stopped by CORNER PIZZA and picked up a couple of pies after the wife got back from a crafting weekend at the cabin. she was tired and didn't feel like going out and I didn't feel like cooking. relationships are about compromise and finding workable alternatives to name calling, hair pulling, teeth gnashing, and other acts of physical violence.

so, we did it her way. happy wife and I don't have to sleep with one eye open ...

ordered a 50/50 pizza, half KILLER BEE (red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, soppressata, gorgonzola, rosemary, and hot honey) and half T REX (red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, meatballs, sausage, and jalapeño) and a LEMON + PESTO pizza (white sauce, garlic, mozzarella, pesto, lemon, and red onions).

hot honey might be the BEST pizza add introduced in forever. really kicks pepperoni, soppressata, and jalapeños up to otherwise only dreamed up new heights. I guess my secret's officially out. I dream of pizza. don't you?

crusts were super thin and since both were slightly undercooked, lost a lot of oven heat on the short drive home. on a crust this thin, undercooked and skinny equals limp slices. warmed and stiffened before eating in a preheated cast iron skillet and the results (if you don't mind doing the work) were outstanding.

full flavored crust from cold fermenting the dough for a couple of days is well worth the wait.

haven't tried one of their sandwiches yet but with their multi-tasking menu the difference between a salad and a sandwich is bowl vs. bread. URBANE CAFE's salads (and we've shared four in our two visits) come with a wedge of freshly baked, gluten-free focaccia.

the POWER VEGGIE SALAD (mixed greens, bean and corn salsa, vegan feta, pecans, garbanzos, edamame, and roasted sweet potatoes comes with a balsamic vinaigrette. the SANTA MARIA BBQ CHICKEN SALAD (mixed greens, bacon, goat cheese, bean and corn salsa, grape tomatoes, and BBQ sauce comes with a chipotle ranch dressing. the CAFE SALAD (roasted chicken, mixed greens, avocado, crumbled goat cheese, pears, and pecans comes with balsamic vinaigrette. the CRUNCHY PEANUT SALAD (chicken, baby greens, cucumbers, carrots, edamame, mandarin oranges, and honey roasted peanuts come with a peanut dressing. they're all good and taste exactly like you'd imagine given the ingredient list.

a fresh, light option especially if the alternative is a burger and fries. so if you're not totally starving, here's a place to go for a lunch that won't leave you feeling like you snake-jointed your jaw and swallowed a bowling ball without chewing.

was in San Marcos for a high school wrestling event and since I skipped breakfast was seriously famished by late afternoon. checked Yelp for a sandwich-place recommendation and happily wound up at Sub-Marine.

ordered #33 the BIG KAHUNA (ham, salami, roast beef, turkey, pastrami, provolone, avocado, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, Italian dressing). very solid sandwich. not shareable (or monstrously huge at the price point) but still managed to waddle out fat and sassy.

family owned and operated with exceptionally friendly and efficient service and a warm, inviting vibe.

tucked away in the cavernous depths of a mall that has evolved over five decades from the shopping destination where giggling teeny boppers bought blacklight posters, scented candles, and bell bottom jeans to where aging boomers mall walk, catch a movie, and go to the gym is the GREAT KHAN's MONGOLIAN GRILL.

happily, I've reached the point in my life where packing my bowl forcefully enough to squeeze two meals outta one visit is less a survival strategy than nostalgia.

it's a self-serve set up where you load your bowl with raw proteins (shaved beef, pork, and chicken) and veggies (carrots, cabbage, onions, sprouts, etc.) and hand it off to the grill guys to be sauced, noodled, and cooked on a circular flat top. I can't speak to the authenticity of the food (though I have my suspicions) it's filling, inexpensive, and fun.

ps: if you haven't been in a while or if this is your first visit, GREAT KHAN's has relocated from the middle of the mall down to the "Sears" end.