Is there a "Restaurants" group on DU, or is this the place?

[Duer 157099]

I just found out about a place I plan to try soon, and the menu looks so interesting I thought I'd post a link here:

http://www.johnnygarlics.com/food/food.html

The story behind how I discovered this is a little bit funny, too.

I watch Food Network very often, it's pretty much my default channel. However, I don't watch most of the shows, and I barely paid any attention at all to the "Next Food TV Star" show that was recently on. It just didn't grab my attention I guess.

But, last night I was at the Monster Jam (monster truck) show in Santa Rosa, and I sort of heard the announcer say something about the FoodTV show, and about the winner being from Santa Rosa. A few minutes later, I saw the guy with the blond/white spiky hair walk by, and then I realized who they were talking about.

So, today I went online to verify if what I heard was correct, and it was: the winner was Guy Fieri and he is from Santa Rosa (CA), and so that was who I saw in the crowd. Following the link about him led to this link about his restaurant, which is only a couple of towns away, and WOW, what an interesting menu.

So, I will have to try this out soon. Doesn't it look good?!?

And just yesterday I was complaining to a local pizza joint owner about the lack of good food in the North bay area (I'm trying to find good pizza around here, not very easy -- the pizza thread got me motivated)

[mandyky]

1. OH. MY. GAWD!

I think I had a food orgasm! LOL

Bookmarking this baby!

[Duer 157099]

2. Oh I know!

And, after posting that, I found out that he also has TWO other restaurants in Santa Rosa, and I've driven/walked by BOTH of them many, many times, and never once stopped in:

http://www.texwasabis.com/food/menu.html

http://www.rrchophouse.com/food_wine/menu.html

Now I wish I had watched the show, I could've been rooting for a local! :-)

[troubleinwinter]

3. Well, I lived in Santa Rosa until a couple of months ago.

I ate at Johnny Garlic's in Windsor a couple of years ago and never returned. The chicken breast was pre-cooked packaged frozen stuff. Arrived chilled in the center. Yuck. With too-convenient 'grill marks'... I can buy those frozen in the package at the grocery.

The Johnny Garlic's on Farmers Lane was some better, but nothing at all to write home about. It's gone, and 'Chop House' is in its place (why??)?! I have been to Chop House... it's OK, more gimicky than anything truly special or good.

Bottom line, if I were going to take guests to dinner in Santa Rosa, it would not be his places.

[Duer 157099]

4. Thanks for the comments!

They look good on paper, but that doesn't always mean anything. (the menus, not your comments, lol)

I wonder if their standards will increase now that he's on Food TV and going to get more exposure?

Chop House is the place on Farmer's, still his place from what I can tell -- maybe they changed the name/style somewhat after they opened Johnny Garlic's in Windsor? Dunno... I'm just learning about all this today...

[spindrifter]

5. No dessert??

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Turn off your teevee. Log off DU .......

.... and race to go try the places before he changes himself to superrockstartevveegreatchef ..... and his resturants turn to shit.

[Warpy]

7. My favorite place is a combination Vietnamese restaurant

and auto emissions inspection station. Their food is out of this world. The inspection station is efficient, pleasant and clean.

I patronize both. Don't expect a website, though. They're a bit on the basic side.

[Shakespeare]

8. I live in Santa Rosa....Johnny Garlic's is pretty good...

But I was utterly unimpressed with his Tex Wasabi (downtown on 4th street); ended up very turned off by it, in fact. He's trying WAY too hard to be trendy, and most of the food combos just don't work to me. Or for me. You can call it "rock 'n roll sushi barbecue," and that sounds hip and cool, but....meh. That said, I did think Fieri was the best of the contestants on that show, and I hope he does well with it.

[Duer 157099]

9. Since you're a local, I have another question:

Where is the best local pizza? Is there any Connecticut-style (apizza) anywhere that you know of? The pizza thread got me very interested in finding good pizza.

I prefer NY style, and just tried the "NY Pie" place on 5th, and really liked it.

Also is there a good Chicago-style place, too?

Any info appreciated! Thanks for the heads up on Tex Wasabi's -- I've only passed by it during the summer street fair thing, but never tried. However, Checkers, which is on the same block -- yum! I've only had one dish there and it's what I go there for -- the squash ravioli with walnut and cranberry cream sauce... oh yeah

[Shakespeare]

10. I have yet to find decent pizza here. The NY place is OK...

But I think the closest decent pizza you're going to find is in the north beach neighborhood in San Francisco.

There's a place at Old Courthouse Square, just around the corner from Tex Wasabi, called Flavors; pretty good (occasionally inconsistent, but on the whole one of the better places). My current favorite local restaurant is the Kabab and Curry House on 4th Street (just a couple doors down from Tex Wasabi). It's hands-down the BEST Indian food I've ever had. Ever. I'll have to check out Checkers!

[Duer 157099]

11. Oh, I was afraid of that (having to go to SF for pizza)

Guess I'll have to get it on days I go to Giants games. Any place in particular that you know of? I've read various reviews on craigslist, someplace called A16 is supposed to be good?

There are 2 places in Petaluma that might be good, I'll have to check out. One is Chicago style, the other NY, both in the same area of downtown. It's amazing to me how this can be!! Why so hard to find good food up here!! (I'm from so. cal. and this was NEVER a problem! I can't even find good BBQ up here!)

However, I did go to a place in Novato last week that was very good -- Wildfox.

[Shakespeare]

12. I KNOW (grumble grumble).

Here we sit in the heart of the wine country, in this agricultural and artisan food mecca, and most of the restaurants SUCK. I'll try to find the name of the pizza place I've heard about (forgot it, but I'll check with Those Who Know and try to post again).

I'm being unduly homesick for LA right now anyway, and yup, I miss the food there. Best sushi on earth is at a place called Hirozen on Beverly Drive in Los Angeles, and I actually fantasize about eating there (now that I can't). I should stop now before I REALLY start to whine. ;-)

[Duer 157099]

13. There are so many places down there I miss

El Abajeno in Culver City for unparalleled carnitas
Falafel King in Westwood for shwarma
Paris Pastry in Westwood for the BEST eggplant parmesan EVER
Domiano's Pizza (don't even know if it still exists, on Venice near Overland)
Hu's Szechwan at National/Overland, the best sizzling rice soup, plus best kung pao beef

I could go on and on and on, but it just hurts too much :-(

[Shakespeare]

14. Didn't Damiano's also have a place on Fairfax?

IIRC... (or at least there's a pizzeria with a VERY similar name near Canter's Deli that had the BEST pizza).

I miss Taxco (Mexico City-style cuisine) in WeHo...

Tandoori Nights in Weho....

Drago in Santa Monica...

And OMIGOD the burgers at The Apple Pan on Pico.

I feel your pain.

[Duer 157099]

15. Don't know if that Damiano's is related

Although, if they have good pizza, it might be.

The place on your list I've been to is Taxco, but only once (and I think I may have had too many margaritas because I don't remember the food)

Oh yeah, I've also been to The Apple Pan a couple times, but wasn't overly impressed, don't know why. Everyone I know raves about it, I maybe ordered the wrong thing, or went on the wrong night, or ? It happens. (it's across the street from Westside Pavilian, right?) There used to be a good Thai place on that block, maybe even still there (on the mall side of pico) -- Royal Thai Cuisine, I think.

[Neecy]

16. When you're in SF...

Stop by Zante's...they make the best (and come to think of it, possibly the only) Indian pizza on the planet. It isn't curry, it's nan covered in tandoori chicken and prawns, vegetables and sag paneer. It sounds a little weird but it's the most delicious pizza in the bay area.

[Shakespeare]

17. Oh, that sounds GOOD.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE na'an! By the by, Trader Joe's frozen Na'an is some of the best I've ever had, believe it or not. Pop it in the oven for two minutes, brush lightly with some melted butter, and it's to die for. I may have to try that pizza idea...