Bob's Big Boy, Toluca Lake, California

Bob's Big Boy - Toluca Lake, CA

As a small child it was a treat whenever we went out to dinner and when it was at Bob’s it was even more special. We grew up on the Bob’s Combination Plate, a wedge of ice berg lettuce with a generous dollop of Thousand Island dressing, a helping of golden brown French fries and the star, the Big Boy it’s self. It had a three-slice bun, a bottom, middle and a top, and two nice size patties with cheese and their Bob’s special sauce. A red tangy relish with a hint of vinegar made your taste buds explode on that first bite, of course they also placed lettuce on the burger, but it was the layering that made the Big Boy a joy to eat. With each bite you got the taste of the bun, burger, cheese, lettuce and the sauce in each and every mouth full. And putting your mouth around it was no simple task; it was about a 5" bun with meat to equal the size of the bun. Recently, when my son and I planned our trip back to Southern California, I remembered how it was and I said, "I’ll take you for a real treat, to Bob’s Big Boy."

This Bob’s is the last one around. Located on Riverside Drive in Burbank, or some say Toluca Lake, has memorabilia handing on the inside walls. It make an oldster remember their teenage years and the youngsters giggle at the hair styles we used to sport. The booths still look the same and it even seem to have that smell of years past. That’s where the similarities ended. I had been tooting my horn to my son for so long aboout he way it was that he was eager to savor this icon of the burger world. Sitting to my right was an elderly couple who had just been served what I thought would have been the senior burger and small sampling of French fries. Alas, not so.

I ordered the combination plate as did my son. We soon got a dinner salad in a bowl; mixed greens with a couple of slices of cucumber and some rather hard croutons. Okay so being served a wedge of ice berg might be too costly, so I’ll give them that one. But when to my utter astonishment the waitress presented us with the exact same plates the older couple had recieved, STOP! WAIT. This could not be so. I got a 4-inch bun with scanty patties with a small piece of cheese and a scattering of lettuce and sauce, when she said, " Enjoy," I could have swallowed my tongue. Enjoy what, here sat a sad and rather ugly looking burger on a small plate with some flaccid, pale and definitely not golden brown French fries. And my pickle, it had a whole in the middle.

My first bite was a complete disappointment and it continued throughout the meal. My son was a little more polished than myself in that he did not make the facial gestures or groans his mother did. Before we ate I snapped the burger to make sure all could see the sad portrayal of a once iconic burger. Some days later, I told my brother about the dismal state of the Big Boy. He recreated the burger we once had grown to love and to this picture I say to anyone who had once loved the Big Boy all is not lost, it still lives in your heart and soul. All you need to do is recreate it and enjoy it now and remember it from your youth, but if you are walking down memory lane and happen to be in Burbank and have the hankering for a Big Boy, walk on, Patti’s down the street is still open.

Carnival (Lebanese American Cuisine)

Carnival - Lebanese American Cuisine - 4356 Woodman Avenue - Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91423

Now they say location is everything if this is how you rate an eatery then drive on by, for Carnival is located within a small strip mall without much fanfare. It is plain on the outside and has a rather primitive inside décor made to resemble that of a Middle Eastern region cafe. Table cloths and a rather nice wait staff make up for the lack of atmosphere. They offer both cold and hot appetizers ranging from the traditional Humos, Mousakaa to Falafel and stuffed grape leaves.

Soup and salads range from Greek or Arabic types which include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, radishes and olive oil and lemon dressings. You can sample a regular seasonal salad (a typical dinner salad) or try a fatoush salad with sumac and toasted pita bread and olive oil. Their special soup is lentil which was quite good when sampled. They have about 8 sandwiches to pick from including a carnival burger (beef and lamb) topped with cole slaw or a Lamb Kabab sandwich or try a Chicken kabob made from marinated chicken breast and served in a pita pocket. Broiled dishes include lamb chops, Kafta kabobs, quail or a New York steak for those who are not yet ready to try a new cuisine.

They include traditional dishes like; humos meat served with small pieces of lamb and pine nuts, Kibbeh rolls stuffed with meat and nuts or Makanek, a Lebanese sausage sautéed with lemon juice. Daily specials are offered Monday –Friday and are $9.95. They offer a children’s menu which offers a skewer of either chicken, Kafta lamb and served with French fries and a salad all served on the same plate. You can have fish if you like Shrimp or white pomfret or a salmon filet and finish with a traditional Baklava or Knafeh dessert (sweet cheese with shredded filo dough and rosewater). Of course for the chocolate lovers they also offer a Mocha cake or a chocolate mousse.

An assortment of sodas, American or Arabic coffee, hot and cold tea and wine by the glass or carafe and beer round out the menu. On parties of six of more an automatic gratuity of 18% is added to your bill. They offer take out and also cater. You can visit them on Carnivalrest.com to see the entire menu.

They offer you a complementary plate of hommus along with olives and picked turnips with pita bread to stave off your hunger, which for me only made me more anxious to sample their fare.

The CAFÉ at the Getty Villa

The CAFÉ at the Getty Villa - Pacific Coast Highway - Santa Monica, Calif

Located inside the Getty Villa it overlooks the outside theatre and you also can see the Pacific Ocean from the outside dining veranda. Quick food that is wholesome and prepared very well for a fast food type establishment. You can have you choice of California takes on some Italian food treats, like Tuscan soup, lasagna Della casa, frittata Della casa or Orecchette pasta with braised artichokes. You also can dine on an Eggplant Panini or a grilled portabella salad. Now I know this does not seem like the type of food offered in a service cafe, well they are and prepared very well indeed.

There are salads, or a Greek chicken sandwich, Roman burger, Tuscan turkey burger, a children’s menu offering 4 choices plus French fries a la carte. They offer wine and beer plus an assortment of fountain sodas, bottled water or regular water with ice. Slushies and passion fruit iced tea and even espresso are available for the thirsty traveler. Since we had been walking the museum grounds I felt like a refreshing salad so I picked the chopped Villa salad, made from chopped Romaine and Radicchio, Artichokes, Chickpeas, Feta Cheese, Pistachios, and a creamy lemon yogurt dressing. This plus a side of homemade peasant bread made a nice and figure friendly luncheon, enough for me and my son to split and feel satisfied.

You order inside and get your drink selections if you opted for water or a fountain drink, they give you a number which you place on your table and it’s delivered to you in plastic containers, but you get actual silver ware and a cloth napkin for you meal. If you still feel the need they also offer four offerings for dessert, Artisan Cheese and dried market fruit for two, seasonal fruit dumplings, tiramisu and lemon panna cotta. Prices range from $7.95 to 12.95 and wine is $7.25-$8.00 a glass but they also offer a bottle for around $30.00. You can also have beer and they offer a non alcoholic one.

After touring the museum which is a recreation of a Roman Villa, and seeing the fantastic artifacts contained therein, you are indeed in the mood for some good food with an even more fantastic view and at a modest price. Since you only pay $15.00 for parking and the entrance is free this is indeed a great deal for your wallet. Reservations are needed for the self tour so call in advance, you can spend a few hours or an entire day strolling inside or outside in one of many gardens with pools and fountains and shaded grape arbor’s to shelter you from the coastal sun
But for the die hard “Italian” craving they also offer three choices of pizza to please your taste buds and included is a low carb version without cheese, so they do offer something for everone.

Riverwalk Cafe - Lava Hot Springs, Idaho

Riverwalk Café April 2009
695 E. Main Street
Lava Hot Springs, Id 83246
208-776-5872

Not your traditional restaurant since it occupies an old gas station. The pumps are gone which afford some covered parking to a lucky few, but the outside is basically a gas station. They have made some cosmetic overtones and some plants, but don’t let the look fool you the food is good. This family has been serving up good Thai cuisine since 1998 in Lava and has a following of true devotees.

Your waiter takes your order without pad or pen several tables at a time and brings back all food to the correct table and person. Don’t be fooled first come first served is not the general rule since some dishes take longer to make you are served as they come off the stove. This has some negative effects if your dish is the special one you might find you self eating along since the rest of your party had already dined.

They offer appetizers, soups, salads, a la carte items, specials or noodle dishes, fried rice and curries. You can have spring rolls, fried chicken wing with sweet and sour sauce, wonton soup or hot and sour soup. A silver noodle salad with ground chicken or a Thai chicken salad, you can also have it vegetarian. Fried pork marinated in garlic and pepper or Thai cashew Chicken or tofu. Perhaps Steak Lao, served with steamed vegetables. There are four varieties of fried rice and five noodle dishes and four of curry. You are served either steamed rice or sticky rice which is served to you in an individual bamboo steamer basket.

They offer sides of sticky or steam rice, cucumber salad and also peanut and sweet and sour sauces. Most of the patrons take home a good portion of their meals. You can have the usual assortment of tea, coffee, or soft drinks; they do not sell beer or wine but do allow you to bring your own. They even furnish the cork screw and glasses for your use. You can dine in and they do offer take out, they are closed on Mondays and open from 1:00pm to 9:00am Tuesday-Sunday.

The food was tasty, well prepared and the servings ample in size and all served up with a nice friendly atmosphere. If you happen to be in the hot pools during a cold winter’s day and the breeze carries down the street, you can hardly wait to shower and dry off and head down to the Riverwalk for a meal. The prices are modest with the highest around$15.00 for a whole fried catfish dinner.

Plateau - Jackpot, Nevada

Plateau - Jackpot, Nevada 2/2009

Nestled inside Cactus Pete’s Casino in Jackpot Nevada, the Plateau is a hidden treasure where you can slip away and enjoy not only the quiet but also some delicious food. Reservations are recommended and last seating is at 9:30PM; open Wednesday –Sunday. They offer booths for cozy conversation or tables for 4 or more guests
The menu offers appetizers of jumbo shrimp cocktails, oysters on the half shell, which I might add were succulent and fresh. The liquor was fresh and one could not tell you were not on the ocean front. They also offer lollipop lamb chops and lobster pot pie to name but a few choices. Two choices of soup, French onion and lobster bisque.
There are five salad options; a regular house, an ice berg creation to mirror the 1950’s hearts of lettuce, a Caesar and spinach salad, created and dressed table side for a minimum of two guests. To round it out they offer a Quinoa duck salad (roasted leg of duck) served with a sherry mustard vinaigrette.
Entrees include roasted free range chicken, duck, filet tips, prime rib and venison chops. From the broiler you can dine on rib eye, New York strip, garlic stuffed filet, filet mignon or a combination of filet and lobster. Seafood selections include cedar plank salmon, shrimp scampi, seafood fettuccine, sea bass, tempura fried lobster tail or regular old lobster tails.
You can round out the entrée with asparagus with Hollandaise or perhaps mouth watering potatoes au gratin they also offer an additional lobster tail or Oscar style, crab, asparagus with hollandaise if you choose. Several dessert items, cheesecake, flambé bananas Dulce de Leche or sorbet to name a few. I might add they make a wonder full pressed coffee.
Our dinner consisted of the special of the day, a combination plate of Frenched loin chops of venison and lamb and accompanied with a nice roasted breast of duck. It is served with a cherry reduction infused with rosemary. To compliment the main course we selected a nice California wine, a Guenoc Victorian Claret which has subtle undertones of cherry from the Guenoc vineyards of Middleton California.
Prices range from $20.00 for the chicken to $50.00 for twin lobster tails, most are mid range with the soup and salads under $10.00. Appetizers range from $7.00 to $14.00 and for those of you who have a sweet tooth; desserts are all under $10.00
Truly a find in the middle of nowhere, Jackpot is located just over the Idaho-Nevada border 49 miles from Twin Falls, Idaho. You either want to go there or you’re on your way to Wells or Elko, or you’re lost. But if you find yourself ambling down the highway towards Twin Falls, consider the additional 50 or so miles and stop in, you won’t regret it.

Chapala Mexican Restaurant

Chapala Mexican Restaurant, 117 West Burnside, Chubbuck Idaho
9/16/08

Clean, bright and nice atmosphere. American/Mexican décor with soft Mexican music.

Salsa was spicy enough to ask for water, bean dip was mild with not too much spice/flavor. A very broad menu with a variety of normal fare and the not so normal. Chicken mole, Chicken Caritas, Arrow con Polo, 9 Shrimp entrees, three Shrimp & Crab. Regular and small portions, 5 salad options, 24 combo plates, offering a vegetarian burrito and tostada to Soppitos and Huevos Machaca.

Regular size portions are just that, enough for the big eater, enough to share with a friend, or the usual take home box. Nice flavor and texture with distinct aromatics.

Served on heated oval platters, with a nice arrangement, not heaped together but with enough space to see what you are eating. The sauce was enough to flavor the entrée but not enough to drown it out or cover the rest of the platter.

Regular drinks, and Shirley temples, Roy Rogers, Jarritos. Beer and alcohol free beer and a 12 oz margarita for $3.50 that is very pleasant.

Offering a lunch menu and also a generous appetizer list they also include your normal al a carte items at a modest price. A modest dessert menu and your first two bowls of chips, salsa and bean dip are on the house.

Prices range from $5.00 to 13.00 with most in the mid range of 8-9 dollars. You get allot for your money and the staff are polite and attentive. Located right off the freeway at the Yellowstone/Chubbuck exit easy off, easy on. Closed on Sunday

Revisit - Remo’s of Pocatello

Remo’s of Pocatello, 160 West Cedar, Pocatello, Id. 83201
October 2008
Wednesdays 5:00pm 9:00pm SUSHI
I have blogged about Remo’s general menu, this is a separate blog on their SUSHI presentation each Wednesday evening. They have a pleasant starter (appetizer menu) Miso Soup, Seaweed Salad, Edamame, an interesting fare called Ahi Fries with Asian Aioli. Your usual Tempura Vegetable platter and Pan seared Ahi Tuna Carpaccio. Prices are from $3.95 to $9.95.

There are 22 separate rolls available, but none feature truly raw fish, they are all slightly seared with the exception of the following two: Ahi Tuna Roll and the Las Vegas. They feature several that are fried in a Tempura type batter, some are traditional with a seaweed wrapper, and some are rice rolls (inside out).

A somewhat sweet fare is the Inari, bean curd pouches stuffed with rice and Kampyo served with a sweet and spicy sauce. The sauce does not deflect the sweetness of this item; however for a breakfast item (which is where our leftovers went) it is absolutely wonderful. Add a little chili paste to the sauce and it’s fantastic.

They offer a soft shell Crab, King Crab, Scallop and seasoned Sirloin combination of rolls. Two items offer you the choice of items added to the roll, and the combination of 5 sauces to accompany them. Sweet and Spicy, Asian Aioli, Gingered Soy, Siracha Aioli and Sweet Chili. The rolls feature the usual items, avocado, cucumber, carrot, onion etc. An interesting roll is the Chef’s special, which includes smoked salmon, shrimp, Siracha, fresh jalapeno, cream cheese and soy paper. You can also substitute soy paper for an additional cost per roll of $1.00.

Served with the traditional sides of Wasabi and Gari it is a genuine attempt to offer Sushi to the general public without a direct assault on their taste buds. Truly these are an offering of good rolls but tailored to the non educated pallet. For those who want to experience “strange oriental food” this is a good place to start, the subtle flavors and mild aroma’s and the easy taste combinations let the novice diner taste a new and exciting world of food.

Hopefully they will thirst for more and begin to roll their own rolls, to which there is no end of possibilities.

El Jacalito 5th Ave, Pocatello, Idaho

Open 7 days and most holidays, very casual dining atmosphere. Once the home of a Greek fast food eatery, El Jacalito has not spent a great deal on decorations but they do spend allot of time on their food.

They offer a nice variety of appetizers along with the usual chip and salsa for each table. The salsa’s consistency is more liquid than I like but has a nice taste and would appeal to the taste buds of most patrons. A choice of 5 salads, including your usual dinner salad one with shrimp, chicken avocado, chili Verde and taco surprise. I mention this because there are some among us who would like a salad and skip the beans and rice and this is a nice choice.

They of course feature a nice children’s menu with 4 Mexican dishes, a hamburger, chicken strips and pizza. They offer Caldos (soups) 7 choices, Huevos (eggs) 7 also and your usual combination plates, 14 total. Separate enchilada specials 9 in all, Los Doraditos (crispy ones) featuring taquitos, flautas, chimichangas. Not to forget sizzling fajitas, and tostadas to round out their menu.

Carne asada, chili Verde, caritas, steak picado and 15 Del Mar (seafood ) choices, featuring fish tacos, seafood enchilada, seafood nachos, garlic shrimp etc. A la carte items including French fries, non alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. And their specialty of iced tea infused with cranberry juice. And let’s not forget Postres (desserts), you can order chocolate chip ice cream, flan, deep fried ice cream or banana Vallarta.

They have an all you can eat buffet on the weekend featuring the usual and some unusual items each weekend. The staff are friendly and attentive and the food suburb, owned by local residents they have been in operation for just over a year and offer a nice variety from your usual chain type Mexican food. They are passionate about cooking traditional regional dishes they learned from their parents and it shows. You get generous portions at modest prices and can also order to take out.

Gustav’s Pub and Grill - Portland Airport

My biggest pet peeve is not being able to sit down in a nice place, relax and enjoy some good food when traveling. When my flight stopped over in Portland I found and thoroughly enjoyed this Pub featuring German food. They have a nice bar with a good selection of hard liquor, wine and beer. You can sit at the bar or relax at a table and be waited on, which is quite nice after being crammed in a seat sized for a toddler and wedged between two line backers, well you know what I am talking about.

It is open fronted to afford the passer by to see what they have to offer, but the lighting is dimmed to allow you to relax and not remain wired. Now they are not a “restaurant” but a pub and offer pub food. Per it’s name, it’s classic German type offerings from soup to sandwiches. They offer Bavarian Bratwurst, Schnitzel, Munich Sausage, smoked Bier Sausage with Lentil soup and cheese bread.

Of course you can also opt for the usual French dip sandwich, classic bacon cheeseburger, grilled Reuben or smoked turkey sandwich. The early passenger can have a real breakfast of French toast, a Denver scramble, a lo carb breakfast or a Bavarian hunters plate, that comes with a plump chicken breast lightly grilled and topped with bacon and melted cheddar cheese and served with two eggs, German fried potatoes and toast. Sure beats McDonalds and the prices are modest the Hunter’s plate is only $9.99.

They have three salad offerings, a Caesar Salad, Waldorf chicken salad and the house salad with fresh greens, julienne beets and diced cucumber and choice of dressing including balsamic vinaigrette. When you order the sandwich offerings they include your choice of kettle chips, seasoned fries or a tomato cucumber salad. Now since I had a shorter than normal layover I did not want to stuff my self so I ordered light, the grilled chicken sandwich which is served on a toasted Kaiser roll with herb cream cheese, grilled onions, red and green peppers on a bed or red leaf lettuce.

Grilled to perfection the taste was succulent as it was not dried out but moist, the cream cheese added another depth of flavor and the aroma of the grilled onions mingled with the peppers to give that needed crunch and taste to complete the experience. I selected the seasoned fries which were cooked to a nice golden brown and served “hot”. A generous portion of chicken and fries enough for a large eater and more than enough for the smaller eater and even enough for an in flight snack since they also offer to go containers.

They have four locations, Portland (two locations), Clackamas and Vancouver, WA. Well worth looking for if your taste buds are looking for a wake up call.

Oliver's, Pocatello, Idaho

If you are a vegetarian, traveling with one or just would like the option of selection, then Oliver’s is the place for you. They were the forerunners of vegetarian food back in the 80’s and served up perhaps the first garden burger, of course made fresh.

The vegetarian lunch fare includes humus sandwich, a grilled eggplant parmesan sandwich, vegetarian chili, lentils and lentil stew. Dinner features spaghetti, a garden burger dinner, spinach cheese ravioli, steamed fresh vegetables, hot chili pasta or a homemade vegetarian lasagna.

They offer classic diner food, 36 sandwich choices along with15 hot sandwich combos. Dinner includes fried chicken, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, chicken strips, fish and chips and spaghetti; let’s not forget the pot roast, baron of beef or turkey. A complete breakfast menu and a few not so traditional offerings, Huevos rancheros, boneless trout and eggs, vegetarian Huevos and my personal favorite, hummus and harpers brand toast and eggs.

Several choices of salads from a classic house or a salmon supreme, chicken salad, or the famous Cobb and a nice fruit and veggie plate. They offer a diner selection of sodas, ice tea and coffee and even a vanilla or cherry coke or beer and wine. The dessert menu offers ice cream floats, ice cream, banana splits, cheese cake, pies, carrot cake to home made cookies and brownies.
A classic diner motif with booths and counter seating they also have a dining room for a more quite eating experience or for larger groups. Oliver’s offers catering for business lunches, seminars, picnics wedding receptions. They have a brown bag special for working person. This box lunch special includes a sandwich a choice of vegetable salad or fresh fruit, potato chips or hard egg, a fresh baked cookie or home made brownie or carrot cake. And they deliver.

The food is homemade quality and the emphasis is on freshness, they have been a corner stone in the community for decades. If you want truly good food, friendly service and good prices, then Oliver’s is your place. Come hungry leave your business card perhaps you can be the lucky winner of a free meal.