Barney's Beanery-Pasadena-friday, May 1st

Mike and I were pleasantly surprised at our recent visit to Barney's Beanery in Pasadena.
We walked in to the typical friday night party scene at this noisy, reataurant/bar to meet a friend of mine for her birthday. It was too crowded for me to even visit with my friend, so Mike and I crossed our fingers that we would find a small table to eat at. We found a table and waited to be greeted. Waiters passed us by, attending to tables and responding to pool players ordering more drinks, so I finally got up and found an available server.
Once we placed our order, we were very pleased. Our food was out in 5 minutes, it was presented very well, and delicious. I guess I don't come to expect much from bar food. But when you look at their extensive menu, plus, they fact that they've been around for a handful of decades, it makes sense that the food is tasty. Looking forward to visiting again, maybe on a more relaxed afternoon.

Chevy's-Ontario-

no time for pictures, give me delicious food.

Okay, so this was one of those weekends where we needed to eat, had some extra time, so we drove out to Ontario, met up with a friend and enjoyed another delicious Chevy;s dinner.
This night was particularly spectacular. I think I counted at least six separate people that helped us that evening. It was golden.

Il Forno-Azusa-Sunday, April, 19

One easy sunday, I brought Mike along for a ride up Azusa to run some errands. Once that was done, and I suddenly realized I needed to eat, we looked around for somewhere interesting to dine.
The Il Forno cafe looks conspicuous from the outside, shady windows, and no easily visible door. Granted, it was not lunch or dinnertime, so at 3pm, we got the entire restaurant to ourselves. We were very pleased once we walked in the door. We took some notes and pictures. Enjoy.

Free bread. Small pieces. Warm and slightly crispy. Tasty homemade flavor. Olive oil and vinegar mix was quite entertaining for me (Mikey).

Clean dishes, linens and utensils.
Lovely setting. Small but spacious. Full bar. Very polite and attentive staff.

TGIFriday's-West Covina, Friday April 9

Sadly, Mike and I had finally come upon our very last gift card(Not that, that could stop us from dining out).
At TGIF, we are almost always greeted by a rowdy restaurant, with people pouring out from the bar, and young busboys making cat calls to a group of overly dressed girls on their way out.
Nevertheless, we had a very cool server who got us our food and drinks on time, so we dealt with it.
One of our favorite appetizers, mozzarella sticks, at this restaurant are hot and cheesy and come in a very convenient dipping shape. We both enjoyed two large margaritas, I decided to try a low fat option, it very good(kung pao chicken pictured below)and Mike had his usual which he said was delicious.
Enjoy the pics.

Chili's-La Verne-April 4, saturday

Another weekend approaches, and after a long week of work, Mike and I are ready to eat out. We have exactly $135 dollars worth of gift cards left(thanks to Mikey's Discover points) to use in support of our eating/blogging endeavors.
We chose Chili's, but opted for a new location, La Verne.
Our overall experience here would have to be described as fair.
While our server was pleasant and our drinks came out in time, small mishaps and a general feeling of 'rather not be here' exuded from her actions.
I ordered the BBQ ribs, which I thoroughly enjoyed last time, but chose different sides for a change of pace.

My fries were on the cold side, and I was given pinto beans in a salsa mix instead of baked beans. Simple mistake, yes, but one that can throw off the entire meal.
One thing that was pleasing were our drinks. Mikey ordered a tasty Presidente margarita, that you self pour from a shaker, and I tried a new beer which hit the spot.
I had my eye on the dessert menu, but when our server dropped the check silently, mid-meal, I decided that I had had enough of an experience there, and that I would more likely enjoy a dessert elsewhere.
Goes to show, by neglecting simple issues that arise, one can really create a worse experience for the customer that he/she had intended.

El Conquistador-Silverlake-March 29th, sunday

Mike and I recently found ourselves in LA on a cool but comfortable Sunday night. We decided to visit Barragan's, after having had such a pleasant time there before. Sadly, they had just closed their doors for the night and there are not a lot of options at 9:30pm on a Sunday Night. So, with bellies rumbling and a severe hankering for some Mexican food, we coasted down Sunset Blvd on a mission.

Much to our delight, a large OPEN sign hung in the window of one of our favorite hangouts, El Conquistador in Silverlake! It has a reputation for its friendliness, festive settings and surprisingly strong margaritas.

They sat us right away in a soft-lit section decorated with a new theme for spring time. I was delighted to take photos of the walls and our romantic table. Our margaritas were served quickly, but our main server took a few moments to work his way over to us. At first it was frustrating, but then much less so once we noticed that he was having a friendly conversation with another table. Once the order was placed, everything that followed was delightful. We were quickly greeted with chips, salsa and soup.

The presentation of our food was festive (like the surroundings) and quite tasty. Our server came back to check on us several times, and assured us to not rush even though they were clearly closing up for the evening.

Mean margaritas and a full menu aside, what is most refreshing about dining at a place like this is the fact that the staff are like family and you get the sense that they truly enjoy being there. That makes for a perfect dining experience that is hard to replicate.

Applebees-West Covina-March 28,sat. nite

This outing was a short one; just a quick meal and drink to celebrate my completion of one week of work at my newest job. The food, presentation, service and taste were all up to par with our last experiences at Applebees, with the exception of one major area of neglect.
We stood at the door waiting to be greeted/sat for at least 4 minutes, until some employee in the back took notice and rushed to help us.
It seemed to me that since restaurants are not flourishing in these times that they staff a smaller amount of employees than normal.

Once we were sat, everything ran smoothly, but had it been earlier(more restaurants open), we would have walked right out and dined somewhere else.

Barragans-Echo Park-March 16 wed.

After our evening out in Silverlake (see last post) Mike and I realized how much we missed dining out near Los Angeles. There seems to be more variety when it comes to restaurants- less chains and more unique environments and ambiences.
So we met up with some friends in Echo Park at Barragans, a mexican restaurant on its Margarita night ($2.50 each!).

The food was delicious--filling, warm, and there was a lot of variety on the menu. Surprisingly, the margaritas were very tasty as well, small, but got the job done :) The ambiance was great too. Free fresh chips and salsa, large, comfortable booths, a bar, upstairs patio, and friendly service. There was even some dance music playing in the other room, so I think I will come back on an evening when I can have a few more drinks and partake in some dancing!
Mostly, it was great to catch up with some old friends in our old area. I am looking forward to having a place nearer to the city so that I may partake in that environment more often, and of course discover some more unique places to dine out!

Good Microbrew and Grill-Silverlake-St. Patty's Day

Mike and I visited one of our favorite restaurants in LA, Good Microbrew and Grill, on a temperate St. Patty's Day evening.
Mike loves the heated outdoor seating that is amidst the hip and trendy Sunset Junction in Silverlake. I love the menu variety, enormous beer list, and surprisingly delectable onion ring tower.
Good is always great. Servers are friendly, busboys are present to keep your drinks replenished, and the food is always more than you expect.

Tonight I had the meatloaf, cooked with mozzarella and spinach and some amazing mashed potatoes and seasoned veggies. Mike had his usual. He was pleased that he was able to have his burger cooked just as he likes it, medium rare. The presentation on both was mouthwatering.

Mike and I always enjoy our visit to this restaurant. We enjoy this area and so on a warm night, will sit outside and indulge in the sounds and sights of the area. We are looking for other great eats in the area, so if you have a recommendation, let us know!

Rainforest Cafe-Anaheim- March 11

Mike's mother, cousins and family drove down for a weekend at Disneyland and we took that opportunity to visit with them and enjoy a delicious dinner.
This was my second visit to the Rainforest Cafe and I would have to say I was much happier with it this second time.
Our waitress was a sweet, attractive girl who was always checking in on us and removing unnecessary items. Mikey's two young girl cousins were very ansy, but they were kept occupied with some crayons and coloring books and random "Thunderstorms"(The lights turn off and on, gorillas shake branches, and scary thunder sounds run through the restaurant). The girls were a little scared the first time around, but couldn't wait for it the second or third times.

Both Mikey's and my hamburgers were fantastic. His was plain and mine was a bacon BBQ burger. The presentation was very nice on each plate, and filling. I heard Mike's mom say that her salad was even a little too big to finish.
Everyone had a great time, the atmosphere was unique and the food tasty. Even the service was friendly and catered to the theme of the place.

March 7th-Applebees-West Covina

After a family filled day on this saturday in March, I couldn't wait to relax with Mikey with a drink at Applebees.

Drinks turned into a meal, and a very pleasant evening.

Our server was very present all evening, and even when Mike's meal came out incorrect, they handled it quickly and were polite.

March 6th-Applebees-West Covina

Thanks to Mikey's Discover points that he has been accumulating for about 10 years, we have about 200 dollars worth of gift cards to redeem at restaurants so we can continue our reviews.
We were stoked to redeem the first one, and decided to go to Applebees near our homes and indulge in some juicy boneless buffalo wings.
We also had a delicious meal, and drinks, I also ordered a mudslide for dessert!

Our server was good, could've been a bit more attentive, but I did notice he was also handling a large party of drinkers in the bar.

One other thing I noticed was that we didn't have to wait at 10pm on a friday for a table. A true sign of the times in the restaurant world.

Togos-West Covina

While we had originally decided that we would mostly blog about actual dine-in experiences, we had to break the rules this time around because of the economy.
Not having a lot of money equals not enjoying the luxury of eating out as often.

We stopped at Togo's for a late lunch today, and sat outside on their tables designated for guests and enjoyed the quite pleasant and relaxing "plaza music". Mikey called it "Weather Channel Music".

Togo's has yet to disappoint me when it comes to freshness, presentation, and variety. I can never decide what my taste buds are after because everything looks so appealing. They offer combos (chips and drink), and half-sandwich, half-soup or salad options, catering, and delicious cookies. The staff is usually pretty pleasant; young, but not totally incompetent.
One thing I do wish is that I could see them building my sandwich. The counter is up to my chest and I can't see what they're doing with their hands. So I'm not sure what to think about that.
Overall, a tasty, peaceful, enjoyable lunch on sunday.

Chevy's - Ontario- Saturday 21st

Dining out as an unemployed person, or really any person in today's economy is definitely not easy.
After completing a week of temp work, we decided to treat ourselves to Chevy's.
A friend of ours, Jeff, met us at the Ontario location where we already had our drinks, free chips and salsa and tableside guacamole ready to go.
Our service was good but not as great as our last two experiences. I would guess this was because of the busy-ness of the evening.


While the food is always consistent, the beans and rice warm and tasty, I am never too amazed with the "combo" entrees. So far, the hot fajitas, salads, and specialty fish items are the best on the menu in my opinion.


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Once again, Chevy's did not disappoint.

BJs-West Covina-Ortega Family Fund

Mikey and I attended one of the charities that has been taking place this month to raise money for the Ortega Family Trust fund(family that was affected by the killings on Christmas Eve 08).
Bjs donated 15% of your meal cost to the fund.
This was a great opportunity to give and enjoy great food at the same time. Service was wonderful, presentation was great and the ambiance was pleasant as well.

I really enjoyed the Balsalmic Chicken--the mashed potatoes were to die for! It was a delightful mixing of flavors and textures!
Cantaloupe martini was very sweet (like drinking a mixed flavored juice) but gave me a buzz, so I guess it worked!

Chilis-West Covina-Jan

I decided on Chilis this night because I trusted that there would be good service there and I didn't want to fuss around. So far, their track record is pretty good. Mikey had his usual margarita and I decided to go for a tasty beer..it hit the spot. Chilis has a great appetizer selection as well as beer selection. Our server was closing up for the night but was pretty courteous and attentive towards us. He was joking around with the host how "he [the host] would not like to be a server..it sucks!" but that didn't me bother me too much. Overall a great dinner.

Applebees-West Covina-Jan17/23

On two short occasions, we visited Applebees. It has become the default place because it is closest and open late.
Here are some photos of our dine in sessions on Jan 17th and Jan 23rd.

Also, I colored a kids menu and attempted to use only the four colors they provide by shading, etc. IT came out pretty good!

Tomatina-Sunday pm-Berkeley, ca

Mike and I had the opportunity last weekend to visit with friends and family in San Francisco. After a wonderful day sight-seeing in the city, we came back to Mike's brother's apartment in Berkeley, California to rest and get warm.
I thought this would be a great opportunity to dine in a college town and so I asked his brother for a great restaurant withing walking distance.
He took us to Tomatina, a delicious italian restaurant with a cozy interior, affable service, and a wonderful selection of food, wine, and desserts.
Mike and his brother shared a veggie pizza, while Celeste and I had a perfect lasagna! yum!

I couldn't resist ordering dessert since I felt it would be a great end to a wonderful day. Lemon Cheesecake! delicious!

Tomatina definitely delivered. Tasty food, fun college atmosphere, excellent presentation and service--an overall satisfying experience.

Red Robin-West Covina

Ah! saved by the "newer server" section.
Seated just near the opening of the kitchen, we were never ignored, or left hanging.
Multiple refills, (on drinks and fries)and hot, tasty food, definitely made up for the last two awful experiences.

Chevy's-New Year's Day-Ontario

Visiting Chevy's is always a special occasion for us now. The Chevy's in our town was closed, so when we make the trip to the Ontario Chevy's, we make SURE to make it count.
Our favorite server (who must have transferred from the Covina location) greeted us with a friendly smile and comfortable demeanor.

Our chips and salsa came out quickly and there were plenty of refills to follow. Mikey and I really indulged by ordering two drinks each, dessert, and chips an salsa to go. We were so pleased with the attentive service and ambiance that we just didn't want to leave!

Our bill between the two of us was something like $75.00. But totally worth it. A perfect meal to start off 2009.

Chili's -New Year's EVE-West Covina

Happy New Years!!
I have to admit I was a bit nervous about going out to eat this evening. On a holiday, you're competing with so many other guests, and I empathize with the server who would probably more likely be out celebrating than working in a restaurant on New Years Eve.
Our server's name was Hanna and she definitely reaffirmed my faith in customer service--even on a holiday.

This was a special day for us, for everyone, the start of a brand new year. I was ecstatic to see Mike after a week vacation with our families, and our dinner at Chili's really sealed the deal.

Timely service, delicious taste and variety, and an overall comfortable vibe is how I would describe our experience.
We left minutes before 12 am, with full bellies and positive outlooks on future dining experiences :)