Raymond "ININ" M.'s Profile

An old fashion small ma and pa restaurant with low ceilings, cozy feeling, closeness, stools area like a coffee shop, and the bathrooms outside like an old gas station where you walk around the side.  The prices are higher than a Dennys and Carrows; however, if you want to eat at a warm place instead of the typical Dennys and Carrows, The Mini Gourmet is the place.  I consider the place for late night dinners.  Open 24hrs.

I ordered the chicken fried chicken.  I got two pieces of white breast stripes.  They were big pieces!  I expected chicken fried chicken as if I was at Chilis, the flat piece of chicken breaded.  It seemed chicken friend chicken is actually just the plain and usual fried chicken =)

You want a typical coffee shop that is not Starbucks, check out Monsieur Beans.  I don't drink coffee `__^  I ordered a danish and bottle water to show my patronage.  There is free wifi and power cords.  POWER CORDS!!!  The time I went was quiet and very few people.  The shop also serves breakfast.

We all have the feeling we want alone time and away from our residences.  Monsieur Beans is a good place to satisfy the feeling.

*3.5 stars*

Clean facilities and friendly staff.  I went with three friends.  We prefered to order family style, and after this experience here, I prefer family style =)  We ordered a variety of dishes that were the house special Tsing Tao chow fun, scallops with vegetables for seafood, Tsing Tao beef, and ginger chicken.  All four dishes were satisfactory and the portions were just right.

There are no good Chinese restaurants that are not fast food Chinese close to my home for good take-out.  Tsing Tao is the closest.  Anytime I feel Chinese and watching a sports game on TV, Tsing is first on my list XD

I give Queen's four stars because it's open 24 hours.  The donuts are always fresh.  The taste is a typical donut.  My friends and I arrived at 1:30am and there was a person making donuts.  Price for a dozen is reasonable $7.  I remember in the old days a dozen donuts was $2, lol ^^

*3.5 stars*

A brief history.  The first time I ate at La Val's was in 1986.  There was Gauntlet I and Super Sprint arcade games.  Lots of kids my age hung out to play the games.

Times have changed and La Val's still here ^^  I was in the area and checked out if La Val's still here.  The arcade games are on the second floor and there is an air hockey table.  The atmosphere is a typical pizza place.  Could use a touch up of paint and upgrade the TV on the second floor, lol.  Given the location and the longevity, I'm confident La Val's have plenty of regulars including local sports people.

Aside from the interiors, I ordered the combo personal pizza.  The taste was expected.  Nothing really special to give it hype.  I got a free salad that was awesome.  One free drink refill.

I had a good time eating at La Val's and thinking about 1986.

It was my first time eating a falafel.  My friends have eaten here before.  If they said the food is good, I believe them.  They were correct.  The falafel tasted really good.  Too spicy for me since I'm weak for spicy food =P  Hey, for the price and the number of falafel's, it's worth it.  Highly recommended!

I have visited Ghirardelli Square and never ordered an ice cream at the fountain.  I did.  The prices are expensive.  It's worth it!!!

I ordered the Brownie Sundae.  Rich, huge, and delicious big time XD  I almost couldn't finish it.  The last time I ordered a brownie sundae was in Las Vegas 2006 and I thought that was the best.  Wrong.  Ghirardelli beats it.

The sundaes were big enough for two people to share; although, each person orders a different sundae and share each other's.  I just hoped both people don't get tummy aches :O  Just take your time and eat slowly.

I ate here after the 2009 Monterey Jazz Festival with a friend.  Both of us like Japanese food.  I ordered my favorite sushi Dragon Roll and gyoza.  I got six gyoza pieces, a first for me.  Usually, I got five.  The pieces were the biggest I've seen.  Very tasty.

Unfortunately, the Dragon Roll was different.  The rolls arrived fast.  Really fast.  Minutes after my gyoza.  The pieces were big.  The biggest I've seen.  I looked again and noticed there was imitation crab.  Wow!  OK . . . that explains why the pieces were big and the price was below average.

Service was great and the restaurant was roomy, big, and clean.  My friend and I chatted a couple of hours after the meal and the staff didn't mind.  If you're a regular, you get your own chopsticks in a box located at the entrance.  If you're in the area, try the bento dinner.  I doubt they fake teriyaki chicken, lol.

I give the restaurant four stars because of the Mon-Sat deals.  My friend and I came Tue.  We ordered the chicken because it was 50% off.  The food is 3.5 stars and better than Carl's Jr.  Overall, it's four stars.  The restaurant is clean and there is a bar.  There are enough TVs to watch sports.

Customers walk to the back and order and pay their food.  Fountain drinks are unlimited refills.  Pick up the food to the right of the cashiers when your buzzer buzzes.

I come back again if I'm in the area and need to eat lunch.  And if there is a good sports game, I come because my household doesn't have cable, lol.

Great, great pizza!  Very tasty, great texture, and the crust was delicious.  Enough said.  I'm eager to try the calzones next time I visit.  Sodas are cans and cost $1.