The return of the Big Boy!

There's a new cowboy walking tall in Horse Town U.S.A. and he's a big boy. Actually he's THE Big Boy. Bob's Big Boy, in the midst of a nation wide expansion, has dug his big spurs into Norco, CA. And he's been wranglin' up some some big boy crowds on the weekends.

Now, this is a nostalgia treat for my wife, who has fond memories of Big Boy patty melts from her youth. I don't have a lot of memories of Bob, but he speaks my language, "All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet". Now, this is not a "Home Town Buffet" size buffet, but then you can hardly expect that of a restaurant with a full "to order" menu. It's sufficient, however, to be the breakfast go-to for an indecisive guy sizing up the Big Boy.

As much as I hate crowds, busy usually means fresh. And I had no complaints with the buffet fare. Sausage, bacon, assorted preparations of scrambled eggs, biscuits and country gravy, pancakes and waffles, oatmeal, and bagels and cream cheese. There was more, but these are the clearest in my memory. It was quite fresh as I saw some items stocked several times while we were there. It was very tasty, but not too distinct. Again, this is sort of a "buffet" issue, and not a "Big Boy" issue.

My wife had the patty melt with a generous serving of fries that she did not finish. She said it was everything she remembered it to be, and I gathered we'd be coming back again soon. The staff was friendly, helpful, and punctual as I ran them ragged with demands for Diet Coke and water. The prices were disappointing, as the seemed a bit high for this kind of restaurant. Be warned, two people getting out for under 30 bucks looks tricky.

They have balloons and a wandering Big Boy for the kids and a full blown nostalgia gift shop. Speaking of kids, it was not a hassle to have my daughter with us, and the accommodated parents very well, which is to be expected of a family restaurant.

Interesting to note, to comply with the Norco City Council, I was informed a custom Big Boy in Cowboy Hat and Boots is on it's was to the location for an upcoming Grand (re)Opening.

I can't give a definitive "yea" or "nay" yet, but we will be going back. I intend to make sure I sample something off the menu next time, and see what the Big Boy is really made of. Bob's Big Boy 1689 is located at 3521 Hamner Ave. in Norco, CA.

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That's it, thanks. I'm stuffed.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant & Market, Long Beach, CA

"Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."-Private Benjamin Buford Blue.

My lovely wife took me to the Aquarium of The Pacific in Long Beach for my birthday. I enjoyed that a lot, but the food there is pretty pricey for burgers and fries so, knowing we were going to be laying out the money anyway, we went across the street to Bubba-Gump's.

The place is covered with movie memorabilia and insider references to all things Forest Gump. The bar is known as Lt. Dan's Getaway. The tables are covered in movie quotes and stenciled locations of Forrest's travels. In-character photos of the actors adorn the walls along with period photos, bric a brac and Cajun approved hot sauces (the funniest of which was "Slap Your Mamma it's so good" hot sauce). There are two license plates on the table. The first says "Run Forest, Run". Flipping it over reveals the second plate which reads "Stop Forrest, Stop". Theoretically this causes the first available wait staff to stop at your location for you to request things like drink refills.

The service was decent. We had a waitress in training. It could have been bad, but it wasn't. The came by and hit us with some Gump trivia about half way between placing our order and it being done. It was effective.

I had had clam chowder and the spicy "Shrimp New Orleans". My Wife had the Shrimp Linguine, which probably had a fancy name I've forgotten. The chowder was above average but not extraordinary. The "Shrimp New Orleans" was an interesting blend of spicy shrimp with jasmine rice and a sweet sauce. We shared the MOST AMAZING bread pudding ever for desert.

...And then the bill came. My sweet Lord! This place is EXPENSIVE. We could have ate at Anchos three times for what this place cost us. Happy Birthday, indeed. This place was a neat experience, but I doubt they have many regulars.
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That's it, thanks. I'm stuffed.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Ruby's Diner, Galleria at Tyler, Riverside, CA

So, I've decided maybe to not mention EVERYTIME we eat at Anchos, which is a lot. So, recently we hit the Ruby's Diner in the , ah-hem, Galleria at Tyler, which has changed a lot since many of you moved, and boasts a P.F. Changs and a Cheesecake Factory. La-ti-freakin'-da.
So, it's officially Hell Hot in Riverside these days, and the mall is really not that cool (meaning temperature. It's me that is no longer cool enough for the mall, socially)
So, I made a few mistakes this visit. One, I chose to sit inside. It was actually cooler "outside" (meaning outside the restaurant, but still inside the mall) than it was in the restaurant. Also, I'm more of a table than a booth guy. I know this, and yet I continue to voluntarily sit in booths. It's dumb. And last and most severe, I'm at freaking RUBY'S and I DIDN'T order a freaking MALT!!!!!! What the heck was I thinking?!?!?!?

So, I had Turkey Burger Sliders, which were pale imitations of White Castle Sliders. Still, if you've had a White Castle Slider, you know even a pale imitation can be pretty tasty. The problem with sliders, however, is you are basically eating a burger in terms of fat and calories, but presented in such a way as to encourage you to eat about 30 of them. Luckily, actually eating 30 is cost prohibitive. So, I believe the plate came with 4. Honestly, they didn't last long enough to be sure. They came with a plate of fries. Now, I don't really care for fries, and only really enjoy them covered in malt vinegar, ala fish and chips. Luckily Ruby's was able to accommodate me.

My wife had a chopped salad, which was big enough to feed 2 people, 5 turtles, or 1 small horse. She didn't finish it, and we were shopping, so there was no possibility of taking it home.

The service was good. Not amazing, but I've got nothing negative to say. The waitresses wear a dress that is about a 7 on the Hooters scale of inappropriateness. My wife noticed that I noticed.

Everyone tries to give Katie (who is a very young 1 year old) the kids menu and usually we refuse, but the Ruby's Kids menu folds into a 55 (I think) Chevy Bel Air, which was cool, and also a toy we could let her destroy with impunity.

I'd like to try a Ruby's that isn't in a mall. I think it'd be a better experience.
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That's it, thanks. I'm stuffed.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Filippi's Pizza Grotto, Norco CA

This one is late. The Madness of the weeks up to my daughter's first birthday was too much for me. 10 relatives from Holland and 3 from Seattle.Anyway...
Filippi's is Norco's poorly kept little secret. Nestled in the "Blue" Shopping center at 1192 6th St., Norco, it's a locally raved about authentic Italian restaurant. It's actually a chain, and you can find their website at RealCheesePizza.com. Still, it has a real family owned feel, and according to the website, it is owned by a relative of the founder.
First off, on a Sunday afternoon, the place was sparsely populated and we got a seat straight away. This is ALWAY a big plus. The service was very attentive even though both our waitress and hostess seemed very young.
I had an excellent combination Spaghetti/Lasagna plate with home made sausage. It was a HUGE portion and I should have took half of it home, but... well you know. The sausage was spectacular, though slightly sweet, which is not usually my preference. This however, is a must try.
My wife had linguine with a white sauce teeming with clams. I'm not a fan of clam sauce, so I'll take her word it was excellent.
Prices are slightly higher at 8 to 12 dollars a plate. The places is obviously set up to watch a lot of football with big flat screens and the obligatory Budweiser banners. I suspect it may be a bit more crowded at game time. I'll definitely be going back.

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That's it, thanks. I'm stuffed.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Subway, Van Buren, Riverside

Who knew I'd give Subway a chance to disappoint me so soon after the Quizno's visit. So sad.
First off, it was crowded. Always a turn off for me, but I was on a mission. I ordered a stock Turkey with Provolone cheese, all the veggies, mustard, vinegar and pepper. The sanwich was fine. Fresh enough, and tasty. But I got to the cash register, and said "I want a combo with Chicken Soup and a Large Drink. Oh and throw these in," and I picked out some Baked Lays. So she rings me up and says, "have a nice day!"
Hmmm. "Where's my soup?"
"Oh, you wanted soup?"
"Yeah, that's what I ordered. The chips were the afterthought."
"I didn't charge you for soup. What kind did you want?"
"The Chicken Noodle."
"Oh. We're out of that."

So, it get's better. I have to take my wife a sandwich home.
"Hi. Uh, weren't you just here?"
So, i literally say "Yes, now I'm taking one home to my wife, so I can stay married. Simplest sub ever. Ham & Swiss on wheat. Just meat, cheese and mayo."
She's making my order with someone else's. Sure fire way to screw it up. And true to form, she grabs TWO BIG HANDFULS of lettuce and dumps them on my wife's sandwich.
What I said next was rude and I regret it. The gist was, I didn't see where lettuce fit in with "meat, cheese and mayo".
And then, completely in line with the level of service I have come to expect from this Subway, she brushes off the excess lettuce, and wraps up the sandwich. Un-FREAKING-believable.
Your visit couldn't POSSIBLY be as bad as mine. Subway is located at 5553 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside.



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That's it, thanks. I'm stuffed.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Quizno's Subs, Riverside

I love two types of food above all others. A great sandwich, and a great bowl of soup. I could eat soup almost anytime anymeal. In fact, I am involved in a life long work of perfecting a breakfast soup. And right up there with soup is a sandwich, and especially a Sub. Now, I have a mighty bias, as I grew up in San Pedro, California, which boasts the incredible Busy Bee Market, home to some of the very best, and when it comes to the meatball THE very best sandwiches in the world. Fresh soft bread, fresh cut meats. Just pure bliss. So, be aware of my sandwich bias.
Anyway, we just got back in town and nobody wanted to cook, and I wanted a sandwich. Surprisingly hard to come by in my neck of the woods. So, it's basically a coin toss between Subway and Quizno's, or the hassle of the Von's deli (which is very good, just agonizingly slow). I opt for the toasted subs of Quizno's.
There is good parking in Lowe's Center, so I start off on a high note. There is no crowd. Even happier as I walk in. This is going to be GREAT!
So the guy sweeping mutters a hello, and instantly I am brought low again. My wife eats the most boring sandwich I can think of. Ham and Swiss w/ mayo. That's it. For myself, I ordered the Tuscan Chicken on Rosemary Parmesan bread, a bowl of chili and chips.
It was typical Quizno's fare. I can always tell who shreds their own lettuce and who buys shredded lettuce in a bag. The roasted red pepper sauce on the Tuscan is a little too thick for me. I prefer the chili at Wendy's, and wish I'd have gone for the chicken soup. It's pretty good though, for what it is. I enjoyed the meal when I got it home.
The problem is, sweeper guy is the cashier. And he appears even less interested in ringing. Though HE personally ladles my chili, he forgets to charge me for it. No sooner does he fix that than he tries to charge me for a third sandwich from somebody's phone-in order. (Apparently at some stores you can also order from the web. Dunno if I'll use that). Then the kicker, he shoves my wife's sandwich and cookie, my sandwich, chips and chili all into a single small-ish bag (it appears as though he has never seen a bag before). I don't care that he crushes my Baked Lays, as I crush them myself to put on the sandwich for a little crunch, but, he manages to stack it all in such a way that my chili is sure to spill on the way home. So, I awkwardly carry the bag out to the car so I can repack it before I drive off. Now, I did this job (albeit at a subway) in my youth. I know it's no fun sometimes and it doesn't pay too well. But, I also know, hard work and good attitude makes the job more bareable and eventually more profitable. I took serious pride in my sandwiches, and I had a few people who came in that asked for me by name to fix them up. I wish this kid had some of that kind of gumption, because I left with that "Will I ever come back?" kind of feeling. Now, of course I will, because as I said, I love subs, and it's close. But Subway is comparable as far as I am concerned, and the drive is not so different. Maybe I'll let them try and impress me next time.
Still, I wish there was a nice mom and pop type sandwich shop in my area. The Sub Stop on Pierce and Magnolia used to be awesome, but it changed hands and I wasn't as impressed with the new cook. If you've got any ideas, feel free to drop them in the comments.
This particular Quizno's is located at 9867 Magnolia Ave Ste B, Riverside.
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That's it, thanks. I'm stuffed.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Chili's Bar and Grill, Corona

I'm a little late with this one, it's been a rough couple days. So, we had Chili's after church last Sunday. This is a dangerous proposition, as there are a few large churches in the region, so Chili's, Macaroni Grill, and On The Border in the Crossings at Corona all tend to get pretty piled up on a Sunday afternoon. But, we lucked out and were seated almost immediately. But not before seeing some woman make sure that two elderly ladies knew in no uncertain terms she was ahead of them. She then drilled into her husband for not standing more aggressively in line. Makes the world a better place, don't it?
Anyway, sat properly, drinks came quick. The menu seemed overwhelming to me. The layout looked like it was pasted up manually and then the designer tripped right before he got to the camera. It was jumbled and hard to read. I'm all for avant design, it HAS to be functional. Anyway, I settled on a bowl of the Chicken Enchilada soup and the Chicken Tacos.
I don't really believe they made the soup from scratch. It had that 100 gallon batch feel to it. But they top it off with fresh cheese and it really was delicious. In fact after watching me have my bowl and another person in our party have a cup, a third person ordered a cup for himself.
The tacos came, and they were fine. Still, if you screw up a chicken soft taco.... I mean, even fast food does this pretty well. But they were pretty good, although not superb. And, the black beans on the side, very yummy. The side of rice, however. I dunno, it seemed like something I'd make at home out of a box. I know it's only a side, but it was a bit of a bummer.
My wife had salad and a bowl of chili. It looked great, and she seemed to enjoy it. A third person ordered a Chicken Fried Steak that I absolutely will order next time. The last member of the party had a sandwich. All I remember is that it had bacon.
So, the service was... How can I describe it? It wasn't bad. It was... adequate. Which again, isn't bad. But it was nothing to write about, which is why I am having trouble.
Friendly enough, drinks were filled often enough, and they gave my daughter a balloon she loved. And, for bonus points, they didn't offer her any crayons to chew up. I have reached the old age, however, where the waitresses in these places look to me like they are violating child labor laws. Of course 18 was half a life time ago for me, so I'm sure they were legal.
Chili's is in The Crossings at Corona, at 3579 Grand Oaks Corona, CA
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That's it, thanks. I'm stuffed.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal