Josh B.'s Profile

If there's a better cheesesteak to be eaten in San Jose, I don't know about it. The Cheese Steak Shop specializes in one thing and they do it right. The downtown location is perfect for late-night munchies after a long night of debauchery.

The staff here are really cool and friendly; I once received a free basket of fries because my order got mixed up and took a little longer to be prepared - and I didn't even have to complain first. I love proactive customer service.

There is usually some sort of special deal of the day, so keep your eyes peeled if you want to save yourself a few bucks.

A classy place to take your business client out to lunch or celebrate a special occasion with family.

Reserve a table in the outdoor patio and soak up the ambience of Riverside's most famous landmark. You see, the City of Riverside hasn't always done a superb job of preserving its historic buildings. Mission Inn is one of those rare artifacts from the city's early days, before the reign of the real estate developers. The rustic Spanish style architecture and old growth plant life are an oasis to the eyes after crossing the vast suburban sprawl to reach this place.

I've been a guest at the restaurant several times over the years, always in a large group. The service is usually good and the food is decent - the buffet isn't quite fine dining status, so kick back and enjoy the vibe. Appreciate the simple things, like perfectly brewed iced tea and the relaxing scent of blooming flowers.

Embrace your inner "bro"! If there's a part of you that loves speed, thrills, and the smell of gasoline, then you owe yourself the experience of ATV riding at Oceano Dunes.

The dunes are an incredible slice of California's natural terrain, where you can drive your truck down the beach and ride your toys over the massive sand dunes. Then, camp out on the beach and roast marshmallows over a campfire. Glass bottles aren't allowed so bring plastic cups if you have bottled drinks with you.

You'll have a great time here if you know what to expect and come prepared. Other reviews and websites contain a lot of good advice, but here are a few crucial items that I think will help your cause:

1. 4WD vehicle with high clearance
2. Camping gear and clothing that can handle wind gusts and moisture
3. Basic off-road safety knowledge
4. High tolerance for noise, drunks, and invincible teenagers
5. Health insurance

Don't forget to pick up your trash! Or if you wanna go TOTALLY EXTREME, then pick up other people's litter too.

Overpriced and overrated.

The only cool thing about my Five Guys experience was creating my own custom burger from the giant list of toppings. The burger looked like it could have come from my backyard barbecue (Costco buns), which may have raised my expectations a bit. Unfortunately the patty had so little flavor that I briefly wondered if they cut their meat with sawdust or something. They use American cheese - the most pointless cheese ever invented. It was up to the condiments and french fries to make up for my thoroughly disappointing trip to Five Guys.

I'm no barbecue connoisseur but I can tell if a BBQ joint has a clue. Armadillo Willy's is, in a word, acceptable. The meat from the smoker is tender and tasty, if a little on the dry side. I'm basing my opinion on my two recent visits where I ordered a sliced brisket sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich. Both sandwiches could have used more sauce.

If you're a fiend for french fries then don't get your hopes up. The soggy fries served here are an abomination - get the tots if you need your fried potato fix. Or pick something else from the extensive menu of sides (and equally extensive variety of dipping sauces).

One thing I dig about the dining area is the large open window to the kitchen, where you can see the cooks preparing your meal. I'd describe the restaurant decoration as kitsch Americana - the boring mass-produced kind, not the cool and quirky kind. What do you expect? It's a chain restaurant in Silicon Valley, so the tamer the better!

In suburban San Jose, not very many restaurants stay open past 9PM. Your food selection consists of six different brands of greasy/salty/sweet food products or a handful of small Asian restaurants. Wasabi happens to be open until 10PM, so they're basically competing against mystery meat during the 9-10:00 window.

The selection here is pretty good for Asian fast-food: lots of different rice bowls and noodles, plus a few sushi and appetizer items. Did I mention it's open until 10PM? The beef and chicken are pretty satisfying but overall the food won't make you want to write in your diary about it. Unless of course you're starving at 9:30 on a weeknight.

Once, I tried the curry bowl. The owner was very generous in offering me extra curry, but I should've known right then that something was up. The curry was boring and bland but it was in liquid form, which allowed me to consume it in the absence of my own naturally produced saliva. Another time, I tried the beef udon. The beef and soup base were good eatin', but the noodles were a little too soggy. I blame Mexican cooks, derp!!!

Somewhere between the convenience of a supermarket and the freshness of a farmer's market lies Real Produce - the strip mall produce market. They have a respectable selection of local fruits and vegetables even though the shop is fairly small. Off-season periods aren't as bountiful, but I believe they sell imported produce to fill the gaps. Keeping in mind that it's located in an Almaden Valley strip mall, the price and quality are good but the fruit and veggies tend to be very ripe so I don't buy in bulk.

They say small chips in your windshield can turn into large cracks if you don't repair them. I decided to test this theory for myself, in the name of science. OK, perhaps neglect was a factor too. I've concluded that the theory is correct.

I arrived at Silicon Valley Auto Glass & Window Tinting with a windshield crack that went all the way to the edge of the glass, so it needed to be replaced. Beforehand, I researched the average cost to replace my vehicle's windshield so I knew what to expect. The quote was slightly higher than I had hoped, but I'm willing to pay a little more for good workmanship. I know somebody who was very satisfied with SVAGWT's window tinting service, so I decided not to go hunting for a bargain.

The replacement windshield was in stock so I didn't have to wait for the part to be delivered. The job was completed in a matter of hours with no problems. The electronics in the rear-view mirror all worked correctly. Several months later, my windshield is still as good as new. I've driven through the rain, snow, and heat without any issues. These guys do great work.

Almaden Quicksilver Park offers some of the best hiking trails in San Jose. The climb in elevation will get your heart pumping as you overlook the beautiful (and increasingly smoggy) Santa Clara Valley. Springtime is especially spectacular when the wildflowers are in full bloom. The wildlife is abundant, so you may run into deer, wild turkey, quail, and rattlesnakes. Dogs are allowed, but be sure to check them for ticks if they can't resist tromping through the grass like a certain dumb dog I know. This is a great park for locals but not as breathtaking as coastal California or the Sierras.

The park is named after the old quicksilver (mercury) mine that was built here generations ago. Several dilapidated buildings from that era still stand, providing a unique glimpse into the region's history. If you aren't afraid of the dark, you can walk a short distance into the San Cristobal Mine entrance. I recommend learning a little bit about the park's history to enrich the experience of hiking and mountain bike riding here.

This park also serves as an important reminder of the mining industry's environmental impacts. The water here is contaminated with mercury and unsafe to drink, so be sure to bring drinking water for yourself and your dogs. The mine shafts have been filled and closed in order to prevent further mercury pollution. I'm not too worried about mercury poisoning, but I try to avoid dusty days since I come here regularly.

Thanks to you taxpayers, the parking is free and there is no park usage fee. The Park Rangers on patrol are pleasant and helpful.

Tip: For steep hiking trails in the shade, try Deep Gulch (Hacienda entrance) or Hacienda (Mockingbird Hill entrance). Happy trails!

Stanley's earns cool points for being a hockey-themed sports bar inside Sharks Ice. It's a fun place for watching Sharks games with the home crowd, and about as family-friendly as you can get for a sports bar. The food is bearable after a few pitchers. Lord Stanley is not generally known for having a sophisticated palette.