Torchy's Tacos ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Dec 2021 (Colorado Springs - Interquest)

First visit: Jun 2013 (Southlake, Texas)

Well lookee here. As I said in an update, it's as if we never left Texas. Right across the street from Fuzzy's is a new Torchy's, Austin's finest taco house. It's been open a few months now, so we gave it time to process the crowds. Catty corner to this is In-N-Out Burger which still hasn't seen the lines deplete. In any case, we haven't been back to Torchy's since 2015, at the Southlake location, where the reviews and updates below came from. Like Fuzzy's, this Torchy's is much more spacious than the one we were used to. Wide open space, and here they have a full bar, that looks really nice. It wasn't crowded at all on this day, and we ordered right away. Mrs. RJG & I went with some old favorites like Green Chile, Baja Shrimp (we each had this), and the Brisket tacos. Bad news. Not anywhere near as good as the below review suggests. First of all, I was a bit perturbed that I have to leave a tip - no option! That really agitates me with fast food places. Sorry, but at these prices, they need to compensate their workers better. Had a bartender served me a beer, then fine. Speaking of which, I was excited to see what a Colorado Torchy's would do with the beer selection. Not impressed. 8 beers, most of them lame standards, with a couple of inspired choices. C'mon. As for the food, the tortillas were cold, and the food was warm. It's like they prepared everything way in advance and just assembled them on order. Without even keeping them hot. There's just nowhere to go with this annual review except fail. And I cannot see a reason to go back. It's overpriced, they force an unearned tip, the food is lukewarm, the beer list is uninspired, and the food was blander than I recall. Yet another chain not focused on their product. Might explain why there was no line...

Torchy's has grown dramatically since our first posting. They now currently operate in 10 states. I see trouble ahead though. They've lost their way.

--- Jan 2014 update

Ever since we first came here, Torchy's Tacos has remained very popular with lines out the door. It appears they have a license to print money. On this visit, Mrs. RJG and I were with Official Niece #1 (age 21) and we enjoyed a quick snack of one taco each. My favorite has become The Republican, which comes with a perfectly spiced jalapeno grilled sausage, cut in half, and get that with the Diablo sauce. Which they always forget to include. Niece #1 had The Democrat, what is basically their beef barbacoa taco, which she enjoyed but it had "too much meat" for her tastes (how is that possible? asks Uncle RJG). However that didn't stop her from cleaning up the basket with a fork later on. And Mrs. RJG had Mr. Orange (blackened salmon), and could now be considered her favorite taco here. Since we were their only for a snack, I didn't imbibe in one of their potent margaritas - something that was hard to give up, but alas I had to take one for the team. Sigh. 

---original 6/25/13 review

When I was a kid in the late 60s and early 70s, one of my favorite comic books was Hot Stuff, the Little Devil. What does that say about the parenting in those days, eh? What says wholesome like reading about a devil in a diaper! Of course he performed good deeds, but still.... Anyway, it appears Torchy's felt it the perfect emblem for their budding chain, and even adds the moniker "Damn Good Tacos", which they proudly light up in the interior of the restaurant. My, such potty mouths...

Austin based Torchy's is the latest high end taco place to infiltrate Northeast Tarrant county. Like their brethren Fuzzy's, Funky Baja's, Taco Diner, and Tacos y Mas, Torchy's provides a range of tacos far beyond the usual crunchy ground beef, or taqueria styled "street tacos". Ingredients such as pork green chile, fried chicken, ahi tuna, blackened salmon, jalapeno sausage, and jerk chicken, with an array of salsa's to choose from, is what you'll find at Torchy's.

Mrs. RJG and I recently tried Torchy's for the first time, and sampled four of their tacos: Green Chile Pork, Trailer Park, Baja Shrimp, and Chicken Fajita. As well we had three of their salsa's (all conveniently served in a small plastic cup): Tomatillo, Chipotle, and Diablo. And I'm glad to say that everything was absolutely excellent. The tacos are big, per urban protocol, and are loaded with meats, pico, and other fillings depending on the taco. The Green Chile Pork was a bit dry, with very few green chilies, but had a great flavor. It's definitely not the type of green chile one would find in New Mexico or Colorado, but we already guessed that going in. The Trailer Park is a fried chicken taco. One option is to get it "trashy" with queso instead of lettuce, but I wanted to keep it from being too messy so I didn't choose that route. The Baja Shrimp is fried, and superb. And the fajita chicken has a wonderful marinate and a great flavor. The green Tomatillo and the creamy Chipotle sauces were both excellent, the latter having a mild kick. The Diablo sauce is also creamy and reminds me a lot of Fresco's Chile de Arbol salsa. They say it's habanero, but I honestly didn't get the habanero taste this time. And while it was hot, it wasn't screaming spicy. But it was still our favorite. Of course it was...

As well, and it's not readily apparent on their website, Torchy's offers adult beverages like beer and frozen margarita's. I had the latter, and it's a very tasty mix. They serve it in a small plastic cup, but it packs a punch.

If I had to nitpick, I'd say Torchy's is a bit pricey compared to the competition. Considering Torchy's tacos are on par with those at Funky Baja's (size, ingredients), I think we have an apples to apples situation. Funky Baja's charges $3 each, while Torchy's range from $3.25 to $4.75 depending. And the margarita was $4.50, which sounds good until you realize just how small it is. It's a minor gripe, and will have zero impact on our willingness to continue repeat visits, but for those who are on tighter budgets, it might be a tougher sell.

The interior features fun paintings with Torchy's Little Devil embedded into famous art scenes, e.g. Dali's The Persistence of Memory and Van Gogh's The Starry Night.

Torchy's is a great addition to the Northeast Tarrant taco landscape. We'll be returning. Many times I hope.

As an aside, based on some recent feedback, it's been requested nicely not to call these type of taco restaurants "taquerias", and I have to agree with their point of view. So I've come up with a new nomenclature called "Tacos y Margaritas", and I will update the other entries as appropriate.

6/25/13 (new entry); 1//14; 5/31/15; 12/27/21

Flying Dog Tap House ~ Baltimore, Maryland

BWI airport

First visit: Dec 2021

To be honest, the rest of my business trip was disappointing from a dining perspective. I fear to say that my peers would rather "meet than eat", but OK, when in Rome... There were so many places I would have loved to drop by and say hi again: Joe Benny's, Max's Taphouse, Taco Fiesta, and Ale Mary's leading a long list. But I wasn't there on vacation, and there's work to be done. So roll up the sleeves and sway with the breeze. There's always a next time. I hope.

The coffee place in the Marriott where we stayed (Harbor East) is awful. They serve Illy, but the mocha was really bland. There used to be a Starbucks in there, but I guess they decided to pack up and leave. For lunch on "big meeting day" they did bring in some food (that was good of them...). I'm not entirely sure where it came from, but I think it was Samos Greek Island Grill, which is nearby and the menu items look about the same (the photos that is). This was very good - and I definitely want to go to their restaurant. Maybe next time with my own team if the opportunity presents itself. Not writing about it here because I'm not 100% sure it's the right place, and we didn't actually go there. For dinner it was a bowling event at Mustang Alley. It was definitely a social get together, and the food offerings were appetizer finger food. Not exactly a fair way to judge a restaurant. Mustang Alley sits right next to what used to be our regular Thai stop at former company: My Thai (who have since moved out of the area). So anyway, definitely a liquid dinner, if you know what I mean. The next day, they didn't even cater the lunch. NO food (well, they ate donuts and cookies, good Lord). I can't do that. Running 3 miles and having no carbs is crazy. I can barely think. Fortunately I mentally prepared for just that situation (I sensed what their priorities are), and I was to head to the airport in the early afternoon anyway. I'll just eat there I figured.

And now we get to the subject of the post. I had my former standby's at BWI (the Baltimore airport). One was DuClaw's brewpub which sat outside the secure area. It's now gone. The others (Firkin & Flyer, Potbelly, Urban Bar-B-Q, and Harbor Grille) all sit inside the American terminal (didn't research if they're still there), which is my airline of choice (Million Miler if curious as to why...). Well, doggone it, they eliminated their early Sunday flight from COS to DFW heading out (don't want to get to Baltimore too late), so I'm now flying Southwest to Denver and onto my destination. What does the Southwest terminal at BWI have to offer? A much better selection of restaurants, that's for sure. And how can I pass up Flying Dog Tap House? OK, we have a date!

I have a long history with Flying Dog going back to when we had a summer townhome in Denver, and a nearby tavern called City Pub (2009-2011). Long time readers will remember that joint, which is deeply hidden in these very pages (I think the restaurant might be gone now actually). Flying Dog was their primary craft beer provider. At that time, they were based in Colorado. Since then, they reestablished themselves in Maryland, and are one of the more known craft breweries in the state. And we reacquainted with them on our numerous visits to Baltimore from the prior job. But I didn't realize they had a tap house, and right in the airport. And I haven't eaten (proper) in like 30 hours. I'm hungry and I'm thirsty. I hope this hits the spot...

...and it did! Big ol' fat YUMMY cheeseburger (with banana peppers), fries, and 3 craft beers later, my belly is finally full and happy. I found a nice snuggy table in the back, and just relaxed for a few hours before my flight, nursing my beers and settling the stomach. Overall it was a great trip from a work perspective, and it was great to get back to Baltimore. Hopefully next time I'll have a bit more eating freedom.... But for certain Flying Dog Tap House will be the bookend before heading home.

12/21/21 (new entry)

Cindy Lou's Fish House ~ Baltimore, Maryland

First visit: Dec 2021

Continuing on from the same day as Pasta Mista, it was time to meet the new boss for the first time - again in person. Also two peers, including a new hire like myself. Boss Man chose Cindy Lou's Fish House. It's a new place, established after my last foray into Baltimore. It's in an ideal location at the edge of the harbor with super views. In fact, it's part of my harbor running route in the morning, so I knew exactly where it was. Cindy Lou's is the latest venture from well respected chef Cindy Wolf, and her nearby Charleston restaurant has won many awards. As it turns out, she is also a personal friend of our very own Rude Dante! It's the Indiana connection. Small world, eh? Ms. Wolf was not on hand this night, working her regular job at the Charleston. I was hoping for a quick introduction on behalf of the RJG team.

Though Cindy Lou's could be considered high-end dining, it doesn't really feel that way. It's a unique menu, heavy on seafood as expected. And on this night, my compadres all had seafood and wine. They seemed to enjoy it, and one got the evening Special which featured crab cakes. For myself, I went for the flat iron ribeye, which was gigantic. Or at least it appeared that way at first. But then you realize that about 20 percent of it is fat. This is by design to seal in the flavor. All the same, it's still a lot of steak, more than I'm used to at this point in my life. I finished it all the same. And it sits on top of a bed of fries. And I mean a "bed of them". The steak was delicious, and perfectly cooked to order (medium). According to a local source, Wolf has this offering at all her restaurants. I could only each so much fries, to which Boss Man gave me a hard time about. "Can't finish 'em, eh? Disappointing". I didn't join in for the wine, sticking to craft beers, of which they had a respectable selection. We did start with the Shared Snack Plate appetizer which is a mix of (cuts and pastes from online menu): Edwards of Surry Virginia Ham, Buttermilk Biscuits Hush Puppies, Fried Green Tomato, Nanny’s Pickles, Pimento Ricotta, Hot Pepper Jelly & Toasts. It's quite large and we didn't finish it, though I made sure the ham was gobbled up...

All in all a delightful place to dine in Baltimore. Always wanted to use "a delightful place" in an RJG review. Mission accomplished.

12/21/21 (new entry)

Pasta Mista ~ Baltimore, Maryland

First visit: Dec 2021 (Canton)

They have a second location in Towson.

I met with my new direct reports for the first time (in person) in the morning. Now it's time for a team lunch, but where to go? The office is in Canton, so I'm not that familiar with the neighborhood. Bo Brooks would have been great, but they are no longer open for lunch. Hudson Stackhouse wouldn't be appropriate. Fortunately one of our team is a resident of Canton. Grew up there as well. His go-to place for an Italian lunch? Pasta Mista. The RJG is always about local, and can't do better than a local recommendation!

Pasta Mista is your classic pizza pasta place, with sandwiches and pizza by the slice. And a welcoming owner. I settled on the meatball parm sub. Excellent bread, meatballs (though I don't think they're homemade - too perfect), gooey cheese, and best of all a slightly sweet tomato sauce to bury it in. I like that they leave the sauce on the side so you can add on each bite as you go. Two of the team (including resident) got the Philly Cheesesteak, which looked awesome. And the other got a huge slice of what they call a Spaghetti Pizza. It's a meal in of itself. She said it was super and took half of it home.

Pasta is an order up at the counter place, with a few tables inside and some more outside. Excellent lunch option if in the area!

12/14/21 (new entry)

The Abbey Burger Bistro ~ Baltimore, Maryland

Latest visit: Dec 2021 (Fells Point)

First visit: Jan 2019 (Fells Point)

A bit surprised to see I hadn't added The Abbey Burger Bistro. This was a tip I received from a fellow patron at Max's Taphouse, and it's pretty much around the corner from there. After my first visit, it became part of the weekly rotation when in town. I chose it as the first place to come back to when returning to the Charm City, since they have the perfect balance of beer choice and high quality food. While the beer selection isn't quite up to Max's (no one else does either), the food quality is definitely a cut above. But one's a beer bar that serves food and the other is a restaurant that has craft beer. And Abbey Burger Bar definitely brings the beer selection - close to 40 if memory serves, and constantly rotating. They used to have the large screens with the latest and greatest, but it looks like they canceled that service, another victim of the pandemic. 

As for the food, there are few places that compete at this level in the burger sweepstakes. So even if you're a teetotaler, you will probably find Abbey Burger Bar to your liking, if food is all your after. In an area where your choices are taverns or high end restaurants, Abbey Burger Bar provides a clear middle ground alternative. And of course they provide more than all-beef hamburgers, as they offer exotics like bison, as well as turkey, duck, shrimp, vegetarian, etc... Excellent flavor throughout. You can select from the menu or build your burger with a multitude of options. Homemade potato chips are the default side item, which is all I ever have, but they certainly have fries and other options for a small fee.

The Fells Point location is a welcoming spot. Walk in and head to the bar or there are a few tables in the back. Sports dominates the multiple TV screens, which have nothing better to show since the beer lists disappeared. 

There are 3 other Abbey Burger Bar locations in the Baltimore metro area.

1/23/19; 12/14/21 (new entry)

Thai Mint ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Dec 2021

First visit: Oct 2016

Our first visit here came via one of our personal trips to the area before moving to the Springs. Not sure if our flavors were off, or they just had an off night, but it wasn't to our taste. Last month we decided to try it again, and it's much better than we remembered. And we're already back again. As you all know, Thai food was always a dinner pursuit for us, with a BYOB of Chardonnay by our side. It was a weekly tradition Mrs. RJG and I had going in Texas for almost the entire 15 years we lived in NE Tarrant. BYOB is not legal in Colorado, despite a recent effort to reverse that course. I have no idea why the concept hasn't taken off here. It would be even more popular than in the Bible Belt. And most Thai restaurants don't want to bother with getting a liquor license, and if they do, the costs are fairly exorbitant. As such, we've decided to make our Thai meals a lunch event sans wine. It's something I first did in Baltimore, which requires a bit of a palate change from what I'm used to. Mrs. RJG, for her part, has also been sneaking in Thai meals for lunch while shopping about.

With that out of the way, Mrs. RJG had the Pineapple Curry last month and the Pad Thai this time. She stated that the curry was excellent but wished it were a bit hotter in temperature. The Pad Thai was also very good, but she prefers a thicker noodle to the vermicelli like you get in the Vietnamese pho bowls. For my part I went with the Pad Krapow both times. I customize the dish: Add ground chicken, remove the green beans and mushrooms, add a fried egg, and go THAI HOT. That would be known in street parlance as "Thai Style". Both times it has been excellent - in fact this visit was better than the last. Perfectly cooked rice as well. If I could make a request, I wish they'd offer a bigger plate to mix it all up in. The two small plates have to be carefully maneuvered to ensure the rice or ground chicken don't end up on the table. Last time I got the Thai Iced Coffee which was also superb. I passed this time, 'cause we decided to go to Josh and Johns for ice cream. Weeeeeeee.

Thai Mint is a well appointed place with plenty of booths and tables in a serene setting. It sits at the end of a strip mall.

12/10/21 (new entry)

Quick update

OK, starting to get back on the horse again. Honestly, dining out has been a huge disappointment for the latter half of 2021 (though it's been on the downhill for a few years now). The reasons are hardly a secret, and is national news. Supply chain issues, inflation, and worker shortages have been particularly hard on the restaurant industry. It's been relentless. For long time readers, you'll note the RJG was around during the Great Recession. That had the opposite effect - the dining experience was at its peak. For most of my life, the idea of eating out has been an exciting one. For the last 6 months, I'd much rather eat at home than go out. Even when I go to Denver to buy records, I eat before I go, not to waste time on a bad experience. $50 for a mediocre meal for 2 (with no alcohol) and bad service is a non-starter here. And we eat great at home for a fraction of the price! Thank you Mrs. RJG! As much as I'd like to support our local dining spots, I'm not going to put up with mediocrity, due to excuses. And too many places use excuses versus stepping up and fighting the challenge. Leading the way - no surprise - are the national chains (the publicly traded ones, that is) which have become pitiful. It's time for them to go out of business. For example, Arby's had won me over during the pandemic, only for them to completely fumble the ball in 2021. They removed just about every menu item, except what you could get in 1980. Of course many places have done just that - take on the challenge - and we do support them as much as possible. Wade's Cafe is a good example of new place for me to try, and I was happy with the experience. It's been months since I could really say that. I fully expect this situation to rectify itself, or the whole industry will just disappear. No more free money from the government, so something has to give.

One exception has been Thai food (though the costs are still too high, but that's more understandable). We have found 3 good places in town since our last update, and at this point, I think we'll revisit each before publishing here.

In other news, it appears we never left Texas. Torchy's just opened, and Whataburger is on the way. Add that to Fuzzy's and In-N-Out Burger. Of course the latter isn't from Texas, but we had them ahead of Colorado by close to a decade. Though one can see the chain getting pretty close to leaving California - they've had enough of their insanity. We still haven't been to our local In-N-Out, even though it's practically walking distance from our homestead. The lines are still around the block - and the next one. Even though they've opened a second location. Probably next year on a slow weekday I'll go. Obviously they need to open one or 2 more locations to feed the demand.

And for perhaps the biggest news - the RJG is back in Baltimore! As noted prior, I knew the former job was coming to an end as they decided to divest the business. In fact, I was in charge of it! I was responsible for my own demise lol. Interview question: "What did you do for your last company?" Answer: "I took them down." Haha, well it's true! In any case, during the interview process I landed another excellent gig - in Baltimore! Not at all related to my last job either (other than job role of course). All new faces. Moved 2 neighborhoods over - from Harbor East to Canton. The latter being a destination of mine from before. I'll be adding new places very soon, plus hopefully a couple of revisits to old favorites! 

Much to look forward to in 2022. Let's hope for better times.

Wade's Cafe ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Dec 2021

I had Wade's circled to go to earlier in the year, but it was still during the pandemic, and there was a long wait so I tabled it for a future day. And that day has arrived. And joining me on this venture is none other than business associate, and good friend, Tampa Pound who last graced these pages in early 2018. As it turns out, he too is now a resident of Colorado Springs, so there's always an opportunity for a quick get together. I arrived early, and stated there would be 2 of us, but they only seat you if the whole party is already here. Which makes sense for a popular place such as this. He arrived about 5 minutes later, and we were promptly seated. Wade's has an extensive menu of breakfast and lunch items (they typically close at 2), so figuring out what I wanted was a challenge. We were there at 11:00, so I could have gone either way. I decided on breakfast, as it's always hard for me to resist a Breakfast Burrito smothered in green. These also come with "3 dollar pancakes". I was starving so the egg burrito had little chance of surviving the 10 minute onslaught. The green chile had an excellent flavor - definitely not that spicy for those who are sensitive to such things. As is often the case, I could have used more chile, as it was pretty dry by the end. Maybe I should stop eating it by itself on the side of the plate? I can't help myself. The Tampa Pound ordered the Farmer's Omelet which he devoured with glee. I then attacked the pancakes as if they were dessert, slathering all the butter they gave me, and dousing it in maple syrup. A perfect way to close off the meal. 

Complaints? Sure, why not, gotta complain about something I s'ppose. I wanted coffee but they didn't have flavored creamers, which is pretty standard these days. Oh well, I went for the hot chocolate instead, which was also excellent. So I won for losing. So much for complaints. And service was very prompt, something very rare these days.

Definitely need to get Mrs. RJG over here. The primary thing with her has to do with the hot temperature of the food, and I have to give credit to Wade's here too. I too prefer it as hot as possible. Nothing worse than warm or cool food - at least for food that isn't supposed to be that way! We'll be back for next year's "annual review".

12/6/21 (new entry)

Boca Pizzeria ~ Novato, California

For dinner, we decided to check out a place in Novato called Boca Pizzeria. It's a Napolitano pizza place, wood fired grill, ya know - my fave! The place was really nice. They had plenty of outside seating as well as inside. We ordered some roasted brussels sprouts, which were excellent. Then we got a salad with feta, cured olives, cucumber, and heirloom tomatoes with homemade croutons and lemon vinaigrette. It was huge, fresh, and yummy! We then had the Margherita pizza. It was amazing! It had a very light sauce, nice pools of mozzarella cheese and fresh basil just as the traditional ingredients prescribe. The crust was awesome. Chewy and delicious! We had a little dessert. A Belgian chocolate mousse cake! Oh boy, it was so rich and delicious! I also had a sparkling lemonade and mint drink with dinner. It was very delish and refreshing.

We saw some things go by as we ate. One was the chicken picatta, one of Ms. Music's favorite dishes. So we decided to eat there again the next night. This time we tried the roasted beet salad. It was ginormous and had thick slices of roasted golden and red beets. It also had lots of roasted hazelnuts, sheep milk feta, and a creamy dressing. We loved it. We got a Margherita pizza again (sorta wanted to try the Italian sausage with funghi), but we went with sinister elegance again (ed: now there's a metaphor I haven't seen!). Then we had the chicken picatta which was served with homemade mashed potatoes with roasted green beans, carrots, and broccolini. The chicken was so light and moist, and the sauce was delicious. It was also a very large portion. Going twice in a row was nice to explore more of the menu and see if the food was consistent. Check and check. The staff was super friendly and excellent service. We are big fans! Other items I was DYING to try were the leg of lamb sandwich and Nona's meatballs!

- Mr. Music review

Cafe in Muir Woods Park ~ Mill Valley, California

Muir Woods Park

Quick hitter here: Ms. Music was feeling low on energy after our long hike in the woods. We were planning on going up the Coast and to Muir Beach and Stinson Beach. She wasn't sure if there would be places to get food and wanted to have a snack before getting on the road. To be honest, I was not so keen on spending a precious meal on a park cafe. I wanted to reserve my stomach space and meal experience for something more interesting. Plus most park cafes serve crap! Ms. Music understood but said she needed a little snack. She ended up getting a hot turkey & cheese melt  as well as the turkey and white bean chili.

 
It was all delicious! They said everything was locally sourced. Even the bread was delicious! It was some sort of grainy wheat, which I love. The cost for those were about $25. Not cheap, but considering we were in NorCal, at a state park, and it's all locally sourced and organic, I thought it was reasonable enough. We indulged on an organic oatmeal-raisin cookie for dessert which was delish!

- Mr. Music review

Mondo Italiano ~ Taos, New Mexico

First visit: Aug 2021

For our first night of our latest trip to New Mexico, we decided to mix it up a bit and go for Italian. We already knew we were going to indulge in New Mexican cuisine for a few meals, and we had the Thai restaurant (Thai Spice in ABQ) circled as well. So how about the old road trip standby of Italian? Taos is a little bit more of a resort-y town, and you can expect all sorts of restaurants to cater to the tourist crowd. The owner of Mondo Italiano comes from New York, and what better place to learn the craft than the Big Apple.

Mrs. RJG and I decided to just keep it simple. A glass of wine each with spaghetti and x, where x = meatballs or sausage. Pardon the programming language. In general, these dishes are rarely cooked properly anymore. Usually the sauce is too tart, sweet, bitter, runny, thick... but not here. Perfectly cooked. The pasta was al dente and the smooth sauce had just the right amount of sweet and tart. The sausage was mild, but tasty. I don't think they make their own, but that's a tough ask. The meatballs were also very good. Not the meatballs of my youth, but no one makes them like that anymore. It's apparently a secret that went down with the Library of Alexandria. I'm older than you thought, huh? The portions are also old school, in that they aren't very large. Honestly we prefer this. For far too long, the meal sizes at restaurants have become ridiculously huge, with prices to match. The red wine can generously be called "table wine", which means in laymen terms that it has a low ABV. Like 11.5, but that's a guess on our part. All meals are also served with bread, which was excellent. We decided to pass on salads. The setting is pleasant with a large open space and plenty of natural light. There is a bar area as well. 

As for that overall cost, the meal was surprisingly affordable, especially in this day and age. And considering it's in Taos. Of course bear in mind that this is the size of meal you would have gotten prior to the 1990s. We're not in Taos enough to come back anytime soon (we like to try new places if we can), but if we are there for any kind of extended stay, certainly Mondo Italiano would be a regular visit.

9/20/21 (new entry)

Thai Spice ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Aug 2021

No road trip is going to happen without at least one visit to a Thai restaurant. That's a Mrs. RJG rule. So for this getaway, Albuquerque was chosen as the city and Thai Spice as the place. We've had good Thai food in ABQ before (Thai Cuisine II - not reviewed here), but we were looking for something a bit closer to our hotel (we stayed up north), and settled on Thai Spice based on the reviews. And those reviews were accurate. Thai Spice could be described as "bustling". A popular place, with both dine-in and to-go orders, the workers at Thai Spice were constantly on the move, and we arrived relatively early. As such, service was a bit slow, but not sure how they could have rectified that situation. The restaurant is open and spacious, and pleasant background music was provided for a serene setting despite the activity.

We started with a fried shrimp appetizer. A bit on the small size, but still very good. For dinner, I ordered my usual spicy basil chicken. They have larb salad on the menu, so I usually try for ground chicken in those situations. Add a fried egg? Yep. Thai hot? Yep. "Oh you like it Thai style don't you?" Yaay. I know I'm in the right place at that point. And it did not disappoint. I have to say, this is the most fried egg I've ever had on the basil chicken, but I'm not complaining. Everything was great. Mrs. RJG had the red curry and it came out in a huuuuge bowl. Intimidating at first, but the dish had no chance once she started devouring it. We both commented that we enjoyed the rice, perfectly cooked. No alcohol, so I indulged with my "dessert" drink of Thai Ice Coffee instead, which was excellent. Mrs. RJG stuck with water.

Easy recommendation for anyone looking for Thai food. Obviously Thai Spice is already well known to the locals. Might want to go early. And imagine, we were there on a Tuesday night. Friday must be insane.

9/19/21 (new entry)

Casa Chimayo ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Last visit: Aug 2021

First visit: Sep 2015

We've been back to Casa Chimayo twice in the last 6 years (the other was in 2016). Sad to say, neither visit lived up to our review below. While I'm willing to state it's still very good, Mrs. RJG has been more critical. We just don't go to Santa Fe enough to warrant another visit.

---original 9/11/15 review

Food: Casa Chimayo's fare is solidly in the New Mexican camp. Perhaps a bit more upscale than the usual New Mexican breakfast/lunch hybrid house. Casa Chimayo offers complimentary chips and salsa, which isn't always a given in New Mexico. The chips were very thick and crisp, clearly homemade, and taste fantastic on their own. The salsa is a thick and smooth red, with garlic and chiles, and very satisfying. For entrees, we both settled in on the Blue Corn Enchiladas, which they proudly state were featured on Fiori's DDD. We weren't feeling diverse this evening, so we both went with the chicken and Christmas chile and it comes with whole beans and rice. WINNER! Without a doubt, Casa Chimayo holds its own against the formidable local competition. Both the green and the red were excellent, and definitely a bit spicier than the norm in Santa Fe (though not like Horseman's Haven by any stretch). I use the word "velvety" often when describing the red chile, and I struggle to find another adjective, and so once again I'll use it here. The beans and rice came out piping hot and were delicious in their own right. Oh, and they even served us a couple of their famous bizcochitos (cookies) for dessert. They were excellent too.

Drink: Nice selection of beer, wine, and margaritas. We had the latter, which were tasty, though perhaps a bit more tequila would have been nice. I regretted not trying a glass of the New Mexican Chardonnay they had on the menu.

Location: Yet another restaurant in the artsy district on North Guadalupe. And once again, parking is a challenge. There are two pay lots surrounding the restaurant, and metered parking was a breeze on this one mid-week evening. And it would have been free, if we had arrived after 6, but we went earlier per our custom. The restaurant itself is very pleasant, as if eating at someone's spacious villa. Plenty of both outdoor and indoor seating. We were surprised to see the restaurant nearly empty for the course of our dinner. Folks, if you don't feel like standing in line at one of the more established restaurants, can I recommend a quick pop over here? One other point I'd like to make. We don't usually fuss about service, bad or good. That can change with a single visit. But I have to say everyone from the bus boys to the hostess to the servers were incredibly friendly. That points more to quality management. And friendly service is not always a given in Santa Fe, where often times the staff seems more bothered than pleased to see you. So kudos go to Casa Chimayo! Oh, and one other thing. We loved the background music of Spanish guitar as well. How many restaurants fail on this front? Soothing and sophisticated is how you'll feel while dining here.

Notes: The name of the restaurant comes from the name of the small town north of Santa Fe, and halfway to Taos. This is where the family originates from. I believe the restaurant first opened in 2011.

9/10/15 (new entry); 8/5/16; 8/30/21

Rosa's Italian Ristorante ~ Visalia, California

(The Cristallo Family)

[Since 1962]

{Bar and Lounge}

Ya almost don’t need to even go in and order. You KNOW it’s gonna be epic! I did say, ‘almost’?!

Strangely, this was my second choice for premium wap-chow (ed: well... he is Rude Dante...) in a town named Visalia. How could I go wrong? (Choice #1, incidentally, was closed for a remodel the entire span of my visit).

Was here two times Aug-Sept 2021, and the second will have to be first. I came in seeking Penne di Maria, and it did not disappoint. But where are my manners. 

You have to sit at the bar in the back. Talk to the other patrons: Skip (owns the meat market that sells them steaks, bread, etc.) Tanya and Teddy (she orders for him). But I digress…

Dinner the last trip was Penne di Maria, a spicy red  sauce over penne with Italian sausage, bell peppers and (if you ask for it) extra garlic. Asked for salad with house (Italian) dressing, a couple beers and an old vine Zinfandel. The bread (gratis) was perfect for mopping up the sauce!

This after my first visit - 2 weeks prior - where they batted not an eye over my request for combo eggplant & chicken parm. Love this place!

- Rude Dante review

Wienerschnitzel ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jul 2021 (Colorado Springs - Austin Bluffs)

First visit: 1983 (Lubbock, Texas)

Not proud to admit that Wienerschnitzel at one time made up a good portion of my daily bread. Especially after I left campus and lived in an efficiency apartment at the end of my college tenure (1987). When they opened up in the DFW area, Mrs. RJG, The RJG's official Mom, and myself gave it a try (2004) and it was as I remembered it. Good. Not great. 

I was watching them convert this quirky building (not sure what its original function was, but it last served as a cigarette store - see below photo (courtesy of the Gazette)) - as I drove by on my weekly visits to a nearby thrift shop. When they opened, they had the In-N-Out effect, and there were (I think unexpected) long lines along Austin Bluffs, that got them in hot (dog) water with the city. The novelty has already worn off. With In-N-Out, even though they've been open since late November, the lines are still incredibly long. Once the second location opens here, the demand should begin to disperse. And over time, it should be like any other fast food restaurant. This is what we saw in DFW as well. Anyway, back to Wienerschnitzel. Obviously I just had to try it one more time.

Walk in, turn left, and order at the counter. I had done some online prep work, and was excited to try their green chile hot dog. It warned that it was only available at "select locations", but of course Colorado Springs would be one those. Right? Wrong. Huh. Oh well, I settled on a chili cheese dog - and chose the all-beef option. I wanted to still be alive after finishing my meal. Also grabbed a chili cheeseburger and a small drink. Sounds like a lot of food, but their portions are small, and that's reflected in the price. The drink machine has a lot of taps, but only one diet option. Wienerschnitzel is obviously a Pepsi customer, which is also reflected on their website. Oh - I got there as they opened, and the floors were still wet - and oily. So I literally skated around the store in my Columbia hiking shoes. Fine for an agile runner like me, but incredibly dangerous for others. They really need to prepare to open. In any case, I put my drink down, and went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Sink was crashed on the floor. Literally. C'mon guys, it's only a month old! Oh well, grabbed some sanitizer and washed up that way. 

Out comes the meal. Started on the chili cheeseburger. Pretty good, The burger tastes like the kind you can buy at Sam's Club. Like Pierre lol. The chili is pretty good. The all-beef hot dog was certainly good, and it has the chili and cheese loaded on top. It sounds like an unhealthy meal, but honestly it doesn't feel that way. My body is good at telling me what to eat and what not to. I wouldn't recommend eating too much of it though. I didn't bother with the Tastee Freez, but it doesn't take much imagination to know what it's like. While most people use the drive-thru, I purposely wanted to eat inside, and chili dogs are too messy for the car anyway. They utilized the space very well, and it feels comfortable. So will I go back? Probably not. I did this strictly for nostalgia. But it's certainly as good as I remembered it.

Founded as Der Wienerschnitzel in California in 1961, the chain is still somewhat regional to the West, and seems to be poised for yet another comeback. There are currently 7 locations in Colorado, all but this one in western Colorado (esp. Grand Junction). I've read they plan on opening two more in the area. Hopefully they saved some of that opening month cash - could help pay for a new sink too....

12/26/04; 7/2/21 (new entry)

Hacienda Colorado ~ Colorado chain : Colorado Springs

Latest visit: May 2021 (Colorado Springs)

First visit: Dec 2002 (Lone Tree)

Hacienda Colorado is part of the Uncle Julio's chain that we've written about before in our various visits in the DFW area. Our first experience with Hacienda goes way back to the waning days of our time living in the Denver area. We enjoyed the experience but were to never return, as we moved away a month later. Today there are 6 locations, 5 in the Denver area and one right here in our current home base.

Hacienda Colorado is near the top of fine Mexican dining, at least if considering location and prices. It's an enormous structure, with multiple rooms, a full bar (upstairs and downstairs), as well as outdoor seating on that second floor. We walk in, and were promptly seated in a quiet side room. In our first visit to this location a couple of years back, we sat at the edge of the terrace, so as to not be in the sun, but still enjoy the breeze and beautiful views. 

Chips and salsa come out right away, and after scanning our phone to get the menu (not real high on this idea BTW - it was fine during the pandemic, but the whole "surfaces" thing was always a stretch, and now it seems like a cheap way to avoid providing written menus), we were prepared to order. Mrs. RJG and her official Mom had fajitas for 2, and I went for the New Mexico hatch green enchiladas with shredded chicken. Margaritas is their specialty, and I had one on our first visit, and it was excellent. But the RJG has sworn off any kind of hard alcohol (never was much for it anyway, beyond margaritas), so I settled on a Dos Equis Amber. The beer list is limited to Mexicano brands, and they don't have wine (surprisingly for a place like this). I think they should offer some craft beers, but whatever. So... the chips. They are the very light crispy kind - like what you get at Chili's. So basically when you dip the chip into the salsa bowl, it breaks into said bowl. Yee hoo. The red salsa that is offered is quite good, a very garlicky number guaranteed to keep you alone all night. We asked if they had a hotter one, and sure 'nuff they do! Out came a very similar looking, but different tasting, habanero sauce. It's very sweet, but does pack a punch. Mrs. RJG & I both preferred the regular table option. As for the meal, nothing sounds better than sizzling platters of fajitas on arrival. And my dish was dropped off inconspicuously. So I dig in - the cumin spiced rice is excellent. The beans come in a bowl, and are soupy, so I needed to ask for a spoon (how else was I supposed eat it I wonder?). It was... OK. The green chili enchiladas were good on the whole, I enjoyed the seasoned shredded chicken, but the green chile sauce was ultimately a tad bland. Mrs. RJG seemed to enjoy her meal (her official Mom always enjoys her meal), and I tried the grilled chicken and carne asada from her plate, both were very good. At $38, one has to question the value though.

So what do we think? Well... it certainly is very good, won't say different. Seems like a good place to go with a group of friends or co-workers. Especially the latter - if the company is footing the bill. But otherwise not a place that we need to frequent.

12/1/02; 8/17/19 (new entry); 5/30/21

Doug's Breakfast Lunch ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: May 2021

Right before the pandemic hit, I got word that Doug's serves up a mean New Mexican breakfast. Well then, turn on the light for this moth won't you? Then things shut down, and we put the RJG on hold for a few months. Then one fine Monday morning a few months ago we went over, and they were closed without notice. Some family emergency. No problem. The next two times we wanted to go, we looked online and they were closed - and closed again. They seem to close on random days. Jeez. Well finally I timed a visit correctly. Walk in, waitress sits you down, order some coffee with vanilla creamer and we're ready to rumble.

No question what I'm getting - three egg burrito, stuffed with carne adovada. Smothered Christmas. I mean seriously, as if I was going to order something else. While waiting for the food, I observed the location. It's broken into 3 vertical sections with tables and booths in each. No counter seating which I like for breakfast, but that's OK.

To point out - the burrito is $11. So either it's grossly overpriced or it's giant. And the good news is...

Yea, look at that bad boy. I like to eat an early breakfast so I enjoy my dinner around 6. Here you can eat an early breakfast - and wait until tomorrow to eat again. So I did my ritual - flipped the dish perpendicular (as you see it) and started on the green. It's good - I would prefer more spice, but yes, it's good. As is usually the case, I wish they would smother it more. It gets dry by the end of the half portion. Also, it wasn't quite hot enough. It really needs to be blazing so it lasts the entire meal. So that by the time I got to the red, it was cool. If Mrs. RJG was with me, she would have been upset. I'm more tolerant of such things. The red was delicious all the same. Again, a bit more spice (and sauce) would have helped, but the flavor was there. Best New Mexico red chile I've had in Colorado. Which is not the same thing as saying the best New Mexico red chile. 'fraid to say, you still gotta haul yourself south a few hours for that.

Service was exceptional - it's a family affair so everyone plays their part to perfection. I'll be back for certain, want to try some other menu options.

5/29/21 (new entry)

Colombo's Italian Restaurant ~ Elkhart, Indiana ***Temporarily closed***

Colombo's pizza. When I think of the classic mid-crust pie that I grew up with, there's a picture of a Colombo's pie in my head. And nostrils, taste buds, stomach, etc. This is a full-service, sit-down restaurant that also caters, serves wine & beer, will offer you a salad prior to pizza, etc. There are pasta dishes, sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, veal, seafood... the whole nine yards. But for me, it's all about the pie.

Prior to learning about razor-thin NYC slices and 2-inch thick Chicago pans, the only pie I knew was what I call the mid-crust Elkhart pie. It's a bit more substantial, and as a result of the heftier base can handle a heavier load of toppings. If you get a larger slice of Elkhart pie, one slice might be enough for most appetites. For years I would tell people that I never had a pizza elsewhere that would crack the top 5 in Elkhart - and I only stopped saying that when I no longer had 5 Elkhart places that I frequented. Those that remain are still rock solid, and Colombo's is still my go-to.

My fave here (like most pizza joints) is a straight pepperoni sausage mushroom pie. They have a wide range of sizes - from 9" personal pie up to a mammoth 20" jumbo. I generally go with 16" when ordering for 2-4 people (or even just myself, because - duh - LEFTOVERS!) Adding 3 toppings means you'll have a pie probably 3/4 of an inch thick, with a nice red sauce, ample meat & cheese - not doughy by any stretch - and you'll be full (but will still want one more slice).

Incidentally, Colombo's has a sister restaurant - I believe another branch of the same family - called Da Vinci's on the other side of town (northside by the toll road rather than SE side for Colombo's). At one point I sampled each and found their fare to be similar; would be curious if that is still the case 20+ years since my last Da Vinci visit

- Rude Dante review

(ed: a new style is born! See labels... Oh - and if your logo has the Mustache Pete with the chef's hat and he's making the A-OK symbol, you're golden! You go there no matter what you hear.)

Rude would also like you to know that Lucchese's Italian has closed (a place I went some 17 years ago based on his recommendation) as well as Riverview Tavern (Ma's Place) in nearby White Pigeon, Michigan (which appears to have closed in 2013).

Iechyd Da Brewing Company ~ Elkhart, Indiana

First question asked is usually, 'how do you pronounce that shit?' I have heard, generally, a Canuck or Scandinavian first syllable (Yah, you don't say!), followed by something like, 'kid-da'. Clearly I don't know. Second question immediately follows first: "What does it mean?" Ditto previous plea of ignorance (although it shouldn't surprise you to learn it is Welsh. Oops, I slipped.)

Here's what I do know. These guys make a pretty good and pretty diverse batch of beers for a town of 50-70k residents, and they pack in a loyal crowd of patrons even on what are normally slow weekday lunches. It's one of the few places that I like to start with a flight, because you'll find quality from the lighter blondes & pilseners right through to the pales, IPAs, Scotch ales and Stouts. There are certainly some I like better than others, but have not had a bad one yet.

Here's the other thing I know. Many breweries here in Colorado eschew food in favor of food trucks. Iechyd Da has a solid kitchen with limited but high quality grub. Mainstays are pizzas, small plates and salads - plus a sandwich or two. All are excellent in my experience.

Would also recommend taking a growler or a crowler for later ruminations.

- Rude Dante review

(ed: later ruminations!)

Greg's Volcano Pizza ~ Elkhart, Indiana

This one will get a knowing look from any Elkhart native, as well as those who may have experienced it in other locales (there was a Volcano in Bristol, TN for many years). My short synopsis: great take-out greasy pizza if you are into that kind of thing. And I am into that kind of thing!

Not sure when Volcano first opened, but it was there for as long as I can remember, and I have lived in or been a frequent visitor to Elkhart since the early 70s. (Confession: resorted to a web site check. They have been doing it since 1957!)

There are a very few, non-exclusive schools of faith at Volcano:

Pizza
Sandwiches - hot
Sandwiches - cold
Other

For my part, I've been a believer in a sandwich and a pizza. Hot sandwiches dominate - presuming you will be eating right away, but cold sandwiches are a nice option for a road trip. My go-to sandwich is a hot italian sausage and cheese. Others in my circle of acquaintance favor the hot meatball & cheese, while still others are fans of the italian beef. The only cold sandwich for me would be the ham & cheese (which is also lovely hot).

(There is a veggie sandwich on the menu, about which I will say nothing.)

For the pizza, I seldom stray from the top 3 on their ingredients list (pep, saus & mush), and I generally go for a large one even if it's just for me. Hello, leftovers? Crust is thinner than most in town, and signature cut style is one bisecting cut with thin slices cut perpendicular to the initial cut. Debate rages between the outer pieces (more crust) versus the middle ones (maybe 1 inch +/- of crust). Ample cheese, spicy but not overpowering red sauce, and the sausage in particular imparts a character that cannot be beat. Greasy? Of course!

In the 'other' category, they have some salads, and I am never averse to a salad with my pie and/or sandwich. They also list spaghetti on the menu: I have no idea if it's any good. And there are bread sticks, same comment.

No seating - just takeout, and only soft drinks available last time I was there.

- Rude Dante review

(ed: gotta like a place that advertises "Italian" spaghetti, as if there's another kind... love it!)

The Vine ~ Elkhart, Indiana

Rude Dante has gone nostalgic, and takes us back to his childhood home. Let's see what he recommends (or doesn't)...

NEPOTISM ALERT: Dante's sister owns the joint.

The Vine has been a standby in Elkhart for 10+ years, however it has been 'under new management' for the past 5-6 years. In a town famous for really good Italian chow, this place brings a bit of variety not often found in a small- to medium-sized city in the Midwest.

Rather than a specific dining recommendation, this will serve instead as a guidepost for those who might wander in and wonder what to get.

For starters, the bar has a great set of interesting and varied custom cocktails that rotates seasonally. I'd recommend a libation before dinner at the bar if that is an option.

Outdoor patio seating is especially appealing late spring to middle fall. At other seasons, tables are split between the front / bar area, back dining room or the wine cave (a small dining room that seats 6-8 comfortably at the back of the back dining room).

Wine list is short, sweet and eclectic. A couple better options usually include a barolo or brunello di montalcino - have been known to hit on these during most visits.

My dining experience has generally been for dinner, though I have enjoyed on or two nice lunches as well. Steaks have been great and well prepared, and there is usually a decent selection of seafood on the menu (walleye in summer is my personal fave). A variety of salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and artisan pizzas round out the menu, with appetizers & desserts to accompany if desired.

Chef and staff have been pretty consistent since reopening after the ownership transition, so quality of food and service is consistently good.

- Rude Dante review

De Gennaro ~ New York City, NY

De Gennaro occupies the location formerly known as Umberto's Clam House - famous for Crazy Joe Gallo mob hit in the early 70s. Although this was technically an afterthought upon finding Puglia and Vincent's to be closed on a Wednesday night (COVID hours - ugh!), was pleased to find a likely place at the corner of Hester and Mulberry.

Past experience in the area had me thinking parking might be an issue. For whatever reason, COVID or otherwise, I parked right in front of our original destination and did not even have to pay to park (arrived just at 7 pm.)

Service was prompt, ordered a glass of chianti, caprese and seafood fra diavlo with linguini. Colleague ordered an alfredo with chicken. Both were satisfied with our meals, but I would not walk past scungili in hot red sauce from Vincent's or Puglia to return here (ed: the RJG remembers those days!).

Will likely have reason to try other places in what is left of Little Italy in future; no need to return here (but glad for the historic visit).  

- Rude Dante review

Gianna's ~ Carlstadt, New Jersey

For my last night in NJ, I visited the restaurant next door to the warehouse / DC that I had been supporting for 3-4 weeks. Although this was my first time inside the doors, we had takeout from here 2-3 times during hypercare, and it was always good. Seemed appropriate that I pay my respects before leaving town.  

Historically, my standby dish in a mama-papa joint has been chicken or eggplant parmesan (hopefully a combo if they are flexible). Have always liked seafood but am not usually a big shrimp fan. On this trip I ventured to shrimp parmesan a couple times and found it to be quite lovely. 

Gianna's started me with chianti by the glass, a small wedge salad, and shrimp parmesan with fra diavlo rather than marinara sauce. A healthy chunk of warm Italian bread with butter came out with the salad. Could not resist a slice or two! Salad was a small wedge with ample blue cheese crumbles and dressing, grape tomatoes and a sprinkling of bacon (which indeed makes everything better). Quick assessment of entre: sauce was tasty but not overly spicy, shrimp were excellent, penne pasta al dente (though, regrettably, boxed rather than homemade). Skipped dessert / coffee as there was no need to make staff linger on a slow night.

I sat at the bar and - other than a private party upstairs - had the place to myself at 8:30-9:30 on a Thursday evening. Bartender was out of work commercial real estate with an interesting accent (claimed to be Irish, I think?) Also got guidance from manager or owner - large-ish gal who claimed to have been there 20+ years. It's always a good sign when the proprietor is more robusto than panetela, methinks.

A good place, but not the kind of place I'd drive a half hour out of my way to revisit. However, if I was ever leaving a Giants or Jets game and wanted a bite to eat close by, this would certainly be on my list of places to consider.

- Rude Dante review

Dolphin Restaurant ~ Yonkers, New York

As this was my first foray into Yonkers (ed: very first home of the RJG - no recollection of it though), I arrived with no expectations or illusions about where we were going (another option was Xaviars - same general area). Arrived a bit before my guest on a rainy Wednesday in May. Between breaks in the weather, this location has stellar views of GWB to the south. Location is on a round-about that abuts the Hudson. Ordered a bottle of white wine as the menu favors fish (with quite a few other options, but the seafood dishes all looked good). Started with some clams in garlic / butter with crusty sourdough bread. Dinners were Branzino for Greg, seared Salmon for me - BOTH were amazing! Split some kind of dessert and an espresso for the drive back to NJ - excellent dinner. Would be curious to try Xaviars or wander the neighborhood next time, but elements precluded much exploring this night. Fancier than my typical RJG entry, but not by any means stuffy.

- Rude Dante review

Rue 57 ~ New York City, New York

Rue 57, on 57th just a bit south of Central Park. Not one of those places that distinguishes itself much other than that it does a pretty decent job of mimicking an eclectic Parisian café without going all snooty and high-brow. We tried this place, frankly, because one of us was badly hung over (and the other was in similar straights, although to a lesser degree). We ordered without much fanfare and had a decent burger, couple beers and a tuna tartare - all quite good. Professional service, prompt meals, good quality - just not a memorable / special place that I would seek out again. 

- Rude Dante review

Crave Fishbar ~ New York City, New York

If we were playing Jeopardy, the correct response to this place would, "where is the best oyster happy hour in Manhattan?" We walked to Crave from our hotel on the south side of Central Park without making reservations. Pleasantly surprised to find no wait, immediate seating, and pretty prompt service around 6 pm on a beautiful Friday at the end of April. Waiter managed to get us happy hour prices on our oysters even though we seated slightly after the cutoff. We started with a couple cocktails with our oysters, then decided full-on dinner was called for - Faroe Islands salmon for T, Yellowtail for me.  Excellent bottle of wine - Solo (tinto) Aranleon Syrah 2018 - recommended by waiter when the bottle I had picked proved to be out of stock. Service and food were exemplary, not outrageous prices, but expensive in the way you sort of expect NY to be expensive. Waiter (like most, though not all care to admit) proved to be an entertainer who had worked on traveling Broadway shows, and was familiar with our Denver venues & surrounding area. One of the more enjoyable seafood experiences I've had lately (but would not take my beef-lover friends there).

- Rude Dante review

The Kebabci ~ Wood-Ridge, New Jersey

Picked as an alternative to Italian - from which we all need a break from time to time! Went inside to order, rather than trying go to pick from their menu. Waiter (presumably) asked me a few questions then directed me to the Adana Kebab, which comes with rice - and I added a salad. Dinner was to-go for a variety of COVID and unrelated reasons. Excellent dinner, just the right amount, enjoyed every bit. Pretty sure they have no liquor license, so options to pick up a bottle or six-pack at nearby Meadowland Wine and Liquor - for dine-in or take-away - completes the deal.

Excellent Med option, would go back in a heartbeat.

- Rude Dante review

Natoli's Italian Deli ~ Secaucus, New Jersey

OK what Natoli's is not, is a place to go and have a sit-down dinner (at least not when I was there in the dog-end of COVID restrictions). Natoli's shows as one of the better recommended pizza joints on yelp and what-not, so I decided to give it a whirl. I arrived and found a deli counter with a couple tables where people generally milled around waiting for their take-out orders rather than eating there. I ordered my stand-by favorite pie: pep/sausage/mushroom, with a salad to go. 

Pizza is not your prototypical paper-thin crust, nor is it the wood-fired variety more recently trendy, and certainly not a pan pizza. Actually it was a good approximation of some of my favorite Elkhart, Indiana pizza joints (Colombos, for instance, maybe Big John's or Michaels). Salad was fresh and crisp. And I was intrigued with many other options on the menu that I saw people coming to take away: sandwiches, pasta, meats, etc. 

Only had the one meal here, but it was quite good. Pizza later passed all standards for leftover pie (must be good cold for breakfast as well as reheated).  Be prepared to pickup a bottle of wine or a six-pack and you'll be all set!

- Rude Dante review

Basilio Inn ~ Staten Island, New York

Basilio Inn is on Staten Island, spitting distance from the Verrazzano Bridge. On a dead end. With a grass / dirt parking lot. And it has been there forever (website describes them as the oldest restaurant on Staten Island, 100 years old as of my visit in May 2021). If there is a joint that merits the whole RJG in the 5 boroughs, this may actually be IT.

My visit was at the suggestion of my guest, Abigail, who I have known for 20-some years and knows my loathing of all things Olive Garden and my relish of all things mama-papa. She described it to me as, "really old", with a dash of 'dead-end street' and 'gravel lot'. She also informed me that Staten Island is the "largest Italian city outside Italy" - something that I have no desire to fact check but will take on faith. Other positive indicators: no web reservations, closed Monday, and had to wait for noon Tuesday when they reopen to call and verbally get a reservation.

We've had false positives before (RJG and I were truly buffaloed once outside Trenton NJ (ed: a true story - Feb 1999 in fact)), so I try to keep my expectations tempered when going someplace like Basilio. But all the signs look positive.

I arrived early, partly anticipation, but a pleasant surprise in not having bad traffic from my location near the Meadowlands across the Goethals to SI. There were some good articles on the wall, and I found myself wondering what I might get for dinner. Was hungry but not starving.

Got seated, took in the wine list and perused the menu, made no decisions. My guest arrived and we ordered a bottle of wine per the waiter (a Primitivo, not bad), we chatted while tasting and ordered a Fritto Misto to begin (her recommendation, I followed gladly). Not a dish I have ordered, we found a sizable plate of lightly breaded & fried seafood (mini-octopi, calamari, some shrimpies, possibly some little chiclets of scallop, a scattering of carrot and zucchini shavings, with a nice red sauce). We did not finish it by the time our dinner arrived (a bit earlier than I would have preferred, but no big deal) and Abigail subsequently took much of it and half her entrée home for her next day's lunch.

Debated on a salad: I generally have one even if I don't need it. But opted to pass tonight for some reason (likely the Fritto Misto). If I had been leaning the other way, I probably would have gone for caprese.

Abigail immediately ordered her favorite item: Veal Basilio. I opted to follow and order the same thing. When in Rome, right?

Dinner came as previously noted a bit earlier than I would have preferred. It was a veal cutlet, pounded somewhat thin (but not paper-thin), sautéed with a very light, white wine sauce with onions, cabbage, some garlic and potatoes. Maybe carrots? Don't recall. There was a small amount of mozz on it - not smothered, just a slab here and there, melted. Probably fresh mozz but hard to say for sure when used in cooking. Veal was tender - cut with a fork, as were the sautéed vegetables. Delicious! And no pasta (in case this had not already been gleaned from the list of ingredients - I briefly had a flashback to the opening scene of The Big Night).

Menu was a 1-page thing that looks to be typewritten. Almost no descriptions or list of ingredients. But some of the other intriguing items include: pork chop parmesan, pappardelle veal ragu, duck breast in fig sauce, ossobuco. Incidentally, only 2 dishes - both branzini's - are listed over $25, and all wines were in the 30-75 range if memory serves.

No dessert or coffee afterwards; Abigail took the leftover food, I departed with last glass +/- in the bottle of wine.

Truly an excellent place that I will visit again on the next possible occasion. It made me hungry again to write this 2 days later!

- Rude Dante review

Los Amigos ~ Lake Dallas, Texas

Los Amigos resides in an old DQ building... in Lake Dallas! In a sleepy town where Hunts Brother Pizza at the local gas station mart reigns supreme, it is a real treat to have an authentic Mexican restaurant. Their specialty is Tacos al Trompo, you know pork and garlic and onion tied up on a spit with a pineapple propped on top so the juices can drip into the cracks between the slow roasting pork. My mouth waters just thinking about it.  But they also serve wonderful barbacoa, delicioso al pastor, yummy chicken & beef too. Tacos on corn or flour would only be better if the tortillas were "Heche a mano" (hand made). The breakfast tacos, enchiladas and chile relleno are very good too. We come often. My kids love it, Ms. Music loves it, and my friends love it too.  They have a pretty large menu with pozole, menudo and quesadillas too. Oddly, 1/2 the menu consists of American diner food! Chicken fried steak, burgers, omelets and pancakes too! The first time we are here, baby Music wanted pancakes. We were all a little skeptical from a place that you don't hear much English. The pancakes were amazing! In fact everyone wanted to have some. Turns out the cook used to work at the Old West Cafe, my favorite diner in the area. 

The chips are warm, fresh, crispy and lightly salted. They are not greasy at all and are  plentiful. Served with their homemade warm salsa fresh off the grill in a molcajete.  It is tomato based, fresh and light with a nice kick that really enhances the flavor. Additionally they bring out 3 other salsas in squirt bottles, ahhh how I love them! All are plenty hot! The red consists of dried chilies, cumin, salt and water. Then they have green tomatillo. When fresh, its tangy and light. The favorite of mine and for most of my compadres is very spicy, creamy green made from roasted jalapeno, roasted garlic, and a bit of avocado blended til it's smooth and creamy and oh so hot! Amigo's dining room is less than fancy, just like an old DQ. The staff is super friendly.  Outside they have a handful of old round metal tables large enough for 5. It's a cute part of town and I love sitting outside there. Oh yeah, they have a drive through too! You get all that for a low price!

- Mr. Music review

Mr. Music's rundown of Sushi restaurants in Southern California

He's back with a series of scratch off notes. If you're a sushi fan, and you're in SoCal, consider the following:

There are so many sushi restaurants in Southern California!! We've tried quite a few, but we have barely scratched the surface. So far our faves are below.  Each has top notch fresh sushi, excellent rolls and delicious hand rolls as well as other yummy items.  The yellow tail and big eye tuna sushi/sashimi at each of these places are indescribably fresh and smooth. 

Boss in Beverly Hills
Best shushito peppers! In a pool of garlicky, soy sauce based yumminess.

Kampai in Long Beach
Super great prices and even better happy hour menu. Best spicy, garlic edamame. Great outside seating area.

Sushi Kinoya in Long Beach
Best owners: Martin & Iris!
Incredible sizzling tuna. Thinly sliced yellow tail sushi laid on a sizzling platter of onions, jalapeno slices and sliced garlic. I'm not usually a fan of heated sushi dishes but this is special and the tuna really doesn't get cooked!

Izaka-ya by Katsu Ya in Manhattan Beach
Best staff! We are friendly with several of the servers like Gabriel, David, Kevin, Ketu, and Phil Lynott's (ed: That would be Thin Lizzy's guitarist...) doppelganger Dylan. We are also friendly with a few of the sushi chefs and managers. The freshly brewed iced tea is so rich and refreshing. We've had avocado rolls, no meat and were blown away by them. The blue crab rolls (cooked blue crab meat in a thin layer of rice tightly wrapped in seaweed.) are fantastic. We love the tuna collar (deal of the day; at $10 a huge portion of cooked tuna in bone. There are some big bones and smaller bones you have to work around, but the reward is lots of tender, tasty fish). We loved the Spanish Mackerel and Black Seabass sushi. Cozy yet lively spot. We've been to this wonderful restaurant 25 times or more in the past few years. On our most recent trip we had something different... Wagyu beef sliders. The meat is so tasty and tender in a luscious bun with optional cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. We also had steamed cod in miso. it tasted like Chilean seabass. Yes, cod!!

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Izaka-ya. It has SO MUCH. I think Ms. Music would probably agree but might opt for Sushi Kinoya out of loyalty since she has been friends with Martin & Iris for many years. It's a fantastic place!

All in all, you can't go wrong with any of these great sushi spots.

- Mr. Music review