Feb 06

Yum Buffet & Grill

4260 Florin Rd

Sacramento, CA 95823

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 

Located in the former home of Hometown Buffet on Florin Road, Yum Buffet and Grill serves up a variety of Chinese dishes in all-you-can-eat fashion. Since the restaurant was still fairly new, they were still offering a 10% off discount. There are definitely fewer items available compared to #1 buffet, but quality was barely decent overall. There is a nice grill area where you could gather various uncooked meats, veggies, and noodles to create a stir-fry on a flat top grill. There were also nice slices of steak that can be provided to the grill staff cooked to order, which was very nice. The steak was actually very tender and juicy. The grill staff was upbeat and willing to cook your dish the way you like it. The sushi looked disappointing to me, and none of the pieces tasted good. The other Chinese food items tasted OK for the most part, but most of the fried items were overly breaded. The steamed fish was a little tough, but the salmon was tender. Most of the food was fairly fresh and has not been sitting out too long. Staff continuously refill low items. Staff also constantly cleared our table of old plates. There were three different flavors of ice cream served in individual containers, but they lacked flavor and were very tiny. At the end of the meal, a server dropped off the check, and we provided payment. While still eating dessert, having signed the receipt, the server already proceeded to review our tip amount and take the check away. Overall, Yum Buffet and Grill serves up decent Chinese food with a cool grill, but the lack of options and uninviting server staff makes me want to avoid this place.

Feb 02

Jimmy John’s – Long Beach

421 W Broadway

Long Beach, CA 90802

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Located in Downtown Long Beach, Jimmy Johns serves up delicious sub sandwiches, fast. Upon entering the restaurant and glancing over the large menu board, I knew what I wanted since I didn’t eat breakfast. I decided to order the J.J. Gargantuan since it included pretty much every type of meat they offered for sandwiches into one sandwich. The wait was no more than five minutes during lunch, which was amazing. The bread was fresh and soft. There was just enough mayo for the sandwich without making it soggy. Each bite of the sandwich was delicious and fulfilling. Overall, Jimmy Johns provided a great sandwich experience that is worth coming back to again and again. If you have never tried Jimmy Johns, you should definitely give them a try.

Jan 30

Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria – Anaheim, CA

1510 Disneyland Dr

Anaheim, CA 92802

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Located in the Downtown Disney District, Naples serves up a variety of Italian cuisine including their famous pizzas. When I entered without any reservation, I was offered immediate seating at the bar or I could wait for a table. Since I was already quite hungry,  I opted for the bar. After finding a spot, the bartender provided me with a menu and a glass of water. After a quick review of the menu, I knew what I wanted.

Today, I decided to order a strawberry lemonade along with an individual 10″ margherita pizza. After ordering, I was offered bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread was soft and fresh and tasted great dipped into the oil. The strawberry lemonade was sweet, and I received free refills, but I would have liked some strawberries inside the glass as well. The pizza did not take too long to arrive, and it looked beautiful. The server also offered to add more cheese to the top, and how could I resist? The pizza was cut into four large cheesy slices. Each bite tasted fresh and delicious, especially when you bite into a large chunk of fresh mozzarella cheese or piece of basil. I wished the crust was not as chewy, but the pizza was still delicious. I was also hoping for more sauce, but I could only ask for so much.

Overall, Naples serves up delicious pizza with a smile. My server/bartender, George, provided amazing service and was on top of checking on me and making sure I had everything I needed. The restaurant does provide an AP and DVC 10% discount if you have either. With amazing service, and decent prices, I definitely recommend a visit to Naples if you are in the mood for Italian food during your time at Disneyland.

Jan 26

Rock Bottom – Long Beach

1 Pine Ave

Long Beach, CA 90802

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Located in Downtown Long Beach right off East Ocean Boulevard, Rock Bottom serves up many American classics in innovative styles. Upon entering the restaurant, a  hostess quickly located an available table and provided menus. The menus were descriptive and pictures were very inviting. After requesting for water and reviewing the menu, I was ready to order.

Today, I decided to try their 2 A.M. burger with a side of mac n cheese. The 2 A.M. burger was delicious and arrived cooked to medium as requested. The fried egg and hash brown really went well with the beef patty and bacon. There was plenty of beef to fill the fluffy bun. I really felt like I was eating a fancy breakfast burger containing many of my favorite ingredients. The mac n cheese was very cheesy and I appreciated the Parmesan breadcrumbs that added that much-needed texture to the warm side.

Overall, Rock Bottom serves up tasty American food with excellent service and food quality. Prices are in range of what you would expect from an American sit-down restaurant, but on the higher side. If you happen to be in downtown Long Beach, then you will not be disappointed with a meal from Rock Bottom.

Jan 23

Five50 Pizza Bar – Las Vegas, NV

3730 S Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Located inside Aria Resort & Casino, Five50 Pizza Bar serves up pizza slices to hungry patrons. The restaurant offers take out slices as well as a full sit-down restaurant. We just wanted a quick bite, so we opted for the slices. Once you select the slices, the server places them in the oven to warm them up. We requested the Gotham slices to be boxed up so that we could eat in the room. The pizza was actually quite hearty and had plenty of sauce. The toppings were plentiful with various meats, but the pizza was quite greasy. Prices were a bit high at $7 a slice, but it did taste pretty good. If you are staying at Aria, then Five50 would be a decent choice for pizza, but I would not go out-of-the-way to eat here.

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