Main Street Waffle, Huntington Beach, CA UPDATE (Now Closed)

So what's the first thing you eat after getting out of the dentist?  When I was a kid I remember my mom would take my sister and I to a little bakery around the corner from the dentist where she would buy us each a cookie.  Of course this was back when you had to wait a good 30 minutes after leaving the dentist to eat anything.  In addition to that  the cookies weren't all that great.  Dry, and bit overly sugary if I remember correctly.  I always got a chocolate chip cookie, but it tasted a bit more like a sugar cookie someone had put food coloring in to look like a chocolate chip cookie.  Still to this day I always feel the need for something sweet after I get out of the dentist's office.

Fast forward many years later and I still am lucky enough to have the same amazing dentist that works Saturdays, only he's moved locations.  "Hurray" was my first thought, as that meant I would no longer have to eat disgusting overly sugary chocolate chip cookies, but what would I have after sitting in a chair and having my teeth worked on for a good half hour to an hour.  Taking a little walk while my wife was getting her teeth cleaned I crossed the street and found myself wandering through a strip mall.  It was there that I found what I was looking for, something sweet but filling, and bit more grown up tasting.  That is how I found myself over at Main Street Waffle in Huntington Beach.

Now the idea isn't new.  Waffles are the new bread, and can put a nice twist on quite a few traditional sandwich combinations.  I'd had one or two before coming here.  The last time being a bit over the top in my opinion (giant chunk of chicken on top of egg on top of ham on top...).  I wasn't expecting anything amazing, but I was hoping for good, just a good waffle sandwich.  So my wife joins me and after taking a quick look at the menu I grab the special, your basic chicken and waffle sandwich, and my wife got the breakfast waffle sandwich.

After ordering at the counter my wife and I take a look around the place.  It's nice, clean, and the atmosphere is relaxed.  The servers are quick to grab me some ice so I don't have to wait for the archaic drink dispenser to deliver it.  My wife and I grab a seat in the middle of the room and chat while we wait.  I don't think ten minutes passed before our food was served.

I was delighted to see a more normal sized piece of chicken between the waffles.  The chicken wasn't anything to write home about but it was definitely good, not over-seasoned, and cooked perfectly.  On top of the chicken was a medley of pinkish cabbage that went well with the chicken.  On the side was a small container of chipotle mayo, and it was the best thing, better than syrup, that you could put in my sandwich.  The waffles weren't anything special but they were cooked just long enough to be sturdy but not rigid.  By themselves the ingredients to my waffle sandwich were not all that great, but together, with dash of chipotle mayo, everything worked.

I, of course, stole a bite of my wife's breakfast waffle sandwich and it was exactly what I was expecting, breakfast you can eat with your hands.  Unlike my sandwich it needed a bit of syrup to bring out its full potential, but again it seemed spot on as far as waffle sandwiches go.

While it won't win any awards Main Street Waffle has a decent staff with good, filling food.  I'd go there again if only to try a few of the other sandwiches.

Farm House Cafe, University Heights, San Diego, CA

If you haven't guessed by now I don't usually have relaxing Sunday mornings very often, but I'm trying to change that.  So when a friend at work told me about a little place down the way from Adam's Avenue Grill that I just had to try, I did.  Which is how my wife and I ended up at the lovely Farm House Cafe sipping creative mimosas and having one of our best breakfasts experiences ever.

As usual it wasn't so much of a plan to go there as a recollection of a recommendation and just enough energy to drag myself and my wife out of bed.  We arrived relatively early for a Sunday, around 9:30 or 10 and snagged some seats outside.  The wait staff was super friendly, and after a bit of morning banter I threw caution to the wind and ordered a mimosa.  Never have I understood the appeal of ruining perfectly good or bad champagne with O.J., or vice versa, I was happy to see there were other options on the menu.  I settled on an amazing concoction with cucumber, basil, and champagne.  It was the perfect blend of flavors.  It had been forever since I'd had cucumber juice, and the basil added the right amount of complexity to my drink.  My wife ordered a similar concoction but hers came with a somewhat fruitier peach strawberry combination.  Still good but we both agreed that the cucumber/basil was the way to go.

A little after we had gotten our mimosas I was feeling pleasantly relaxed we ordered brunch.  I decided to get an omlet, which came with braised beef and red pepper puree, as well as a blue cheese Bechamel (a blue cheese cream sauce) Grilled Cheese.  My wife ordered the Frnech Toast, petit, so only three slices with a side of bacon, also three slices.  The my wife and I sipped our mimosas and pretended we were in France overlooking the Rein, complete with my feeble attempts at a French accent.  Hey, you can do what you want during your Sunday brunch, my wife and I will do what we want.

A short time later our food came out.  At first glance my omlet was not what I had been expecting.  It was more of a hodgepodge of egg and meat, next to a beautiful looking piece of crusted bread.  Then I took a bite.  It was one of the best things I've ever put into my mouth.  Even the meat, which I usually say I could make at home, well I probably could but I didn't and it tasted amazing.  The "omelet" was cooked to my favorite consistency of not overdone, and there was a delicious sauce you can barely see in the picture that added amazing flavor to everything.  The grilled cheese, at which I had been hesitant as I was not a die hard blue cheese fan, blew my mind.  It worked perfectly with the omelet.  By the time I was done I was sopping up the sauce with the remnants of the bread, and I had to resist the urge to lick the plate clean.

My wife said her dish was amazing as well, though a bit smaller than she expected.  I managed to snag a bite, small bite, of the French Toast and bacon.  The French Toast was sweet, but not too sweet.  The bacon had been cooked prefectly, not too crispy but not too limp either, though it wasn't the best I've ever had.  Just good filling bacon, and a good filling meal.  My wife took a bite of my food, and said I had won this round on what to order.

So we finished our meal, but I was feeling like I just needed a little more.  So we splurged on the selection of chocolates.  Apparently the Farm House Cafe has an in-house choclateer.  As you can see in the picture I couldn't wait for my wife to snap a pic before I tried one.  The chocolates ranged from white to dark, and the dark had a variety of flavors.  The most memorable, surprisingly, was a mint flavored dark chocolate, and it was so amazing because they used real mint, not some mint infused cream to flavor it.  If you are going I highly recommend you get some of their chocolate if it is available.

So with a smile on our faces, not to meniton a bit of chocolate at the corner of mine.  My wife and I left the Farm House Cafe.  Already planning the next time we would come back, and I promising not to speak in my terrible French accent.  Adieu.

Farm House Cafe
2121 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 269-9662
http://www.farmhousecafesd.com/

Bud's Louisiana Cafe, Kearny Mesa, San Diego, CA

My wife and I were heartbroken after the Gulf Coast Grill was shut down.  I took a break from Cajun food for a while, but there is something about that spicy flavorful stuff that I just ignore.  A quick glance through The Reader brought to my attention a little Cajun place hidden in an industrial park in Kearny Mesa.  I sweet talked my wife into making our way out there, and am I ever glad I did.

Bud's is everything that comes to mind when I think about what a Cajun/Creole restaurant should be, well minus the location.  My wife and I showed up for a late lunch, expecting it to have settled down some, but Bud's was still plenty busy when we got there.  We were quickly shown to a seat outside, and settled down to look over the menu.  It took a fair bit of restraint but I resisted the urge to order pretty much everything on it.

Side of Jambalaya

I saw they had pretty much every one of my favorite dishes: gumbo, jambalaya, po boys, soft-shelled crab.  Just looking over the menu made my mouth water.  After much contemplation I decided on a cup of jambalaya, and a po boy... but which one?  I turned to our server and sought advice, he gave a couple of recommendations, mostly what was popular, but then he mentioned his personal favorite, fried catfish.  Which is one of my most favorite Cajun dishes, but not always the easiest to cook.  I don't know if it is just me but it seems near impossible to find good catfish.  I've had it overcooked, and under-seasoned, but rarely have I had it just right.  I guess I could have gone for something easy but I wanted to see just how good Bud could cook.  My wife settled on the Louisiana Chicken, and surprised me by ordering a Caesar Salad then we sat back to enjoy the atmosphere.

Awesome Caesar Salad

 We didn't wait very long, but as we did our waiter was quick to refill water and tea without having to be flagged down, one way to ensure a good tip from me.  Finally our first dishes arrived.  I looked over my jambalaya, noticing the chunks of sausage, smoke ham, and what i believe was some type of fish, and smiled.  The rice was cooked perfectly, spicy but not too hot, the meat was warm and filling.  My wife quickly noted I had a stupid happy grin on my face the whole time I was eating.  I couldn't help it, it's been too long since I had really good jambalaya.  My wife's Caesar salad came out at the same time.  I don't know if it was the atmosphere or my good mood, but even the bite of my wife's Caesar salad tasted better than any Caesar I'd ever had, and Caesar is my go to salad. 

 

Gigantic Catfish Po Boy

Just as we finished the first dish our main dishes came out.  The first thing I thought upon seeing my Fried Catfish Po Boy was, how am I going to finish all this.  It looked like they used an entire catfish in the thing.  My first bite was perfect, it was an amazing type of crunchy, smooth, hot, and just the right amount of spicy that I remember Catfish is supposed to be.  The bread was firm but giving.  The fries were flavored, and came with a side of this spicy ketchup that I wanted to add to everything.  My wife's food was also pretty impressive looking.  I stole a few bites of it, even tried the mushrooms which I usually avoid, and it tasted great.  Definitely the right amount of spice for my wife.  I probably would have eaten more but like I said that Catfish Po Boy was gigantic.

Louisiana Chicken

 So ended a memorable and very enjoyable lunch at Bud's Louisiana Cafe.  I already have plans to return on a Wednesday or Thursday for dinner as that is the only time they serve beignets.  Which if I remember from my youth, at Disneyland, are little puffy pieces of doughy goodness that you got if you were a good boy, so at Disneyland I was always a very good boy.  See y'all there.

Bud's Louisiana Cafe
4320 Viewridge Ave, "A"
(In the Balboa Business Center)
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 573-2837

http://www.budscafe.com/

Adams Avenue Grill, University Heights, San Diego, CA

Adam's Avenue Grill

Picture a beautiful Sunday Morning.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, a faint breeze gently brushes the trees outside my window, and I'm fast asleep.  Let me just say this is not my regular Sunday Morning.  I'm not sure why but for the last couple of years I've been driven to rise at the crack of dawn and get things done, weekday or not.  So it came as a surprise when the clock struck 10 and I found myself still in bed.  My wife on the other hand had no trouble sleeping in, and awoke with a beautiful smile on her face.  Distracting me for a few moments from the fact that it was at least 2 to 3 hours past the time I should have eaten, but only for a few moments.  Dragging my bedraggled body out of bed I threw on some clothes and with my wife started on a journey to one of the best restaurants in San Diego, Adams Avenue Grill.

Tasteful Interior

Of course that didn't start off as my destination, but somehow I found my way over to University Heights.  Once there I considered stopping at a little Mexican place, or for some Southern far with a side of bluegrass, but somehow I made it over to Adams' Avenue and once there I saw it.  Encased in white it fairly growled on the4 warm Sunday pre-lunch hour.  My wife had been here before, and returned with stories of just how great it had been. I saw a parking place conveniently around the corner from the place, a sure sign I was meant to eat there, as parking in the area is not that great, and pulled to the curb.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Dessert

Upon entering my eyes instantly went to the deserts in a small counter at the front of the store.  then they wandered on to the rest of the interior.  Adam's Avenue Grill was clean but colorful.  Every table encased in white linen, offsetting the hints of color from a variety of art that decorated the walls.  We were quickly greeted by a staff member, and a few moments later by the chef: Jim Klepis.  I didn't know that at the time, but h greeted us with a big smile and led us to our table.  Our waitress, who I actually feel a bit bad about not remembering her name, approached and recited the specials of the day.  Which reminds me, if I don't get anything else across in this review I want to make sure that my readers understand, the service was amazing.  From the busboys to the waiters everyone had a smile on their face and really made my wife and I feel welcome.  After hearing the specials I looked over the menu, and I had a lot to look over as both breakfast and lunch were available.  After a lot of perusing I settled on the Chipotle Marinated Steak and Enchiladas, because isn't that what everyone wants to eat in the morning.  My wife decided to get the Bacon Stuffed Waffle, and Cheesy Grits Stack.  Seriously how did they come up with these combinations?

Chipotle Marinated Steak & Enchiladas (you can glimpse the Enchiladas beneath the egg)

Somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes later they brought out our food, and my first thought was, "This is too pretty to eat."  ow I usually don't go on about the presentation but I could tell somebody had given some serious thought as to how they wanted our meal to look.  Not to much mind you, it didn't look like modern art; it shined just enough for me to tell the chef in the back really cared about the food and what his customers thought of it.  Soon after we dug into what was one of the best breakfasts I've ever had.

Bacon Stuffed Waffle & Cheesy Grits Stack

The steak was marinated perfectly, not burn you moth off spicy, just hot enough to add some flavor, and the cheddar cheese enchiladas were just the right amount of cheesy gooey delicious.  Together they created this amazing pallet of flavors that made the whole dish greater than what was around it.  Needless to say my egg, sunny side up, was perfect.  I glanced over about halfway through my meal to see my wife smile as she took another bit of the cheesy grits.  Now I'm no grit person, so I trust all confer all grit related dishes to my wife for commentary, and the smile on her face said it all.  I snaked a bit before she finished, and found the hollandase sauce combined with the grits and the waffle were another amazing combination of flavors I had not expected.  Seriously how do they come up with this stuff?

That was my first visit to Adams Avenue Grill, but not my last.  I've gone there many times since with friends and family, even for my wife's birthday.  I've left a few pictures below of what I and others have gotten there, including what my sister has described as the best Turkey Burger ever.  I have only one critique, and that is about the Lavender infused Crème Brule.  I didn't think it was possible to over infuse a desert to the point that it taste like soap, but that is what they did.  I will say it was a very novel experience to eat something that taste like shampoo but without the bubbles or soapy aftertaste, but not one I want to repeat.  So avoid that one dish, you can't go wrong with everything else on the menu.

Adams Avenue Grill
2201 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 298-8440

http://www.adamsavenuegrille.com/

One of the Specials but if I remember correctly - Flat Iron Steak with a Burgundy Red Sauce Reduction, Horseradish Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese, and Veggies

 

Carolina Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf & Maple Spiked Sweet Potatoes

Slice of Pie on my Wife's Birthday

Best Turkey Burger Ever!

The Corner, Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA

 Ah, the moon overhead shown brightly over one of the Orange County's many strip malls as my wife and I exited the car.  It was date night and I was attired in a shirt with actual buttons on it.  My wife, as always, looked beautiful in jeans and black blouse.  We made our way to one of the few non-chain restaurants in Orange County.  A little place hidden in the depths of Huntington Beach that served small portions but with big taste.  We had decided to go out to... The Corner.


Housed in what was once a Chinese Restaurant, if you look up you will see the original red tiling along the ceiling, is a hip retreat from the mainstream.  In a slightly darkened room with no windows, is a series of tables and booths have been placed for maximum comfort and my guess to focus on the main attraction of the restaurant, the food.  The atmosphere was loud but friendly that night.  The waiter just having finished talking to the table over and receiving a few belly laughs.  My wife and I took a seat and only had to raise our voice a few decibles to hear one another.

The wait staff, we had a bearded waiter that could have doubled as an action star, came to our table with a smile and a laugh.  I was already in a good mood when he asked us if we want anything to drink.  As it is date night I break my usual taboo about ordering whiskey with ice and decided on a Whiskey Sour Julep.  My wife ordered a Dark and Stormy, which has rum, lime, and ginger beer, on the rocks.  My wife has a weakness for ginger beer.  Our drinks arrive and we decide to try a couple of meatball sliders while we peruse the menu.  They come out fast and are just as advertised, chunks of meat and cheese on a french roll.  They are also delicious.  We also get some bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese.  They are melt in your mouth good, and I don't even like blue cheese.

Best of all though was one of the special appetizers, poutine.  I don't see it in a lot of places but when I do I almost always order it.  This is usually a concoction of fries, cheese curds, and occasionally something other ingredient, a protein most of the time.  It came out in an oversized bowl and at first I didn't know quite what to do with it, but then I grabbed a potatoe skin, dipped it into the cheese sauce and luxuriated in the taste of pure unhealthy food.

My wife and I finally decided on our "Not Entrees" as the amount of food is not quite an appetizer and not quite an entree.  It is a great amount of food if you are not that hungry, or if you are like us and want to try a bit of everything.  I order the Block Cut New York Steak in a wine sauce reduction.  I'm curious to see if it is as good as the one I make at home.  Usually they are not, but with this place I decide to give them the benefit of the doubt.  My wife ordered the Korean BBQ Chicken.  They make a point of telling you it is "non-traditional" and when you see it you know why.


My wife and I engage in idle chatter as our food is prepared and I decide to get a Dark and Stormy for myself.  I normally don't do drink reviews and I'm not going to start now.  Let me just say if you come to The Corner you have to get one.  A few sips later our food came out.  My steak was cooked perfectly.  Medium Rare as I believe all red meat should be cooked.  The wine reduction was really good but the steak barely edged out something I would have been able to accomplish in my own kitchen.  Still it was tasty enough that I did not need a doggy bag at the end of the meal.  My wife's chicken was a very interesting mesh-mash of flavors.  I liked it.  The chicken was cooked perfectly but the whole lettuce wrap delivery left a bit to be desired by me.  My wife on the other hand really enjoyed it.  I will say that the cilantro-lime emulsion that came with it was so good I would have put it on just about anything.

Overall this place was an amazing find.  And with that... all credit for finding this place goes to my wife, and her monthly AAA Magazine, but Shhhh!  Don't tell anyone, as most of the hip places in Orange Country are quickly changed into chain eateries, or Starbucks.  I think it has something to do with the city charter.  I kid! Check this place out the next time you are in town.  I promise you will not be disappointed.



The Corner
8961 Adams Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
(714) 968-6800
http://thecornerhb.com/

Big Kahuna's, Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA

Big Kahuna Cheese Balls, so good almost forgot to take a picture.

I rarely go to a restaurant based on advertisement or publicity.  For me it is all about taste.  Well there was one place that had this pop up where they had a slow jazz song about their chocolate cake, but that is the exception rather than the rule.  Let's say I rarely go to a restaurant based on publicity, but I guess I had to make a an exception this once.  After all if Samuel L. Jackson says "Mmmm-mmmm, that is a tasty burger" in Pulp Fiction, well I've got to give it a try myself.  Which is how I found myself stepping into Big Kahuna's.  (Disclaimer: It isn't really the same place as in the movie, but that didn't stop them from putting a sound bite from it into their web page.)

Basket of Fries

It was Sunday a little before noon and I was feeling the need for something simple but tasty.  The wife and I had been to Big Kahuna's once before.  I'd been looking for something a little more authentic Hawaiian and was really not impressed by what they had served me, but I wanted to give this place a second chance.  I decided I'd go with something they were known for this time, their burgers.  We were greeted warmly and told to take a seat anywhere.  We chose a seat near a window and started parusing the menu.  I already knew what I wanted but after looking through the menu I thought we'd try an order of Big Kahuna's Balls too.  I wasn't too impressed with the name but anything with garlic, butter and cheese baked onto it can't be all bad.

Big Kahuna Burger

The balls came out first and on my first bite I knew I was going to love them.  We only ordered six of them but despite not being that hungry I had to stop myself from finishing them all off before our burgers came out.  I was amazed these little balls of dough packed such amazing flavor.  As I was finishing off my third ball our burger's came out.  I had opted for the Big Kahuna Burger.  It was a one and a half pound burger with Monterey Jack, Chedder Cheese, tommato, red onions, cabbage (which was a nice change from lettuce), Mayo, Ketchup, and Mustard.  Despite the size I wouldn't say it was the biggest burger in town (as noted on their website), but it was no small fry either.  In addtion I ordered fries and they brought out a large basket of them, more than enough for my wife and I to share.  The first bite of my burger completely redeemed Big Kahuna's for me.  The burger was cooked perfectly to order, the ingredients were fresh, and it was full of flavor.  The soft toasted bun is what pushed it over from very good to great for me.  My wife ordered the Teriyaki Pineapple Burger.  I managed to snag a bite and found it to be one of the better Terryiaki burgers I've had.  Again, a good melody of flavors, and none of that cloying Terryiaki aftertaste that keeps me away from those types of burgers.

I was pleasantly surprised on my second trip to Big Kahuna's.  The next time I feel the need for a quiet, well relatively quiet, restaurant to enjoy one "tasty burger" Big Kahuna's will definetly be at the top of the list.

Big Kahuna's
3780 Ingraham Street
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 270-9200
http://bigkahunaspb.com/

Fat Sal's Deli, Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA

The Front Door No One Uses

 Sometimes you just feel the need for something that's bad for you.  You know what I mean, something that goes beyond the bounds of unhealthy and slips into down right disgustingly decadent.  Something that you don't want to know how many calories went into it, or how it will make you feel afterwards.  Something with the word "Fat" in the title, which is how the wife and I wound up at Fat Sal's Deli.

Packed until we got there, must have just missed the lunch crowd.

I usually don't go to downtown Pacific Beach as it is a royal pain to find parking.  This time I didn't care.  I'd just run a good eight miles, half it uphill, and my body was screaming for something bad for me, which is after all half the reason I exercise anyway.  After crusing around for a good ten minutes to find a parking spot my wife and I walked up to Fat Sal's.  Though it label's itself a deli you won't find any blocks of chicken or ham to be carved.  Everything is done in the back and most of the ingredients aren't the type you'll find in a deli anyway.

A large opening in led into pretty much brand new tables bolted to the ground and a long legged stools to sit on.  We walked up to the cash register in the back, made our order, and then ambled on down to a recently vacated seat near the front, the perfect spot for people watching.  About 20 minutes later our sandwhich came out.  Now this is where it gets good and decadent.

How can something so small looking be so bad for you?

I had decided to go with the Fat Sal.  It was an "extra wide" garlic bun filled with roast beef, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, fries, brown gravy, and mayo.  Wow that's a mouth full.  It was stuffed, literally with everything that was bad for you.  I took a big bite and managed to get a piece of roast beef, mozzarella stick, and onion ring.  I got to admit when I list of ingredients online I wondered if they could really make it work, but after the first bite I realized they had.  It was actually pretty good.  The only thing I didn't like about it was the lack of roast beef.  It was like they sacrificed a delicious cut of meat in order to put the cheaper fried food into the sandwich.

The Fat Sal

My wife settled on the Fat Anthony which had chicken fingers, mozarella sticks, fries, marinara, on top of ham, genoa salami, pepperoni, provolone, sweet peppers (thought she always holds the peppers), shredded lettuce, tomato, and red wine vinaigrette.  Half of that belongs to another hero sandwich in and of itself.  I took a bite of hers and though it wasn't bad but I liked mine better.  I put it down to not being a big fan of marinara in a sandwich.

The Fat Anthony

After we had finished eating we ambled out fat and happy, only to see "supposedly" Fat Sal just outside hustling a few departing patrons to "foursqure" and "Facebook" the hell out his place.  Normally that would be a big turn off for me, but this time it was nice to see an owner really pushing his business to succeed.  "Fat Sal" managed to do it without being a total jerk about it.

Outside of the sandwiches being good but not great, I really liked Fat Sal's.  It had a nice open PB atmosphere, the tables were clean, and the people were nice.  I'll probably head back there the next time I feel the need to eat something that I have no question is horrible for me.  I can't wait to try the Fat Juanita.  ... ouch...  I just hope my heart can handle another round.  It hurts a bit just thinking about it, but hey no one lives forever.

Fat Sal's Deli
956 Garnet Avenue
San Diego, CA 92109
(855) 682-4373
http://www.fatsalsdeli.com/