Panera Bread, San Bernardino

Great soup & sandwich or soup and salad for $6.95.  Pictured is Greek salad, sampled the new Thai Chicken Chopped Salad, prefer the Greek.



Hospitality Lane (#1256)
1092 E Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92408

Burger Mania, San Bernardino

Mania Fish Combo Sandwich with Soda $5.76

Updated 12/19/2009
Burger Mania

I had a hankering for some fish and stopped into Burger Mania for lunch. Ordered the Mania Fish Sandwich Combo for $5.69. They serve a nice salad as replacement for the fries. The meal looked really good. The fish sandwich was served on a wheat bun and was piled high with tomatoes and lettuce. Unfortunately I did care for the fish, it had a bitter taste. The rest of the meal was good. Next visit I just won't order the fish.
Photo from Burger Mania Website
Photo from Burger Mania WebsitePhoto from Burger Mania Website

Chef Salad $5.90

Burger Mania
930 South E Street
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 885-7226

Burger Mania is a newly opened fast food restaurant that was formally a Del Taco in bygone days. I have visited three times now, twice as a sit-down guest and once at the drive thru. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so far I have only had the lunch. They have all kinds of "Mania Meals", that are served with a salad or French fries and a soda. The prices range from $3.49 for a Junior Burger Mania to $7.20 for the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich Mania. Most of their sandwiches and burgers are served in the 'Mania Meals".

The restaurant is very clean and bright inside, the service is very friendly. Once you order, the meal is delivered to the table. The portions are huge, on my first visit I ordered the Gyro Sandwich Mania for $6.90. The Gyro was delicious and very good for a fast food restaurant. There were enough fries on the plate to serve three people. I ordered the Gyro combo at the drive-thru on my next visit, did not get near as many fries, did not need them anyway.

My last visit decided to order the Chef Salad at $5.90. It was great, fresh iceberg lettuce, thick slices of cucumber, 1/4 of an avocado, onions, tomatoes and huge amount of ham, turkey and shredded cheese. Service is always fast, they are busy for lunch but have always been able to find a table. They have a TV set to CNN for entertainment. It is a good place to catch lunch or breakfast when you are near the SB Civic Center.


Food **

Ambiance **

Service **

Expense $

Repeat Visit? Yes

http://www.burgermaniaworld.com/

Wendy's, Redlands

Wendy's
1991 West Redlands Boulevard
Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 307-3305

This Wendy's is located in a strip mall across the street from Wal-Mart in Redlands. Every Wednesday I have to run an errand in the area and do not have time to have lunch. It has become a ritual to use the drive-thru window and order a five piece chicken nuggets value special, small chili and a small Frosty. The grand total for the meal is $3.45. For some reason Wendy's in Southern California have a hard time staying in business. This Wendy's has been in operation since at least 2002, so far a record for the area.

I have no complaints about the chicken nuggets. They are always fresh, hot and crispy on the outside. The Frosty is a rich blend of frozen chocolate ice milk. It is a small enough serving that I do not feel guilty having one.

The chili is what draws me to Wendy's. It is old fashioned mid-west style tomato based chili. It is a thick blend of pinto beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, onions, bell pepper and ground beef. I really like the my Wendy's Chili fix once a week. It has been many years since I have had a chance to taste my Grandma's chili. Wendy's Chili reminds me somewhat of the big batches of chili my Grandma used to make. These items are about the only thing I order at Wendy's so I cannot comment on the rest of the menu.

This drive-thru has the fastest service I have ever experienced. They practically throw the food at you as you drive up. I don't mind because I am always in a hurry when I visit. I will definitely repeat next Wednesday and a co-worker has asked me to bring her back some chili also.


Chili ****

Service **** Because the drive-thru service is so fast.

Cost $

Repeat- Yes

China Pantry, San Bernardino

Two Item Combo Orange Chicken & Mushroom Chicken $5.89

China Pantry
103 Inland Ctr
San Bernardino, CA 92408-1916
(909) 388-1877

China Pantry is located in the food court at Inland Center Mall. It is your typical Chinese fast food. All of the items are held on a heated table and served up on plastic plates.

I do not ordinarily order Orange Chicken but today they were offering samples. It was fresh out of the fryer and tasted pretty good. It was a little sweet and probably would not order again, but it was flavorful. The Mushroom Chicken was also tasty. The meal was served with fried rice and noodles. All the items were fresh, and the portions were generous. I remember in the past I had been disappointed with the portion sizes for the price. They seem to have remedied that problem. The food is not great but it beats most of the competition in the mall. I would return for another meal in the future.

Food **

Ambiance **

Service **

Cost $

Repeat - Yes

Sonic Drive-In, Victorville

UPDATED 11/25/2009



Chicken Club Toaster Sandwich Combo

Sonic Dining Area

Sonic Drive-In
11780 Amargosa Rd
Victorville, CA 92392
(760) 949-8827

Today I was in the area and stopped in at Sonic. I must be dyslexic because I ordered a number six instead of a number eight. I though I was ordering Chicken Wrap, ended up with a Chicken Club Toaster Sandwich. The sandwich consists of two thick pieces of Texas toast, a breaded chicken fillet with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. The Texas toast is too much bread, otherwise it was a decent sandwich. Next time Hopefully I will order the right thing. The tater tots were delicious and loved my Diet Cherry Limeade. The combo was under $6.00.

http://www.sonicdrivein.com/menu/viewRecipe.do?recipeId=919193672&sectionId=426

Chicken Strip Special $3.99


Sonic Drive-In
11780 Amargosa Rd
Victorville, CA 92392
(760) 949-8827

Sonic is located off of the 15 Freeway at the Bear Valley Road Road exit. The only other Sonic I know of near in So Cal is Anaheim. This location is much better than the Anaheim store. Victorville has been open under two years, this Sonic has car hop service and a drive thru.

I am not a great fan of the food. I like their chicken wraps, coney dogs and tots. I do love Sonic's drink menu. It is Worth the drive just for the Lo Cal Cherry Limeade, yum. They throw in a couple of lime slices and maraschino cherries to enhance the flavor. Looking at Sonics website it appears the are expanding into the IE. If Sonic was nearer I am sure would be a regular customer for the drinks and slushies. I tried Sonics TV promotion of Chicken Tenders, Tater Tots, Onion Ring, Texas Toast and drink for $3.99. The tenders were white meat chicken and tasted good, I would pass on the toast. The meal was served in a box instead of the usual bag.

Another stand out on Sonic's menu are the tater tots. I love my "tots", and Sonic's are hot and crispy. It is probably a good thing none of their stores are located very close. a medium order of tots contains 335 calories. I will visit Sonic whenever I am in the neighborhood.

Food **

Ambiance **

Service **

Cost- Value $

http://www.sonicdrivein.com/home.jsp

Mona Lisa, Redlands

Mona Lisa
1405 W Colton Ave
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 335-0818

Updated 11/23/2009

Today was lunch at Mona Lisa's in Redlands.

The Italian Sub has ham, salami, tomato, lettuce, provolone cheese and lots of spices. It is served on a fresh, thin and crispy French roll. Very good, I could eat two of these easily. It comes with a bag of chips and a 20oz drink for only $3.95. Very good deal. Today the pasta special was spaghetti with sausage and peppers. A heaping portion of spaghetti with meat sauce served with one sausage topped with onions and peppers. "Madone", this is good stuff. the spaghetti is served with garlic bread and a 20oz soda. I like the drive-thru, a little slow sometime but well worth it. The quality of the food beats many higher priced restaurants in the area.

Food ****

Cost $





Spaghetti w/meat sauce, garlic bread & soda $4.95

Drive-Thru Italian Subs, Pasta and Salads

Mona Lisa
1405 W Colton Ave
Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 335-0818

Mona Lisa is located in a free standing building across from Tri-City Center at Colton and Redlands Blvd. This Restaurant used to be located in downtown Redlands, moved to this location several years ago. Inside is typical quick service ordering. The decor is early fast food with Formica tables.I really like this place, especially their special of the day. Mona Lisa has a special pasta of the day , it is served until they run out. For $6.95 you get Pasta, garlic bread and a soda. Monday it is ItalianSausage and Peppers with Pasta, Thursday, Spaghetti with Eggplant Sauce and Friday Fettucini Alfredo. Cannot remember the rest of the specials. Last time I visited they were out of the special and I ordered the Spaghetti with meat sauce, with garlic bread and soda for $4.95. Wow, what a deal, and it was delicious. Best part is the have a drive thru, how convenient. Some of the menu items include:
Pasta
Includes Garlic Bread & Meat or Marinara Sauce
Spaghetti $5.95
Mostacciolli $5.95
Ravioli $6.50
Tortellini $6,50
Eggplant Parmesan $6.95
Lasagna $6.50
Manicotti $6.50

Add two meat balls or one sausage $1.50

Fantastic sandwich special that included chips and a soda is $3.95

I love this place and wish them a long life. Open Monday through Saturday 11-9.

Food ****

Ambience **

Service **

Cost $

Taco Bell, San Bernardino

Fiesta Taco Salad $4.49

Taco Bell

797 2nd Street

San Bernardino CA 92408

(909)885-8938

This location is just off the 215 Freeway near downtown San Bernardino. I have dined inside the restaurant before and watched the parade of homeless people pass through. This would not be a place to visit after the sun goes down. I was in a hurry and wanted something to take back to my office. Taco Bell was near and I used their drive thru service. I ordered the Fiesta Taco Salad with ground beef. It was minimally good, but not something I would return for.

My salad consisted of iceberg lettuce, shredded cheese, ground beef, rice, tomato, sour cream. Salsa and chili lime tortilla strips are served on the side. The salad is served in a fried tortilla shell. According to the website it is supposed to also have beans but I could not find any on this salad. I did not eat the shell, too many calories for me. When I have sampled the shell it is usually stale. Definitely did not like the chili lime strips, tasted of a chemically flavored powder. The salsa is the canned type but is acceptable. Taco Bell is trying to please people in all fifty states and most do not like spicy chili like us serrano chili lovers.

Taco Bell is my favorite Mexican fast food taco, the tacos are delicious if they are made right. Next time I will order something different until the memory of this salad fades.

http://www.tacobell.com/

El Pollo Loco, Redlands

The Original Two Piece Combo, White Meat with Beans and Cole Slaw & Soda $7.19

El Pollo Loco

1210 W Colton Ave
Redlands, CA 92374-2862
(909) 335-2232

I started working as a manager at the original El Pollo Loco on Alvarado Street when there were only six EPL's in the USA. The Ochoa Brothers had started the concept in Sinaloa, Mexico and a few smart people had franchised the concept in Southern California. The operation was much simpler then, the menu consisted of grilled chicken, spicy pinto beans made with lard and serrano chilies. Cole Slaw, Potato and Macaroni Salad. They served Flan and a few other items for desert. The salsa was made fresh daily, from tomatoes, salt, and serrano chili. The secret marinade was made in a small warehouse behind the Alvarado Store. I helped opened the first built from the ground up drive thru. It was an exciting concept, fresh, healthier flame broiled chicken. Many imitators tried to copy the idea, few were successful. Grilling a whole chicken is not an easy thing, it takes approximately 45 minutes to cook one chicken. When you are in the "Quick" service business this can cause problems. It you did not project the right amount of chickens customers had a long wait for their chicken. If we cooked too many chickens they ended up in the garbage. Now they have greatly expanded their menu and have added menu items that can use the excess chicken.

I have always liked EPL's original chicken and my family enjoys it also. We have EPL a few times every month. Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Redlands store, this appears to be a franchise operation. The Chicken was cooked to perfection, nice and juicy with a slight garlicky citrus flavor . The two piece is served with two tortillas, so I was able to make two delicious tacos with extra chicken left over. The cole slaw was standard issue, the beans were a little undercooked (EPL uses canned beans but they add roasted serranos and cook until the juice thickens). Prices are going up, when I started the price of a whole chicken was $6.29, now a two piece combo costs more . In today's market it is still a good deal, love that chicken.

I would rate El Pollo Loco as the best Mexican Grilled Chicken in the East Valley Inland Empire.

Food ****

Ambiance **

Service **

Cost $

Repeat Visit - Yes

Portillo's Hot Dogs, Moreno Valley

Italian Beef Sandwich $4.75

Updated 10/18/2009

On a recommendation from my good friend I returned to Portillo's to try the Italian Beef Sandwich. She always passes the Hot Dogs in favor of this Chicago delicacy. The beef is served in a beef Au Jus dipped French roll. The roll is great, crispy brown crunchy crust. The roll is stuffed with thinly sliced Italian beef. I added the hot peppers for forty cents. Wow the peppers were hot, I had to take some off. The sandwich was very good, next time I will order the homemade sweet peppers instead of the hot peppers with a dog on the side.

Portillo's
12840 Day St
Moreno Valley CA
At the corner of Day St and Gateway Dr
951-653-1000


I was raised in Southern California, my idea of a good hot dog was a Der Wienerschnitzel mustard dog. We do not have a great hot dog tradition here, it was Farmer John Dodger Dog country. Portillo's, a Chicago chain, has opened two units in California, for some reason they picked Moreno Valley as one of their locations. I don't know what kind of demographic study that would make this a testing ground for their operation, but I feel lucky to be only a thirty minute drive from this Portillo's.

The chain is based out of Chicago, and of course serve a Chicago style hot dog. Serious Eats website defines Chicago style as "All beef dogs in a steamed poppy seed bun and dragged through the garden: minced raw onion, neon sweet relish, sport peppers, pickle spear, halved tomato slices, yellow mustard, celery salt—and of course, no ketchup."

http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/07/america-regional-hot-dog-styles-coneys-half-smokes-reds-whites.html


This is exactly what you get at Portillo's. They have a quick ordering system, walk up, two lines. Get a number, you can watch the cook prepare your food, then will call your number.

The dog's were $2.45 each, served on a warm poppy seed bun with mustard. The relish had a sweet taste, garnished with chopped onion and tomato. Also slices of tomatoes a big pickle spear and two small banana peppers. The dog could barely fit in my mouth, the casing had a nice snap when bitten. Now this is a hot dog, sorry I was introduced to this fine cuisine so late in life. I did have to discard a few rough chili skins.

Hot Dog $2.25

I have visited Portillo's three times and have ordered the same thing each time. They have a lot more than hot dogs on the menu.
Chili Cheese Dog $3.08
Char Grilled Maxwell Street Style Polish $3.76
Chicken Sandwiches $3.99 - $4.85
All kinds of Burgers $3.59 - $6.23
Beef-N-Sausage Sandwiches $3.49 - $6.59

Portillo's has a special ordering section devoted to Salads, the Garbage Salad looks enticing.

Someday I am going to force myself to try something different. It is going to be difficult, the hot dogs are so delicious. The restaurant is big, lots of self seating, also seating for larger parties. The restaurant is decorated in 30's style "Prohibition". It is a fun place to eat. I am sure kids would enjoy the atmosphere. I only wish Portillo's was closer, I would be a regular. If your in the area, even if you have to drive a little out of your way, give them a try. They serve Beer and have Drive-Thru service.

Food ***

Ambiance ***

Service **

Expense $

Repeat Visit? Yes

http://www.portillos.com/portillos/

Great Khan's Mongolian Festival, San Bernardino

#1 Bowl and small soda $9.09

Great Khan's Mongolian Festival
500 Inland Ctr
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 383-8481

The Great Khan's is located in the food court at Inland Center Mall. It is the first joint in the food court as you exit Sears. It is the typical Mongolian BBQ. First you pay what seemed to be a bit overinflated price for one bowl of mixings and soda. Cashier gives you a rather small bowl to fill with choices from the food bar. Meat choices were beef, chicken, turkey and pork with tofu thrown in for non meat eaters. The meat was frozen in such a way to take up as much room in the bowl as possible. Meat curling must be some art they teach to Mongolian BBQ'ers. Then you stack the bowl with veggies, cabbage, white onion, green onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, and other assorted items. Top it off with noodles and sauces. Hand the bowl to the cook and he prepares it on a large grill.

I was surprised by how much food the small bowl made. I added chopped garlic and hot red chili oil to my mix and it tasted great. Food came off the grill steaming hot and was thrown into a foam go container. The service was OK, typical for this type of operation. I would return again but my feelings are the price is a little steep. Cash Only. It was amusing watching people try to stuff as many ingredients as possible into their bowl. Some were stacked mighty high.

Food - **

Expense - $$$ value ratio


Repeat - Possible

http://www.greatkhans.com/about_us.htm

In-N-Out Burger, San Bernardino

Combo #1, Double Double $5.69


In-N-Out Burger
1065 Harriman Pl
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(800) 786-1000

In-N-Out has flat out the best burger for a fast food chain that I have ever tasted. I don't' know why I need to qualify it as the best fast food burger, it beats all class of burgers hands down. In-N-Out has many devoted fans through out the world and has a cult like following. They have Burger production down to a science. In-N-Out must also have enlightened management, they know enough not to mess with a good thing. In-N-Out has a very limited menu, burgers, fries and shakes. With an simple menu they can really concentrate on cranking out a quality product. They boast that none of their restaurants have freezers, everything is fresh.

The bun is toasted and is the perfect size, not big and doughy like some chains. They place the top bun on the grill with the meat that is covered in melted cheese. This helps all of the ingredients meld into a super tasting burger. Add tomato, lettuce and their 1000 Island based sauce and you have perfection. In-N-Out has a secret menu, you can order "Animal Style", with grilled onions and mustard or a 4x4, many variations of the menu items. Did a google search on In-N-Out Secret Menu and received over ten pages of results. The shakes are good also, thick and creamy. Service is always good, In-N-Out starts their employees out at a decent wage and the jobs are highly prized by teenagers.

Anyone who likes a good cheeseburger should give In-N-Out a try.

Food ****

Ambiance **

Service **

Expense $

Repeat Visit? Yes

http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp

Tacos Al Carbon - Del Taco, Redlands

Chicken Taco $1.49 Steak Taco $1.49


Del Taco

602 E Redlands Blvd
Redlands, CA 92373

(909) 792-3212

In the past when I had a fifty mile commute would catch a 1/2lb Green Sauce Bean Burrito to keep me company on the way to work. The Bean Burrito is only 99 cents and was easy to eat while driving. Ordering any other kind of Del Taco Burrito was inviting a huge stain on shirt or tie. Del Taco is a big believer in Macho sizing that tends to overflow. Did not care too much for the other menu items. The hard tacos, to me, taste bland compared to their competitor Taco Bell.

Recently tried Del Taco's, Tacos Del Carbon, which literally translates to "Tacos of Carbon". Did not taste like rocks, was rather good for fast food presentation. Del Taco gives you a choice of steak or chicken at the same price of $1.49. The meat is chopped into small pieces and served on two warm corn tortillas. It really chafes my hide when a restaurant (Rubios) serves the tacos on cold tortillas right out of the package. The meat is garnished with chopped onion and cilantro.

What sets these tacos apart from others is the spicy red chili sauce the meat is mixed in. The sauce is zesty with a slight hint of heat. I like these tacos better than El Pollo Loco's Taco Al Carbon solely for the spicy chili sauce. The calories in the chicken taco is 170, 220 for the steak. I think the calorie count could be reduced by at least 60 if only one tortilla is eaten. I like the tacos and would order them again. I plan to stop and try their Fish Tacos soon, have heard good reports on them. Many Del Tacos are open 24 hours, a place you can always get your food fix.

Food ***

Ambiance **

Service **

Expense $

Repeat Visit? Yes

http://www.deltaco.com/menu.html#/TACOS