Sunday, November 24, 2019

Cucina Venti--Mountain View, CA

This is another one of many Bay Area restaurants that's popular, but I don't get why it's popular. Yes, the service was good and Cucina Venti, if you don't mind a louder environment, is a pleasant place to eat. But, I knew we were in trouble when a guy came up to our table with two different types of bottled water and asked, "Which would you like?" I don't like restaurants that make you feel bad for wanting tap water.


Across two paella dishes and a penne francesca we received overdone chicken and shrimp. We found the calamari acceptable but unremarkable. Overall, we had a right to expect more at about $25 per entree. I'll give Cucina Venti this, though: The paella came fresh out of the oven--everything was piping hot including the pan.

Menu below:


Saturday, November 23, 2019

Delta SkyClub in Seattle, WA

I've been to the Delta SkyClub in Seattle twice and enjoyed it both times. With floor-to-ceiling windows the lounge is bright. The second floor, virtually empty when I visited, offered ample privacy. My family really liked the food selection, too, which included Ivar's clam chowder--a local favorite (at least among tourists).



Friday, November 15, 2019

Mile High Ice Cream Pie--Champps in Minnetonka, MN

My son and I nearly finished this masterpiece of a dessert last weekend. It exceeded our expectations in every way, including its sheer size. Remember the top and bottom are made of giant cookies and are not to be missed (as you'll likely have to leave something behind). But, everything here--the cream frosting, the ice cream, the flavors--is flat out awesome. For us, it was a bargain at $12.



Friday, November 1, 2019

Everest--Mountain View, CA

This restaurant has had the same name and location for years, but it's vastly improved over what the previous management offered. You can come in at 1:30 or even 2:00 and the buffet offerings are still hot, fresh and plentiful. I particularly enjoyed the tandoori chicken, chicken biryani and, for dessert, gulab jamun. A great kicker is the milk tea, free to all customers.

This lunch buffet is $12, which is a steal. You get 5% off if you sign up with Fivestar at the register.