The Grove Cafe & Market (5 plates)

Are you a Breaking Bad fan? Remember those 10AM Tuesday morning scenes between Walt, Lydia and later on with Todd?  Remember the chamomile tea and stevia? If you answered NO to all those questions, then you better start your Breaking Bad marathon on Netflix coz it's bad a$$. If you answered YES, then the Grove cafe & market is the ultimate brunch joint for you. How about eating your meal on the same table where Walt and Lydia discussed about their next business move? Pretty cool, right?

Breaking Bad fan or not, the Grove cafe & market has been serving fine food and great experience in Albuquerque New Mexico’s trendy EDO neighborhood since June 2006. The plan was simple, serve the highest quality food products while focusing on a neighborhood friendly environment.  They simply try to create and offer the best food experience in Albuquerque.

The place...

Let me start by saying that the Grove is a very busy place. You better plan ahead and set some time to line-up, wait for your food and enjoy your meal. To be fair, the only time I get to visit the place is during the Albuquerque Balloon Festival week. Not only is it the busiest month in Albuquerque but also the busiest time for breaking bad die hard fans. So I'd give them a pass for the long lines and serving time. Don't worry, the food is worth the wait. The place is very clean with a lot of natural light. Tables are only assigned after you order your food. So be careful as you walk around with your coffee and water while looking for a table. Be sure to approach their staff. They will help you find that available table for you and your group. Even on a busy day, I think the overall service is acceptable.

The cost...

Prepare to spend an average of $12 - $15 per person. If you want to add a cupcake, that would be another $2 each. The meal size is large enough to share. My wife and I would always share on something and then finish off with something sweet. At this cost, you'll be paying for great flavour, fresh ingredients and ample quantity.

The food...

Our favourites are the Croque Madame and the French Toast (only served on Sundays).

Croque Madame

The Croque Madame is an open faced sandwich with black forest ham, tomatoes, whole grain mustard, gruyere cheese and then topped with a runny sunny side up egg. The sunny side up egg makes a lot of difference as the runny yolk binds all of the ingredients together. The crunch from the well toasted farm loaf gives texture to the dish and additional flavour that compliments the sweet tomato and the salty black forest ham. The gruyere cheese adds creaminess to the sandwich without overpowering all of the other ingredients. Make sure you get small pieces of each ingredient in each bite. Oh, and did I mention.... the egg makes the difference?

The French Toast, they only serve it on Sundays. I sure wish they serve it everyday. The french toast they serve varies every Sunday brunch. When I had the french toast in 2012, it had 3 layers of french toast topped with raspberries, almonds and vanilla creme. Drizzled with a little (or a lot for some people I know) maple syrup and you are off to french toast heaven. Unlike other french toast with bland bread, the toast on its own was fantastic. The fruity raspberry together with the crunch on each almond were a perfect pair with the soft and sweet french toast.

Other must try. The Pork, Grove Pancakes, their cupcakes and cookies.

The Pork - House roasted berkshire pork loin, romesco sauce,
fennel, arugula, lemon aioli over easy egg on toasted brioche

The Grove Pancake - French Pancake with fruits

Overall, the Grove is not falling short on their philosophy to create and serve the best food experience in Albuquerque. I rate my meal experience at Grove cafe & market with 5 plates. Try the french toast, it may be better than the blue stuff Heisenberg is offering.

Visit their site at http://www.thegrovecafemarket.com

Hopdoddy Burger Bar (5 plates)

Burger has always been my comfort food. Every bite I take is pure cholesterol and calorie satisfaction. As long as the burger is done correctly, I would take a bite any day (that is any day I can burn the additional calories).

Hopdoddy burgers are definitely the type of burgers that you would fall in-love with. Good juicy patty, cheesy cheese, soft bread, tasty sauce and complimenting toppings for me makes a good burger. Done the right way, it turns into the perfect burger.

seats inside the burger bar

The place felt very modern and classy. TV is available at every corner to keep diners updated on the latest sporting event. Outside seating is also an option. I guess the outside tables are perfect for a good burger and a cold beer with good friends on a cool Scottsdale night out. For the hot Arizona summer days, they also have misting around their patio to keep the place cool.

Service was excellent. We were met at the front door by the staff. We were asked if it was our first time to make sure we understand their ordering and seating system. At the door, they give diners their table numbers. Diners can then line-up for their orders and once orders are placed, diners can head to their table for a full service from then on. The tables were kept clean and the servers regularly check if diners need anything else on their table. When we visited, it was a busy lunch time. Servers still had a smile on their face that made us feel comfortable and added to the satisfaction of the meal.

The burger? It was love at first bite. We ordered the Primetime burger, Magic Shroom burger, Truffle fries and the Caramel & Sea salt shake. 

Primetime Burger

The Primetime burger had the Texas Akaushi beef, Brie cheese, Truffle Aioli, Arugula, Caramelized Onions and bbq sauce. The Akaushi beef had a natural sweetness that complimented very well with the salty and tangy Brie cheese. The arugula topping added a peppery finish to every juicy bite of the medium rare patty. The bbq steak sauce and caramelized onion completed the combination of the salty, sweet and tangy bbq finish. It's the MVP of the classic bbq steak burger.

Magic Shroom Burger

The Magic shroom burger is truly magical. Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, the mayo & basil pesto is a surprise in every bite. The mushroom complimented by the texas goat cheese which added an earthy flavor to the burger. The angus beef patty is angulicious! For mushroom and basil lovers, this is the perfect love affair.

Truffle Fries

The truffle fries is the best we've had so far. There is an ample amount of fries to share. It was topped with parmesan and truffle salt and served with mayo, herb and onion sauce.

Caramel & Sea Salt Shake

The caramel and sea salt shake is a good way to finish the meal. The sweetness and the very mild saltiness mixed with the cool and creamy vanilla ice cream removes the oil in your mouth from all that burger and fries. Serving is just enough to fill the gaps in your lunch appetite.

Hopdoddy is my kind of a burger joint. Burgers are tasty, full of variety and just the right size. Service is good. The place is modern. Oh and by the way, they have craft beer on tap to wash down those perfect burgers.

Visit their site at http://www.hopdoddy.com

Foosia Asia Fresh (4 Plates)

If Chipotle had an asian sibling, it would be Foosia. I believe there is so much potential to their concept. The flavor choices they offer are both original and familiar. Original because they put their own twist on the usual and familiar because you can easily identify the sweet, spicy, tangy asian flavors.

The place is clean and the staff were very helpful. They did not have a lot of customers when we visited but I guess it was because we got there very late. I would think the place becomes busy during lunch and dinner.

The ordering order. First selection, the bowl. Its just there way of saying choose your carbs. They offer jasmine rice, brown rice, noodles and flat bread. You can also go all greens if you don't feel like carbo loading. Next choice, your protein. They have pork, beef, chicken, shrimp and tofu. Third in line are the veggies. The customers can make a choice on how they want the veggies cooked. It can be a quick stir fry or steamed. Fourth station is the sauce choices. I had the Kim Jong-Who??? BBQ and my wife tried the Two nuts walk into a bar. Yes, they have weird names but it does give a good idea of what to expect (lets touch on the sauce a little bit more later). The last stop is for the toppings section. The choices are crispy wantons, thai herbs, peanuts, shallots and many more.

Like I said, the sauce. It makes a difference. Kim Jong-Who??? BBQ is as you guess it, a korean bbq sauce. Sweet and spicy. It has a great kick that cuts through the sweetness of the bbq sauce. Sweet and spicy is always... ALWAYS...a good combination. My wife had the Two nuts walk into a bar. Yes, you got it right, peanut sauce. If you like the  southeast asian flavor of Malaysia and Thailand, this is your sauce. It has a balanced hint of soy sauce and coconut that would satisfy your craving for some salty and creamy finish.

The combination of carbs, properly cooked protein, veggies, tasty sauce, some fresh herbs and a topping of crunchy wantons or peanuts would definitely make every bite an experience. There are layers and layers of flavors and textures that would really make the meal interesting. The fusion at Foosia is a spoonful that is worth a try.

Visit their site at http://foosiafresh.com

Some photos of the place

Posh Ramen at Posh Improvisational Cuisine (5 Plates)

It's official, Tuesday is Ramen day!

I have been searching for a quality Ramen around the area  since the day I arrived in Scottsdale. I've tried the ramen at Ramen Republic, Cherry Blossom, Yoshi Bento and Umami and just recently, I tried Posh Ramen. By far, Posh Ramen takes home the bacon (or should I say the Chashu pork). 

Posh Improvisational Cuisine switches from the adventurous Posh menu to a simple ramen bar menu every Tuesdays. The prices for the ramen choices are reasonable. On an average, a guest would spend around $12 per bowl. For a high end and original big bowl of ramen, i think it's a good value for your $12 bucks.

The ambience of the place also tones down to a more relaxed and casual feel. As compared to the upscale feel that the restaurant has between Wednesdays to Saturdays. The staff goes casual with their shirts that say Posh Ramen.

Service is still excellent. We wanted to order two appetizers but our server recommended that we save room for the ramen since the ramen bowls are pretty big. So we just ordered a plate of Okinomiyaki. It was a good suggestion that allowed us to enjoy our ramen fully.

The Ramen. Again, the best ramen I've had this side of AZ so far. The noodles were cooked properly. Not too soft but not undercooked as well. It doesn't break when you do the slurp (which is how ramen should be eaten). The broth is full of flavor. The few choices that they have offer every type of taste bud something to enjoy.

Okonomiyaki

Appetizer: Okonomiyaki. Perfect way to prepare you for a great bowl of ramen. The savory vegetable pancake with bacon and shrimp was complimented by the bbq sauce and mayonnaise. What really added to the experience was the bonito flakes. It had the fishy asian character that would complete your every bite. 

Goma Ramen I think had a laksa finish to it. It had bokchoy, scallions, sesame seed and peppers. Maybe my favorite out of all the ramen we tried. 

Shoyu Ramen was the classic ramen. You know you are enjoying a ramen because of the flavor profile of the pork broth. The marinated bamboo was tender and it was served with a soft egg that had very unusual (good unusual) yolk. The yolk was sweet and it really complimented the broth.

Shrimp Ramen had a very Chinese soup flavor. It had a little bit of a kick that I would recommend to those who like Thai Tom Yum.

I would definitely be waiting for Tuesdays from now on because of Posh's ramen.

Visit their site at http://www.poshscottsdale.com

Also visit Chef Josh Herbert's blog at http://poshscottsdale.wordpress.com

Zinc Bistro (5 Plates)

Visit their site at http://www.zincbistroaz.com

You gotta give credit to those who deserves it and Zinc Bistro definitely deserves all the 5 stars. If I could, I would even rate them higher.

My AZ restaurant week adventure took me and my wife to our second upscale restaurant in 3 days. Our taste buds took us to Zinc Bistro on a rainy Saturday night.

From the outside, the bistro looked very ordinary. A simple restaurant sign, glass and wooden door, and some patio seating for the romantics. Nothing intimidating and nothing too fancy.

Inside the bistro, it was different. You are immediately transported from AZ to NY. The place turns from ordinary to exciting. The vibe becomes alive. Unlike other upscale restaurants, this one is upscale but not a stuck-up. In fact, this one is quite inviting. I felt like I can laugh around my friends while enjoying my wine and enjoy some stories while not rushing my meals.

Ambience... CHECK!

We were greeted at the door, then the receptionist led us to our corner table. The usual. Nothing extra ordinary. Soon as we settled at our table and our server (Dylan) greeted us and gave us the menu, from there on, the service was quick, efficient and VERY attentive. I can't even remember when and who filled our glasses with water. I usually measure service by how attentive the staff is, if your glass of water is always full and ice cold, that means someone is always looking after your table. At Zinc, my glass was never empty. For me, that says a lot about their service. Our server (Dylan) was also at the top of his game. He made sure we our enjoying our food and also made sure we enjoy our experience by offering the best that they have. You always feel comfortable when servers approach your table with a smile. Service was simply EXCEPTIONAL...

Service... CHECK!

Ever had a meal that made you nod your head every time you take a bite? As if telling yourself that you made the right choice and you did a good job choosing the right meal. That's Zinc bistro food for you. You know you made right choice on every bite. We ordered the Smoked Duck Terrine and Pastrami Cured Salmon Burrata. The smoke duck terrine filled my mouth with all the texture you would look for. It had both a crunch and velvety bite from the terrine and pistachio. Also gave the salty flavor from the duck while balancing it out with the apricot and vinaigrette. You also get the freshness from the carrot and arugula as you mix all the component in one bite. The pastrami cured salmon on a burrata did not fall short as well. There perfect balance of texture with the burrata and salmon while you get the freshness from the roast beet and butter leaf salad. The appetizers alone made me nod on every bite. The main course was just CRAZY GOOD! The flat iron steak was perfectly cooked. The crust from the outside complimented the tender and juicy medium rare center. Make sure though that every slice you take has some caramelized shallot or else it might be too salty for your taste. The caramelized shallots balances the flavor to the sweet, salty and partly tangy perfect bite. My wife had the confit lamb shank. The lamb was so tender and the meat falls off the bone easily. It was perfectly complimented by the Beluga lentils, medjool dates, roasted turnips and crushed almonds. Again, the texture and flavor was well balanced. We also loved the slight touch of the crema fresca that cut through the gaminess of the lamb. If you hate lamb, this meal might just change your mind.

Pastrami Cured Salmon Burrata 

Flat Iron Steak 

Confit Lamb Shank with beluga lentils, medjool dates, roasted turnips and crushed almonds.

Smoked Duck Terrine

Lastly, the dessert. I alway want my dessert to be sweet but not overly sweet. I want it to make me feel like it satisfied my sweet tooth without making me like I ate a whole box of cake. We had the brown butter cookie w/ peanut butter nougat and salted caramel. It was a very sexy Snickers bar on a plate. When eaten w/ small bites of mint leaves, it takes the sexy snickers over the top. 

We also had the grilled pineapple tarte tatin w/ toasted tahini and cardamon ice cream. The cardamon ice cream cuts through the tanginess of the pineapple. Since the pineapple was grilled, the natural sweetness of the pineapple comes out.

Oh and the chocolate soufflé ( their top dessert ) is a must have. How was it? It was so good that only tasting it on your own can explain the experience.

Food... CHECK!

Overall, it was a perfect experience. Which is worth the money you are shelling out. The food was awesome. The service was exceptional. The place was alive and inviting. Truly deserving of a 5 star.

Benedict's (4 Plates)

Eating at Benedict's made me feel like having brunch at my favorite aunt's house. The place was homey, the service was warm and the food was comforting. 

The place was small and only had a few small tables. There were some tables outside that offered seating for larger groups. I can easily understand if it would take a while to get a table on a busy day. Good thing (or unfortunately) we got to Benedict's a little past lunch already. We immediately got a table and we were greeted as soon as we went through the door. I don't think they have a lot of servers. Take note of this when you visit this place when it's busy. I would think everyone would scramble to make sure everyone is helped and taken cared of. As I've written, the place felt like home, even my own mom or aunt would have a hard time managing several guest at one time.

The service was hands-on. The lady who served us during our visit was very warm. She was engaging and very friendly. Again, like what I wrote, she was just like my favorite aunt. I did have some concerns, else I would have rated this with 5 stars. I ordered 3 items from their menu that were not available. Thus, why coming here late might be a disadvantage. They ran out of fruit for the crepe, challah bread for the french toast and avocado for the California eggs Benedict. Would have been nice to try it out. Maybe i'll come in early the next time so I get to try what I want.

The food that were served to us was very good. Let me correct that, it was very good. It was better than other big time brunch places that I have visited. it was original and full of flavor. We had the Arizona eggs benedict and their egg and bacon croissant sandwich. The croissant sandwich was soft, airy and tasty. The additional kick on the sandwich was the pesto sauce. The egg was cooked nicely and the bacon, though not as crispy as I wanted had a good bite as well. My wife loved the Arizona eggs benedict. It had tomatillo sauce instead of the usual hollandaise sauce. There was also a hint of corn tortilla taste on the sauce that gave the dish a mexican finish. Eggs were poached perfectly and the runny yolk complimented the sauce. The sausage wasn't bad as well. Not too salty and but had enough kick at the end to tell you that you are eating a sausage. 

Coffee and pastry were also very good. Add the warm ambience and service with good, Benedict's Cafe just felt like home.

Croissant Sandwich

Arizona Eggs Benedict

Visit their site at http://www.benedictscaterers.com

Christopher's and Crush Lounge (2 Plates)

Visit their site at http://christophersaz.com/food.cfm

2 Plates .... I would have rated it higher, but as always... service either makes it or breaks it.

It was restaurant week in Arizona so my friends and I decided to try something new. First stop for the restaurant weekend was Christopher's and Crush Lounge.

Chic, elegant, and upscale were my first thoughts when I walked in. The tables were romantically lit (my other way of saying that it needs a little more light).

We were given bread while we decided what to order and everything was going well.. so far...

Then came Jose, our server. Since we are not usually offered a menu with the words Merguez, Boudin Noir de Schrieners, Vennoise and Gateau Marjolaine we decided to ask for recommendations. Our dear server simply said "all of them". Great! Now that helped a lot. We did ask for more details and even asked what each entree was. Jose did explain. It was chicken, steak, sausage and chocolate. Hmmm... very appetizing. After we rolled the dice on what we would get from the menu, Jose cleaned up the extra table and extra plate beside my seat. He then rolled a piece of bread sitting on the extra table to my plate. He then smiled and said "woohoo, extra!". Again, WOW for an elegant and chic restaurant.

The service was way below my expectation. Since my table is paying $300 for our meal, we at least deserve some good service. Not great, just good. Just the right type of dinner table service. 

Oh the food... it was original. It had so much flavor. Plating was pretty. Steak was great! Much as I want to talk about the good food and the FABULOUS dessert, I think I'm already at my word count quota while reviewing the BAD service. SAD! =(

Gateau Marjolaine

Pigs Feet

Place was too dark to take pictures without flash. Here is my Onion soup served with a piece of old menu

Thai House (5 Plates)

I have been a loyal customer since 2008. My wife and I were searching for a good Thai restaurant when we first visited Thai House. After our first visit, its been a monthly thing for me and my wife.

I have recommended the restaurant to many of my friends, colleagues and even strangers. So far, all of them loved it and have become regulars as well.

The service is fantastic. Tables are always clean, food is served fast and hot. Even take-outs are always served complete with napkins and utensils.

What I love to drink? Soon as I get a table, my first order is always the Thai Iced Tea. Some may find it on the sweeter side but my taste buds says its just right. It is a traditional iced tea with what I believe is full cream milk. I had similar drinks when I visited Thailand and it is at par to the local thai drinks. 

What I love to eat? Pad thai is my favorite. They offer choices of shrimp, chicken, beef and tofu. I usually mix and match but whichever protein I choose, I have never gone wrong.

What else to love? Just recently I tried the seafood soup. It was the bomb! It had fish, scallops, muscles, and a variety of fish cake. Also had some lemongrass, ginger and other asian spices. The serving was big. Maybe 3 people can share it. Well it depends on your appetite, I guess. But it is a must try. I also love the panang, curry dishes and their fried rice. So many options and Have never gone wrong.

Overall, one of my favorite in the valley. Cheap, good service and good food. Certified yum for the buck!

Visit their site at http://www.thaihouse-az.com/Main.html

Chelsea's Kitchen (3 Plates)

Free cookie!!!!!

My wife and I decided to try Chelsea's Kitchen for our Sunday brunch date. I think we got there just in time since we didn't have to wait for a table.

I ordered a french pressed coffee soon as I got to the table. It was perfect to start my brunch. 

Since we didn't have an idea on what to order, we just asked for recommendations. The server was so knowledgable of the menu. She gave us recommendations on every part of the menu. We decided to order tuna tartare & guacamole for starters, Chilaquiles and Short ribs for our entree.

The tartare & guacamole was big enough to share. The guacamole was placed on top of the tuna tartare. I would have wanted a little more seasoning on my guacamole and maybe a little bit of a kick. Maybe some chili peppers would do. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad. I just had better tuna tartare and guacamole.

The short ribs at $20+ was tender, juicy and full of flavour. It was served on top of mashed potatoes and some grilled carrots. Again, it was around $20+... I can have the same good meal for $12 and still get the same satisfaction.

The chilaquiles was a different story. I think it's appropriately priced for the size and the flavour. I enjoyed the crunch of the corn tortilla, the balance of the chicken flavour and the compliment of the spicy sauce. It was original. At least it was the first time I had a mexican lasagna made with corn tortilla, chicken and spicy sauce.

Overall, Chelsea's kitchen had its pros and cons. The pros outweighs the cons. It may be pricey, it may have an ordinary menu but if you dig in just a little bit more... you might find some good food.

I will still come back to Chelsea's. Maybe next time i'll try the short ribs taco. The next table ordered it and it looked amazing.

By the way, they give free cookies on your way out. It was really good. Maybe the best thing I ate at Chelsea's that day were the cookies. Take note, THAT DAY. Maybe it would be different the next time I visit.

Visit their site at http://www.chelseaskitchenaz.com/

Lo-lo's Chicken and Waffles (2 Plates)

We've been wanting to try Lo-lo's chicken and waffles for a few months now. Our interest was triggered by an ice cold bottles water that they gave away after out cholla hike. Since then, Lo-lo's was part of the conversation whenever we talk about chicken & waffles.

Today, we finally got to try it!!!!!

My verdict, wellllll it was just ok... maybe even a little over hyped... Not a little... Its over hyped...

To be fair, we only ordered their signature Lo-lo's chicken and waffle. Maybe we should have ordered something else to get a good feel of their food. What we got were 3 pieces of southern fried chicken thigh (we requested for all thighs), 2 waffles with a scoop of butter on top and a side of syrup. the waffles were thin and was more on the crunchy side. The taste was ok, but there we a whole lot of flavor. The chicken, it was dry and small. Maybe my mom can cook a better chicken than what we got. I love the crispy of the chicken skin but the meat was just too dry. Take note, these are chicken thighs. They should be juicy and flavourful. I also orderede a side of egg... It was $3, for a scrambled egg with cheddar cheese. Extremely overpriced!

Again to be fair, this was just my experience. Maybe other guest had a better order or a better meal. I may have to come back again for a better experience. However, my first impression is not giving me anything to look forward to yet.

Would I come back? Maybe

Service? Average

Serving size? Not what I expected

Cleanliness? Bad. Had 2 strands of hair on my waffles

Price? Overpriced. Side of eggs for $3. It was probably 3 full spoons

Taste? Average

Oh and they don't allow outside drinks. Maybe the next door Jamba juice is not a good idea while waiting.

Visit their site at http://loloschickenandwaffles.com/

Crêpe Bar (5 Plates)

Brunch on a Tuesday???? Yup!!! We were around the Tempe area for an early appointment so we decided to have brunch around Tempe as well. We decided to have crêpes. If you want crêpes, you go to a place that specializes on Crêpes, right? If a place is called Crêpe Bar, I guess that means they do good crêpes.

We found the place off of S Rural. The place is small but can probably sit 50 people. The vibe of the place was upbeat. Music played in the background but it wasn't very loud. Just kept the place cozy and vibrant. The colors on the walls were appealing. Hues of blue and grey fill the place with accents of green, orange and pastel colors.

Let's talk about their food. It was AWESOME!!!! My first five star on Yelp. From the service, to the place and ofcourse the food... IT WAS AWESOME (it was so awesome I wrote it three times already). We had The Burro (savory), The Grand Prix (savory) and the Vanilla Bean Custard (sweet) crêpe. We also had the Maya tea and the Hot caramel latte for our drinks.

The Burro... this is your breakfast burrito on a crêpe. Crêpe was chipotle flavored with scrambled eggs, chorizo, avocado and pepper jack cheese. I would have wanted a little more of the sauce used for plating. I feel that it really complimented the dish. The little sauce on my plate did not make the experience less enjoyable though. There was a surprising kick on every bite with a hint of sweetness from the crêpe and savory delight from the chorizo. The avocado definitely completed that southwest flavor and added a refreshing flavor to the dish.

The Burro

The Grand Prix was my favorite. I love the creamyness of the fat from the pork belly that was cooked to perfection. It melts in your mouth. There was also the added crunch from the maple glazed pork jowl. The pork glory is placed on a bed of coffee Crêpe topped with a sunny side up egg. I would have loved it more if the egg was little runny but overall I would order it again and recommend it to everyone. 

The Grand Prix

We ended our meal with the vanilla bean custard with strawberries, almonds and salted caramel. It wasn't too sweet considering the salted caramel and vanilla custard. The perfect bite would be a piece of crepe, a bite of strawberry, a dash of candied almonds, topped with custard and salted caramel. Everything just goes well together.

We would definitely come back. Maybe we'll bring friends with us next time to share our new found favorite Crêpe bar in Arizona.

Certified yum for the buck!

Visit their site at http://www.crepebar.com/

Tiki Mon Hawaiian Ice Cream and Cafe (1 Plate)

Good Service is better than Good Food! Bad service will always... again, always... outweigh good food. 

The ice cream was Ok. The coffee was above average. If the service was only a little bit better, maybe I would recommend it to Yelp users. Since the service was as bad as the servers mood... I would say STAY AWAY!!!!

The attendant on may 10 2014 (Alexa), 8:43 pm was very rude. Smile is the easiest service you can offer. How expensive could a smile be? We got no smile from her at all. She threw the ice cream scoops in the sink like kid throwing a tantrum. Hmmm... maybe it's that time of month.

There were many ice cream choices. That's a pro for them. They let you taste and choose before you order. Another pro. The cons, that night... Alexa wasn't very accommodating. We wanted to try out some more samples but maybe she just wanted us to order and just leave. 

She did let us try some samples but also told us in an irrate manner if there is anyone else who knows what they want? In the first place, the reason why you try out samples so u could decide what u want. She also kept us waiting at the counter and did not serve us at once because we were still discussing what we want and we stood at the counter long. We were also in a line but another customer came in whom she knows and she served that first even if we were lined up.VERY RUDE!!!! Will not be coming back to this place again!!!!!ice cream is ok but not worth it with this service.

After a quick dessert and coffee, I left the place feeling disappointed with not just the service but also how different Alexa treated my race. No smiles for asians but all smiles and good service for everyone else???

Oh and I left her a tip... something far better than a few dollars... a tip she can bring with her everyday... SMILE =)

Yoshi Bento (3 Plates)

Spiderman! Spiderman! ... It was our Friday movie night with a friend. Since it was only a little over an hour before our movie schedule, we decided to grab our dinner near the movie house. We decided to try a bento restaurant beside our favorite phoa spot.

We got a patio table (seemed like everyone wanted to dine at the patio tables). There were 5 tables. When we arrived there were already 2 occupied tables. It didn't look very busy at that time.

I guess we got the rookie server. He just stood beside our table and did not ask us if we wanted to start with something to drink. We ask for a glass of water and he again waited for our order (I guess it really wasn't that busy. If he could wait and watch us drink water while we decide what to order, then he must really have some time to burn).

We started with dumplings and their crunch tofu. The dumplings were... hmmm... dumplings. For me, it was nothing special. Had a good combination of crunch and chewy dumpling wrap but it was just ok. The crunch tofu, now that's a different story. It was different. Good different. Correction, very good different. The wasabi mayo sauce on top of the lightly fried tofu was a perfect match. The sauce had enough of the wasabi flavor but not too much of the wasabi nose wrenching effect. It was sweet, spicy, tangy, soft and crunchy. All in one bite. Yum!

For our entree, we ordered chicken yakisoba, tempura roll and salmon/tuna sashimi which took a little over 30 minutes to get to our table (take note: there were only 5 full tables at that time. With 2 guests per table). Back to the food... well... ok... It was worth the wait! The yakisoba was very tasty and just had the right kick. Sweet, salty, spicy and yummy! It's worth coming back for another visit. Sashimi was fresh. Slices were generous. Plating was really clean as well.

Would I come back. Yes, when there is less people. When I have enough time. When I am craving for a good... correct that... very good tofu and tasy yakisoba.

Butters Pancakes and Café (3 Plates)

         Happy Easter!!!! We decided to have brunch and celebrate Easter after a few days of fasting and abstinence. After getting vetoed by the wifey on the choice of brunch location, we ended up at Butters Pancake & Cafe. 

I don't know if it's just because of Easter brunch or if this is a usual Sunday wait but we waited for our seat for 40 mins. Could be a good sign that the food is that good or a bad sign that the service is really slow (after finishing the meal, I found out that it was the good food that made the line. Actual food service was really really fast). 

We were given a patio table on a 80 degree sunny day. Good thing they have mist all over the patio area that made the whole place cool. The patio was right beside a fountain that made you feel like enjoying a scene from a french movie. 

The food... I ordered California Scrambler with a side of fresh fruit and protein power pancakes. My wife got a Veggie omelette with a side of french toast. The California scrambler was very original for my taste (maybe its because I never lived in California) because of the avocado mixed together with the scrambled eggs. It worked for me. Just enough yum for my taste. The protein pancake was really good. Maybe its my love for cinnamon but I think it is also the texture added by the nuts and oats that made me want to finish my plate.

My wife had a veggie omelette. It was a little bland for my taste. I would have liked a little more salt and pepper but my wife loved it. Maybe it was the swiss cheese that made her finish her plate. 

Overall, the place is nice. The food is a little above the usual. Anything special? My brunch, not so much. They do deserve another visit to be fair and to try their lunch menu. Would I come back? Yes.

Patio Scene

Visit their site at http://butterscafe.com/