"Show me another pleasure like dinner which comes every day and lasts an hour." --Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

Blue Bohème
Category: French/Belgian
Neighborhood: kensington



I went to Bleu Boheme during the July Fourth Weekend. I had tried to go before but the line was too long, and I don't like to wait in long lines, so I delayed for another date when I would be sure to have a reservation. I went for early dinner (5:30 pm) and it was a breeze getting seated. Finally, time to sample this restaurant!

The outside of Bleu Bohème is quite charming with a rustic chic look. This cozy spot definitely has a bistro feel with some glam accents and a touch of belgian beer bar. The staff is friendly, warm and inviting, even the owner took the time to check on us during the meal, which is always appreciated. Inside, we were greeted by a dim and airy space reminiscent of a wine cellar, exposed brick and all. We were thrilled to be seated at a table with a large candelabra decorated in a history of wax drippings. All at once the experience felt intimate and special.

We had the beef bourginon, coq au vin, steak au poivre (this was a special with green peppercorn sauce), mussels and frites, escargot and chocolate mousse (there were 5 of us). All of the food was delicious, the sauces in particular, but I thought the mussels were especially good. They have several varieties and a half order is still big, more than enough for one. I also like that the mussels come from Carlsbad, ++ for local food.

Both the beef and chicken were cooked with consideration, moist and delectable. The depth of flavor in the beouf bourginon was astounding, but a bit salty for my taste. The coq au vin was delightful reminding me of a sunday dinner at home. The fries are exceptional, crispy outside, soft inside and seasoned with the likes of rosemary, lavender and sea salt. Addictive. I had never had escargot before, and I was pleasantly surprised by the non-rubbery flesh in a buttery herb sauce.

The chocolate mousse wasn't bad either, airy, decadent and served with a mint leaf to prepare the palate. they even through in a complimentary mousse for my four year old nephew! Talk about hospitality.

I will definitely be back for a cheese board and some wine.

http://www.bleuboheme.com/

"The fact that we're giving food this kind of attention means that it just gets bigger from here" - Ruth Reichl

So this post is all about introducing you to my restaurant review/rating system. You ready? It's ok if you're not it's really easy. If you are familiar with the yelp format it's more or less like that. My scale is from 1 to 5 stars. 1 star equals super sucky and 5 equals borderline orgasmic. Judging criteria fall into three categories 1. food (quality, taste, texture, ingredients, etc...) 2. service (attitude, time, etc...) and 3. ambience (decor, music, noise level, etc...) To demonstrate, I am reposting one of my earlier reviews from yelp, but updated!

Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mission Hills


Lucha Libre. Where do I start. In my opinion, they do most everything right. The decor, while thematic, is fun and energizing. As you can imagine from the name, the entire restaurant in an homage to the sport of Mexican free-wrestling. There is A LOT of lucha libre  memorabilia adorning the wall's and vintage movies playing on the TVs.

The food is delicious, moreover, you can't get food this good for this cheap. I don't know how they do it. However, I do have to say that the food, as delicious and cheap as it is, does give me pause to wonder about the quality of the ingredients. While everything tastes fresh and high quality you should by no means come to this location looking for sustainably grown veggies and ethically raised meat. Still, there are ample vegetarian possibilities.

Anyway, all the tacos are delicious...I like the veggie and surf & turf  in particular. If you are feeling particularly decadent get the queso taco with fries. Trust me, it is amazing. And of course they are well known for their TJ hot dogs. Really though, try anything on the menu and you won't be displeased. Their salsa bar is varied and all are yummy (the green salsa and pineapple pico in particular).

The service at Lucha is excellent and all the staff make the restaurant comfortable and inviting. I will continue to come back again and again. You can reach Lunch Libre via their contact webpage at www.tacosmackdown.com.