The gizzards are coming, the gizzards are coming....
Passing down Orange-Olive Road in Orange this Saturday, a "broaster chicken" sign caught my eye. It was in front of the Hida'way restaurant. I hung a u-turn and pulled in. The Hida'way had been closed down for a few years, now it's been re-vamped and is open for business.
Walking in the front door I saw a 8-piece broasted chicken (4 breasts/4 wings) for $9.99. A bargain if you consider by the piece it's $2.49 a breast. The place looked clean and the smell of chicken permeated the air. A young couple ahead of me asked if they were still serving breakfast, "sure" was the reply "until 2:00pm." Wow, you mean I can tie one on Friday night, sleep in and still not miss a great breakfast after sleeping in on a Saturday! Nice.
I was greeted at the counter by whom I assume was the owner, he was nice & polite and even offed me a free drink (soda that is, for now, until they get their liquor license..) Nah, I said, he smiled nodded his head and said "it's on the house"....ok, ok...thanks "Mr Hida'way!
After ordering chicken and onion rings I sat back and took the place in...nice, simple,..uhh, a "hida'way" if you will. I asked the counter girl if they offered chicken gizzards or livers?? "No, but ask the owner". He said, they were going to start serving them next week, seems "Mr Hida'way" has some prior experience in the "chicken biz" and even in the sales of good old fashioned gizzards....Say it ain't so, since the old extinct "Pioneer Chicken" closed down years ago, gizzards and livers are hard to come by.......
As I grabbed my box of chicken and rings I looked at the owner and stated "I'll be back" (in my best "terminator" voice) as I thought about the possibility of a cold beer and mini bucket of gizzards and livers.....Ah, as I drove off, I thought "LG" baby, life is good!
I have a feeling this little restaurant is gonna be packed full of chicken loving people in the near future. I recommend everyone to try it!
Food - A
Service - A
Setting - C (for location), A (cleanliness)
Hida'way Restaurant
2117 N. Orange Olive Rd
Orange, CA
714-998-6756
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Z Pizza / Anaheim Hills
Ahhhhh, Pizza....Z-Pizza to be exact. Tucked away in a shopping center at Imperial Hwy & Santa Ana Canyon Rd lays Z-Pizza...Sounds trendy and all. Maybe a franchise out of Westwood or Beverly Hills. The upper class in A.H. should eat this up (pardon, the pun...) Conveniently located in the FoxFire center, c'mon you know where I'm talking about.
Ok, so I get this coupon for a free 10" pizza (with a $5 purchase) I can do this, sounds good right? I go to their website, and complete the online ordering system, now set my watch for 15 minutes and head down and pic it up....NOT!
I hold off drinking my first beer (safety first my little astronauts..) and drive down at the designated time (per my online order..) I was greeted at the counter by a kid who stated, "Hmm, it didn't come through..." but after taking another look, yes it had, they just didn't start the order yet. Ok, so here I sit on a Friday night, sober, 8 o'clock waiting for an order I "onlined" (is that a word??) in, going on 30 minutes now. Now, all I could do is stare out the window, waiting for my order, watching the ummm, older "hipster" crowd starting to crawl into the Foxfire.
Maybe they'll upgrade me to a large due to their mistake...not a chance kiddo. I left with my 10"......pizza...and a slight scowl on my face.
Now the good part, Z-Pizza's food is quite tasty, I had the Thai pizza, and a "pollo latino" (can girls order those too?? wouldn't it be a pollo latina?? Dos anos espanol buddy...) It's a crazy lime chicken sandwich that's A-ok, complete with avocado....me like it!
So, Z-Pizza is good, just make sure you either call in your order or confirm it so you're not out standing in the cold waiting, watching, and wondering why you're seeing your mom all dolled up walking towards the Foxfire...Yikes....
Food - A
Service - D (due to their online ordering or staff not paying attention..)
Prices - Great (with a coupon)
Z-Pizza
5745 Santa Ana Canyon Rd
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
714-998-4171
www.zpizza.com
Ok, so I get this coupon for a free 10" pizza (with a $5 purchase) I can do this, sounds good right? I go to their website, and complete the online ordering system, now set my watch for 15 minutes and head down and pic it up....NOT!
I hold off drinking my first beer (safety first my little astronauts..) and drive down at the designated time (per my online order..) I was greeted at the counter by a kid who stated, "Hmm, it didn't come through..." but after taking another look, yes it had, they just didn't start the order yet. Ok, so here I sit on a Friday night, sober, 8 o'clock waiting for an order I "onlined" (is that a word??) in, going on 30 minutes now. Now, all I could do is stare out the window, waiting for my order, watching the ummm, older "hipster" crowd starting to crawl into the Foxfire.
Maybe they'll upgrade me to a large due to their mistake...not a chance kiddo. I left with my 10"......pizza...and a slight scowl on my face.
Now the good part, Z-Pizza's food is quite tasty, I had the Thai pizza, and a "pollo latino" (can girls order those too?? wouldn't it be a pollo latina?? Dos anos espanol buddy...) It's a crazy lime chicken sandwich that's A-ok, complete with avocado....me like it!
So, Z-Pizza is good, just make sure you either call in your order or confirm it so you're not out standing in the cold waiting, watching, and wondering why you're seeing your mom all dolled up walking towards the Foxfire...Yikes....
Food - A
Service - D (due to their online ordering or staff not paying attention..)
Prices - Great (with a coupon)
Z-Pizza
5745 Santa Ana Canyon Rd
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
714-998-4171
www.zpizza.com
The Sandwich Box / Tustin
I had heard about "The Sandwich Box" (yeah, that's what I said...get your mind outta the gutter..) and it's fried green tomato sandwich righteously called "The Southern". We pulled through old town Tustin (pretty quaint if you will...) and arrived at lunchtime at "the box", Ok, "The Sandwich Box"...... It's in what looks like a newly remodeled little corner strip mall off 1st St & Prospect.
We were greeted at the counter, and my better half had to take her time to choose a sandwich, would it be "The Cuban"(Listed as Miami's favorite with oven roasted pork, ham & swiss) or perhaps "The New Yorker" (with shaved pastrami, sauerkraut & swiss) Hey, what about "The Italian" (A sub just like little Italy...) Well I bet you can guess "the box" has a wide variety of old classics and specialty sandwiches.
I had "The Southern" (fried green tomatoes & ham.....) she had the cashew chicken. We both upgraded to a combo (with chips & a drink) for $1.99 more. Hey, c'mon, I'm not a cheap date....
We were given our cups and pointed to the soda dispenser in the corner, Within a couple minutes or sandwiches were ushered to the table. Ahhhh, the fried green tomatoes peeked out among with the ham & lettuce. It was goooood..& did I say a bit messy.....I finally ate the remainder with a fork. My better half's cashew chicken was awesome (yes, I had a bite of it..I gotta write the review you know..)lots of chicken & celery..It was a foot long...guess I'll be eating some tonight.
The joint was clean, the small staff friendly, and not a bad locale. I give it a thumbs up and a must try if you're around the Tustin area...even if you're not.
But do me a favor, try "The Southern" you'll love it. Makes me feel like jumpin' in a Trans Am, popping a Hamm's beer and heading out to the dirt track races........
Food - A
Service - A
Place - B
the sandwich box
139 w. first st
tustin, ca 92780
714-734-9300
We were greeted at the counter, and my better half had to take her time to choose a sandwich, would it be "The Cuban"(Listed as Miami's favorite with oven roasted pork, ham & swiss) or perhaps "The New Yorker" (with shaved pastrami, sauerkraut & swiss) Hey, what about "The Italian" (A sub just like little Italy...) Well I bet you can guess "the box" has a wide variety of old classics and specialty sandwiches.
I had "The Southern" (fried green tomatoes & ham.....) she had the cashew chicken. We both upgraded to a combo (with chips & a drink) for $1.99 more. Hey, c'mon, I'm not a cheap date....
We were given our cups and pointed to the soda dispenser in the corner, Within a couple minutes or sandwiches were ushered to the table. Ahhhh, the fried green tomatoes peeked out among with the ham & lettuce. It was goooood..& did I say a bit messy.....I finally ate the remainder with a fork. My better half's cashew chicken was awesome (yes, I had a bite of it..I gotta write the review you know..)lots of chicken & celery..It was a foot long...guess I'll be eating some tonight.
The joint was clean, the small staff friendly, and not a bad locale. I give it a thumbs up and a must try if you're around the Tustin area...even if you're not.
But do me a favor, try "The Southern" you'll love it. Makes me feel like jumpin' in a Trans Am, popping a Hamm's beer and heading out to the dirt track races........
Food - A
Service - A
Place - B
the sandwich box
139 w. first st
tustin, ca 92780
714-734-9300
Monday, March 24, 2008
Mikey's / Fullerton
Now this is the place. When my old WWII vet dad kept talkng about the awesome sandwiches at a place called "Mikey's" over in Fullerton I knew I had to try it.
Close to the cross streets of Yorba Linda Blvd & Placentia Ave, this place is really tucked in a corner and you gotta look for it. You figure if an old guy (sorry dad...) gets his eats here it must be pretty mundane...Not the case for Mikey's. As we neared the entrance, you pass thru a small patio areas (for the smokers in your crowd) and on thru the door.
As we passed by the small groups of what apperaed to be locals, we were greeted by a cheery & cute bartender/waitress...(Hmmm, now I think I know why my dad goes there, he may be old, but he ain't dead....) It's a cool crowd with no tension in at all. Beer was flowing and so was the good eats. I ordered a "Knucklehead" sandwich (hey, wha'd you call me?...) and my wife had a french dip......Mikey's knucklehead dip is a combo with roast beef, turkey and pastrami, also sauerkraut. Good food, me like!
Well pops was right, the sandwiches were incredible! And the prices didn't kick my ass. The lunch special includes two sandwiches, two sides, and two drinks for $10.95! What a deal.......
I heard Happy Hour rocks...and so does the pool table and shuffleboard.
I don't care if you're 12 yrs old or 100, Ya gotta try Mikey's, #1 in our book.
Prices - A
Service - A
Looks of the Server - A+
Food - A
Mikey's
3159 Yorba Linda Blvd
Fullerton, CA
714-528-9150
Close to the cross streets of Yorba Linda Blvd & Placentia Ave, this place is really tucked in a corner and you gotta look for it. You figure if an old guy (sorry dad...) gets his eats here it must be pretty mundane...Not the case for Mikey's. As we neared the entrance, you pass thru a small patio areas (for the smokers in your crowd) and on thru the door.
As we passed by the small groups of what apperaed to be locals, we were greeted by a cheery & cute bartender/waitress...(Hmmm, now I think I know why my dad goes there, he may be old, but he ain't dead....) It's a cool crowd with no tension in at all. Beer was flowing and so was the good eats. I ordered a "Knucklehead" sandwich (hey, wha'd you call me?...) and my wife had a french dip......Mikey's knucklehead dip is a combo with roast beef, turkey and pastrami, also sauerkraut. Good food, me like!
Well pops was right, the sandwiches were incredible! And the prices didn't kick my ass. The lunch special includes two sandwiches, two sides, and two drinks for $10.95! What a deal.......
I heard Happy Hour rocks...and so does the pool table and shuffleboard.
I don't care if you're 12 yrs old or 100, Ya gotta try Mikey's, #1 in our book.
Prices - A
Service - A
Looks of the Server - A+
Food - A
Mikey's
3159 Yorba Linda Blvd
Fullerton, CA
714-528-9150
The Clubhouse Restaurant / Costa Mesa
Ahhhh, the good life. Situated at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. My wife was dying to try it, so I figured "what the hey", lets do it! I gotta admit I was a little intimidated at first, It is South Coast Plaza you know. Me in my t-shirt and jeans, we were enthusiastically welcomed upon entry (Maybe they thought I was some burnt out rock star, or musician...) whatever the case were were escorted to the back door...(just jokin') We were escorted to a cozy table for two, and the specials were explained to us.
Oh course I started with a Guiness on tap which was by all means GOOD. Looking around you could tell there were some power players, soccers moms, and just ordinary joes. It was a cool crowd buzzing with conversation (no, not me buzzing, the crowd..)
I had The Clubhouse Garbage Salad (see, I told you these were down to earth people), it had grilled chicken, egg, cheese, tomato, green onion, bacon + more......Good, and not too filling. My wife had the roasted jalapeno jack burger. She was in heaven...
The food was great, prices not bad, and the service was class "A". End result, A Winner!
Pull up your Benz to the valet parking and check out The Clubhouse Restaurant the next time you're at South Coast Plaza looking for that new Rolex.
Prices - B
Service - A
Food - A
The Clubhouse Restaurant
333 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa Ca. 92626
714-708-2582
Oh course I started with a Guiness on tap which was by all means GOOD. Looking around you could tell there were some power players, soccers moms, and just ordinary joes. It was a cool crowd buzzing with conversation (no, not me buzzing, the crowd..)
I had The Clubhouse Garbage Salad (see, I told you these were down to earth people), it had grilled chicken, egg, cheese, tomato, green onion, bacon + more......Good, and not too filling. My wife had the roasted jalapeno jack burger. She was in heaven...
The food was great, prices not bad, and the service was class "A". End result, A Winner!
Pull up your Benz to the valet parking and check out The Clubhouse Restaurant the next time you're at South Coast Plaza looking for that new Rolex.
Prices - B
Service - A
Food - A
The Clubhouse Restaurant
333 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa Ca. 92626
714-708-2582
The Counter / Irvine
Well ladies and gents, "The Counter" in Irvine is a mecca for you hamburger buffs out there. Situated off of Sand Canyon Road & Irvine Blvd, The Counter is tucked away away close to the L.A. Fitness. A little upscale, but hey it is Irvine......right?
The concept is simple, you're given a clipboard and a check list to design your own gourmet creation. The Counter boasts 312,120 different combos available. It's somewhat like ordering sushi, but easier.
You choose the bun (or none at all and have it served on a bed of greens), the meat, the portion (up to a pound burger) and all the toppings. Then kick back and sample one of their many beers availble and wait for your creation to be delivered to your table.
Now the fun part, getting it in your mouth.....open wide 'cause it comes several inches high. Food quality is great, and lots of it. Try the sweet potato fries....yummy...(did i just say that...)
Prices aren't too killer for the selection avaiable, the place is real clean with an industrial like look to it.
They have several locations, so check one out.....you be glad you did!
Prices - B
Food - A
Service - A
The Counter
Woodbury Town Center
6416 Irvine Boulevard
Irvine, Ca 92620
949-336-7272
http://www.thecounterburger.com/
The concept is simple, you're given a clipboard and a check list to design your own gourmet creation. The Counter boasts 312,120 different combos available. It's somewhat like ordering sushi, but easier.
You choose the bun (or none at all and have it served on a bed of greens), the meat, the portion (up to a pound burger) and all the toppings. Then kick back and sample one of their many beers availble and wait for your creation to be delivered to your table.
Now the fun part, getting it in your mouth.....open wide 'cause it comes several inches high. Food quality is great, and lots of it. Try the sweet potato fries....yummy...(did i just say that...)
Prices aren't too killer for the selection avaiable, the place is real clean with an industrial like look to it.
They have several locations, so check one out.....you be glad you did!
Prices - B
Food - A
Service - A
The Counter
Woodbury Town Center
6416 Irvine Boulevard
Irvine, Ca 92620
949-336-7272
http://www.thecounterburger.com/
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Auld Irisher Pub & Restaurant / Orange
"Top of the morning to ya" or afternoon as it was when we visited "The Auld Irisher, Irish Pub & Restaurant" in Orange.
Having been open for only a few weeks this pub restaurant is sure to be a hit in the sea of everyday restaurants. We were greeted by the barmaid and we chose a patio seat. The pub is quite a sight, having much of the decor brought over from Ireland. It no doubt took many leprechans to get the stuff over......I think I saw one as I finished my thrd Guiness (leprechan that is....)
I had the "Ploughman's Platter" which consisted of cheese meats. Deemed an appetizer on the menu, I made it my lunch along with several fresh Guiness ales! Not cheap at $12.95, but was tasty to try the selections. The "Coleman's" mustard is HOT (can you say horseradish...) yet awesome. My better half had the "Roasted Turkey Sandwich" which looked delicious, and must have been as she ate it all. The only drawback, was in trying to be authentic they sprinkle it with curry powder, which some may or may not like. Just ask if you don't want it added.
They say it gets pretty happening on weekend nights with "live" bands....I gotta check that out. While it gets crowded, the barmaid assured me there's always somewhere to hid away in quiet ( or somewhat quiet, if you will)
A must to check out for lunch, dinner or drinks and fun!
Service - A
Food - A
Prices - B
The Auld Irisher Irish Pub & Restaurant
1547 W. Katella
Orange, CA
714-633-3192
www.auldirisher.com
Having been open for only a few weeks this pub restaurant is sure to be a hit in the sea of everyday restaurants. We were greeted by the barmaid and we chose a patio seat. The pub is quite a sight, having much of the decor brought over from Ireland. It no doubt took many leprechans to get the stuff over......I think I saw one as I finished my thrd Guiness (leprechan that is....)
I had the "Ploughman's Platter" which consisted of cheese meats. Deemed an appetizer on the menu, I made it my lunch along with several fresh Guiness ales! Not cheap at $12.95, but was tasty to try the selections. The "Coleman's" mustard is HOT (can you say horseradish...) yet awesome. My better half had the "Roasted Turkey Sandwich" which looked delicious, and must have been as she ate it all. The only drawback, was in trying to be authentic they sprinkle it with curry powder, which some may or may not like. Just ask if you don't want it added.
They say it gets pretty happening on weekend nights with "live" bands....I gotta check that out. While it gets crowded, the barmaid assured me there's always somewhere to hid away in quiet ( or somewhat quiet, if you will)
A must to check out for lunch, dinner or drinks and fun!
Service - A
Food - A
Prices - B
The Auld Irisher Irish Pub & Restaurant
1547 W. Katella
Orange, CA
714-633-3192
www.auldirisher.com
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