riverside restaurant

Gol Brazilian Restaurant – Riverside

July 22, 2013 by Ole 1 Comment

If you have read any of my other reviews, it should be pretty clear that I am a meat lover. In my search for local places that grill meat, I came across Gol Brazilian Restaurant in Riverside, CA.

Gol Brazilian Restaurant is pretty new (I think it opened earlier this year) and is tucked away in a strip mall on Magnolia near Tyler. You can’t tell much about the place from the outside, but once you walk in, you will find that it is new, clean and inviting.

We have been here twice so far, and both times we were greeted and seated immediately.

Although this is a buffet restaurant, you can’t compare it to normal buffet restaurants.

Yes, they have buffet tables (very clean and neat) stocked with salads, vegetables and prepared dishes.

But, once you get to the meat station, you will realize why this is not your traditional buffet. They take meat off the grill, slice it in front of you and place it on your plate. For a meat lover like me, this is awesome.

(This blurry picture does not do the meat justice, but I just had to show the meat-slicing process.)

This isn’t like other buffets where the meat is sitting on the buffet table or under a heat lamp. This meat is hot off the grill.

Gol Brazilian Restaurant serves five meats:

Picanha (Top Sirloin) – Awesome
Frango (Chicken) – Very good
Coracao (Chicken Heart) – I haven’t tried this yet because it wasn’t ready either time I was there
Maminha (Tri-Tip) – My favorite
Lombinho com Bacon (Pork wrapped in bacon) – Pork bites wrapped in bacon… need I say more?

You can pay for your food by the pound, or pay a flat price for the all-you-can-eat option.

I like this place and will be back.

Gol Brazilian Restaurant
10436 Magnolia Ave.
Riverside, CA 92505

Greek Street Grill in Riverside

April 24, 2013 by Ole 3 Comments

I am not a professional food critic. I am just a guy with a blog who writes about places I like so they will get lots of customers and stay in business. Even though I am not a pro, I never let anyone at a restaurant know that I will be writing about my experience.

I try to maintain my anonymity even after I write about a restaurant, but it doesn’t always work. This might be one of those times.

Today I am writing about Greek Street Grill in Riverside, which is one of my new favorite places to eat.

Greek Street opened its doors about a month or so ago, and I have already eaten here probably more than ten times (the first reason my cover might be blown by writing this post). The food is great, the people are very friendly and the interior is clean and modern.

My wife and sons love the gyro sandwiches, while my daughter loves the chicken pita sandwich. If you don’t know what gyro is or how to pronounce it, you need to come in and try it. I doubt that you will be disappointed. One of my sons has also tried the grilled salmon, which he really enjoyed. In fact, he ate it so fast that I didn’t get a picture.

I eat like a caveman nowadays, so I love this place because I can come in and order meat. My favorites are the souvlaki (skewers of meat), the gyro meat, and the incredibly tender and flavorful lamb chops (writing about my unique order is the second reason my cover might be blown by writing this post). I ate here for lunch today and writing this makes me want to go back for dinner… no joke.

Because it is in between the 91 and my home, I have been watching and waiting for this place to open. Now that it has opened, I hope that it never closes.

Greek Street Grill
3312 La Sierra Ave., Ste. 103
Riverside, CA
www.greekstreetgrill.com

Amaya Japanese Restaurant and Ultra Lounge – Riverside, CA

January 16, 2013 by Ole 1 Comment

I drove over to the Tyler Galleria today and noticed that Amaya Japanese Restaurant and Ultra Lounge is now open.

For more info, visit www.amaya-riverside.com.

Ramiro’s Cocina Mexicana – Riverside

November 29, 2012 by Ole 7 Comments

Welcome to tamale heaven. That is my nickname for Ramiro’s Cocina Mexicana on Magnolia in Riverside.

I tried this place for the first time about two months ago, and have already gone back half a dozen times.

I probably would have gone at least once more, but the owners went on vacation and closed down for a week. This is a true owner operated business.

Lunch always starts off with chips and salsa. I am not a fan of chunky salsa, so I opt for the red tomatillo salsa instead.

If you order a combo, you can also get a small bowl of albondigas soup or a salad before your meal is served. We have always ordered the albondigas, which is very good.

The tacos here are unique due to the way Ramiro cooks the shells. Instead of being deep fried or served soft, they are cooked on the grill with a small amount of oil, which produces sort of a soft yet crunchy taco shell. You can order the tacos with cilantro and onions or with lettuce and cheese. I go the lettuce and cheese route, and always get either carne asada or al pastor tacos.

The pork tamales are awesome, and are currently my favorite tamales anywhere. They also make chicken and chile tamales, but I haven’t made it past the pork tamales yet. The tamales are so good that I almost convinced my wife to order a bunch of tamales and serve them for Thanksgiving this year. I just might try again next year.

Ramiro’s has much more than soup, tacos and tamales, but I haven’t tried anything else yet. I would bet that everything else is good too.

Ramiro’s Cocina Mexicana
9418 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA
www.ramiroscocina.com

Want to Work at the New Farrell’s in Riverside?

November 27, 2012 by Ole 3 Comments

I drove past the future home of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant in Riverside today to check on the progress.

There is obviously more work to be done before the scheduled opening in January 2013.

If you would like to work at the new Farrell’s, here is some information from www.farrellsusa.com:

The newest Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant will be located in Riverside, California, at 3610 Park Sierra Drive, and opening soon. But before we can open, we need to find our team.
December 3, 4 and 5 from 12noon to 6pm each day we’ll be interviewing to fill Farrell’s Cast Member rolls for servers, hosts, cooks, bussers, food runners, experienced expediters, dishwashers, office personnel, managers and ice cream artisans to work the famous Farrell’s fountain.
To take part in an interview you will need to download, completely fill out and print Farrell’s Interactive Southern California Application Form. Then, don’t forget to bring it with you to the interview.

Visit www.farrellsusa.com/join-our-team.php to view all of the important information.

Brandon’s Diner on Magnolia – Riverside, CA

August 2, 2012 by Ole Leave a Comment

I have driven past Brandon’s Diner on Magnolia in Riverside many times. While running some errands in the area a few weeks ago, I finally decided to stop in for an omelet.

I like the feel of this place. The first time I walked in, I noticed how the customers and servers were interacting. You can tell that this place has a loyal customer base.

Since my first visit, I have been back a few times and my omelet has always been good. The omelets are made with four eggs, and can be ordered a la carte if you don’t want all of the sides. I like this because I’m not always in the mood for the carbs that come with the toast and potatoes.

I have also tried the location on Indiana, but I prefer the atmosphere of the Magnolia location. The one on Magnolia feels like a friendly neighborhood diner, while the one on Indiana kind of feels like a normal coffee shop. At least, that’s my impression.

Brandon’s Diner has seven locations in the Inland Empire, including the two in Riverside. The other locations are in the following cities: Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Ontario.

Although I have only been here for breakfast, Brandon’s has an extensive menu. They even serve Mexican food, which is what I’ll try if I ever make it here for lunch.

Brandon’s Diner 3
10271 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92503
www.brandonsdiner.com

Anchos Southwest Grill and Bar – Riverside, CA

May 3, 2012 by Ole Leave a Comment

I live in Riverside and I love Mexican food, so I have no idea why it took me so long to find Anchos Southwest Grill and Bar, especially since it won the 2011-2012 Press Enterprise Readers’ Choice award for Best Mexican Restaurant. Thanks to a wrong turn on Hole Street, I found it a few months ago and decided to stop in for lunch.

Most Mexican restaurants serve chips and salsa before your meal, but Anchos takes it one step further by adding freshly made flour tortillas. The fresh salsa is a bit weak for my taste, but the tortillas are great.

On my first visit I ordered a burrito with mesquite grilled steak and red sauce. As soon as I took my first bite of steak, I knew that I would be back.

I ordered the Steak Tacos Al Carbon on my next visit, and they were so good that I have ordered them every time I’ve gone back. One thing Anchos does that I’ve never experienced at any other restaurant is ask how you want the steak in your tacos cooked.

Cooked-to-order mesquite grilled steak… wrapped in freshly-made flour tortillas… awesome.

My family has tried some other items, including the bacon wrapped shrimp, chicken nachos and chicken tacos. While we (especially my wife) haven’t loved everything we have tried, the steak is amazing.

Someday, when I talk myself into trying something other than the steak tacos, I would like to try the ribs and the fajitas. They look great.

Anchos Southwest Grill and Bar
10773 Hole Ave.
Riverside, CA
www.anchos.net

Burger Boss – Riverside, CA

March 3, 2012 by Ole 2 Comments

This post will be short and sweet. If you want a phenomenal burger, go to Burger Boss in Riverside.

There is not much more that I can say, that this picture does not say for me:

But what if you don’t eat beef?

Get a turkey burger… or a chicken burger… or a meatless black bean burger (my wife’s favorite):

In addition to the great burgers, this place is extremely clean. The owner takes great pride in this, and it shows.

This is our new favorite place to get burgers in Riverside… maybe anywhere.

Judging by some of the crowds we have seen, many other people seem to agree.

Burger Boss
2585 Canyon Springs Parkway
Riverside, CA 92507
burgerbossonline.com

Crescent Jewell – Riverside

January 31, 2011 by Ole Leave a Comment

** Closed **

A few years ago, I was introduced to the Cajun / Creole wonder known as gumbo. Unfortunately, I didn’t know of any restaurants around here that served it. I have now found a few places, one of which is Crescent Jewell, a Cajun / Creole restaurant in downtown Riverside.

Crescent Jewell serves a darker gumbo made with andouille sausage, chicken and shrimp. The gumbo is rich and flavorful, but compared to the sausage-filled picture of gumbo on the restaurant’s website, mine was a little light on the protein both times I ordered it. It tastes good, though.

My wife tried the Pasta Jambalaya, which is made with andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, penne pasta and a Creole tomato sauce. This stuff is good. Unlike the gumbo, there was quite a bit of shrimp, chicken and sausage. Order some garlic bread along with the jambalaya and you’ve got a great meal.

Our family has tried other items including Fried Shrimp, Red Beans and Rice with andouille sausage, and Shrimp Creole. Crescent Jewell also makes Beignets that are served warm with powdered sugar. There are many other dishes on the menu that we haven’t tried yet.

Crescent Jewell is definitely worth a try, especially if you like Cajun / Creole food. Although I haven’t been here at night during the lounge hours, Crescent Jewell has a full bar and holds many special events including comedy nights and live music. Check with the restaurant to keep up with the hours and event schedule.

Crescent Jewell Restaurant and Lounge
3597 Main Street
Riverside, CA
951-684-1000
www.crescentjewell.com

Super Mex – Riverside, CA

October 20, 2009 by Ole 1 Comment

Every time I walk into Super Mex in Riverside, I tell myself that I’m going to order something new. I fail every time.

I’ve eaten at Super Mex about five times now, and I’ve ordered the Chorizo Burrito every time. For the uninitiated, chorizo (or at least the kind of chorizo I’ve always found in Mexican food restaurants and my refrigerator) is a spicy pork sausage that practically begs to be combined with eggs. Not being a cook or the primary grocery shopper in my house, all I really know is that when chorizo is prepared correctly, it is spicy goodness.

Super Mex makes the best chorizo and egg burrito I have ever eaten.

Chips and salsa are served a bit differently here. Instead of chips, you get whole, fried corn tortillas with a chunky salsa. The tortillas always seem to be freshly prepared, but I have to admit that I would like some different salsa options.

Mrs. Ole has joined me on a few of my visits, and we’ve shared some of the antojitos (snacks) including the mini chimis and the cheese quesadilla. Both are pretty good, but my quesadilla-eating experience would be much better if I had some different salsa or hot sauce to spice it up.

My wife has tried the carne asada tacos and shredded beef hard tacos. The carne asada tacos come with onions, cilantro and guacamole, and she has tried them both fully loaded and plain. The carne asada is tender but could use more flavor. The refried beans are awesome. Note to self: it is much easier to see the food if I unwrap it before taking a picture… duh.

Super Mex has good food and good service. Someday soon, I hope to overcome the power of the Chorizo Burrito and actually try something different.

Super Mex Riverside

3444 Arlington Avenue

Riverside, CA 92506