Review - Lido's Italian Foods

Good, inexpensive comfort food...Lido's Italian Foods

When I walk into Lido’s it’s like I’m walking into childhood memories. It’s like a mixture of places I remember going to dinner and homes of relatives I haven’t seen in years. The décor doesn’t seem to have changed since the 70s. There’s nothing about this place that doesn’t scream family, with the exception of the bar which is small and closed off from the main restaurant. The main dining room is full of booths and most of the people sitting in them are with family. You’ll almost always see at least one group of people dining there who are chatting with the owner’s daughter. So many of the diners here are regulars. There’s another dining room behind accordion room dividers that has tables and chairs and often is filled with large groups. The food is simple and good. In addition to traditional Italian American dishes like pasta and pizza, they offer barbecue and steaks as well as a couple of seafood items.

What do I get?

I always get the Chicken a la Florentine. You can order half a chicken or a whole chicken for just $5 more. The chicken is great. It’s full of spices and lemon juice and is always cooked just right. They even give out the recipe for this dish both posted on a wall in the restaurant and on their website. The dinner comes with soup and salad. The soup is always minestrone and their salad always comes with the house dressing. You also get garlic bread and a side of pasta or fries. I get the pasta with olive oil and garlic. Definitely not date food. I usually only eat one piece of chicken and a bite of pasta before boxing it up to take home for 3 or 4 meals.

What's cool?

Nothing. This place is about as cool as your mother’s housecoat, but that’s what this place is all about, comfort food and family.

Rating...Good anytime. Be sure to bring Grandma when she visits from out of town.

Review -The Tin Fish (Imperial Beach location)

Good food at the beach...The Tin Fish

The Tin Fish is just what I thought had been missing in San Diego; Good sea food without fuss or high prices. They have several locations in San Diego as well as a few locations outside of California. The Imperial Beach location is completely casual. Just the right vibe for a sunny weekend day. The restaurant is at the end of the Imperial Beach pier. There are a few tables outside, stools at a counter on both sides of the front wall and a few more tables inside. Orders are taken at the register and numbers are called to advise diners to pick up their food. The menu offers alternatives for those who don't like fish but the fish is what it's really about. Their menu calls their fish & chips famous but they not only serve the traditional cod, but also swordfish, salmon or halibut & chips. You can also order various seafoods with chips, several types of fish tacos and burritos, fish sandwiches, fish/seafood soups and grilled fish selections.

What did I get?

Clam chowder and fish & chips. The clam chowder was good. The fish is battered then dipped in what I'm assuming is corn meal before frying giving it a unique texture. The chips, while not traditional are really good. Instead of a thick cut french fry they server crisscut fries that are really crunchy. They even held their crunch after being drenched in malt vinegar. On the side came cole slaw. Their version is different from other cole slaws I've had. There is nothing creamy in the dressing, just vinegar and seasoning. Unusual but good. Their serving sizes are hearty. Their were two of us and we shared a bowl of clam chowder and an order of fish & chips and both of us were satisfied. Actually, I was pretty full.

What's cool?

You can order 1/2 orders of some of their items. I really thought that was great because the fish & chips came with five pieces of fish. I never could've eaten that much. I also loved being able to sit outside and watch the surf while we ate. Luckily we had lunch rather late in the day so we didn't have a problem getting an outside table. All their seating is at a premium during the usual busy periods.

What sucks?

Unfortunately their iced tea was terrible. Since I'd never been their before I don't know if that is usually the case or not. It was over brewed, way too bitter. Even after adding some water to try to tone it down and some lemon, which I don't always use when I drink iced tea, it was still pretty bad. I wound up throwing more than half of it away after we finished eating.

Rating...Definitely the place to go if you just want some good, unpretentious fish and seafood in San Diego.

Recipe - Greek Broiled Lamb Chops

When it comes to red meat lamb is my absolute favorite. I love it. The dish I most often make for special occasions is Greek Roasted Leg of Lamb. But that’s expensive and not really practical when you’re only cooking for two. I came up with this recipe when I found some nice lamb chops at the store. It’s quick and easy, so you can whip it up on a weekday.

Ingredients:

2 lamb chops

2 teaspoons of your favorite Greek or Mediterranean spice blend*

1 medium lemon

1 teaspoon salt*

* My favorite spice blend is Mediterranean Sea Salt from San Diego Coffee, Tea and Spice Inc. http://www.sandiegocoffee.com/. Since it already contains salt I use one tablespoon of it and leave out the added salt.

Preparation:

Sprinkle chops on both sides with spice blend and salt. Squeeze one half of the lemon over the side of the chops facing up. Save the other half for the other side. Place chops under broiler. Broil for approximately five minutes. Turn chops and squeeze remaining lemon over them. Broil another five minutes or until they are done to your liking.

Quick and simple, huh?

Serves 2.

How do I like mine?

Rare

Review - Onami

Sushi bargain...Onami

Onami is an all you can eat buffet featuring sushi and Japanese food. The front entrance features a bit of kitsch, but the rest of the restaurant is subtle and modern. They also have a small patio for outside dining. The menu differs a bit from day to day but the majority of offerings stays consistent. Featuring four different food stations. Salads and crab claws, sushi and sashimi, hot foods and soups, and dessert. They also have a limited offering of pastas. All the food is included in the price of your meail. Drinks are available for a separate charge. They offer sodas, hot green tea or iced passion berry tea, beer and wine, sake and plum wine

What do I get?

I usually start with some of their salads. Sumi salad, shrimp/cucumber, kimchi and smoked salmon. Next is tempura, shumai, fried calamari, gyoza, sweet spicy crab and a deep fried roll with shitake mushrooms. I just eat the shrimp and green beans from the tempura. Next is sushi and sashimi. I usually have a little bit of all the types of sashimi then pick a few types of sushi. Normally I will also have a piece of chocolate cake, maybe some fruit and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.

What's cool?

The dessert station offers Japanese green tea or mango ice cream. I don’t eat them, but it’s still cool. I also like the women’s restroom. It’s not particularly large or well decorated, but each stall is a little room with walls and a real wood door. However they blew it with the sinks. They’re in a tight space and tend to send water all over the place. The coolest thing though is a smoking area. There’s a somewhat hidden door that leads to a little fenced off are where smokers can smoke…reminds me of an exhibit at the zoo…The great North American smoker. Status: Endangered

Rating...If you like sushi and want a lot of it cheap, go. Just be sure to wear your eating pants.

Recipe - Farmer's Salad (Jewish deli style)

aIf you Google farmer's salad you'll find a large number of recipes that seem to have nothing in common. Apparently there is a version of farmer's salad for every region, country or culture. This version is the one my mother used to make and is very similar to the one served at the local Jewish deli. A good choice for a meatless meal. It's healthy, low fat, super easy to make and yummy. Great on a hot day.

Ingredients:

1 quart cottage cheese

1 pint sour cream

1 large cucumber

1 bunch red radishes

1 bunch green onions

salt

pepper

Preparation:

Chop cucumber (peeled or not) into small, evenly sized chunks. Chop cleaned radishes into small, evenly sized chunks. Chop green onions in small, evenly sized pieces. Mix chopped cucumber, radishes and green onions together.

That's it

Serve cottage cheese, sour cream and vegetables in separate bowls for family style dining. Allow diners to help themselves and season to their liking with salt and pepper.

Serves approximately 6 hearty eaters.

How do I like mine?

Cucumbers partially peeled. A generous portion of cottage cheese, lots of vegetables and a dollop of sour cream with a touch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. If I'm really hungry I might have a few woven wheat crackers on the side.

Review - K Sandwiches

Fast and cheap but oh so good... K Sandwiches

K Sandwiches offers next to nothing in decor or atmosphere with the exception of a few tables you can sit at outside, but the food makes it well worth going to. Fresh baguettes and croissants are not only the bases for their tasty sandwiches but you can buy them on their own as well. Vietnam is known for great French bread. The baguette sandwiches feature an interesting selection of meats with Vietnamese pickled vegetables, cilantro, jalapenos and spiced mayonnaise. They also offer a huge drink selection including a whole refrigerated wall of all your favorite bottled and canned drinks, French coffee, traditional Vietnamese drinks, Boba, smoothies and slushes. There are also ready made Vietnamese specialties to grab and go. It's almost always crowded but they turn orders out quickly.

What do I get?

#9 Grilled Pork Sandwich or # 11 Grilled Chicken Sandwich...no cilantro. I like a little spice so I get it with the jalapenos on it but take them off once I get home. They leave just enough of their oils on the sandwich to add some heat but aren't overpowering.

What's cool?

A number calling system with a TV featuring a woman calling your number out in English and Vietnamese...what a trip, sure ain't like the deli

Rating...You gotta go!