Aloha Food Factory
2990 W. Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
626-308-0215
Located 2 blocks east of the end of the 710 freeway.
Plenty of parking in their own lot.
Casual. And Hawaiian style, they're closed on Mondays and holidays.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Take-out
We wanted to get a good feel for this restaurant, so we ordered several items. The kitchen is rather small, and it took a while for our order to be completed. In the meantime, the lovely lady of the house gave us each a sample Macadamia Nut Pancake. The little pancake was tasty itself, but it was really the topping and little crunchy bits of mac nut on top that were amazing. I'm not sure what the topping is - it's not syrup, or sweetened condensed milk, but it was more like a creme anglaise. Very tasty.
We ordered the Loco Moco ($7.25) which was a very large portion of rice, hamburger patty, scrambled eggs, and gravy. While fine, it was overall rather plain. Which is what we found to be the case with all of the items we ordered. Good, but plain - not highly seasoned.
For the Aloha Plate ($10.99), we chose Kalua Pig and Cha Shu (which we had heard raves about). The Plate came with steamed rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The Kalua was light on both smoke and flavor. And the Cha Shu was tasty roasted bbq pork, but definitely not cha shu. If we had been served it without a name, we would have assigned it the title of cha shu.
And lastly, we got the Kalbi Plate ($9.75) that came with rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The ribs were tender and had a nice char, but also very plain. As if they needed to marinate longer, or have a sauce applied during or after cooking.
A friendly little hole in the wall that also serves shave ice, but not sure that we'd be back for the things we've already tried.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Cherrystone's Grill & Grotto, Gardena, CA
Cherrystone's Grill & Grotto
15501 S. Vermont Ave
Gardena, CA 90247
310-329-8200
http://www.cherrystones.org/
Casual nice; sit down dining.
Plenty of lot and street parking out front.
Visited: May 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
This is an interesting restaurant with your traditional fare that you would find in a restaurant called 'grotto' such as prime rib, meatloaf, and fish and chips. But it's also a Hawaiian restaurant, so you get things like katsu, kalbi and bento boxes. It's such an unassuming restaurant with great food and friendly service.
We had the special thin sliced Prime Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy ($14.50) - so very tender, and the gravy was dark brown and heavenly. It came with a serving of seasonal veggies, and started with a nice little dinner green salad.
We also tried the steamed Chilean Seabass with Chinese Black Bean Sauce ($18.50). This was very tasty, and the fish was cooked very well despite its thickness. The fish came with steamed rice and vegetables. It also came with a starter salad, and we chose the somen salad that came with greens in a very nice soy vinaigrette. I could have eaten a whole meal of that salad alone.
And we got the Teriyaki Salmon Bento Box ($13.00) that came with somen salad, mac salad, broccoli medley salad, steamed rice, and fruit. While tasty and interesting, the other entrees seemed more exciting.
On special were their Sesame Wings which is usually only available on the catering menu. These were lovely soy-sesame marinated wings then deep fried to a golden brown. Tasty and very meaty.
Our neighbors at the table next to us had the braised shortribs with gravy and the panko crusted pork chops. Both looked super tasty, and gave us inspiration of what to try on our next visit.
15501 S. Vermont Ave
Gardena, CA 90247
310-329-8200
http://www.cherrystones.org/
Casual nice; sit down dining.
Plenty of lot and street parking out front.
Visited: May 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
This is an interesting restaurant with your traditional fare that you would find in a restaurant called 'grotto' such as prime rib, meatloaf, and fish and chips. But it's also a Hawaiian restaurant, so you get things like katsu, kalbi and bento boxes. It's such an unassuming restaurant with great food and friendly service.
We had the special thin sliced Prime Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy ($14.50) - so very tender, and the gravy was dark brown and heavenly. It came with a serving of seasonal veggies, and started with a nice little dinner green salad.
We also tried the steamed Chilean Seabass with Chinese Black Bean Sauce ($18.50). This was very tasty, and the fish was cooked very well despite its thickness. The fish came with steamed rice and vegetables. It also came with a starter salad, and we chose the somen salad that came with greens in a very nice soy vinaigrette. I could have eaten a whole meal of that salad alone.
And we got the Teriyaki Salmon Bento Box ($13.00) that came with somen salad, mac salad, broccoli medley salad, steamed rice, and fruit. While tasty and interesting, the other entrees seemed more exciting.
On special were their Sesame Wings which is usually only available on the catering menu. These were lovely soy-sesame marinated wings then deep fried to a golden brown. Tasty and very meaty.
Our neighbors at the table next to us had the braised shortribs with gravy and the panko crusted pork chops. Both looked super tasty, and gave us inspiration of what to try on our next visit.
Sonny's Famous Steak Hogies, Hollywood, FL
Sonny's Famous Steak Hogies
1857 N. 66th Ave
Hollywood, FL 33024
954-989-0561
www.sonnysfamoussteakhogies.com
Casual; take-out, order from the counter; eat in, table service.
Plenty of free parking out front and on the street.
Cash only.
Visited: March 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives with Guy Fieri, this fun little sandwich shop has great Steak Hogies, akin to Philly Cheesesteaks, and everyone working there was really nice. They've been around since 1958 - they must be doing something right!
We had the #90: Steak Hogie, Plain with Fried Onions ($5.45) plus the recommended Provolone ($0.50), although Mozzarella and American are available. The Sauce was also recommended, so we got a dish on the side. It's a homemade marinara style sauce, which did add a nice kick. So really, this sandwich became a #50: Steak Hogie, Sauce and Fried Onions ($5.45) with Provolone. A very satisfying sandwich that hit the spot for dinner.
We also had a #90 with Provolone, Green Peppers ($0.50) (cooked, but not well cooked as I prefer), and I would have ordered the mushrooms, except that I read reviews online that these were canned mushrooms, and I'm not a fan of those on sandwiches. No sauce. Again, a very satisfying sandwich.
We noticed other folks ordering the pizza, pasta and other hot and cold hogies, and then the smell of buttery garlic entered the small dining area. We couldn't resist, and got an order of Garlic Rolls ($2.90) that are only served in the evenings. These tender bread morsels are coated in butter and minced garlic and herbs - YUM!
Sonny's is definitely going to stay on our list the next time we're in the Ft Lauderdale / Miami area.
1857 N. 66th Ave
Hollywood, FL 33024
954-989-0561
www.sonnysfamoussteakhogies.com
Casual; take-out, order from the counter; eat in, table service.
Plenty of free parking out front and on the street.
Cash only.
Visited: March 2010, Dinner, Dine-in
As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives with Guy Fieri, this fun little sandwich shop has great Steak Hogies, akin to Philly Cheesesteaks, and everyone working there was really nice. They've been around since 1958 - they must be doing something right!
We had the #90: Steak Hogie, Plain with Fried Onions ($5.45) plus the recommended Provolone ($0.50), although Mozzarella and American are available. The Sauce was also recommended, so we got a dish on the side. It's a homemade marinara style sauce, which did add a nice kick. So really, this sandwich became a #50: Steak Hogie, Sauce and Fried Onions ($5.45) with Provolone. A very satisfying sandwich that hit the spot for dinner.
We also had a #90 with Provolone, Green Peppers ($0.50) (cooked, but not well cooked as I prefer), and I would have ordered the mushrooms, except that I read reviews online that these were canned mushrooms, and I'm not a fan of those on sandwiches. No sauce. Again, a very satisfying sandwich.
We noticed other folks ordering the pizza, pasta and other hot and cold hogies, and then the smell of buttery garlic entered the small dining area. We couldn't resist, and got an order of Garlic Rolls ($2.90) that are only served in the evenings. These tender bread morsels are coated in butter and minced garlic and herbs - YUM!
Sonny's is definitely going to stay on our list the next time we're in the Ft Lauderdale / Miami area.
Wolfe Burgers, Pasadena, CA
Wolfe Burgers
46 N. Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-792-7292
http://www.wolfeburgers.com/
Casual; order and pick up at the counter. Plenty of indoor, covered and open patio areas.
Free parking in the lot behind the restaurant.
Visited: a few times, Lunch, Dine-In
Most recently: May 2010
Wolfe Burgers actually has quite an extensive menu including breakfast and Mexican fare, but we stuck to the burgers.
A Wolfe Burger is standard 1/3 pound, and then there are variations on the Wolfe Burger.
We had the Ultimate Wolfe Burger that had two patties and the addition of blue cheese and bacon. It was a good burger that satisfied that great burger craving.
We also tried a Bacon Cheeseburger with Cheddar. Wow, both the bacon and the cheddar were so flavorful! They really turned a plain burger into one with a lot of pizzazz.
The service is quick and friendly, and all around a good experience.
46 N. Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-792-7292
http://www.wolfeburgers.com/
Casual; order and pick up at the counter. Plenty of indoor, covered and open patio areas.
Free parking in the lot behind the restaurant.
Visited: a few times, Lunch, Dine-In
Most recently: May 2010
Wolfe Burgers actually has quite an extensive menu including breakfast and Mexican fare, but we stuck to the burgers.
A Wolfe Burger is standard 1/3 pound, and then there are variations on the Wolfe Burger.
We had the Ultimate Wolfe Burger that had two patties and the addition of blue cheese and bacon. It was a good burger that satisfied that great burger craving.
We also tried a Bacon Cheeseburger with Cheddar. Wow, both the bacon and the cheddar were so flavorful! They really turned a plain burger into one with a lot of pizzazz.
The service is quick and friendly, and all around a good experience.
Dave's Chillin-n-Grillin, Eagle Rock, CA
Dave's Chillin-n-Grillin
2152 Colorado Blvd
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
323-490-0988
http://www.daveschillin.com/
Casual; order at the counter, and the food is brought to you. Very small with indoor and a couple outdoor tables.
Some parking on the street, and a public metered lot in back (use the back entrance).
Cash only.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
Dave's is known for their sandwiches and smoothies. We decided to try their most famous and talked about sandwiches.
The 10" Hot Sub Meatball Sandwich ($9.50) with everything - onions, pepper spread, cheese and sauce. The bread was great - crusty and chewy. But there wasn't enough sauce, and the meatballs weren't strong enough to hold their own. What does make the sandwich is the amazing 'pepper spread.'
And the Tuna Melt ($7.00) with everything - pepper spread and tomatoes. I had read rave reviews about the tuna melt and how it was this amazing sandwich. I have to say that yes, I thought the sandwich was quite good. However, my ideal tuna sandwich is made with tomatoes and pepper jack cheese, and this tuna melt just tasted like my normal tuna sandwich that I make for myself. I'm guessing that no one else thought to make their sandwich with pepper jack before, so this was an 'amazing find.' I would order it again, after all, it has my fave tuna sandwich flavor profile.
We chatted with Dave for a moment about the pepper spread - which is really what makes their sandwiches so amazing. He originally developed it for the Italian Cold Sub, but the spread was so popular that he started adding it the others. It's a lovely pink-orange colored spread based on red bell peppers. Again, this is something else that is also my in recipe repertoire, but I guess for most folks, it's 'fancy' and 'new.'
While we enjoyed our sandwiches and the staff were really nice, the service was really really really slow, and we weren't even there at lunch rush.
2152 Colorado Blvd
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
323-490-0988
http://www.daveschillin.com/
Casual; order at the counter, and the food is brought to you. Very small with indoor and a couple outdoor tables.
Some parking on the street, and a public metered lot in back (use the back entrance).
Cash only.
Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Dine-in
Dave's is known for their sandwiches and smoothies. We decided to try their most famous and talked about sandwiches.
The 10" Hot Sub Meatball Sandwich ($9.50) with everything - onions, pepper spread, cheese and sauce. The bread was great - crusty and chewy. But there wasn't enough sauce, and the meatballs weren't strong enough to hold their own. What does make the sandwich is the amazing 'pepper spread.'
And the Tuna Melt ($7.00) with everything - pepper spread and tomatoes. I had read rave reviews about the tuna melt and how it was this amazing sandwich. I have to say that yes, I thought the sandwich was quite good. However, my ideal tuna sandwich is made with tomatoes and pepper jack cheese, and this tuna melt just tasted like my normal tuna sandwich that I make for myself. I'm guessing that no one else thought to make their sandwich with pepper jack before, so this was an 'amazing find.' I would order it again, after all, it has my fave tuna sandwich flavor profile.
We chatted with Dave for a moment about the pepper spread - which is really what makes their sandwiches so amazing. He originally developed it for the Italian Cold Sub, but the spread was so popular that he started adding it the others. It's a lovely pink-orange colored spread based on red bell peppers. Again, this is something else that is also my in recipe repertoire, but I guess for most folks, it's 'fancy' and 'new.'
While we enjoyed our sandwiches and the staff were really nice, the service was really really really slow, and we weren't even there at lunch rush.
Joey's Smokin BBQ, Torrance, CA
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.
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.
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.
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