The Church Key - Sunset Blvd. - West Hollywod, CA

Imagine new modern meets the late 60s Pan Am era. The girls and I found this gem during our last DineLA adventure. You are provided with a base menu with both small and large plates, but if I were to return I would order one or two things off of there for the table and then keep the extra stomach space open for the carts. Magical food carts ranging from sushi to mini fish tacos to bread assortments and adult otter pops, these mobile kitchens flow throughout the dining room as they will surely tempt your tastebuds. The kicker is that all these tiny delicacies are sold as A la carte items, so beware, as they will raise your bill quite quickly. They give each table a fun "Church Key Passport" and stamp it with the price per item you take throughout your delectable journey. Good place to go with a group of 3-6 so you can try more items and cut down the cost.

 Front Entrance, look closely so not to miss it.

 Entry way, adorable decor, loving the white brick.

Very creative heart mosaic and graffiti fire place, with sneak peaks into main dining room/bar.

Classy Cocktails and Rustic Ware.

Passport for traveling food carts.

Steak with Pickled Tomato Chimmichuri Sauce, Potato Shallot Cake, and Jalapeño Creamed Corn.

Tapioca Crusted Tai Snapper with Broccoli Rabe, Sushi Rice Cake and a White Soy Vinaigrette

Delicious Brioche Doughnuts with Coffee Ice Cream

        For full menu visit: The Church Key Website

• Cuisine: American, Dim Sum, Cocktails

• Favorite Food Items: Steak with Chimmichurri and Asparagus with Fried Egg

• Price: $$$/$$$$ - As mentioned before, this place can get pretty pricey depending on how you play it. Main dish food items range from $16-$80 for salads, steak, fish, poultry, etc. Dim Sum style items roughly $5 and up. 

• Ambience:  Very modern style with clean white brick walls, while at the same time giving off a vintage "loft" feel.  Trendy and cozy seating options with pull out chairs as well as sofas to dine in comfort.

• Dress Code: Trendy-Formal. I would feel out of place if I didn't guss it up a little, I know its west Hollywood so I'm sure you could get away with the starving hipster look as well, but I wouldn't go that route personally. Leave the flip flops and graphic T's at home. 

• Shell's Rating: 4 out of 5 - This place has a wide variety of foods with unique flavors and combinations. I loved the food cart idea as well as the main dish options. Fun place for a girls night out, group dinner, or romantic dinner date. Good location only miles from exciting pre/post dinner attractions and hotel options.

Ladies and Gentlemen...The Food Blog is Back!

First up, Baja Sharkez, Huntington Beach, CA 

A saturday morning hotspot. This place has one of the better eggs benedicts I have ever had. To boast a bit, we will start with stating that the base of this dish is made with macaroni and cheese cakes, topped with a juicy beef slider, poached egg and hollandaise sauce. It's accompanied by seasoned hash browns topped with fresh avocado. Stop drooling and get over there to try this out. The Chilequiles would be an excellent decisions as well. Let's not forget to mention the "brunch extras", featuring a plethora of options for the "create your own" blood mary bar and unlimited mimosas with select breakfast specials. 

Pictured Above: Inside Baja Sharkeez Huntington Beach (website), Eggs Benedict, and Build Your Own Mary with all the fixings.

        For full menu visit: Sharkeez Website Menu

• Cuisine: Mexican, American, Brunch 

• Favorite Food Items: Eggs Benedict, Nachos Chilequiles 

• Price: $$ Very reasonably priced with good brunch specials. You could easily add up the bill based on beverage selection. Burritos range from $10-$16 with tacos A la carte coming in around $4, make it a plate for $9-$14. See website for further pricing analysis.

• Ambience:  A definite island vibe, blocks from the beach, located down main st. in HB. Both indoor and outdoor patio options. Ability to order at the counter as well as from the wait staff. Lots to look at decor wise, with lots of bar chair and booth seating.

• Dress Code:  Feel no qualms about rolling in to this beach hut with your swim cover ups and flip flops. Aside from the typical no shoes, no shirt, no services motto, just about anything would fly here.

• Shell's Rating: 3.5 out of 5 - Fun place for brunch, but there are many other options in the area for other meals. The services can be a bit slow even without a huge crowd, but thankfully you have free chips and salsa with every order to hold you over while you wait. This place is one of my regular visits when I am in the HB area and is definitely worth a visit. 

Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group - Hennepin Ave - Minneapolis, MN

When ever Parsasole decides to come out with a new restaurant, I'd be a fool not to try it. This unique and trendy hot spot is located in uptown, of course. With a modern diner vibe, this place has a scene to be seen. The entry way from the Calhoun Square entrance is decorated with bold colored lunch trays from back in the day, resembling Lego's in my opinion. The food was delicious and the prices were appropriate. I would love to return sometime for their Sunday Brunch.

      Pictured Above: Lunch tray entrance hallway, central dining room (vita.mn), condiments for the table, southwest veggie burger, turkey club
        For full menu visit: Uptown Cafeteria's Website

• Cuisine: American, Brunch 

• Favorite Food Items: French Fries and Ranch Dressing

• Price: $$/$$$ - Sandwich prices are a little more expensive than your typical diner would charge- ranging from $7.99 for a grilled cheese to $12-13 for a turkey club or tuna melt. Entrees such as mac 'n cheese will cost you about $10, but if you looking for something fancier like a grilled hanger steak, that will cost you close to $22. Brunch is a bit more affordable in the $3-11 dollar range. 

• Ambience:  This place definitely screams uptown. Very trendy atmosphere with open kitchen, diner like booths, and a full bar that has seating all around it. The uptown cafeteria even has rooftop seating for when the MN weather decides to behave. 

• Dress Code: Trendy-Casual-Hipster. Pretty sure you could get away with just about anything here. Seeing as it's located in uptown you'll be likely to see the hipster look more frequently then not. Jeans and a t-shirt are perfectly acceptable. 

• Shell's Rating: 3 out of 5 - Fun place to go for a small group. The bar scene seems to have a following and the food will fill you up. I would like to try this place out for brunch as I have heard mixed reviews. Compared to some of the other restaurants in the area, I would stop in here if I was hungry, in the area, and not dressed up. 

Prescott's - Crossroads Plaza/Broadway- Rochester, MN

I really have nothing but good things to say about Prescott's. The menu changes seasonally, but there are some regulars that always stick around. The chef here uses a wide blend of flavors that create amazing dishes with refined taste. I enjoy prescott's for a nice dinner when I am home visiting the family and have spent many special occasions here as well. 

    Pictured Above: Outside and Inside Tables (Prescott's Website), Table bread, house salad, filet mignon with garlic vegetable noodles, 

       chipotle chicken, London broil, chocolate cake, creme brûlée.
       For more menu options and information visit: Prescott's Grill Website

• Cuisine: Fine dining - Pasta, Steak, Chicken, Fish

• Favorite Food Items: Filet Mignon and garlic vegetable noodles

• Price: $$$- I would say this is one of Rochester's finer restaurants, not necessarily by ambiance, although that is not bad, but through service and cuisine. You certainly get  the delicious taste and a quality meal for the price. Most meals include your choice of soup or salad, which is built into the price.  

• Ambience:  I give the owner props for turning a bagel spot into a fine dining establishment. The bar is a key piece in the set-up of this quaint space. Purple lighting behind the wine bottles is a nice touch. Tables are typically adorned with a small vase of flowers. Mood lighting also makes this place a romantic date spot, as well as an impressive dinner location for any occasion, with the exception of your child's 5th birthday party. 

• Dress Code: Trendy-Formal. Wait staff is typically dressed in more formal dining apparel and the overall mood of this place would make you feel uncomfortable if you were wearing jeans and a t-shirt. So dress it up just a little bit when you head in. Nice jeans, a fancy top or sweater, and heels or cute flats for the ladies would be about as causal as you would want to be. For men I would recommend dress shoes, nice jeans or dress pants, and a button up or polo. 

• Shell's Rating: 5 out of 5 - If you have never been, this place is a must try while you are in Rochester. I always leave this place appropriately full, and pleased with the selection. The staff is very accommodating and friendly. I highly recommend the garlic vegetable noodles. I have been known to call in an order of those (they are a side item), to go, because they are THAT good. 

Cadillac Ranch - Mall of America, Bloomington, MN

Having been away from Minnesota for so long, I welcomed any new dining experience that comes my way. While doing some shopping at the MOA, we decided it was time to grab a bite. All parties involved were feeling American food and this is where we ended up.

     Pictured Above: Restaurant's main dining room & bull riding inside the main room (google photos), wedge salad, chicken wild rice 
         soup, cowboy bites.
         For more menu options and info visit: Cadillac Ranch at MOA Website

• Cuisine: American - Burgers, sandwiches, pastas, steaks, salads, and many sharable appetizer options.  

• Favorite Food Items: Cowboy bites with fries and chicken wild rice soup

• Price: $$- Price is about what you'd expect to pay at a place like this. Food options similar to what you may find at a TGIF, or Granite City. Most meal items are in the $8-12 range, with steak meals ranging from $20-33. I'd say the average tab for a two person meal including drinks would cost you about $26.

• Ambience:  The bar set up in this place seemed like a entertaining place to hang out with friends on a thurs-saturday night...if you are in the mall already. The decor was impressive and the bull machine was entertaining to observe to say the least. If you are looking for a place to have a nice quiet dinner though, you may want to pass on this place. Lots of energy here.

• Dress Code: Casual would be just fine. Being located on the 3rd floor of the Mall of America, I'm sure this place has seen people dressed in a variety of options. 

• Shell's Rating: 2.5 out of 5. The food was average. Many of the items on the menu looked like things I could get at your average american bar and grill. I gave it 2.5 for the fun atmosphere and decor. I would be willing to give this place another chance if I was in the area and their happy hour specials looked appealing. 

Maracas- S. Palm Canyon Dr. - Palm Springs, CA

Allison, Jill and myself, stumbled across this little gem on our way to the palm springs airport. We were in a rush and the service was great at accommodating. Our food came out hot, and as ordered in maybe 10 minutes at most. The wide selection on the menu made it difficult to decide what to order. I was pleased with my choice of the barbacoa bowl, but will be excited to try something new next time, seeing as there were many tasty looking items on the menu.

     Pictured above: Outside Restaurant View (Tripadvisor.com), Barbacoa Bowl, Tortilla Soup, and Tostada Salad.
        For more menu options and info visit: Maraca's Website

• Cuisine: Mexican- Tacos, Bowls, Soups, Salads, Burritos... you get it.

• Favorite Food Items: Barbacoa Bowl and Chips and Salsa

• Price: $$- Lunch specials are reasonably priced between $8-10 for bowls, salads and tacos. Dinner specials including meat focused dishes can peak at $19, but other dinner entrees are in the $10-14 range. Large quantities means you definitely get your money's worth, and leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

• Ambience:  Inside it was decorated with mexican details and props, vibrant colors and seating on the smaller size so I could imagine this place could fill up quickly. I wouldn't visit this place for the scene alone, but the food was good enough to bring me back. Outside on a nice day or evening would be my preference. Cozy spot for people watching and enjoying the outdoors. 

• Dress Code: Whatever you have on is fine...

• Shell's Rating: 3.5 out of 5 - Good food, good service. Salsa was delicious and we went through a few bowls for sure. The only thing about having a mexican restaurant in palm springs is that you are surrounded by a lot of other delicious mexican restaurants. If you have tried many other's I would recommend you give this place a shot. The menu is a good size, offering quite a variety, however it is missing some of the fan favorites that other restaurants offer. 

Katsuya @ LA Live - Los Angeles, CA

Now that I am a sushi connoisseur, I thought I'd test out the "go big or go home" of sushi restaurants. For sure a little on the pricy side, but if you go with a group of 4 you should be able to split a few things and save some money. Kelin and I dined her prior to a concert at the Staple Center. A great place to pass time and get a great meal in the area. There are many locations and I would be willing to test the others out based on my experience here.

     Pictured Above: Outside of Katsuya in LA Live, Main Dining Room (photos provided from google), Popcorn Roll (my fancy photo work)
        For more menu items and info visit :Katsuya's Website for L.A. Live

• Cuisine: Sushi - Robata Meat and Seafood, Rolls, ... if you don't like fish you could still enjoy this place.

• Favorite Food Items: Popcorn Roll (special), Edamame (you don't need to order your own as they give you a decent size for free), Sunset Roll

• Price: $$$- One of the pricers places to find sushi, but if you've never been I'd say the food is good enough to dish it out. Starter plates range from $6-16, including soups and salads, as well as seafood apps and veggies. Sushi rolls will be between $5 for a cucumber roll to $18.50 for a rainbow rolls which includes a "chef's assortment of sashimi". Main dishes for other cuisine selections such as beef or chicken are in the $15-32 range, and other seafood options will run you about the same. There is also the option for a fixed plate selection set at $25 per person.

• Ambience:  True to LA fashion, this location at LA live was fairly sized. The space was divided into a main dining room,a bar for meals and drinks, lounge area for happy hour, and outside dining for those warm summer nights. The decor had a white base with dark wood and rock accenting. Modern art with Asian influence throughout. 

• Dress Code: Trendy to Upscale, however on the night of a Laker game, I hardly think they would refuse service to someone wearing a jersey. On the other hand, I don't think you would feel out of place if you sported that little black dress either. 

• Shell's Rating: 4 out of 5 -The food was delicious, the service was efficient and I enjoyed the vibe. A fun spot for a night out in the LA Live area- perhaps before a concert or sporting event, as it is located right across from the Staples Center. I was seated at the bar as we did not have a reservation, but the lounge spots for happy hour looked inviting and I would be interested in dining at one of the other Katsuya locations such as The Americana in Glendale, or perhaps downtown LA near Hollywood and Vine.