Joey's Smokin BBQ
25308 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90505
310-257-1324
http://www.joeyssmokinbbq.com/
Located in Rolling Hills Plaza between CPK and Iccho. Plenty of free parking, but can be limited on busy Fridays and weekends due to the movie theaters.
Additional South Bay location in Manhattan Beach, as well as locations in Tustin and San Diego County.
Casual; walk up to the counter to order, then food is brought to your table.
Visited: June 2010, Dinner, Take-Out
We had known about the location in Manhattan Beach since it opened a couple years ago, but hadn't may our way over to it. This location in Torrance opened earlier this year, and we decided to finally go and try it (after it had some time to settle in - there were some horror stories about wait time when it first opened).
We wanted to try several of the menu items, and decided on Family Pack #3 ($79.99) which they say serves 6. I would say that *easily* this would serve 6 hungry adults, and you could even serve 8 adults without a problem. Quite a value to feed so many people. So what do you get...
1 full slab of Baby Back Ribs with your choice of sweet (Suh-weet) sauce, Carolina wet, or dry rubbed. In general, we prefer sweet bbq, so we went with that. The ribs were meaty, smoky and tender, and the sauce was a nice touch.
1 whole Lazy Smoked BBQ Chicken, also very tender. I thought that the chicken was a little plain, but I suppose that's just how chicken is. The skin was very nicely cooked and sauced, and the chicken went very well with the extra Suh-weet bbq sauce that we had and the baked beans.
1 pound of sliced Smoked Brisket - now this was to die for. I think this is the best smoked brisket I have ever had. Not only was it super tender with a light light smokey flavor, but it actually still tasted like beef. Oftentimes, I find that smoked brisket has lost its beef flavor when taken over by smoking, bbqing, or grilling. The best item in the Family Pack.
1 pound of Pulled Pork - a very close second to the Smoked Brisket. Tender and flavorful, and I bet this would taste excellent piled high on a sandwich.
1 quart of Mama's Downright Addictive BBQ Beans which were made with tender kidney and red beans, and sweet. If you like your baked beans or bbq beans to be sweet, then you'll love these. They go very well with the chicken and the pulled pork.
The Pack also comes with 1 quart of creamy cole slaw, but we opted for 1 quart of Mac n Cheese (for $2 extra) instead. Interesting Mac N Cheese, more like buttery noodles with a hint of cheese than, pow, in your face cheesiness. Overall, a very nice product, but don't look for uber cheese flavor.
And lastly, the Pack comes with 6 squares of Cornbread. Now, everyone has their favorite type of cornbread, and I like mine to feel a little gritty from the cornmeal. This is not that kind. This is more the sweet fluffy cake-like cornbread that could almost pass for dessert.
In addition, we also ordered a Basket of French Fries ($2.99) which is a large order of skinny shoestring-style fries. Well cooked.
We were very happy with this meal, and the leftovers it will provide.
Some other tantalizing menu items that we hope to try soon are the BBQ Flat Iron Steak Sandwich, the Half-Pound Burger upgraded to Kobe, the homemade Louisiana Hot Links, and the BBQ Wild Smoked Salmon Salad.
Showing posts with label mac n cheese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mac n cheese. Show all posts
Friday, June 11, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Kincaid's, Redondo Beach, CA
Kincaid's Fish, Chop and Steak House
500 The Pier, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-318-6080
http://www.kincaids.com/
Located on the upper level of the Redondo Pier. Plenty of validated pay parking.
Locations across the US.
Higher end dining. Reservations recommended for holidays and weekend evenings.
Visited: Numerous times; Dinner (usually), Dine-in
Most recently: November 2009
Kincaid's is located at the Pier, and so has a beautiful view of the Pier boardwalks and the Pacific Ocean. They have an extensive seafood and meats menu that changes based on the season or what's fresh. I think everything we've had has been great.
They start you with a warm garlic bread - similar to a soft or thin focaccia. Very buttery and tasty.
The French Onion Soup and the Salmon Bisque are both excellent, and can be quite filling. They also often have a soup special, and I've had the thick and tasty (yet a little too sweet) Butternut Squash Soup in the past.
The Prime Rib and Filet Mignon are both tender and excellent. If they have the Trio of Brochettes (sometimes seafood, sometimes surf and turf), get it. It's an excellent and beautiful sampling. The seafood is always good, and changes regularly. We've had the salmon, scallops, stuffed mahi mahi, and it's all been tasty.
Most of the entrees are complete meals with a starch and veg, however there are a few sides that you can add on. These are portioned to share. We like the Mac and Cheese (with bacon) a lot.
Desserts are also very good, and you may need to plan ahead to make sure you still have room! We like the Creme Brulee, Chocolate Cake, and the Pear Bread Pudding.
If you visit their website to view the menu, it really short changes how extensive the menu really is. I think this is because so much of their menu is seasonal or du jour, that it's hard to post regularly online.
500 The Pier, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-318-6080
http://www.kincaids.com/
Located on the upper level of the Redondo Pier. Plenty of validated pay parking.
Locations across the US.
Higher end dining. Reservations recommended for holidays and weekend evenings.
Visited: Numerous times; Dinner (usually), Dine-in
Most recently: November 2009
Kincaid's is located at the Pier, and so has a beautiful view of the Pier boardwalks and the Pacific Ocean. They have an extensive seafood and meats menu that changes based on the season or what's fresh. I think everything we've had has been great.
They start you with a warm garlic bread - similar to a soft or thin focaccia. Very buttery and tasty.
The French Onion Soup and the Salmon Bisque are both excellent, and can be quite filling. They also often have a soup special, and I've had the thick and tasty (yet a little too sweet) Butternut Squash Soup in the past.
The Prime Rib and Filet Mignon are both tender and excellent. If they have the Trio of Brochettes (sometimes seafood, sometimes surf and turf), get it. It's an excellent and beautiful sampling. The seafood is always good, and changes regularly. We've had the salmon, scallops, stuffed mahi mahi, and it's all been tasty.
Most of the entrees are complete meals with a starch and veg, however there are a few sides that you can add on. These are portioned to share. We like the Mac and Cheese (with bacon) a lot.
Desserts are also very good, and you may need to plan ahead to make sure you still have room! We like the Creme Brulee, Chocolate Cake, and the Pear Bread Pudding.
If you visit their website to view the menu, it really short changes how extensive the menu really is. I think this is because so much of their menu is seasonal or du jour, that it's hard to post regularly online.
Fleming's Steakhouse, El Segundo, CA
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
2301 Rosecrans Ave, El Segundo, CA
310-643-6911
http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/
Locations throughout Southern California and the US.
Valet parking in front; free self parking behind the restaurant in the structure.
Higher end. Option of black napkin, if preferred. Full bar. Can be dark inside.
Visited: Numerous times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: December 2009
We've been to Fleming's several times at this location, and every time except once, the service has been exceptional. The food has always been scrumptious. Entrees and sides are ordered separately, and sides are definitely large enough to share. Due to the pricepoint, this usually a special occasion restaurant.
Our favorite salads are the Fresh Mozzarella and Sweet Tomato - a classic Caprese served with fresh basil leaves, balsamic, and olive oil. And the Fleming's Salad is a real treat - greens, dried cranberries, grape tomatoes, croutons and candied walnuts in a light vinaigrette. They used to have a Warm Spinach Mushroom Salad which was velvety good; still hoping they'll bring that back.
Our favorite meats are the Filet Mignon and Prime Ribeye. The Seared Scallops, while tasty, were a bit disappointing in their size compared with the quality of the other entrees.
On Sundays, they have a special dinner menu of Prime Rib served au jus and with two additional sauces. The dinner starts with a choice of The Wedge, Fleming's or Caesar Salad, one side dish and dessert. A great piece of meat, and a great value for the set menu.
They also have seasonal prix fixe menus which have been very tasty.
Be sure to listen to specials. Some notable items have been the Bone-In Filet Mignon - an amazing piece of meat that is cooked well and literally fork tender. Also tasty was the Macadamia-Crusted Chilean Sea Bass served with asparagus. Often there is a Mixed Grill special - meats or surf and turf that sound tasty.
Our favorite sides are the Fleming's Potatoes - scallopped potatoes with jalapeno and topped with cheddar cheese and the Chipotle Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese - with a nice little kick. The thick tower of Onion Rings is also good, but a lot of onion rings. The Grilled Asparagus, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Creamed Spinach are also tasty.
For dessert, the Chocolate Lava Cake is very good and requires a pre-order during your entree. The Creme Brulee is also a nice finish to the evening if you have room.
They also have an extensive collection of wines and aged Scotches.
2301 Rosecrans Ave, El Segundo, CA
310-643-6911
http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/
Locations throughout Southern California and the US.
Valet parking in front; free self parking behind the restaurant in the structure.
Higher end. Option of black napkin, if preferred. Full bar. Can be dark inside.
Visited: Numerous times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: December 2009
We've been to Fleming's several times at this location, and every time except once, the service has been exceptional. The food has always been scrumptious. Entrees and sides are ordered separately, and sides are definitely large enough to share. Due to the pricepoint, this usually a special occasion restaurant.
Our favorite salads are the Fresh Mozzarella and Sweet Tomato - a classic Caprese served with fresh basil leaves, balsamic, and olive oil. And the Fleming's Salad is a real treat - greens, dried cranberries, grape tomatoes, croutons and candied walnuts in a light vinaigrette. They used to have a Warm Spinach Mushroom Salad which was velvety good; still hoping they'll bring that back.
Our favorite meats are the Filet Mignon and Prime Ribeye. The Seared Scallops, while tasty, were a bit disappointing in their size compared with the quality of the other entrees.
On Sundays, they have a special dinner menu of Prime Rib served au jus and with two additional sauces. The dinner starts with a choice of The Wedge, Fleming's or Caesar Salad, one side dish and dessert. A great piece of meat, and a great value for the set menu.
They also have seasonal prix fixe menus which have been very tasty.
Be sure to listen to specials. Some notable items have been the Bone-In Filet Mignon - an amazing piece of meat that is cooked well and literally fork tender. Also tasty was the Macadamia-Crusted Chilean Sea Bass served with asparagus. Often there is a Mixed Grill special - meats or surf and turf that sound tasty.
Our favorite sides are the Fleming's Potatoes - scallopped potatoes with jalapeno and topped with cheddar cheese and the Chipotle Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese - with a nice little kick. The thick tower of Onion Rings is also good, but a lot of onion rings. The Grilled Asparagus, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Creamed Spinach are also tasty.
For dessert, the Chocolate Lava Cake is very good and requires a pre-order during your entree. The Creme Brulee is also a nice finish to the evening if you have room.
They also have an extensive collection of wines and aged Scotches.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Ports O'Call Restaurant, San Pedro, CA
Ports O'Call Restaurant
Ports O'Call, Berth 76, San Pedro, CA 90731
http://www.portsocalldining.com/
Located near the southern end of the Ports O'Call. Plenty of free parking.
Higher end. Reservations recommended for holidays, brunch and weekend evenings.
Visited: December 2009, Lunch, Dine-in
The Ports O'Call Restaurant is located on the water with a lovely view of the boats, tugs, cruise ships, and freighters that enter and exit the Los Angeles Port. It's a great special occasion restaurant, and also has a lovely Sunday Brunch.
We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch - it was a beautiful day to watch the waterway and its various birds, and the food was great as well. The menu is pretty stable, but may change around the holidays for special treats.
To start, the restaurant serves warm crispy baguettes with butter and a pesto parmesan dip. I'm such a sucker for warm bread, and the pesto was a nice touch.
I started with the special Lobster Bisque that came with two shrimp. Because the broth was based on cioppino, it had much more depth than your usual bisque. Rich and amazing. Great with the baguettes.
The Stacked 10 oz Prime Rib Sandwich ($12.00) served au jus was amazing. It comes on a lovely toasted baguette and topped with crispy onion rings and a garlic-cream cheese spread. Served with a choice of side French Fried Potatoes, Creole Cole Slaw or Mashed Potatoes, and we chose the Fries, a generous serving. The meat was super tender, and it was a very satisfying and filling sandwich.
Another very satisying entree is the Seafood Combo Tempura ($11.00), a lovely lightly battered combination of 2 shrimp, 2 scallops, fish, and a mountain of fries. The combo is served with the House Tartar Sauce and ketchup.
A holiday seasonal special was the Grilled Halibut served with shrimp with a light beurre blanc, roasted corn mashed potatoes (little bits of roasted corn kernals mixed with the potatoes) and asparagus. This really was a heavenly mixture.
We also ordered a couple sides to share (not that we needed them; the entree portions were plenty): the special Macaroni and Cheese and the Spinach with Bacon. Both were very tasty, and we would definitely order them again if offered.
It's been a long time since we attended the brunch, and that will be on our agenda soon.
Ports O'Call, Berth 76, San Pedro, CA 90731
http://www.portsocalldining.com/
Located near the southern end of the Ports O'Call. Plenty of free parking.
Higher end. Reservations recommended for holidays, brunch and weekend evenings.
Visited: December 2009, Lunch, Dine-in
The Ports O'Call Restaurant is located on the water with a lovely view of the boats, tugs, cruise ships, and freighters that enter and exit the Los Angeles Port. It's a great special occasion restaurant, and also has a lovely Sunday Brunch.
We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch - it was a beautiful day to watch the waterway and its various birds, and the food was great as well. The menu is pretty stable, but may change around the holidays for special treats.
To start, the restaurant serves warm crispy baguettes with butter and a pesto parmesan dip. I'm such a sucker for warm bread, and the pesto was a nice touch.
I started with the special Lobster Bisque that came with two shrimp. Because the broth was based on cioppino, it had much more depth than your usual bisque. Rich and amazing. Great with the baguettes.
The Stacked 10 oz Prime Rib Sandwich ($12.00) served au jus was amazing. It comes on a lovely toasted baguette and topped with crispy onion rings and a garlic-cream cheese spread. Served with a choice of side French Fried Potatoes, Creole Cole Slaw or Mashed Potatoes, and we chose the Fries, a generous serving. The meat was super tender, and it was a very satisfying and filling sandwich.
Another very satisying entree is the Seafood Combo Tempura ($11.00), a lovely lightly battered combination of 2 shrimp, 2 scallops, fish, and a mountain of fries. The combo is served with the House Tartar Sauce and ketchup.
A holiday seasonal special was the Grilled Halibut served with shrimp with a light beurre blanc, roasted corn mashed potatoes (little bits of roasted corn kernals mixed with the potatoes) and asparagus. This really was a heavenly mixture.
We also ordered a couple sides to share (not that we needed them; the entree portions were plenty): the special Macaroni and Cheese and the Spinach with Bacon. Both were very tasty, and we would definitely order them again if offered.
It's been a long time since we attended the brunch, and that will be on our agenda soon.
Friday, July 31, 2009
DUTC Grill (& Golden Bird), Gardena, CA
DUTC Grill
14903 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, CA 90249
310-715-6774
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A bright yellow bldg at the small corner of 149th St, north of Redondo Beach Blvd. Street parking and a small lot behind.
Casual. Order and pick up at the counter. Large dining room.
Visited: A few times. Dinner, Take-out
Most recently: September 2009
We were actually looking for another restaurant that apparently no longer existed, but instead found this charmer. And with the Golden Bird sign calling our names, we had to stop in.
They did have a brisk take-out business going on, and it looked like they were prepping for a large catering order. There is plenty of dining room space if you want to eat in.
They have a variety of Creole and soul food menu items as well as that luscious Golden Bird fried chicken. I'm not sure if it was because we were there on a Sunday late afternoon, but several of the menu items we wanted were not available. But, there was still plenty to choose from, and here's what we had:
Smothered Pork Chop Dinner ($11.99): This very hearty portion of two pork chops comes with 3, count 'em THREE, sides plus a cute little corn muffin. We chose Macaroni Cheese (very good), Collard Greens, and Potato Salad. In addition, the pork chops sat on top of rice to soak up all of that smothering gravy (very rich and tasty). Overall, the meal was tasty, however I don't prefer bell peppers in my smotheredness, so I wouldn't order it again.
We also got the Short Rib Dinner ($11.99). We didn't realize when we ordered them that these were also also smothered, but as with the pork chops these were also very tasty. We got 2 Mac Cheeses and a Mashed Potatoes. Other side options include Rice & Gravy, Red Beans, Black Eyed Peas, String Beans With Potatoes, Corn, Cabbage or Yams.
They had a special BBQ combo that was not on the menu, that was also a fabulous deal. A BBQ chicken quarter, pork ribs, and hot link. MMmmm. Everything was so very well cooked. For sides we got Mashed Potatoes (good), Beans (sweet and tasty), and more Potato Salad, plus the corn bread. I would whole heartedly endorse the BBQ plate if that is option. The BBQ sauce is a big tangy. If they have the Cole Slaw, that's pretty good, too.
And we couldn't leave without our beloved Golden Bird. We were quite sad when Porky's BBQ on Manchester in Inglewood stopped carrying GB, but happy to know we can get it closer to home in Gardena. We got the 12 Piece Chicken Only ($17.49). Figured we had all those other sides, didn't need any more. The chicken was perfect; plain and simple as that.
We tried the Spicy Wingettes from the Spicy Menu - 6 pieces ($3.99), 20 pieces ($11.99) or 40 pieces (22.99). These deep fried wings are very good, and really are spicy as the name implies.
The next time we go, some of the other items we want to try include the Gumbo and Jamaican Patties. The lovely woman who took our order said that the Patties were particularly tasty with a good spice to them.
DUTC stands for Dare U To Care, and the restaurant (and the gift shop next door) are fundraisers for the Dare U To Care Outreach Ministries providing community programs including a food bank and drug rehabilitation.
14903 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, CA 90249
310-715-6774
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A bright yellow bldg at the small corner of 149th St, north of Redondo Beach Blvd. Street parking and a small lot behind.
Casual. Order and pick up at the counter. Large dining room.
Visited: A few times. Dinner, Take-out
Most recently: September 2009
We were actually looking for another restaurant that apparently no longer existed, but instead found this charmer. And with the Golden Bird sign calling our names, we had to stop in.
They did have a brisk take-out business going on, and it looked like they were prepping for a large catering order. There is plenty of dining room space if you want to eat in.
They have a variety of Creole and soul food menu items as well as that luscious Golden Bird fried chicken. I'm not sure if it was because we were there on a Sunday late afternoon, but several of the menu items we wanted were not available. But, there was still plenty to choose from, and here's what we had:
Smothered Pork Chop Dinner ($11.99): This very hearty portion of two pork chops comes with 3, count 'em THREE, sides plus a cute little corn muffin. We chose Macaroni Cheese (very good), Collard Greens, and Potato Salad. In addition, the pork chops sat on top of rice to soak up all of that smothering gravy (very rich and tasty). Overall, the meal was tasty, however I don't prefer bell peppers in my smotheredness, so I wouldn't order it again.
We also got the Short Rib Dinner ($11.99). We didn't realize when we ordered them that these were also also smothered, but as with the pork chops these were also very tasty. We got 2 Mac Cheeses and a Mashed Potatoes. Other side options include Rice & Gravy, Red Beans, Black Eyed Peas, String Beans With Potatoes, Corn, Cabbage or Yams.
They had a special BBQ combo that was not on the menu, that was also a fabulous deal. A BBQ chicken quarter, pork ribs, and hot link. MMmmm. Everything was so very well cooked. For sides we got Mashed Potatoes (good), Beans (sweet and tasty), and more Potato Salad, plus the corn bread. I would whole heartedly endorse the BBQ plate if that is option. The BBQ sauce is a big tangy. If they have the Cole Slaw, that's pretty good, too.
And we couldn't leave without our beloved Golden Bird. We were quite sad when Porky's BBQ on Manchester in Inglewood stopped carrying GB, but happy to know we can get it closer to home in Gardena. We got the 12 Piece Chicken Only ($17.49). Figured we had all those other sides, didn't need any more. The chicken was perfect; plain and simple as that.
We tried the Spicy Wingettes from the Spicy Menu - 6 pieces ($3.99), 20 pieces ($11.99) or 40 pieces (22.99). These deep fried wings are very good, and really are spicy as the name implies.
The next time we go, some of the other items we want to try include the Gumbo and Jamaican Patties. The lovely woman who took our order said that the Patties were particularly tasty with a good spice to them.
DUTC stands for Dare U To Care, and the restaurant (and the gift shop next door) are fundraisers for the Dare U To Care Outreach Ministries providing community programs including a food bank and drug rehabilitation.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Pinkie's BBQ, Hermosa Beach, CA
Pinkie's BBQ
502 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, CA 90278
310-379-0616
http://www.pinkiesbbq.com/
In a very small strip mall with tight parking.
Casual. Small dining room.
Visited: February 2009, Dinner, Dine-in
Pinkie's opened some time last year, and we finally made our way there. And we're glad we did. We left full and happy. However, I will point out that this is a smokey dry rub type of bbq, not the saucey kind of bbq. And while I prefer the saucey kind, Pinkie's was still very tasty.
Also, our server was amazing at how well she handled all of the tables in the small but packed restaurant.
We were pretty pleased with everything we had:
Beef Tri Tip Plate ($13.95): mm, the meat was flavorful and very tender. The plate comes with two sides, and we got BBQ Beans (these were well cooked, but a little too firm for our liking) and Mashed Potatoes (just pots, no gravy). Plates also come with a corn bread stick.
Full Rack Baby Back Ribs Plate ($22.95): these were the meatiest baby backs eh-ver. Pinkie's does a smokey dry rub kinda bbq, and there's a bottle of sauce on the table. The ribs were tender and filling. This is a big plate. The two sides we got were Creamed Corn (yummy and peppery) and Mac N Cheese (rich and thick).
Sampler Plate ($14.95): you get a couple of those meaty ribs, 1/4 chicken, and a few slices of that yummy tri tip. Quite a value when you see how much food is on the plate. We got the Coleslaw (sweet vs vinegary; not creamy) and Mac N Cheese (just couldn't resist more!).
We saw some other folks get the chocolate bundt cake. I don't know how they had room for dessert, let alone that massive slice of cake!
They have Stone Brewery's Pale Ale (which went well with the meal) and Arrogant Bastard on tap.
I'm full just thinking about it!
502 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, CA 90278
310-379-0616
http://www.pinkiesbbq.com/
In a very small strip mall with tight parking.
Casual. Small dining room.
Visited: February 2009, Dinner, Dine-in
Pinkie's opened some time last year, and we finally made our way there. And we're glad we did. We left full and happy. However, I will point out that this is a smokey dry rub type of bbq, not the saucey kind of bbq. And while I prefer the saucey kind, Pinkie's was still very tasty.
Also, our server was amazing at how well she handled all of the tables in the small but packed restaurant.
We were pretty pleased with everything we had:
Beef Tri Tip Plate ($13.95): mm, the meat was flavorful and very tender. The plate comes with two sides, and we got BBQ Beans (these were well cooked, but a little too firm for our liking) and Mashed Potatoes (just pots, no gravy). Plates also come with a corn bread stick.
Full Rack Baby Back Ribs Plate ($22.95): these were the meatiest baby backs eh-ver. Pinkie's does a smokey dry rub kinda bbq, and there's a bottle of sauce on the table. The ribs were tender and filling. This is a big plate. The two sides we got were Creamed Corn (yummy and peppery) and Mac N Cheese (rich and thick).
Sampler Plate ($14.95): you get a couple of those meaty ribs, 1/4 chicken, and a few slices of that yummy tri tip. Quite a value when you see how much food is on the plate. We got the Coleslaw (sweet vs vinegary; not creamy) and Mac N Cheese (just couldn't resist more!).
We saw some other folks get the chocolate bundt cake. I don't know how they had room for dessert, let alone that massive slice of cake!
They have Stone Brewery's Pale Ale (which went well with the meal) and Arrogant Bastard on tap.
I'm full just thinking about it!
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