Bell Street Farm - Los Alamos, CA

On the drive home from the Madonna Inn last week I made a few pit stops on the way home. Most were fashion shopping related but one of them was to the Bell Street Farm in Los Alamos. I had heard any exciting things about their food and concepts so I decided to wheel in and see for myself. It is an order at the counter joint, that gives you a number and then they walk out food. They ask for a tip but I am always confused on how to tip them, considering at that point I was not given any service and have no idea on what they truly deserve.  

I ordered a real Coke and asked for water on the side. I was never given a refill on the water. So I guess the tip I left was pretty hefty given the service. You got me Bell Street Farm, you got me. 

I always love a good soup, you know that. This was ok. Minestrone was fine but in my personal opinion I prefer my vegetables cut into much smaller pieces. I don't want a knife and fork soup, I want soft and silky. The flavor was good despite needing a shake of salt, that was not on the table.

I was torn on what salad to order, on paper they all sounded good but I was talked into the Rotisserie Pork Salad by the cashier so I followed his lead. The menu read"Hot and Crispy Pork belly wrapped Shoulder" and I would love to say it was really that but a more accurate description would be "Warm and Chewy". The butter lettuce was fresh, onion fantastic and roasted potato was just fine.

Did I love Bell Street Farm? I wanted to, I really did. It was darling and the owner greeted and waved goodbye to all the patrons. The food was ok. Maybe I ordered bad, I would give it another shot but it had better deliver!

Red Lobster - Santa Maria, CA

Do you want to find happiness at the bottom of any empty soup bowl? I do! So go straight to your local Red Lobster and order the largest container of Lobster Bisque and devour it until the bowl is licked clean. I have eaten Lobster bisque at fancy seafood restaurants, at dingy shacks on wharfs and straight out of the plastic containers sold at Costco and none it compares to Red Lobster's version. I am not kidding. What are you waiting for? Hurry! Go now! And eat a few Cheddar Biscuits while your at it...

Cool Hand Luke's - Santa Maria, CA

While driving home from a Memorial Service my Mom and I decided to pull off of Highway 101 and grab a bite at Cool Hand Luke's. I have been here many times before but have never blogged about my experience. So here I go...

What I find probably the best thing about Cool Hand Luke's is that they serve their warm bread with a crock of ranch beans. It sets them a part, makes them different. The beans were mostly used for soaking the bread - more like a dipping sauce.

My mom ordered the Cobb Salad. The meat was cooked to perfection and it really was a piece of art, very easy on the eyes. Don't you love how they fanned the avocado! Ha, I do!

I went for the Calamari Steak with Garlic Mashed. It was a large steak, too large - I ate half. What a waste. The mashed potatoes were fine, nothing to really write home about though. Everything was just fine.

Typical chain restaurant. Nothing terrible, yet nothing out of this world. Our server was pleasant and we actually got seated very quickly considering how many people that were waiting in the lobby. I have been to several Cool Hand Luke locations and this one seems to be doing very well! I am a huge Paul Newman fan, what a looker -So this restaurant will always have a special place in my heart.