TripAdvisor Review Archives 06 -- 2015

O’Malley’s on Main (Main Street, Seal Beach, CA) – March 2015

As my business travel brings me to the region on a monthly basis, I try to sample all the restaurants in the area in order to have some variety.  When it’s time to visit a place again, that is reserved for those establishments which I’ve really enjoyed.  This was one of them, and I was over-due for my return visit.  Having frequented many Irish-style pubs in NY, I know how it should feel inside, from the décor, to table arrangement, to even the friendliness of the staff.  This hit all the marks on this visit.

I previously had the shepherd’s pie here, and wanted something different from the menu.  There’s a good selection available, covering various types of traditional meats and fish dishes, to other offerings for those which specific tastes.

I went for the pepper chicken with asparagus and rice.  Instead of the coup of soup, I asked if that could be swapped for a cup of chili.  I was okay if it would incur an extra charge, but there was no problem with doing the substitution, so that was very nice.  I knew the main dish would have some mushrooms on them, but it came loaded with them.  Shrooms weren’t something I liked, but it was easy to extract them from the dish so everything else could be enjoyed.  The whole meal was delicious.

What really enhanced the meal was the band which was playing while I was there.  Now it felt even more like a true pub.  The acoustics were good, so the sound quality was clear.  The majority of the patrons also were enjoying the band, so there was no competition with extraneous conversation.

Music doesn’t happen here every night, but it’s a good venue when it does.  Now that I’ve sampled most of the establishments in the area, this is on the short list of the ones which I’ll return to.

Paul’s Place (Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, CA) – March 2015

While in the area on business, one of my client’s recommended this as a location to try out.  Situated on a corner, it was easy to get to, and there was plenty of parking (although my college and I had to cross the drive-thru lane to reach the entrance).  There was a large amount of rose bushes at the front door, which added a pleasant aroma (and a nice bit of beauty) to the area.

I ordered the chicken sandwich, and got a side of chili cheese fries.  My college ordered the gyro, and fried zucchini.  The portions on both of the sides were larger than we expected.  We could’ve gotten a single side to share.  That made an already good meal already filling.  Suffice to say we stuffed ourselves pretty good.  And the prices were very reasonable too.  This was a good lunch destination for those who work in the area.

Hennessy’s Grill (Main Street, Seal Beach, CA) – March 2015

Because I’m a business traveler who is only in the region a short time each month, it gives me the opportunity to try all the local establishments.  A tip from one of the local merchants sent me here, and it ended up being a good tip.  This has the feel of an Irish pub, with the huge bar area and seating area, although it felt more restaurant-like.  Even though they appeared to be under-staffed, the servers were friendly, especially Katy.

My signature dish at Irish-style places is the shepherd’s pie, which was done excellent.  There was a nice crust of potatoes, and a good ratio of meat and veggies inside.  The portion was the perfect size for a light dinner.

Katy enticed me to examine the dessert menu, where I went for the ice cream sundae.  Even though they were out of vanilla, I had this strawberry-covered concoction with cinnamon ice cream instead.  This was very good, and a great treat.  I’m glad I got it.

The interior lighting was soft, which made it easier to see the TVs on the wall.  It wasn’t very noisy, so this is a good place for couples to eat.  A parking lot is next to the building for this establishment specifically, so find a place to put your car on the crowded streets shouldn’t be an issue.

Tequila Jack’s (Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach, CA) – March 2015

When my business travels take me to an area, I do some research to see what restaurants are in the area so I could try new places to eat.  Since I was craving some good Mexican food, this jumped to the top of my list.  It’s a pay-to-park lot at Shoreline Village, but be sure to bring your ticket with you, as this establishment will validate the first hour.

I arrived just before the lunch crowd came in, so was able to get a nice see on the outside patio.  Since I have a signature dish at Tex-Mex places, it didn’t take me long to find what was the closest to that dish.  The lunch special said cheese enchiladas with mole sauce, and that implied there’d be more than one.  There wasn’t.  The mole sauce was a bit sweeter than my taste preferred.  Over all why the meal wasn’t bad, it wasn’t what I expected, nor was it filling enough.

Service was okay to start with, but as the lunch crowd filtered in, it became harder and harder to get the attention of the person assigned to my table.  Since I had other clients to reach that day, the time to order anything additional, or to mention my comments on the meal, was not present.

While my lunch experience wasn’t what I hoped it would be, this place deserves a second try, on a time when the actual dinner menu can be investigated.

Thai on Main (Main Street, Seal Beach, CA) – March 2015

Since this was a return visit here, it was time to investigate something else on the menu.  I was in the mood for something spicy, and curry is usually good for that.  I opted for the curry yellow with chicken, thinking that would satisfy that craving.  I expected something which was meat and veggies covered in sauce, but what I got was more of a soup consistency.  Much of the watery-nature of this was absorbed by the rice, but it still had much more liquid than it should.  The meat and veggies were tasty, but overall I wasn’t satisfied with the dish.  That’s not a fault of the restaurant, it was just different than what I expected the meal would be like.

I do place to return here, as there’s still more things on the menu I haven’t tried yet.  Not every item is going to connect with every customer, but that’s the adventure of trying new dishes.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar (Anderson Lane, Austin, TX) – March 2015

I heard a lot of hype about this place, but it was a place where my friend wanted to go.  I’ve never had to stand twenty minutes in line to just actually get inside, and the food order hadn’t been placed yet.  Even though we were meeting there for lunch, I’m glad I had a light snack before coming over, so I wasn’t starving.  Looking through the tinted windows, I could see a number of open tables inside, so I’m not sure what the wait was all about.

While we standing in line, we offered samples of items, and could get a beverage.  It was a nice day to be able to standing outside, but on a rainy day or when the Texas heat is at its greatest, that’s not going to be something I look forward to doing before getting food.

Once the door attendant allowed us inside, then we wait again before we were even able to order.  The expectation created by the wait was high, as well as the price tag on an individual basic cheese burger.  I got mine on the wheat bun, and decided to see what the house style “sassy sauce” was.  My friend got her burger san bun, and we had an order of fries to share.

We were double-booked on a table, and had to be relocated to another one.  That may’ve been part of the reason why our fries got delivered to a completely different table.  When we said something, and a new order was placed, they arrived as when we’d nearly finished our burgers.  Not an apology uttered.

My friend said her burger was done okay.  Mine was juicy without being greasy, which I was glad for.  It was smaller than I expected, being about a quarter-pound of meat.  The burger tasted okay, except for one major item.  I expected the “sassy sauce” to be something which would enhance the flavor of the meat, but in reality it was a huge amount of mustard.  I scraped off what I could, but the taste remained.  No amount of BBQ sauce was going to cover that up.  Next time just tell me the burger was going to come covered in mustard, instead of being camouflaged with some euphemism.

So when I looked at the overall experience, I was not impressed.  The long wait set an expectation which wasn’t met, and that’s before the price I paid for what I received.  I could go a short distance up the road and get a larger and better burger for a lower price with a fraction of the wait, in a much more fun environment, and still supporting an Austin-based business.

La Margarita’s (IH-35, Round Rock, TX) – March 2015

This is located off the access road of the southbound lane of IH-35, so you should have plenty of warning from the sign not to miss it.  The parking lot is decent size for this establishment, so having a place to put your car won’t be an issue.  The interior is designed to look like a traditional Mexican meeting hall, so it feels authentic.

The dining area is wide open with a lot of tables packed in, but there was still a reasonable distance apart.  Even though there weren’t a lot of soft surfaces, it wasn’t too noisy, except when the staff sang happy birthday no less than four times during our visit.

I gauge the quality of a Tex-Mex place by how good the cheese enchiladas are.  The dish came out relatively quick, and the cheese had the proper consistency.  It was warm and gooey without being scalding hot, but still retained some solidity to it (so it wasn’t runny).  In my opinion, these were done properly.  My friend got the burrito, which she found to be very good.

The selection of good Tex-Mex places in Round Rock has been extremely sparse, and I was glad to find a second establishment which can do this properly.  This is a place I’ll be returning to.

Taco Cabana (Mopac & Parmer, Austin, TX) – April 2015

I generally avoid national chains, but when my friend said she wanted to take me there, I’ll go.  For being a Friday evening, it wasn’t that busy, which I found surprising.  The parking lot seemed full, but that could’ve been because some of those vehicles were parked for the nearby businesses which shared the lot.  We sat on the outside patio for a short time, until the intensity of the wind sent us inside.

I wasn’t overly hungry, so I ordered the chicken fajita bowl.  It was a fried tortilla shell molded into a bowl shape, but it was still served in a plastic counterpart.  There wasn’t much meat on it, when comparing it to the ratio of the rice, but it was still filling.  My friend ordered the steak fajita dinner, and received a huge amount of food.  Needless to say, she ended up getting a take-home box.

I found the food average, but my friend liked it.  And at the end of the evening, that was what was important.

Fuddrucker’s (IH-35, Round Rock, TX) – April 2015

My friend wanted to take me out for a burger, and this was his destination of choice.  I’ve found better burgers from local establishments in the area, but today it was his choice.  I ordered a grill chicken BBQ sandwich on wheat bun, and a side of chili cheese fries.  The piece of meat I received was respectable size, although the sauce wasn’t very “bold” in flavor.  The fries had a generous helping of chili on it, although there could’ve been a little more cheese on it.  Overall, it ended up being a not bad meal.

Maggie Moo’s (LaFrontera, Round Rock, TX) – April 2015

                We’d stopped in for a sweat treat, and that was what we got.  My friend had never been here before, so I got explain the drill.  Sample the ice cream you, and when you find what you want, choose the topping you want pressed into it.  Or pick from one of the pre-made concoctions.  I ended up doing that, because the Peanut Butter Galaxy is just too good to pass up.  My friend, still being indecisive, went for the same thing I did because she said it sounded good.

                There’s limited seating both in and outside, but since the rain had held off we were able to go outside.  It was nicer there due to the cool breeze, and far less noisy.  This is a good establishment, I like going here.  But this would be better in a location where it’s more susceptible to foot traffic and other passerby’s.  Since it’s in the middle of a shopping complex, it’s a good place to get a treat after visiting other stores, but it would be better to residential districts or some manner of “pedestrian street.”  At any rate, it’s still worth the drive.

Zoe’s Kitchen (University Blvd, Round Rock, TX) – April 2015

We were looking for a relatively quick place for a sit-down dinner, and since we were in the area, we opted for something we hadn’t tried yet.  The menu has selections of soups, sandwiches, and some entrees.  We ended up both getting the chicken kabobs, which came with rice and a Greek salad.  I was worried about getting too much food, and she was worried about not getting enough.

Each entrée had two skewers with chicken chunks, tomatoes, and peppers for the kabobs.  After pulling everything off the skewers, it turned out to be a rather small amount of meat.  The bed of rice was decent sized, but the salad portion took half the plate.  Thought everything was prepared well, although the salad wasn’t I wasn’t too crazy about it.  My friend thought hers was okay.

In the end, we had a satisfying dinner, but we were still hungry afterwards.  For a lunch destination, I think this would be good (especially for the businesses in the area), but it’s not as impressive as a dinner locale.

Mighty Fine (North Mopac, Austin, TX) – April 2015

After a long day of being outside and enjoying the nice weather, my friend and I decided it was time for an early dinner.  This was right on our way, and a place we’d both had been previously (although not at the same time).  We were so original, as we ordered the exact same things.  My cheeseburger red was juicy and tasty as it is on every other visit I’ve had here.  Her burger was also to her liking.  The chocolate milkshake sat untouched during the meal in order to let it soften enough to drink (and we could enjoy our dessert in the car ride home).  This continues to be a great place to grab a quick bite, and a way I can support a local business.

Something which was new to me was the tablet sitting at the table where you could give immediate feedback on how the meal and service was.  There was also a small kiosk so a picture could be posted on Instagram if one desired.  I filled out the survey on the tablet, as businesses should also be informed when they are doing a great job.

Famous Dave’s (Lugonia Ave, Redlands, CA) – April 2015

This was located in a large shopping development with lots of available parking.  The front of the restaurant had a bear sculpture to welcome patrons as they came in.  I’m not sure if this was a piece of local color to the place, or something which would be found at other locations of this regional chain, but I still found it amusing.

I was seating in the bar area, and it was sparsely filled during this lunch-time hour.  It may’ve been because most of the patrons were out in the main dining area.  Still, it allowed me to have a good interaction with Alicia behind the bar, who doubled as my server.  I got the pulled chicken sandwich.  It was decent, but smaller than I expected.  The price was reasonable, but the portion could’ve been a little bigger in order to make it more filling.

Overall, this was a decent place, and a good destination for lunch for those who lives in the area.

La Campanas (Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA) – April 2015

This is tucked away as part of the Mission Inn Hotel, so I missed it the first couple times I visited the area.  I made sure the next time I’d be here that this would be a place I’d be checking out.  This is an outdoor venue, and there’s many trees covered in lights to brighten the area.  Most of the tables were close to a bonfire in the center of the seating area.  As there was a little chill in the air, it would’ve been nice sitting next to the fire.  The seating there seemed to be reserved for couples, so I being a solo business travel was sat far away from it.

Being a fan of Mexican food, I have a signature dish that I get whenever I try a new place, because I used that to gauge the quality.  I ordered my requisite cheese enchiladas (no beans, extra rice).  When it came out, the top was a bit more crispy and charred than I’m used to my enchiladas being, but the cheese inside was melted to the appropriate temperature.  So overall, it was very satisfying.

The menu contained a good selection of dishes, and there were a few things available for dessert.  I passed on getting anything else as my hunger had been satiated.  As you don’t have to a guest of the hotel to eat her, I do recommend this place for those who come and visit the area.

Habit Burger Grill (El Toro Road, Lake Forest, CA) – April 2015

When I asked my clients where a good place for lunch was, they recommended this regional chain to me.  This is located in a large shopping plaza, which was easily accessible and had lots of parking.  The line to order was long, but it moved very quickly.  Once ordered, I was given a number to be called when my food would be ready.  That was done in a nice smooth manner.

Since this place prides itself on having the meat char-boiled instead of fried, I ordered the “double char-boiler” with cheese.  It came with a side of fries and a fountain drink.  Getting the double patty gave it the thickness of the regional hamburger places I’m used to.  The burger from Habit was not greasy at all, and a very acceptable and filling lunch.  The food here was much superior to their regional competitor (initials “I & O”), who have greasy fried meat.  Even the fries from here were good.

I’ll always try a burger joint to see how good they are, and I’d certainly come back here again.  This is a place I’d recommend going to over any of the national chains if you’re looking for that “fast food” burger.

Taco Surf (Main Street, Seal Beach, CA) – April 2015

Since I’d returned to this area as part of my regular business route, I was looking for some comfort food which would keep me warm (as it was unusually chilly this week).  Because I’d gotten great food and had good service here before, this seemed like a good bet to pay a return visit to.  On my previous visit I experienced their cheese enchiladas, so now I wanted to explore other items on the menu.

When I’d been here the first time, I was given a warm greeting to welcome me, and the wait staff was very friendly.  This time it was the very opposite.  The high-school and college-aged servers acknowledged my presence with a “seat wherever you want,” and then went back to their private huddle.  It wasn’t that busy, but I sat at the bar.  It took time for my beverage to arrive, and when I gave my order the feeling back from the staff was rather on the curt side.  The appetizer of tortilla soup was set down in front of me as the server just breezed on by to greet other patrons which came in (which a happy sing-song manner, I want to add).

One of the other servers, who was older (and closer to my age) I gather noticed the rather neglected manner I’d been treated on this visit, so she delivered by main course to me with more friendliness than I’d felt the entire time I’d been in here.  Since there weren’t any name tags present, I couldn’t note who she was in order to give her the recognition she deserves.  The meal I ordered, a chimichanga with chicken, was done well, and ended up being pretty filling.

This was not the “comfort place” that I’d experienced the last time I visited.  It felt like the servers knew I was a “visitor,” not a resident, so that was an excuse for poor service.  If this had been the first time I’d gone here, it certainly would’ve been the last.  Right now, not sure if I can say if this will be a place to rush back to on my subsequent visits to the area.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company (Coast Drive, Costa Mesa, CA) – April 2015

This came recommended as a good place for a lunchtime burger and beer.  This is located adjacent to a shopping complex, not actually part of it, so while there is valet parking available, one could also go to the mall’s nearby garage.  There was outdoor seating available, but because it was breezy I opted for the inside seating.

My server made sure to point out the large beer selection, and the “bomber” bottle which I could place in some to go.  Had I not been there for a quick lunch and heading on to another client meeting, I might’ve taken some with me.

There were a decent selection of burgers on the menu, but only certain things came on specific entrees.  No customization was allowed.  I ordered the habanero chicken burger, but could only get BBQ sauce on the side (as swapping out current topping was not an option).  The burger had a huge amount of bread when compared to the meat.  It probably would’ve been better if I there wasn’t so much bun in every bite.  The BBQ sauce was used on the fries, which really enhanced the taste.

Again, being able to get the burger dry so I could’ve put the sauce on myself would’ve been nice.  And most places I’ve been would allow a little bit of variation from the menu (“Can I get this without the bacon?”), and those didn’t want patrons to do substitutions had it clearly noted.  This was a case of “No, can’t do that” without any other explanation.

The overall experience was okay, as the décor looked nice and the food tasted good.  I just thought it could be a bit better.  I’d recommend this place to my friend who are into the craft beers, but it’s hard to say if I’d return any time soon for lunch.

Rocharin Thai Bistro (Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach, CA) – .April 2015

I discovered this when exploring an area I hadn’t been to yet.  This is on the corner of a small group of buildings, so it’s easy to miss.  The interior was nice, with many small tables spread about the area.  While there were people present, there was enough separation so a couple could have a quiet evening.

There was a great selection of items available, and I went for the teriyaki chicken.  I’m used to having more vegetables than meat in many dishes, but this was more of a 50-50 ratio (which was good).  The meat was tender, the veggies were firm and crunchy, and the sauce had the proper amount of spice to give it a nice tangy taste.

The meal was very good, and light.  I would’ve liked the option of checking out a dessert menu, but there wasn’t one available.  That was my only quibble with the entire visit.  The wait staff was friendly.  This is a place I would return to more often, and would recommend this to others.

Volcano Burger (Cerritos Ave, Los Alamitos, CA) – April 2015

In between visiting clients, I stopped off here for lunch.  From the outside, this was not much to look at, as it appeared to be a simple road-side burger stand with a straight-forward no-frills menu.  And that’s what it was, but it had surprisingly decent quality.

Most of the parking is behind the establishment, so you don’t have to fight for a spot on the street.  An awning to the side cordoned off an area of outside tables.  Since it was a nice day, and not too breezy, this was the perfect day to eat outdoors.

The cheeseburger I got was simple, but good, so there wasn’t really way this could be messed up.  The meat wasn’t greasy, but it was a little messy from the sauce on the burger.  You may want to grab a couple extra napkins, or and use the restroom to clean up afterwards.

Sitting across from a school, and near many businesses, this appeared to be a popular lunch destination.  Do note they don’t take credit cards, so be sure you have cash.  This was an acceptable meal, and I place I’d return to when business brings me this way again.

Yucatan Grill (Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach, CA) – April 2015

This was tucked away in a small plaza off PCH, so was easy to miss on the previous drives through the area.  I eat a lot of Mexican food, and always game to give a new place.  The interior seemed a little tight with the placement of the tables, but it made sense as it covered the outer wall of the building.  Each of the tables was covered with butcher paper and had a jar of crayons, as patrons were encouraged to “decorate” the table while they waited for their meal.  This was a nice touch which added fun.

The menu was a nice surprise as it contained both Mexican dishes and Caribbean fare.  My excitement increased knowing there were other choices available.  Instead of the cheese enchiladas I usually get at a Mexican place, I went for the Jamaican jerk chicken with a side of rice.  This was very good, spicy, but not too hot.  This was very close to some of the dishes I had in the Caribbean.

The place was packed with patrons, and the servers were very friendly.  This had a great vibe of fun.  Couple that with good food at a pretty reasonable price, this is a place which is recommended to try.  I’ll be back here to try the Mexican fare on my next business trip to the area.

Rudy’s (IH-35, Round Rock, TX) – April 2015

This is local chain with lots of locations scattered all over the area.  Each one is a gas station, convenient store, and a place to get some good food.  I’d stopped at this location for a quick dinner before heading on for the evening activities.  The line was long when I arrived, but due to the hour of the day, that wasn’t unexpected.  The line did move pretty quickly, and I was able to watch the “Cutter Cam” of meat being sliced to order.

What’s great is when you’re called up to the counter, the server will always ask if you’ve been there before.  That is a great opportunity for them to explain the process.  I ordered a half-pound of turkey, with a side of potato salad, and a dish of banana pudding.  Normally Rudy’s will give you bread so you can make a sandwich, but it’s not anything I needed.

The meat is sliced to order, and weighed right in front of you, so you know you’re getting the desired amount.  I’m fine if it’s a little over.  Everything is put on butcher paper, and then into a plastic crate which serves as your tray.  The sauce that Rudy’s famous for is available in a large vat near the fountain drinks, as well as individual bottles on the tables.

With the sauce poured on the meat, the two flavors come together to create something very tasty.  This is one of the reasons why this is a place to come back to.  There are other BBQ chains in the area, but none taste as good as Rudy’s.  And it’s nice to be able to spend your money locally, and get great food doing it.

Earl Campbell Sports Bar (Austin Airport – ABIA, TX) – May 2015

Normally when I get to the airport, none of the food places are open.  Since this was a later flight than usual for me, I was able to try this out.  While this is a “sports bar,” the only sports represented are football; and most of that is college.  Kind of limited on the décor, but that’s not why I was there.

The morning’s special was two breakfast tacos, so I got the potato, egg, and cheese variety.  While they were the same cost as the breakfast tacos I got at another airport establishment, these were smaller.  The potatoes chunks, what few there were, were barely warm, and the cheese just sat un-melted at the bottom of the taco.  It was filling, but all that satisfying.  But when at the airport, the choices of food are limited, and the quality of those places are even more limited.

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