Zachary’s Chicago Pizza

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
3110 Crow Canyon Pl
San Ramon, CA 94583
925-244-1222

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza has been on my bucketlist of restaurants to try for a long time.  There are a few locations up in the Bay Area.  I don't know which location was the first, but the Sam Ramon location was nearby, so I finally got to check off  Zachary’s Chicago Pizza!

Located in a business shopping center that has a Sprouts and too many Beane Sprouts- my term for Oakland A's fans!  I bet I saw more people with A's gear than people who actually attend A's games at that dump hell hole stadium!

Medium spinach and mushrooms-$26.60.  This was a 14in pizza with a light buttery crust, much less doughy than other deep dish pizza I've had.  They mushrooms were chopped into quarters and the spinach was plentiful.  The sauce was well balanced-not too tangy or sweet.  A very good example of deep dish pizza! 

Service was good.  It's a medium sized restaurant but the noise level was high with a large party that included a ton of kids.  I didn't care, but for some people it may bother them.

I would gladly go back to Zachary’s Chicago Pizza anything!! 

Good Neighbor Seafood Restaurant

Good Neighbor Seafood Restaurant
35122 Newark Blvd
Newark, CA 94560
510-797-3328

Newark is near cities like Fremont and Union City in the San Francisco Bay Area.  I was staying in Newark and wanted some dinner.  Most places nearby were your standard chains, but I found Good Neighbor Seafood Restaurant.  Located in your standard suburban strip mall, this looks like it was a fast food restaurant in it's past glory.

A large restaurant with about 20 tables inside, they also do a very good take out business- there must have been at least 5 people picking up take out in the 5 minutes I was there.  There weren't too many people dining in, maybe three tables. 

Shrimp and brocolli, $7.95.  The container was heavy, but it's mostly because of the broccoli.  Which wasn't cooked enough for my taste.  I'm betting they barely touched boiling water, it was almost raw.  I prefer softer broccoli.  The broccoli was also cut into huge pieces!  They need to cut the pieces into smaller pieces!  But, the shrimp was good and the sauce was flavorful. 

Vegetable chow mein- $6.95, with baby bok choy and zucchini!  I rarely see zucchini in Chinese dishes, but it must have been on sale this week, because this had a ton of zucchini!  Again, cut into huge pieces!  I hate zucchini, so I set them aside.  The baby bok chuy, again cut into huge pieces, were cooked perfectly.  The sauce was good and the noodles well cooked.  A very good value for the price.

Service was pretty good.  I did notice you could pick three dishes out of 62 items for $21.90, which I thought was an outstanding deal.  The dish include shrimp, fish, chicken and beef items.  If the portions are anywhere close to the portions I got for items I ordered off the menu, it's a great deal!

I thought Good Neighbor was a good restaurant and I would go back if I'm in the area.

Boos Philly Cheesesteaks and Hoagies

Boos Philly Cheesesteaks and Hoagies
4501 Fountain Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90029
323-661-1955

I've heard a lot about Boos Philly Cheesesteaks and Hoagies and decided to give them a try.  Located in East Hollywood, in a small hole in the wall restaurant.  There are about 5-6 tables instead and another 8-10 tables out front.

Since I only will eat fried chicken six times throughout the year, I knew I would have to get a grilled cheese or a veggie hoagie.

Veggie hoagie-$7.95.  Filled with your choice of cheese- American or Provolone, lettuce, mayo, tomatoes, and pickles.  The roll had a nice texture and chewiness.  The veggies were fresh and plentiful.  The cheese was fine.  This was a pretty good sandwich but nothing special. 

Service was good.  But, one thing most of their cheesesteaks are about $9.95.  I asked if they can make a grilled cheese.  They said yes, but they would have to charge the $9.95 price.  Since the beef is the most expensive part of a cheesesteak, why would they charge full price for a grilled cheese?

Boos is fine, but nothing special or outstanding.  I wouldn't rush back.

The Rookery Alehouse and Grill-Moved

The Rookery Alehouse and Grill
117 W 2nd St
Pomona, CA 91766
909-865-4400

Interesting!!  Sometime in 2018, The Rookery Alehouse and Grill moved to the space where The Burger House used to be!!

The Rookery Alehouse and Grill replaced Joey’s Bar B-Q.  The family that owned Joey's decided to change concept and turn it into a burger place.  David Allen reviewed The Rookery back in 2015. What is interesting that Burger House opened a couple doors down and just across Garey Ave., is Big D's Burgers!  So, why has Pomona exploded with a lot of burger places?  I think the credit goes to Gordon Ramsey!

On his Kitchen Nightmares show he featured Lela's-an upscale dining experience where the chef used mashed potatoes from a box! In the makeover, Ramsey felt an upscale dining restaurant in Pomona wasn't needed.  What was needed was a good burger place!  So, he introduced a new menu and it featured the Pomona Burger.  Lela's was so mismanaged it closed before the time they filmed Kitchen Nightmares to when the show actually aired!  I went to a restaurant that took the same of Lela's; Aladdin Jr.

The Rookery is huge, with a bar and same tables in the front room and long tables in the back room.  When I went there were only four other people in the restaurant at about 7pm.

The vegetarian house made veggie patty, red onion, tomato, swiss, garlic aioli, $10.  This was a lot of food for $10.  The veggie patty was black bean and house made, good texture and firmness.  The toppings were fresh, but there was only a very small amount of garlic aioli which made the burger dry.  I added some ketchup and it helped.  I would ask for more garlic aioli the next time.

The fries were very good, cut thick, well seasoned with the skin on.

Service was good.  I was greet by one of the two people working behind the bar when I walked in.  They answered my questions and were helpful.

I would go back to The Rookery, but I'm going to try the other two burger places nearby first.

Kawaii Sushi

Kawaii Sushi
6171 Mission Gorge Rd
San Diego, CA 92120
619-584-8888

Kawaii Sushi is located in a small strip mall that has a pizza place, vegetarian restaurant, Thai restaurant and a Souplantation!  So parking is tough to find.  Kawaii Sushi is a good sized restaurant with a sushi bar and about 10 tables.

Shrimp tempura roll-$7.95.  This was huge!  Very good example of shrimp tempura roll! 

Tuna sushi-$3.75, seared tuna sushi $3.75 and spicy tuna roll-$4.50 for happy hour, $5.45 regular price.

All the sushi was pretty fresh with good quality fish used.

Service was good.  I got my order to go, and my order came out quickly.  The people were friendly and helpful.

I would go back to Kawaii Sushi anytime I'm in San Diego. 

The Kebab Shop

The Kebab Shop
1570 Camino De La Reina Ste C
San Diego, CA 92108
619-491-0279

I discovered  The Kebab Shop two years ago but didn't do a review.  But, they serve good quality meals including falafel that rank among the best I've ever had!!  Located in a very busy shopping center that is right next to a trolley stop, The Kebab Shop, is very busy!  The line went out the door when I arrived and basically stayed that way for the entire time I was there!

Doner Box with grilled salmon, salad mix, and saffron rice, $8.49 plus $2 extra for salmon.  The rice was perfectly cooked and very flavorful.  The grilled salmon was perfect cook, moist and tasty.  The salad was fresh.  The only thing I didn't like about the Doner Box was that the hot rice and salmon was below the cool salad!  They need to be separated. 

Service is great.  The line moved quickly and the people working were great!  Very friendly and really caring about their job!  They took orders, cleaned the tables, swept the floors, made sure everything was clean!  Very impressive. 

I would go back to The Kebab Shop any time I'm in San Diego!

Fish N More Seafood & Grill-Closed

Fish N More Seafood & Grill
1123 E Alosta Ave
Azusa, CA 91702
626-335-1111

Fish N More Seafood & Grill used to be Falafel ME.  Of course, there was a change in concept and I'm pretty sure the owners of Falafel ME were the ones who changed to a seafood place.  Located in a Stater Bros. shopping center, Fish N More has a small dining area with some booths along the back wall, and counter seating.  You order at the counter and the food is delivered to you.  They offer a variety of seafood- from poke, fried, and grilled seafood. 

Fish & chips-$7.99 with coleslaw.  Fish is swai.  Two huge pieces of fish, nice and moist.  Not as crispy or crunchy as I would like.  Fried were undercooked and had been sitting under heat lamps for too long.  I didn't touch the coleslaw.  Overall a ton of food for the price.

Shrimp and chips-$8.99. Eight jumbo shrimp that came from the freeze to the fryer.  The shrimp was fine, but again, already fried and sitting under heat lamps.  I realize people are in a hurry, but fry these to order!  People do not mind the wait!  Fries were the same undercooked fries like the fish and chips.

Two things about the menu I want to mention.  On the menu they have fish and chips for $7.99 and white fish (swai) for $8.99.  I asked what is the difference and was told the white fish is one piece and the fish and chips is two pieces.  Then I asked what kind of fish is used for the fish and chips and was told swai.  So what is the difference? 

In the Grill & Garden section they list the protein and sauce-Mediterranean, House, Caesar, and ORIENTAL!  What?  Are back in the 1950's?  Who uses ORIENTAL anymore?  That went out with Negro and bell bottoms.

Service is pretty good- nice friendly people.

I realize they just recently changed concepts but they have work to do.  Portion size and prices are fine, but they need to fry items to order and not keep them under heat lamps! 

JP Latin Deli

JP Latin Deli
9047 Arrow Rte Ste 190
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
909-806-0061

I like Peruvian food!   The first Peruvian restaurant I went to was Choza Mama in Pasadena, which I really enjoyed.  My other trips to Peruvian restaurants were disappointing- Intiraymi Restaurant, Mario's Peruvian Seafood Restaurant, and Pollos Kikiryki.  So, I'm on the look out for a good Peruvian restaurant.  So, when a friend told me about JP Latin Deli, I had to make a trip!

JP Latin Deli has an interesting history!  This Rancho Cucamonga location is their third location and have been here for about seven years.  Their first location opened in Montclair on Holt Ave. and then moved to Upland, before settling in this business complex.  The exterior blends into the other buildings and without a sign on the marquee, it can be a little tough to find.  It's a fairly big restaurant with simple tables and chairs.  The set up is a bit confusing, is this counter service or table service.  It is table service, though you go to counter to get seated.

Calamara frito $12-fried calamari with red onions, cilantro, and tomatoes.  The calamari was chewy, pretty sure it was frozen, and wasn't crispy.  Small portion too.  Not worth the $12 price tag.

Saltado de mariscos, $14, seafood sauteed in peruvian spices- mussels, shrimp, octopus, with onions tomatoes, green peppers, with with rice.  This may look like a lot of food, but when you cut the tomatoes and onions into big pieces it is deceiving.  This was pretty flavorful, you got about three of each seafood but this is mostly vegetables and little amount of seafood.

Service is friendly but off.  As I mentioned before, you're not sure if this is table or counter service.  The soda machine is out on the counter and another table was refilling their drinks at the soda machine, so when in Rome or should I say Lima?  Anyways, the owner/chef would actually come out and sit at the table with people he knew.  His wife was working the register and being the server.  Again friendly but you're not sure if you're eating with friends or at a restaurant.

I think JP is overpriced and with the saltado de mariscos was flavorful, the calamari wasn't good. My quest continues for a good Peruvian restaurant!