Out of This World Italian at Cosmo's? - CLOSED

Cosmo's Italian Kitchen

23411 Aliso Viejo Parkway

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

I read lots of food blogs. I like being in the know on what's going to be opening, closing, and what are the latest trends. I read all of the posts that the great writers put up at Stick A Fork In It. They do a great job of keeping all of us from OC up to date with the food happenings around here. One of my favorite writers there is Dave Lieberman.

Not only a great writer but a good guy as well. I had the privilege of meeting him once at an event, and we talked about numerous things. The one thing that stuck out for me was that he offered me $5 if I could find something worthwhile to eat in Aliso Viejo. Being put on the spot, and even later when I could not think of anyplace, I put it in the back of my mind to take that Lincoln bill from his wallet. Every time we eat in the AV, I always have it in the back of my mind that this is could be, "the one". That is what I was thinking when we came to Cosmo's in Aliso Viejo.

Cosmo's is in a little strip mall, away from the larger shopping center of the area, the Aliso Viejo Town Center. Cosmo's has been around since 1998. They have two locations, with their other location being in Las Flores.

We arrived at the restaurant at 7 on a Friday night. Prime dining time for sure. We had about a twenty-minute wait. Once inside we were treated very warmly. The place was packed and loud. Tables are very close together. After checking out the large menu, we made our selections, and this is how it all came to our table.

Here is a quick look at the breadbasket. Nothing too crazy about it. We were all very hungry, so we made quick work of this basket. The bread was soft and went well with the olive oil and vinegar. 

This wonderfully plated dish was the Mozzarella Caprese. Not really my kind of appetizer, but they all liked the freshness of this plate. Fresh buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes, olive oil, and basil made up this good-sized appetizer. More than enough for three people to share.

At Cosmo's, they really like to garnish their appetizers with almost a whole salad in the middle of the plate. The Britt's Bruschetta, Toscana Style was no exception to this. The fresh tomato was joined by garlic, green onions, and herbs on toasted bread. We all really liked this appetizer. The flavors melded well together, and the fresh ingredients really made the plate come alive. 

Matt and I both got salads to go along with our meals. He went with John's House salad. This one came with red onion, shaved Parmesan, and vinaigrette. I had the Caesar Salad, which was your basic Caesar. I did like the amount of dressing that they use here, but I usually like more than the average person. This salad could have used a little more cheese, but the croutons were pretty good here. 

This odd-looking dish was Katie's selection, the Rotelle Emiliana. Described in the menu as rolled pasta with spinach, ricotta cheese, and Parmesan, with a tomato cream vodka sauce. I am very against adding to menu items in restaurants, but she wanted chicken added to this dish for some reason. The chicken was added to the outside of the dish and was on the lukewarm side. I give Cosmo's credit for doing what the customer wants, so they get no knocks for the chicken. However, the rest of the dish had temperature issues as well. Katie called this meal, "unremarkable". Based on the bite I had of this, I would have to agree. I liked the sauce, but there was nothing going on with the pasta. 

A much better meal was Stacy's pick, the Pasta Rustica. This familiar-sounding plate included bow tie pasta, chicken, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms in a roasted garlic cream sauce. The sauce really clung to the pasta well, and the taste was right on. All of the items in the bowl worked well with each other to make this the best plate of the night. Good picking Stacy!

Both Matt and I went with the same thing here. At least it is less typing for me. I do not know why I always gravitate towards Carbonara's, because it is a tough dish to make me happy. At Cosmo's the carbonara is made with spaghetti, cream, butter, Romano cheese, peas, eggs, and prosciutto. This meal was very ordinary. The prosciutto was way too mellow. Bacon would have added some much needed salty goodness here. The sauce was creamy but was very plain tasting. The pasta was cooked fine, but I would opt for something different here on future visits. 

We were with Matt, so of course, dessert is a must. He selected the Cheesecake. This cheesecake was pretty good. Not chalky like some can be. It was light and had a good milky flavor. The graham cracker crust was good and helped break up the taste of the cheesecake. 

You can never go wrong with Chocolate Bundt Cake, but when ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce are added it makes it even better! The cake portion of this was moist and very chocolaty. The ice cream enhanced this as well. Could have used a little more ice cream, but when would that ever be a bad idea? Solid dessert. 

After eating at Cosmo's, I can safely say that Dave's $5 bill will stay in his wallet for now. The food was not awful, but nothing that is jaw-dropping. The menu items we had all were pretty average but lacked the wow factor. Service was very good the night we were here, and it was very busy. Pasta dishes run about $14 on average and are a little overpriced for the serving sizes that you receive. Still on the lookout for the best of Aliso Viejo, so get that $5 ready for me Dave.

Out of five coffee table books, (because the character Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld authored a book about coffee tables in season 5), five being best to zero being worst, Cosmo's gets 2.5 coffee table books.

For more information about Cosmo's Italian Kitchen, click here: http://www.cosmositaliankitchen.com/

Casting Our Line at Spike's Fish House

Spike's Fish House

30465 Avenida De Las Flores

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

It has been four months since Katie has moved to Rancho Santa Margarita. I admit I was a little worried when she moved to the outskirts of OC. I was of course not worried about her safety. RSM is one of the safest cities in America. A city where a major crime can be classified as skateboarders congregating in a park, or two residents fighting over laundry at a laundromat, both of these from the actual police blotter on February 2nd and 4th. What I was really worried about was finding places to eat. RSM always seems so far away from everything, it can take forever to get anywhere from there.

Luckily, since her move four months ago, it has been announced that Bruxie and Mi Casa were coming to town. Really looking forward to these places opening so close. I was also intrigued by this place, Spike's Fish House. Opened in late 2011 by Pasta Bravo founder Tim Aspel, Spike's Fish House is his response to the anti-carb and gluten free hysteria that has taken over in the last few years.

Consumers must appreciate his efforts, because there are now two locations of Spike's, (this one in RSM, along with a location in nearby Laguna Niguel). Fast casual fish places have dotted the OC landscape here and there recently. Boneheads, California Fish Grill, the now defunct Corner Fish Grill, and also fish taco stalwarts, Wahoo's and Rubio's are all trying to get their fair share of the your fish dollars, or should I say sand dollars? Okay I will stop with the bad puns for now, sorry. It is worth noting that Tim opened this location of Spike's right next to a Rubio's. Not afraid of the competition at all. Let's see if Rubio's has any reason to be nervous about Spike's.

After ordering at the counter the food is brought out to your table. First to arrive was Kevin's selection, the Shrimp, Fish and Chips. I was surprised by the very generous size of the battered cod served with this. Two very large pieces, along with three shrimp, and sides of fries and Cole slaw rounded out this plate. Kevin seemed to have enjoyed this meal, as was evident by the quickness in which he inhaled it. All that remained was the Cole slaw, which he admitted to not being a fan of. Not that this one was bad, he just does not like any Cole slaw.

Sara really had no idea what to get here, so after some prodding/heckling on my part she settled on the Panko Style Tilapia Bowl. Joining the fish in the bowl was white rice and vegetables. At Spike's there are five sauces to choose from when getting your fish. She selected the Spike's Sauce, a slightly tangy sauce, that was a little too thin for my taste.

Katie was very excited by her pick, the Basa Bowl. She chose to have the fish prepared Cajun style, and was very surprised by the freshness of the fish here. The veggies were equally as fresh, and she is excited to try Spike's again.

The night we were here they were running a special on Basa Tacos, so that is what I went with. At Spike's the tacos come with cabbage, pico de gallo, and spikes sauce, which is a little tangier than most sauces that come in fish tacos. I opted for flour tortillas instead of corn, and chose french fries as a side item. I liked the tacos a lot, but felt they needed less of the pico de gallo. Too many tomatoes in it. The fish itself was flaky, with a good flavor. I would probably ask for their creamy tarter sauce on my next visit here. The Spike's sauce just did not do it for me. The fries were pretty average.

I enjoyed the trip to Spike's. It felt good to eat a lighter/healthier meal for a change. I would describe Spike's as a build your own meal place, like a Chipotle, but without serving mediocre food. Pick your style of meal; bowl, salad, wrap, or sandwich, then you choose your favorite fish out of the usual eight offerings. Finish it up with the sauce of your choice. With all of these options, you can have schools of different meals for awhile. Prices on the menu average out to be around $11 per meal. Not crazy bad, but not exactly cheap either. When we arrived here at 7 on a Thursday night there was definitely a steady stream of customers through the doors. Service was pretty quick, and the restaurant was well maintained. When we were leaving, I glanced over to Rubio's, and they were much busier than Spike's. It might take some time for Spike's to battle the big fish chains, but they are headed in the right direction.

Out of five fish hooks, five being best to zero being worst, Spike's Fish House gets 3 fish hooks.

For more information on Spike's Fish House, click here: http://spikesfishhouse.com/

Fleming's 5 for $6 'Til 7 Media Day!

Fleming's

455 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

One of the best steaks I have ever had was from Fleming's. It was a bone in rib eye that was cooked to a perfect medium rare. Not only was the steak great, but the sides were spectacular as well. The blue cheese mashed potatoes were very flavorful, and the creamed spinach has yet to be duplicated at any restaurant I have been to since.

So, needless to say I was very excited to experience a media day promoting Fleming's 5 for $6 'Til 7pm happy hour promotion. This great happy hour features 5 different cocktails, five different glasses of wine, and five different appetizers for $6 each, until 7pm every night of the week. As if you could not tell from the packed bar every night, this is a great deal that gets lots of people through the door. Let's see what all the commotion is about.

Starting us off are the five wines offered by the glass, each for $6. No matter what kind of wine you are in the mood for, you will find something that you will like here. I myself am not much of a wine guy, but the Mas Fi Cava sparkling wine was my favorite of the afternoon. It was very refreshing, without sacrificing flavor.

Cocktails are more my beverage of choice when it comes to happy hour, and at Fleming's the five that they offer will be sure to dazzle. I missed my chance to try the Tropical Martini by getting to the event a tad too late. The Tropical Martini features Malibu Coconut Rum, cranberry and pineapple juices, and a splash of Meyer's Dark Rum. Sounds like a trip to the Caribbean in a glass. The cocktail I did try was the Pomtini, made with Smirnoff Vodka and pomegranate juice. Not crazy sweet, and a nice smooth taste.

I am of course partial to food more than cocktails and wine, so I was more intrigued by the appetizer options offered during happy hour. One of the favorites of the group was the Tenderloin Carpaccio. This was served with a caper creole mustard sauce and diced red onion. The sauce really brought out the flavor of the carpaccio. The capers were a pleasant surprise on this as well.

Katie is not really a fan of calamari, so I had this Sweet Chile Calamari all to myself. The breading here was very light, but the taste jumped to life with the addition of the sweet chile sauce and the peppers. Tasty appetizer, and a very generous portion size for $6.

The next appetizer takes us down to bayou country with the Wicked Cajun Barbecue Shrimp. Garlic was very evident here, and so was a slight spiciness. I enjoyed that they provided bread for dipping along with this dish. Can not let good sauce go to waste.

Roasted Mushroom Ravioli was next on our appetizer carousel. These ravioli were filled with shiitake and portobello mushrooms, along with a porcini butter sauce. Very well made, but not as filling as you may think with all the mushrooms and butter on this. Very subtle.

This decadent Baked Brie was baked in puff pastry, and served with candied walnuts and sliced gala apples. Not really my kind of appetizer, but Katie and the others really liked it.

As good as the appetizers were, nothing could top the Fleming's Prime Burger. This is also offered at just $6 during happy hour. The burger is served with cheddar cheese and peppered bacon, then paired with their Signature Onion Rings. The burger was very juicy, the bacon added a great flavor, and the cheese mellowed everything out. Even weeks after this event, I still think about this burger. The onion rings were very good as well.

Special thanks to Lee Healy at Lee Healy Marketing Communications for the invite. Always great seeing you Lee! Also, thanks to everyone at Fleming's who put on this great event for us. Operating Partner Russ Bendel, Chef Chris Hutten, Manager Xavier Quintanilla, and the wonderful servers who attended to us. Thank you all very much.

It was also fantastic meeting up with some of the OC's best food writers again. Patty Mitchell from My Foodie Page, Griffin from Griffin Eats OC, new friend, Minerva, from Much Ado About Fooding, and one of the best photographers in the business, Albert from Photography by Albert  We look forward to seeing you all again in the near future.

Fleming's has really got it all together for happy hour. A great value when you consider you can get an appetizer, a great burger, and a glass of wine for under $20. I can now understand why there is a line forming at the door when they open at 5pm everyday. 

For more information on Fleming's and their 5 for $6 "Til 7 promotion, click here: http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/ca/newport-beach

Is Jerry's One of OC's Top Dogs? - CLOSED

Jerry's Wood-Fired Dogs

1701 Corporate Drive Suite #C8

Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

Hot dogs have recently had a rebirth. There used to be just Weinerschnitel and the ones you got at baseball games. Sometimes Carl's Jr. would feature hot dogs on their menu, reliving their past when Carl Karcher started his food empire as a hot dog cart. Other than these places it was hard to find a restaurant devoted entirely to the wiener, frankfurter, red hot, or whatever you want to call it. That is until recently. Now hot dog places are popping up all over the place. Game Day Fire Grilled Hot Dogs, Berkeley Dog, Chicago Harv's, and Portillo's are a few that come to mind off the top of my head.

One of the first hot dog-centric restaurants that I remember opening is Jerry's Wood-Fired Dogs. They opened in Santa Ana back in 2003. There actually is a Jerry. Born in Cleveland, he found himself in OC and lamented the fact that a good hot dog was hard to find. After studying hot dogs from across the country, perfecting his wood grilling technique, and working with a sausage master, he opened his place. He must be on to something because there are now three more locations, (La Habra, Irvine, and the location we visited, Ladera Ranch).

We got to Jerry's on a Sunday at 2. This restaurant is a little hidden. Kind of had to hunt for it. There was a steady stream of customers throughout our visit here. Ordering is done at the counter, and then as soon as your dogs are ready you tell them what you want on your hot dog. With over 30 toppings to choose from, the combinations are endless. Let's see what we came up with.

Starting things off is my Mom's choice, the very simple Jerry's Signature Dog with mustard and relish. She really liked this all-beef hot dog. The nice meaty flavor and the bun were good too. It did not get in the way of the hot dog.

My Dad got the hot dog above.  At the counter, they have specialty hot dogs that come with pre-determined toppings. This one is the Mushroom Swiss Dog. It had a chipotle mayo, grilled onions, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese. This had his name written all over it. He enjoyed this hot dog very much.

I had two hot dogs here, the first being this Jalapeno Hot Link with grilled onions, peppers, and chipotle mayo. The bun held together nicely, and this had a good pop of flavor. The hotlink casing snapped when bitten into. The veggies were done right, still a little crunch to them after being grilled. Good hotlink, with a good amount of heat.

My other hot dog selection was a little more radical. I went with the Southwest Hot Dog, another one of their signature dogs. This one featured a cavalcade of items, bacon, chili, onion, Frito's, cheese, and I added jalapenos and bacon bits for added flavor. Even with all of these items included, they all worked together to create a good-tasting hot dog. Usually, with so many big flavors they cancel each other out, not the case here. I would get this again in a second.

Katie did not get too crazy with her pick, an Uncle Frank's Italian Sausage with onions, peppers, and spicy brown mustard. This Italian pork sausage is made with fennel, garlic, Romano cheese, and a little red wine. The sausage was mild in flavor

This good looking hot dog belonged to Jarrod. He had the Pastrami Dog, with grilled onions, pepperoncini's, and spicy brown mustard. The pastrami was pretty good, as it seemed to be grilled a little bit. There was also plenty of it. Very good hot dog.

Jerry's not only featured hot dogs, but they also have burgers as well. Katie's family is not much about hot dogs, so they all opted for other options, including the burgers above. Sara had the Quarter Pound Burger, simply dressed with thousand island dressing. Dennis went a little bigger with the Bacon Cheeseburger. Both of them seemed satisfied with their selections. I did not get to try either of these.

Lynn was feeling like chicken, so the natural choice for her to get was the BBQ Chicken Breast Sandwich. This sandwich is served on a whole wheat bun, and she chose to have bacon added, making this more of a chicken club sandwich. The sandwich looked good from where I was sitting.

The Skin-On French Fries are pretty good here. Good size for dipping, and made very fresh. These came out smoking hot. The Sweet Potato Fries are not really my kind of thing, but Katie liked them a lot. The Hot Potato Chips are probably the best of the sides. These chips were a little on the salty side, but there is something magical about having warm potato chips in your hand. It could be the novelty of it, but this is the side item to get here.

Jerry's was recently named one of the top ten hot dog destinations in Orange County by OC Weekly. I can totally see why they made this list. The hot dogs are really good, and the variety of toppings is very impressive. With seven varieties of hot dogs, six kinds of sausage, and thirty toppings, you could eat here for decades and never have the same meal twice. The guys behind the counter were very laid back and answered all of our questions. Prices, as you would expect are relatively low. No menu item is over $7. We are really happy that hot dog joints are popping up all over the place.

Out of five airplanes, (because O'Hare Airport in Chicago sells more hot dogs than any other single location in the USA, 2 million a year!), five being best to zero being worst, Jerry's Wood-Fired Dogs gets 3 airplanes.

For more information on Jerry's Wood-Fired Dogs, click here: http://www.jerrysdogs.com/index.php

Watch Out Roadrunner, Here Comes the Crazy Coyote!

Crazy Coyote Tacos

13033 Fields Road

Banning, CA 92220

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Really South Side of Chicago!

Chicago Hamburger Company

3749 East Indian School Road

Phoenix, AZ 85018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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