Dinning Around Harbour Vista October 2013 to January 2013

Updated 22 August 2017

Dinning Around Harbour Vista

posted 19 July 2017
Dinning Around Harbour Vista The Abbey Restaurant by Jim Gregg Some of the finest quant restaurants are located at nearby Seal Beach our sister city just 4 short miles away and we decided to visit the famous “The Abbey” restaurant, made famous back in 1996 when it was discovered that home run king Mark McGwire was a regular attraction at The Abbey while he made his run for a record 70 home runs. The nation’s entire sports media converged on this little sports bar on a regular basis and The Abbey baseball cap was selling like hotcakes! Surprised We were surprised to find several mothers with their babies in strollers were also enjoying the casual dining atmosphere of this main street eatery. Having never been there before, we asked our very pleasant waitress for recommendations and our first choice was the flank steak skewers with ginger soy sauce dish that was well prepared and tasty, and our second choice was the Abbey burger with both cheddar and jack cheese which made this a super burger. The waitress made great choices for us which turned our experience into a very pleasant one.■ The Abbey Sports Bar & Pub 306 Main Street Seal Beach, CA 90740 562-799-4246 Web: http://theabbeysealbeach.com Business Hours:Mo,Tu,We,Th 11:30 am – 9:30 pm; Fr,Sa 11:30 am – 10:30 pm; Su 11:30 am – 9:00 pm

posted 20 May 2017
Dinning Around Harbour Vista Millitary Coffee Shop by Jim Gregg Paul’s Coffee Shop captured my interest from the very start, especially from an ole military guy like me. Located in a tiny strip mall across from Bullwinkle’s Family Fun Center just off the 405 Freeway at Warner Avenue, you will snap to attention in this quant military theme restaurant just off the edge of Huntington Beach. Memorabillia Our first gaze is of the wall to wall military memorabilia from all branches of service. I never saw so many uniforms in glassed showcases in one place in my life. There is one section of wall totally dedicated to Battleships, which was memorable to see. I tried to follow protocol by firing off a very sharp salute to the waitress, but she was having none of that, “stand at ease mister, were all taking it easy here”! Very Very Large Chicken Fried Steak It was” shock and awe” time military style when they delivered the food, we ordered the BLT and fries, and one humongous chicken fried steak that was so big it could feed a family of four. It also came with scrambled eggs and hash browns potato’s and even a very large biscuit smothered in country gravy. Delicious! Wow, I don’t believe I‘ve ever seen a meal so large for a single person, and on top of that, it was delicious! We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into when we visited Paul’s Coffee Shop, luckily, they supply ample amounts of “doggy bags”! ■ Paul’s Coffee Shop 16947 Bushard St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (714) 965-3643 Web: http://paulscoffeeshopfountainvalley.com Business Hours: Daily 7am to 2pm Dinner Hours: Fri, Sat and Sun only 3pm to 9pm

posted 26 April 2017
Dinning Around Harbour Vista Harry’s Grill, Rooftop Dinning by Jim Gregg Quirky and fun best describes this Harry's Grill nestled near PCH and Sunset beach where there is no objection accommodating every creature in existence from the locals who hangout on a regular basis, to the out of towners pursuing unusual experiences, this place has it all! The Upstairs is Another World Purchases are made on the ground floor of this establishment where you can enjoy your meal in relative peaceful environment, but travel upstairs and you enter another world. Dogs are Allowed That’s where the view is, and that’s where the bar is, and defiantly where the people are congregated. The upstairs dining has its own set of rules like: DOGS are allowed! I was about to point this out to a patron when I saw that the dog was a Pitbull, and I thought better of it. Basic Menu I had the cheeseburger and french fries from the menu and it was very good and well prepared. We also had the club sandwich and some of the best onion rings that were the best I’ve ever tasted, and along with this had a delicious barbequed hot dog on a bun with barbeque sauce, that was excellent. Harry’s Grill was “dog gone good” to get away for some fun and food! ■ Harry’s Grill 16685 Pacific Coast Hwy Sunset Beach, CA 90742 Phone: 562-592-9500 Web: http://www.kathymayslakeviewcafe.com Business Hours: Daily 7:00am to 9:00pm

posted 21 March 2017
Dinning Around Harbour Vista A RESTURANT WITH A VIEW by Jim Gregg This restaurant is really a surprise, it’s located in a bedroom community, and you would never know it was even there if you hadn’t been there before, but under new ownership and many upgrades it’s the perfect place for nice super quiet time to enjoy superb food next to an inviting lake full of birds and wildlife.The lake was mesmerizing as I viewed its many points of interests, and the down home presentation of the menu offerings made it all the better. Patty Melt I selected the patty melt with fries, and it turned out to be an great choice, made with 1/2 lbs. beef cheeses and onions on sour dough garlic bread, it was a three flavor sandwich! Country Fried Steak Our other selection was the country fried steak, served with a baked potato and salad. The steak was lightly breaded and superbly prepared, you could cut it with a fork! To me, this is another four star eatery and we need to get the word out on this one. Driving There Driving there may seem a little confusing, because you will be traveling in a residential area, but two turns from Edwards Ave. and whoa la, your there, there’s no other business in sight! With the lake on one side, and the Huntington Beach Central Park on the other, you can’t have more tranquility! ■ Kathy May’s Lakeview Café 6622 Lakeview Drive Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Phone: 714-846-9606 Web: http://www.kathymayslakeviewcafe.com Business Hours: Daily 7:00am to 9:00pm Phone: 714-842-7700

posted 13 February 2017

Dinning Around Harbour Vista

REAL ITALIAN FOOD
by Jim Gregg

Our first quest for REAL Italian food turned exceptional when we visited Vittorio’s Italian restaurant. Located at the northwest corner of Springdale and Warner Avenue, it has unbelievable ambiance and nostalgia for Italian themed restaurant, and we were thoroughly impressed while dining there for our first time, this place sets the mood from the first instant you walked through the door.

Our hostessTiffany seated us with the courtesy and friendliness that anyone should expect from a fine
place such as this.

Chicken Piccata

Our plate of chicken piccata with angel hair noodles

were superbly prepared to our delight.
We also ordered spaghetti and meat sauce with mushrooms, while we had a nice quiet conversation
and observed all the intricate details we missed during our first cursory impressions.

Soft soothing music filled the backdrop while we anticipated the soon to arrive meals.

Every Bit as Good

The food was every bit as good that we anticipated, and our compliments to the chef for their fine work.

We top it off with ice cream and cheese cake deserts, which is but a small election that they offer.

The wine list gives a fine compliment to the meals with a large selection of white, red and chablis
vintage varieties.

Piano Bar and Live Entertainment

Vittorio’s has live entertainment in their piano bar Fridays and weekend dinner hours. ■

VITTORIO’s Italian Restaurant
5921 Warner Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Phone: 714-846-9606
Web: http:/Vittorioshb.com
Tue-Sat 4pm - 10pm
Sun 4pm - 9pm
Closed Monday

Piano Bar

6pm - 10pm Thr - Sat
6pm - 9pm Sun

posted 16 December 2016
Dinning Around Harbour Vista MAMA’s on 39, “classic comfort cooking” by Jim Gregg Mama’s 39 restaurant & bar was a unique experience for this official connoisseur of American eatery. Mama’s 39 is not your everyday common restaurant, but a sophisticated dabbler into unknown reaches of the human taste pallet. This place is located in a small strip mall at the corner of Beach Blvd. near Atlantic Ave. doesn’t appear from the outside to be anything special with their sign that reads simply Mama’s 39, but inside is a different matter! Chicken Club Sandwich This first time customer selected the Mama’s chicken club sandwich with shoestring fries and also the Boston BBQ burger was our other choice. My club sandwich was the best I ever had! My first bite, I nearly jumped out of my chair! I never tasted a club sandwich as good before. Fokes, it was that good! It was big! I could only eat half of it! The rest I took home with me, and the next day, and I STILL had a great sandwich! BBQ Burger The BBQ burger was juicy and well-seasoned, making it a super tasty experience, and their homemade potato chips have to be personally tried to be believed! I’m eyeing the menu for future possible selections that I will explore on my return visit, for sure! Highly Recommend My trip to Mama’s 39 restaurant was a great lunch, and this is one place that I highly recommend. They get 4 stars in all categories! Mama’s 39 has a two story ceiling giving it a airy feeling, it’s not a stuffy place! Mama’s proudly boast of her wide selection of spirited version of cocktail drinks. The servers are friendly and happy to serve you with quick service! to be forwarded to Legal Council for review. ■ MAMA'S ON 39 21022 Beach Boulevard Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Phone: 714-374-1166 Web: http://www.mamason39.com Mon-Thr 8:30am - 9pm Fri, Sat, Sun 8:30am-10pm

posted 27 August 2016
Dinning Around Harbour Vista Little Thai Restaurant For authentic Thai food a small restaurant with about 10 tables Thai Harbor is very nice place to go. The food is moderately price and the lunch specials are really great deals. Pineapple Fried Rice I have been going to Thai Harbor for a little while, so I ordered one of my favorites Pineapple Fried Rice with Vegetables. It tried this with chicken, by I prefer it with just vegetables. This dish included exotic mild curry fried with egg, pineapple, onion, tomatoes, cashews and raisins. Very fresh ingredients fair price and good portion enough for two to share. Spicy Thai Cashew Plate Another dish ordered was the Spicy Thai Cashew Plate which offers of a choice of meats. I picked beef. The plate came with sautéed onion with carrot, water chestnuts, cashews, bell pepper, green onions and whole dried chili peppers. For someone like myself who doesn't like spicy food it was really great. But you can ask for it to be spicy. Spicy Thai Lunch Special I tried the Spicy Thai Lunch Special with beef. It came with a tasty side salad with some sweet ginger dressing, Jasmine rice again perfectly cooked as well as an egg tofu soup which was extremely good. Pineapple Curry Lunch Special The Pineapple Curry lunch Special was served in a bowl. It looked somewhat like soup. At first I was disappointed as it came in a bowl. However, it turned out to be extremely tasty with pineapples, tomatoes, bell pepper, basil leaves, and coconut milk with a red curry paste. The lunch special came with the same sides as the Spicy Thai Cashew Plate. Fresh and Taste The interior is simple, and the food is fresh, the service friendly, and the restaurant is normally not crowded, but the food is fresh,and the service good. It is always a good place to visit during the weekdays for fresh and tasty dinner with great deals for friends for lunch specials.■ Thai Harbor Thai Restaurant 16103 Bolsa Chica (Near Edinger) Huntington Beach, CA, , 92649 Phone: (714) 846-8986 Mon thru Fri - 11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm Sat-Sun - 12am-3pm, 5pm-9pm

posted 25 August 2016
Dinning Around Harbour Vista A GREATE DELI by Jim Gregg Let your imagination run wild at this quaint little sandwich shop nestled in the corner mall on Warner Ave. and Springdale Avenue, Fritzankotter’s Sandwich Factory reminds me of days gone by when all the great stars from golden years of Hollywood trotted down the boulevard for all their fans to see. Now, we can run wild through Fritzankotter’s menu spotting your favorite star, and wondering how tasty they will be with mustard, mayo or secret sauce compliment! No Burger Joint If you’re looking for burgers fries or hotdogs, this is not the place for you, but if you want something that taste good and served quick and fresh, you’re in the right place. This place must be where Subway got their original concept, because they have been at it for nearly 45 years now. I ate s Mickey Rooney! But I could have had a Red Skelton or Hitchcock or a George Burns, they are all my favorites! Roast beef, turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, salami, tuna, liverwurst, and egg salad are a perfect (aka) match for Hollywood stars like: John Wayne, Sally Fields, Frank Sinatra, and dozens of other celebrities have made it to their honored list called a menu! Celebrity Will Surprise Me? My only disappointment was “Soup of the day” didn’t have Soupy Sales on the list! This place is worth going back to, I just have a sneaky suspicion that some celebrity will surprise me by turning up just to visit with their old pals! Confort Food Fritzankotter’s serves comfort food without the cooking and cleanup. You can sit down at a table without a waitress and no one will bother you while having a quiet friendly conversation. I’m ready for a re-visit!■ Fritzankotter’s Sandwich Factory 5936 Warner Ave.at Springdale Huntington Beach, CA, , 92649 Phone: (714) 714-846-4438 FAX:714-846-4439 Mon. thru Fri. 10am-7pm Sat.- 10am-4pm Web: http://www.hbrackhouse.com

posted 21 August 2016
Dinning Around Harbour Vista RACKHOUSE FOR THE BETTER by Jim Gregg The old “House of Brews” is now the new “Harbour Rackhouse” for the better. Located at the corner of the Huntington Harbour mall at Davenport street, this quant sports bar has the Leisure environment that you’re looking to relax and unwind, with pool tables and electronic games, and you might just rub elbows with one or two millionaires to boot, and we found the food to be was quite good as well, when I ordered a king sized cheeseburger that came with world class French fries, our other choice was a super thick steak that was juicy and good, which reminded us of filet mignon that came with mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus that was out of this world! Many Appealing Choices The menu had many appealing choices which I was eager to try, but your stomachs can only take the food that’s at hand for one sitting. To be sure, we will be visiting Rackhouse again in the near future. We visited this place for lunch, and we had a pleasant conversation without the loud boisterous crowd, But the night time could be a different story. They had many nice booths to sit in, with adequate spacing between booths so we wouldn’t be overheard, and with a wide open floor plan felt very comfortable. The Rackhouse has everything you would ever want to drink, and a full bar and appetizers if you want to stop by for happy hour. ■ Harbour Rackhouse 16903 Algonquin Street Huntington Beach, CA, , 92649 Phone: (714) 377-3893 Web: http://www.hbrackhouse.com

posted 23 June 2016

Dinning Around Harbour Vista

END OF SAN GABRIEL RIVER
by Terri Piper-Johnson

New to the area, we found a favorite to share with friends and family-River’s End Cafe. It is located on a wide sandy beach at the end of the San Gabriel River in Seal Beach (about 6 miles from Harbour Vista). The views include Seal Beach Pier, Long Beach Marina, Palos Verdes and Catalina but best of all, you are practically on the beach looking out at the ocean.

Except Major Holidays

The restaurant is open every day except major major holidays from 7am-2:30pm for breakfast and lunch. The owners are Mike and Carolyn and their staff take good care of the place.

Eclectic Menu

The menu is eclectic with all american, southern Caribbean and Central American style dishes. Our favorites are the huevos rancheros which is served with 3 eggs, on warm corn tortillas, lots of black beans with melted jack and cheddar cheese, topped with avocado and ranchero sauce. But that’s not all…you get tasty breakfast potatoes too at $11.50. The french toast full stack is $7.50 and it’s 4 slices of

bread…which we have to share with our table because it’s so good and so much. The other favorite is the chorizo scramble with beef chorizo, scrambled eggs with black beans, rice and tortillas at $11.50. Our friends said the fish tacos with the halibut were fabulous and they come with the black beans and rice as well.

Not Fancy

The portions have always been plentiful since I’m always walking out with a to-go box. Being in the food business all our working life, and married to the chef of 39 years, I can always suggest to Nick, Rivers End and he’ll say yes! It is not fancy but the staff are helpful and fast as they can. It’s a busy place so there might be a little wait, but go check out the beach first instead after to walk off all the yummy food■

RIVER'S END CAFE
15 1st Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
Tel: 562-431-5558
http://riversendcafe.com

Breakfast & Lunch:
7am - 2:30pm (Everyday)
Dinner:
3pm - 8:30pm (Thr - Sun)
April 7th to Oct. 31st
(Summer Hours)

posted 5 June 2016
Dinning Around Harbour Vista FRESH MEDITERRAMEAN FOOD by Jim Gregg This quaint little restaurant located in a mini-mini mall just around the corner by Starbucks, is not a bad place for that genuine Mediterranean taste! For the past 6 years now Olive Pit Grill has provided a unique taste that many would drive miles to get, and yet this little piece of heaven is within easy walking distance to our home here at Harbour Vista! Stake Kabob Lunch Two hits we found on the list for us were the spaghetti and the stake kabob lunch. The kabob steak came through big with flying colors, it was perfectly cooked, it was tender and juicy and it tasted delicious. This plate was rounded out with fries (frites) and an assortment of superbly cooked vegetables of your choice. Perfectly Cooked Spaghetti The second selection was a shockingly large plate of spaghetti that was perfectly cooked with a sensational sauce, and topped off with two humongous turkey meat balls with a sprinkle of graded cheese on top, and I enjoyed every bite, although it was hard to consume the second meat ball. The dish was so perfectly balanced I couldn’t find fault anywhere, I thoroughly enjoyed every bite, and my only regret that I didn’t have the room for the second meat ball! On My "A" List This place made me think I was in Italy, but you have to realize your just feet from our home at Harbour Vista. This restaurant has jumped way up on my “A” list! Wide and Varied The menu is wide and varied with entre plates for lunch and dinner. Non-alcohol beverages and sodas are available. ■ On a side note, if you visit the Olive Pit at the right time, your server might be one of your Harbor Vista neighbors . Olive Pit Grill 16365 Bolsa Chica Street, Huntington Beach, CA, Suite F, 92649 Phone: 714-794-6267 http://www.olivepitgrill.com

posted 22 April 2016
Dinning Around Harbour Vista A SPORT BAR FLAVOR by Jim Gregg You have all experienced driving down a lonely country road, and all of a sudden this restaurant pops out in front of you amid nowhere, you know you just got to stop and check this out! That’s the first impression you get with My Place, a sports bar & grill, but it’s located in the heart of Huntington beach industrial park! What a find!...order” experience, without leaving our neighborhood Goes Back a Long Time My first experience goes back to the early eighties under a different ownership, in fact several Ownerships since then, but today’s edition has really got it right. Favorite Onion Rings We started with our favorite onion rings, and BINGO! These rings were made right, with a crispy golden brown shell for every ring, they were the best I’ve tasted in years. Cheeseburger with Fries My lunch specialty was an ordinary cheeseburger with fries, but what I got was far greater than ordinary. Their burger was exceptional that would rival “In and Out” restaurants best, and their fries were not far behind either. It was an exceptional lunch. Wide and Varied Their menu is wide and varied and I’m sure they have something for everyone. My Place has a complete children’s menu that will interest any kid, and they are large enough to accommodate parties and gatherings for school functions alike. It is a Sport Bar If you want peaceful lunch it can be had if you don’t go when there is a televised sporting event like a week day lunch, but weekends are high decimal, so bring the proper ear protection. ■ MyPlace 5452 Commercial Drive Huntington Beach, CA Near McFadden Ave. and Graham St., (one little block north on Graham) Phone # 714-892-8706 Owner: James Sdrales, a supporter of local area high schools. Website: http://myplacesportsbar.com Open 7 days. M-Thr 10:30-9;Sa 9-10;Su 9-9

posted 30 December 2015
Dinning Around Harbour Vista AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD by Jim Gregg If Authentic Mexican food is what you’re looking for, then MARIO’S restaurant in Huntington Beach will definitely fit the bill in every possible way . Located at the corner of Edinger & Springdale Ave’s, MARIO’S has been ingrained in our community for more 50 years now, providing many generations with the finest in “south of the border” experience, without leaving our neighborhood Still the Same My first visit was in 1975 and the food quality and taste are the remarkably the same as they are now. Mario’s is made for the whole family even the smallest of children, you will find quite accommodating. Large Menu They have a large menu selections starting with appetizers, over the years I’ve tried to sample them all. Famous Fritos and Guacamole But I still enjoy starting with their famous Fritos and guacamole plate while I enjoyed a tasty margarita. Chicken, beef and pork dishes are featured throughout the menu as well as fish and sea food choices. Chicken Quesadilla But over the years, I have always enjoyed the chicken quesadilla with a side of guacamole, and their chicken and beef tacos are something to dream about! Cantina and Bar MARIO’S cantina & bar is a wonderful place to visit as well, with a complete selection of spirits for you to choose from Two Location in Huntington Beach I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with MARIO’S restaurant, in fact you’ll take some home with you when you leave. For your convenience MARIO’S has a second location at 5 Points Shopping Center. For Springdale location (at Edinger) call 714-894-2896. For 5 Points Shopping Center (at Ellis and Beach) call 714-842-5811. ■ Hours: 11:am-10:pm Every Day http://www.mariosmexicanfoodcantina.com/

posted 11 January 2016
Dinning Around Harbour Vista GREAT TEMPTAIONS and DELIGHTS by Jim Gregg Established in 1939 in Sunset Beach, Harbour House Café has been continuously doing business under the Quick family since 1970 satisfying the diverse residents of Huntington Beach and Huntington Harbour areas. This restaurant, located on PCH near the huge water tower (now Condo) across from Peters Landing, this humble looking red and white trim eatery defies all the goodness that lies inside. Antiquish The antiquish inside, it’s hard not to notice all the movie stars and posters that crowed the walls, even the ceiling the restrooms are well represented with little pleasant surprises. I could go on and on, but you don’t visit this place for its décor. Breakfast. Lunch and Dinner The menu is fully stocked with many pages of great temptations and delights: For Breakfast, they have all the traditional plates, like pancakes and waffles, eggs and Bacon or Sausage, but the omelet section is gigantic enough to take your breath away! You must be hungry if you want to be able to consume one, but most people don’t, and their breakfast Quesadillas was quite a surprise as well as many other desirable Mexican dishes. Lunch time is ripe for discovery too with several combinations you can build to suit, and they have many side dishes to compliment anyone’s taste. Burgers and chicken and pork are high on the list and offer many various styles and toping’s for a variety of flavors, it will be fun looking through all the selections offered on the menu. Specialty eating is found on a large appetizers list, giving everyone a chance to find something that they want. Dinner time presents an expanded menu in which you have many great selections, but my absolute favorites are the Roast Beef or Turkey dinners which I’ve had many times over the years. Can’t Do Justice Honestly, I can’t do this place justice listing only a few great items, it would take up the whole Newsletter, my best advice is to hop on down to this fantastic place and capture your own experience. ■ Harbour House Café 16341 Pacific Coast Hwy, Sunset Beach, CA 90742 Tel: 562-592-5404 Web: http://www.harborhousecafe.com Open 24 hours, they take all credit cards,

posted 30 Ocotber 2015
Dining Around Harbour Vista NUMEROUS TIME by Mary Williams I have been to Issara numerous time over the past few years. Located in a shopping center at Goldenwest & Warner. In the back near Ross. Real Treat Last night I was treated to a few new dishes that the owner David brought back from his recent trip to Thailand. A Red Curry Duck with Lechee, Tomatoes & Basil - it was outstanding, I am hoping he puts it on the regular menu. Also had a Pork salad. Strips of cold pork, Lime juice, lemongrass. Excellent flavor but a little goes a long way because of the lime. This is not on the regular menu yet. Spicy Chicken Wings Over the years I have really enjoyed the Spicy Chicken Wings made with fish sauce, tamarind and palm sugar. Sticky, crispy skin, finger licking good. Their Sa-tay with peanut sauce is another go to dish along with the deep fried crispy sole. Traditional Thailand Dishes Issara does an excellent job on all the traditional dishes of Thailand, Tom Yum Kung and Tom Khia Kai soups, Pineapple Rice, Pad Thai and Mango Salad. Don't miss the Thai Tea Creme Brulee for dessert. Beer and Wine Selection Small Small selection of beer and wine. The do have a corkage fee but I have never paid it so I do not know the amount. ■ Issara Thai Cuisine 7251 Warner Huntington Beach 92647 (714) 847-7777 http://www.issarathaicuisine.com Open for Lunch & Dinner Closed Sundays Dine In - Take Out - Delivery (with restrictions)

posted 7 September 2015
Dining Around Harbour Vista Middle of Change Apparently House of Brew restaurant/sports bar in the Huntington Harbour Shopping Center is in the middle of a change in ownership. I will revisit the restaurant/sports bar in a few months to try again but at this time I would not recommend it. Handles Large Crowds This is a sports bar with lots of TV's and pool tables. Large bar. Can handle large crowds. I found the decor strange. Design of chairs looked like they belonged in a tea room. Parking is abundant. Inventory Running Out Only about 25% of the beers listed were available. They were letting inventory run out. Good Pub Menu Good Pub menu. Two types of hamburgers were ordered and were good. Lots of fries on the plate. Choice of 3 kinds of fries, skinny, fat and sweet potato. I had a mushroom/gouda flatbread that had good flavor but was way too dry. We had a spinach dip that was good. Has Potential This place has potential but will wait for new ownership to see what the brews, food and service are like. ■ House of Brews 16903 Algonquin St Huntington Beach 92649 (714) 377-3893 http://www.houseofbrewsoc.com

posted 5 August 2015
Dining Around Harbour Vista ITALIAN with a South American Twist Sebastianis is located in the corner of a strip mall at the Southwest corner of Springdale and Warner. A menu based mostly on Italian food but some South American twists at times. Pablo the owner is from Peru. Wednesday night is no corkage and the rest of the nights it is $10. Decent wine list by the bottle or glass. Traditional Red Sauce A basket of fresh bread with two spreads comes to every table. One dip is a traditional red sauce and the other is a cheese, basil, anchovy, garlic mixture. Spinach Ravioli Dishes we tried were the Spinach Ravioli (8 large ravioli) with a cream sauce that had spinach and sun dried tomatoes in it. This is one of their more popular selections. A Spaghetti Bolognese with a Mozzarella stuffed meatball (large) and a Shrimp (8 large) with fettuccini in a spicy red sauce. The shrimp came with a choice of salad or soup. Opted for the house salad which consisted of lettuce, feta cheese, Roma tomatoes and Kalamata Olives with a very nice lemon vinaigrette. Wine Dinners They hold wine dinners frequently here but web site is always behind in their posting. Small to medium size dining area with approximately 18 tables depending on configuration. Acoustics are medium. Nice, relaxed ambiance. A large local clientele.■ Sebastianis 6078 Warner Huntington Beach (714) 841-3619 www.sebastianis.net Open 7 days, 5pm to close Wine Bar open Fri - Sat 5:00PM to 10:30PM Live music starts at 7:00

posted 7 July 2015
Dining Around Harbour Vista SENSATIONAL BARBEQUE by Mary Williams You know you are close when you can smell the smoke at BT's Southern BBQ. Located in a strip mall at the corner of Golden West and Edinger, you can miss it easily. Very small and a bit noisy, 5 tables inside with a 5 person bar. There are a couple of tables outside but no alcohol allowed there. They are busy and seemed to have a very large takeout business. Menu is available online. Beer and Wine Available Many craft beers available and a good selection by tap. A few wines are listed but not the best choice. I prefer a Porter or a Stout with my "Q". Excellent Smoke and Tender We sampled the pulled pork sandwich and the tri tip sandwich. Good Brioche bread, meat was tender and choices of 3 sauces. I had the full slab of baby back ribs. Good dry rub, excellent smoke, tender, meaty, moist and pulled off the bone easily. Sides of cole slaw, potato salad along with a cheddar biscuit. I went back they next day and got a half tray of potato salad on take out. It was that good. Good Selection of Meats A good selection of meats. Hot links, pulled pork and chicken, turkey breast, tri tip, brisket, St. Louis ribs, baby back ribs and beef back ribs. A few specials everyday. When they run out of a meat its gone for the day. Large selection of starters" and "sides". They have 3 different "family packs" to go which is ideal for entertaining. Best Takeout Ever This place is not to be missed - best for takeout if you mind the noise..■ BT's Southern BBQ 7144 Edinger Ave Huntington Beach 92647 (714) 841-7016 http://bts-bbq.com Open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week

posted 31 May 2015
Dining Around Harbour Vista LUNCH AND DINNER by Mary Williams La Choza Mexican Restaurant is your traditional Mexican food menu, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, carne asada, chile verde etc., They do have a few seafood plates and several beef plates. Prices are reasonable and food is good. Was listed as one of the top 75 restaurants in OC by the OC Register. Sauce Excellent Started out with the Guacamole which was good but mild and we felt it needed a bit of punch to it. I had the Chile Verde and was very happy with it. Pork was very tender and the Verde sauce was excellent. Came with the standard rice and refried beans. Also came with either soup or salad. I ordered the salad which never showed up. The plates of food came out so fast that I forgot about the salad until I got home. Both Very Good A Pork and Avocado Wet Burrito was ordered and a Beef Enchilada plate also. Both were very good. Neither of these dishes came with soup or salad. Fresh Hand Made Tortillas The real draw here is that they make their own corn tortillas. Two women stand in the front of the restaurant patting out the mixture by hand and then cooking them to order, They are the size of a small tortilla but a bit thicker. Good flavor and a nice touch to the meal. You can have as many as you want. Just ask for more. A Bit Much They do push the drinks on you which I found to be a bit much but I did have a Margarita and it was good. I had called about corkage and was told $19 per bottle. Way out of reason for this restaurant. Their wine list consists of varietal's only, no labels, that to me is always scary. All wine was $6.50 per glass. Stick with the mixed drinks. Will Return They were crowded on a week night so I would imagine weekends are busy. I felt the food was good enough for me to go back. Lots of parking. Close to Bella Terra.■ La Choza 7402 Edinger Ave Huntington Beach, 92647 (714) 842-7888 http://LaChozaHB.com

posted 3 May 2015
Dining Around Harbour Vista LUNCH AND DINNER by Mary Williams Ritter's is a "Cajun" style restaurant. Seafood, PO'Boy Sandwiches, Gumbo, Jamalaya, Etouffee etc., Address is deceiving. The restaurant itself is on Walnut St. just off 5th. Faces the side of the Huntington Beach police substation. No reservations and can get very busy after 6:00 and weekends. Acoustics are non-existent. The dishes we selected tonight were the Fried Catfish PO'Boy sandwich which came with fries, Cajun or plain. Very large sandwich, good flavor. Shrimp Scampi Shrimp Scampi. Came in a large bowl, needed a lot more garlic. Shrimp seemed to be slightly overcooked and the butter sauce seemed weak and watery. But it did have 10 good size shrimp. New England Calm Chowder New England Calm Chowder. Good clam flavor but very thick and I suspect that it was thickened with flour which to me is a no no. Ritters's Famous Pan Roast. Ritters's Famous Pan Roast. A tomato cream based creole sauce, with cajun trinity and a choice of protein. I ordered the "House" that had lobster, shrimp, clams and crab. Sauce had excellent flavor. Lots of crab but the other seafood was skimpy. Next time I would order only one seafood or the chicken and sausage.. Came with a large scoop of rice in the middle of the bowl. You have a choice of spice level, 0 to 10. Ordered 4 which was perfect for me. Dinners came with a basket of rolls, which were very good. Small beer and wine list. Corkage is $20 which I consider high because of the small wine list with low end wines. They also have take out. ■ Ritter's 180 - 5th St., # 130 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 536-7733 http:// www.rittersskc.com You can read other "Dinning Around Harbour Vista" in Harbour Vista News Archive at this Link.

posted 30 March 2015

Dining Around Harbour Vista

A GREAT FIND
by Mary Williams

A great find. The Seafood Zone is a small place with a 5 table dining area in the front. Very casual, plastic chairs etc., But

in the back they have made a patio area with lights, heaters, landscape painting on the walls to remind you of being in Cancun. Great place for the summer casual eating.

Loads of Seafood

Loads of seafood on the menu but they did have a couple of beef and chicken dishes available.

Medium price but the quality was good. I had the carne asada and shrimp burrito. Good flavors, served with black beans and white rice. A nice change from normal Mexican beans and rice. Another dish ordered was the bacon wrapped

stuffed shrimp. Served with beans rice and salad. Also had a fish taco plate, choice of fried or grilled with beans and rice. Excellent guacamole. Made fresh.

Beer and Soft Drinks

Beer and soft drinks are available. Wine was also but I do not recommend it. I would go for the beer.■

The Seafood Zone
6441 McFadden
Huntington Beach 92647
(714) 891-1981
Web: www.theseafoodzone.com

Hours:

M - T 11:00 to 8:00
F - S 11:00 to 9:00
Sun 12:00 to 8:00

Happy Hours M-F 2:30 to 6:00
Credit cards
Take out or dine in
Corkage $7

You can read other "Dinning Around Harbour Vista" in Harbour Vista News Archive at this Link.

posted 21 February 2015
Dining Around Harbour Vista ITALIAN WITH ASIAN INFLUENCE by Mary Williams Outside sign says Japanese - Infusion. First look you would expect a Japanese restaurant but Ceppo is Italian. The appetizers have a Asian influence but the pasta dishes are definitely Italian. Owner was born in Japan, studied in France and has worked at Spago and Chinoise. Kobe Beef Tartar I had the "Kobe" beef tartar - after questioning the server It was actually Wagu beef. For $8 you do not get "Kobe" beef. Other appetizers ordered were Burrata with procuitto wrapped pears slices and a Pork Chashu. They do make their own Burrata which is a plus. Other Entrees They did serve a small round of bread with a oil dipping sauce. Butter on request. Entrees ordered were Pasta with Uni, Pasta Carbonara and a Pork Loin cutlet with vegetables. Was Good Our overall opinion of the dishes were that they were good. Serving size was medium and prices were medium. Small wine list. Corkage is $10. Very small restaurant. No reservations except of parties of 5 or more. Limited menu and daily specials ■ Ceppo 7391 Warner Ave., # G Huntington Beach, 92647 (714) 375-6145 www.ceppohb.com Open for dinner only Tues thru Sunday Closed Monday

posted 6 November 2014
Dining Around Harbour Vista PERFECT FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH by Mary Williams Perfect for breakfast or lunch and walking distance from Harbour Vista, Green Street Cafe is located at the corner of Green Street and Warner Avenue. No Reservations No reservations and a little wait on weekends. We waited about 15 minutes for an opening and there was a long line of people. Small dining area outside with heaters and not much bigger on the inside. A eat at bar where they serve beer and wine and watch sports on television. Owned by the same people as Buon Gusto. Good Dishes I had the Eggs Huntington which consisted of grilled portobello mushrooms, sauteed spinach, tomato, avocado and poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce. Nice dish if you are limiting your carbs. No English muffin to be seen. Hollandaise sauce was good. Other dishes ordered were the regular French Toast which consisted of 3 whole slices of bread and an Belgium waffle. Waffle was crispy. All the dishes we had were good. Large Portions Extensive menu and breakfast is served all day. The "big" plates, meatloaf, steak, fried chicken etc. are served starting at 11:00 am. You can build your own burgers, omelettes and burritos from a large list of ingredients. Considerable side dishes are offered. Portions were large but not over whelming. Everything on the menu is available for takeout. Late in Afternoon Becomes Dinner This was my first time eating here and I will be back. They have the traditional Monte Cristo sandwich on the lunch menu so I definitely need to try that. Come late enough in the afternoon and it becomes dinner instead of lunch. ■ Green St. Cafe 4911 Warner Ave., #102 Huntington Beach 92649 (714) 846-0909 or 714-846-4949 www.greenstreetcafehb.com 7am to 4 pm, 7 days

posted 28 September 2014
Dining Around Harbour Vista Better Indian Restaurant by Mary Williams I have been dining at the Himayalan Grill for about 6 years now. One of the better Indian restaurant around. They have approximately 12 tables on the inside and for summer dining there is a patio area with heat lamps. Several dinners in the summer we had at least 24 people and they accommodated us outside with several large tables easily. Denish (Dennis) the owner was telling me they plan to expand soon and take over the next unit in the building. That should be a big plus. Not Strictly Vegetarian There is something for everyone on the menu. The Himalayan does have chicken, lamb and seafood on the menu. It is not strictly vegetarian. Small wine list but adequate. No corkage on Tuesday and Wednesday. Frankly I do not know what the corkage is because I have been going there so long I never get charged. They have a few Indian beers which go well the the spicy food. You can order food, mild, medium or hot. I always order my food mild as I am not into the burning heat. Numerous Variations All sauces are considered curry and there are numerous variations. I have been told hundred's. I am partial to Vindaloo, They also use onions a lot. The menu does give you a description of the food items if you are unfamiliar with Indian cuisine. Top Notch Some of my favorite items are the Samosa's, deep fried dough filled with potatoes, peas and onions. Not at all greasy like some Indian restaurants. Any of the Naan breads. Anything with Vindaloo in the name. Rogan Josh, lamb in sour cream and curry. Lamb or shrimp Saag, Saag is a spinach sauce. Vegetables Korma, mixed vegies in a cashew curry cream sauce. Any of the Chau Chau dishes, pan fried wheat noodles with additions. Thupka, which is a soup with noodles, meat and vegetables. Their Chicken Tikka Masala is top notch. The lamb chops are excellent. Had Everything I have had everything on the menu at some point. Even the Dal, which is lentils, not my favorite but for lentils it was good. I find it best to go with several people and have everyone order a different dish and share. That way you are tasting numerous dishes and not getting bored with just a single item. They do have combination plates for 1 or 2 people also. All orders come with rice and Paradam, which is a crispy cracker/bread item made from lentils. ■ Himalayan Grill 16400 Pacific Coast Hwy., #110 Peter's Landing Huntington Beach 92649 (562) 592-9080 www.himalayangrill.com Closed Monday. Open for Lunch and dinner. Closed between 2:30 and 5:00. Does take reservations and has takeout. A Sunday Buffet.

posted 16 August 2014
Dining Around Harbour Vista A Little Mexican Place by Mary Williams El Chile Frito is very small with only 7 tables. Chips and salsa were given, gratis. Salsa was freshly made and had a small kick to it. Spicy salsa was offered but we declined. Chicken Mole A Chile Relleno was ordered, it came with red sauce, also a plate of Enchiladas Ranchero. Both had good flavor. I ordered the Chicken Mole and was quite happy with it. Chicken was tender and the mole was good. I do not think they make the mole themselves because it is a time consuming sauce and only one dish on the menu featured it. Thicker Version All plates came with refried beans and rice. Just standard rice and the beans were a little too loose for my taste. I like a thicker version of refried beans. Coca Cola Bottle in Mexico They do have Coca Cola by the bottle and it is bottled in Mexico which gives it a whole different taste. They use cane sugar in Mexico and you can tell the difference, No beer or wine. Large, Varied Menu They featured a very large, varied menu with several authentic Mexican dishes that you usually do not see on menus unless you are in East LA. Trying Hard To Please El Chile Frito would be a good place for take out. Ambiance is lacking but they are attentive and trying hard to please you. They do take credit cards. Located in a strip mall near McFadden with adequate parking.■ El Chile Frito 15491 Edwards Huntington Beach (714) 893-7380

posted 17 July 2014
Dining Around Harbour Vista Walking Distance for a "Mediterranean Meal" by Mary Williams Most people consider the Olive Pit to be Greek but in reality it is Mediterranean which includes coastal Italy, The menu reflects that with a variety of dishes. Walking distance of Harbour Vista it is one of the most popular and busy places around. The outdoor seating is perfect during the summer for late afternoon and evening dining. Never Had a Bad Meal I have never had a bad meal here. I have tasted almost everything on the menu and have not been disappointed. Being able to assemble you own plate from the choices listed is another plus. Everyone can have exactly what they want. Portions are good size. Lamb Chops I am partial to some items, including the lamb chops, the wrap made with Pita instead of flatbread. The Rocka salad does rock. Look out for the "octopus" special. Very tender with a nice citrus bite to it. My favorite dip is the Taramosalata.( Cavier dip) . Their Hummus is excellent and some of the best Pita bread around. Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) are another favorite and I have been known to order the Spanakopita for taking to get togethers. The Flat Iron steak is worth a try. Real Tiramisu Small dessert menu. The Tiramisu is made with shredded phyllo dough instead of the traditional sponge cake. Good flavor but I prefer the old Italian traditional version. And you can ever go wrong with Baklava. Wine List OK A wine list that is OK. I would recommend bringing your own bottle and paying the $5 corkage. A Place to Walk To Since parking is a really big issue in this shopping complex if you can I would advise walking. Otherwise go early, before 5:00 to get one of those elusive parking spots. They open for lunch and close after the dinner hour around 10PM. Also have take out. Order ahead and it will be waiting for you.■ Olive Pit 16265 Bolsa Chica St. Huntington Beach 92649 (714) 316-5000 www.olivepitgrill.com

posted 1 June 2014
Dining Around Harbour Vista Good Selection by Mary Williams Harvey's Steakhouse is at Warner and Springdale. Ample parking. Opens at 4:00 for dinner and Happy Hour. Early Bird menu goes until 6:00 which saves you $2 to $5 over the regular dinner menu. A very good selection of entrees. Dinners run form $18 to $35. A special of all you can eat baby Back Ribs with sides for $19 on Monday and full Prime Rib dinner on Tuesdays for $19. Also a children's menu. Happy Hour from 4 to 7 weekdays and 4 to 6 on Sunday. Outdoor patio area. Live entertainment 4 days a week and Karaoke 3 days a week. Old Time House This is your old time steak & chop house with a sports bar. My suggestion for dining is to ask to sit in the back area of the dining room away from the bar. Better lighting for reading the menu and not as noisy. A Quality Feast Soup or salad comes with your entrees along with choice of sides. Salads were fresh and crisp and very good size. Soup of the day was cream of mushroom. Good mushroom flavor but devoid of any pieces of mushroom but then it did say "cream of" . The rib eye steak was cooked perfectly and very tender. Had a good char to it. Garlic mashed potatoes were garlicky. A thick pork chop with a spiced applesauce was ordered and was very tender and juicy. Baked potato came with all the extras you wanted. The shrimp scampi with pasta was alright. Needed a little more flavor. But lots of shrimp and they were fresh, not frozen. Portions were good size and we all took home lunch for the next day. Service was good. Limited Wine Menu Limited wine menu. But some decent wines on the list. Not expensive. I neglected to ask about corkage which is something I always do. Suggest You Go Early Nice local place for good steak at a decent price. My suggestion if you are just contemplating dinner, go early, order from the "Early Bird" menu or the specials and avoid the entertainment. If you are into having music and entertainment go after 7:00. The web site has all the menus listed along with their entertainment calendar.■ Harvey's Steakhouse 6060 Warner Ave Huntington Beach (714) 842-5111 www.harveyssteakhoouse.com Sun-Thu 4:30pm-9:30pm Fri-Sat 4:30pm-10:30pm

posted 9 April 2014
Dining Around Harbour Vista Close and Convenient by Mary Williams The Red Table is located in the Huntington Harbor Mall in behind of Trader Joes. There is parking in the back area off of Saybrook. Large bar that fronts the dinning area. Good selection of craft beers. Decent wine list by the bottle and glass. Corkage is $10 for the 1st bottle, $10 for the 2nd bottle, Third bottle is $25 which leaves this place out for my wine and dine group as we usually have 8 to 15 bottles on the table. But for the 3 of us who dined here recently it worked out well. Daily Specials Daily specials on the blackboard. Specials are worth looking at. I was tempted to order the daily burger special, thick beef patty with a slab of pork belly on top. Maybe next time. We started out with the Red Table Fries, served with a spicy catsup. Tasty fries, nice potato texture and crispy outside. I had a bowl of lobster bisque. This was the non-cream version. Good flavor and just the right amount of tang. Next we had the flatbread special, garlic with shrimp. Loads of garlic which set the flatbread into something really different. Meatball Sliders Two other dishes were ordered. Meatball Sliders, three large meatballs and sauce. I did not taste this dish but I was told it was very good. A plate of Beer Brined Porkchops, two chops, caramelized red cabbage and mashed potatoes on the plate. Tasted the porkchop, brining does make a difference. This dish is worth ordering again. It was on the daily special menu. It Does Get Busy Service was good. On a Tuesday night the place was busy but not full. As the weekend approaches it does get busy. Menu has a large selection along with the daily specials. Portions are on the larger size. The use of of spices add flavors makes the food stand out. Red Table is close and convenient to Harbour Vista.■ Red Table 16821 Algonquin St Huntington Beach 92649 (714) 846-4700 11:30 to 9:00 seven days http://redtablerestaurants.com Comments/Feedback: Harbour Vista News invites your comments/feed back on articles on this web site or on the printed version of the newsletter. Let us know what you like or what doesn't interest you.

posted 25 February 2014
Dining Around Harbour Vista Seafood "To Go Place" by Mary Williams Fish Camp is one of my go to places for fresh seafood. They are owned by Kings Fish House. They have their dining room service, take out and a small fresh seafood counter for purchasing to take home. Prices are a little higher than a regular grocery store but the quality is far superior. You can buy as little or as much as you like. No pre-packaged here. Two Dinning Areas The restaurant has two dining areas, one on the inside and a larger area outside with tall windows and retractable roof. Space heaters are outside to combat the chill of living at the beach. Fish Camp is a bit noisy but it is a laid back restaurant and the level is acceptable. Wide Variety A wide array of seafood is available and can be ordered as a sandwich, salad, plate or taco. and also ordered in 5 different preparations. There is something for everyone here. Soups, small plates, green salads, oysters, lobster, crab are also available. Sand Dabs I had the Sand Dabs with two sides, You have a choice of 9 sides to choose from. The Sand Dabs come with a lemon, butter, caper sauce are are very good. It is one of my favorite plates here. Another dish ordered was the deep fried shrimp and a salmon salad. No one had any complaints. I can also vouch for the fish and chips and oysters. Odd Man Out There is a burger and steak on the menu if you are the odd man out in your group of seafood lovers. A children's menu is available and a few desserts are listed. Beer and Wine There is a wide selection of beer and wine. Wine is sold by the glass, half bottle or full bottle. No corkage if you want to bring your own. Cloth Napkins You place your order at the counter and pay for it ahead of time and your food is delivered to your table. Cloth napkins are standard here. I appreciate that. I have a hard time with paper napkins in restaurants. It's one of my personal quirks. Fast food places are ok, but not a sit down dining room. A 4% surcharge is added to the bill for the wait staff. This I find reasonable as they do bring your food to the table, will get more water and condiments for you, etc. I always try to leave a few dollars more because the service is good. Parking Parking lot is very good size and there is parking on the side street. I have been at the Fish Camp many times when is was really full but the table turnover is good and usually not a long wait at the very peak of their busy time.■ Fish Camp 16600 Pacific Coast Hwy Huntington Beach 92649 562-592-2267 www.samsfishcamp.comOpen 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

posted 14 January 2014

Dining Around Harbour Vista

Definately Will Be Back
by Mary Williams

This is our first time at The Black Trumpet, but definitely will be back. The place is small with a eat/drink bar that holds about 12 people and looks onto the kitchen / cook area and approximately 12 tables.

The Black Trumpet Bistro & Tapas is open for Lunch & Dinner on weekdays and dinner only on weekends. No reservations accepted.
The Black Trumpet specializes in small plates (tapas). Mediterranean/Italian style of cooking. Good wine list with choices from numerous countries. Many wines by the glass. Glasses are decent size but a little heavy. Corkage is $12. I had a couple of glasses of Raimat Albarino at $6 per glass.

Green Olives and Garlic

The Restaurant starts you out with a plate of pita bread and a sauce made with olive oil, feta cheese, green olives and garlic. Very good. But I wish this would have been brought to our table when we ordered our drinks. It showed up after we had been served a couple of the tapa dishes we ordered. Next time I eat here I will ask for it when I place my beverage order.

We had a wide variety of plates. started off with Bruschetta Three Ways, Kalamata Tapendae, Caponata & Cannelini. All had excellent flavor and the bread was soft and easy to eat. Spiced Garlic Shrimp - very garlicky with a hint of red pepper and very fresh shrimp. Stuffed mushrooms - the sauce was outstanding and we took the pita bread and sopped it up. Veal Meatballs in Marinara sauce - large meatballs and very light. Again excellent flavor.

Best I Have Had

A roasted Pear, Spinach and Gorgonzola salad was ordered along with a baked brie- the brie was one of the best I have had.

One of our group ordered the "Parker" plate which was a dinner plate of salmon, with roasted asparagus and rice. All of their dinners are named after Jazz persons. The Duke, Satchmo Bouillabese, Coltrane. Miles, Ella, Parker, Ray, Billie and Louis.

Toasted Coconut

Ended up with a dessert of Dolce Leche covered with toasted coconut. Decadent.

Everything we ordered was either very good or excellent. I will be going back soon to try a lot more of their dishes. This not a place to miss.

Very Popular Spot

Service was good. Noise level was high. People had to wait to be seated. Seems that this is a very popular spot to eat. I would not recommend this place for small children. I would suggest to try dining here early in the week or get there by 5:30. We were here on a Thursday night and it was crowded between 6:00 and 8:30, after that it lightened up. I can imagine what the weekends must be like■

The Black Trumpet Bistro & Tapas
18344 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach 92649
(714) 842-1122
theblacktrumpetbistro.com

Comments/Feedback: Harbour Vista News invites your comments/feed back on articles on this web site or on the printed version of the newsletter. Let us know what you like or what doesn't interest you.

**This Restaurant is no longer in Business**
posted 10 November 2013
Dining Around Harbour Vista Equal to Most by Mary Williams Sea Siam Thai Restaurant has been around for numerous years. They have just had a change in ownership and the small place has been painted and refurbished. Nice combinations of red walls and black tablecloths. Tables are covered with a glass top so with the dimmer lighting you do get a bit of sparkle. This place looked very clean. The staff was very accommodating. On Many Levels I frequent several different Thai restaurants and this place is equal to them on many levels. They have a very limited selection of inexpensive wines and several different beers. Beer at times goes well with Thai food because of the spicy nature of Thai cuisine. Corkage is $10. The food prices are reasonable and the portions are good size. Enough for sharing or take home. Varied Selection We had a varied selection of dishes, all made with mild heat. Green salad was very crisp and fresh. Choice of a few dressing. Honey Mustard was chosen and it had good flavor. They also offer a peanut dressing. Vegetable soup was ordered. Good broth with a lot of flavor. Mushrooms, tomato, garlic, onions, cilantro and shrimp were the ingredients. Spring Rolls Ordered a dish of Spring Rolls. Sea Siam calls them "Skinny Salad Roll". These are wrapped with rice paper and are not cooked. Cucumber, carrots, bean sprouts, basil, lettuce, cilantro and a peanut dressing. Crisp and crunchy and very tasty. 6 rolls to an order. I am not a big fan of cilantro and can do without it but for those that like it, you will really get into these rolls. Tamarind shrimp was another dish we tried. Shrimp were decent size and very fresh. Grilled, on a skewer with a good Tamarind sauce. Fifteen shrimp on skewers sitting on a bed of shredded cabbage. Two different orders of Fried Rice were tasted. One was Chicken with Vegetables and loads of chicken. The other was Pineapple Fried Rice, also with loads of chicken. But I would have preferred a bit more pineapple in it. Both were good. Very Fresh All the ingredients seem to be very fresh. Which is a big plus. Presentation was nice. We were told that they are very busy during the lunch hour but the evenings were less busy. Seems like that would be the time to go and try them out. The staff would have more time to explain the dishes to you if you are unfamiliar with Thai cuisine. It can be spicy but you do have the option to ordering mild, medium or hot.■ Sea Siam Thai Restaurant 16103 Bolsa Chica Street Huntington Beach 92649 (714) 846-8986 Open for Lunch & Dinner 7 days Free Delivery within 4 miles, ($20 minimum order) Comments and Remarks: I am not a fan of Thai food, but my wife and daughter are -- and dragged to this restaurant once a month. I have cultivated a taste for their Sweet and Sour Shrimp with fried rice. Most time this dish is too sweet at other resturants I go to. But a Sea Siam, it is just right and very mild. I love it! For you non Thai food people, you should give it a try. ---Michael

posted 9 October 2013
Dining Around Harbour Vista Casual and Unpretentious by Mary Williams Buon Gusto at the corner of Warner and Bolsa Chica is a casual and unpretentious dinning experience. Great for families and casual dining. Lot of pasta and pizza dishes on the menu. Portions are very large, plan on taking home your leftovers. They seem to automatically give you take out containers. All Good I have had several dishes at Buon Gusto and they were all good. Last time in I ordered the Veal Marsala, two large slices of veal, lots of mushrooms and sitting on a bed of rigatoni. Also had the house side salad which is a meal in itself. Loaded with marinated vegetables, tomatoes, lots of parmesan cheese and good dressing. My dining companions had the Gnocchi with marinara sauce and the pasta with meat sauce. Both were pleased with their selections. Sauces taste like they are made from scratch. No complaints on the food. Prices are reasonable Great Environment Buon Gusto is clean and the wait staff really hustles but they don't hustle you. Take your time and enjoy your meal. Long bar with wine and beer only. Several televisions showing the games. There is no corkage which is great for those who prefer their own wines. The house Chianti is made by the San Antonio Winery in Los Angeles. At $3 a glass it's a bargain. Outdoor seating area with heaters. If you don't want the noise from inside this is the place to sit. They do take reservations which I highly recommend for weekends. Otherwise there is a line waiting for a table. Buon Gusto does a very large take out service. Open 7 days from 11 AM to 10 PM and within walking distance to Harbour Vista if you don't want to drive. Lots of parking in the front and back area.■ Buon Gusto 4911 Warner Huntington Beach 714-846-2600 www.buongustohb.com Comment: This is Harbour Vista News first dinner review. Thanks to the author for this first contribution. Harbour Vista News welcome writtens from any member of the HOA. --Michael Barto

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