Road Eats [General]

2012 Jan 5
Traveling by car from Las Vegas to Los Angeles to San Diego then to Yuma and back up to Vegas.Wondering if anyone has any recommendations for restaurants?

2012 Jan 5
California has plenty of food trucks serving awesome foods...check out Eatst.com for locations...i had delicious taco's in LA from a food truck.

2012 Jan 8
when I worked in LA I used to love going to the beach house in Laguna for breakfast. especially in January or Feb. when I knew what the weather was back home. The food is not spectacular, but you can eat on the terrace which hangs directly over Laguna beach, and it was hard for them to screw up breakfast. I also loved the grilled fresh artichokes at lunch. thebeachhouse.com

In San Diego, Hob Nob Hill is the kind of place where the waitresses have worked there 30 years or more and bring you a chilled fork with your salad. www.hobnobhill.com/

El Indio in San Diego was a great stop for casual Mexican taqueria type fare:
www.el-indio.com/

If you're on an expense account, check out Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe www.millefleurs.com/ or El bizcocho in Rancho Bernardo www.ranchobernardoinn.com or Pinot Provence in Costa Mesa which serves great breakfast (eggs with Sevruga and house cured olives)as well as lunch/dinner www.patinagroup.com

In Hollywood, Musso and Frank Grill is an institution that has old fashioned food and waiters who have been around forever. It's a great place to celebrity watch too, as long as you don't go on a weekend when it's filled with tourists. Service can be brusque but entertaining, and ask to be seated in the big room if you want to gawk a bit. www.mussoandfrank.com/

And anywhere in the southwest, Rubio's is a good bet for fast food. I love their baja fish tacos, and a lot of people will tell you to go to Inn n out burger, which is fine, but I prefer Fatburger. Closest Fatburger to Ottawa is in Detroit, so if you're anywhere near one, try it out.




2012 Jan 9
Thanks for recommendations blubarry. Was searching restaurants in Las Vegas quite the daunting task. Places on the strip are interesting so many choices. Henderson has interesting places a bit more on the frugal side. Now to search for highway diners for lunch stops.

2012 Jan 10
One of the places in Vegas that we enjoyed was Hash House a gogo. Away from the strip, but I loved the fried chicken with sage waffles. Warning: the servings are so huge they can easily do for two, possibly three people. www.hashhouseagogo.com/ there is a branch in san diego too, but have never been there.

There are TONS of big name restaurants on the strip. Pinot Brasserie in the Venetian is an elegant smaller place that we enjoyed by the same people who do my favorite in Costa Mesa, Pinot Provence. Last time I was there they had a very nice menu breakfast, which was a nice relief from all the belly busting vegas brunch buffets. www.venetian.com

Burger Bar at Mandalay bay was excellent, but it would be a tough decision for me between this Hubert Keller place and Fatburger, which is my favorite juicy fast food burger. www.mandalaybay.com
www.fatburger.com/menu/

We also had a very wild night at Mandalay Bay at a churrascaria/nightclub called "Rum Jungle". It was typical churrascaria food, very well prepared and the place turned into a massive nightclub later in the evening. The night we were there the place was filled with attendees from an adult video convention, which made for a very memorable evening LOL. Sadly it may be closed now, as I can't find a website.

There really are so many restaurants in Vegas that it will be hard to choose I'm sure. I hope you will post what you discover here when you get back.

2012 Jan 11
I was in Vegas last October and finaly got to try Bobby Flay`s restaurant called MESA in the Ceasar`s palace casino...very good if you like Southern Fine BBQ.

2012 Feb 13
Carnegie Deli in The Mirage. Breakfast of champions!

2012 Feb 13
Mario Batali's restaurant Otto Enoteca Pizzeria has to be seen very cool. Pizza has a cracker like crust with great toppings in abundance Pancetta and Goat Cheese,tomato, carmelized onions, Coach Farm cheese

2012 Feb 13
After entering The Venetian,the hotel is so big it was a 20 minute walk to the restaurant. This picture is inside where they have gondolas in canals giving people rides no joke.The canal had to be 100 meteres long. The lighting dims to replicate a sunset and the street lights come on. It has to be seen to be believed!

2012 Feb 14
Sausage and Peppers. The toppings are top quality and this place has great combinations. They even have a pepperoni pie. The in house sausage had great fennel flavor but needed a bit of heat. I should have tried the pepperoni pizza option after seeing those pics of Ottawa pepperoni but I needed more than one ingredient. Sure didn't skimp on toppings but holy crap it was expensive $8 for a draft Peroni $11 for a glass of wine and pies were $20 welcome to Vegas Hotels. I guess Wolfgang's restaurant across the walkway would have been even more $$$. Time for the cheap eats to start!

2012 Feb 14
I go to Vegas a couple of times a year, you can literally hit a golfball on the strip and break a window at a great restaurant. But even amoungst the cream of the crop, some rise to the top. My favourite spot is Craft Steak (Colicchio). Second is probably Aureole (Palmer) tied with Bouchon (Keller) and Guy Savoy.

For less expensive meals, Stripburger is awesome, as is First Food & Bar, Stack, Twist, P.U.B., and Society Cafe. Grand Luxe Cafe is surprisingly decent and probably the best value if you are in a hurry (disclaimer, I stay at Palazzo most trips).

The places I would not go again are: Osteria del Circo (bad), Carnevino (over priced), Delmonico (pedestrian, tsk tsk Emeril), Japonais, Olives, and Lupo.


2012 Feb 14
hhh I like craft beers and sadly only beer I have see on the strip is Sam Adams and I'm not real fussy drinking with all the smokers. Just wondering have you tried Bj's Restaurant and Brewhouse? Think we are going to go after we get married. www.bjsrestaurants.com

2012 Feb 14
SushiSamba in Vegas - www.sushisamba.com

Peruvian Japanese fusion genius.


2012 Feb 14
I'll second Craft Steakhouse in the MGM Grand. For cheaper, but good, food check out the pancetta wrapped meatloaf at Wolfgang Pucks Bar and Grill, also in the MGM Grand. Also, head over to the Bellagio and eat at the buffet, they have Kobe Beef and the biggest mountain of seafood you'll ever see in a $32 buffet.

Off the strip there is a great place near the Neon Boneyard (a GREAT excursion 10 minutes away from the strip, all the derelict old Vegas signs in a museum of sorts - well worth the price of entry, especially if you like to take pictures) called Salvadoreno Restaurant. Great portions, cheaply priced and fantastic taste.

www.yelp.ca

2012 Feb 14
Craft Steakhouse is booked until 9:45pm guess will check it out on the way back. The wagu looks intresting as well as the beer selection. Cheap eats for lunch carne asada with grilled cactus quesidilla from a local place. Very tasty!$4.95 great deal. www.lasgorditasrestaurant.com

2012 Feb 14
Gorditas were yummy! Chicken with green sauce had a bit of heat.

2012 Feb 14
Sorry Ken, never been there. Isn't BJs more of a small box chain format?
Just my opinion, so take it as you will, but there are SO many great eating opportunities... don't foul one up with mediocre grub just to grab a beer that will likely pale in comparison to anything you've had in Canada or the east coast of the US.

There are very few places to get a good beer, and none on the strip that I know of. The pub in Monte Carlo used to do 5-6 decent brews, but I think it is gone now... I haven't been to MC in years.

Closer than BJs is another chain called the Yard House (south of the airport, Town Center). Never been though. It looks a little more upscale comparing websites.

There is a german place Hofbrauhaus, I think, right near the Hard Rock. Walking distance from the strip.

Honestly, we only go for a couple of nights at a time. And it is for R&R, so I rarely stray too far from the strip (or the hotel for that matter), except to go to a restaurant or a show. In LV, I stick with wine at the resto's and either Heineken or a Mix on the floor. Don't be afraid to ask for anything on the floor... you will be surprised as to what they have (and the size of the tip for your first free drink will dramatically change service on the next one).

2012 Feb 14
Thanks hhh. We actually saw this place this morning while shopping at the square. Both places look box like not sure where we will be able to get in on account of the mass amount of people going out tonight. Think I will be lucky to get in anywhere. I'm in craft beer withdrawl no good beer anywhere yet!

2012 Feb 14
I just caught "after we get married" in your previous comment. Congratulations. Tell Elvis HHH says hello!

The web says that there are craft beers at the Burger Bar at Mandalay. The web sometimes lies though. Mandalay is a nice enough place to pop in for a visit anyway, if so inclined. Their pool area is amazing.


2012 Feb 14
Thanks for the heads up on The Yard House hhh. Funny story when we were at the chapel talking with the secretary doing our paperwork she asked what we had planned. We mentiond Craft Steakhouse being booked and she said she was going to The Yard House and we should try it out. I got the feeling when talking with her and the photographer that locals see the strip a little different than the tourists. Weird after talking about it today she recommended it as well. We went and it was very good. The sign says worlds largest selection of beer. Started out with a recommendation from the bar tender while waiting for a table a Stone Ruination IPA. I was not impressed. After being seated looking closer at the beer list I ordered a Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (Black IPA). I wanted to try the Kichesippi black but I think I missed out so when I saw this it was a no brainer. Love this style of beer. The wait stqaff really had no clue about the beer calling the black IPA a lager.

2012 Feb 14
Our mains were really good I definatly will be back on our way back home. I had the Southern fried chicken breast served boneless and skinless over spinach-corn-mashed potatoes and bourbon gravy. Great dish the breading was super crispy and flavorful with great texture a super crispy outside with a juicy tender inside fried perfectly. The gravy riich with a parmasean flavor really could not detect the bourbon but still very good. The mashed one of the best I have had.All at very reasonable prices compared to the strip. Off to the city of angels tomorrow.
Elvis gives his best hhh!

2012 Feb 15
For what it's worth, I liked Delmonico.

And I got turned on to IPA's by a Lagunitas IPA that I had at Munch in Caesar's Palace. They also have pretty good food, on par with Stripburger.

You can usually find Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at most places.

2012 Feb 15
www.farmersmarketla.com/ = Foodie heaven! Will be going back tomorrow. Just stopped in for a quick bite after our drive from Vegas.

2012 Feb 15
Beef burrito with loads of shredded beef a bit of rice and beans guac with a tasty green chili sauce.

2012 Feb 15
Pork burrito with a spicy smokey chipotle sauce

2012 Feb 16
If you're hanging around the farmer's market in LA don't miss breakfast at Dupar's. They also have great pies there. Great place for stargazing too.

2012 Feb 16
Lunch at Venice Beach. Quite the place for people watching. Have some funny photos from here.

2012 Feb 17
Before the Paramount tour we decided to stop in at taco shop on Vine.

2012 Feb 17
Great tacos. Ordered four tacos with cheese and avacado and a coke $10. Tacos were on two very fresh corn tortillas with onion cilantro and tomatillo sauce, lemon on the side. Found beef had a good amount of spice but took a second to kick in. We were ther just before it started to get busy. Seemed to be a popular spot with locals.

2012 Feb 17
Had probably the best pie yet. Went to Pizza Mozza www.pizzeriamozza.com/.
Cool place we sat up at the pizza bar where you can watch your pie being made right in front of you. When I tried to get a pic I got a disapproving nod negative. We ordered the bacon salami fenel sausage,guanciale,tomato and mozzarella.Sausage and bacon were not cooked he just took big chunks of ground sausage and strips of bacon then threw it on the pie and into the wood oven, The sausage was outstanding everything was just really high quality and tasty. The crust crispy chewy cooked perfect. Did I mention how good the crust was OMG! This place put Mario Batali's place to shame. I will be thinking of this pizza for a while to come. The ample amount of toppings a thing of beauty!

2012 Feb 18
We took a food tasting tour in east LA today. The high point of the tour was www.birrieriajalisco.com/

2012 Feb 18
Some very tasty goat. The consumme was a bit on the salty side so on our way back in Vegas it will be a full meat plate. Gottta love a place that just serves meat on a plate with corn tortillas to wrap it in.

2012 Feb 20
Visiting the in-laws in El Centro we decided to try Famous Daves Pit BBQ. Well not much to be said chain BBQ nothing special lacking a bit in smoke flavor. Good gimmic sauces on the table six in all. I had the Gerogia chopped pork and tri tip with mac and cheese and brown beans with corn bread muffin. Beans were on the watery side mac and cheese was the best part of the meal with the jalapeno flavor. 10 times better than Fatboys but can't touch Smoque Shack.

2012 Feb 22
We arrived back in Vegas to have our celebratory dinner that we postponed because Craft Steakhouse was fully booked. This was one experience to cross off the bucket list. Best meal we have had to date. Started with fresh warm bread and butter. It was suggested to only have one bun weird but what was to come it makes sense now. We wanted the full experience so we ordered the Chef’s Beef Selection that included dessert. Butternut Squash soup with Maple Glazed Bacon,Italian Buffalo Mozzarella Hazelnuts,Warm Frisée Farm egg, Smoked Bacon,Prosciutto San Daniele Sickel Pear. Wow! I'm at a loss for words with all the flavors.

2012 Feb 22
Second was Domestic Wagyu,12 oz. Skirt Steak and 8 oz. Flat Iron with sides of Asparagus Lemon Zest,Mushroom Assortment-Hen of the Woods,Baby Shiitake,French Horn and Potato Purée Yukon Gold. The beef was seared crispy oustide that gave way to a rich juicy melt in your mouth experience that I had never had before. Everything was just done perfectly from the olive oil in the pureed potatoes to the buttery asparagus with chives.

2012 Feb 23
Third dessert. The wow factor set in. Over the top outrageous I love it. We were thiking a small something to share but when four plates came to the table I actually asked if we were supposed to pick one. Nope. From left to right Vanilla Bean Cheesecake,Mandarinquat, Limequat, Ctirus Tuile. Cinnamon Monkey Bread,Brown Sugar Sour Cream Ice Cream,Pecan Toffee. I had to do a double take on the iced cream I just couldn't figure it out. The farmers fruite plate had a white fruit that had a taste I had not experienced before and now wish I asked what it was again it was not on the menu but remember one of our servers said it was a mexican fruit. Last was a chocolate sorbet and a Milk Chocolate Malt ice cream. We got a variety of tastes and another thing has been crossed off the bucket list.

2012 Feb 23
DAMN YOU KEN DAMN YOU AND YOUR EVIL CAMERA AND ALL THESE AWESOME FOODIE PICS
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN YOU TO FOODIE HELLLLL!!!

And also congrats.
And also, now i'm hungry.

2012 Feb 24
OMG I want to go on that road trip!

2012 Feb 24
On our way back to Vegas we took the scenic route and stopped in Lake Havasu City to see London Bridge. Lunch at Barley Brothers for an IPA and a calzone. Wood fired calzone with chicken bacon sun dried tomato and peppers with provalone cheese from the create your own calzone section. Had an alfredo sauce on the side that really was not needed. Nice smokey flavor from the oven. The calzone crust was a tad sweet but crispy on the outside and chewy inside. Places sure do not skimp.

2012 Feb 24
On our way back from Death Valley we wanted something quick so we stopped at Baja Fresh for a burrito. The camera batteries died from a full day of landscape pics DOUGH! Very impressive burrito with a bunch of salsas to choose from the salsa bar. I only wish we had one of these in Ottawa Mucho just doesn't measure up. Well maybe not just another chain that would be ruined by moving North of the border:(

2012 Feb 28
Did a lot of shopping at Whole Foods while in the U.S. Love this store. One of my favorite things were their tortilla chips. They have to be an eighth of an inch thick and will hold up to anything you can throw at it. No preservatives only yellow corn,water,sea salt and canola oil