Quick takes: Gaijin Noodle House (Gaslamp), Be Beaming BBar (Solana Beach)

Have been to a few new places recently, but no time to blog.

GAIJIN (Gaslamp): disappointing. High prices, very small portions.  Some very interesting flavors, though. Loved the vegetable plate - 5 very yummy tastes. But noodles with tuna poke was miniscule. Spent a lot, left hungry. Wanted to like it!  Full of big groups of sake-drinking dressed-up 20somethings on the town.

BBAR AT BE BEAMING (Solana Beach, in same shopping center as UrbanPi across from Flower Hill mall): happened into this place near Del Mar Swirls because I had a cold and the idea of juice sounded appealing. Holy mackarel - where did this place come from and why are there so many people waiting 20 mins. for a $13 raw organic vegan non-GMO juice smoothie???  In truth: my smoothie was super tasty. Got the Lean and Green: delicious hemp-avo-spinach-almond flavor.  Would be $11 but I added vitamin C boost. I suppose if you're going to get a $13 smoothie, it might as well taste as good as this. But really? Are there that many people in RSF, DM, SB and CV trying to get cleanses. Clearly the answer in 2013 is: HELL YES!!  Do try it, if some money falls from the sky.  Otherwise, you can be "thrifty" and just get a $9 Suja "Fuji" smoothie at Jimbo's (yummy, lots of vitamin C and Vitamin A, and feels like a bargain compared to the BBar). They also have yummy-looking desserts, salads, and raw soups, all priced in line with the smoothies.

Urban Pi Review (Del Mar/Solana Beach)

In the place where Pasta Pronto used to be on Via de la Valle, comes Urban Pi - from the same folks who brought us Urban Plates (and before that, who owned Pasta Pronto - this is their new and improved 21st century concept). I think they're planning to franchise both, and these are the pilot restaurants.  Urban Pi's concept is "customized artisan pizza - while you watch, ready in less than 5 minutes" with tons of organic things.

THE GOOD
--beautiful design, airy, nice lighting and decor

--fast and simple service, especially compared to the hot mess that ordering is at Urban Plates. Here they got the concept right. One line. You order your ingredients added to your pizza Subway-style or order a pre-designed one from the menu board. It comes quickly.

--I loved the salads: I got a $4 half-house salad; was very large and exceptionally tasty. Ate every morsel of mixed greens, candied cranberry walnuts, blue cheese, honey ginger-blood orange dressing (I left over only the ripe pears, which were not for me)

--SuperBoy was willing to eat his caesar salad - also a very generous portion for a half salad $4; like a typical caesar but with chopped greek olives on top and shaved asiago. Both salads come with some respectable focaccia

--I loved my pizza. I decided to cutomize one. Luckily I skipped the tomato sauce (because it's nasty!).  Had fresh mozzarella, roasted garlic, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, ricotta cheese, EVOO. I could have added many more veggies for the same price.  Loved the crust - loved the whole taste.  This is not NY pizza at all, but the crust was charred and seasoned well.  Scrumptious and very generous size. $7.50!!  as is every pizza there unless you add something really fancy, like burrata.

THE BAD
--The boys ordered cheese pizza and thus were subjected to the nasty tomato sauce they have there.  Too much oregano. Standard cheese pizza comes with a "cheese mix," not the fresh mozzarella. Their pizzas were orangey and not appetizing looking, with too much oregano on top (have I mentioned the oregano)? I did enjoy eating their crusts, but whenever I hit the tomato sauce: yuk! SB wouldn't eat his at all; Cute Husband ate his because he was hungry, but wouldn't return.

--Desserts: They look delicious - a huge variety of reasonably priced yummy looking things, just like at Urban Plates (even cheaper than urban plates - $2 per cookie or brownie)! But we ordered a few to take home and they are not as good as they looked.  Chai Chocolate Cookie: blech, chalky (it looked so scrumptious).  Jam-centered shortbread cookie:  not the best cookie ever, but at $2, it was tasty enough so I can't complain.  We still have CH's flourless chocolate cake (one of the more expensive at $5) - we'll try it later.

In short, I loved my meal....but my boys did not like theirs.  Next to us someone had ordered the special pom-agave-hibiscus drink and they were making faces. I asked them about it, and they said it had a very "particular" taste. I don't think they meant it in a good way.

SO....if you want to try it, go for it!!! Just, if you're a pizza snob, do not get the tomato sauce. You can make lots of beautiful and yummy combos for yourself with EVOO, fresh mozz, and whatever want.  The salads are delicious - I bet some of the desserts must be good. Unfortunately, my boys will not be returning there with me (I suggested CH try the pizza next time with no tomato sauce. He resopnded, "You've gone too California on me. What's pizza without sauce?" And the tomato sauce is, let me say again, gross).

Tender Greens! (Liberty Station/Point Loma)

How is it possible that I have not yet blogged about Tender Greens? Tender Greens is the holy grail of toddler-friendly, foodie-friendly places. We've been at least 10 times in the last year...and we don't even live close by. Oh Tender Greens, why do we love you so??

--Farm-to-table grilled veggies - if they were any fresher you'd be crawling in the rows at the farm...and these are deliciously seasoned

--Farm-to-table salads....which Toddler loves too

--Brilliantly simple menu: grilled tuna, chicken, or steak....or veggies....with your choice of the greatest mashed potatoes ever, plus a great salad....or on a sandwich with out-of-this-world bread from Con Pane Rustic, with grilled veggies and a salad-->or a "composed salad" with a protein

--Delicious wine by the glass (Toddler was being relatively calm, so I permitted myself to have a Loire Valley white)

--Stupendous soups (the tomato soup and chicken soup, which they have all the time, are wonderful...but the soup of the day has never disappointed....once I had cream of asparagus with blood orange oil; today a plain 'ol potato leek with chives that was awesome)

--Inexpensive concept: $5.50 for a salad alone, or $10.50 for a plate with everything.

--Kid's menu with quesadilla or grilled cheese, or a grilled protein, plus mashed potato and veggies....it's slightly too gourmet for Toddler, but he is crazy for their salads and bread and tomato soup, and will nibble at the gourmet quesadilla

--Have I mentioned the cupcakes?

I also have left out all the wonderful park space nearby (the regular open space near the restaurant, plus the Liberty Station playground 2 blocks away); the fountains where someone can walk with Toddler if he's particularly antsy, while the other person is enjoying their gourmet meal and remembering what it's like to have a delicious meal out.

Oh - and it's quick casual. You order at the counter and your food comes a few minutes later.

And if Toddler is very good, Cold Stone Creamery is only a few stores down.

Did I mention the airplanes you can watch from the patio?

Thus ends my ode to Tender Greens....Fairouz, you're another of our unblogged-about favorites....we're probably due for a visit in the next month...stay tuned!