BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse (Review #2) - Huntington Beach
We went to BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Huntington Beach two weeks ago. Now I’m a huge fan of BJ’s pizza, so much so I’d never ordered an entrée, until my most recent visit! Everyone else in our party shared a BJ’s Favorite Pizza, while I splurged and got a new item on their menu, the Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast, as well as a side caesar salad.
BJ's Caesar Salad
I used to like their caesar salad but it wasn’t really that good this visit, it was so drenched with dressing that it overpowered my mouth, but the croutons were good. My entrée however was delicious that it made me regret previous visits to BJ’s that I contemplated getting an entrée. The chicken is marinated, lightly coated with Parmesan and panko. Next it is pan fried to a nice golden brown. It was served with white cheddar mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. The chicken topped with a lemon chardonnay butter sauce, sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and parmesan cheese.
BJ's Parmesean Crusted Chicken
The chicken was cooked just about perfect, since it didn’t appear to retain much grease, and the sauce had a different flavor to it because of the lemon, but it was a very refreshing flavor, it didn’t overpower and went well with all the other flavors. The mashed potatoes were great, I mean unless they are runny or something I don’t see how anyone could screw them up. The broccoli was just a little on the overcooked side, but went well with the bits of sauce on my plate. I would order this meal again, if I wasn’t feeling up to pizza.
The rest of my party thoroughly enjoyed their pizza. BJ’s pizza is one of my wife’s favorite which is funny because she is usually only interested in thin crust pizza, but BJ’s has a special place in her heart.
BJ's Pizza
The BJ’s Favorite comes with oven-baked meatballs, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, black olives, white onions and fresh Roma tomatoes. The crust is great; especially the outside parts that crisp up a bit with the mixture of slightly burnt cheese on top. I’m sure someone out there will cry foul saying I consider a chain companies “Chicago Style” pizza superior to most, but they really know how to make their pizza, I’m not biased to a chain if they do a good job (as I’ve stated in the past when I reviewed Islands).
BJ's Pizza
Service was good, and I’ve always liked the atmosphere of this BJ’s. I love that if you are in the main area of the restaurant that you can watch the huge screen TVs they have in the bar area. They also have a great selection of house label beers, I didn’t have one tonight but I’ve had them in the past. Mrs. DanGarion is a big fan of the berry cider that they pour.
Visit 8/5/08 for Dinner
BJ's Berry Cider
Rating: 
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
16060 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 842-9242
Tustin Brewing Company - Tustin
I’m back! I know you all missed me. My wife and I just celebrated our 2 year anniversary down in San Diego. I’ll post about our eating experiences there probably later tonight; we had some great food and great times in LoCal. And now back to the reviews!
Tustin Brewing Company
Between the running of errands and house hunting in Tustin, we had the pleasure of going to the Tustin Brewing company for lunch today (8/03/08). I figured they were pretty much a pizza joint, since most brewing companies in Southern California seem focus around pizza (BJs, Oggi’s, etc.). I was right that they served pizza, but that it’s just a small part of their menu. We were set on pizza when we entered so that’s what we had on our mind. Of course this being a brewery I was also focused on beer. So as the waitress asked us for our drink order I located their beers and ordered a Lemon Heights Hefeweizen ($4.00 a pint).
Tustin Brewing Co. Lemon Heights Hefe
Now I’m not sure if they actually make their beer there, since a couple years back one of my friends smashed my dreams by telling me BJ’s and Oggi’s don’t actually brew their beer at their restaurants. I lived through that devastating discovery! But back to the Hefeweizen; it was a good solid unfiltered wheat, a great beer for a hot day. Next was an order of Buffalo wings.
Tustin Brewing Co. Buffalo Wings
It appears they only serve them one way, spicy! The wings came piping hot with a lot of sauce on them, they were juicy and extra hot in spicy. Both I and Mrs. DanGarion enjoyed our 10 drumette wings ($8.95 or $6.95 during 3pm-6pm happy hour). Then it was on to the main show, pizza. Tustin Brewing Company only has one size of pizza since it’s just part of their menu, but they have nine different pizzas on their menu; three cheese to garlic shrimp. Their pizzas are “wood fried” and can be made into a calzone for an extra dollar. We went ahead and ordered the old standby Pepperoni Pizza with extra sauce ($9.95 others range up to $12.95). They make it with homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni and oregano.
The pizza is about the size of a medium from a normal pizza place. The pizza came out hot from the oven, with steam rising from it. The crust was average, not too thick and not to thin and crunchy on the outside. The sauce tasted fresh like it is was advertised with a good amount of oregano. There wasn’t too much cheese and about 3-4 pieces of pepperoni per slice (6 slices). We both agree that it was a good solid average pizza, one we would come back for.
Inside the place is open and airy. Each wall has a couple medium size HDTVs on the wall as well as two huge projection screens on opposing sides. It looks like a great place to watch the game, especially with their assortment of beers. Service was average, can’t complain about average service. There is a full bar, and also outside seating. They are also going to celebrating their 12th anniversary later this month.
Rating:
Tustin Brewing Company
13011 Newport Ave # 100
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 665-2337
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse - Huntington Beach
I will preface this review with this.
*MY WIFE HATES DOUGHY PIZZA!*
With that said she loves BJ’s Chicago style pizza. It’s our favorite pizza to eat and the price is right. We can get a small pizza, caesar salad, a beer, and another drink for under $25. And when we leave we are fully satisfied with the size of our meal. We usually order the veggie combination with extra sauce and it always comes out great. I’ve tried most of their beers and my favorite is the Hefewiezen, but I’m a big fan of Hefe’s. Also one of my wife’s favorite things to get there is the Framboise that they have, it’s a delicious Belgium beer that has berry added to it after the brewing process.
The atmosphere is that of a sports bar if you are sitting in the main area next to the bar, they have a large screen that shows 4 sports channels at the same time. Appetizers are great, with my favorite being the avocado eggrolls and the spinach with artichoke dip.
We have never had any issues with the wait staff and they have always been able to handle any special requests we make in the years we have gone here.
Rating:
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
16060 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA
(714) 842-9242
Dominic’s Ristorante Italiano - Cypress
Dominic’s is one of the best Italian places I’ve ever ate at. I’ve tried about 6 or 7 different dishes and so far the Chicken Pizzaolia is the best I’ve had, while the Cheese Raviloi was just ok. The family that runs this place are great, all the staff make you feel at home. Their breadsticks are to die for.
Rating:
Dominic’s Ristorante Italiano
9921 Walker St
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 821-8080
Mama D’s Italy Kitchen - Newport Beach
The service at Mama D’s is exceptional. Luke (our waiter) made sure we were taken care of every second of our visit. From bread, to refills, to a free taste of their ravioli, and even some free cookies to take with us after our meal. I’ve never been treated as well as they treated us at Mama D’s. The food was good and everything was fresh. My fiancee had the Baked Ziti, and I have the Baked Stuffed Eggplant. Everything was good tasting. The bread was very tasty and they serve it along with a garlic, olive oil mixture..
If you are looking for good food and the most pleasant experience possible when going out to dinner, this is it!
Update 12/2006.
This place is still just as great and as amazing as it was when we first went there. Their service is a cut above and their food is delicious.
Update 01/13/07
We were here for my birthday with a group of 12. Service was exceptional as always. Food was delicious and when our meal was over they sang me happy birthday and gave me a card signed by the entire wait and cook staff that was personalized to me, and including a free appetizer on our next visit. They treat you like you are family and just like family I’m going to keep visiting them!
Rating:
Mama D’s Italy Kitchen
3012 Newport Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 675-6262
Perry’s Pizza - Garden Grove
Perry’s cooks some of the crappiest pizza on the planet. Maybe I just ate too much of it because it was where we always went for pizza parties when I was playing sports as a kid, or maybe it’s because our company always used to order the stuff, but their normal square pizza is so doughy and blah. I actually think it’s because I have taste.
The normal thin pizza is just ok, which is why I am giving them 1 star. Also their hoagies are good, but this is a pizza place you they are getting rated on their main item.
You may remember Perry’s Pizza from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, they get 1 star for Pheobe Cates in that movie too, since she worked there.
Rating:
Perry’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
6937 Chapman Ave
Garden Grove, CA 92845
(714) 898-7670
Pizza Grande - Stanton
This is the best pizza in Stanton. I grew up eating this stuff. And I continued to order it after I moved out of my parents. It’s not ground breaking pizza but they do a good job not screwing it up.
Rating:
Pizza Grande
7096 Katella Ave
Stanton, CA 90680
(714) 897-0325
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