HAPPY BIRTHDAY Christina!!! I recently had a nice lunch at a Villa Amalfi on 480 North Main Street, Corona, CA 92880 and took a friend/co-worker out for her special day. This place was a very nice Italian restaurant that was a little upscale in appearance but seemed to be a local favorite. Definitly a step from a Mac Grill or an Olive Garden (not blog worthy places). We were well greeted and seated a formal style table (real cloth table linens). It was a quick lunch so I ordered the MEAT LOVERS PASTA, which included sausage, meatballs, mushrooms and melted mozzarella chees on top sprinkled with italien parsly and basil all in a rich red tomato sauce. I added more basil because I like it that way. I was very pleased with the food tastes and it seemed very fresh and not commercial. Christina ordered the CLAMS WITH PASTA IN A WHITE GARLIC SAUCE. and it looked great as well. Losts of clams both in it’s shells as well as mixed in with the sauce. The portions were generouse and after I was done I still had some home for dinner later. Great 2 for 1 meal, eh?
I give Villa Amalfi 3 AND HALF RUBS OF THE BELLY, and look forward to going back again sometime soon to try other items.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Hello Buddha Bellies out there, for breakfast I often don’t follow the traditional American “round eye” favorites like pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc.. but usually opt for hot noodles or at times treat myself to a nice salty greasy DIM SUM. If you haven’t had a Dim Sum experience before I highly suggest it. I think one of the things that I love about eating Dim Sum is that there are so many variety of foods and flavors. Every dish is it’s own unique tasting. My family and I had a quick bite at SEAFOOD PARADISE in Westminster, CA and it is a “fix” for my cravings but it those not come close to quality, taste or uniqueness to other Dim Sum Houses. Nothing really to be enthused about at Seafood Paradise even though it was Zagat rated a few years ago and the walls are adorned with articles of the restaurant. My opinion is that it has lost it’s charm over the years and is sort of runned down as well with the service. We were 4th group to be seated in the place when it opened but it seemed like everyone was running around like headless chickens and very disorganized.
I give Seafood Paradise a generouse 2 RUBS OF THE BELLY for their Dim Sum. I would not eat there for Chinese food though but only if I am having super cravings of DIM Sum. I will save my comments for Dim Sum on better places in the near future.
So I had lunch with ”my Boyz” at this new place that just opened up in HB called Rodrigo’s Mexican Food. It’s a very nice restaurant, very chic and a great competitor for El Torito which was literally across the street from them. Rodregos used to be the same building as Don Jose but definitely very updated and everything is brand new. I know this is not the first “Asian” experience that the Hungry Buddha Belly should report about but it is the first of many blogs in the future. I was excited about starting, so forgive me.
We were the first people in when they opened the doors at 11am and I was very impressed the the enctrance, decor and hostess. HOWEVER one of my “pet peeves” as my friends know is where I was seated. When my boyz and I were eating at another establishment called DON RAMONES we get the same issue everytime. As expected if you are the FIRST customers to come in a restaurant you should be seated at the BEST Table in the whold place. Instead we were seated by the entrance in a corner booth sort of cramp and dark. I would of preferred to be seated in a big booth near a well lit window to see my food and menu.
The service does make up for any short cummings though. The waiters, bust boys, water refiller guy, was very attentive and ON IT! Traditionally I can make a pretty good decesion about food in a Mexican restaurant by the chips and salsa and the taste of the chicken taco. So I got a Tacos de Pollo and my friend got a chimichanga. The chips were excellent, very flaky and crispy and not heavy. THe salsa was about average but seems to be very fresh, it could of used just a little more heat in the spice area. We also ordered the fresh made Guacomole and that was good and well presented in a bowl with lettuce accents.
We got our food and the Chimichanga look great except they loaded up the Sour Cream on the Chimi like it was a giant whip cream on a sundae. I tasted the Chimichunga and it was ok, nothing to be wowed about. The chicken tacos was uneventful petty basic. Now we did ask our hostess what was the best think that she thought Rodrego’s has to offer and she reccommended the appetizer tacos and the fajitas. Unfortunately this was lunch and I think I would give another chance for Rodrego’s to change my mind about the food maybe during dinner one day and a taste of the Fajitas.
Overall, I would give Rodrigo’s 2 BELLY RUBS. The service was exceptional and the ambiance is great and hip but the food that I tasted needs improvements in the more “authentico” area. I would say this place is at par with El Torito. As I mentioned I think I would give myself a dinner moment to re-evaluate my opinon.
Filed under: asian foods, breakfast, dinner, drinks, food, japanese food, korean food, lunch, pho, resturants, snacks, tasty travels, thai food, unusual foods, vietnamese foods
Hello Belly Rubbers,
As you know I started this to get my friends and family enthusiastic about all the different foods out there. I hope you enjoy my blog since I am passionate and very excited about what I eat and where I eat. I hope my experience transends all appetites and at least give you an idea of my personal taste and as well as getting your Buddha Bellys great cravings to try out !! Enjoy and please let me know what you had to eat, feel, and overall experience.
Now you all have seen in most asian restaurants the Happy Buddha statue or figurine that stands by the cash register or near the door way. I believe that if you rub the Happy Buddha statue’s belly it makes him and you happier. When I see one of these funny statues I make it a point to rub it for luck! With that being said I would like to quanitfy my overall experience on a scale of 0 to 5 rubs of the belly with 5 belly rubs considered the “best” or “happiest”.
Hope you all enjoy what the Hungry Buddha Belly has to offer.
