Last weekend I met several girlfriends at Sharkeez for a girls' brunch. The draw was the Bloody Mary bar, which turned out to be a lot of fun. We had a large group so we made a reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival. You have to go to the bar to order any food or drink, which is a bit of a hassle but not something that would stop me from going. Several of us ordered Bloody Marys and were presented with a mini pitcher filled with ice and two generous shots of vodka for $7.95. You can get a higher-than-standard grade of vodka for an additional fee. In the front of the restaurant is the actual Bloody Mary bar. The options are endless - different types of Bloody Mary mix and tomato juice; all kinds of seasonings; hot sauce; horseradish; olives stuffed with blue cheese, habaneros, or garlic; and pickled asparagus and green beans.
After everyone arrived we ordered food. I had an omelet with spinach, mixed vegetables, garlic, mushrooms and jack, cheddar, and parmesan cheeses inside and topped with tomatillo sauce, pico de gallo, and cotija cheese. It came with jalapeno cheddar potatoes and grilled Hawaiian bread. The meal was large enough to feed two people. The sauce and the cheese added great, tangy flavor and the grilled Hawaiian bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It came with a sweet butter that added to the sweetness of the bread in a great way. It's hard to say which I liked better, the omelet or the bread. The potatoes were average and not what I expected; they were not spicy at all and didn't seem like they had cheese.
When you order any meal, you can add unlimited champagne for one hour for a minimal cost of $3.95. They also have a pretty exceptional breakfast special which includes two eggs, pancakes or French toast, potatoes, and two strips of bacon for only $3.75. One of my girlfriends ordered it and was happy.
The food at Sharkeez is in no way gourmet but if you're looking for a fun time with better than average food, I highly recommend it. I've been several times for their "Burritos and Mojitos" Thursdays and would recommend their lobster burrito over any other that I've eaten. I've also tried the chicken burrito, which is very good as well. And their Taco Tuesday compares to many others except with lower prices than I've seen.
Expect a lively atmosphere any time of the day. It can get loud and is definitely a bar atmosphere, not appropriate for children. This restaurant is best for a casual date or brunch and is a great location to watch sports. They have drink and food specials every day of the week. They also have all kinds of special offers for groups and activities throughout the year (for example, they have a costume contest for Halloween). If you make a group reservation, you get a complimentary appetizer platter which is very large and includes individual steak nachos, chicken flautas, boneless Buffalo bites and cheese quesadillas served with guacamole, sour cream and fresh pico de gallo.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Fish Tacos at Coyote Grill ~ South Laguna Beach
I have been to Coyote Grill once before today but it was several years ago. The oceanview patio has been remodeled and expanded. The service is quick and pleasant. In the middle of the day on a work day it wasn't crowded however I've heard that it is a popular place and gets pretty busy on the weekends.
I ordered the fish tacos with black beans and rice. The sides were seasoned well but were pretty standard for a Mexican restaurant. The fish tacos, on the other hand, were definitely above average. The fish was seasoned and cooked perfectly. It was flaky and moist. The crunch of just the right amount of shredded cabbage was the perfect compliment to the soft fish. The pico de gallo in the taco paired well with the slight sweetness of the fish and the cilantro added freshness. The plate comes with two decent sized tacos. I was pretty hungry and didn't overindulge on the chips and salsa beforehand but had a hard time finishing both tacos. I could have easily stopped with one and a half. My friend, Camille, ordered the chicken tacos and said that they were also fairly large but that the chicken was a little bit dry.
The patio is adorned with twinkle lights in the evenings. This is a great restaurant for a casual date or a family dinner. There is a well-stocked bar inside the restaurant that seems to attract a lot of locals.
I ordered the fish tacos with black beans and rice. The sides were seasoned well but were pretty standard for a Mexican restaurant. The fish tacos, on the other hand, were definitely above average. The fish was seasoned and cooked perfectly. It was flaky and moist. The crunch of just the right amount of shredded cabbage was the perfect compliment to the soft fish. The pico de gallo in the taco paired well with the slight sweetness of the fish and the cilantro added freshness. The plate comes with two decent sized tacos. I was pretty hungry and didn't overindulge on the chips and salsa beforehand but had a hard time finishing both tacos. I could have easily stopped with one and a half. My friend, Camille, ordered the chicken tacos and said that they were also fairly large but that the chicken was a little bit dry.
The patio is adorned with twinkle lights in the evenings. This is a great restaurant for a casual date or a family dinner. There is a well-stocked bar inside the restaurant that seems to attract a lot of locals.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Great People Watching and Great Food ~ Sugar Shack ~ Huntington Beach
My husband and I go to the Sugar Shack most often for breakfast but have also been for lunch. They are open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week and have been on Main St since 1967. The staff is friendly, the service is surprisingly quick, and you will never sit in want of coffee refills. In the winter when it's less crowded, we sit on the front patio facing Main St. When it is more crowded we go to the back patio where the wait is much shorter. Our first year in Huntington we had a craving for Sugar Shack so badly that we walked over in the misty rain and sat inside.
We often ask the waitress to bring either a banana nut muffin or half order of biscuits and gravy (only available on the weekend) as quickly as possible. Our all-time favorite breakfast entree is the breakfast burrito. It's difficult to say which is more appealing, the actual burrito or the hash browns that come with it. Dan usually gets it with sausage and my favorite is with bacon. One of the many times that we've brought family there my step Mom Rebecca had the avocado breakfast burrito and said it was great. We've tried the omeletes and the pancakes. You just can't beat a breakfast at the Sugar Shack. When I want to be healthy, I order the Cream of Wheat. They bring out a bowl large enough to feed an army with milk and brown sugar that you can add to your liking. I usually add bananas but have tried the raisins, as well. Both are good but I prefer the bananas. A side of toast and a cup of coffee and I'm in heaven.
We have gone a few times for lunch. I specifically remember a Spring day sitting on the front patio watching all of the crazy cars with hydrolics go by. The tuna sandwich is wonderful, the grilled ham and cheese only ok. I prefer thin sliced ham and there's is cut thick. The grilled chicken club is juicy and delicious. All of the sandwiches come with a choice of fries, potato salad, steamed rice, fruit, or cottage cheese. I usually get the french fries. They are steak cut and crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside - just the way I like them.
When you go to the Sugar Shack, you feel like you're eating at a family member's house. I can't say enough about the quality of the service and the friendliness of the staff.
We often ask the waitress to bring either a banana nut muffin or half order of biscuits and gravy (only available on the weekend) as quickly as possible. Our all-time favorite breakfast entree is the breakfast burrito. It's difficult to say which is more appealing, the actual burrito or the hash browns that come with it. Dan usually gets it with sausage and my favorite is with bacon. One of the many times that we've brought family there my step Mom Rebecca had the avocado breakfast burrito and said it was great. We've tried the omeletes and the pancakes. You just can't beat a breakfast at the Sugar Shack. When I want to be healthy, I order the Cream of Wheat. They bring out a bowl large enough to feed an army with milk and brown sugar that you can add to your liking. I usually add bananas but have tried the raisins, as well. Both are good but I prefer the bananas. A side of toast and a cup of coffee and I'm in heaven.
We have gone a few times for lunch. I specifically remember a Spring day sitting on the front patio watching all of the crazy cars with hydrolics go by. The tuna sandwich is wonderful, the grilled ham and cheese only ok. I prefer thin sliced ham and there's is cut thick. The grilled chicken club is juicy and delicious. All of the sandwiches come with a choice of fries, potato salad, steamed rice, fruit, or cottage cheese. I usually get the french fries. They are steak cut and crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside - just the way I like them.
When you go to the Sugar Shack, you feel like you're eating at a family member's house. I can't say enough about the quality of the service and the friendliness of the staff.
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