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At Last Cafe – Long Beach, CA

We’ve been trying to go to this place for awhile, however it has been difficult to get everyone to agree upon a set time for dinner. You DEFINITELY need reservations (at least 24 hrs prior) as there aren’t many tables. The hassle is well worth it.

There’s been a lot of hype about this restaurant in the neighborhood, and I can see why. While it is not located in the most ideal place, (parking is a bit hard to find; don’t expect a Tiffany’s next door) the food is absolutely heavenly. If you are in the mood for hearty comfort food, this place has all the fixings.

For dinner I ordered the pot roast. Very delicious, moist, and tender. It could have used a bit more pepper, but that is why you have it on the table. For dessert we shared the Crème brûlée and the Apple Crisp; both to die for. I also tried my friend’s Mac and Cheese which had such an amazing crunchy texture.

There isn’t any alcohol on the menu; however there is no corkage fee.

We’re definitely going back. It is an amazing value for the quality of food! Prices are relatively inexpensive (~$10/entre).

Official Website:
http://jmchefcatering.com/

Contact Info:
204 Orange Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 437-4837

Restaurant:
33°46′4.77″N
118°10′36.68″W

At Last Cafe Pot Roast

At Last Cafe Apple Crumble

2009: 09/19
CATEGORY: CA-Long Beach
Food
Restaurants
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Kavikas Grill & Bar – Long Beach, CA

Tonight my friends and I didn’t feel much like cooking, so we though we’d try this new place at the Pike called Kavikas. It’s located right above the V2O dance club in Rainbow Harbor. Self dubbed as “Fresh Fusion & California Cuisine”, I’d say it had a distinct Asian/Hawaiian flare.

They really did a great job on the design of the place – modern and very solid. Inside there is a huge two-way fireplace separating the dining area from the bar. This would be a great place to stop by for happy hour as there are multiple large monitors and plenty of bar seating.

We started with the Nachos. AMAZING. They almost resembled the wrapping egg rolls come in. For dinner it was a tough decision, but I ended up with the Wood Fired Grilled Prawns per our waiter’s recommendation. The sauce was excellent and was just the right level of spicy. We’d heard the fries were great, so I decided to get those as the side for everyone to share. No complaints!

Overall, my friends and I were very happy with the food and will definitely be back.

Official Website:
http://www.kavikas.com/

Contact Info:
95 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 432-8700

Restaurant:
33°45′48.25″N
118°11′43.37″W

Kavikas

Kavikas Grilled Shrimp & Fries

Kavikas Firewall

2009: 09/16
CATEGORY: CA-Long Beach
Food
Restaurants
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Apsara – Blue Ash, OH

Not feeling too adventurous this evening, I thought I’d try this Asian restaurant that was right next to my hotel. My first impression was good. The decor was warm, inviting, and unique. There was a huge waterfall behind the sushi bar that was very relaxing. For a Tuesday night, the place was pretty empty. Hopefully that would mean faster service for me!

After looking through the menu I realized this wasn’t just one type of Asian cuisine. You could get everything from sushi, Thai, Chinese, Indian, and Sri Lankin. So much to choose from…. I thought I’d try a little bit of everything, so I ordered a California roll (not feeling adventurous enough to try real sushi), the chicken satay as an appetizer, and the cashew chicken.

I would not recommend the chicken satay (bland/dry), however both the cashew chicken and California roll were excellent. The steamed jasmine rice was very tasty as well. Next time I’ll have to try the coconut-ginger rice.

While nothing I had was the best I ever had, it was good and very conveniently located next to my hotel. I had no complaints about the service, and look forward to sampling additional items from the extensive eclectic menu the next time I’m in town.

Official Website:
http://www.apsaraasiancuisine.com/

Contact Info:
4785 Lake Forest Dr
Blue Ash, OH 45242
(513) 554-1040

Restaurant:
39°15′5.77″N
84°22′42.15″W

Aspara - Blue Ash, OH

2009: 09/09
CATEGORY: Food
OH-Cincinnati
Restaurants
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Old Tony’s – Redondo Beach Pier

After a long morning of sightseeing, I needed to grab a quick bite for lunch. This was the first time I’ve been to Old Tony’s for lunch, however dinner had been excellent in the past. Located on the Redondo Beach Pier, Old Tony’s is a great spot for those in search of a scenic dining location. Enjoy hearing the soothing waves break while enjoying your lunch/dinner.

The decor is circa 1970’s, but the food is A+. Don’t think I would change the decor – it is nostalgic and just wouldn’t be the same. If you’re waiting for a table, take a look at the autographed celebrity photos from past distinguished visitors. Also, the bar upstairs has breathtaking panoramic views. This is a great place to watch the sunset.

For lunch I decided to try their charbroiled halibut. It was a good choice; however I would recommend getting it blackened. Even though it was 90 degrees out, I still had my favorite salmon chowder. For dinner, don’t pass up the twin lobster tails. Don’t know how they prepare them, but they are by far tastiest lobster tails I’ve had. Make sure to get the smaller tails, and not the one big tail.

Service is excellent. Not once did I feel like I was waiting for the waitress in all of the times I’ve been there – even on busy nights. I would bet that it has always been that way since they opened in 1952.

Official Website:
http://www.oldtonys.com/

Contact Info:
210 Fisherman’s Wharf
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 374-1442

Restaurant:
33°50′21.15″N
118°23′29.76″W

Old Tony's