Señor Fish

Señor Fish
618 Mission St
South Pasadena, CA 91030
626-403-0145

Senor Fish is a chain.  I've been to their now demolished location in Little Tokyo, but never posted a review, which was demolished to make room for the Regional Connector for Metro Rail.   So when I recently had dinner at their South Pasadena location, I figured I should post a review.

Orange Roughy over baby greens-avocado, tomatoes, jicama, baby greens, $11.45.  Orange roughy is a very expensive fish if you can find it the average price is about $20/lb.  I seriously doubt this is orange roughy, especially such a big piece for just $11.45 plus the cost of the veggies, ok veggies don't cost that much, but you get the point.  This fish was well cooked, maybe a little too salty.  I haven't had orange roughy in a long time, but this did not taste like orange roughy.  The veggies were fresh.  This salad is fine, but no way is the fish used orange roughy!

Service was good.

If you go to Senor Fish, stick to the Mexican food. 

Pacific Seafood Grill

Pacific Seafood Grill
230 S Lake Ave Ste 3
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-583-9000

Pacific Seafood Grill is just a few doors down from Dupar's which used to be Hamburger Hamlet and Veggie Grill.  Pacific Seafood Grill is very much like Pacific Fish Grill, hell even their names are almost the same, fresh seafood served in a fast casual setting.  Doing a quick search and I find that Fish Dish was the last restaurant here, and it was also the same concept. 

Pacific Seafood Grill has a few tables at the front of the restaurant and some tables outside on the porch.  Since the porch is along Lake Ave, a very busy street, I would sit inside.

Ahi tuna with white rice and sauteed vegetables, $13.99.  I asked for the ahi tuna to be cooked medium rare, it came out rare.  It was a good sized portion and well cooked, even if not cooked to the doneness I asked for.  The rice was lukewarm and the veggies-cauliflower, zucchini, carrots and squash were sauteed in oil-this would be better if it was steamed.  Overall a pretty good dish worth the price.

Service is good.  But I find the restaurant a bit dingy and not a pleasant place to enjoy a meal.

I wouldn't go back to Pacific Seafood Grill.  I think Pacific Fish Grill is much better.

Grill ‘Em All-Moved

Grill ‘Em All
19 E Main St
Alhambra, CA 91801
626-284-2874

Grill ‘Em All has been on my list of places to try since 2013.  I finally made it to Grill ‘Em All, which is not far from Hot Red Bus, a mediocre and pricey fish and chips restaurant.   It's a very different restaurant.  You feel like you stepped into a Kiss/heavy metal concert.  Black paint everywhere, a few tables with chairs straight from a classroom, heavy metal music on the TV and the coming from the speakers, a different setting.

Winger aka the Stewart Burger – with a veggie patty, American, lettuce, tomato, pickle, thousand island, $10.  All their beef burgers are half pound.  But, you can get a veggie or turkey patty, no extra charge, instead.  Their veggie patty is made with black beans and corn, very tasty.  But, this burger is dry.  They need to put more thousand island dressing.  The bun was good and the veggies were fresh.  Besides being dry, this was a good burger.

Service is acceptable.  The girl who took my order was fairly nice and friendly.  But, when helping the customer before me, it took forever!  I'm not sure what the issue was, I saw three other people come help,  but damn, what the hell took so long?

I won't go back to Grill ‘Em All.  The burger is good and service is acceptable, but the entire theme-heavy metal, is a huge turnoff.  The burgers aren't so great that I can overlook the heavy metal theme.  If heavy metal is your thing, you'll love Grill ‘Em All!  It's just not my thing.

Brü Grill & Bar-Closed

Brü Grill & Bar
336 S Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-787-1444

Brü Grill & Bar, which opened about a six months ago, replaced Trattoria Neapolis that closed in 2015.  It's a very nice bar and grill, with tasteful decorations and beautiful exposed brick.

It's a long narrow restaurant with an upper section with more tables, the middle bar area, and the front seating area.  Their happy hour starts at 2pm Mon-Fri.  Mon-Thrs happy hour ends at 7pm, Friday ends at 6pm.

 Happy Hour fried green beas, $4.  Regular price, $6.  This was great!  Who knew something so simple could taste so great!  I doubt the green beans were frozen, since they tasted great!  Very light and crisp outside, a better french fries!

Happy Hour fries, $2.  Regular price, $4.  I asked for the fries to be well done.  They came out normal.  They were good, but would be better well done!

Service is good.

I would go back to Bru again for happy hour.  I think some of their regular menu prices are high, but maybe the food is worth the price. 

The Upper House

The Upper House
352 S Indian Hill Blvd
Claremont, CA 91711
909-621-1855

The Upper House was reviewed by David Allen last week.  About five stores down from Pollos Kikiryki, is The Upper House-a sit down Chinese restaurant that took over a fast casual Chinese restaurant called Royal Panda.

Lunch special shrimp with broccoli and snow peas, $9.95. with soup-hot and sour and white rice.  The hot and sour soup was served warm and wasn't that spicy.  It did have a nice tangy flavor.  The shrimp was plentiful-about a dozen medium sized shrimp cooked perfectly.  The broccoli could have been cooked a little longer.  It was practically raw.  The snow peas were cooked perfectly.  The sauce was a bit bland, a little more seasoning this would have been very good.

Vegetable lo-mein, $8.95. Snow peas, green onions, cabbage, bean sprouts.  A very good dish, well seasoned and cooked.  A lot of food for the price.

Service was good but they are suppose to open at 11am.  I got there at 11:20 and the server was knocking on the door!!  What was weird was she had to knock a couple times before they opened the door for her!  Come on be professional!  If your sign says open at 11am, open at 11am.  While eating she was very nice, came by the table often, and took care of the other 2-3 tables.  So, no complaints about the service while dining.

I would go back to The Upper House, but their prices on the regular menu seem a bit high.  The vegetable lo-mein is the regular menu price, but the shrimp with broccoli and snow peas is $13.95!! They better give you a ton of shrimp for that price!

Makomae

Makomae
868 N Diamond Bar Blvd
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
909-861-6537

Makomae has been open for about 18 months at the site of Sushi Koyo, former home of the Sushi Nazi! I don't think much has changed inside the restaurant or the menu.  Don't expect to find a ton of rolls on the menu.

Tuna, $4.95 and Yellowtail $4.95.

Halibut with ponzi sauce, $4.95.

Spicy tuna roll, $7.95.

All the sushi didn't taste as fresh.  It seemed as though the sushi had been sitting around for a long time.  I wasn't happy with the quality of the fish.

Service was good.  Nice and friendly people.

A review site rates Makomae very highly but I wasn't impressed.  Maybe it was an off day, but when the sushi isn't fresh, I'm not coming back!

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
1262 Crenshaw Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323-402-0232

Just north on Crenshaw from the best place in LA for BBQ ribs, Phillip's BBQ,  is Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. I have heard more about Howlin' Ray's, so I wanted to see which one was better. 

Located at the corner of Crenshaw and Pico, Gus’s has a large dining area, but tough parking.  Parking was easy to find the day I went because it was Easter.  Otherwise plan to walk and pay for parking.

2 breast pieces, $4.80 each.  Both pieces were nice and juicy!  Gus’s has a more subtle heat, that slowly hits your senses!  The skin is very crispy and flavorful.  This is outstanding chicken and better than Howlin' Ray's!

Service was great!  I called ahead to make sure they were open on Easter.  Most places have attitude when you ask if they are open.  But, not Gus’s.  They were friendly and very welcoming!  I went to the bar area to place my take out order and lady who helped me was also friendly and welcoming.

I will be back to Gus’s, very soon!  A much better flavorful fried chicken than Howlin' Ray's!

Monaco’s Pizza

Monaco’s Pizza
7325 Day Creek Blvd Ste 101
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739
909-463-7301

The owner of Monaco's Pizza also owns Red Devil Pizza in La Verne.  They bought Red Devil Pizza from the owner of Sal's Pizza & Bagelry, also in La Verne.  When Monaco bought Red Devil Pizza, they had a clause written into the contract, that Sal could not open another pizza restaurant within so many miles for ten years.  When the ten years was up Sal bought what was a bagel place and added pizza, thus becoming Sal's Pizza & Bagelry!

Located in a busy shopping center, Monaco's Pizza is a fairly large restaurant.  What I didn't know is that the picture I took of the outside of the building, is actually the entrance to the restaurant.  There is a side entrance for pick up. 

Medium mushroom and jalapeno, $18.78.  This pizza was good.  It was loaded with toppings, you get what you paid for!  The crust is firm enough to handle all the toppings, but has a nice chewy texture.  The cheese is piled high.  The mushrooms and jalapenos were fresh.  The sauce is kinda of bland, and they could have put a bit more on the pizza.  But, overall I really liked the pizza!  It's been such a long time since I went to Red Devil's Pizza, I don't remember if they pizza tastes the same.

Service was pretty good.  When I walked in there was nobody at the front and I waited a few minutes before somebody came.  They should have a sign saying that pick up orders are at the side.  Otherwise, no complaints about service.

I did like the pizza at Monaco's, but if I have to drive out to that area, my first choice would be Sal's Pizza in Alta Loma, but I would have no problems going to Monaco's.

True Food Kitchen

True Food Kitchen
168 W Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91105
626-639-6818

True Food Kitchen is located in Old Town Pasadena, at a location where there is a revolving door for restaurants.  A quick search food three other restaurants at this location.  True Food Kitchen is a healthy chain restaurant.  They have vegan/vegetarian fare along with meat items.  Very much like Tender Greens. This is a huge location with seating in in the patio, a bar area, and a dining area.

We at inside the bar area, which was a bit noisy with music and a group of four couple celebrating a woman's birthday. 

Inside Out Quinoa Burger hummus, tzatziki, tomato, cucumber, red onion, avocado, feta- $14 with a side of kale salad.  This was an interesting take on a veggie burger.  The quinoa pattie was mushing and just not appetizing.  The other ingredients were very fresh.  But overall this quinoa burger just didn't mix well together!

Service was pretty good.  The server was nice and friendly.  But, he didn't ask if we needed refills on drinks and he didn't come around that often.

I would not go back to True Food Kitchen!  Tender Greens beats them by a country mile!

Taco Tapatio

Taco Tapatio
502 E Foothill Blvd
Azusa, CA 91702
626-969-7100

The best places for tacos are the hole in the wall restaurants.  In Azusa there are many taco restaurants, so a restaurant has to standout or they will quickly go out of business.  While Taco Tapatio is large, the front of the restaurant is small and easy to miss when driving on Foothill.

Fish tacos, $1 on Wednesday, $1.45 regular price.  They use swai fish, which is battered and is fried to a nice golden brown with a good crunch.  They use corn tortillas which is great, the cabbage, crema, hot sauce, red onions and tomatoes were all fresh.  This was very good example of a fish taco-good sized portion and well worth the $1.45 regular price, a steal at $1!

Service is good.  Nice helpful people working there.

I would go back to Taco Tapatio anytime!

Sandwiches by Connal’s

Sandwiches by Connal’s
1505 E Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91104
626-794-5018

Sandwiches by Connal’s has been in Pasadena since 1958!  I'm not sure if this is the original location.  1958 is the same year that that bastard water o'malley STOLE the BROOKLYN DODGERS from their rightful home and they played their first season in LA.  Connal's opened up a location in Upland in late 2007, that David Allen reviewed.  The Upland location is across the street from San Biagio's Pizza, maybe the best New York style pizza in the Inland Empire!

It looks like a take out place but there is a dining area on the east side of the building.  It was very busy with walk up and people calling in their orders!

2 piece fish and chips, $4.34 with tax, on the mini meal menu.  They use pollock and it's just frozen fish that is deep fried.  The batter is very tough and hard.  I would say it is about 75% fish and 25% batter.  I know this is a burgers/sandwich place but I wanted to try the fish and chips.  The fries are frozen but much better than the fish. This isn't a good example but a good meal for a good price.

Service is good.  This is cash only, and I wish they had a sign for any newcomers.  But, the food comes out quickly.  There is one confusing thing.  There is a window along the sidewalk where people can order and pick up their food.  But, if you go inside to their dining area, there is also a place to order, when I was there the same cashier was taking orders outside and inside.

I would go back to Connal’s to try their sandwiches, but not the fish and chips!

The Burger House-Closed

The Burger House
171 W 2nd St
Pomona, CA 91766
909-623-7620

As I mentioned in my review of The Rookery Alehouse and Grill, there are now three burger restaurants along 2nd Street in Pomona.  I decided to try The Burger House and see how it compares.

Located in a beautiful old building, there are about four tables outside and maybe 15 tables inside.  It was very with maybe six tables being used the entire time I was there. 

The Veggie Patch- veggie burger with lettuce, red onions, tomato, and avocado aioli, $10, plus $1 extra for tater tots. This was a very dry veggie burger. The patty itself was luke warm, kind of tough and not a good example of a veggie patty. The lettuce, tomato, and onions were fresh. The bun nicely toasted. But, there was barely any avocado aioli, and it made for a very dry burger.  The tater tots were well cooked and plentiful to make the $1 extra worth it.

Service was fine until the end.  While there was only one server working the entire restaurant, I didn't lack for anything!  My drink was filled without asking and she took my order promptly.  But, when it came time to pay the bill, I paid with a credit card.  They had a tablet and it seemed like only one tablet.  They didn't give the option to print the receipt, you either had to get the receipt by email or text.  When I tried to enter an email address, you couldn't see any typing on that tablet.  I asked the server for help and after proving she had no clue about how to use that program, she said "I need that tablet." Well I don't give a damn if you need it.  I need the damn receipt you stupid idiot!

Sorry, but with so many other dining options, poor service shouldn't be tolerated! The Burger House had mediocre food and terrible service.  Never again!