22nd Street Landing Seafood Grill & Bar

I really enjoyed my visit to 22nd Street Landing Seafood Grill & Bar recently! We stayed the night in San Pedro before catching the boat in the morning to Two Harbors in Catalina. I wanted to have a nice dinner right on the water and this place was the perfect setting. Upon entering I was immediately struck by the vibe and ambience. Very much old school east coast style seafood house with very comfortable seating and an open kitchen. We were there well after darkness fell so it wasn’t much of a view but that’s ok. You could still sense that you were on the marina with all the boats and whatnot.

I started with an appetizer order of steamed clams & mussels. One pound of seafood they claim and I believe it! Such a generous portion in a huge bowl of a rich, steaming, flavorful broth. If you order this, I recommend chewing very slowly and carefully. I ran into a couple shell pieces that could have done a number on my teeth if I wasn’t careful. Main courses here are thoughtfully served with a selection of soups or salads. I had the Caesar and it was outstanding. Liberally dressed and ample parmesan, just how I like them. I had the grilled halibut which was unfortunately quite overcooked and somewhat tough. Looked like a chicken breast on my plate LOL. I probably wouldn’t order the halibut again but I’d definitely come back to this fine establishment.

Villa Capri Trattoria & Wine Bar

Outstanding Cannelloni at Villa Capri in Poway!

Tony Pepperoni Pizzeria

Excellent Detroit Cheesesteak at Tony Pepperoni in Carmel Mountain Ranch!

The Kebab Shop

Outstanding “The Box” with carved chicken at TKS in Rancho Bernardo. I chose saffron rice as my base choice; comes with garlic yogurt, greens, tomato, cucumber and pickled red onions plus your desired protein. I also added on feta cheese which rounded out this healthy meal perfectly.

Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant

I finally got in to check out Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant in Del Sur near my office. This is a relatively new Mexican restaurant in the area; an addition to their OG location in Kensington, in business since 1969. The Del Sur location is spacious and clean with a modern, casual vibe, although steeped in rich history and tradition. The staff were all so nice and genuine. I was immediately impressed by their generous and affordable Happy Hour! 12-5pm daily (Tue-Sun). You can get 3 street tacos and a margarita for only $11. I cannot think of any place else where HH starts at noon! 

Anyway, I ordered the Enchiladas Suizas and it was excellent. Two shredded chicken enchiladas with a tomatillo cream sauce and manchego cheese; comes with rice & beans. The enchiladas were filled with a ton of tender, flavorful chicken. Loved the subtle, bright flavor of the verde sauce. The style of cooking and the recipes here are definitely comforting and authentic. I particularly enjoy their chips & salsa service. I’m really glad they were able to make it through the pandemic situation over the last couple years. It’s obvious this small business is committed to community and serving its customers. Highly recommended.

Elmisa Cafe

Outstanding “Allen’s Tuna” at Elmisa Cafe in Rancho Bernardo! Albacore tuna salad, avocado, Swiss, organic arugula, spinach, tomato, pickled onions on jalapeño cheddar bread. There’s a lot going on with this sandwich. Such a great combination of contrasting textures and flavors.

Round Table Pizza

RTP has always been my favorite chain store pizza. Even since childhood back in the day. Always consistently excellent pies. Many of their dine in restaurants now feature great lunch specials with salad bars and whatnot.

Casa Machado Mexican Restaurant

Outstanding #10 enchilada and tamal combination plate at Casa Machado!

Waterman’s Harbor

Exquisite “Waterman’s Cioppino” at Waterman’s Harbor in Dana Point! Sadly, this remarkable restaurant closed permanently on June 1.

Blue Bayou

The quintessential Disneyland dining experience is most definitely the Blue Bayou! This restaurant is steeped in rich history and tradition. If you’re frustrated trying to make reservations in advance, don’t be. They handle walk-ups well, especially between lunch and dinner. My party of 3 was sat immediately around 2:45 in the afternoon. The park itself was completely packed with wall to wall people, but that’s a topic for another write-up.

I ordered one of my favorite dishes, Jambalaya. The version here is an artfully presented deconstructed affair. The shrimps, andouille sausage and chicken all encircle a mound of rice in a rich, zesty creole sauce. I was also pleased to see them offering adult beverages. This is quite rare at the ‘Land. I enjoyed a nice IPA and glass of wine. It helps take the edge off when you see the final bill.