Barrio Eat Mexican ~ Carlsbad, California

Well how's that for synchronicity? I just mentioned Din Tai Fung in San Diego on Mr. Music's last review. We were in the area for one of our Official Niece's Grand Wedding as you may recall (May 2022). We all stayed at the Omni Resort in Carlsbad. And here comes Mr. Music with a restaurant in... Carlsbad! Too funny.

OK Mr. Music - tells us more. Have to admit this looks more in my comfort zone than "Chinese Sauerkraut Fish Soup" Hooo.

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Barrio is a cute little spot nestled in the center of the shopping district in Carlsbad, CA. This retail grid spans for blocks in all directions and has plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and breweries. At the western edge is the ocean with several beautiful beaches and lined with hotels. To the east are the Carlsbad flower fields, our ultimate destination.

Lady Music and I popped in for a little bite before wandering the flower fields and all its attractions. The small dining area is cute and simple. We were greeted by a couple of very cheery and friendly waitresses. We were presented with a basket of thick, homemade tortilla chips and a chunky salsa. The yummy chips were salted, fresh, and crunchy. The salsa was great and had a slight heat. Our iced tea was fresh and delicious! With the small guacamole, which was plenty for us to share, we had to order the "flight of salsas"! They make mild verde tomatillo, medium rojo chili (different than the complimentary salsa), hot chili arbol and very hot habanero! We liked all 4 salsas, although we thought each needed some salt. Our favorite was the chili arbol. It was good and hot and had lots of flavor. I'm not exactly sure what they seasoned it with, but it was good. The rojo was very good with a nice flavor. The habanero was seriously spicy. It had a little seasoning, but was little more than pureed habanero! Mr. Music liked that! The tomatillo could have used a little something to enhance it.

Lady Music ordered a pollo taco and I opted for the batter fried mahi mahi. They were served on bigger-than-usual corn tortillas (flour available). I don't think the tortillas were made there, but were nice. The portions were good sized; actually the moist and delicious mahi mahi was huge. The batter was light and crisp. It was sitting on a bed of shredded cabbage, sliced radish, and pico with creamy cojita sauce. I could hardly close the tortilla around it and loved every bit as I alternated a little of each salsa on each bite. Lady Music enjoyed her diced fajita chicken taco which was like a simple street taco topped with onions and cilantro.

On the menu were plenty of other interesting tacos we want to try. Top of the list is the lobster taco! It was $11, but if the portion is as generous as our other items, it will be well worth it. Plus, I don't think I've ever seen a lobster taco offered before. I was very close to ordering it. Had I known how good their food was, I would have. Grilled mahi mahi, grilled shrimp (our waitress' fave), and al pastor piqued my interest. They serve burritos, enchiladas, salads, soups (Lady Music's beloved albondigas was recommended) and other delicious looking meals. We are both high on Barrio tacos and ready to return!

- Mr. Music review

Five Guys Burgers and Fries ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Colorado Springs - Interquest) First visit: Jan 2007 (Reston, VA) Locations: 49 states + DC. Only Alaska is missing. There are 30 in Colorado (4 in the Springs). That's +3 from last year. Texas has 68 (our former locale of Southlake is closed, so Hurst would have been the closest). There are 123 in California which is their largest state presence. The original Reston location that I first went to is still going. In what appears to be a recurring theme, I state each year this will be my last visit to Five Guys. Only to return anyway. This year's excuse is I wanted to try their new location, which very recently opened up close to our house. This is definitely the closest we've ever lived to a Five Guys - even the Reston location was further from my office at the time. And I thought maybe it would make a good choice for a weekday lunch while working from home, thus putting Five Guys back into the rotation. I put that idea to the test here this Saturda...

Denver's Old School Italian Restaurants

I know, I know... I haven't posted anything in 6 months. You were checking back every week, then every month and now I've fallen completely off your radar. Sorry about that. My only lame excuse is that I've been "saving up" for a good one. I've been wanting to write about Denver's Italian restaurants since we returned part-time last year. And you all know how the RJG feels about this style of restaurant . As someone who grew up in Dallas, perhaps I've been more drawn to cities that embrace their history rather than completely demolish it. Only recently has Dallas become more acutely aware of their past. Previously, any buildings not in use have been razed as fast as possible, to make way for the next brand new shopping center - all in the latest architecture naturally. Contrarily you have cities like St. Louis that are 19th and 20th century industrial ghost towns - places frozen in time because for most everyone who could, they just up and left to ...

Pietro's Italian ~ Dallas, Texas CLOSED

Last visit: Feb 2016 First visit: Sometime in 1984 When Mr. Music told me this earlier in the year, my heart sunk. It was reason enough to stop talking and writing about restaurants. All I can say is this: We did give you advance notice. The below was published on March 28, 2010 , so Pietro gave you a good 7 years to check it out. If you missed it, then I'm sorry to say there is no replacement. No other place like it. A part of me went with it too... January 2014 update: Pietro's is as magnificent as ever. Mrs RJG and I just had another exquisite meal here. It remains my all-time favorite restaurant even after 30 years of going here. I beg and urge you all to try it at least once if you have a hankering for Old School Italian food. I'm sure it will not be here forever. Pietro must be close to 80 now, and it's hard to imagine the restaurant without him. We try to go 3 to 4 times a year, almost always on a Saturday or Sunday because of the traffic to get to inner Dalla...

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