Candle Cafe & Grill - Venice

Candle Cafe and Grill
325 Ocean Front Walk
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 314-4456
Type: American food / casual
Map



Can't really say much about this place. It's located on the Venice boardwalk. You know: street performers, 5 dollar sunglasses, t-shirts with ironic quotes, bongs, pipes, vaporizers, Muscle Beach, basketball courts where they taped "White Men Can't Jump," and dudes rollerblading in Speedos. That boardwalk.

So Candle Cafe was just a spot for us to get a quick bite to eat, have some beers, and take in the scenery. We sat outside cuz it's the beach and I'm semi claustrophobic. Kind of.



We didn't exactly get front row seats to the boardwalk. We were on the side, but it was cool so you could just hang out in the cut and spy on the people walking by without them noticing you. So we ordered their calamari ($8.95) and a pitcher of Kona Longboard beer ($19.50). The calamari was whatevers to me. Too thick and chewy for my taste. Flavor was somewhere - not on the plate though. Maybe it put on some speedos and went rollerblading real quick.



The Kona Longboard beer was not that great-tasting either. I've tried many a beer and I could say I wouldn't order this again if I had the choice. If I had to rank New Castle, Corona, Hefeweizen, and Kona Longboard, I would put it last out of those 4. It's not super nasty though. I'd pick it over Budweiser and Bud Light, or any other light beer. I used to love Bud Light. Shooot... I used to like Mike's Hard Lemonade and Smirnoff Ice!!!! Shut up.



I didn't try anything of substance in the menu, but from how the calamari was, I'm not really interested in trying. There's a handful of other boardwalk spots like this and I'll give them a chance before I come back here. But I'm assuming most of the other places are like Candle Cafe. You mainly come to hang out and enjoy the classic Venice vibe. That's cool with me. Get buzzed and rent some rollerblades.... don't worry bout what I'm gonna wear!

The Clubhouse - Costa Mesa

The Clubhouse
3333 Bristol St # 2802
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 708-2582
Type: American food / dining
Website
Map

.......must ..........post .............review ...................ughhhh .......



Back up on the horse with the first review of the year. Man. We went to this place probably in May or June. So I'm about 6 or 7 months behind with maybe 80 restaurants to still post up. Unless I get laid off or quit my job, the postings won't be coming along faster than I visit new places. Sometimes, I just go to old restaurants and order the same stuff just so I don't have to jot it down in my handy notes application on my phone. Sounds like I hate doing this, huh? Actually I love doing it, but it's a lot easier when you got nothing else to do-- which isn't the situation right now.

Anyways..... The Clubhouse. Costa Mesa. South Coast Plaza. Louis V. Bimmers. Yuppies. The End.

I went here and met up with my lady after a half day of work. She suggested The Clubhouse and I should've picked something cheaper cuz I was a little sick and my tastebuds weren't dead on (but when are they ever?). But here we were. In a fancy sportsbar where all the business guys go to ink deals and talk about how T.J., the CEO's assistant is rumored to be messing with the CPA from JDPA and he might have an STD. I don't know, but you didn't hear it from me.



On The Clubhouse's website, they describe the place as a stylish country club environment. Never been to one, so that's how the place looked inside. There were tv's everywhere playing sports channels and we got seated at a round table fit for about 8. The place wasn't dead, but it's pretty big so there's room for everybody. Plus, it might've been after the lunch rush.

This place is a little pricey, but then again it is a stylish country club environment. For appetizers we got the Flaming Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($12). See.... I told you it was pricey.



I think when it arrived it was flaming on top. I forgot. The dip was good. Not too salty nor too bland. Just right. Some might say it was worth the twelve bucks. I say it is if I'm loaded.

flaming spinach & artichoke dip minus the flaming part


My girlfriend got the Salmon Salad. I don't remember the cost. Maybe $15, but it was one of the best salads I've tasted. (I haven't tasted many salads so my credibility in this department is laughable) I just remember the salmon was a little raw or lightly seared. I'm assuming they used sashimi grade fish for it cuz it was bomb. The combination of the sauce they used on it and the fish and salad was pretty impressive for a salad hater liker myself. If I had the money, I would get that everytime along with my main dish.

the salad that wowed me


After the amazing salad, my order came. I got the Tilapia ($15). Since I wasn't feeling in top-top shape, I didn't write too much in my notes and put "tilapia was good. fish was light." Yup. LA Times here I come! No, but I remember liking it with the creamy sauce and the rice and that green stuff in the back. If you like fish you probably won't be too disappointed.





Oh yeah, there was free bread in the beginning too!


I want to thank my girlfriend cuz she paid and it was our 2 year anniversary this year. Happy Anniversary, honey! She's the one behind the scenes of this blog doing many of the better describing that should soon come in time. Clubhouse was a good place if you got a little dough. The food is pretty good (atleast the ones we tried) and you can walk it off after by shopping. Oh wait, you might not have any money left after.

Nation's - Daly City

Nation's Giant Hamburgers
201 Westlake Center
Daly City, CA 94015
(650) 755-8880
Type: American food / hamburgers
Website
Map

Took a recent trip to Nor Cal just to hang out with family. Normally I would go out of my way to get some more exotic food, but it was later at night and we were already tired. Nation's was conveniently located just a few minutes from where I was staying, and it was one of the other places that were open 24 hours other than Denny's and the other regulars.

Nation's has over 20 locations in Northern California. I don't think they have any down here, but that's okay. I'm not saying it's a bad place. I got the salmon burger and it was okay, but there was nothing special about it. I would say the best thing about this place is that it's 24 hours.