The Professional Diner

Eat well

[theprofessionaldiner]

The Counter

West Hollywood

Los Angeles, CA

Reservations - N/A

The counter has had a lot of fame within the past few years. Remember when Gayle King mentioned it on the Oprah Winfrey Show? It was also listed at #15 in an article in GQ magazine, about the 20 best burgers to eat before you die. No i'm not making it up, This stuff really did happen. Don't come here expecting a Johnny Rockets old-school theme. Think, Chipotle, but for burgers, and you get to sit down and order. Not stand in a line that brings back memories from elementary school. That's right. you get to build your own. And with 312120 possible topping combinations you are bound to come up with something amazing. 

1/3 lb., 100% Organic Bison with Jalapeno Jack Cheese, Bermuda Red Onion, fresh Jalapenos, chopped lettuce, spicy peppercinis, and Applewood Smoked Bacon. It's good. I mean GOOD! Bison is premium so expect to pay a little extra but it is well worth it. All of the other toppings went along great. Although I did expect more from their bacon. Small cuts and even smaller portions, I barely realized it was there. If you are going to charge extra for bacon at least make me remember I even had some. That was a bit disappointing. The fresh jalapenos were MONEY! The jalapenos weren't hot but they tasted good. Bison and fresh jalapenos are must. Try them or you'll be sorry.

1/3 lb., 100% Beef with Jalapeno Jack Cheese, Fresh Jalapenos, Dill Pickle Chips, Lettuce and Sauteed Onions. A great starter if you aren't bold enough to try the Bison, yet. The sauteed onions were good but I don't feel like they mixed well with the pickle. Try choosing one or the other. 

Asian Veggie. Great for vegetarians. It comes with a 1/3 lb. veggie patty. I'm not the biggest fan of fruit in salads but the grilled pineapples make it. If you're on a diet or trying to lay off the meat then this is the perfect salad.

Tillamook Cheddar French Fries. Have you ever got a plate of fries and put grated cheese on top and threw it in the microwave? Ya, it's the same thing. Don't get me wrong, it tastes good, but it's nothing special.

Parmesian French Fries. These fries are tricky. The Parmesan mixed with rosemary and garlic all taste fantastic together. Although the you have to eat them once they come out. They put Tillamook on top and that is exactly what makes it, then about 3 minutes later breaks it. If it's not piping hot then the cheese gets cold and hardens. Needless to say it turns into one big cheesy fry. 

Birthday Cake Milkshake. BOMB! Literally tastes like a Birthday cake. 

Chocolate Banana Milkshake. BOMB! Tastes like a Sundae. 

The good thing about these milkshakes is that they are big enough to be split in two. so they are great for sharing and you can get them to go. They aren't watery either but aren't so thick that they cause your straw to collapse. 

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[theprofessionaldiner]

Canters

Fairfax

Los Angeles, CA

Reservations - Not accepted

Canters has been around since 1924 and was established near the border of West Hollywood in 1931. Canters is known for its Jewish roots and still serves a lot of Jewish dishes daily. Being open 24 hours a day, with the exception of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, Canters is known to be a popular hangout and is frequented by musicians and celebrities, largely in part because of its location and hours of operation. 

When you go to Canters you might think this is just your average Jewish-Dennys-cafe-diner-hybrid, but it is so much more. Most places you dine at might give you bread and butter, if anything at all. Nothing wrong with that. At Canters, they give you slices of pickles. Awesome, I know. I told you it wasn't average. Another thing that separates this place from other diners is that you can order alcoholic beverages here. Okay, now i'm just rubbing it in. I'll stop.

Pastrami Dog. Imagine a whole beef hot dog, thick, juicy slices of pastrami and a slice of american cheese on a hot dog bun. Your mouth is watering, isn't it? No, this isn't kosher, but then again, I'm not Jewish. The fries are alright, nothing special, but that's not why i'm here. It's a deli. Pastrami Dog, get it.

Pastrami and Corned beef Sandwich. This is a monster sandwich, so make sure you come with an appetite. Canters is known for its pastrami and corned beef. So when they came up with this sandwich, they meant business. The sides aren't bad either. Especially if you are a fan of coleslaw and potato salad. The potato salad is significantly better than the coleslaw, but I might be bias. Also, I believe these to be made with Miracle Whip rather than mayonnaise. The taste couldn't come from dill, because that wasn't present in either one. So if you are partial to mayonnaise then these might not be for you. I know i'm probably scaring you off, but a little harmless substitution with fries for the coleslaw and potato salad will do the trick. Something that I really like about the pastrami served here at Canters is that you have a lot of the meat flavor. As opposed to that over-powering clove taste that pastrami is normally seasoned with. If you're the least bit doubtful about this sandwich, just order it anyway. You'll have left overs and you won't be sorry about it. Got it?

*This sandwich was was originally supposed to have rye bread but a substitution for a french role was made.

Corned beef Sandwich. I love corned beef. I even like the kind that comes out from a can. Probably not the wisest thing to admit on here, but I do. I love Corned Beef. Do I like rye bread? Well, let's just say it's not the first thing that jumps to my mind when making a sandwich. If you're like me and you're not the biggest fan of rye just switch it out. I believe it to be an acquired taste, plus i'm not fond of the spongy texture. But nevertheless, it's what it comes with so why not try it? This sandwich is pretty straight forward. It's quality. Corned beef sandwich = good.

[theprofessionaldiner]

People who love to eat are always the best people.

Julia Child

[theprofessionaldiner]

Sequoia Brewing Company

Tower District

Fresno, CA

Reservations - Negligible

A successful brewing company with two locations in Fresno. One on Champlain & Perrin and the other being an icon, located in the heart of the Tower District. Renowned for its brews, I wanted to see if their food was as good as their drinks. Sequoia Brewing Company is just what you would expect from a bar and restaurant that is all about being "local". The atmosphere is buzzing with conversation, live music and the Fresno State game playing on the television. Now just like everyone else, I'm all about supporting local business. But if these businesses want my support, then they better be damn good.

Award-winning Fried Pickles. YEEESSS!!!! When they say award-winning they mean it! Addicting. Chopped pickles dipped in batter and deep fried. I really didn't think I was going to care for them at first but the moment they landed on the table I couldn't stop eating them. If you love pickles, this is for you. The batter neutralizes the acidic/vinegar taste of the pickles, so even if you don't like pickles, this is for you.

Piggy on Fire with Garlic Fries. YEESSS! YEESSS! A pulled pork sandwich with sweet and spicy barbecue sauce on a oh-so-soft hamburger bun. The Garlic fries are just a bonus. Yes, this sandwich is messy. Yes, its difficult to eat. Yes, you'll want to order it again. The pork is tender and the barbecue sauce is, well, very and I mean VERY close to perfect. The fries are thin and crispy just like they should be and they weren't too garlicy. Such a great combo. 

Catfish Po-boy with Wedge Fries. YYEESS!!! Now, I told myself I wouldn't even dare to go near a Po-boy if I wasn't in the south. I once had this fried shrimp Po-boy in New Orleans and I almost cried. Yes, it was that good. Well, this wasn't one of those, but it was damn close. Give yourself a pat on the back Seqouia because this reminded me so much of those sandwiches that I love and miss about the south. Seasoned and fried, the breading it had wasn't over-powering so that I couldn't taste the fish. If anything it was complimentary to the fish. It just the right amount of it. I had almost forgotten about the wedge cut fries. It wasn't until I was three quarters of the way through my sandwich that I even remembered I had them. Now I'm not the biggest fan of wedge cut fries, but these made me a believer. Usually wedge fries are just so thick that the outside gets a little too crispy and the inside is barely cooked and has that raw firmness to it. Or they are so fake that the inside is grainy and dry. These were so real, and fried so well I couldn't help but finish the entire plate.

With so many of these places opening and closing, especially in places like the Tower District, it is no wonder why they are so successful and have the staying power that they do.

[theprofessionaldiner]

Casa Corona

Cedar & Herndon

Fresno, CA

Reservations - Negligible 

Casa Corona is a Mexican restaurant with two locations. One is in the Fig Garden area as well as one being located in North Fresno. A great place for stiff and cheap drinks during happy hour, albeit i'm sure we all know what a margarita tastes like.

Upon my arrival to Casa I couldn't help but notice a huge and obnoxious sign that says, "Voted # 1 Mexican Restaurant". If you're going to be hanging a banner in front of your restaurant  saying that you've been voted number one for Mexican food, by the Fresno Bee, you better deliver. 

Chips and Salsa. This is the opener. You can tell a lot by their chips and salsa. The chips are thin, warm and crispy which is good. But the moment I dipped them into that Pace-picante-sauce-tasting-salsa I knew it was too good to be true. It literally tastes like they opened a bottle and dumped it in a bowl and expected me to fall for it. Guess again. I've had better salsa at Robertitos.

Carne Asada Tacos. This is a staple. The first thing you better have correct are your tacos. Number one indeed. The only thing I can think about is that damn sign hanging out front and how much of a let down this place really is. The asada was dry. It tasted old and was probably cooked too long. The corn tortillas were dry and hard to swallow. The best part was the diced onions and the cilantro. Taco trucks have better tacos. No, I'm not being sarcastic.

Shame on you Fresno Bee.

Shame on you Casa Corona.

[theprofessionaldiner]

Sabella & La Torre

Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco, CA

Reservations - Not at the crab stand.

Let me just start by telling everyone my love for seafood. Let's start from the beginning. I wasn't too keen on it when I was younger, well except for maybe fish-sticks and fried shrimp, but I've grown to love it. Living in Hawaii for 2 years, you almost have to love it. When I was there I thought it changed my entire outlook on seafood. Why didn't I like this stuff sooner? Well, living on an island has it's perks because the seafood was fresh! The chefs knew what they were doing with it, and most of it got turned into sushi anyhow. That's when you know you like it, you can eat it raw. Now i'm not talking about the sushi with all the crap on top of it, although I do like that stuff too. I'm talking about Sashimi. I have a point to all of this I promise! Anywho, the fish was amazing. I might have had it about 4-5 times a week. Not just sushi, but seafood in general. I wouldn't dare have raw fish in the Valley! Do you see an ocean near by? Only God knows how long it took to get here and who knows how long it's been sitting on the shelf. I doubt the chef would tell you. So if you're anything like me and love seafood get up and get your butt to Sabella & La Torre!

Sabella & La Torre has been around since 1927 and for good reason. The food is delicious and it gets to you fast. Eager to get the entire to "Fisherman's" experience we thought we would just eat at the "Crab stand" as well as order almost everything on the menu. First on the list:

Crab. When you go to most gimmicky places where you "crack crab", you're spending lots of time pulling the creature apart, crushing the shells with those annoying metal "Lobster cracks", and digging tirelessly for some crab meat. By the end of your bucket you're left with a huge pile of shells and an empty stomach. Don't lie to me and tell me you get full after all that hard work. If anything, after muscling your way through all that shell, you're left with an calorie deficit, and that pile of shells is collecting more and more flies. NOT OK. Well not here at Sabella. The crab is cracked and pulled apart for you. So its all fun and no work here. Also, without all that fuss you are still able to enjoy your crab while its still warm and steaming. SO GOOD!

Calamari Vinegarette. There is a first time for everything and this is my first time having Calamari raw, and it is amazing. Fresh calamari cut up into small pieces and marinated in vinegar, pepper along with some diced celery, carrots and onions and you're in business. Don't get brave and make this at home cause I doubt it would taste the same. It sounds simple enough but if it were that easy everyone would be making it. The squid is cold, tender, fresh and above all clean. There is no faking this one. You either got it or you don't.

Oysters (Half shell). Now you can get half shell oysters pretty much anywhere. Perhaps not as fresh, but you know what I mean. Add lemon and Tabasco Sauce and you are in business.

Fried Calamari. Not your typical batch of fried calamari. The batter is amazing. I asked what is in it and no they didn't want to tell me. The right amount of salty and peppery. The best part was that the calamari was firm and didn't taste "inky". I'm not a huge fan of the tentacles, but even here at Sabella, I was chowing down on them like nobody's business. Yes, they were that good.

Fried Shrimp. Sounds basic, but it's far from it. Fried perfectly and not soggy like those fried pieces of shrimp you are likely to get at Red Lobster. This is the real deal.

Clam Chowder (Sourdough Bread Bowl). So, like many other people from the Central Valley, I was obsessed with the clam chowder from Splash Cafe in Pismo. What's not to love? Well let me tell you, this place trumps Splash in more ways than one. First of all, let's not forget that Sabella is located right across the street from the mighty Boudin Sourdough. If your bread bowl can compete with that monster sitting across the street, looking at you right in the face, then you deserve a medal. The clams are tender and the broth is creamy (but not like they are trying to disguise anything) and piping hot. The sad part is, we ordered this last. So I was full from everything else that was ordered. I wasn't able to devour this and it's been haunting ever since. 

Yes, I know you've been to Fisherman's Wharf dozens of times. Yes, I know you love sea food. And yes, I know you've never eaten here. So, go. You're welcome.

[theprofessionaldiner]

Shila Korean BBQ

Clovis, CA

Reservations - Not accepted

When my friends/cousins and I journey to SoCal we always make sure to have our fix of Korean BBQ. Some of our favorites are Chat Som Gul (Anaheim), Castle (Los Angeles) and Manna (Los Angeles) respectively. So when we heard about Shila opening up we were so excited to finally have a place of our own! 

Shila is hardly the first Korean BBQ to open here in the Fresno/Clovis area but it is the first all-you-can-eat, cook-it-yourself, and that’s exactly what we’ve been waiting for. They have a decent assortment of meat, poultry, and seafood that you would expect anywhere else. The problem with being the first is that you are also setting the standard. One of the downfalls with being located here is you may not be able to get all of the "sides" that you may be accustomed to. For instance, you won’t be able to find rice paper, and for some, rice paper is a huge part of the Korean BBQ experience. You still have your carbs to eat with your protein and it also allows you to eat a TON more. Eating rice makes you fuller faster and isn’t exactly what you want to happen in an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The grill itself being about half the size of your typical KBBQ was almost as alarming as all the grease fires we experienced. Not ok. Our waitress was clueless and probably stressed from the every growing line outside. The line was a couple hours wait yet, it was almost dead inside. At least 4-5 tables were empty at all times. So it was kind of mind boggling as to why we were waiting so long. Aside from her being frazzled, the service just got worse. Orders forgotten, empty plates crowded our table and made maneuvering our own dishes impossible. After they passed us by a few times and saw the annoyed looks on our faces, they called for assistance; a boy came over and took our orders on an iPod. Still, we were neglected and our orders never came. Between the service, the tiny grills, flustered servers and all of the grease fires and smoke clouds, it was able to totally eclipse the quality of the food.       

Round #2 10.17.2013

 You’re probably thinking to yourself: “they deserve another chance,” “they are just starting out”. I’ll have you know that the owners of Shila are also the owners of Tang Dynasty. So they should know a thing or two about the business. No, Tang isn't known for its quality foods or service but Shila isn't a buffet either. I know how it is when you are still working out the kinks, so we did decided to try it again. The second time around was such a welcomed improvement. The wait was only about a half hour and the tables inside were all full. Zero grease fires, because apparently the last time the grills were upside down, and zero smoke clouds. The servers were happy and were very attentive. We were enjoying ourselves so much we may have even gotten a bit loud. One of our servers was still being trained but we couldn’t tell because she was right there when we needed her and had to be reminded very few times and for the most part she was on top of things. We left very happy and satisfied!

I’m happy that Shila was able to sort out all of the mess and start showing the valley what they have been missing. I hope they keep up the good work, because I will be back again.

[theprofessionaldiner]

Piazza Del Pane

Palm & Nees

Fresno, CA

Reservations - Recommended

Come here and fall in love. If you like Italian food, a stiff drink, and great service you'll find that this place is right up your alley. Piazza Del Pane is an award winning restaurant with two locations in Fresno. I suggest going there for dinner, especially if you can appreciate a dimly lit ambiance that really makes you feel you are in some sort of rustic Italian piazza.

OK now onto the food...

Just like other Italian restaurants and bistros they offer complimentary bread for you to eat before you have your dinner. Contrary to other "Italian" restaurants (I wont name, names) Piazza's bread is warm with flaky crust on the outside as well as soft, moist and heavenly on the inside. Although I am partial to the balsamic/olive oil mixture that a lot of other places use for dipping, their pesto-butter spread was amazing. I had to stop myself before I filled up on bread and had absolutely no room left for anything else.

The appetizer: Garlic Fries.

I know, I know I should have ordered something more "authentic" but if you're going to offer fries at an Italian restaurant they better be damn good. Needless to say there is a reason why they offer them. The garlic fries were probably some the best that I've had in a very long time. The fries themselves were thick and most important, REAL! Now, these fries aren't for the faint of heart because they can get very garlicky. But who doesn't like garlic? Topped with Parmesan cheese these fries are going to be hard not to order every time I stop by. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Main Course: Angus Shirt Ribs & Pasta.

Now, It was a tough decision to make because I really wanted to order the Mediterranean Salmon, but I went with my gut and decided on the Short ribs. And I'm so happy I did. The pasta was cooked just right, al dente, as it should be and the short ribs were so tender they almost melted in my mouth (Cheesy, I know, but its the truth). The sauce itself was great with a balance of tomatoes and creaminess.

Altogether I have to say my experience here was very delightful and Ill be visiting again very soon.

[theprofessionaldiner]

Sakura Chaya Fresno, CA Reservations - Recommended Good location and the atmosphere is nice. The service is so-so and if you are looking for animated Chefs that make burning onion towers search elsewhere. I might as well have been sitting in a booth. The Chefs were boring and I wouldn't have walked out of there smelling of food cooked in butter. With all of that being said I must say the the miso soup was terrible. They add garnishment to make it look fancy, but it's not enough to disguise the aftertaste of the tap water they cooked it in. Their house salad is pretty basic. Mixed greens with peanut dressing. Plain. For the main course I ordered the "Trio" which is chicken, steak, and shrimp wasn't horrible but I couldn't help but feeling we were eating last nights old food. The fried rice was decent and everything was cooked well. The best part about the experience was the price. If you like cheap Japanese food this is the place. But you get what you pay for.