Fish Bonz
2599 Airport Drive
Torrance, CA 90505
310-325-BONZ (2669)
www.fishbonzgrill.com
Located in Rolling Hills Plaza in the odd round intersection.
Plenty of free parking, however parking is crowded on Friday nights and weekends due to the movie theaters.
Visited: January 2011, Dinner, Dine-in
Fish Bonz calls itself a casual seafood grill, and I'd say it lives up to that moniker. We tried a couple things on the menu, and were quite satisfied with the quality of seafood and the portion size.
We had the Grilled Mahi Mahi ($8.99), and chose to have it plain with Teri sauce on the side. Normally, you have your choice of Garlic Butter or Cajun style. It comes with choice of rice, fries, or brown rice (50 cents extra), and I chose the brown rice. And it comes with their housemade cole slaw which was very tasty. It's a light Asian-inspired vinaigrette and also has toasted slivered almonds. The fish was cooked extremely well, and the portion was very generous. The rice was also cooked very nicely. In all, I would definitely order it again.
We also had the Shrimp & Scallops ($8.99) fryer combo which comes on a huge bed of lightly seasoned fries. The shrimp were quite meaty, and the breading a little salty, but overall tasty. There were a lot of scallops. These were a little plain, and definitely needed sauce. They have a condiment bar where you scoop your own portins of cocktail and tartar sauces, and a variety of salsas.
Being January, it was a chilly evening, but we chose to sit outside in the heated (and enclosed) patio. It was very pleasant, and would be quite lovely on a summer night to dine and people watch.
In addition to items from the Grill, they have the tacos, other fried items, teri bowls, entree salads, and clam clam chowder. For an 'upgrade,' they also have grilled zucchini and sweet potato fries - will have to try both of those next time.
They have something on the menu called Swai White Ruffy - we didn't know what this was, and was told that it was a type of catfish.
If you are with anyone who does not eat seafood, the choices are limited to grilled chicken, chicken taco, chicken teri bowl, or the Green Salad with chicken.
All in all, we enjoyed our dinner, and will go back and try more items.
Showing posts with label calamari. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calamari. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Ristorante Deneno, Alachua, FL
Ristorante Deneno
14960 Main Street
Alachua, FL 32615
386-418-1066
http://www.deneno.com/
Casual nice. Full bar.
Plenty of parking in the public lot across the street.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
This adorable restaurant in the heart of downtown Alachua is such a gem! The portions are generous, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is friendly.
We started with the Calamari ($6). A very lovely pile of nicely coated and crisp calamari as well as these little slices of coated crispy lemon slices - quite an interesting flavor surprise. The marinara was thick and spicy, and very tasty.
The have an open wood burning pizza oven, and we had the Portobello Pizza ($6) with lovely portobello mushrooms, and grana padana and mozzarella cheeses, and the Blanca Pizza ($7) topped with garlic, artichokes, and a number of cheeses - ricotta, parmesan, romano, and mozzarella. Both were plate-sized with a very lovely chewy crust and plenty of toppings.
We also tried the very tasty Deneno Burger ($8) that came topped with gorgonzola, red onions, and choice of swiss or cheddar. The burger also comes with mushrooms, but we opted out of those. As the pizza crust was great, the burger also came on a very nice homemade roll. A generous serving of pasta salad also came with.
It was a very relaxing lunch with great good. I'm looking forward to trying other menu items.
14960 Main Street
Alachua, FL 32615
386-418-1066
http://www.deneno.com/
Casual nice. Full bar.
Plenty of parking in the public lot across the street.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
This adorable restaurant in the heart of downtown Alachua is such a gem! The portions are generous, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is friendly.
We started with the Calamari ($6). A very lovely pile of nicely coated and crisp calamari as well as these little slices of coated crispy lemon slices - quite an interesting flavor surprise. The marinara was thick and spicy, and very tasty.
The have an open wood burning pizza oven, and we had the Portobello Pizza ($6) with lovely portobello mushrooms, and grana padana and mozzarella cheeses, and the Blanca Pizza ($7) topped with garlic, artichokes, and a number of cheeses - ricotta, parmesan, romano, and mozzarella. Both were plate-sized with a very lovely chewy crust and plenty of toppings.
We also tried the very tasty Deneno Burger ($8) that came topped with gorgonzola, red onions, and choice of swiss or cheddar. The burger also comes with mushrooms, but we opted out of those. As the pizza crust was great, the burger also came on a very nice homemade roll. A generous serving of pasta salad also came with.
It was a very relaxing lunch with great good. I'm looking forward to trying other menu items.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Calamari's, Torrance, CA
Calamari's
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
Visited: A few times, Dinner, Dine-In
Most recently: June 2010
This is the former location of The Appetizer which now has a new owner, but retains much of the same menu. We went on a Friday night for dinner, and were surprised how empty the restaurant remained. There was a steady stream of business, but the restaurant was by no means full. We wondered if this may be have been an effect due to the confusion from the closure of The Appetizer.
Anyhow, we enjoyed our dinner, and here's what we had.
We started off with Garlic Bread which was brought to the table (versus ordering it from the appetizer menu). It's pizza dough or thin foccaccia based, and very light on the garlic seasoning. Wasn't too inspiring.
We also had an order of Fried Mozzarella ($5.95). The coating was crisp and seasoned, and happily, the cheese was piping hot. They came with a dish of marinara which was tasty, and enough to dip the garlic bread in, too.
Since the place is called Calamari's, we decided to try the Fried Calamari ($6.95). The calamari was a golden brown breading with some herbs sprinkled in, and served with a dish of marinara. The serving was generous, but overall it was rather plain.
The Antipasto Salad ($6.95) was very generous. It has a base of romaine and iceberg, topped with sliced rolls of salami, ham and provolone, plus marinated mushrooms and marinated artichoke hearts. The pieces are rather large which makes this a knife and fork salad. Everything is very tasty, and definitely large enough for an entree salad. It's lightly dressed in an Italian dressing - you may want to ask for more on the side.
The Calzone with Pepperoni and Ham ($11.45) was well done. The crust was crisp and cooked well, without being mushy or doughy. There was plenty of pepperoni, mozzarella and sauce to fill the calzone from end to end (none of those doughy corners) plus it comes with extra tasty marinara on the side. We tried ordering this on a second visit, only this time adding ricotta, and were saddened to find out that they were out of ricotta (seems odd, no?)
They feature Brick Oven Pizzas, and so we decided to try an XL (16 in.) Pizza with Pepperoni and Sausage ($18.00). The sauasage were nice slices of sausage instead of chunks (which can sometimes be hard), and there was plenty of both meats. There was also plenty of sauce which had a nice spice to it.
We ordered the Seafood Fettuccini ($14.95). This comes with choice of marinara or white wine sauce, but I asked for Alfredo sauce instead, and they were happy to comply. This dish was great with a mix of nicely cooked baby calamari, scallops, shrimp, and white fish. The pasta also comes with garlic bread and soup or salad, and we chose the Lentil Soup. The lentils were tender and had a nice mild middle eastern spice to it.
We also tried the Cannelloni ($9.95) with meat sauce (choice of having marinara or meat) which also came with garlic bread and soup or salad. This time we got the Chicken and Rice Soup, and it was very tasty. The broth was rich, and the soup was full of chicken, rice and veggies. Now, my favorite cannelloni is/was the version at the now long departed Rossini's on PCH in Torrance (now home to the expanded Volvo dealership), and unfortunately all future canenelloni is compared to theirs. This one doesn't compare. It's a very nice sized serving of three rolls of pasta sheets filled with what seemed like sausage lumps in a gravy. I was hoping for a soft smooth filling, not the firm lumps of meat. Overall, it was tasty, but not my favorite.
We will definitely be back to try more things including the sandwiches.
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
Visited: A few times, Dinner, Dine-In
Most recently: June 2010
This is the former location of The Appetizer which now has a new owner, but retains much of the same menu. We went on a Friday night for dinner, and were surprised how empty the restaurant remained. There was a steady stream of business, but the restaurant was by no means full. We wondered if this may be have been an effect due to the confusion from the closure of The Appetizer.
Anyhow, we enjoyed our dinner, and here's what we had.
We started off with Garlic Bread which was brought to the table (versus ordering it from the appetizer menu). It's pizza dough or thin foccaccia based, and very light on the garlic seasoning. Wasn't too inspiring.
We also had an order of Fried Mozzarella ($5.95). The coating was crisp and seasoned, and happily, the cheese was piping hot. They came with a dish of marinara which was tasty, and enough to dip the garlic bread in, too.
Since the place is called Calamari's, we decided to try the Fried Calamari ($6.95). The calamari was a golden brown breading with some herbs sprinkled in, and served with a dish of marinara. The serving was generous, but overall it was rather plain.
The Antipasto Salad ($6.95) was very generous. It has a base of romaine and iceberg, topped with sliced rolls of salami, ham and provolone, plus marinated mushrooms and marinated artichoke hearts. The pieces are rather large which makes this a knife and fork salad. Everything is very tasty, and definitely large enough for an entree salad. It's lightly dressed in an Italian dressing - you may want to ask for more on the side.
The Calzone with Pepperoni and Ham ($11.45) was well done. The crust was crisp and cooked well, without being mushy or doughy. There was plenty of pepperoni, mozzarella and sauce to fill the calzone from end to end (none of those doughy corners) plus it comes with extra tasty marinara on the side. We tried ordering this on a second visit, only this time adding ricotta, and were saddened to find out that they were out of ricotta (seems odd, no?)
They feature Brick Oven Pizzas, and so we decided to try an XL (16 in.) Pizza with Pepperoni and Sausage ($18.00). The sauasage were nice slices of sausage instead of chunks (which can sometimes be hard), and there was plenty of both meats. There was also plenty of sauce which had a nice spice to it.
We ordered the Seafood Fettuccini ($14.95). This comes with choice of marinara or white wine sauce, but I asked for Alfredo sauce instead, and they were happy to comply. This dish was great with a mix of nicely cooked baby calamari, scallops, shrimp, and white fish. The pasta also comes with garlic bread and soup or salad, and we chose the Lentil Soup. The lentils were tender and had a nice mild middle eastern spice to it.
We also tried the Cannelloni ($9.95) with meat sauce (choice of having marinara or meat) which also came with garlic bread and soup or salad. This time we got the Chicken and Rice Soup, and it was very tasty. The broth was rich, and the soup was full of chicken, rice and veggies. Now, my favorite cannelloni is/was the version at the now long departed Rossini's on PCH in Torrance (now home to the expanded Volvo dealership), and unfortunately all future canenelloni is compared to theirs. This one doesn't compare. It's a very nice sized serving of three rolls of pasta sheets filled with what seemed like sausage lumps in a gravy. I was hoping for a soft smooth filling, not the firm lumps of meat. Overall, it was tasty, but not my favorite.
We will definitely be back to try more things including the sandwiches.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Fritto Misto, Hermosa Beach, CA
Fritto Misto
316 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310-318-6098
Metered street parking which can be quite busy during the summer and any Fri/Sat.
They have another location in Santa Monica at 601 Colorado Ave.
Casual nice. Beer and wine.
Visited: Several times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: August 2009
I've been to both locations, however I've eaten at the Hermosa location more often.
They start you off with a warm crusty bread and cold butter. I'm such a sucker for warm bread.
For appetizers, they have a Fried Calamari in two sizes ($6.50, $10.50). It's fine, nicely cooked, but nothing special. I wouldn't order it again.
However, the Fried Pillows ($6.00) are amazing. These little fried pasta pillows filled with ricotta and basil are served with cocktail sauce and a creamy peppery and garlic mayo. These little guys are addictive. You can also get these unfried as the basis for your pasta entree.
They also do have a Fritto Misto platter ($11.50), however due to its size, I have yet to order it. Maybe I need to go with a larger group of people. It includes fried shrimp, calamari, artichoke hearts and seasonal veggies.
While its name is Fritto Misto, it really is a pasta place. You can get almost any combination of pasta, sauce, and toppings that you could possibly want. Each component is added together to create your final dish and price. I think it's a bit pricey to do it this way, but then again, it's a custom order.
Here's an example of a plate I've created: whole wheat pasta $6.25 (it has an interesting shape that holds sauce pretty well) with pink sauce $2.25, and eggplant and wild mushrooms $3.25 for a total of $11.75 for a vegetarian dish.
They also have several dishes already devised for you, and those are pretty good too. In all, the portions are very generous.
The Cajun Seared Chicken ($10.50) has a nice kick to it. It's blackened chicken breast pieces mixed with a garlic cream sauce and tossed with a red bell pepper fettucini. Overall, it's a relatively simple dish but it packs a lot of punch.
The Pasta Pancetta ($12.00) is absolutely heavenly. It's an amazing mix of crispy pancetta, sun dried tomatoes, and sweet caramelized onions with the garlic cream sauce and tossed with tomato fettucini. The only thing is that it is a very rich dish, and about half way through, I was ready to box it up. It did make for great leftovers, though!
We've also had the Italian Sausage & Roasted Red Peppers ($10.75) which is a generous portion Italian turkey sausage, peppers, caramelized onions and marinara sauce. It comes with linguini, but we ordered the whole wheat pasta, and that was just fine.
Also pay attention to the Daily Specials. I had the beef tenderloin that was marinated in hoisin, and served over egg fettucini with caramelized onions and mushrooms. Very very tasty, and the meat was incredibly tender. With the sprinkle of fresh herbs, it tasted almost like a beef stroganoff.
In all, it's a fun place to come back to frequently because there are so many options to mix and match on the menu. They offer beer and wine, as well as have free corkage.
316 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310-318-6098
Metered street parking which can be quite busy during the summer and any Fri/Sat.
They have another location in Santa Monica at 601 Colorado Ave.
Casual nice. Beer and wine.
Visited: Several times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: August 2009
I've been to both locations, however I've eaten at the Hermosa location more often.
They start you off with a warm crusty bread and cold butter. I'm such a sucker for warm bread.
For appetizers, they have a Fried Calamari in two sizes ($6.50, $10.50). It's fine, nicely cooked, but nothing special. I wouldn't order it again.
However, the Fried Pillows ($6.00) are amazing. These little fried pasta pillows filled with ricotta and basil are served with cocktail sauce and a creamy peppery and garlic mayo. These little guys are addictive. You can also get these unfried as the basis for your pasta entree.
They also do have a Fritto Misto platter ($11.50), however due to its size, I have yet to order it. Maybe I need to go with a larger group of people. It includes fried shrimp, calamari, artichoke hearts and seasonal veggies.
While its name is Fritto Misto, it really is a pasta place. You can get almost any combination of pasta, sauce, and toppings that you could possibly want. Each component is added together to create your final dish and price. I think it's a bit pricey to do it this way, but then again, it's a custom order.
Here's an example of a plate I've created: whole wheat pasta $6.25 (it has an interesting shape that holds sauce pretty well) with pink sauce $2.25, and eggplant and wild mushrooms $3.25 for a total of $11.75 for a vegetarian dish.
They also have several dishes already devised for you, and those are pretty good too. In all, the portions are very generous.
The Cajun Seared Chicken ($10.50) has a nice kick to it. It's blackened chicken breast pieces mixed with a garlic cream sauce and tossed with a red bell pepper fettucini. Overall, it's a relatively simple dish but it packs a lot of punch.
The Pasta Pancetta ($12.00) is absolutely heavenly. It's an amazing mix of crispy pancetta, sun dried tomatoes, and sweet caramelized onions with the garlic cream sauce and tossed with tomato fettucini. The only thing is that it is a very rich dish, and about half way through, I was ready to box it up. It did make for great leftovers, though!
We've also had the Italian Sausage & Roasted Red Peppers ($10.75) which is a generous portion Italian turkey sausage, peppers, caramelized onions and marinara sauce. It comes with linguini, but we ordered the whole wheat pasta, and that was just fine.
Also pay attention to the Daily Specials. I had the beef tenderloin that was marinated in hoisin, and served over egg fettucini with caramelized onions and mushrooms. Very very tasty, and the meat was incredibly tender. With the sprinkle of fresh herbs, it tasted almost like a beef stroganoff.
In all, it's a fun place to come back to frequently because there are so many options to mix and match on the menu. They offer beer and wine, as well as have free corkage.
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