I went to the first spot over a week ago at lunch. It is past the Publix on East Central where the buildings end (nearer to TP). Across from Eola Wine Company. The second I went to yesterday at lunch. It is in the Julian in that Technology Center where the Orena used to be. It was the first time I drove through there. It's cool. The last in on Lee Rd near Edgewater. It took over some Mexican spot. I went there after lunch yesterday.
Dolce - Open for three months. It ostensibly has a 20's theme. In reality it is just an ordinary place with a F. Scott Fitzgerald quote (a banal one) and three pictures (of what appears to be a Russian whore) in 20's garb. They may have played 20's music. The yammering of the two Hispanic cooks overwhelmed my memory of the event. I settled on a Chef Salad ($15) more because my body must have wanted vitamins. Even the sparse ones this provided. The menu was a bit basic. Some sandwiches, breakfast items, bowls, salads and a fair sized dessert menu (crafted by some lady on Cupcake Wars that I think they said had a place in WP called Jilly's). The salad was ok. Chicken in it. I would have the liked the chicken not to have been seasoned. Too little dressing. They also only gave me a tiny glass (of un-refilled) soda. The dessert menu had fun things like confetti cake and cheesecake in a waffle cone. That (and maybe breakfast) are probably the draws. They don't even offer martinis. Just wine. The owner ran the Sausage Shack in WP. That was good. The interior is white with some wood under the bar. Old and lazy ID. AC was on way too high. Small patio in front. About four tables (all girls) seated at lunch. Service was slow. The kitchen's fault. One server.
The Monroe - They seem to be going for some kind of bluesy, Southern vibe. Not sure if Orlando (and they seem to be hinting at that with the decorations) accurately represents that. Oh well, it looks cute and they recreate (or manufacture) locally flavored dishes. I had the St John's River Catfish Sandwich with cucumber salad (or potato wedges) for $14. I was interested in the salmon (they may even have tried to sell this as local). But, not at $26. The fish was fishy. Needed to have been soaked in buttermilk or whatever they usually do. The fry was perfect. The bun was one of the best I've ever had. A glossy, soft, buttery sesame seed bum. Chopped lettuce in mayo and tomatoes were fresh too. Cucumbers had a bland dressing. Too much and maybe cut too thick or too thin. The perfectly wrong size. All in all, better conceptualization than execution. Open for around six months? The guy/group behind Seito Sushi and Osprey in Baldwin Park. Nice decor. Shabby chic. Long front room on the left. Mostly window faced. Kitchen behind in. They have low walls to divide up the space. Bar and lounge area inside a little. Patio behind that. Once again, there were lots of Blues memorabilia and junk (purposeful) scattered around. Some games. I remember grays. Pretty full. People with jobs. The menu had fried chicken, steak frites, steak, biscuits, Philly CS, hamburger, three salads, etc. The entrees were around mid-twenties. The sandwich type things were mid-teens. The lunch menu was only a buck or two cheaper than the dinner. More things (but not a ton) at dinner. I am curious about the pickled shrimp and the jerk seasoned chicken hearts and the liver pate. Not sure why it is called Monroe. We have a Lake Monroe. Don't know it's origin either. I wish I could recommend this or put it on the Favorite's list. But, it has three strikes. 1 - Parking is metered here and to further infuriate me you can only pay with a tracking infested app. I did find free parking a few blocks away. 2 - An iced tea (unfilled) was $4. 3. The execution missteps. Check their hours. I think they close on Sunday and Monday.
Cupid's Hot Dogs - I maligned them and alas they open as if waiting for my cue. They claim to be a small (5) chain from California. No one I've questioned from there (including myself) has heard of them. I aked the owner. She said San Fernando Valley. A person I told said she looked them up and it said Simi Valley. Oh well. I had a chili dog for $5. They are running a special with fries and soda only $1 more. The dog was ok. Long. Pork? Tasted like a Dodger Dog. Salty. Unseasoned. A bit of a snap. Semi sweet bun. Nothing special. Same with chili. Fries were like In & Out's. Not a compliment from me. They sell about ten things. Has adequate parking. A gimmick play.
*Travel Notes - Oregon and Washington: I wouldn't have overloaded this post if I had another food adventure coming up soon. Plane fare to Portland was $283. Rental car was $463/wk. I spent the first night near the airport at Nordic Inn for $106. Drove on 26 to Government Camp and Timberline Lodge. Hotel from The Shining. On to Bend via 97. Ate lunch at Walt Reilly's. Ate dinner at Lucy's Taco Shop. Good Mex. Slept at Campfire Hotel for $100. Did recon and bought lift ticket ($119 wd - was supposed to be $89 according to internet) to Mt Bachelor and rented skis at Powder House for $45 ($64 at mountain). Skied the next day. Good. Drank beer (don't judge when you read on - just samples sizes) at Cascade Lakes Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, Immersion Brewing, Crux Fermentation Project and Boss Rambler Beer Project. Ate great tacos and tlacoyo (fried masa cakes filled with cheese) at El Sancho Taco Shop. Slept at Days Inn for $74. Drove nw on 26 to John Day Fossil Beds NM. Nice mountain-y drive. Drove on to Day and own 395 to Burns. Slept there at America's Best Value Inn (not bad for them) for $109. Back to Bend via 20. Flatter drive. On nw to Sisters. Ate and drank at Three Creeks Brewery. Slept at Sisters Inn for $125. Everything here was around 25% too much. Further on to Corvallis. Visited OSU. Ate satay and chicken in tumeric cream sauce with noodles at Magenta. Drank at Block 15, Sky High Brewing and Crowbar. Had pizza at American Dream Pizza. Slept at Hotel Corvallis for $106. Drove to Salem on 5. Saw the capitol. On to the coast via 22w. Ate in Tillamook at Blue Heron French Cheese Co. Also bought cheese and cider. Visited Tillamook Cheese Co. Up 101 to Astoria. Visited Lewis and Clark NP. Over bridge to Long Beach Washington. Claims to be longest beach in world. Ate chowder at Chowder Stop. Slept at Coastal Inn for $93. Went up to a town called Oysterville. Nothing there. Back to LB. Ate fried cod at Captain Bob's Chowder. Drove back to Astoria. Found the house in The Goonies on 38th St. Drove back to Portland via 30. I missed some location on 101 for Goonies and Point Break. Better trip than I expected. Gas was around $4.50. Airport was a breeze. Two people ahead at TSA when leaving. Car rental easy too. Good conditioned vehicles. Mine had only 400 miles. Not proof reading this. Marionberries are a thing.
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