I'm so hip these days that many of the places Naomi Wise reviews in the San Diego Reader are either already on my radar....or I've already been. But last week she reviewed a place I'd never even heard of: Bayu's Ethiopian in Hillcrest. Lots of vegetarian options, buffet at lunch.....
That's all Foodie Mom needs to hear!
My own Mama is visiting, and she's always game for a veg adventure, so we hit Bayu's today. FABULOUS! I didn't really think I liked Ethiopian. Though I have long been an Indian food fanatic, injara always tasted too sour to me; when I tried Ethiopian food in college, I remember thinking it tasted kind of weird. But years have passed, Naomi's review sounded great, and off we went.
YUM!!!! Injara wasn't sour at all. Three kinds of different lentil stews (not super spicy), one with split peas, one with tomatos/carrots/potatoes. (They had one meat stew too but we can't vouch for it.) Overall, super-healthy, super-flavorful, super-nice decor.
Oh - and the restaurant is in the former Cafe Bleu space in Hillcrest (where that wine bar used to be). ABSOLUTELY WORTH A VISIT...and another and another, when I can find an excuse to be in the neighborhood (and a dining partner, since this ain't CH's kind of food).
Showing posts with label Hillcrest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillcrest. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Charisma Cucina Italiana revisit (Hillcrest): Mmmm.....
Second visit to Charisma. LOVED it! Tried not to get exactly the same thing but it was hard. Got the arugula salad with truffle oil. Mmm...truffle oil. Just as good as the salad I got last time.
Still love the lentil spread for the bread.
DH ordered the same entree as last time (veal parm) but was in a better mood so liked it better. :) He also got bruschetta, which was very flavorful tomatoes and basil on very good grilled bread.
I got the same pasta dish with sauteed eggplant and smoked mozz, but did it with whole wheat penne. Felt a little more virtuous.
Didn't like my "Tuscan blend" as much as the Nero d'Avola I got last time. However, the nice waiter brought me a taste of Primitivo, which I would order again in a heartbeat. Even better: we were seated before $6, so my Tuscan blend only cost $3. For $3, it was an outstanding Italian table wine!
So friendly there, so cute....so delicious! Charisma gets promoted to my #3 fave restaurant du moment.
Still love the lentil spread for the bread.
DH ordered the same entree as last time (veal parm) but was in a better mood so liked it better. :) He also got bruschetta, which was very flavorful tomatoes and basil on very good grilled bread.
I got the same pasta dish with sauteed eggplant and smoked mozz, but did it with whole wheat penne. Felt a little more virtuous.
Didn't like my "Tuscan blend" as much as the Nero d'Avola I got last time. However, the nice waiter brought me a taste of Primitivo, which I would order again in a heartbeat. Even better: we were seated before $6, so my Tuscan blend only cost $3. For $3, it was an outstanding Italian table wine!
So friendly there, so cute....so delicious! Charisma gets promoted to my #3 fave restaurant du moment.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Charisma Cucina Italiana (Hillcrest): Now THAT's how I like to eat!
So I read reviews a lot and a place seems intriguing....sometimes I get there, sometimes I don't, sometimes it's disappointing....sometimes it's like Charisma!!!
Amen, Yelpers....I'm so glad I went here!!
OVERALL: Real Modern Italian, not Little Italy or Italian-American. Simple and perfect.....The kind of food I would happily eat for a last supper. I love California cuisine, and farm-to-table, and out-of-the box and all that....but this is simple, well-executed, and scrumptious. I could eat this any day and forget all about the celebrity chefs.
ATMOSPHERE: Tiny, but beautiful red colors, right on University Avenue.
WINES BY THE GLASS: Now you're talking! I was delighted to have an excellent selections of Italian wines by the glass for $5-8 ($2.50 - 4 at happy hour!). Had to pass on a $5 Sangiovese and a $6.50 Super Tuscan (!) for a $7 Nero d'Avola Sicilian. DELISH!
BREAD: Super-fresh and hot, from Bread and Cie. Comes with a lentil spread that was scrumptious.
WAITER: Very gracious and efficient young Italian. Who cares if I had to ask him to keep repeating each component of the specials because I understood 25% of what he was saying? He still had great recommendations.
SALAD/SOUP: I went with a nightly special, mixed greens with gorgonzola, carmelized walnuts, blueberries and a balsamic reduction. I was afraid the gorgonzola might be too heavy. It came shredded (how about that?) and the plate was beautiful. I scarfed up the whole salad. Cute Husband enjoyed the soup of the day, a chicken minestrone.
ENTREES: CH was less excited about his veal parm than mine ("this is too much food for me," he said). I loved the perfect rosemary potatoes on his plate, though, and the delicious Italian vegetables. Oh - and my pasta dish? I have never even heard of the noodle I got (and it's not on the online menu). It was a longer, straighter version of gemelli. But it came with diced sauteed eggplant, smoked mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil. It was RIDICULOUSLY TASTY. Yes, I would happily eat this for my last meal.
DESSERT: I was pleasantly sated from my food. CH got a cannoli. I thought the shell was just ok, but enjoyed a taste of the filling.
PRICES: Insanely reasonable.
On yelp, they say the service can be slow - and the kitchen is postage stamp sized, so I can imagine it gets slow when the restaurant is full. We dined early so had very efficient service. WOULD HAPPILY RETURN FOR A SLICE OF ITALIAN FOOD HEAVEN! Some people say Bice is the best Italian food in San Diego - some say it's Bencotto. I vastly preferred this to Bice (simple and cheaper and tastier); after eating at Bencotto I got a horrible stomach ache. So this is an easy choice for me as the best Italian (modern or not!) in town.
Amen, Yelpers....I'm so glad I went here!!
OVERALL: Real Modern Italian, not Little Italy or Italian-American. Simple and perfect.....The kind of food I would happily eat for a last supper. I love California cuisine, and farm-to-table, and out-of-the box and all that....but this is simple, well-executed, and scrumptious. I could eat this any day and forget all about the celebrity chefs.
ATMOSPHERE: Tiny, but beautiful red colors, right on University Avenue.
WINES BY THE GLASS: Now you're talking! I was delighted to have an excellent selections of Italian wines by the glass for $5-8 ($2.50 - 4 at happy hour!). Had to pass on a $5 Sangiovese and a $6.50 Super Tuscan (!) for a $7 Nero d'Avola Sicilian. DELISH!
BREAD: Super-fresh and hot, from Bread and Cie. Comes with a lentil spread that was scrumptious.
WAITER: Very gracious and efficient young Italian. Who cares if I had to ask him to keep repeating each component of the specials because I understood 25% of what he was saying? He still had great recommendations.
SALAD/SOUP: I went with a nightly special, mixed greens with gorgonzola, carmelized walnuts, blueberries and a balsamic reduction. I was afraid the gorgonzola might be too heavy. It came shredded (how about that?) and the plate was beautiful. I scarfed up the whole salad. Cute Husband enjoyed the soup of the day, a chicken minestrone.
ENTREES: CH was less excited about his veal parm than mine ("this is too much food for me," he said). I loved the perfect rosemary potatoes on his plate, though, and the delicious Italian vegetables. Oh - and my pasta dish? I have never even heard of the noodle I got (and it's not on the online menu). It was a longer, straighter version of gemelli. But it came with diced sauteed eggplant, smoked mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil. It was RIDICULOUSLY TASTY. Yes, I would happily eat this for my last meal.
DESSERT: I was pleasantly sated from my food. CH got a cannoli. I thought the shell was just ok, but enjoyed a taste of the filling.
PRICES: Insanely reasonable.
On yelp, they say the service can be slow - and the kitchen is postage stamp sized, so I can imagine it gets slow when the restaurant is full. We dined early so had very efficient service. WOULD HAPPILY RETURN FOR A SLICE OF ITALIAN FOOD HEAVEN! Some people say Bice is the best Italian food in San Diego - some say it's Bencotto. I vastly preferred this to Bice (simple and cheaper and tastier); after eating at Bencotto I got a horrible stomach ache. So this is an easy choice for me as the best Italian (modern or not!) in town.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Quick takes: Bo's Seafood (Hillcrest) and Habibi's Mediterranean (Escondido)
Found myself in Hillcrest the other day at lunch. Bo's is in a strip mall with lots of parking. DELISH grilled fish tacos (some kind of tangy marinade and sauce). Not cheap, but reasonably quick and yummy. Would be toddler friendly.
Habibi's: OH BOY! Real Middle Eastern food in Escondido - real find. Not far from the Children's Museum at all. ST was overtired so it was a little stressful, but we had:
--amazing vegetarian lentil soup (had fresh ground spices: did I taste a hint of cardamon?)
--Greek salad: just eh, but ST loves feta
--hummus: super-yum, very thick and fresh. CH prefers thinner hummus but I thought it was very authentic and delightful.
--Felafel: I think I can safely call it the BEST I'VE HAD IN SD. Even better than Sultan Schwarma's. Very fresh, with delicious pickles.
--Chicken kebabs: CH thought they were good, though he wasn't as wild about the place as me. However, I tasted his rice pilaf. WOWZA! Yummy sliced almonds, raisins and vermicelli on top. Loved it!
I think they're Iraqi - they have kibbeh and bourekas and lots of other dishes whose names were unfamiliar to me on the menu.
Service not super-duper, but food was great and at a great price. Very toddler (and baby-) friendly.
Am so going back, if only I can find a time!
Habibi's: OH BOY! Real Middle Eastern food in Escondido - real find. Not far from the Children's Museum at all. ST was overtired so it was a little stressful, but we had:
--amazing vegetarian lentil soup (had fresh ground spices: did I taste a hint of cardamon?)
--Greek salad: just eh, but ST loves feta
--hummus: super-yum, very thick and fresh. CH prefers thinner hummus but I thought it was very authentic and delightful.
--Felafel: I think I can safely call it the BEST I'VE HAD IN SD. Even better than Sultan Schwarma's. Very fresh, with delicious pickles.
--Chicken kebabs: CH thought they were good, though he wasn't as wild about the place as me. However, I tasted his rice pilaf. WOWZA! Yummy sliced almonds, raisins and vermicelli on top. Loved it!
I think they're Iraqi - they have kibbeh and bourekas and lots of other dishes whose names were unfamiliar to me on the menu.
Service not super-duper, but food was great and at a great price. Very toddler (and baby-) friendly.
Am so going back, if only I can find a time!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Mama Testa's, plus Viva Pops IV
Yes, another weekend....another impromptu trip to Viva Pops.
Hit Mama Testa's for the first time in a year. Loved it when we tried it last year, a little less today. Still has the best guac in town; great salsas; great service; lots of veggie options; pleasant. But parking is a royal pain in the rear in that neighborhood (we circled multiple times and were about to leave when Mom spotted a spot being vacated), and the veggie options aren't actually that healthy/filling if you're doing low carb like I'm trying to (mashed potato taco, or other taco combos that are carb heavy and don't have much veggies or beans). I'm sure I'll be hungry soon again. Flavors are yummy though.
ST slept in his big boy bed all night long (bye bye crib) so had earned some ice cream. He decided (perhaps I influenced him a bit!) that he preferred to go to the popsicle store. So back to Viva Pops....he got strawberry (still super-yummy); this time I tried the Mojito. Yum! Not my favorite of all I have tried (straw cucumb/mint; tart plum; nectarine basil) but still very good.
Hit Mama Testa's for the first time in a year. Loved it when we tried it last year, a little less today. Still has the best guac in town; great salsas; great service; lots of veggie options; pleasant. But parking is a royal pain in the rear in that neighborhood (we circled multiple times and were about to leave when Mom spotted a spot being vacated), and the veggie options aren't actually that healthy/filling if you're doing low carb like I'm trying to (mashed potato taco, or other taco combos that are carb heavy and don't have much veggies or beans). I'm sure I'll be hungry soon again. Flavors are yummy though.
ST slept in his big boy bed all night long (bye bye crib) so had earned some ice cream. He decided (perhaps I influenced him a bit!) that he preferred to go to the popsicle store. So back to Viva Pops....he got strawberry (still super-yummy); this time I tried the Mojito. Yum! Not my favorite of all I have tried (straw cucumb/mint; tart plum; nectarine basil) but still very good.
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