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Joe Deegan
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Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
More writers
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Allied Gardens
Alpine
Baja
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Barrio Logan
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Ken Harrison
Ken Harrison
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Flippin' Pizza
7:30 on a Friday night, with six guys running around behind the counter, I guess only one of them could take our order. Although he kept saying I'll be right with you, it took three minutes to take the order. All three of our two-slice orders were burnt, but they only admitted to burning one, and re-doing it. They served us the rest. another slice. I asked then to re-do all of them. The second slices came out fine. But we also ordered garlic knots (bread rolls) and they were crap, dry and a little place again. Other flippin pizzas are good
— November 20, 2009 9:34 p.m.
The Anti-Sonic Burger
Hey surfpup and all, what's happening is Corp America is finding a way to prostitute the old brands. What once were money losing old school Americana is now big bucks in our nostalgia. Most are owned by equity firms. But nothing is ol' fashioned about their operations. Everything's been revised, and none of the old "flavor" exists. Like A&W mentioned, the root beer taste the same, but that's it. Do you think Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Teen Burger, and Baby Burger would have stood for a stupid "Root Bear" as their mascot? A&W restaurant are operated by a division of Pitney Bowes? Gimme a break. (BTW- the last original A&W I found was in 1999, Gila Bend, AZ with frosty mugs, etc. The owner promised to contact me if she ever wanted to sell. ) Vernor's was kicked around to about to about 5 different owners in the last 10 years until someone saw $ signs with the brand & knew how to market. Lionel trains is owned by some conglomerate that just keep slapping the old lionel logo on cheaper and cheaper plastic parts, so much so that real train enthusiast laugh it them. At least with the resurgence of Bob's, they are true to the original concept, but have yet to bring back Pappy Parker's Fried Chicken. And of course In N Out has never changed. I could go on & on but will save for my book.
— November 11, 2009 8:55 a.m.
Chow House Says “Ciao”
That is really sad. I had the Lee's article that the reader's rest. guy wrote a few months ago, so that next time I was down there, I was going to go. I ate their last in the early 80s. Would love to know what really happened? Greedy landlord? Heavily financed new restaurant?
— November 11, 2009 8:22 a.m.
The Anti-Sonic Burger
Hey guys, I appreciate all the chit chat that started with my Anti Sonic/Pepper Tree Frosty story. You guys need to get your own chat room! I haven't read all of the fasinatin' facts yet about all the restaurant chains, but I know most of the answers to the questions asked. I've been researching a book (for about 10 years now) to be entitled "Who Killed Bob's Big Boy" about all the iconic places we grew up with that are now gone, A&W, Bob's, Orange Julius, Naugles, Hancock Gas, Speedee Marts, etc. Since Bob's is making a comeback in SoCal I may need to get it done sooner than later, or the title won't mean anything.
— November 10, 2009 5:42 p.m.
Tofu House
I love Asian food, but I've gotten stuck in a rut going to China Max or Jasmine, so wanted to see what else this culinary district had to offer. There was no menu posted on the window, so it was little scary (The last time I left my comfort zone on Convoy, I ate at a Vietnamese buffet near here and it was the worst food of my life.) But the lunchtime crowd was packed with young English speaking Asians, and non-asians alike. (In some of these restaurants, speaking only English handicaps you when trying to order) The place was interesting. I had to ask the guy seated next to me how ordering worked, the menu wasn't clear. I saw lots of little bowls of what looked like appetizers on other tables along with a main pot of stuff. So here's how it works. You order your tofu either streamed or fried with all kinds of special mixtures, beef, chicken, seafood, shrimp, and/or veggie's. It comes in a steaming pot, with rice on the side. The little bowls are appetizers, each person gets four, and the selection changes each day. I still enjoy my dim sum, but this place is a great alternative!
— October 31, 2009 10:29 p.m.
China Star Super Buffet
Of all the Asian buffets in the Oceanside area, this one is the best. Their selections are just like almost every other buffet, the usual Teriyaki, orange, or jalapeno chicken, fried chicken wings, soups, sushi, peeled shrimp and soft ice cream for dessert. Crab legs on the weekend. What makes this place the best is the food is always fresh and hot. They keep it rotated more often than others. The 2nd is the service, always taking away just-emptied plates away, and refilling drinks quickly. 3rd, the price, on weekday lunch and evening, with tax, can still eat it all for under 10 bucks.
— October 1, 2009 9:32 p.m.
Knockout Pizza
I enjoy the lunch specials, seems like always a line to order, but they're quick and get your slices out promptly. Typical of NY Bronx style pizza places, without the attitude and accents, six bucks gets you two slices and drink. I like that unlike others, they have little signs in front of each pizza that tells you what kind it is and the toppings on it. Very helpful. Also the good chopped salad is way more than one can finish when having a slice or two, unless you're a fat-so, then you shouldn't be eating that much anyway. Wish they had larger drink cups, two sips and you're up refilling -about the size of a McDonalds kid's drink.
— September 25, 2009 6:38 p.m.
Anita's Mexican Cantina & Restaurant
For good mexican, especially a quick lunch, this is the place. several $5.95 lunch combos. For dinner I had the lobster tail/shrimp special $16.99 and was in heaven. 5 slipper tails and 5 big shrimp cooked in butter. There may be some better places, but this place is reasonable prices, family friendly, and fun. Not to be confused with Anita's #2 on El Camino Real @ Vista Way (target Center) which is not as good.
— September 21, 2009 6:56 p.m.
Broken Yolk Café
Having eaten at other the PB Broken Yoke, this restaurant was what I expected. I thought food & service was good, and if you like the urban ambiance - great location. I had the Biscuits and Gravy, one of their specialties (if it's named after someone, isn't it a "speciality? Was named Aunt Betty's Biscuits and Gravy, or something like that) Thought was very shy on the gravy, not enough to cover the biscuit, let alone use for each bite of the thick biscuit. The prices weren't out of line, with juice or coffee, around $11 per person. We were upstairs in the loft. Fun room but poorly designed for a busy morning. The noise was unacceptable. It was impossible to talk to the person across the table from you. I'm sure the owners invested big bucks in this remodel, they should have put some toward acoustic design. This is not the old coffee shop remodel like it was in PB. I would be willing to try the new La Costa location.
— September 9, 2009 3:04 p.m.
Unfair Game
As the writer of this story, I'm honored that I have six responses, the most I've every received for one of my stringer stories. Thanks guys. I also have to also disclose that I ID'd the lagoon wrong. It is the Agua Hedienda Lagoon, not Batiquitos. I've only lived here all of my life, you'd think I would have gotten it right?
— September 5, 2009 11:07 a.m.
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Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
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Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
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Julie Stalmer
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Flippin' Pizza
7:30 on a Friday night, with six guys running around behind the counter, I guess only one of them could take our order. Although he kept saying I'll be right with you, it took three minutes to take the order. All three of our two-slice orders were burnt, but they only admitted to burning one, and re-doing it. They served us the rest. another slice. I asked then to re-do all of them. The second slices came out fine. But we also ordered garlic knots (bread rolls) and they were crap, dry and a little place again. Other flippin pizzas are good— November 20, 2009 9:34 p.m.
The Anti-Sonic Burger
Hey surfpup and all, what's happening is Corp America is finding a way to prostitute the old brands. What once were money losing old school Americana is now big bucks in our nostalgia. Most are owned by equity firms. But nothing is ol' fashioned about their operations. Everything's been revised, and none of the old "flavor" exists. Like A&W mentioned, the root beer taste the same, but that's it. Do you think Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Teen Burger, and Baby Burger would have stood for a stupid "Root Bear" as their mascot? A&W restaurant are operated by a division of Pitney Bowes? Gimme a break. (BTW- the last original A&W I found was in 1999, Gila Bend, AZ with frosty mugs, etc. The owner promised to contact me if she ever wanted to sell. ) Vernor's was kicked around to about to about 5 different owners in the last 10 years until someone saw $ signs with the brand & knew how to market. Lionel trains is owned by some conglomerate that just keep slapping the old lionel logo on cheaper and cheaper plastic parts, so much so that real train enthusiast laugh it them. At least with the resurgence of Bob's, they are true to the original concept, but have yet to bring back Pappy Parker's Fried Chicken. And of course In N Out has never changed. I could go on & on but will save for my book.— November 11, 2009 8:55 a.m.
Chow House Says “Ciao”
That is really sad. I had the Lee's article that the reader's rest. guy wrote a few months ago, so that next time I was down there, I was going to go. I ate their last in the early 80s. Would love to know what really happened? Greedy landlord? Heavily financed new restaurant?— November 11, 2009 8:22 a.m.
The Anti-Sonic Burger
Hey guys, I appreciate all the chit chat that started with my Anti Sonic/Pepper Tree Frosty story. You guys need to get your own chat room! I haven't read all of the fasinatin' facts yet about all the restaurant chains, but I know most of the answers to the questions asked. I've been researching a book (for about 10 years now) to be entitled "Who Killed Bob's Big Boy" about all the iconic places we grew up with that are now gone, A&W, Bob's, Orange Julius, Naugles, Hancock Gas, Speedee Marts, etc. Since Bob's is making a comeback in SoCal I may need to get it done sooner than later, or the title won't mean anything.— November 10, 2009 5:42 p.m.
Tofu House
I love Asian food, but I've gotten stuck in a rut going to China Max or Jasmine, so wanted to see what else this culinary district had to offer. There was no menu posted on the window, so it was little scary (The last time I left my comfort zone on Convoy, I ate at a Vietnamese buffet near here and it was the worst food of my life.) But the lunchtime crowd was packed with young English speaking Asians, and non-asians alike. (In some of these restaurants, speaking only English handicaps you when trying to order) The place was interesting. I had to ask the guy seated next to me how ordering worked, the menu wasn't clear. I saw lots of little bowls of what looked like appetizers on other tables along with a main pot of stuff. So here's how it works. You order your tofu either streamed or fried with all kinds of special mixtures, beef, chicken, seafood, shrimp, and/or veggie's. It comes in a steaming pot, with rice on the side. The little bowls are appetizers, each person gets four, and the selection changes each day. I still enjoy my dim sum, but this place is a great alternative!— October 31, 2009 10:29 p.m.
China Star Super Buffet
Of all the Asian buffets in the Oceanside area, this one is the best. Their selections are just like almost every other buffet, the usual Teriyaki, orange, or jalapeno chicken, fried chicken wings, soups, sushi, peeled shrimp and soft ice cream for dessert. Crab legs on the weekend. What makes this place the best is the food is always fresh and hot. They keep it rotated more often than others. The 2nd is the service, always taking away just-emptied plates away, and refilling drinks quickly. 3rd, the price, on weekday lunch and evening, with tax, can still eat it all for under 10 bucks.— October 1, 2009 9:32 p.m.
Knockout Pizza
I enjoy the lunch specials, seems like always a line to order, but they're quick and get your slices out promptly. Typical of NY Bronx style pizza places, without the attitude and accents, six bucks gets you two slices and drink. I like that unlike others, they have little signs in front of each pizza that tells you what kind it is and the toppings on it. Very helpful. Also the good chopped salad is way more than one can finish when having a slice or two, unless you're a fat-so, then you shouldn't be eating that much anyway. Wish they had larger drink cups, two sips and you're up refilling -about the size of a McDonalds kid's drink.— September 25, 2009 6:38 p.m.
Anita's Mexican Cantina & Restaurant
For good mexican, especially a quick lunch, this is the place. several $5.95 lunch combos. For dinner I had the lobster tail/shrimp special $16.99 and was in heaven. 5 slipper tails and 5 big shrimp cooked in butter. There may be some better places, but this place is reasonable prices, family friendly, and fun. Not to be confused with Anita's #2 on El Camino Real @ Vista Way (target Center) which is not as good.— September 21, 2009 6:56 p.m.
Broken Yolk Café
Having eaten at other the PB Broken Yoke, this restaurant was what I expected. I thought food & service was good, and if you like the urban ambiance - great location. I had the Biscuits and Gravy, one of their specialties (if it's named after someone, isn't it a "speciality? Was named Aunt Betty's Biscuits and Gravy, or something like that) Thought was very shy on the gravy, not enough to cover the biscuit, let alone use for each bite of the thick biscuit. The prices weren't out of line, with juice or coffee, around $11 per person. We were upstairs in the loft. Fun room but poorly designed for a busy morning. The noise was unacceptable. It was impossible to talk to the person across the table from you. I'm sure the owners invested big bucks in this remodel, they should have put some toward acoustic design. This is not the old coffee shop remodel like it was in PB. I would be willing to try the new La Costa location.— September 9, 2009 3:04 p.m.
Unfair Game
As the writer of this story, I'm honored that I have six responses, the most I've every received for one of my stringer stories. Thanks guys. I also have to also disclose that I ID'd the lagoon wrong. It is the Agua Hedienda Lagoon, not Batiquitos. I've only lived here all of my life, you'd think I would have gotten it right?— September 5, 2009 11:07 a.m.