places to go…

Taco Bravo
S. Bascom and Campbell Av., Campbell, CA

This place gets 3 stars if only because of the lack of competition at 2am… Wait. Maybe it should get 4…okay 4. I mean it’s haute cuisine out here at that point.

Onto the review. First and foremost, sobriety here is not recommended. It’s the type of place you only go when you vaguely remember it. So from what I “vaguely” remember, I had a bean taco with tons of cheese and some of that hot sauce.

If there’s a rule number 2, it’s the hot sauce. It’s great hot sauce, put it on everything. It’s not all that hot, but it is tasty.

I’ll be back, at least until I have a few of those horror stories that inspire immodium commercials. It’s decent late-late night fare.

Lucha Libre
1810 W. Washington Street, Mission Hills

I’ve had my eye on this place for a long time, just wondering what was behind those doors. Inside it’s (shocker) Mexican wrestling themed, complete with movies on the flat screen.

The food is fantastic and cheap. Like Saffron, it gets a “best in its class” type award. It’s super cheap, they give you slightly larger portions than I’d prefer, but it’s lovingly made and fresh. There’s about 6 different salsas to choose from and mexi-soft drinks on tap. They also appear to be an alcohol-free establishment.

Their menu is small, but if you do it right, who’s counting. I’ve had their Surf (no Turf) Taco and the Smackdown quesadilla, and can highly recommend them both. The shrimp were perfectly grilled and the quesadilla offers you two portions and is under $6. What more could you want?

Saffron
3737 India St., San Diego, CA 92103

Saffron, Noodles and Sate’ and Thai Grilled Chicken. Two locations, right next door to each other. This place, once you figure out the drill, is fantastic. The people are incredibly helpful. The food is quite tasty, well seasoned and prepared beautifully. It is semi-fast food, but they don’t skimp on sauces, quality or the opportunity to make something for any dietary restriction in this place.

For instance, it’s a noodle house right? They have 3 specific lo-carb options. They inform you which sauces have fish sauce and which are vegetarian. And if you can’t navigate the extra menu pages that are pasted up on the wall like office memos, the staff is friendly enough to guide you to a helpful choice. All this, and if you bring your own to-go containers, they give you 10% (yes, PERCENT, not cents) off your order.

They have indoor and outdoor seating, and have signs posted for you to please enjoy your meal and don’t try to bus your own table, they will take care of it. Oh, and they’ll deliver to your car, taking credit cards over the phone.

Great find in the world of casual Thai eateries.

I’ve been slacking on the posts. I wish I could say I’ve been a good girl and have been cooking all my meals and just, today ventured out into the wide world of [the San Diego Metro Area] to eat prepared foods (again). But no, I just haven’t been finding the time.

I have, however been (trying) to remember to take some pics, in an effort to get me back into my postings. This is something I do really enjoy doing, so without further ado, back to the postings.

We’ll start with a few from the India St. area.

Eclipse Chocolat website | Eclipse Chocolat BLOG!
2121 El Cajon Blvd., (North of) North Park, (but not University Heights) San Diego

This place was one of the first places that caught my eye over on this very blue collar commercial El Cajon Boulevard area. It’s just down from “Lusti Motors” and “Subway” and up from the “McDonald’s” and “Denny’s“. In short, it’s a bit oddly placed. Fortunately “Mama’s” is just around the corner, and comes recommended by the owner (+1), more on that another time, but a perfect segue into the fact that this street has a lot of little gems like this. They are, typically pretty far apart.

I’ll also start this off with a bit about myself and chocolat(e). Hershey’s is not chocolate. The fact that they make Cadbury in America makes it inedible, and a travesty… If this is a statement you can agree on, we may be able to effectively review chocolate.

I just left NYC, where at any time, I could traipse my happy-ass up to Vosges, Pierre Marcolini, or any number of utterly fantastic chocolate shops with creative additions to their fine chocolate. Moving to San Diego, I was a bit apprehensive. One stop at the Carlsbad Farmer’s Market to this guy selling truffles cured me of that…and this place sealed the deal.

Eclipse sells truffles, bars, caramels, marshmallows, and the deepest, darkest, chocolate brownie you have ever had. Drinks and specialty production desserts are also available.

Right now, homemade s’mores are being served, but I haven’t got to them yet. Truly something I hope not to miss.

Since discovering Eclipse, I’ve had their (signature) Lavender Sea Salt Caramel truffle and bar; the Pink Peppercorn topped Balsamic, Raspberry truffle; the Aztec Cocoa truffle with cayenne and paprika; the Key Lime infused, toasted coconut flecked dark chocolate bar; one tasting section of their White Chocolate bar with Lemon zest and Candied Ginger; a couple marshmallow marcona almond brownies and chai’s.

That’s all from memory, I’m sure I missed a detail or two… But to sum it up, it’s all memorable and absolutely delicious. The flavors marry and contrast perfectly to create a really fun experience for your mouth. It’s not every day you eat something where you feel like your mouth has expanded its horizons for flavor, but this place does it.

On the whole, this place is a chocolate fusion lover’s dream. I suppose a purest would not approve whole heartedly, for a few reasons. But this isn’t about them. This place is for those wanting to mix chocolate with lavender and not be grossed out, but entirely wow’d at the awesome flavor it creates, just ’cause.

Oh and super bonus. Wi-fi! Their blog website looks like it’s sure to keep you up-to-date on all the latest! I know I’ll be checking in.

Hodad’s
5010 Newport Av., Ocean Beach, CA

Right before we were to come to live in San Diego, we saw this place featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network, pretty much the only station we really got in NYC, other than the CSI channel, aka, Spike. Okay that’s pretty irrelevant info there, but it’s the sad truth. This Hodad’s place really got Alex going with all this burger nonsense, and the bacon “patty” for the bacon cheeseburger (so you ALWAYS have bacon in the bite).

Let me take a moment to clarify. I don’t eat burgers of any kind that I don’t grind myself, because even though they’re mmmmm!, they’re also G-R-O-S-S, you have no idea what is ground up in that mess. Second, I don’t eat beef or pork or the four legged hairy variety. And that’s that. So, I’m reviewing a burger joint… based on what they can do to a veggie burger and some fries, basically. And my impressions of my friend’s burgers. Alex will weigh in on the comment, I’m sure.

Okay, first Hodad’s is this great little place where once you’re in the door, it’s a total free-for-all in terms of seating. You’re the hostess. Sit where you want, let people by, it’s up to you. It’s not a huge place, but it is a busy one. About 4 picnic tables down the center, 5 booths, 10 tables and some bar style seating fill in the place. Many reviews slam them for the wait… but it’s busy as hell in there and they’ll bring you a beer. In short, this ain’t fast food. It’s a fun place to eat. The walls are full of license plates that got by the DMV’s vanilla employees, that apparently don’t get out much. Its menu is short, simple and you won’t waste much time trying to decide over “this” or “that”.

I get the veggie burger, with all the good stuff and fries. They get high marks for this veggie burger, and even higher marks for their hot sauce on the table. I put a good dent in that bottle. Good stuff. The burgers are served all wrapped up so you can just dive in, half open. Rearranging your burger or adding toppings in any way that involves opening or disturbing the presented form is NOT ADVISED. And by “not advised”, I mean you’ll be using your fork for the majority of the meal. The fries are some of the best. Huge, seasoned… I can’t even call them steak fries, but that’s the closest thing. They’re delicious and that hot sauce only makes them better.

The boys were happy with their selections. I did hear a preference to Lucky Buck’s, but personally, these guys do the veggie burger better, though it’s a toss up on the fries; big, thick, seasoned or seasoned waffle cut? The couple of kids that joined us also enjoyed their chicken finger stick thingys, although I find them frightening. Couple the great food, good loud music and atmosphere with a little celebrity watching of the one and only Neil Patrick Harris… It’s a great place. Even for a veggie burger. Oh, and if you don’t find the burger you just ate to be the best burger you’ve ever had, the staff doesn’t want to hear about it, a sign under the menu boasts.

I’d definitely go back, but not because OMG it was on the Food Network!!! but it’s a nice fun place to hit up from time to time with a fun atmosphere.

Urban Grind
3799 Park Blvd, Hillcrest/North Park division point, San Diego

I discovered this little place one Sunday night, disparaged by the Starbuck’s on the corner as my only option for a light dinner/caffeine fix. Just past Cafe on Park, which I’m sure I’ll get to shortly. This little place has a mid-intersection crosswalk right in front of it (between University and Robinson). It’s got food, desserts, coffees, teas, beer, wine, energy drinks, wi-fi, brunch, parking, a small patio and it’s quite large and open, not to mention the amazing industrial design of the bathrooms.

It’s also got a very cruel idea of staffing.

You see, this place has pretty good, different, pastries, decent coffee and tea options, mostly consistently delivering a yummy product. But then there’s this one guy that works there, that goes and mucks the whole thing up, mainly in the food division. You, yeah you, you worked last night and made me a panini that was a warm sandwich, devoid of that crispy bread that dictates it’s a panini, and not a warm sandwich. You did it sometime last week too. All the other guys, and the chick, they do it right, and, AND they don’t only fill the delicious jalepeno sauce for dipping half full… totally screwing a quarter of my (warm sandwich) panini out of sauce.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. It’s got it all, but then it’s got this one guy. If anyone reads my little blog here, and knows warming the sandwich guy, tell him to ask the rest of the staff how to do it right… cause he’s mucking up the ratings.

Uncle Biff’s, California’s Killer Cookies
650 University Av, Hillcrest, San Diego

This is, amazingly enough, a business, in a shopping center, selling about 12 different cookies, for $1.50 from about 10am-5pm, no Sundays, and somehow, they keep the doors open, why? I think it’s really because Hillcrest <3’s cookies. NYC has cupcakes, we have KILLER COOKIES (and maybe some internet sales). That and they have a giant red, neon sign that reads “KILLER” COOKIES, informing anyone who may drive by, that nothing else in that shopping center is nearly as important to you as this place. It haunts my dreams.

On to the goods. These are very good cookies. Can my (best, though irrelevant) friend Chef Amelia, make better? Yes. Can the Whole Foods in Chapel Hill, NC make better? Yes. But are either of them in my neighborhood and 7 blocks from my house and $.19 cheaper than the ones in the mega-Whole Foods that look smashed in the dry case they’ve been in for who-knows-how-long? No. One is in Portland, OR, and the other is obviously almost 3k miles away.

Don’t get me wrong, these are by no means sub-par cookies. These are delicious, (very often) freshly out of the oven, thick, soft cookies. They will never have a crispy edge or be lacking of the good stuff (butter) that makes them so good. It is probably my favorite thing in the world to do with $1.50 right now. They are all very simple, loved by all flavors, with choices for the oatmeal raisin/chocolate chip lover; the milk/dark chocolate chip lover; the dark/white chocolate macadamia lover; and even options for how you want your peanut butter cookie (with or without chocolate chips or nested in a double chocolate chip cookie). Walnut, pecan or toffeed almond nut options are also given to most of the varieties. I should also note that they have offer their dough for sale so you can make them at home, or top ice cream with it, or roll around on the floo– yeah. Dough. By the pound.

So, all in all, this is a fabulous little store, that really needs a late night. It only gets @@@ because with their resources, i.e. the whole store, they should use better chocolate and make the cookies about 5% better and they’d be perfect. But I think they’ve been using the same recipe for like 40 years, so that’s not going to happen. With all the excellent chocolate out there, there’s no excuse not to use it.

Bronx Pizza
111 Washington Street, Hillcrest, San Diego

Okay, I have a confession to make. I’m not really from NYC. I moved there about a year ago from the triangle area of NC. So I’m not giving the review of a true “New Yorker” of this pizza. That is to say, I may not be so harsh and elitist to say that NY style pizza, better than some/most NY pizza cannot be found elsewhere in the world.

All that said, this is some damn fine NY pizza. Unlike NC, where we have a ton of NY pizza places, at least one rivaling all NY pizza I ever had in NYC, there doesn’t seem to be a zillion of these places here. Maybe this is because California has its own style (as well). I had a mushroom slice served to me in the average 3 minutes for $2.50. I will say I’d like more mushrooms on my slice, but that’s just because about 80% of my diet consists of things with mushrooms in or on it. This is something I’m just now putting together after trying to create my own household menu. The crust is good, though I will say my favorite part of the NY style pizza is the sauced area between the crust and the main event on the pizza. This did not have enough of that. The restaurant is very small when you walk in, but opens up to a large patio and another booth’d seating area. Also, Zagat has given them just about the highest rating a NY pizza parlor will EVER see. A 26 for food, and with the service and atmosphere in or around the signal digits, you’ll understand why there’s no need to post them…omg a 26!

This will definitely be where I get my NY pizza fix, and the standard to which all other giant red sauced slices here on the west coast will be compared to.

Oh yes, and bring yourself and your cash. These guys don’t deliver or take cards.

Hillcrest Sandwich Company
3780 5th Av, Hillcrest, San Diego

Have you ever had a sandwich, just a plain ol’ sandwich, you bought somewhere, and looked down at it and said, “Now, THIS, is a sandwich, damn”. That’s this place. They aren’t much for dinner hours, but they will deliver to Hillcrest.

Now don’t get me wrong, they fancy it up a bit with freshly delivered breads every morning from the San Diego Bread Co. (someone correct me if I’m wrong on the place) and there are sprouts and cucumbers available, but this is just a simple sandwich. And you sit there looking at it, wondering, how can so many people fudge this up, so bad?

And then there’s this place. For what they do, they do it best.