megan "m. berru" b.'s Profile

Like a great blind date, my inaugural appointment at Dej Salon seemed sort of divinely cursed and then blessed---a car meltdown, forty-five-minutes-late-and-plus-I-was-rear-ended- on-Sepulveda kind of pre-date catastrophe, followed by relaxing, shampooed bliss. And then, like a real date, having to say goodbye, wondering if we'll ever see each other again ... and the desperate, frustrated self-cutting of bangs in the interim.

Well today was our second date and I want to make it official.  I'm seeing Lauren, and I don't care who knows it!  Not only has she taken enormous amounts of time with the hot mess that is my long, product-less hair, but she's spent additional gobs of time before and after answering any and all of my questions.  She's extremely knowledgeable about hair care and style (as well as just about everything else!) and can steer her clients in any direction they want to go.

The rest of the staff at Dej has been absolutely professional and personable every time I've visited or called.  I'm not normally good at small talk, but they make it easy to feel at home.  If you're looking for a salon where you might run into friends, where you don't want to be hassled to buy products (but have really yummy ones to choose from if you're so inclined), and just need a really stellar cut, I would recommend both Lauren and Dej Salon.

Wow.  This review is going to be really awkward if we ever break up.

I generally love Caioti but if we were in a live-in relationship, we might be sleeping with our backs to each other for the next couple of months based on my last visit.  The garlic knots and humble salad were cold when they came out; both of those dishes should be served warm.  Also, the service was slower and less enthusiastic than it has been in the past.  While I'm glad I branched out to try the squash ravioli (yum!), the fact that it was the only bright spot in a mediocre dinner really stings.  Oh, Caioti!  Can't you just apologize, and let's have some tasty make-up sun-dried tomato pizza?

Not that three margaritas is ever a good idea, but after just one and a half I was yelling with an Echo Park local about the public option.  After that, we "broke bread" together when he offered me one of his shrimp, and then I made him make the mariachi band play Tu, Solo Tu.  We may not agree on universal health care, but we definitely found comfort in the fact that we could get absolutely drunk (with no stigma) after a Dodgers win at four o'clock on a Friday afternoon.  I have to say that when I finished that third drink, it was all I could do to stumble up the hill to a coworker's house in another questionable life decision.

On the food and service front, I quite enjoyed my steak quesadilla, but I can't say any of the food or drinks seemed particularly inspired.  They weren't bad, they just weren't new or spectacular.  El Comp. is a solid place to end up if you've got a group of people and can't handle the frenzy over at the Short Stop.  The staff at El Compadre will take care of you when they can---even if you're wearing a Phillies hat.

After reading reviews from fellow Yelpers, I decided to try this out-of-the-way place during a whirlwind weekend.  I only was able to make time for one full meal--and I am SO GLAD it was at the River Grill at the Alisal!

While other reviews have mentioned lunch and dinner items, I ended up here for breakfast.  Everything on the menu looked delicious, from classic standards--such as the two-egg breakfast or french toast--to surprising breakfast items, like the BLT with egg.  Deciding to splurge, I ordered the coffee cake in addition to the Country Breakfast.

Among the top decisions and accomplishments of my life--highlights of which are learning how to type, completing a Master's degree, and breaking up with that one dude--I rank ordering the River Grill's raspberry coffee cake.

Seriously.

First, the presentation: His Decadence (I gave the dessert a royal title in the midst of worshiping) arrived at the table round, drizzled in raspberry sauce, and with a slice cut out and set apart just far enough for fresh raspberries and a tantalizing peek into more of the same baked in to the cake's center. Tastewise, the first, second, and embarrassingly-larger number of bites did not disappoint.  The tart fruit served as a perfect foil to the coffee cake's solid sweetness.  I can see into several future conversations in which I annoy my brunch dates with tales of the Perfect Coffee Cake.

With such a strong start, I'm surprised that the savory half of my meal held up--but it definitely did.  While the fruit cup could have been just a little fresher, the hashed browns more than made up for it: picture all of the soggy, diner style 'browns you've ordered and been disappointed by in the past, and then the crispy, layered potatoes that would make up for all those disappointments.  Now, add a nearly-undetectable dollop of sour cream.  Enjoy, preferably in a shallow bath of freshly-broken egg yolk.

Overcast mornings don't lend themselves to the spectacular views others have raved about, but the River Grill's airy interior and warm hearth were more than comfortable.  I can't think of a future trip to Solvang being complete without the River Grill! (One last hint: order the hot cocoa.  You're welcome!)

"You want me to put it inside?"

Spoken by:

Any negative sexual experience I've ever had, AND/OR this morning's McDonald's employee referring to adding Splenda to my coffee.

"You want me to put it inside?"
"You want me to put it inside?"
"You want me to put it inside?"

I'm having an Edgar Allan Poe character-level meltdown.  "Here, here! it is the beating of his hideous heart!  Put it inside!"

While Jones has been exhaustively reviewed by others, I just had to chime in and praise it a little bit more.  I had the pan roasted chicken, which was perfectly cooked.  PERFECTLY.  The table bread was surprisingly good as well: hot, herbed, and crispy (which is consequently the name of my blues/reggae band's comeback album).  For dessert, the delicious apple pie a la mode for two, which is made with ample brown sugar and a little bit of crack cocaine.

I'm absolutely dining here again.

Despite a bad first experience here, a week later it was time to celebrate a dear friend's birthday (ilu Mindy!) and I gave the Hut a second chance.

Christ, am I glad I did.

While my enduring love of tiki drinks and unhealthy fascination with dive bars are formidable passions alone, when combined they are unstoppable.  The gauntlet to guzzle every drink on the menu has been thrown, and I couldn't feel better about the five I tasted in a single night.

In the early stages of recognizing a coconut-addiction problem in myself, I would like to recommend the Tonga Lei.  Along with some banana flavoring, this is an incredibly tasty drink that rivals its until-now-unstoppable predecessor: the Rum Keg at Trader Vic's.  Dark and light rums are the key to success.  Do not forget this, tiki trainee!

Additionally, the bartenders are A++ and the restrooms are clean and fully stocked.  (It goes without saying that this delightful Valley location also has ample, ample parking.)  A bar that makes me consider a life-changing move back to the San Fernando Valley of my angst-ridden childhood is worth more than four stars.  Give it up, people.  Five stars.  All night.  Drunk Facebook.  Dingy corners.  Puns on getting "lei'd."  Make it happen.

Definitely a fan of this place, but not yet ready to commit it to that all-sacred list of Perfect Breakfast Spots.  The location and ambience are about right; Dusty's is super close to Mount Royal and the cozy booths are perfect for both nursing a hangover and making a fresh start.  My omelette and potatoes were delicious, but--and this is a very picky "but"--the orange juice was a little warm and sweet.  Service was excellent.  Will definitely try the blintzes next time!

I've never had a not-empty drink taken from beneath my face before, so maybe I could give El Compadre points for the novel experience?

My mom and I were having a nice, early-bird dinner.  We got the check (the waiter seemed in no rush) and were chatting.  Rather than sweetly mentioning seating at the bar if we wanted to stay, our waiter gave us the silent treatment 10 minutes post-check-payment and then ushered us out faster than you can say "bland margarita."  As I was reaching over for my purse, someone (he moved so fast I don't know whether he was the busboy or our server!) grabbed my still-alcoholic strawberry marg and disappeared without a word.  Maybe I've gone to too much couples counseling but I feel like communication is key here, folks.  Communication format:

State the situation --
El Compadre: "We're reaching our busiest dinner hour and there are groups waiting for tables."
Me: "I'm still digesting my food.  Sorry, it wasn't too tasty, so that's going to take a little while longer!"

State how you feel using "I" statements --
El Compadre: "I'm feeling stressed from all these suburb-runoff misfits wanting a table at Claim Jumper speed, and I hurt due to poor tips."
Me: "I'm hurt that you haven't brought this up sooner, El Compadre.  I thought we were ... compadres."

State what you'd like to see happen --
El Compadre: "I'd love to seat you two at the bar for our happy hour and/or overpriced, watery drinks!"
Me: "I'd like to hit a Mercedes with my car and experience no consequences.  Regarding this situation, I'd love to stay for a drink but I have a very short walk home that I'd like to enjoy as soon as possible."

Had we been treated civilly, El Comp would have enjoyed my mom's pocketbook for years of family-gossip-laden dinners to come.  If you go in primetime hours to enjoy the average food, don't expect to have a leisurely dining experience!

I only have positive things to say about this place.  Carmel Towing had to physically push my car uphill to get it to a tow-able place, and they wouldn't let me help.  For this, I am very grateful.  They offered to take it to their shop and while I had another vaguely in mind, the tow truck operator seemed very honest and pleasant so I agreed to send my car to Carmel's (AAA-endorsed) headquarters.  I'm so glad!  What I thought was going to be a major clutch/transmission problem ended up being less labor-intensive than I thought, and I had my car back the very next day.  They charged me $80/hr for labor, which is very fair.  I'll definitely be back here if my car has any more problems (which, fingers crossed, it won't for a long time!).