THE SUNSET

November 20, 2012 6:39 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

WHERE: The Sunset Restaurant on Westward Beach, Malibu, CA.

I have to say, I went into this restaurant experience thinking it was going to be terrible.  In my not so recent visits, I have found the food mediocre and the presence of Malibu cougars/locals not so appealing.  But tonight was different. This review is based on tonight.  It is amazing how the BEST FRIENDS, great service and a better choice in food makes all the difference.  We had an attentive server, who dealt with 3 picky moms, 6 kids and a broken glass by a child (of course, mine) with such elegance, it made our night easy, fun and light!

The other small detail… we sat in the lounge, where every item is $5 from 5-8 Monday through Friday!

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MOTHER SAYS:

I have to say, tonight I enjoyed the wine and picked off the kids food, so I sampled a bit of everything except the pork sliders (Char ordered), because I don’t eat pig…

Of everything I tried, I enjoyed the baby calamari the most.  Charlotte was right, the regular calamari were below average (Char hated), but the babies (Char loved) were delicious, and dipped in the mildly spicy marinara sauce were perfect to nibble on with my 5 dollar chardonnay.

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DAUGHTER SAYS:

I am still hungry, this is just chicken on a stick!  The pork sandwich (pulled pork slider) is soooo good, I love it! I don’t like the calamari, but the little ones are good.

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OVERALL RATING:

LOCATION/AMBIANCE: 8 out of 10- beachfront in Malibu… but crowd is not my favorite.

SERVICE: 9 out of 10- 6 kids in the lounge and we never waited for anything!

FOOD: 6 out of 10- we are picky…

OVERALL:  7 out of 10- not exciting, but for the $5 menu it is fun, easy and great value.  Take your kids, enjoy the view and stick to fries and wine.

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BUI SUSHI

November 14, 2012 7:07 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

WHERE: Bui Sushi, Malibu CA.

Am I allowed to say that I might like Bui more than Nobu?!? Bui is easy, tourist free and divine sushi.  The ambiance does not compare to the new oceanfront Nobu, but the sushi and neighborhood feel make up for it.  Char and I met some friends at Bui tonight and had the best time.

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MOTHER SAYS:

There are so many good things on the menu… my favorites are the rainbow crunch roll, hamachi carpaccio, peppered crusted tuna roll and their mixed green salad.  All are spicy and flavorfully diverse.

We tried the paradise roll tonight and it was not paradise, we had to send it back…

Peppered crusted tuna roll below (shrimp tempura, avocado and cucumber inside, topped with peppered tuna and jalapeno salsa)… so so heavenly.

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DAUGHTER SAYS:

I ate the avocado roll, it was soo good. I ate noodles (the lo main garlic noodles with tiger shrimp), it was my favorite. I had rice and miso soup and mixed them together it was so yummy.

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Unfortunately they were out out of the fried popcorn shrimp, which is a favorite for our boys.  They served us shrimp tempura instead, which none of the kids enjoyed.

If you order anything at Bui, it should be the tempura pancake banana split, it is one of our top five favorite desserts in the universe.

OVERALL RATING:

Location/Ambiance: 7 out of 10- nice outdoor seating with fireplace, cozy all throughout, complete neighborhood feel.  Accommodates kids.  However, it is near Ralphs, CVS etc..

Service: 9 out of 10-  very friendly staff, you get to know them. Fun. EASY.

Food: 9 out of 10-  usually it is a 10, but the shrimp tempura and paradise roll were less than mouth watering.  As long as you know what to order you can expect a 10.

Overall: 8 out of 10- it is our favorite Malibu sushi…

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GJELINA

November 7, 2012 4:17 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

WHERE: Gjelina located in Venice, CA.

On Sunday, my family (Christa included), took me to a birthday brunch at Gjelina on Abbot Kinney in Venice.  It was a leisurely brunch filled with so many unique flavors, from light and delicate to rich and savory…

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MOTHER SAYS:

The Rose champagne was crisp and dry, perfectly refreshing for the 80 degree November day.

Christa and I shared the Tuscan kale salad, it was fresh, but it was missing something… it did not have the WOW factor we were expecting.  The light kale salad did combine nicely with the tomato burrata pizza; juicy sweet tomatoes, basil and rich burrata.

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DAUGHTER SAYS:

I ordered the lamb sausage pizza.  I sort of liked the vegetables on the pizza and the sausage was yummy, but I don’t like the crust.  It was my mom’s birthday.  It was fun, we also had fries, delicious.

The Chocolate Gelato is the yummiest thing in the world!

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CHRISTA SAYS:

The lemon ricotta pancakes Rivers ordered were ridick, lemon ohh, ricotta, best of life. The fries with the romesco and aioli are the best fries ever.  Why is the flourless chocolate cake so amazing?

… maybe it is the hint of ginger or the hazelnut crunch, the most mouth watering birthday dessert.

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OVERALL RATING:

LOCATION/AMBIANCE: 7 out of 10 – a nice hip outside garden feel, while inside is loud and happening.

SERVICE: 8 out of 10 – don’t try to modify your order, it is clearly stated on the menu that changes and modifications will be politely declined.

FOOD: 9 out 10 – they support local, sustainable & organic practices whenever possible.

OVERALL: 8.5 – a favorite, with satiating food, a hipster ambiance and good fun.

Have you been to this restaurant? Did you like it? Did you love it? Did you loathe it? Let us know by posting in the COMMENT box at the top of this post.

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SAN YSIDRO RANCH

October 30, 2012 5:37 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

WHERE:  San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito, CA.

Charlotte and I were lucky enough to go to an intimate wedding at San Ysidro Ranch over the weekend.  The groom is the biggest foodie, so it was no surprise that every morsel of food was pure delight.  We wish we could have had every bite of everything.

This is the the first wedding in years I have been to, that kids were also invited to.  The special touches provided for the children were beyond thoughtful and quite enchanting.

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MOTHER SAYS:

I wish I had five stomachs to eat all the delicious food.  Cocktail hour started with bite sized crab cakes with a dab of slightly spicy aioli sauce, fried artichokes, fresh bruschetta with the ripest multi-colored sweetest tomatoes as well as a lobster roll to die for.

I enjoyed the Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc, it was light and dry, not fruity at all. I loved it.

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The dinner started with a bang…  a spicy ahi tuna with corn and avocado salsa and a cilantro vinaigrette.  Next was a little gem lettuce with avocado, manchego cheese, watermelon radish, and whole grain mustard vinaigrette.

Honestly, I wish I had had the main entree first, by the time it came I was so full, but there was no way I could resist the parmesan crusted halibut with gnochetti, kalamata olives, oven dried tomatoes and and pesto beurre blanc.  It melted in my mouth.

I could only survive one bite of the pan seared filet of beef… I was too full.

DAUGHTER SAYS:

The bite sized fried artichokes were my favorite of the night.  The tuna was very good and the pizza was good, I wish I could have ate more.  I loved the carrots and celery served with the ranch and peanut butter.  It was fun.  The dark chocolate cake was yum, much better than the milk chocolate cake.  I love weddings.

OVERALL RATING: 10 on everything, it is the San Ysidro Ranch!

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TRA DI NOI

October 19, 2012 4:17 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

WHERE: Tra di Noi is located in the Cross Creek center in Malibu, CA

Charlotte (8yrs), Rivers (4yrs) and I went to Tra di Noi for an early dinner.  As usual, it was perfection!

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MOTHER SAYS:

It is the most idyllic location, I sat with a glass of wine and a magazine, while the kids played on the playground in front of the restaurant.

I had a glass of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, it was light and dry, the wine is a little pricey, but so worth it.

The bread is fresh (two-types) and it is served with a delicious olive tapenade. The Burrata E Pomodoro is my favorite item on the menu — Mozarella stuffed with mascarpone cheese over mixed greens, seasonal tomatoes, lemon, oregano and olive oil.  This may be my favorite item on any menu.  It is so mouth-watering, pair it with with their wine and you are set, add their pizza if you are feeling extra decadent.

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DAUGHTER SAYS:

Charlotte ordered the Angel Hair Bolognese:

So yummy, a lot of meat. It was really good. One-hundred percent good.

She ate every bite…

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Rivers had the cheese pizza, which I also nibbled on.  It is a superb restaurant pizza, the crust is thin yet substantial and the topping is flavorful but not overpowering.  R gave it a thumbs up, which is saying a lot…

OVERALL RATING:

Location/Ambiance: 9 out of 10- insane food while your kids play.

Service: 10 out of 10- I sat down and they served me a glass of wine.

Food: 9.5 out 10

Overall: 9.5- A Malibu fave

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CAFE HABANA

October 13, 2012 4:22 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

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WHERE:  Cafe Habana, Malibu, CA

Charlotte (my 8 year old foodie) and I went to Cafe Habana in Malibu on Saturday,  for a girl’s lunch with one of our besties, Corie… it was perfect weather, great service and pretty good food.

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MOTHER SAYS:

The chips at Cafe Habana are always only average and the salsa a little too runny and burnt tasting for me, but Charlotte likes it — especially if we order the guacamole, which too is very mediocre.  I usually skip the chips and order fries, wine and a salad.

The salads are yum…very fresh.  I ordered the Raw Vegetable Salad with chopped carrots, green beans, corn and their house dressing with manchego cheese. it is pretty good.  This chopped salad is fine and good, but I have had better.  I was originally served the malibu wine which I gladly exchanged for the Chateau St Michelle, which was much better!!  The fries are perfect! When in doubt stick to fries and wine.

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DAUGHTER SAYS:

I have chips and salsa, it is good. I ordered a pork taco with avocado but nothing else.  the chips and salsa are a little bit spicy but good and yummy.  I don’t like the cheese on the tacos, so we take it off. The pork was good. I was not interested in anything on the kids menu.  The lime was good.  The rice and beans were good, and the lemonade was good. The waitress is good, she let’s us sit outside. I went with my mom and Corie, but Corie did not write because she was just our guest.  This job was fun for the first time.  It was our first time ever, I thought it was super fun.  The end.

If Charlotte likes something, she thoroughly enjoys every bite, she is a true foodie… She ate only half of one taco…  I am sure these tacos would be much better with the pico de gallo and all the trimmings.  You will have to be the judge.

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Corie ordered the fish tacos and thought they were as good as they get, with a delicious sauce and array of fresh vegetables and pleasantly seasoned fish.  I have heard from many others that the fish tacos are mouth-watering, the best item on the menu.  I think next time I will have to try.

OVERALL RATING:

Location/Ambiance: 8 out 10

Service:  7.5 out of 10

Food: 6 out of 10

Overall: 7 out of 10- a great meeting place for a drink and a snack (on Wednesdays, they have a bustling Karaoke from 9pm).

Have you been to this restaurant? Did you like it? Did you love it? Did you loathe it? Let us know by posting in the COMMENT box at the top of this post.

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Thanks!

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