rick p.'s Profile

my family has a tendency to frequent some mediocre places. maybe it's the convenience factor, an unadventurous nature, or just being creatures of habit. or a combination of all of those. walt's happens to be one of those places we used to patronize. it was good over the years, then prices kept creeping up and i started to think.. hey, this is getting pretty expensive! fish entrees hover in the mid to high 20's now. the austere presentation of the dishes and the lackluster sides don't measure up to the prices demanded. the food tastes good, but when you start comparing what you get to other seafood restaurants in OC, it doesn't seem worthwhile. some things walt's does have going for it are the extensive wine list and wine flights, and the seasonal crab and melon salad (huge chunks of crabmeat with cucumber and cantaloupe in ponzu).

update:

sad, sad: http://www.chowho...

i spotted this place while walking over to tartine, and made it a point to stop by after lunch (even after downing an excellent lemon cream tart for dessert). boy was i glad i did. mister ice cream scooper guy was friendly, patient, and helpful. tasted the following:

chai spiced milk chocolate - heady cinnamon-cardamom hit, followed by creamy chocolate goodness.

malted vanilla rice crispy something or another - if you like a good malt shake, this is for you. the crunchy crispies are fine enough for those that like some texture, but don't prefer chunky ice cream. tasty.

salted caramel - deep layers of burnt sugar goodness, countered with a salt bite.

roasted banana - this was my last taste and ding ding ding.. we have a winner! beautiful, sweet goodness of real banana flavor, with a caramel body that reminds me a little of bananas foster sans rum.

ended up with a pricey (but totally worth it) 2 scooper of vanilla malt and roasted banana. at least for my 4 something dollar cone, the scoops were generous. the texture and creaminess is just plain amazing; luscious, chewy, dairy-fresh indulgence. i'm sure they do pump it up full with air, but damn it works. the most satisfying ice cream i've had in a long time, hands down. and the best part, the taste is so clean; no nasty, fatty film in your mouth afterwards.

my good friend took me here tonight after some unexpected change in plans prompted a late dinner. even at 9:30 there was still a 30 minute wait. not a problem though, just get dessert first across the street at bi-rite creamery =P ice cream cones in hand, we scan the chalkboard menu wall while waiting for our seats. we decide on the salumi plate, the fennel soup, and the amatriciana pizza. the salumi plate had a varied selection of 4-5 different cured meats, including some crostini topped with lardo and caperberries for garnish. not bad. the fennel soup with chili oil was a bit disappointing; its thick consistency reminded me too much of mushy eggplant.. bleh. the main course took a while to come out, but was definitely worth the wait. the amatriciana was a take on the traditional pasta dish made with tomatoes and guaciale (italian bacon made from pig jowls or cheeks). this pizza came topped with caramelized onions and pecorino. the rendered guanciale left a puddle of orange grease that isn't for the faint of heart (or anyone watching calories or cholesterol), but it was so damn good. the pig cheeks had a distinct flavor that just screams pork goodness. i know mr. bourdain would approve. one thing i love about delfina is the condiments for the pizza: freshly grated parmesan, dried oregano sprigs (which you crumble over your slice), and the roughly crushed chili flakes. the crust had nice structure and was tender and well flavored, though we both thought it could have benefited from another minute or two in the oven (i think this was just a little undercooking on our pizza; others i saw that night were nicely charred). great little neighborhood joint. again, i wish i had one of these in my parts.