Solano County Dining

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Less Than A Buck

For less than a buck, I've bought highly-complimented designer shades that actually don't break on my face.

I've also purchased microfiber towels, extra tools for the home, and kitchenware second only to Pampered Chef.

I really, really love the 99 cents only store! That's my "best stuff to buy" there article.

There's one on Peabody and one off of Beck Street. Believe me, if you are frugal minded, it ain't a bad place to shop.

Not too sure about the food, though. Anyone have any input?

Bay Berry

Be expecting a full review about Bay Berry at Nut Tree real soon. Yogurt's not bad, but the gelato? Ohhhhh goodness.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Aki Sushi

Aki Sushi review posted. Oh, man what a great place. Been there a few times now.

King's Buffet

Ok, I don't like to trash-talk restaurants, but I was very disappointed with King's Buffet the other night.

We went there b/c it was my son's birthday and he loves the place. It isn't bad to me. My wife isn't a big fan, but she tolerates it. I don't mind it because the food is generally good IF you go when it's busy. Busy times are the only time to go to a buffet or else you may end up eating leftovers from lunch.

Anyway, halfway through the meal we saw a piece of paper in my son's water cup. We thought it was his straw wrapping. It wasn't. It was a fortune from a fortune cookie. The problem is that you only get those at the end of the meal, so it wasn't ours. We just said not to drink from that cup and instead drink from mine.

Well, when I got a refill I looked at my cup and there were white swirling things in it. It looked like halfway dissolved paper.

Yuck.

That's just nasty. The cups aren't being properly washed. Since all of this was towards the end of the meal, we paid for it. I told the waiter and he looked confused. I told the manager and he was apologetic.

But when we got outside, my wife said that she had to go through a few bowls at the buffet before she found one that didn't have food on it.

This is concerning because if the dishes aren't being properly washed, how do you know the food is being properly cooked? Thank goodnes none of us got sick.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Official Favela's Fusion Review

So it was written, so it was done. Check out the Favela's review here

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Favela's Fusion

Thanks to Wade, Jo Ann, Sarah and Barb for giving this place high recommendations. An official review is coming soon, but wow. I really LOVE this place! It's too beautiful for Fairfield.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Kul Teh Vay

The Cultive review has been posted! It's in the Vacaville section. Not a better place to go after having some Mary's Pizza or a great movie. Me? I just go at least two times a week. I can't help it! It's addictive!

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Welcome To Solano County Dining!

My name is Paul. I'm a frequent diner throughout the towns in Solano County. Solano County may be nestled between Sacramento and San Francisco, but there is so much going on here I hope more travelers will take time to stop and enjoy a meal!

I'm a family guy from the east coast and since having moved here two years ago from the Carolinas, I've learned to enjoy the not-so-greasy food here. This website will feature reviews of the many restaurants that my wonderful family and I have visited in Solano County.

I never go into a restaurant and announce that I'm a reviewer, so each one of these articles is a totally honest, in-the-moment review. I've posted snippets of each restaurant review under the titles.

Fairfield

Fairfield is home to Travis Air Force Base, California. And where you find the military, you find good food. Since Fairfield is right off of 80 and not too far from San Fran or Sacramento, many a traveler has made a pit stop and had some good, local dining. Click on the restaurant names to read the full review.

New! Aki Sushi!- Travis and Texas Street

Aki Sushi's head chef is no ordinary slicer and dicer. He comes with high credentials as a trained chef who honed his skills in Japan. One patron of Aki Sushi was ordering a different Nigiri roll every 10 minutes. "This guy is the best", she told me. "I drive 40 miles every other week to eat his sushi. I've had the best in Japan. He's the best."

Favela's Fusion- Oliver and Travis Blvd.

Favela's Fusion, located on 1500 Oliver Road next to Starbucks, is a high-end Mexican restaurant with all the perks and none of the price. I could go on about the intricate, Mexican-themed dishes. I could talk about Favela's tequila menu and expansive bar. But for now I'd rather muse about Favela's sheer beauty which sets it far apart from any other restaurant in Fairfield, California...

Dynasty Chinese Restaurant- Safeway Shopping Center on Waterman Blvd.

After a trip to San Francisco's Chinatown, my family and I were a little disappointed in the restaurant we went to. It was one that Rachel Ray visited on her "Under $40" television show. The food was o.k., but we expected a little more. We thought, "If we can't get good Chinese food in Chinatown, where CAN we?" ...

Joe's Buffet-Downtown Fairfield.

Local sandwich shops are always hit-and-miss. Honestly, what can you do to spruce up a ham sandwich that hasn't already been done by Subway or Quizno's? Every once in awhile you get lucky, but for the most part a sandwich place is a sandwich place.Unless you go to Joe's Buffet...

Hecho En Mexico- right outside Travis AFB.

"Hecho En Mexico" means "made in Mexico". The Hecho En Mexico restaurant may not BE in Mexico, but the food definitely it came straight off of mamacita's grill...

HuckleBerry's Restaurant- Corner of Travis Blvd and Oliver Road

There is an alligator head on the wall. My condiments are in a tin bucket. I look up and see someone's overall shorts on a clothesline. And THIS is where I chose to eat my breakfast?

Monsoon Burger- near downtown Fairfield.

Monsoon Burgers likes to keep things slightly on the healthy side even when you order the beef. Pei cooks your patties to order on a nifty rotating fire grill, just barely poking and prodding your meat until it is exactly how you ordered it, be it medium well or very rare. I ordered the mushroom 8 ounce with Swiss cheese (you get offered a variety of cheeses) for about 7 dollars. Although you have to wait a little bit since it's cooked to order on that rotating grill, each bite is worth the wait. Even cooked at medium well will still get you a juicy burger on a soft roll that you can't bite with your eyes open. The mushroom slices didn't taste like they came from a can and the combination of textures was just too sensual for my taste buds. This is burger heaven.

Sandy's 101 Omelettes- Texas Street

I've been spoiled by the south when it comes to getting a good breakfast. Since I'm a transplant from the Carolinas, I'm used to hitting up a Waffle House when I want a good, greasy morning start. I knew that moving to California was going to mean no more awful waffles, no more hash browns (scattered, smothered, covered, chunked), no more waitresses with less teeth than letters in their names- and I promise you that isn't too far of an exaggeration.In our quest for good breakfast, we were recommended that we try out Sandy's Home of 101 Omelettes to get a nice, filling breakfast. All I can say is that it was hard driving home with such a full stomach!

Pho Saigon- Texas Street

Typical Americans like me expect a ton of meat, few veggies, and would normally shun anything fresh or just classify it as health food and eat it with disdain. But my vermicelli bowl, featuring sautéed pork, was extremely tasty and filling. Yes, it was healthy, but everything just tasted so fresh. Half the bowl was crispy veggies, ¼ noodles, and ¼ meat, but for some reason I was stuffed at the end of the dish. The pork was just perfectly seasoned to hit every taste bud in between those crunchy vegetables.

Davis

During the spring my family and I made many trips to Davis, a college town 20 minutes south of Sacramento. This place is full of wonder and culture to all ends of the Earth. We've had some fun dining here and are sure to expand our restaurant hopping in this town very soon!

Kathmandu Nepalese Restaurant-downtown

The kid's plates were silver with dividers to keep the food from mixing up and sloshing. That is always a nice touch! Their chicken was tender as well. Although they didn't like the potato and broccoli stew, my wife and I had no problem helping them finish it...

Swirl Frozen Yogurt-downtown

Was it the fresh fruit toppings? Possibly. Who could resist fresh strawberries not congealed in some bad-for-you red syrup, or mangoes that tasted fresh off the tree? Was it the kid-friendly sizes and toppings like fruity pebbles and white chocolate chips? Maybe so...

Crepeville-downtown

At last count I found 16 meal crepes and 18 dessert crepes to choose from. Then there's the make your own crepe option that includes over 30 choices. Crepeville goes beyond crepes, too...

Vacaville

Vacaville is 15 minutes north of Fairfield. The main attractions here are the outlet malls in the Nut Tree area. Plenty of new restaurants opened up here a few years ago to include Fenton's Ice Cream, the same one from downtown Oakland. Most of the places I've eaten at in cowtown have been chain restaurants, but I'm finding some nice local spots to dine at. Keep checking back here as I add to the list!

Hand-Me-A-Rib- Alamo and I-80
Before I get into the quality of food and lovely service, I must talk about my favorite part of this restaurant: the sweet tea. I absolutely can't believe that they serve ready-brewed sweet tea. This is almost liquid crack cocaine to a southerner...

Gourmet Exprezz-Alamo and I-80

Despite my temptation to order their "world famous" potato cakes and giant-sized chicken kabobs, I had already come into Gourmet Exprezz with an agenda: I wanted a Doner Kabob. If you've never had a Doner Kabob you haven't experienced the best lunch item the Mediterranean has to offer. I liken it to the Greek Gyro, except better.

Torch of India- Downtown Vacaville

Upon entering Torch of India we noticed that this is a restaurant full of calming ambiance. The lighting is low and is combined with beautiful, sheer scarves that adorn the ceiling from the door to the back of the restaurant...

New! Cultive Frozen Yogurt -Brenden Movie Theater Area

Cultive (pronounced "KUL teh vay"), which is located on Davis Street across from the Brendan Movie Theatre in Vacaville, California, is the second frozen yogurt shop opened up by Ross Hanstad. Cultive serves the same style of yogurt except with a twist: the amount of frozen yogurt and toppings you get is determined by you...

Suisun City

Suisun City is right off of Highway 12 and I 80, making it a perfect launching point to Napa or San Francisco. However, after dining in some of the local restaurants, you may not want to leave. After all, Suisun is home to the Budweiser plant AND the Jelly Belly Factory. More fun for your tummy!

Uncle Bong's Pizza- Main Street

On another night I returned, there was a rowdy customer that was obviously causing a ruckus in an otherwise peaceful domain. Right before he was escorted out of the building, he made a point to tell the cook, "Sorry for all the trouble, but your pizza is delicious!" If you can please a troublemaker, you can please anyone...

Sisig's Filipino Take Out- Highway 12

Sisig's offers up some decent pancit and honestly the best lumpia in a 30 mile radius from my house. There are typically a dozen options when it comes to picking what you want for lunch at Sisig's...

La Cabana Restaurant- Main Street
La Cabana is not your typical Mexican diner. There is a viking wench statue as you enter the restaurant. How can you NOT eat here?The designer came up with neat little characters and icons to help you decide what to eat. They aren't just listing tacos and enchiladas at La Cabana; you will be entertained just trying to make a selection of relatively low cost entrees. ..

Athenian Grill-Waterfront

Restaurant-hoppers are often looking for that perfect mix of restaurant- excellent view, friendly and quick service, quality food, doable price. We tend to hop from place to place in search of that "perfect spot" where you wish everyone would eat at, but not while you are there.The Athenian Grill in Suisun City is that place.

Babs Delta Diner-Waterfront

The décor of Bab's is built on one theme: old Coca Cola signs. Everywhere. Calendars, plates, bottles, ads...you name it. If Coke made an ad for it before 1970, it's probably in Bab's. If you are a Coca Cola lover, this is YOUR restaurant!

Joy of Eating- Waterfront

If you like trains and trolleys this is the place for you. The entire restaurant is decorated with trolley cars, train cars and railroad décor. Even the menus are designed with trains in mind, offering train-themed meal categories. It is refreshing to see a restaurant with some character to it.

Beyond Solano County

My family isn't afraid to venture out beyond our county lines. We've been to wonderful places like American Canyon, Berkely, San Francisco and even Yosemite!

Parry's Pizzeria- American Canyon

Locating authentic New York style pizza is always going to be a challenge outside of the Big Apple, but it is an even bigger challenge 2,000 miles away on the west coast. Thank goodness for places like Parry's Pizza, a family-owned pizzeria located in American Canyon, California. American Canyon is a relatively new town 30 minutes north of San Francisco and on the way to Napa Valley, but Parry's Pizza could very well put it on the map!

Looney's Barbecue in Berkeley

My family and I were hunting for good barbecue and had no luck. Since we've moved here to California, we've tried a few places but nothing seemed to taste right. We're from North Carolina where barbecue is everywhere, and we're friends with a few Texans who know how to smoke a mean brisket. This place has largest beef ribs I have ever seen in my life.

Mitchell's Ice Cream- San Francisco 29th Street

I had seen Mitchell's Ice Cream on a Travel Channel show that featured eateries that served unusual and non-traditional flavors. Mitchell's was definitely an example of such an eatery with their broad and expansive ice cream menu. Not only could you get regular combinations of chocolate, caramel and vanilla ice creams, Mitchell's features tropical flavors you don't see every day.

The Awhanee Bar in Yosemite-
Our server, Carey, was watching me go through some pictures on my camera. She offered to take a picture for our family as we waited for our food. They came by the table and promptly refilled our drinks without asking before they were even ¾ of the way down. It may seem like little things, but extra attentive service can create memories when you could be dining anywhere else.

The Mountain Room in Yosemite-

When you enter the Mountain Room, the first thing you notice is the spectacular view (for which I forgot my camera. Ouch!). To the back of the room is a large open window that offers a magnificent shot of upper Yosemite Falls. It almost seems like the falls are indeed going to splash onto as you eat because the view is so clear.