Ruby Jewel - Portland, OR

FFeeling tipsy after a great meal down the street that included plenty of great local brews, I wanted, no needed, an ice cream cone to make my night complete.

The line was pretty long but I was persistent and I put together my plan for attack while I waited. I ordered the pistachio brittle on a house made waffle cone and it was the perfect ending to a day full of excellent food. 

Despite the long line they got everyone in and out in an efficient fashion. I was able to enjoy my cone in no time. 

Location: 428 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Items sampled: pistachio brittle 

Shuck's Tavern & Oyster Bar - Las Vegas

I've been to Shuck's on three separate occasions in the last few weeks. Each time I have had a salad. 

The first time I had the shrimp Caesar. It was plentiful for the price, the dressing was delicious and the lettuce was fresh. The second and third time I stayed consistent with a black & bleu which is a steak salad wth Caesar dressing and bleu cheese. I would never think the flavors would go together but it's splendid combination. The steak was perfectly cooked as well. 

They have excellent drink specials and prices are on point. The atmosphere is like any other bar in town. Nondescript and dark, but the food more than makes up for that.

Items sampled: black & bleu salad, shrimp cassar salad

Location: 9338 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89147

Fogo De Chao - Summerlin, NV

We came here for lunch and enjoyed the salad bar option and skipped the meat on this occasion.

This Fogo De Chao just recently opened in Downtown Summerlin and the service was impeccable. The restaurant was empty so all the servers were extra attentive with refills on drinks, bread, sides and clearing plates. 

The salad bar was well stocked but they lacked any soup options, which would have been nice to enjoy as well. 

Location: 10975 Oval Park Dr, Ste D201, Las Vegas, NV 89135

Mr. BBQ - Fullerton, CA

Korean BBQ on Valentine's Day and where do we end up? Mr. BBQ. 

Service was attentive and the selection was incredible. The restaurant is huge and the staff changed out the grills regularly and seemlessly.

All the meats we ordered were well flavored and because the grills were updated so often we really got the meats cooked well and quickly. The banchan were good but I've had better. 

This place is great and despite how crowded it was the wait wasn't too long and I'll likely be back if I'm ever in the area again.

Location: 305 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831

Hash House a Go Go - Henderson

Never one to shy away from a coupon, I received a BOGO entree coupon for the Henderson Hash House a Go Go location's anniversary and we made a drive across town to take advantage.

Breakfast is my favorite option at Hash House so I opted for the chicken, rosemary and asparagus hash. The food at this location is consistent to other locations I've been to in the past.

Our server was attentive and friendly. As had a decent meal. Consistency is the key with chain restaurants and this location stays true to the rest of the locations.

Items sampled: Rosemary chicken and asparagus hash

Location: 555 North Stephanie St, Henderson, NV 89014

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Searsucker - Del Mar, CA

Looking for a nice brunch spot while visiting San Diego we initially headed to our first pick which had over an hour long wait so we wandered across the parking lot to Searsucker.

There was no wait at all since we walked in just as they opened. We were seated quickly and we ordered drinks and perished the menu. The brunch menu isn't extensive but I quickly decided on the lobster scramble with fruit while my friends ordered the chicken and waffles, chocolate pancakes and croque Madame respectively. They also ordered a sticky bun to start which I took a bite of and enjoyed.

The entrees came out and all was good. Solid choice and decently priced for the area. I liked my scramble. It had nice flavor and the lobster was plentiful and not overpowered by the rest of the ingredients. The fruit was ripe and flavorful as well. 

Service was attentive and friendly. Our drinks were refilled often which is always a plus. 

There are plenty of better restaurants to be had, but the ambiance and food are a nice draw for a visit or two when you're in the area.

Items sampled: lobster scramble, sticky bun

Location: Del Mar Highlands Town Center, 12995 El Camino Real, Ste 21, Del Mar, CA 92130

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Parsley Mediterranean - Las Vegas

I have been to Parsley on a number of occasions since this new location opened up on the west side of town.

Service is friendly and accommodating. My favorite menu items include the salads, wraps and Mediterranean nachos when I don't mind being bad.

There are often Groupons available if you are looking for a deal. They have many healthy options at a reasonable price.

Items sampled: shawarma steak and chicken nachos, wraps, salads and bowls

Location: 4985 W Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jun's Korean Restaurant on West Tropicana - Las Vegas

Jun's is a great little spot for Korean takeout or dining in. Prices are reasonable and servings are generous. 

I dined here with a friend for lunch and we were in and out in less than an hour. Everything we tried was good and the banchan was fresh and never-ending. 

It's nice to have this quick option on this side of town.

Location: 10140 W. Tropicana Ave, #122, Las Vegas, NV 89147

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full House BBQ - Las Vegas

This is a great little spot on the east side of town.

Full House is a little hard to find but this cute little mom and pop restaurant is a great find. The server was so friendly and attentive and was happy to make suggestions after seeing us struggle to decide what to order from their extensive menu.

My friends and I shared a number of items which were all delicious. The highlights for me were the grilled eggplant and fried pork. The meats were flavorful and the grilled eggplant was great. Make sure you upgrade to the garlic rice, it's excellent and worth the up charge. 

The menu has a lot of variety there is something for everyone. I can't wait to come back with friends to try more items.

Items sampled: deep fried pork, grilled eggplant

Location: 9890 S Maryland Pkwy, Unit D19, Las Vegas, NV 89183

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Viet Noodle Bar - Las Vegas

Viet Noodle Bar is located west of Decatur on Spring Mountain Rd.

I arrived here for dinner with my friend and the restaurant is large and very clean. Service was attentive without being smothering. My friend and I took a little bit of time catching up so it took us a while to decide what to order.

We finally ordered and our food arrived quickly. The server kept the refills coming without interrupting our conversation. My vermicelli bowl was good, nothing mind-blowing but the meat was well-cooked, moist and flavorful.

The meal was great and I'm interested in trying out the rest of their menu.

Items sampled: shrimp and bbq pork vermicelli bowl 

Location: 5288 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89146

Resting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Island Prime - San Diego, CA

Dinner with my best friends during my recent visit to San Diego and our decision was dinner was easier than expected. 

We wanted steak and a view and Island Prime fit the bill! We arrived on time for our reservation and hey quickly brought us to our table. Right on the window with a great view of the water as we requested. 

We settled in and decided on some drinks and appetizers to start. Our server was friendly gave us some good suggestions. For my entree I ordered the ribeye and I couldn't resist the brussel sprouts for my side. While waiting for our entrees, they brought over the bread and despite trying to refrain from eating the bread, I just couldn't resist. Perfectly fluffy and delicious. 

Our entrees came and my steak was cooked medium rare just as I requested. The brussel sprouts were delightful as well. My friend preferred them to her order of onion rings so I let her have as many as she wanted. 

We were dining with my friend's seven year old and they had some decent options on the kid's menu, which I was surprised by. We anticipated having to shared our meals with her but we were able to get her her very own small filet for just $10. 

The view, service and meal was fantastic. Surprising, since one usually sacrifices food for views when it comes to dining at the beach.

Items sampled: ribeye, brussel sprouts, prosciutto wrapped asparagus

Location: 880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

RaringS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Makai Pacific Island Grill - Las Vegas

Makai is a Hawaiian style spot that opened up recently. Despite only recently opening, I have already been twice and have enjoyed each visit.

You can select from several different sizes varying from a small bowl with one protein option to the largest option that allows you to choose three different proteins. On my first visit I ordered the poke, kalua pork and pulehu steak with brown rice. The kalua pork was good but not great but the poke and and pulehu steak were tasty. On my second visit I went with the Mochiko chicken and poke salad which was delicious. 

I enjoy that they offer so many health options and allow you to choose brown rice or salad in place of white rice. I look forward to returning soon for some more poke and Mochiko chicken. The prices are reasonable but can get high as you add additional add-ons.

Items sampled: Mochiko chicken, poke, kalua pork and pulehu steak.

Location: 5165 S Fort Apache Rd, Ste 150, Las Vegas, NV 89148

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rosallie - Las Vegas

I have been here on two separate occasions and I can't believe I almost forgot to review this place.

Rosallie is a fantastic cafe that recently opened in the area. The pastries are amazing and so is the cute little shop. The owner and his family are so sweet, it's definitely a welcoming spot to enjoy treats.

The lemon tart, almond cake and almond croissant are a revelation. The quiche and teas that I've tried are excellent as well.

Having this in the area is amazing and I can't wait to make it a regular on my rotation.

Location: 6090 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kitchen Table - Henderson, NV

With so many new brunch restaurants sprouting up around town, Kitchen Table has quickly risen to the top of the pack. 

With an inventive menu that is constantly evolving I can't wait to go back often and enjoy everything the restaurant has to offer. 

The restaurant gets extremely busy so I recommend coming early. We arrived around 7:30 on a Saturday morning and we had no wait at all, but it filled up almost immediately after we were seated. 

We started with the monkey bread which was amazing. I ordered the duck Mac and cheese omelette. An extremely creative take on breakfast that left me excited for my next visit.

The service was excellent. Our server was attentive despite being very busy and the chef came out to check on all the tables as well.

Items sampled: duck Mac & cheese omelette, monkey bread and smoked salmon stack

Location: 1716 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Ste 100, Henderson, NV 89012

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trattoria Reggiano - Downtown Summerlin

We arrived at Trattoria Reggiano for a group lunch and from start to finish the meal was anything but exceptional.

The restaurant was pretty empty the entire time, but despite this fact service was not as attentive as I would expect. 

We ordered a number of appetizers for the table to share, including meatballs, calamari and caprese salad. I only tried the meatballs and caprese salad, nether of which  were remarkable in the least. 

For my entree I decided to steer clear of the pastas and pizzas and offered the salmon with vegetables. Both the vegetables and salmon lacked flavor and I had no desire to eat everything. 

The whole table seemed unimpressed with their food so I wasn't alone in my assessment. I don't see myself returning for any reason.

Items sampled: meatball appetizer,

Caprese salad and salmon entree with vegetables 

Location: 2020 Park Centre Dr, Ste 140, Las Vegas, NV 89135

Rating: ⭐️

Pasta Idea - Las Vagas

The newest pasta shop in town is serving up generous portions of delicious pasta.

We arrived on a weekday night and were surprised by how packed they were. The restaurant is tiny so only a handful of tables are available for dining in. They had a large table reserved for a party that was coming in so we had to wait for one of the already occupied tables to vacate.

Our patience was rewarded and we were seated quickly and allowed to peruse the menu. I was torn between all the great options, but settled on the pappardelle with Diablo sauce. My pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce had a great kick. 

Portions are not for the faint of heart so we had plenty of leftovers after our meal was said and done. Great spot and happy to have this quick serve option in the area.

Items sampled: pappardelle with Diablo sauce 

Location: 7668 W Lake Mead Blvd, Unit 107, Las Vegas, NV 89128

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Khoury's Mediterranean Restaurant - Las Vegas

Khoury's new and improved location is spacious and very pretty. 

We arrived for lunch and were seated quickly. The menu is extensive and almost everything in the menu was tempting me. It took a few minutes for my friend and I to decide what to order, but the waitress was patient.

I decided to order the lamb and filet kebab lunch plate. They are accommodating with gluten free and low carb requests which is great. I ended up asking for broccoli in place of rice and a side of baba ghanoush. 

Our meals came out quickly and everything was delicious. I haven't loved Khoury's in the past but this experience was much better and more impressive than my previous visits. 

Glad to have this new convenient location and I look forward to visiting again soon.

Items sampled: lamb and filet kebab lunch plate 

Location: 9340 W. Sahara Ave, Ste 106, Las Vegas, NV 89117

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Donuttery - Huntington Beach, CA

We were driving around the area with a hankering for dessert. With good word of mouth, we stopped at The Donuttery knowing it'd likely be a safe bet.

We arrived around 9pm on a Saturday evening and there was a line. Looking over the menu the selection is out of control. With so many options our initial plan of ordering a couple of donuts went right out the window. We decided to order a dozen so we could try as many as possible and share with my family.

The employees were very friendly and accommodated all our requests. Some donuts we wanted weren't available they made on the spot. We ordered the Nutella strawberry, butterfly, red velvet, salted caramel apple, tiger tail, peanut butter and jelly, creme brûlée, dulce de leche, smores and a bear claw.

Trying to be good lately I only took a couple of bites to try them out and shared the rest. The flavors were on point, very creative and the pastries were fresh. 

A great 24 hour donut shop in Huntington Beach.

Items sampled: tiger tail, peanut butter & jelly, red velvet, butterfly, Nutella and strawberry, salted caramel apple, dulce de leche, creme brûlée and smores. 

Location: 17420 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cafe Orleans - Disneyland

This is one of my favorite eateries at Disneyland Park. Not only do they serve delicious gumbo, but they have Mickey beignets so that trumps just about anything you can find to eat at Disneyland. 

On top of great food, there is plenty of great views from the patio of not only passers by but if he boats and canoes as they pass by on the Rivers of America. 

Reservations are key and if it's cold make sure you reserve indoor seating as they book up quickly.

Items sampled: monte cristo, gumbo, pommes frites, black coffee

Location: Disneyland, 1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Rice Bowl - Las Vegas

Located in an unassuming strip mall on Durango, The Rice Shop is a great spot for a quick but hearty meal.

We ordered the pork belly bowl and the Kentucky fried fish bowl. Each bowl included a generous amount of protein and fresh vegetables and of course rice. The flavors were stellar and everything was cooked well. I enjoyed every bite and look forward to returning again. 

The owner was so attentive and accommodating. You can tell he really cares about getting honest feedback to improve the customer experience.

Items sampled: Kentucky fried fish bow and pork belly bowl

Location: 3655 S Durango Dr, Ste 9, Las Vegas, NV 89147

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Thunder BBQ - Disneyland Park

Hee  Haw! This restaurant is loads of fun and I'm sad that it has taken me so long to visit. 

They are closing on January 10 to make room for the new Star Wars Land so you have a limited time to get your fill of AYCE ribs, BBQ chicken, cornbread, baked beans and coleslaw. 

The servers are friendly and really seem to enjoy their jobs. Happy, smiling faces a plenty at this restaurant. We certainly had a magical experience while we were there.

Items sampled: BBQ chicken, baby back ribs, baked beans, cornbread, coleslaw

Location: Disneyland, 1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

KJ Dim Sum & Seafood - Las Vegas

This place gets crowded on weekends, but we were lucky enough to walk in about 10 minutes before the dim sum rush.

We were seated quickly and although it took a little longer than we would have liked to get drinks and dim sum service started, once the carts started coming around the food was plentiful and good.

We ordered a number of items and although not the best dim sum I've ever had, it was good and everyone in my party left satisfied. 

The decor and restaurant setup is lovely and there is plenty of space to accommodate many large parties, which is the best way to enjoy dim sum. The more is definitely the merrier here.

Items sampled: pork buns, shrimp ball,  chive dumpling, shu mai, sesame balls, Chinese broccoli, egg custard, shrimp dumplings 

Location: Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, 3700 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️