Category Archives: Restaurant Reviews

March 31, 2013

Contemporary Cantina Laredo – A Must Taste

The place for delicious Mexican food.

Have you ever taken a bite of something so delicious you wanted to stand up and announce to the entire restaurant that they should order what you have just tasted? I had such a bite at Cantina Laredo a last week — the Chilean Sea Bass with rice and asparagus — and just to be certain it wasn’t a fluke, I had another bite and another until my portion was gone. And

Flakey Chilean Sea Bass – indescribably delicious.

the last bite was as gratifying and flavorful as the first.

But I should begin my experience with the appetizer — chips and the Top Shelf Guacamole made table side. Our waiter, Jose, went over every ingredient, asked us how hot we liked our guacamole, and then proceeded to entertain us with the artistry of making a fresh and

Jose plying his craft.

delicious beginning to our meal. Not only were the avocados flavorful and the heat spot-on, but the chips were crisp and salted to perfection – and they were just as crisp the next day.

Not only is Jose excellent at making guacamole, he is also excellent at suggesting cocktails. He recommended the Cinco Rita, a blend of five tequilas; normally I avoid tequila, but this blend is smooth and, though potent, doesn’t taste of alcohol. A must try if you indulge in libations.

Another libation, non-alcoholic, is the Ahi Tuna Tacos. Though the menu describes the appetizer as “Mini-crispy tacos with sushi cut ahi tuna, chipotle aioli, jicama slaw and guacamole” all for $8.95, it does not convey the artistry of the plate. And, since I knew I couldn’t do justice to the order that looked like it should be framed in the Chicago Art Institute, I took a picture. Now, the first time we ordered, during the start of dinner service,

Scrumptious and beautiful.

it was perfection; the second time we ordered, during lunch, the tacos were laying on the guacamole instead of standing, and the filling was wetter than before so the bite wan’t as crispy, but the flavor remained.

Avoid the Mexican Apple Pie unless you want a mouthful of butter. Instead, try the Mango Tres Leches for dessert — the moist vanilla cake blanketed in a mango cream sauce is a combination of just enough sweetness to indulge the sweetest tooth and please those that prefer a subtler sweet.

Divine dessert – just sweet enough.

The dining space is split between indoor and out. Both are beautiful and inviting. What adds to the atmosphere is the professionalism and personality of the wait staff. When making our virgin visit on a Thursday night Happy Hour, we didn’t realize the outdoor tables weren’t connected to the bar and so the bill came with full price for everything. I asked how the system worked for next time and explained that one of the drinks that was charged wasn’t what was ordered (though still good and still consumed). Our server listened and when she returned, she had adjusted the bill to take care of the drink and one of our appetizers so it would be more in line with the Happy Hour special. In taking that extra step, she guaranteed my return even during happy hour when the place fills with a sea of business suits and after work chatter.

I can’t vouch for every Cantina Laredo franchise, but I can say with certainty that this one will make your dining experience a pleasure while pleasing your palate. Happy eating!

Leave a comment | tags: Cantina Laredo, Las Vegas, Mexican food, tequila, Tivoli Village | posted in Divine Dining, Off-Strip, Restaurant Reviews

March 23, 2013

Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill: Divine Dining in a Grand Location

By A. Gardner

The interior from the casino floor.

I have been dining at Wolfgang Puck’s Bar&Grill intermittently for nine years. My four most resent experiences have occurred in the last four months. What I can say is that this fixture tucked behind the MGM Grand’s main gaming floor and across from the KÀ theatre, is one of the most consistently delicious restaurants in Las Vegas. Nine years ago, when I first tasted cuisine from this kitchen, I was wowed. Its contemporary ambiance, stellar service, and delectable dishes, still wow — a consistency hard to find on the ever altering Vegas Strip.

In December I took a couple of Wolfgang Puck rookies to his Bar & Grill, a restaurant I had not visited in over three years, but was confident the meal would be delicious. One of them is a hamburger aficionado and so he ordered the Grilled Prime Burger with Vermont cheddar and smoked onion marmalade. I followed suit and what arrived was, he declared, the best burger he had ever tasted. After tasting what was put out at Gordon Ramsay’s BURGR, I agree (but that’s for another review). Wolfgang Puck’s burger delivers layers of flavor; from the

After . . . the first taste. Layers of perfection.

Crab Cakes after the first tastes.

flavor of the beef to the smokiness of the cheddar to the savoriness of the bun, the meal was so good that he ordered it again when we stopped in January before the Lady Gaga concert. Even the fries – shoestring and seasoned – were perfect crisp bites of potato that did not even need the garnish of ketchup.

Our appetizer, the Sautéed Maine Crab Cakes with tomato relish served on a bed of basil aioli, has been consistent perfection, so much so that they are a mainstay of every meal I have here. And the Crispy Chicken Milanese, served with an arugula and cherry tomato salad and grain mustard, is served with the salad covering the chicken so that what arrives looks deceptively green; however, when all elements are tasted

Chicken Milanese split for two with perfect presentation.

together – chicken and salad – just as served, the result is a a pop of crisp freshness blending the organic chicken with the plump tomatoes and slightly tart arugula. The portion is generous enough to split and each of us devoured the meal in spite of the knowledge that chocolate beignets were on their way.

Of course no meal is complete without dessert and we ordered two: the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée and the Chocolate Beignets with the caramel dipping sauce and vanilla ice cream. The beignets arrived warm and perfectly fried – just enough to crisp the dough without any excess oil; when bitten, the center oozed chocolate delight. Though I have enjoyed crème brûlée in many venues before, the one that this kitchen serves is one of the most delectable I have tasted – the vanilla pops and the berries sweeten the spoon just enough to provide brilliant contrast to the crisp top.

Last week I returned for a lunch service and though this Thursday afternoon was packed because of the PAC 12 Basketball Tournament, we were immediately seated and, within three minutes, had our server at our table explaining the specials and taking our drink order. Not only was our server attentive, her friendliness and knowledge of the menu perfectly complimented the food. My companion had not had the crab cakes before and, when they arrived, his response was, “Oh, my. That is delicious.” He savored every bite, pacing his eating so that his portion of the appetizer lasted until the main course arrived fifteen minutes later.

An appetizer fit for a main meal.

His main meal was the Mesquite Grilled Steak Skewers – strip steak marinated twenty-four hours until the pieces are grilled and basted and placed upon a bed of creamy celery salad. On our server’s recommendation, my plate consisted of Barbecued Chicken Panini with creamy coleslaw, balsamic grilled onions and chipotle aioli. (I was torn between the Barbecued Chicken Panini and the Fish & Chips, but she raved that the chicken was phenomenal.) The chicken was phenomenal. The panini was pressed just

Barbecue Chicken Panini.

right, giving it a golden hue that told of a slight crust which, when bit into, yielded to the louder crunch of the coleslaw. Combine the texture with the flavor of the balsamic grilled onions and the chipotle aioli and each bite became a luxury. The barbecue sauce was spicy and sweet and enhanced the delicate flavor of the juicy organic chicken breast. The fries were the same herbed perfection as before, and though they come with the sandwich, our server readily offered up a salad or vegetables or whatever I wanted instead.

I could rave about the apple pie or the pineapple upside down cake or the smoothness of the Vespa speciality cocktail, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll simply point you away from the Fish & Chips (the server was right) and to any other item they offer. I should also let you know that this Wolfgang Puck’s, like all of his restaurants on the Strip, offer locals complimentary dessert. How sweet is that?

Warm apple pie with cinnamon ice cream – a delicious pairing.

Leave a comment | tags: crab cakes, MGM Las Vegas, Wolfgang Puck | posted in Divine Dining, Everyday Eateries, Off-Strip, Restaurant Reviews, The Strip

March 8, 2013

The Crema Cafe – Crème de la Crème

By A. Gardner

Arrive early to avoid the line.

Benny saying hello. Isn’t he adorable?

Before I tell you about the food’s flavors and the staff’s professionalism and the café’s charm, let me tell you about Benny. Benny has been waddling into the café every Sunday for the past six years, he has been taking his place of honor beneath an outdoor table and under a red umbrella, and he has been waiting patiently for delicious scraps to come his way. Okay, Benny waits not so patiently: he is not above a bit of begging or a little whimpering, like a neglected soul, for one succulent morsel. Let me be clear – Benny is not neglected. The six year old pudgy pug is a well-fed gourmand. And, in my humble opinion, Benny’s favoritism for The Crema Cafe is spot-on. (His discerning taste could be due to his lineage: his grandsire is the none other than Tugboat Willie, the first and only pug thus far to win Pug Dog Club of America’s National Specialities three times.)

On my first trip to The Crema Cafe, as on my second, the place was packed inside and out. Though I had perused the menu online, the options left me wanting one of everything so I turned to the cashier/barista/waiter for help. I only have one meal, I told him. What do you recommend? He suggested the Breakfast crepe because of its uniqueness (scrambled eggs inside) and yummy goodness (with cheese, chorizo, avocado, sour cream). When I was leaning toward the fresh fruit as a side, he shepherded me towards the roasted potatoes. He was correct in doing so – the potatoes were crisp and spicy, middle-hot and flavor-layered, and the crepe crisp and perfectly fixed – just the right amount of each ingredient so that every fork full was a blend of each flavor. I would have devoured it all except I wanted to try a sweet Simple crepe for dessert – cinnamon and

Simple crepe with caramel sauce that might make you wish you had some privacy.

sugar drizzled with homemade caramel and a side of fresh whipped cream with a beautiful ripe strawberry for decor. None of this went to waste. On my way out, I picked up a chocolate croissant and a baguette for the five hour drive home. Both were divine, though the croissant was not quite as good as the one back home; however, the baguette tasted like one I bought my first time in Paris – only this time I had no Toblerone bar to melt between it on the train to Calais.

To taste The Crema Cafe this time, I organized my trip so I could enjoy an early Sunday morning breakfast. The Sunday regulars (Benny and company among them) give the café a welcoming atmosphere and, with the exception of this solitary writer, the tables were buzzing with laughter and talk – signs of good food. Patrons lingered over their meals, enjoying another cup of coffee from the self-serve carafes, or talking for a bit with passing friends. Their canine companions lounged about the outdoor tables, greeting canine and humans alike with a smile or tail wag.

Gas heaters and red umbrellas make this outdoor space warm and welcoming.

Seating is indoors and out, and when the mornings are chilly, free-standing heaters dot the patio to ward off the crisp air. My server this Sunday morning was Jennifer. Attentive and conscientious, she smiled the entire time, whether she brought meals or bussed tables or simply walked back inside for the next order up.

Wanting to try something different, my breakfast was a spinach and mushroom and cheese crepe. Though good, it lacked in comparison to the Breakfast crepe. Its

Spinach Mushroom Crepe with a side of fruit.

edges contrasted well with the perfectly browned middle; however, the filling did not retain its heat, and by the time I was a third of the way through, the crepe had cooled. I also made the error of ordering the fruit in an attempt to have at least one healthy item on my plate. Next time I will throw health to the wind and order the roasted potatoes or the Belgian Waffle with whipped cream or the Buttermilk Pancake or the Roasted Vegetable Benedict smothered in hollandaise – and, of course, a sweet crepe for dessert – maybe the Caramelized Apple & Pear à la mode. Of course, I had to try a sweet crepe for dessert, and, of course, I opted for the one carrying the café’s name, the Crema Crepe. This one’s every bite delighted. Shamelessly, I combined the caramel and the whipped cream to create my own bit of heaven. While I was savoring the deliciousness, stacks of waffles floated out of the kitchen only to be inhaled by waiting diners. In fact, all food that came form the kitchen disappeared and plates were left too clean for Benny to find any scrap to lick.

Should you be in Seal Beach for a day, or passing by on your way to somewhere else, take a moment to turn down Main Street and have a delicious meal at Benny’s favorite spot, the Crema Cafe.