Colleen, a travel writer friend who comes to my neck of the woods from time to time, wanted to check out the new restaurant at what was once known as the Pottery Shack in Laguna Beach. We ate at the Sapphire Laguna and had a fantastic lunch. The owner/master chef named the restaurant for the sapphire ring he gave his wife when he proposed to her. And guess what? The bride-to-be (she said yes), was even more delighted that her mother also received a sapphire. The food review and photos will be coming soon, but the meal was incredibly tasty, the food quality top notch and the hot bread a real standout.
Smokin’ Mo’s BBQ is a California-based barbeque restaurant located in Chico, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and Huntington Beach. The owners went on a road trip to search for the best barbeque recipes throughout the U.S. They brought back to California the culmination of their research. Creating some of the finest barbeque you’ll find anywhere, the addictive hickory smoked beef, chicken and even turkey are cooked for hours in the flavorful, rich woods and then topped with award-winning barbeque sauce. Smokin’ Mo’s BBQ has four kinds of sauce ranging from sweet to hot, offered in a BBQ Sauce bar where you can smother it over your meal. Most menu items come in platters with choice of beans, slaw and fries, but other items include garlic fries and salads. The finest sweetened Southern brewed tea is authentic and delicious. Add to your meal (if you have room), several types of pies for dessert. Beer and wine are available at Mo’s, where the atmosphere is casual and the food is outrageously fine. Take out and catering are very popular. California locations include:
- Chico - Smokin’ Mo’s BBQ, 131 Broadway (530) 891-6677
- Huntington Beach - Smokin’ Mo’s BBQ, 301 Main, #107 (714) 374-3033
- Pismo Beach - Mo’s SmokeHouse BBQ, 221 Pomeroy (805) 773-6193
- San Luis Obispo - Mo’s SmokeHouse BBQ, 970 Higera (805) 544-6193
Hot doggity dog, says writer Barbara Steinberg, about the Hotdogger Cafe in Davis. Very picky about her wieners, she gives this restaurant a hot review. >> Read more
Supper Thyme USA is a fun and educational experience for adults and children. For as little as $20 customers can come in and prepare 1 to 14 dinners. All the ingredients are chopped sliced and diced. Customers follow a recipe and add more of what they like and none of what they dislike. Snacks and drinks are served during your visit. It’s a great and inexpensive activity for singles, couples, friends, and families. supperthymeusa.com Locations include:
- Huntington Beach - 16367 Bolsa Chica (714) 377-1890
- Long Beach - 8125 East Wardlow (562) 598-4900
- Thousand Oaks - 1341 East Thousand Oaks Blvd. (805) 557-7080
There are so many fantastic restaurants surrounding us in California that it doesn’t make sense to cook. My friend and I argue about it. She’s at the store every day buying nearly $50 worth of food, while I go to restaurants and average around $10/day on meals. Some recent places I’ve tried in the past week include: The Cheesecake Factory (over $10); Lone Star in Long Beach, California, where I tried the Baby Back BBQ ribs. (over $10); Shake Shack at Corona del Mar; Rancho Nipomo Deli and BBQ - for the roasted pork cooked over oak wood, then simmered in a BBQ sauce all day; Applebee’s; and Las Cazuelas in Nipomo.
Dining is one of the largest industries in California. It’s not just for travelers. Restaurants offer us busy workers fast meals or sit-down dining opportunities to enjoy. We don’t have time to post all of them we’ve tried, but you are welcome to post your favorites if you like.