Jay "jdisco and the PARTY RAWR CREW" D.'s Profile

El Gordo.  Yes, this place brings the childhood fat kid out of me with each step.  Zip. Zip.  I can still hear the zip from between my thighs because of my corduroy jeans.  Zip. Zip.  All eyes on me.  Call me Tupac.  Zip zip.  

My inner fat kid studied the counter.  Different order stations along a single counter to get your taco.  The adobada station is to the far right.  What is adobada? Adobada means meat slices "marinated" with a combination of spices, chiles and vinegar.  The marinated slices of meat stacked on a vertical spit are cooked like a spinning gyro with a pineapple that caps the top like crown dropping its juices over the meat. May I have several slices for my taco orders please?  Did I really need to eat 6 adobada tacos, three (3) pork and beef each? Yes.

Make sure you request a side order of the grilled green onions and peppers.  Make sure to get some radish too to help clean your palate. Make sure to tip.  Tipping can be good karma.  

With my tray, I zip over and pay up front at a separate station which can be confusing since after getting your food, you're easily swayed to walk to a table and let the inner fat kid do his job.  Zip Zip. Nom Nom.

El Gordo is easy to find as it's only a block or two just east of the I-5 and like some reviews, it totally is reminiscent of a burger joint, but hey, we're talking tacos from Tijuana with neither mission bells nor chihuahuas nor trendy black tacos in sight

I do admit to being surprised at paying about $13.50 for my meal (and drink) as each taco is about $1.75.  But, you do get what you pay for and I enjoyed my meal totalmente.

A friend challenged me to use liver and cheese in the same sentence.  I grab my taco and say "Liver alone. Cheese mine."  I take a bite.  Like my corduroys, I felt groovy.

I didn't wear a raspberry beret, the kind you find at a second hand store, but I did show up dressed in pink as Blossom, the Powerpuff Girl!  Awkward.  Despite some of the favorable comments from the gals, I felt like Bill Cosby as Blossom really.  

In that time, how is it that I showed up and not recognize most? Frakkin costumes!  After looking at some of the pictures and reviews, really? You were there? How did I miss that person?   That person wasn't even in costume!  My eyes must've been blinded by the paparazzi and I think I have cataracts from all the camera flashes.

The Porter fueled my party endeavors smoothly and having a few bucks to tip the staff always catalyzes the events to greater good times.

Thanks Danny for the good times and again, my +1 and I managed to squeeze all the lifeblood we can like Vampires since we showed up an hour late and then push the end of the party past 9pm when it really ended at 8pm. HA!

Ps.  Shayne is REAL! w000000T! :P

Let's face it, San Marcos Boulevard needs a facelift with landscaping and making it more visually interesting.  Although San Marcos is making some efforts to improve its commercial corridor, lost among the dated strip malls is a colorful, red, black and white sign - AMF Eagle Bowl, a bowling alley.  Are you crazy?!

If not for the sign, you'd totally miss the bowling alley located behind a tall two-story office building.  AMF isn't just any bowling alley.  Clean carpets.  It's up-to-date with all the latest bowling technology.  Gone are the clunky centerpiece consoles with keyboards for managing your bowling lane but slim keyboards that look like Wii drum pads.  Gone are the CRT-looking monitors above your lane, but that you can choose your scoreboard's theme among various choices from standard to "Prehistoric!"   Fred Flintstone, watch out.  Fred may not have had any shoes, but sometimes bowling alley shoes are ratty, or over/undersized.  I actually got the right sized shoes and they were oxy-cleaned by Billy Mays himself!

Further, finding "your" bowling ball isn't a problem. All the ball sizes are racked accordingly and by color. That's what she said?

Something happens and I'm head over heels.  I didn't even have to liquor up for it!  Pitchers are standard at $15 each (more or less) and have a center piece within it (filled from the bottom by the bartend with ice) to keep your beer cold.  This gives the appearance that you lose about a pint of beer for each pitcher but the pitcher is actually taller that makes up for the difference.  Nice.

Standard bowling alley food might be the same, but there's a menu at each lane.  Each food item on the menu lists carries a caloric line item! Bowling alleys gone calorie conscious are crazy?! Knowing this info is handy when you really shouldn't be downing that platter of buffalo wings, nachos, mozzarella sticks and egg rolls worth about 1,200 calories.   Never mind. I did.  Well, I shared it.

Even for a Thursday night, this place was busy with a league night, and it's easy to see that a nice facility attracts a busy crowd.  This is not to say that bowling is the centerpiece of culture in San Marcos, but I used to think twice about bowling as a gutter sport. AMF has now made me realize bowling might be a sport right up my alley.

What you see outside is on that corner is that - Ritual is small and cozy with an appeal of old world traditions where dark, thick and solid woods and shades prevail over new world shine, modern metals and colors.  

If you have a party of friends, going to Ritual won't accommodate your needs easily.  Small groups of four (4) are better served at this restaurant.  I'm sure more can be accommodated, but you should work with that staff - in all fairness.  The staff was very accommodating and attentive making note that it really doesn't matter where you sit.  They'll find you and they were certain of it.  We sat outside since it was available versus waiting for a table inside.  At this time of the year, sitting outside in the mild Fall chill on the patio can be challenging for some, but it's easy to see that it can be a nice summertime venue with a view of the street corner of Polk and 30th.  

Of the beer and dinner menu, I had the Fullers London Porter with the Fish and Chips for dinner.  The fish being a lightly battered catfish (which I think is mostly looked aside because of its infamous reputation for being a bottom dweller) but it is tasty with house cut/shoestring-like fries.   Having a porter with fish and chips is very old world with a new world twist of catfish instead of cod, haddock, or flounder.

The onion rings as a side for us to share weren't overbearing since the onions weren't drowned in batter.  While gumbo is an American invention, Ritual's gumbo (Chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage and wild rice) for the galpal was far better than I expected but a smaller portion than I had anticipated.  

If I lived closer, I'd make it a ritual to visit this tavern more often.

The ritual of recovering from Friday and Saturday takes place on Sunday.  An elixir of nutrients and hydration is key.  While some put their faith in menudo, I wrap myself up in a blanket of pho.  

Don't let the storefront façade fool you.  Upon entry, the inside is not you would normally expect from a regular, simple, Spartan, white-walled pho joint.  Just inside the entry, you see a little framed entry that you cross under via a small bridge over water fed from a fountain. I'm not joking.  Tinkle. Tinkle.  

We sat in a booth with perfect line of sight of one of the two (2) flat screens on the wall for NFL Sunday action.  The high-backed chairs, glass topped, white linen tables filled the center of the room among the overall shades of brown and green.  I can still hear that fountain.  Ladies should love the clean bathrooms and the dark wood-framed stalls.  

Noodles and pho garnishes aside, the pho broth was flavorful and excellent.  The Vietnamese coffee (and condensed milk) was strong but not overpowering.   The spring rolls were also the most tightly-wrapped I have ever had.  Surprise, they bring you cream puffs for dessert too!

Although fairly new from their opening this past summer, you can tell there were a number of regulars here already.  Sure the staff has matching polo shirts with logos like other pho restaurants, but their friendly service won points with attention made to filling water glasses.  Speed is one thing but can make one feel rushed as part of a cattle call.  We leisurely chatted and actually felt like we were in a bonafide restaurant among Sunday lunch conversations among a mixed crowd without feeling rushed.   I might even go so far to say this is one of the better pho places overall and yes, it's in Oceanside.  They rival my fave pho restaurant.

This restaurant is called "I Love Pho." This is a matter of fact.  Beyonce said "If you like it, you should put a ring on it."  I'll be back.

If you were ever curious what it might be like to consume a forearm, a sub sandwich from this place should suffice.

Many who travel Coast Highway 101 daily should be very familiar with Sub Palace.  Sub Palace is a Leucadia icon in a nondescript, light blue building with a teal awning and a simple sign.   You can't miss it.

Like everytime, I've walked in, I smell sandwiches.   I stroll in here occasionally for that $8.50 sub that's the length and circumference of your forearm and will feed you for a whole day, or an oompa loompa family of six (6).    The pastrami is standard and what's interesting is the garnish which is served in a chopped/shredded style.  It's family owned and really nice.    Check out the picture I included.

It's CASH ONLY.  Sure, it's an incovenience, but hey, it's a local shop, that serves local sandos by a local family that like their sandwiches they have big smiles and even longer legacy in town.

Oh, Small Bar, Hamilton's little brother. For you, SB - you too - shall have a small/short review.

Early bird gets the worm and I showed up before 6p which was busy, but not hoppin (beer pun) yet.. I grabbed a table with friends to have a bite. I did learn this as the bar filled up later in the night, if you plan to drink, use one of the barrels or stand. If you plan to eat, make sure you show up early and grab a table. I enjoyed the Hamilton's Burger (1/3 pound), but while the menu said shoe string fries, I got fat fries aka pub chips.  

Overall, good times with a good beer selection with beers averaging about 5-6% and priced about $5-$6 each. I was excited at the 12% Speedway Stout at $6.

Like Hamilton's, where space is a premium filled with friends bantering over beer, SB literally takes that same concept of a great beer menu and bantering friends in a smaller venue. Literally.

While it's not necessarily exotic since we've been introduced to it in many other ways - generally being gyros (Greek), shawarma (Arabic), and what these guys offer - doner (Turkish), the doner is that familiar spinning rotisserie spit of lamb meat goodness (sometimes another meat) that spins vertically, sliced off to order and served in various ways.  

KS offers the same menu as their downtown location with shish kebab plates, dishes with saffron rice, salads, and their delicious french fries, which are shoe-string, but not stringy, with a crisp exterior and a softer interior without managing to be crunchy like a potato chip.  

I first tried their original location downtown years ago, and learning about their second location brought a huge smile to my belly.  I was starving after having a decent workout with friends and looked forward to filling my belly with something decent.  

Aside from ordering and earning their fries as side, I also ordered the lamb doner, a colorful mix wrapped within a flatbread.  Colorful? Brown (lamb), Red (tomato), White (onion and yogurt sauce), Green (shredded lettuce).  Yeah, I just described the meal in colors.  I'd rather eat this than a rainbow of skittles - for sure.  You can get this same wrap based on chicken and falafel also!  Or put those same meats on a salad!

While I'm not religious about calorie counting, the vertical spinning allows for the juices to cook within the meat, add flavor, and permit the fat to fall off.  Brilliant really and seemingly, rather healthy and flavorful.  Who said, your post workout meal has to be boring? You've got all your food groups in a single meal.

A single meal is a problem since every time I've looked at their menu, I've wanted a bite of everything.  A doner, a side of fries, and drink cost me a little over $10.  You can do without the fries and get yourself a meal for under $9.00 which isn't bad at all.  It's awesome to see these friendly guys grow from their downtown location and I expect them to expand further like my belly.

My +1 and I both got off work at 6pm.  From 6p-8p, we had an Elite Event on the USS Midway - a historical and highly regarded aircraft carrier!!!! WUUUTTT We knew our mission on hand.  Get there ASAP!! RAWERAWERAWER

My blackberry beeped expletives from friends at me.  WHERE ARE YOUUU?!?!?!?  I screamed back down the I-5: I'M ON MY MUTHAFRAKKIN WAAAAAAYYYYY!!! RAWERAWERAEWRAWR  I'M GONNA BE ON A MUTHAF*CKIN BOAT! I think i saw my blackberry cower in fear.

We got there at 715p.  Trying to fit a 2-hr event into 45 minutes is a monumental task.  It's like trying to fit my 34-waist into my high school 30-inch waisted jeans.  It's not a perfect fit.  That's what she said.

It was uncharacteristic for a Yelp Event to close the single bar (versus having two bars) early which is understood since the Midway is a museum and we wouldn't want any yelpers falling overboard.  Man, that line for drinks was long.  Thirsty much?

When I was warmly mobbed and groped upon arrival, Edgartronic and I exchanged winks from afar.   Oontz Oontz.  Cameras flashed to validate my attendance.   I'm here!!!!!  I inhaled what was left of the food since yeah, better late than never, but I did destroy the many madeleines with my palate. Thank you friends and the new ones I made.

Dear Pei Wei,

I get the whole pan-Asian cuisine thing.  That is, everyone does that at home in the kitchen regardless of cuisine.  Why aren't there any pan-European cuisine restaurants? Regardless, we make a little bit of this, we make a little bit of that, and our friends - taste buds - HA - thank us and eat that up.  But, honestly,  "Meh, I've experienced better."  
The beef chile ramen I ordered the other night seemed interesting.  Ramen.  I like ramen, but when I got the bowl, I died laughing.  I'm not a noodle snob - but the noodles were not ramen, they were a bold-faced lie.  Why did you repackage the Chinese lo mein as Japanese ramen?  Was it the wrong dish served? Disguising the lo mein dish as ramen is a neat trick.

If you were going to substitute noodles, tell me.   You shouldn't confuse the two noodles.  Generally, not only is there a visual difference between the two, lo mein is usually straight, thick egg noodles, while ramen is usually thinner and curvy.  Further, while lo mein is cooked and served with a sauce, ramen is served in a broth typically.  Saying that it's Pei Wei's style to serve it repackaged is a cop out.    Of course, whoever said Pei Wei was authentic, right?

So, was it good? The beef chile ramen is benign and lacks kick.  What chile? What ramen?  

Honestly, I'm not gonna deny that if I am here, I can find something to eat.  But, I'm not gonna look for you as a choice when I can get better choices nearby.  Lucky for you, I could be back but only on the auspices of a galpal that loves visiting your place because she doesn't know better.  At least, you've got that going for you.  Hey, it's Pei Wei Town, population one.

Regards.