Bandera steakhouse
3201 E. Pacific Coast Hwy Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
949-673-3524
View their menu and prices:
http://www.hillstone.com/pdf_menus/bandera/Bandera_Corona_Del_Mar.pdf
Service:
The service is always prompt. I wouldn't say it's special, but it is good. I haven't had any special request to challenge the servers, so the normal bringing of water and food is all I have to go on.
Atmosphere:
The place has a dark romantic feel perfect for dates. The dress code would be upscale casual. Bandera has a simple steakhouse menu with nothing pretentious. Prices range from a $15 Cheeseburger to a $32 steak. The place has a VERY high end crowd. They go to Bandera to relax with a martini without having to tuck in their shirts or put on a tie....but that doesn't mean shorts and a t-shirt either. Grab the six hundred dollar jeans and the freshly pressed dress shirt (but roll up the sleeves).
Food:
Favorite Appetizer - FIRE ROASTED ARTICHOKE!!!! Wow!!! This is unlike ANY OTHER artichoke you've had. I can't describe how good and unlike other artichoke it is.
Favorite Salad - Bandera's Caesar salad has cornbread croûtons with a touch of honey. The cornbread texture and the slight sweetness from the honey compliments the traditional Caesar dressing perfectly.
Favorite Entree - Prime Rib is AWESOME. I have had several other dishes, but the prime rib is the best. It has a simple seasoning that works with the natural favors of the prime cut to make a taste sensation you'll crave again and again.
I DO NOT recommend the rib eye steak. Rib-eye is normally my favorite steak, but they do it with a sweetness. I like a sweetness with an apricot chicken or cranberries with my turkey...but with steak I want savory. I like my rib-eye blackened or with just salt and pepper. Their balsamic dressing adds a sweetness that doesn't satisfy that steak flavor I crave when wanting steak.
Favorite Dessert - Banana Cream Pie (LOL...not your average banana cream pie) Who would think you could go gourmet with something as simple as this pie, but they did. The gram crcker crust is less gram cracker and more nuts. The nutty crust adds the all important texture and flavor for the base of this pie. The banana cream is smooth with great flavor that is kicked WAY up with the fresh whipped cream, sliced banana'a and shaved bittersweet chocolate. Add the nutty crust, banana cream, fresh whipped cream, sliced banana's and the chocolate..>YUMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
Bandera also get extra points for making their own sweet and sour drink mix. This top quality mixer means even well drinks taste top shelf. Try a their Long Island.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Tommy Bahama's
Tommy Bahama Tropical Cafe
824 Avocado Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949)760-8686
View Their Menu and Prices
http://www.tommybahama.com/media/TB001/images/static/pdf/menus/Newport_AllDay.pdf
Service:
Tommy Bahama's has got to be one of my top picks. They have GREAT service. I don't mean you get your food on time and the servers are polite and competent...I mean they ARE GREAT. Lets say you have a special and aren't sure if you'll find a restaurant that will accommodate this special request....TOMMY Bahama's will be your savior. I had a going away party and I love scotch. My friends had bought me a 30 yr scotch and though most restaurants will let you bring a bottle of wine (and charge a corkage fee), they won't let you bring a bottle of hard booze. Tommy Bahama's saved my going away party. They graciously allowed my friends and I to bring the bottle and stay past closing. The server never hovered for the check or even mentioned they were closing. They are GREAT!!!
Last Mother's I forgot to get a reservation. Do any of you know how hard it is to get into a restaurant on Mother's day with a reservation THE DAY BEFORE???? It doesn't happen, unless you got to Tommy Bahama's.
The point is they don't have good service. They have old fashioned customer is always right service. You can get great food almost anywhere in the OC, but only at Tommy Bahama's can you get the attention you deserve.
Tommy's recently closed and underwent a re-fit. The place still has the same great service. I suggest going and having a martini list. Tell the server to start at the top of the list and work down. I don't do this all the time, but when I do...WOW. I finish one glass and before the empty glass hits the table.....the next martini is put in front of me. SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE!!!
Atmosphere:
The place used to have a light open Caribbean feel, not anymore. They have gone for a more updated, darker, more stylish interior. I suggest sitting on the patio near the waterfall.
Food:
Favorite appetizer: Sliders - Grilled scallops on a roll with a leaf of basil, Roma tomato, chipotle sauce. Sometimes I'll order 3 of them as my entree.
Favorite soup: Crab bisque - smooth creamy...that's all crab bisque. This crab bisque ha s just the right amount of sherry to balance with the crab and cut the richness of the creamy soup. It is a delicate flavor that finishes well on the palate.
Favorite Entree: Tahitian Tuna - This is a seared rare sashimi grade Ahi tuna. I understand people reaction to rare meat. Ahi has to be served rare. In this state it has a butter, smooth texture that has NO fishy taste. It is more like a fine filet mignon....buttery.
Enjoy!!!!
824 Avocado Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949)760-8686
View Their Menu and Prices
http://www.tommybahama.com/media/TB001/images/static/pdf/menus/Newport_AllDay.pdf
Service:
Tommy Bahama's has got to be one of my top picks. They have GREAT service. I don't mean you get your food on time and the servers are polite and competent...I mean they ARE GREAT. Lets say you have a special and aren't sure if you'll find a restaurant that will accommodate this special request....TOMMY Bahama's will be your savior. I had a going away party and I love scotch. My friends had bought me a 30 yr scotch and though most restaurants will let you bring a bottle of wine (and charge a corkage fee), they won't let you bring a bottle of hard booze. Tommy Bahama's saved my going away party. They graciously allowed my friends and I to bring the bottle and stay past closing. The server never hovered for the check or even mentioned they were closing. They are GREAT!!!
Last Mother's I forgot to get a reservation. Do any of you know how hard it is to get into a restaurant on Mother's day with a reservation THE DAY BEFORE???? It doesn't happen, unless you got to Tommy Bahama's.
The point is they don't have good service. They have old fashioned customer is always right service. You can get great food almost anywhere in the OC, but only at Tommy Bahama's can you get the attention you deserve.
Tommy's recently closed and underwent a re-fit. The place still has the same great service. I suggest going and having a martini list. Tell the server to start at the top of the list and work down. I don't do this all the time, but when I do...WOW. I finish one glass and before the empty glass hits the table.....the next martini is put in front of me. SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE!!!
Atmosphere:
The place used to have a light open Caribbean feel, not anymore. They have gone for a more updated, darker, more stylish interior. I suggest sitting on the patio near the waterfall.
Food:
Favorite appetizer: Sliders - Grilled scallops on a roll with a leaf of basil, Roma tomato, chipotle sauce. Sometimes I'll order 3 of them as my entree.
Favorite soup: Crab bisque - smooth creamy...that's all crab bisque. This crab bisque ha s just the right amount of sherry to balance with the crab and cut the richness of the creamy soup. It is a delicate flavor that finishes well on the palate.
Favorite Entree: Tahitian Tuna - This is a seared rare sashimi grade Ahi tuna. I understand people reaction to rare meat. Ahi has to be served rare. In this state it has a butter, smooth texture that has NO fishy taste. It is more like a fine filet mignon....buttery.
Enjoy!!!!
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