"Gourmet Cafe" in Glendale, CA

EATERY: Granville Cafe, Glendale, CA

LOCATION: 807 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210

The interior was nice, as is expected out of a restaurant in a brand new outdoor shopping mall.  The fact that it was almost completely empty at 9:00 PM on a warm Sunday night was a little bit discouraging.  However, Glendale really isn't known as the city that rocks to the break of dawn - so I let it slide.

The waitress was a really nice girl with tons of energy.  She did the usual "welcome to Granville Cafe could I start you off with a drink or an appetizer?  We were mid-way into a gossip conversation as we walked in so we really hadn't looked through the menu at all when she approached us.  We ordered our drinks and asked for some time.  I made a mistake (that I always make) and asked her what she recommends on the menu.  She literally went through the entire menu and raved about every item that I would place last on my list of things to get - literally.  Nonetheless, we graciously ordered all of her suggested items in hopes to get back into our conversation.  

I wanted to get the taco trio plate but instead she insisted we get the shrimp quesadillas.  Well, they were exactly what I thought, a few pieces of sauteed shrimp nestled in between a tortilla with some cheese and onions topped with a cilantro vinaigrette and garnished with a rosemary sprig.  This dish was sub-par and we left half of it untouched.  

Next came the sweet potato fries.  I have yet to have a bad fried potato so I did not expect to have this be the first.  I think anytime you have something that is fresh out of the deep frier with a sauce like ketchup and ranch to dip in - it really is almost impossible to let me down.  With that said, these sweet potato fries really were good.  The presentation was half okay too minus the repeated rosemary sprig thrown in between the two sauces.  All in all this was a safe choice that was a wasabi aioli away from being something I would order again.  

Now this one just killed me.  I asked her what the best salad was and she said "OMG, without a doubt the Granville Salad."  First, I never get the salad that is named after the place we are eating - I can explain to you why but I say we leave that for another post.  Second, why on earth would you throw together a half ass greek salad topped with a piece of salmon served with two crostinis and call it the Granville Salad?  This is an American Bistro style restaurant, not a Greek taverna - geez!  Third, we're middle eastern sweetheart, we eat Greek Salad for breakfast and we don't use canned kalamatas or pre-crumbled feta like you do, so consider that next time you make a rash recommendation.  Okay, now I am just rambling; this salad sucked - moving on.

This was what she called a gourmet style macaroni and cheese dish.  Again, we got a dramatic herb (basil) garnish that had nothing to do with the dish - thanks.  Second, the plate was cold, meaning this thing never even made it into a salamander.  From the looks of it, they cooked the whole thing in a hotel pan and topped it with bread crumbs before turning the oven up to 500 degrees for 5 minutes and then dropping it back down to 250 for the pasta to stay hot throughout the night.  Well, this technique did not work, and never will.  I guess it was my fault for lying to the poor girl while we were being seated and telling her that I am from North Carolina and visiting Los Angeles for a week.  Seems to me like she was trying to give me some of that good old soul food I am so used to back home.  Thanks, I guess.

Now, I know that butternut squash is usually a sweet meets savory soup blend; but goodness, I wasn't expecting to get it at the end of my meal.  I wonder if they consider this a dessert - if so they should have had it on the dessert menu.  To be fair, the soup was quite good.  But again I do not understand their garnish system over here.  There was chopped parsley literally thrown all over the soup with bits of dried cranberry and roasted pine nuts.  When considering flavors they really made for a good combo on the pallet.  Aesthetically however, I was once again let down.  Quite honestly, if the soup was hot I would have totally been satisfied.  But it wasn't - so I wasn't.  Maybe this dish was supposed to be a butternut squash gelato that they served melted because the freezer wasn't working.  That would make sense as to why it came last.  You know what, that sounds good - I'm going to try that.  Butternut squash gelato topped with dried cranberries and toasted pine nuts.  

OVERVIEW: Don't trust any of the waitresses at Granville Cafe.  Look through the menu and pick something that you know FOR SURE you will like; or else, chances are it will be sub-par at best.  Here's a better one, don't even go to Granville Cafe.  I hate to say it, but you're better off hitting up a CPK or Cheesecake Factory.  Alright, I'm out - I will see you all next time.  

Hawaiian Joint in San Francisco, CA

EATERY: Island Cafe in San Francisco

LOCATION: 901 Taraval St., San Francisco, CA 94116

I was told this place was known for good food, and killer pancakes.  I did not expect much from the interior, so I got what I expected.

We started off with what they called "Beef Mini Tacos" which were in reality ground beef filled turnovers deep fried and served with a mexican (chile style) dipping sauce.  They were served hot and we were hungry, so they got eaten before I could take any shots.  Moving on swiftly...

For personal reasons and personal reasons only, I have a thing against kimchi.  But one of the girls I was with was totally sold on the kimchi fried rice so we went ahead and got it.  Thankfully, the dish was just perfect and got me back on the kimchi note.  Small chunks of sautéed  kimchi were tossed throughout the fried rice with bits of Hawaiian sausage and chili flakes.  

(Thanks Carissa, good call).


We were torn between fried Mahi Mahi and this pulled beef dish that came over a bed of pickled cabbage served with steamed rice and macaroni salad.  Now, my vote went to Mahi Mahi (probably because I like to avoid red meat as much as I can) but the girls beat me out so we went ahead with the pulled beef.  The meat was seasoned well and served semi-warm.  The rice, cabbage and macaroni salad were okay on their own, but for some reason when you scooped them all into one bite (including the beef of course) they made for a tasty mouthful.  I'm still curious as to what the Mahi Mahi was like, but hey we asked for a democracy and we got one.  

So from the minute I got into town I had my ear filled with nothing but outrageous propaganda for this Hawaiian place in town that has the "greatest pancakes ever."  The exact nomenclature was Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Coconut Sauce (as it appeared on the menu).  The pancakes (to me) seemed like your everyday pancake mix, just with small bits of macadamia nuts thrown inside.   when topped with this killer coconut sauce, they became out of this world.  Probably the best pancake pairing I have ever had; simple, easy to eat, and perfectly balanced.  I cannot say they were the best pancakes ever, but the combo was definitely one of the best I have had.  If I am not mistaken the sauce was coconut milk and sugar thickened by a corn starch slurry - served hot.

OVERALL REVIEW:  It was a little bit heavy for my taste - especially as a first meal of the day.  The food was good for Hawaiian standards and the prices were ultra reasonable.  I definitely liked the fact that everyone who worked there was family.  At one point a little girl with braces (probably no older than 13 years) came to check up on us and get us refills of our drinks.  Minor details like that go a long way with me, so I tip my hat to that.  Any family working hard for a cause (especially feeding people) is commendable by me.  If you like Hawaiian food and are looking for a casual bite with comfort food varieties, I would definitely recommend it.