Here's a few revisits to places close to my office.
Mister Falafel:
**** Mister Falafel has closed
My last visit was nothing to write home about, but a revisit was due. I really wanted to know if that visit was a fluke and the falafel was as good as my first few visits. The folks here are the nicest people, so I should really come more often. I think it's the location of the place, out of view from the street, that makes it slip from my mind. Not being very hungry, I went with the Falafel "Munchie" ($5.99).
And while this was much better than on my previous visit, it was still missing something. It's a bit more gritty these days, but not bad at all and truly quite filling. I like the flavor; not too much parsley. I'm wondering if they still use the same ratio of favas to garbanzos?
The tahini here is not my favorite version; kind of bland, the pita was fine, standard issue stuff.
As always, the folks working here are warm and wonderful. And yes, they make this stuff fresh so you'll have to wait a few minutes......which is the way things should be.
Mister Falafel
4461 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117
Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 1100am - 800pm
Havana Grill:
Soo has already posted on the Rabo Encendido here (you can read my comment in the post). The version he had looked nice, though perhaps over done. I ordered it because it wasn't on the menu during my first visits to Havana Grill.
What I got was enormous; though obviously under done and on the tough and chewy side. In fact trying to cut it without holding with my mitts, it broke the plastic knife. The flavor was quite tangy and not quite the flavor I'd experience in other versions I've had; a bit of sweetness, somewhat beefy, and in some version a bit of clove/allspice, and definitely some garlic tones. This wasn't bad; just kind of one tone in taste.
The biggest disappointment were the black beans, which during my first visits back when they first opened was really nice; complex in flavor. This one was bitter, really watery, like the stuff was from the bottom of a pot that had been cooking too long.
The rice was dry, the plantains very tasty. The folks, nice as always. I'm probably going to stick with the Ropa Vieja and the El Cubano, which placed second in my Cubano comparison during future visits.
Havana Grill
5450 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117
Big fan of falafel but the ones at Mr. Falafel didn't do it for me. Nice people though. Haven't found a go to place in SD yet. Cheers!
Posted by: RedDevil | Thursday, 12 January 2017 at 11:40 AM
Have you tried Alforon RD? Haven't been in a while, but thought the falafel was pretty good.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 12 January 2017 at 11:51 AM
Will check it out, thanks!
Posted by: RedDevil | Thursday, 12 January 2017 at 03:23 PM
hope the dishes will improve
Posted by: kat | Friday, 13 January 2017 at 12:38 AM
Doh! I hate tough & chewy meat. Which is your fav place to get oxtail?
Posted by: Soo @ hungryones | Friday, 13 January 2017 at 09:21 AM
Hope so too Kat!
My house Soo......my house
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 13 January 2017 at 12:27 PM