking around our table too long. I'm sure he will never read this, but thanks, Phil, for posting the picture of your burger. I can't wait to see where you are going to eat next. 

Out of five beauty school dropouts (because the movie Grease was filmed at nearby Venice High School, and Beauty School Dropout is one of the songs in that movie), five being best to zero being worst. Great White gets 3.5 beauty school dropouts. 

For more information about Great White, head to their website by clicking here: https://greatwhite.cafe/

A Royal Welcome on Balboa Island

 Royal Hen

311 Marine Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92662

Well, I just had another trip around the sun, and that's cause for a birthday dinner. I'm not really big into birthdays. No big parties, no presents, just a simple night out trying a restaurant with Katie. Very simple and uncomplicated. Maybe also a trip to Mastros for my favorite dessert of all-time, butter cake. That is if we are not too tired. Yes, getting older definitely zaps all of your energy.  

For this year's birthday extravaganza, I went to my trusty restaurant wishlist to select one of the restaurants that have been on my list the longest. Only six restaurants have been on this list longer than Royal Hen, which I have been meaning to try since 2016. That's when they opened their doors for the first time and almost immediately got praise from the local press and patrons alike for their food. It only took six years, but my 51st birthday seemed the perfect time to visit. 

We had made reservations for 7pm on a Friday evening, and with some good luck with parking on Balboa Island, we arrived about ten minutes early and were sat right away. We were led past the very crowded bar to the back dining room, which was a tad quieter than the front of the restaurant. The room was darkened a bit too much, but it lent to the gastropub vibe they are going for at Royal Hen. In addition, the restaurant exuded friendliness, as our server, manager, and other customers were quick to converse about their love for this restaurant. It really felt like we had just walked into a party in progress. 

The menu at Royal Hen is one page and separated into four sections; snacks, entrees, sides, and desserts. Mains average around the $24 price point, which is not highway robbery when considering this area. The snacks will set you back $15 or so, and two salads are available. They are serving European-sized plates here, meaning portion sizes are curtailed a bit. Something to keep in mind if you are debating whether or not to get a starter or not. We were here celebrating, so let's see what we ended up having. 

The first of our two snacks was the Crispy Wrapped Asparagus ($16). Three asparagus stalks are wrapped in a crispy pastry with prosciutto and herbed cream cheese, with a horseradish yogurt on top. I was not expecting this kind of preparation, but I ended up enjoying this. The outer crunch with the prosciutto and asparagus was a nice contrast in textures that kept me interested. A bit more horseradish yogurt would have raised this even higher. 

Next up was some Warm Miche Bread ($7). Miche is a loaf of sourdough country bread, which was quartered and served with ample salted Sierra Nevada Creamery Butter. Our slice of bread was pretty close to being charred on the outside. However, the inside was dense and light simultaneously, which is precisely what you want with sourdough. Again, the butter was very high quality, and I was pleased they were not stingy with it. 

Katie kept the carbs coming when she selected this Short Rib Fettuccine ($28) for her entree. The fettuccine is made in-house, combined with a great short rib ragu, and topped conservatively with shaved parmesan and fresh basil. We both enjoyed everything about this plate. The pasta was cooked al dente, the ragu was meaty and flavorful, and the only drawback was the smaller than usual portion size. We could have eaten a whole lot more of this. 

When Royal Hen first opened, two items were not on their printed menu that food critics were wild about, the burger and this Chicken Pot Pie ($21). In those days, you just had to know about them to get them, but now they are on the printed menu. People are still crazy about this chicken pot pie, as it's one of their most reviewed dishes on Yelp. I liked it, but I'm not fanatical about it. It's on the smaller side, probably the same circumference as a softball. The inside was not as creamy as others I have had, and the chicken was in tiny pieces, which did not help make it stand out. There were some peas, carrots, and onion in here too. I was a little confused about the small salad on top of this, as it wasn't dressed and not really needed. Once I discarded the salad, it revealed a top crust that was more buttery than other versions. I was happy I tried it, but I'd get the burger the next time I was here. 

As far as birthday dinners, this one was pretty solid. Royal Hen is one of the rare restaurants I've been to that I have liked even more as I'm writing this review. It's not that I wasn't a fan as we walked out, but writing this review has gotten me excited to revisit and try their burger and other items soon. The service was friendly and welcoming, and I did not think the prices were that expensive. The night went perfectly, and we made it to Mastros for that butter cake. 

Out of five college students (because in 1971, the same year as I was born, Cup Noodles was also invented, and many college students have survived their four years on this instant ramen), five being best to zero being worst, Royal Hen gets 3.5 college students. 

For more information about Royal Hen, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.theroyalhen.com/

A Long Overdue Visit to Rosine’s Mediterranean

 Rosine's Mediterranian

721 South Weir Canyon Road

Anaheim Hills, CA 92808

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t Be Yellow, Head to Crimson Coward

 Crimson Coward

23706 El Toro Road

Lake Forest, CA 92630

The hot chicken trend shows no signs of slowing down. Every time I log on to Instagram, it seems there's a new Nashville-style chicken restaurant that catches my eye. I keep thinking this chicken craze will fizzle out, like the poke, frozen yogurt, and bacon fads before it, but it hasn't seemed to happen yet, and we are going on nearly four years strong of a continuous stream of hot chicken restaurants popping up. The latest one I've tried is Crimson Coward in Lake Forest. 

The man behind Crimson Coward is Ali Hijazi. Before opening his first location in Downey three years ago, he took several trips to Nashville to perfect the rub for his chicken. It's a secret, of course, but they have let it slip out that it contains 16 primary and 32 secondary spices. They apply the rub to the chicken 24 hours in advance, so all the flavors can meld. Their chicken is also worth noting. They use hormone-free chicken from a farmer with whom they have a direct relationship. 

People seem to have taken notice of Crimson Coward. Even with new hot chicken restaurants opening almost daily at this point, they now have four locations open. Their Downey location was first, then Artesia, Lake Forest, and in April of this year, they cut the ribbon at their Long Beach store. Each of these locations possesses at least a four-star rating on Yelp, and they were named one of the top 20 best-fried chicken places by USA Today. So it's no wonder that they have such an aggressive expansion plan in place, as they are eying going national by the end of this year. 

My friend Owen from work is a chicken sandwich fiend. He always seems to know all the new places sprouting up. He knew about Crimson Coward way before I did. He suggested that we meet up here on a recent Thursday. We arrived at the Lake Forest location at 11, right when they opened. This Crimson Coward is situated in the Arbor shopping plaza, which is also home to Lucile's BBQ, Crumbl Cookies, Habit Burger, and other eateries. 

The menu here features sandwiches, tenders, wings, and sides, including fries, potato salad, fried pickles, slaw, and a Crimson onion; if you've ever had an Awesome Blossom or Bloomin' Onion, it's basically that. There are five levels of heat that you can choose from. On my maiden visit to a hot chicken restaurant, I generally go for the middle of the heat levels. Let's see how this worked out for us on this trip. 

Owen and I got the same sandwich, The Crimson ($14). He got his sandwich country style, which meant with no heat, and I got mine with the medium spice level, described on their menu as a slap of heat, which was right on the mark. Their namesake sandwich comes with coleslaw, pickles, and crimson sauce, all on a brioche bun. The crimson sauce is best described as a spicy mayo. I liked it better than others I have had. The flavor was good, but what made it for me was that the texture was a little thicker than their competitors, so it stuck to the chicken better. The chicken is pounded flatter than others, which led to it overhanging the bun quite. I treated the excess chicken as a chicken tender and dipped it into the sauce. The chicken was moist, and the medium spice level might have been perfect for me, as the heat grew as I ate this. The bun did an excellent job keeping everything together. I also got a single Chicken Tender ($3.75) which I did not snap a picture of because I was pretty hungry. I got this extra tender hot, one spice level up from my sandwich. It was hot but not unbearable. I liked the crunchiness of the tender, and the inside was tender. 

For a side, I got their Crimson Onion ($9). This version of an awesome blossom was anything but awesome. This was way over-fried and not seasoned correctly. Most bites I had tasted like burnt onions, especially the inside pieces. Their ranch is good, but it could not save this side item. I left most of this behind. 

I've been a real Potato Salad ($4) addict lately, so I gave the one here at Crimson Coward a try. This version is what I'd consider to be more of the chunky variety instead of my preferred version, a more smooth and creamy adaptation. It was good with a little of what I assume is their spicy rub sprinkled on top. The first bite I had was rather hot due to the rub, but the rest of this was mellow. Not an awful potato salad, but nothing that blew me away either. 

Owen got his potato intake by getting these Crimson Fries ($5). I've noticed that they usually give you a lot when you get fries at a hot chicken restaurant. This was the case here. Way more fries than what Owen could eat. They were fried crisp, seasoned ever so slightly, and came out nice and hot. 

I liked Crimson Coward, even with the slight hiccup from the overcooked onion. Their chicken was good, and writing this review kind of got my juices flowing to make another return visit soon. That said, I'm still looking for the hot chicken spot that will dethrone my favorites to this point; Crack Shack, Cluck Kitchen, and Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. Crimson Coward was close but just missed getting into this top three. Their prices seemed a little high, but when I cross-checked them with their competitors, they were priced the same. The service was satisfactory, as I believe it was the franchise owners that served us and prepared our meals. Thanks for joining me, Owen, I'm sure it will be no time before another hot chicken restaurant opens, and we will try it. 

Out of five nests (because the crimson sunbird is the national bird of Singapore, and they build their nests in acacia trees), five being best to zero being worst, Crimson Coward gets 3 nests. 

For more information about Crimson Coward, head to their website by clicking here:https://www.crimsoncoward.com/

Breakfast, Courtesy of the Great White North

OEB Breakfast Co. 

1104 Irvine, Ave. 

Newport Beach, CA 92660

I enjoy it when breakfast restaurants break out of the same old egg dishes, pancakes, and french toast options. When they bring something new and different to the table, literally and figuratively. Breaking the mold to make themselves stand out. So when I started following OEB Breakfast Company on Instagram, I knew I would move it up on my restaurant wishlist. 

OEB, which stands for over easy breakfast, opened in The Counter's former spot in the corner pocket of the Westcliff Plaza, situated at the corner of Irvine and Westcliff Drive. Opened in May, OEB Breakfast Company comes to us from the great white north, otherwise known as Canada. There are several locations spread across Canada, and the only other one in the US is situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

This chef-driven concept is helmed by Mauro Martina, a classically trained chef who has built this restaurant from a small 1,000-square-foot space in Calgary. He grew up in Italy and moved to Canada in 1992 to pursue his dream of becoming an executive chef, which he accomplished at age 21. The natural progression for him was restaurant ownership, which he achieved in 2009, sharing his vision for a farm-to-table breakfast experience. 

That experience has created a unique and playful menu with many whimsical names for his dishes. The menu is divided into blue plate specials, breakfast bowls, benny's, scram-blettes,  sandwiches, sweet items, and more. As with most new breakfast/brunch restaurants, there's a full bar, which goes well beyond the usual bloody mary and mimosa offerings. 

We arrived at EOB at half past 11 on a recent Sunday and had a twenty-minute wait for a table. We passed the time by getting a chocolate croissant for later at Pandor and people-watching. When we were texted that our table was ready, we hurried back to the hostess stand. The dining room seats 100, which seemed like a lot for the size of it, but the flow of people was nice and orderly. The predominant color is bright white, with booths, stand-alone tables, and a communal table filling the space. We were seated on the 25-seat patio in front of the restaurant. Now that we were sitting, let's see what OEB had to offer foodwise. 

First was Katie's selection, the Gotta Chick This Out ($18.50). This giant egg concoction was filled with some pulled chicken, spinach, semi-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella. Katie liked this well enough but thinks there's a reason why chicken isn't in more omelets. It's kind of bland. That, and the fact that there wasn't a lot of cheese present in this kind of made it fall flat. She'd get something else on her next visit. The scramblettes all come with duck-fat fried potatoes, fruit, and a choice of toast. Online reviews for the potatoes are glowing, but we found them underseasoned and not as crisp as we expected. On the other hand, the fruit was fresh, and the toast was fine.  

This was the first time I had seen pierogies on a breakfast menu, so I was intrigued enough to try the Pierogies and Duck ($22). The pierogies were filled with a potato mixture and placed on the plate with thick hardwood smoked bacon, pulled duck confit, a drizzle of raspberry vinaigrette, and two sunny-side-up eggs at the top of the pile. This was a vibrant dish. The pierogies were lightly fried but not rubbery like a lot of them tend to be. The bacon was very smokey, and the duck was done perfectly. The egg yolk, when pierced, tied everything together nicely. I did not get much from the raspberry vinaigrette, as it got lost here. A very filling breakfast plate.  

Ever since the pandemic started, I have been crazy about anything with bananas. I've made countless banana chocolate chip bread loaves, had too many slices of banana cream pie to count, and even made a delicious dessert called Banana Lasanga. So I was naturally drawn to this Banana Cream Pie French Toast ($18). With brioche as its base, this is layered with banana cream, sliced bananas, whipped cream, and toasted almonds. Unfortunately, this was a miss from me. It was not anywhere close to sweet, and after a few bites, it became pretty dull. I expected some sweetness from the banana or whipped cream but was let down. I'd skip these in favor of maybe the Nutella french toast or the buttermilk griddle cakes next time. 

OEB made a good first impression, even with the french toast misstep and Katie's choice of an egg dish. The plates in front of us were unique, made with great technique, and visually stunning. My plate was as delicious as it looked. I'd describe OEB as a breakfast restaurant that we'd hit only on special occasions. It was pretty expensive, as we spent $72 plus tip for the two of us, which is a lot for the day's first meal. However, most people around this area don't seem deterred by the prices here, as they have a four-and-a-half-star Yelp rating after only two months. Part of that might be due to the friendly service we observed on this visit, but the kitchen still had a few kinks to work out with promptly getting meals to the tables. Still, OEB is a breakfast restaurant worth checking out if you are tired of the same old breakfast.  

Out of five lassos (because this restaurant chain started in Calgary, Canada, which is also home to the largest rodeo in the world, the Calgary Stampede), five being best to zero being worst, OEB Breakfast Co. gets 3 lassos. 

For more information about OEB Breakfast Co., head to their website by clicking here: https://us.eatoeb.com/

Pardon My French, It’s a Damn Good Burger

 Butcher's House Brasserie

3321 Hyland Avenue Suite D

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

With the rising prices going on everywhere you look these days, I have been searching for some deals. I had heard that Butcher's House Brasserie had a perfect one for lunch. They offer a burger, fries, and a beer, wine, or beverage of your choice for $24, Tuesday thru Friday from 11am till 3. That's only a couple of bucks more than I'd pay in my local drive-thru. With all the glowing things I've heard about this place, I had to check it out. 

Butcher's House opened at the very end of last year in the old Pueblo location at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. It's helmed by Jeoffery Offer, a native of France who had previously worked his way up from pastry assistant to executive chef at Moulin, helping that restaurant go from one location to five during his tenure. 

Not satisfied with working for someone else, Chef Jeoffery dreamed of owning his own restaurant. That dream was realized a few feet away from Moulin's SOCO location. Offer learned a lot about the art of butchery from his father, who was a butcher in his hometown of Toulouse, France. Butcher's House is an informal restaurant focusing on dry-aged beef and other French specialties. 

People and the press have taken notice. Orange Coast Magazine named Butcher's House the best new restaurant of the year. Another considerable accolade was being included on Brad Johnson's 75 best restaurants in OC list, coming in at 42 on that heralded list. Not too bad for a restaurant that has only been open for nine months. Other articles from Eater LA, the Orange County Business Journal, and Los Angeles Times have followed, showcasing what Chef Offer is doing here. 

The lunch menu is a slightly pared-down version of the dinner menu, and both menus have the same prices no matter what time you are eating here. I like that. Unless the portions for lunch are more petite than dinner, the meals should be priced the same. The menus at Butcher's House are divided into soups and salads, mains, house specialties, burgers and sandwiches, sides, sauces, and desserts. Prices for entrees range from $17 to $48 for the 14-ounce ribeye. In addition, the lunch menu features three specials, which is what I was here for. So let's get to it. 

Here's what inspired me to drive 40 miles round trip for lunch, the Burger Special ($24). As I stated before, it includes a burger or sandwich of your choice, french fries, and a beverage of your liking, including a draft beer or wine. So let's take a closer look at what we have here. 

First up is the Mountain Burger. This dry-aged beef patty was topped with roasted garlic, caramelized onions, dijon mayo, thick-cut bacon, a slice of potato?, and raclette cheese between a very well-crafted brioche bun. The standouts were the patty itself, seasoned well, juicy, and cooked nicely to a medium temperature. The bacon is made in-house, and it had a nice bite to it and was less smokey than I expected. I was not sure what to make of the sliced potato, but it did not really get in the way here, with the presence of the very gooey cheese. Plenty of onions and garlic were present, but I would have liked a little more of the dijon mayo to have been applied to this, as I think it would have tied things together a bit more. Whoever their bread supplier is should be proud of this bun because it did a superior job keeping everything together while maintaining a soft and pillowy texture. 

The French Fries at Butcher's House were sturdy, fried well, and seasoned simply with salt and pepper. These are the kind of fries that In N Out strives for but misses every time I have them, which is seldom because I'm not a fan, but I digress. These fries came with some ketchup, but I like variety, so I needed a dipping sauce to keep things interesting. I tried two of them, the Shallot and Blue Cheese ($1.00 each). Since I did not have the menu in front of me, I relied on my server's guidance in picking from their five sauce options. I was disappointed with the shallot, as this red wine-based sauce was not meant for fries. The blue cheese was a little better, but it was thinner than I expected, and the flavor was a little more subdued than I liked. Checking the menu now; I should have tried the spicy mayo or the Bernaise. 

I was a little confused about what this side of lettuce drizzled with dijon dressing was for. It was a lot of lettuce to add to my burger, and it was dressed way too lightly and left in big leaves to be a salad. Since I had a little extra sauce, I ended up cutting it up and making a salad. It was not the best, but I didn't want it to go to waste. Again, it was a lot of lettuce. 

My little lunch excursion to Butcher's House Brasserie was a nice little treat for myself on my well-earned day off from work, but it only whetted my appetite to revisit this restaurant soon to try their affordable steaks, sausages, and sides. The burger and fries definitely lived up to the hype, as they were cooked perfectly, and with just one bite, you could taste the quality and craftsmanship of both. I can only imagine that their other entrees would be the same. The service on this visit was efficient and friendly. I will search out more of these specials in the future, so keep an eye out.  

Out of five airplanes (because Chef Jeoffery is from Toulouse, and that French city is the center of the aerospace industry in all of Europe), five being best to zero being worst, Butcher's House Brasserie gets 3.5 airplanes. 

For more information about Butcher's House Brasserie, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.butchershouse.com/

A Tip Top Lunch in Carlsbad?

 Tip Top Meats

6118 Paseo Del Norte

Carlsbad, CA 92011

We were in Carlsbad, so you know what that means. It means it's time to get Katie a new purse from Coach at the Outlets of Carlsbad for her birthday. This has been our tradition for the last eight years now. First, we do a little shopping, and then I find a place for us to eat. This year we had my parents with us as well, and I decided it was time to cross another restaurant off of my restaurant wishlist. So we headed a couple blocks south of the Outlets to Tip Top Meats. 

The man behind this spot is John Haedrich, known to his guests and employees as Big John. He escaped from East Germany in 1949, leaving everything behind to come to West Germany for a better quality of life. While in West Berlin, he got his masters butchers certificate, and when he answered an ad requesting a master sausage maker, it brought him to the US. Not wanting to get stuck in the middle of the country, he ventured out to California, opening Tip Top Meats in Glendale. After a ten-year run there, he was on the move again, relocating his successful business to its present location in Carlsbad.  

Tip Top Meats has become a Carlsbad institution. They have been fixtures in this spot since 1967, which is way longer than I've even been alive. Okay, not by much, but still, it's an impressive feat to be in business for 55 years. Not just a restaurant, they are also a full-service European market, butcher shop, and deli counter. 

We arrived at half past one on a Sunday and were met with a pretty long line of people ahead of us. The line moved fairly quickly, though, giving us a little bit of extra time to decide what to have. Ordering is done at the register, and then you are given a number to display at your table. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. 

The menu is one of the bigger ones I have seen recently. They have plenty of sandwich options, pork, veal, lamb, chicken, and beef entrees, plus German favorites. They also have an option where you pick out your steak from their butcher counter, and they will prepare a full dinner for you for the price of the steak plus $5.98. Speaking of prices, nothing on their menu is over $15, with most items right about the $10 price point. We were all pretty hungry, and lucky for us our food came out way quicker than I had imagined. Let's take a look. 

I went a little out of my comfort zone but embraced my German heritage by trying something I had never had before, the Rouladen ($12.98). This is a round steak stuffed with bacon, mustard, onion, and pickles with brown gravy. Not bad, but I was expecting a little more from the inside ingredients of this dish. The meat was pretty tender, and the gravy added a nice homey feeling. This plate also came with all the fixings, mashed potatoes and gravy, red cabbage, sauerkraut, a roll, and a salad (not pictured). This was enough food for two meals, which I took home and ate later for dinner. The mashed potatoes were fine, and the sauerkraut was one of the most pungent versions I have had. The red cabbage was the best of the three sides, with a slightly sweet and sour flavor. 

My mom is not one to try German food, so she went with the Turkey Sandwich ($9.98). This rather large turkey sandwich was parceled into three parts and included a good amount of freshly sliced turkey but no lettuce or tomato. My mom got this on toasted sourdough with light mayo. The fries are your typical frozen variety, but they did the trick for my mom. 

Tossing aside his German roots, my dad went with a French Dip Sandwich ($9.98) for his midday meal. This sandwich came on a glossy french roll with swiss cheese and a good amount of sliced roast beef. The roast beef was okay on its own but was much better when dunked in the provided au jus. Next, my dad went with the German potato salad instead of fries. He liked this vinegar-based potato salad better than the American mayo-based version. So maybe his German roots did peek out a bit this afternoon. 

Katie was pretty hungry after her birthday shopping excursion, as she got the Reuben ($9.98) and a Side of Spaetzle ($4.49). This traditional Reuben consisted of corned beef, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese on rye. You can see from the picture that they used rye for two sections of the sandwich and swirl bread for the third portion. I'm sure it was a mistake, but Katie did not complain. She might not have even noticed it. I'm not sure if Russian dressing was included here, but it was not mentioned on the menu board, and from the picture, it does not appear like it. None of us were big fans of the spaetzle. It was very bland, and after two bites, I did not really see the point of eating this German pasta. We'd skip it the next time we visited. 

Tip Top Meats is much better than any subpar food options at the Carlsbad Outlets. The meals here are moderately priced, and the portion sizes are very generous. Something that is very rarely seen these days. The plates we encountered this afternoon did not blow us away but were still pretty solid. Our experience here does warrant a return visit, maybe to try their sausages, stuffed pork chops, or breakfast plates. Ordering was a pretty slow process, but we might have hit them during a rush. Once we ordered and sat down, our food came out relatively quickly, and the food runners were continuously circulating to ensure our needs were met. Another successful birthday outing to get Katie a new purse and try a new restaurant. 

Out of five Big Macs (because, like this restaurant, 1967 was also the year that the famous McDonald's burger debuted), five being best to zero being worst, Tip Top Meats gets 3 Big Macs. 

For more information about Tip Top Meats, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.tiptopmeats.com/index.html