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Reviews By Ed Wright "The Wright Gourmet"
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California Online Magazine
Isabella's Restaurante Italiano
Isabella's Restaurante Italiano
Reviewed By Ed & Beth Wright
(909) 795-3700
534 Myrtlewood Dr.
Calimesa, Ca. 92320
In direct response to a review with a pricing complaint posted by a reader about the Redlands "Isabella's Ristorante Italiano," and because we have already dined at the Redlands Isabella's Ristorante, we took the opportunity to try out "Isabella's Ristorante Italiano" new Calimesa location. This branch of the popular Italian themed Ristorante is located where the old Mc G's Restaurant use to be... and the interior has not changed much, remaining semi-upscale.
The complaint "The Wright Gourmet" received was about a "Split Plate" Charge that had been added to a couples bill because they shared their meals with two of the children. The fee is $4.95 for each "Shared Meal," and is supposedly designed to cover the expense of plating the meal for 2. The complaint was not as much about the charge as it was about not being told they were going to be charged the extra fee. The restaurant's defense is that the fee is disclosed at the bottom of the menu... right next to the 18% gratuity fee that is automatically added to the bill of any party of 8 or more.
Click Here To Read Full Review: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Reader_R_101.html
Reviewed By Ed & Beth Wright
(909) 795-3700
534 Myrtlewood Dr.
Calimesa, Ca. 92320
In direct response to a review with a pricing complaint posted by a reader about the Redlands "Isabella's Ristorante Italiano," and because we have already dined at the Redlands Isabella's Ristorante, we took the opportunity to try out "Isabella's Ristorante Italiano" new Calimesa location. This branch of the popular Italian themed Ristorante is located where the old Mc G's Restaurant use to be... and the interior has not changed much, remaining semi-upscale.
The complaint "The Wright Gourmet" received was about a "Split Plate" Charge that had been added to a couples bill because they shared their meals with two of the children. The fee is $4.95 for each "Shared Meal," and is supposedly designed to cover the expense of plating the meal for 2. The complaint was not as much about the charge as it was about not being told they were going to be charged the extra fee. The restaurant's defense is that the fee is disclosed at the bottom of the menu... right next to the 18% gratuity fee that is automatically added to the bill of any party of 8 or more.
Click Here To Read Full Review: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Reader_R_101.html
How to make the Best Hamburgers & Cheeseburgers on the Planet!
The Perfect Hamburger
By Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet
What makes the Perfect
California Style Hamburger...
How to make the Best
Hamburgers on the Planet!
We are not sure where the “California Burger Thing” all started… perhaps it was in 1936 with the original Bob's Big Boy in Glendale California. This tiny 10-seat diner developed the original “Double Decker” Cheeseburger which developed into a nationwide chain of Bob’s Big Boy Restaurants and inspired the famous McDonalds Big Mac Hamburger that literally built McDonalds.
Click Here to Read the Full Article by Ed Wright: http://www.califonline.info/The_Perfect_Hamburger.php
Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant
Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant
By Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet
Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant
(909) 446-8822
540Sandalwood Dr.
Calimesa, Ca. 92323
The New “Bob's Big Boy Restaurants” include much of the original designs of the 1950s California “Coffee Shop” style Restaurants. The food is the typical burgers, fries and breakfast any time fair, but it's the restaurants’ history which the re-emerging chain is promoting. The Calimesa Big Boy hosts numerous "Classic Car" shows and includes a gift shop where you can buy Bob's Big Boy memorabilia like car hop dining trays and Big Boy boxer shorts.
If you're a fan or collector of retro/kitschy Americana or just enjoy the simpler style of the 1950’s i/e: patty melts, double decker burgers, hot fudge and milk shakes that come served in the mixing cup, than Bob's Big Boy will truly be your kind of place also. If you are too young to remember when Bob's Big Boy Restaurants were seemingly everywhere, or unfortunately have never been to a Big Boy Restaurant, you quite simply do not know what you are missing out on!
Personally, like many others it is the “Original Big Boy Combo” that keeps me (The Wright Gourmet) coming back. The "Big Boy Combo" or "Combo” is simply a combination of a garden salad, French Fries, and a Big Boy Double Deck Burger. There is nothing special about any of it except the maybe Bob's Signature Blue Cheese dressing and Bob's "Double Decker Burger"… which is possibly the best Cheeseburger in it’s price range served anywhere… period! (Sorry In-and-Out, your "Double Double" is good also, but Bob's has you beat)
Click Here to Read Full Review with Pictures: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Review_104.php
Spanky's BBQ Restaurant
Spanky's BBQ
By: Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet
(951) 922-3999
50920 Seminole Dr.
Cabazon, CA. 92230
Under (in front of) the Cabazon Dinosaurs
Spanky’s BBQ is a WET Kind of Place… as in really, really wet; with everything we tried slow smoked, and covered in one form of secret BBQ Sauce or another… and trust me on this one, Spanky has you covered… wall to wall, face and fingers included when it comes to BBQ sauces. 3 different Heat & Spice combinations ranging from sticky sweet too a slight after-glow, or full after-burn varieties. Nothing rip your tonsils out hot, but still almost semi-glowing. (Good Stuff)
Click Here to Read Full Review: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Review_112.php
The Mill Creek Cattle Co.
The Mill Creek Cattle Co.
By: Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet
(909) 389-0706
11874 Mentone Blvd.
Mentone, Ca. 92359
The Mill Creek Cattle Company is perhaps one of the Inland Empires best kept dining secrets. Located in Mentone, Which is only minutes away from Loma Linda, Redlands, Yucaipa, Cali Mesa and Oak Glen… The Mill Creek Cattle Company serves up real smoke-house slow cooked BBQ the way it is supposed to be cooked; Low and Slow for hours in a smoke filled BBQ Smoker fired with seasoned orange wood logs, and seasoned with dry rubs and loads of attention. The Mill Creek Cattle Company has been serving up Real BBQ since the early 1930s according to the owner(s), whose family pictures are proudly posted on the wall in the entry way. Mill Creek Cattle Company is as much a destination as it is a dining experience… and oh what an experience it can be!
Click Here to Read the Full Review: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Review_100.php
Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que Restaurant
Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que
By: Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet
Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que Restaurant
(909) 792-4151
27500 Lugonia Ave.
Redlands, CA
At the Citrus Plaza Shopping Center
Greetings BBQ Lovers and Fellow Foodies throughout the Inland Empire… Boy did the Wright Gourmet enjoy my first dinner at Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que right before their official grand opening on May 14, 2007. The dinner I enjoyed was one for restaurant employees & friends, and thankfully I had friends in the right places to receive an invite for my wife and daughter to come along also; in short, it was absolutely fantastic!
Click Here to Read the Full Review with Pictures: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Review_111.php
Babe's Slim Pig Ns BBQ
Babe's Slim Pig N's BBQ
By: Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet
(Bar-B-Que & Alehouse)
(909) 798-2299
1635 Industrial Park Ave.
Redlands, Ca.
Babe's Slim Pig N's opened in Redlands several years ago now, and I recall we first reviewed it (The Wright Gourmet) back in late 2005 “as having over come many of the initial Grand Opening jitters and long waits.” Few of those who reviewed the new establishment seemed to know how to discuss the long wait times and new restaurant commotion that simply occurs when any restaurant first opens, let alone one of this size that was faced with exceptionally high consumer expectations.
Click Here to Read the Full Review with Pictures: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Review_106.php
Marie Callender's Bakery & Restaurant
Marie Callender's Bakery & Restaurant
By: Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet
(909) 793-0988
1625 Industrial Park Ave.
Redlands, Ca.
Perhaps one of Redlands most overlooked (and unknown) dining values is Marie Callender’s incredible Sunday Brunch Buffet… this buffet has been open for over a year now and becoming very popular, and for good reason. Quality, Quantity and a Great Value at only $14.99. Try the “Bananas Foster,” prepared as you watch… very flashy presentation for a budget conscious restaurant (and tasty also).
Click Here To Read The Full Review with Pictures: http://www.califonline.info/Rest_Review_101.php