Nino "The French Tickler" R.'s Profile

There are some instances where I wish I had never worked in the restaurant industry.  I think if I had never had that experience I wouldn't be so critical of chains.  

If you're not a beer drinker then you shouldn't go to Yard House.  I wouldn't come here just for the food or even the ambiance.  The outdoor patio is tiny, maybe 5 tables and they're two-tops so a large group or a regular group would dominate the area making navigation problematic.

The bartenders were cool as they should be.  This is a bar first and a restaurant second.  Always keep that in mind.  If you're looking for a gastronomical adventure, venture further north to LA.

Get with the program...

I know I kind of swore off this place when I submitted my initial review, but I was here again today with a lady friend.  We were both stuck at a lame meeting and decided that this was place to drown a bit of our sorrows.  We arrived at 4:30p, well in time for happy hour.  We sat at the bar and waited approximately 5 minutes for a bartender to arrive.  There were 8 other people sitting at the bar, so it was odd for no bartender to be there.

So finally the bartender shows up and we each order a Sam Adams Octoberfest.  Nice.  Mind you, this is my first beer since the first week of October--I'm a whiskey and scotch type of guy.  We also order the crab cake app along with the jamaican grilled wings.  The apps are half price during happy hour and the pints range from $3.50-$4.50.  I was surprised at how dead the bar was during our stay.

Today the service was off.  Bartenders seemed more intrigued with things in the back of the house as opposed to what was going on at the bar.  I had a good time regardless.  The conversation was cool and the company was cool as usual.

So why two stars?  The crab cakes were more filler than crab and the wings were room temp when they hit the table.  Also, the bartender needs to be more attentive during happy hour.  It's a great time to generate sales.  But oh well.  The bill came out to $36 w/ tip.  

Not again with this crap...

There was a time in my life where I could knock down 30 of these ewoks in one sitting.  I think I used to eat them with onion rings too, the large box.  Since I'm no longer on big willy status I can only reminisce of those days of yore.

The frozen version of this burger does not do it any kind of justice.  This is a burger best enjoyed after a six-pack of beer.  For optimum flavor, drink that six-pack in an hour or so.  An average person can easily knock four minis down along with a regular fry and a small/med soda.  I would not condone making this a daily or even a weekly meal, unless of course you're into that sort of thing.

I haven't made my yearly visit yet this year, but I'll be back east for Xmas.  I'm sure I'll pencil it into the schedule.

What you crave...

Of all the Alberto's in Riverside, this is, without a doubt, the worst of the lot.  I used to live a few blocks from here so a weekly trip here was normal.  I was never overly wowed with anything here but the pricing and convenience was hard to beat.  After many menu tastings, I came to the conclusion that the breakfast burritos were the best item to order.

I would recommend the ham, chorizo or bacon.  These burritos are good any time of day.  There is no drive-thru window at this location but there is plenty of seating outside.  Although, you'll probably have to bus your own table.  Depending on the time of day, it can get scary out there.  

If you own a working car and have the ability to buy gas for it, I suggest driving to the location on Jackson and Magnolia.  The food is much better there and there's also a drive-thru.

You got some splaining to do...

Ok, Tony's Mexican food is legit.  The pricing also legit.  The fact they only have one location--not so legit.  The fact that they only have one location stops this review from being a 4 star.  I've eaten here twice, and each time I've left satisfied.

The booths are a little small and seating is definitely limited.  If you come here for lunch, there's a good chance you'll have to eat in your car or standing outside.  The location isn't the safest, but if you come during daylight hours you should be fine.  I would suggest to keep to the schedule of the nearby Bank of America.  

I've ordered the taco combo and enchilada combo, both were great.  Soda doesn't come with the order but it's less than $2 for a small.  If you're a Pepsi fan you'll be happy.  Tony's definitely puts down the gauntlet but with only one location, Alberto's still reigns supreme.

So close, yet so far...

Don't let the "since 1949" bit fool you.  The original owners sold the place off years ago.  While the decor and menu remains the same, the quality does not.  Parking can be a problem during lunch; you'll probably have to pay for street parking if you can't secure a spot in the rear parking lot.

I was here for lunch with my old supervisor and she told me about how she used to eat here during high school.  "It was quite the spot," she said.  She admits a lot has changed not only with the restaurant but with the area in general.  The exterior is a little odd, you almost get the feeling that this place has been shut down.  The interior is very dark, even at 12pm and the booths are definitely retro.

The original owners passed away a decade or two ago and the business was run by one of the children for some time before it was finally sold.  The paintings on the wall were painted by the original owner.  My supervisor had fond memories of the place but she doesn't make it a point to eat here if she's not on jury duty, which I thought was hilarious.

I ordered the Rancheros Enchilada platter, which was served with beans and rice, as well as an over-easy egg on the top.  I'll admit, the runny egg was a nice touch and the food was good.  However, I can't say that it was better than anything offered at Alberto's.

The service was rushed.  When we arrived, we were sat at a dirty table.  The dishes were gone but the crumbs were still there.  It took about 3 minutes for someone to wipe the table down and offer us menus.  Our waitress seemed weeded, so much so she forgot to give us silverware when she dropped our order off.  The salsa was good, both chunky and watery.  The salsa verde was so-so.  The waitress left 1 pint containers of each on the table, which was convenient.

I probably wouldn't eat here again, but it was a neat experience, especially with a brief history lesson from my dining partner.

No way jose...

The satellite site is very convenient as it saves you from a 40 minute drive to Riverside.  This location provides LiveScan services with an appointment.  Head Start and Cal-Safe services are offered here as well.  

On Tuesdays, the Centralized Registration Team is here to register high school students for the Temecula Community School, Cal-Safe and the Comeback Kids program between 1pm - 3pm.

I also know everyone that works here...

I was missing a clipper attachment so I took a jaunt over to Sally's to see if it was in stock.  Luckily it was, but I don't remember paying $6 for it the first time.  This economy is going to kill me before it gets better.  So I pick up the attachment but I browse around to see if there's anything else that I may need.  

For some reason mirrors were on sale.  I needed a larger one so I picked the one that was less than $4.  I took a walk up the aisle with all the styling products and didn't see anything interesting.  The cashier was nice, kinda cute and knowledgeable.  She was helping another customer with a hair color issue.  I took a look at the customer and she needed major help.

So I got on my merry and left them to their devices.  I kept the total under $10 so I was relieved.

You may need more than a trim, shorty...

Ok, I know 4 stars for me means that this place is a phenom.  So let me share the experience.

I took a gander on Vet's day to see if there was anything worth my time here.  I look in the men's dress shirt disaster area and start the excavation process.  I find several Ike Behar's in my size and in colors that I don't have.  The price...$18.  Yeah, you read it right $18.  Apparently they were tagged as "past season" items, but how is black, white and gray past season?  It's probably the finish, but a Behar dress shirt that normally retails for $125 selling at $18 isn't a steal.  It's 3-Mile Island.   Now the meltdown ensues.

2 minutes in the pile I find something that says "D & G".  I'm thinking, "nah, no way, not here."  I pull out the shirt, it's Dolce, albeit a tuxedo shirt but its still Dolce.  The price...$28.  It also has a "past season" sticker on it.  I grab it, even though the neck is a half size too small.  No matter, I'll probably rock this with a blazer and jeans anyway.  

The last item is a black on black pinstripe Hugo Boss dress shirt.  It is quite nice.  It will go well with a lot of everything I have.  The price...$18.  WTF!!!  There is a guy next to me who picked up a Dockers shirt for $22.  WTFx2!!!!  Fella, there's Boss and Behar in this pile.  Morons!  

3 legit designer dress shirts for under $70.  I was mystified.  Please if you're reading this and you're a guy who knows how and likes to shop, don't go here.  This is my store now.

It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at...

Good-sized patio here.  There seems to be a designated smoking and non-smoking section, which I find hilarious because it's outdoors.  Although I think the section is created by customers as opposed to Starbucks mgmt/staff.

The staff here are pretty consistent with their drinks.  There are plenty of places to plug in here.  No couches or comfy chairs here though.  It's all butt-bending wood here.  There isn't a drive-thru at this location, you'll have to go further down the 79 towards Pechanga.  

If you want a more secluded Starbucks, visit the store on Meadows Pkwy and Rancho Calif.  

The best thing about this Starbucks is that they close the latest - 10pm.  How lame is that?  Ever hear of a 24-Hour Starbucks?  I have.  It's in Englewood, NJ.  Get with the program SoCal!

It's time to grow up...