Monday, November 4, 2013
Pizza Port Update
Pizza Port update. Pizza Port is as awesome as ever but it is I who has changed. Now I barely sip my beer upgrade from the lunch special as I am busy running after my child begging her to eat her 'healthy' lunch of pep pizza as she climbs around the arcade still too small to play any of the games. She asks for money to put in the machines but as all good moms do, I just pretend that the game is on, and that she should 'turn turn turn' that wheel, or 'shoot shoot shoot' that target. It is now her favorite place but she calls it 'Pizzaland'. We are happy to take her. It is much cheaper than Disneyland.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Pizza Port Update
We hadn't been to Pizza Port in a while. We went recently to the one in Carlsbad and were a bit disappointed because the prices had shot up a lot. Maybe it's a shortage of hops or other ingredients but for example Avery's Maharaja was going for $5 for half a pint. That's $10 for a pint, and you can buy the bottle elsewhere for $7. But in other good news, there were some new menu items. Also, you can see what is on tap by viewing their live webcam at all 3 locations.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
It's been too long
We went back to Ellis Island in las Vegas on October 22, 2007. By then they had raised the prices and charged us for the beers and it didn't even taste as good as before. After midnight we tried the $7.77 Gambler's Special at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino which included a steak and some shrimp. This tasted much better. We even had a coupon for Buy 1 Get 1 free, making it an even sweeter deal.
Last week we went back to the TAPS happy hour (M-F 2:30-6, also on the weekend, different times though) in Brea, and they raised their prices to $4 for a pint and their appetizers are now $6. I had their Gold Medal winning Irish Red Ale which was really good. The DH (Dear Husband, dear lord, I saw this term on message board for cruises), had the Roggen twice by accident (he had wanted their IPA for his second pint), and I had their Cream Ale for my second. The Red was great, but the others were just so-so. The Meat Lovers Pizza was pretty good, and so was the Crab ans Spinach Dip. The Seafood cocktail was okay.
Earlier that week we had gone to the happy hour at Maki Maki (M 3:30-close, Tu-Th 3:30-6) for the first time. We had been there to dine several times. I never liked it much but the DH keeps insisting. We were early so we went to the Yard House (M-F 3-6) for some pints beforehand. I can't remember what we had. At Maki Maki I had the Hefeweizen and I don't recall what the DH had, but the pints were about $2.50. Their sushi was about half off. Their pieces ($2.50) are quite good, but the rolls (~$3.50) weren't, and their bowls ($5) weren't either.
I prefer the happy hour at Riptide (M-F 4-6). I don't like their sister restaurant CHOMP which smells funny. Their the beers are $3, and their cut rolls which are fantastic are only $3.
Nothing, however, compares to my beloved Pizza Port. I love it so. If you get there before 3, you can order the lunch special, which is a slice of 'za, a salad, and a soda for about $5. You can upgrade to a beer instead of soda for another buck and then add another one if you choose a strong beer. Still a great deal. We were there on sunday and had the Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, and another beer which I've forgotten.
Last week we went back to the TAPS happy hour (M-F 2:30-6, also on the weekend, different times though) in Brea, and they raised their prices to $4 for a pint and their appetizers are now $6. I had their Gold Medal winning Irish Red Ale which was really good. The DH (Dear Husband, dear lord, I saw this term on message board for cruises), had the Roggen twice by accident (he had wanted their IPA for his second pint), and I had their Cream Ale for my second. The Red was great, but the others were just so-so. The Meat Lovers Pizza was pretty good, and so was the Crab ans Spinach Dip. The Seafood cocktail was okay.
Earlier that week we had gone to the happy hour at Maki Maki (M 3:30-close, Tu-Th 3:30-6) for the first time. We had been there to dine several times. I never liked it much but the DH keeps insisting. We were early so we went to the Yard House (M-F 3-6) for some pints beforehand. I can't remember what we had. At Maki Maki I had the Hefeweizen and I don't recall what the DH had, but the pints were about $2.50. Their sushi was about half off. Their pieces ($2.50) are quite good, but the rolls (~$3.50) weren't, and their bowls ($5) weren't either.
I prefer the happy hour at Riptide (M-F 4-6). I don't like their sister restaurant CHOMP which smells funny. Their the beers are $3, and their cut rolls which are fantastic are only $3.
Nothing, however, compares to my beloved Pizza Port. I love it so. If you get there before 3, you can order the lunch special, which is a slice of 'za, a salad, and a soda for about $5. You can upgrade to a beer instead of soda for another buck and then add another one if you choose a strong beer. Still a great deal. We were there on sunday and had the Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, and another beer which I've forgotten.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
foodie review, ellis island steak special
$4.95: 10-ounce steak at Ellis Island. Includes potato, bread and green beans.
since reading about this special i couldn't keep my thoughts from it. the last trip to las vegas was centered on this (that and seeing interpol at the hard rock and also trying out the new platinum hotel and finally visiting the hofbrauhaus). however, since eating there i've actually dreamed about it several times. in one dream i was showing my sister how to play blackjack as we waited for our table in the restaurant. in another dream, my father and i were seated and i was telling him how great the food was. and in yet another dream, my husband and i returned to las vegas only to eat there again. so weird, i know.
but to summarize, we asked for the off-the-menu steak special and got (with excellent service) a delicious 10 ounce steak, the size and shape almost like a softball, a really good baked potato (i even ate the skin it was that good) with butter and sour cream, a lot of green beans which were so-so, and a green salad. also had the amber beer which ws okay. i had tried the stout and pilsner before being seated and they left me kind of nauseous.
we went back the next morning for their breakfast special, which was really good as well, but nothing can beat a steak dinner for less than $5.
since reading about this special i couldn't keep my thoughts from it. the last trip to las vegas was centered on this (that and seeing interpol at the hard rock and also trying out the new platinum hotel and finally visiting the hofbrauhaus). however, since eating there i've actually dreamed about it several times. in one dream i was showing my sister how to play blackjack as we waited for our table in the restaurant. in another dream, my father and i were seated and i was telling him how great the food was. and in yet another dream, my husband and i returned to las vegas only to eat there again. so weird, i know.
but to summarize, we asked for the off-the-menu steak special and got (with excellent service) a delicious 10 ounce steak, the size and shape almost like a softball, a really good baked potato (i even ate the skin it was that good) with butter and sour cream, a lot of green beans which were so-so, and a green salad. also had the amber beer which ws okay. i had tried the stout and pilsner before being seated and they left me kind of nauseous.
we went back the next morning for their breakfast special, which was really good as well, but nothing can beat a steak dinner for less than $5.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
beerventure happy hour
we talk about this all the time, but after a couple of beers we forget, then days later the days hours and offers are blurry.
here's a short list:
taps fish house & brewery in brea. we've only gone twice since it's kind of far for us. their pints are $3 and last time we went there was to try their highly touted pumpkin ale which used 300 pounds of pumpkins. as i recall is was good. the mr. doesn't like to go because he's a hophead and they usually don't have ipas there. some appetizers are half off but i don't remember having gotten any. it's a nice almost fancy place. m-f 2:30-6:30.
yard house is the happy hour we go to most often. usually we just get bear republic racer 5 and something else. for all the taps they have, they don't have many appealing beers. the pints are $3.25 and some appetizers are half off and they are the real reason we go. their spicy tuna roll is amazing. not like a traditional sushi roll, it's like they layer a whole meal in a round cylinder. their pizzas are good too. we've tried a lot of their locations but for some reason the food tastes best at the irvine spectrum. nice, modern, and dark, just how i like em. m-f 3-6.
mccormick & schmick's happy hour consists of severely discounted food requiring a purchase of a full-priced drink. the beer isn't anything special and you may be tempted to try some of the interesting sounding dishes, but the best deal here is the hamburger with fries for $1.95. traditional and dark. m-f 4-6 and 9:30 to close.
bj's isn't my favorite. i finally realized i don't like their pizza, even if it is half off. the beers are okay. the jeremiah red is the best of the bunch, but we usually go for their rotating special beer, even if that means it's cask conditioned and the bartender hands it to you, saying 'you won't like this'. i've been to the real ale festival man, don't tell me nothing. anywho, nice place. m-th 4-7, sun-th 10-close.
there's also oggi's, a bigger and growing chain with okay beer and varying prices and offers for happy hour. i prefer the orange location where pints are $2.+ (can't recall exactly), it's $3 off a pitcher. we usually get the torrey pines ipa which is really good. i love their salads which are positively loaded with good stuff. m-f the rest is blurry...
the ultimate, though not happy hour, but the ultimate beer palace, place, is pizza port. the closest one to us is san clemente which is the least best of the 3 locations but it is still pretty darn good, enough to make a weekly treck down there. mondays you get $2pints/$8pitchers of san diego brewed beers, tuesdays it's $2 for their own beer. their pizzas are awesome, their beer even better. very casual, very excellent.
here's a short list:
taps fish house & brewery in brea. we've only gone twice since it's kind of far for us. their pints are $3 and last time we went there was to try their highly touted pumpkin ale which used 300 pounds of pumpkins. as i recall is was good. the mr. doesn't like to go because he's a hophead and they usually don't have ipas there. some appetizers are half off but i don't remember having gotten any. it's a nice almost fancy place. m-f 2:30-6:30.
yard house is the happy hour we go to most often. usually we just get bear republic racer 5 and something else. for all the taps they have, they don't have many appealing beers. the pints are $3.25 and some appetizers are half off and they are the real reason we go. their spicy tuna roll is amazing. not like a traditional sushi roll, it's like they layer a whole meal in a round cylinder. their pizzas are good too. we've tried a lot of their locations but for some reason the food tastes best at the irvine spectrum. nice, modern, and dark, just how i like em. m-f 3-6.
mccormick & schmick's happy hour consists of severely discounted food requiring a purchase of a full-priced drink. the beer isn't anything special and you may be tempted to try some of the interesting sounding dishes, but the best deal here is the hamburger with fries for $1.95. traditional and dark. m-f 4-6 and 9:30 to close.
bj's isn't my favorite. i finally realized i don't like their pizza, even if it is half off. the beers are okay. the jeremiah red is the best of the bunch, but we usually go for their rotating special beer, even if that means it's cask conditioned and the bartender hands it to you, saying 'you won't like this'. i've been to the real ale festival man, don't tell me nothing. anywho, nice place. m-th 4-7, sun-th 10-close.
there's also oggi's, a bigger and growing chain with okay beer and varying prices and offers for happy hour. i prefer the orange location where pints are $2.+ (can't recall exactly), it's $3 off a pitcher. we usually get the torrey pines ipa which is really good. i love their salads which are positively loaded with good stuff. m-f the rest is blurry...
the ultimate, though not happy hour, but the ultimate beer palace, place, is pizza port. the closest one to us is san clemente which is the least best of the 3 locations but it is still pretty darn good, enough to make a weekly treck down there. mondays you get $2pints/$8pitchers of san diego brewed beers, tuesdays it's $2 for their own beer. their pizzas are awesome, their beer even better. very casual, very excellent.
Monday, April 16, 2007
beerventure hollingshead shopventure h&m e target
we had a hard time finding hollingshead deli the first time around, driving up and down main street in orange/santa ana, cursing the giant star on the mapquest printout making it impossible to tell where exactly this hole in a wall was situated. finally we pulled into a probable strip mall plaza and in the most hidden corner, we found it. reminding me of my native germany, filled with snacks of my childhood and lotsnlots of beer.
served in half liter mugs we had a full sail slipnot imperial ipa and a drake's double ipa. one was $4.50 and one was $5. both were very potent at 3 pm on a wednesday. lots of people were eating sandwiches with their beers so we filed that away mentally for future reference.
a week later we were back and had that sandwich. we had a double ham salad sandwich for $9 (we then had to drive to downtown santa ana to get some tortas to supplement our 'snack'). next time we'll just go for the beer. this time we had the lagunitas brown shugga and lagunitas maximus ipa at $4.50 a piece. both were delicious.
after stopping for a torta we went to the opening day of h&m at the irvine spectrum. the place was very crowded and men were dancing while shopping which was a little funny and a little disturbing. i remember going to my first h&m in new york in 2000 and i bought a bunch of cool shirts. since then you can get cool shirts just about anywhere, so it has lost some of its appeal. however for me a big part of going to h&m are the bargains. i got a pair of leather pants in london which i have never worn and some sweaters in frankfurt which i cannot wear because i'm allergic to the material (but they were so cute!). so i'll be stopping at the nearby 3(!) locations periodically, just to check things out. the madonna line 'm' was/is awful.
also awful is the proenza schouler line at target. i really liked/loved the behnaz line so i'm surprised by this new ill-fitting mess. a lot of it is horrible 80s clothes that i had back then and swore i'd never wear again. so no tshirts with rolled-up sleeves, buttoned miniskirts, and cardigans.
back to beer, it is time to make reservations for the pizzaport real ale festival june 1st and 2nd in carlsbad, ca. it is not to be missed. nothing beats 'sampling' great beers and causing trouble down on the beach!
served in half liter mugs we had a full sail slipnot imperial ipa and a drake's double ipa. one was $4.50 and one was $5. both were very potent at 3 pm on a wednesday. lots of people were eating sandwiches with their beers so we filed that away mentally for future reference.
a week later we were back and had that sandwich. we had a double ham salad sandwich for $9 (we then had to drive to downtown santa ana to get some tortas to supplement our 'snack'). next time we'll just go for the beer. this time we had the lagunitas brown shugga and lagunitas maximus ipa at $4.50 a piece. both were delicious.
after stopping for a torta we went to the opening day of h&m at the irvine spectrum. the place was very crowded and men were dancing while shopping which was a little funny and a little disturbing. i remember going to my first h&m in new york in 2000 and i bought a bunch of cool shirts. since then you can get cool shirts just about anywhere, so it has lost some of its appeal. however for me a big part of going to h&m are the bargains. i got a pair of leather pants in london which i have never worn and some sweaters in frankfurt which i cannot wear because i'm allergic to the material (but they were so cute!). so i'll be stopping at the nearby 3(!) locations periodically, just to check things out. the madonna line 'm' was/is awful.
also awful is the proenza schouler line at target. i really liked/loved the behnaz line so i'm surprised by this new ill-fitting mess. a lot of it is horrible 80s clothes that i had back then and swore i'd never wear again. so no tshirts with rolled-up sleeves, buttoned miniskirts, and cardigans.
back to beer, it is time to make reservations for the pizzaport real ale festival june 1st and 2nd in carlsbad, ca. it is not to be missed. nothing beats 'sampling' great beers and causing trouble down on the beach!
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