Restaurant of the Week: Don Baja Grill

Don Baja Grill, 1524 Foothill Blvd. (at Wheeler), La Verne; open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In La Verne recently at lunchtime, I sought out the new Mexican spot in the Vons center. Don Baja Grill replaced El Patron II, a sitdown place that I liked (although the one in Rancho Cucamonga, not far from our office, is the one I patronize). Don Baja is fast casual, where you order at the counter.

Their specialty is fish tacos and burritos, shrimp, cocktails and ceviche, while also offering four types of meat: beef, pork, chicken and beef tongue. I have to wonder if La Verne has any other restaurants that sell tongue. (Note that I’m only wondering, not stating that as fact, which means I won’t be wrong if you name one or two other places in city limits that do. But there can’t be many.)

For vegetarians, they sell tacos with potatoes and burritos with beans and cheese and with (unspecified) veggies.

I got the two fish taco combo ($8.50). These were good, double-tortilla tacos with the requisite cabbage, cream and diced tomatoes. The rice was fluffy, the beans creamy. It’s 50 cents extra if you want your fish grilled rather than fried. I washed it all down with a watermelon agua fresca, which was among the drink choices that come with the combo, a good bargain.

I would eat at Don Baja again and wish them luck in a storefront that’s seen some turnover.

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Restaurant of the Week: Fourth Street Mill

Fourth Street Mill, 2124 Bonita Ave. (at D), La Verne; open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily, and open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

Fourth Street Mill opened in downtown La Verne in 2015. I remember when the exterior murals were being painted, because I was writing about the antique-y clock a few yards away. My one attempt to eat there failed when the friend to whom I pitched it, who has rather basic tastes, kind of pooh-poohed the place. But a few weeks ago, Fourth Street Mill was on my mind when another La Verne friend wanted to get together for lunch. My suggestion was agreed to, and a few days later, there we were.

The Mill has an expansive, shaded patio that looks to have more seating than the interior. It was a hot day in mid-October, perfect weather for outdoor dining.

The menu has sandwiches, burgers, salads and entrees, but it’s not large. A more limited menu can give you the sense that every item is probably good rather than being pulled out of the depths of the freezer when someone finally orders it.

My friend got the French dip po’boy ($16.50): sliced prime rib, mushrooms, onions and Swiss cheese, with a cup of au jus. He’d told me that the honey ginger tartine was his go-to order, but now he had a new favorite item. What he called the “thick, Texas toast bread” was particularly good. He got a salad as his side.

Tuna melts being my own go-to order when I’m trying a restaurant that has them, I got the Fourth Street Mill version ($12): albacore tuna, tomato, Swiss and green onions. This was a knife and fork dish, very good, with fresh tuna, and without mayo.

There’s a bar in the rustic interior with beer, wine and cocktails, and they have brunch on weekends. And, as seen above and below, they have murals. What’s not to like?

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Restaurant of the Week: Broken Yolk

Broken Yolk, 2488 Foothill Blvd. (at Towne Center), La Verne; open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

A San Diego-based chain, Broken Yolk opened up in La Verne in October in the Target center. I’d never heard of it — Broken Yolk, not Target — but decided to give it a spin recently, meeting a friend for lunch.

It’s breakfast and lunch (and weekend brunch) only at the Yolk, a mid-sized coffee shop. Apparently weekend crowds are intense, but for a weekday lunch, seating was no problem.

The chain is known for big portions, like four-egg omelets and large pancakes, as well as French toast made with Hawaiian bread. The menu can be seen here.

My friend got breakfast: the Ranchero skillet ($12.45), with chorizo, serrano peppers, two (not four) eggs, avocado and potatoes. He liked it. “It’s breakfast,” he said matter-of-factly. “It can be messed up, but they didn’t.”

I got lunch: a tuna melt ($12) on sourdough with sweet potato fries. Other side options are fries, onion rings, potato salad and broccoli slaw. (Calorie counts would point to the latter as the healthiest choice at 60 calories, but my choice was second-best at 240. Also, I don’t think I could bear to order broccoli slaw.)

Careful readers of this blog may recall that the tuna melt is my baseline sandwich, the one I’m likeliest to pick at an unfamiliar restaurant if it’s on the menu. This was an above-average version, fresh and with jack cheese.

People on Yelp seem inordinately gripey about the wait times for weekend breakfast, making me wonder if they’ve ever gone out for breakfast before. Drive past BC Cafe on a weekend morning and you’ll glimpse one or two dozen would-be patrons scattered out on the lawn waiting for a table inside to open.

Anyway, Broken Yolk’s got a varied menu, service was attentive and the food is pretty good. Despite the name, I’ll bet they will give you an egg sunny side up if you ask.

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Restaurant of the Week: Chase’s

Chase’s, 2079 Bonita Ave. (at D), La Verne; open daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Chase’s opened in 2011 in a converted house downtown on Third Street as a wine shop with a short menu and wine bar, if memory serves. It was a tight fit the one time I was there, for a colleague’s going-away party, but we had a good experience. And now Chase’s has moved to expanded quarters in a former bank building at the crossroads of Bonita and D.

Two friends and I met up there recently for lunch, gathering on the sunny patio, shaded by large umbrellas. It was a warm day and I’m not sure anyone was eating inside on such a pleasant afternoon.

It’s one of those menus of salads, sandwiches and pastas where you find nearly every item appealing. Do I want the wild mushroom grilled cheese, the pear and fennel arugula salad, the special burger, the roasted ragu shrimp pasta?

One friend got the No Name Salad with grilled chicken ($13.50 + $5.50). It came with kale, carrots, pecans and cranberries. Her verdict: “Mmm-mmm.” That’s your quote? Second friend added: “If you add that she shook her head emphatically, they’ll know.”

I got the Mojo Pulled Pork ($13.25). So did the second friend. But you only get one photo. This concoction came on sourdough with mustard, onion and pickle. The pork was tender and the sandwich delicious.

“Plenty big,” second friend remarked. “I’m glad I didn’t get fries.” Same here. I didn’t eat again for hours.

Chase’s has a dinner menu, and a brunch menu for Sundays.

There’s also a full bar in an island that looks like an instant classic. Chase’s seems to have successfully transitioned to its new space. The blog wishes them well. It’s a good option for downtown La Verne.

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Restaurant of the Week: Silk Road Garden

Silk Road Garden, 1965 Foothill Blvd. (at Emerald), La Verne; open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 11 p.m. daily except closed Tuesday; also at 18920 Gale Ave., Rowland Heights

Silk Road is the latest Chinese restaurant to take on this shopping center space (most recently held by Far East Gourmet). But Silk Road isn’t your typical Chinese restaurant. Its specialty is the food of northern and western China. You’ll find lamb, but no pork, for instance. An employee described the style as Turkish-Chinese.

A foodie friend had recommended the place, and then the Bulletin’s reviewer also said good things. I had lunch there on a weekend last month with a friend. It was quiet, although another group entered mid-meal.

The dining room is small and nicely appointed. The menu has a stirring motto.

The menu had so many unfamiliar, but intriguing, items that we took a while looking it over and making our choices. The server walked us through it and answered our questions. We got stir-fried broccoli ($9), noodles with lamb and mixed vegetables ($13) and the meat and vegetable pastry ($17).

We liked all three, with the handmade noodles being a particular favorite. “The noodles were really great,” said my friend, who will enjoy being quoted.

The pastry, a plate-filling meat pie, was also good. The broccoli was broccoli, with plenty of garlic, and we felt virtuous eating it.

This was more than enough food for two and we each took home leftovers. Which was good, because the prices were a bit high for Chinese food. We liked the place, though.

If you’re interested in Chinese food beyond sweet and sour pork, consider a journey to Silk Road. See what I did there?

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Restaurant of the Week: El Patron II, La Verne

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El Patron II, 1524 Foothill Blvd. (at Wheeler), La Verne; open daily except Monday

A reader told me a year ago to try out El Patron II. This led me to find El Patron (I) in Rancho Cucamonga, which is a couple of miles from our office and has become a favorite. Once I arranged to meet a friend at El Patron II for lunch and, of all the luck, we picked the day it’s closed.

But on a night last month, craving Mexican food, I remembered El Patron II and went there for dinner.

It’s a storefront in the Vons center. Like RC, it’s sitdown, although they were doing a lot of takeout, and the menu looked about the same. I’d describe the food as homestyle Mexican cooking: nothing fancy, but good versions of the staples, with an emphasis more on plates than on simply a la carte items, although they have those too. And they fresh-fry their hard tacos, which are worth trying.

I got the chile verde plate ($10), which I hadn’t had before. What came were impressive hunk of tender pork in a slightly spicy green sauce, with rice, refried beans  and corn (or flour) tortillas. Delicious, and I took some home. And yes, there were complimentary fresh chips and salsa.

Another thing similar to RC: the exceedingly attentive and helpful service. It must be a thing they emphasize, and it’s appreciated. They don’t rush you, they check on you a few times and when I asked for a to-go box, the server also refilled my iced tea.

It’s nice to have an El Patron not far from where I live and another one not far from where I work. You may not be so lucky.

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Restaurant of the Week: Pizza ‘N Stuff

Pizza ‘N Stuff, 1532 Foothill Blvd. (at Wheeler), La Verne; open daily

I was meeting a friend for lunch at the Vons center a few weeks ago, with a Mexican restaurant our destination. But then it turned out to be closed that day. So we went next door to Pizza ‘N Stuff instead.

I’d been there a couple of times, but it had been a few years, and might even have been before this blog started. In other words, having a chance to write about Pizza ‘N Stuff was a good fallback.

It’s been in business since 1977 — 40 years! — and under the same owners since 1982 — 35 years! Congratulations to them. Their menu has pizza, hot and cold sandwiches, salads and an array of pasta dishes. Don’t confuse them with Claremont’s similarly named Pizza n’ Such, although it’s easy to do.

That lunch, I got a mini pizza with one topping (anchovies) and salad ($8.35). The pizza was cheesy, not bad, but not distinctive. My friend had an Italian beef sandwich ($6.35) plus a side salad ($4). He said the salad was “overdressed and overcheesed,” but he did like the sandwich, even if he’s had better.

I felt like going back to try the pasta and made a point of going in for dinner one evening. I got the linguini with white clam sauce, a la carte with garlic bread ($12.75); as a dinner ($14.65) you would get soup or salad plus a dish of ice cream, but that was more than I wanted. The dish was generous with the clams and tasty.

The seating is interesting. There are tables and booths that get a lot of natural light from the windows, but then there’s a warren of high-backed wooden booths that are fairly intimate, with dimmer lighting. Service was friendly on both visits, and the man at the cash register, probably one of the owners, had a nice touch with everyone, newcomers and longtime customers alike.

While I can’t say I was wowed by Pizza ‘N Stuff, it’s low-key and family-owned, I liked it well enough, and they’re obviously doing something right.

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Restaurant of the Week: Nancy’s Pizza

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Nancy’s Pizza, 2855 Foothill Blvd. (at Falcon), La Verne

As a native of Illinois, although not of Chicago, I’ve had Chicago-style deep dish pizza a few times in my life, mostly in the Midwest. Only a couple of times have I had it in California that I recall: once at a Pizzeria (or maybe Numero) Uno outlet in San Francisco, and once three years ago in Placentia. It’s pretty rare out here.

But a few months ago, a Nancy’s opened in La Verne in the mixed-use La Verne Village center on Foothill that used to be the site of Person Ford. I’d never heard of Nancy’s, but they’re based in Chicago, and they claim to have invented the stuffed pizza in 1971.

Evidently, deep dish was invented in the ’40s or ’50s, and the stuffed pizza claimants are Nancy’s and Giordano’s, in the ’70s, the difference being “deeper topping density,” according to Wikipedia.

I delayed visiting in part because I wasn’t sure Nancy’s was legit, and also because going out solo for deep dish pizza is an undertaking, like scaling Everest.

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Finally I dropped in for lunch on a recent weekend. There’s a visit to Chicago in my near future and I had to get in shape. Unless you’re ordering to go, you take a seat.

The menu has salads, sandwiches, pasta, cannoli and pizza in several varieties, including thin crust and pan pizza.

The waitress explained that the stuffed pizza — the one described as 2 1/2 inches tall — is the traditional Chicago style with the toppings inside. (More to the point, as I read later, under the top layer of sauce it’s got a thin layer of crust, besides the bottom layer, which is why it’s described as stuffed.) So I got one of those, a small Rocco’s party pizza, with sausage, mushrooms, onions and green peppers ($23).

It arrived after about 20 minutes, fairly speedy for pizza this thick.

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If you haven’t had Chicago-style pizza before, you might think, $23 for a small? But take a look at the photo, with the parmesan dispenser included for perspective. The pizza is almost as tall as the dispenser.

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I was hungry and could eat only two slices. The rest was taken home and consumed over two meals. This was pretty good pizza, perhaps not as good as Tony’s in Placentia but with the crisp, buttery crust and high edges that fans love. I would go back.

Update July 2016: And I have. Having run out of time to get an Italian beef sandwich in Chicago, I got one in La Verne. Oh, that garlic bread. This was an excellent sandwich. Also tried the meatball sub, another winner.

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Restaurant of the Week: Corner Butcher Shop

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Corner Butcher Shop, 2359 Foothill Blvd. (at Fruit), La Verne

It was January 2008 that a standalone butcher opened in a shopping center in La Verne, and while brothers John and Will Feuling’s business may have seemed a bold and even risky proposition to some of us, Corner Butcher Shop has thrived despite opening amid the recession.

I don’t cook, as must be sadly obvious from these weekly posts, but besides selling meat to take home to grill, fry or broil, they serve food in-house: sandwiches, steak and barbecue. Over the years I’ve had hot dogs and burgers, and at one point, after they added barbecue, I had ribs that in my memory were okay but nothing special.

I returned recently for lunch and learned they’d just celebrated eight years in business, and good for them. I eyed the menu and got the brisket as a plate, with two sides and a piece of cornbread ($13), plus a bottled soda, then took a seat at one of the heavy oak communal tables.

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What arrived was a plate with a heap of brisket, tender and delicious. I can’t say it’s the best brisket I’ve had, but then, I’ve been to Franklin in Austin and Pappy’s in St. Louis, two of the best brisket makers in the country. But this was the best brisket I’ve had locally, which is still impressive. The slightly spicy pasta salad and the cole slaw were both fine versions as well. I would definitely order this again.

Corner Butcher sells grass-fed beef, makes its own sausages, buys only hormone- and additive-free meat and sells Shelton’s turkeys, so they set a high standard for themselves. They also sell craft beer (Dale Brothers, Claremont Craft Ales) and wine, and they cater. Sandwiches and entrees range from $6 to $18. The steak dinners are $40, and while I probably won’t be spending that kind of money anytime soon, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn they’re worth every penny.

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Restaurant of the Week: Wahfles

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Wahfles, 1502 Foothill Blvd. (at Wheeler), La Verne; also 5751 N. Pine Ave. (at Butterfield), Chino Hills

My colleague Pete Marshall alerted me to the existence of Wahfles, a dessert and coffee house in La Verne, which opened in February. It turns out the original opened a year ago in Chino Hills. It’s a mom-and-pop. One recent morning I ventured to the La Verne location, which is in the Vons center, for breakfast.

Well, it’s not really a breakfast spot. (It’s no Waffle House.) They have some lunch waffle sandwiches and dessert waffles. Other than a coffee bar, the only thing that works for breakfast is one waffle. I had that: the Breakfast Sammy ($4.45), with ham, Swiss, fried egg, mayo and honey mustard. It was cut in half and could be eaten like a sandwich. And was. Very good.

I liked the vibe of the place: dark wood tables, rugs, some leather chairs, a sofa, a coffee table, magazines to read and locally produced art on the walls. So I returned one afternoon for a dessert waffle, the kind that make up the rest of the menu.

Mine had speculoos (described as “cookie butter” — what’s not to like?), bananas, ice cream, whipped cream and cinnamon sugar ($4.45 for a half, $5.95 for a full; I got the half). Delicious. Rather than get a fancy beverage, I cheaped out with a free water from a dispenser on the counter.

Wahfles (there’s an umlaut over the “a,” incidentally) is a neat addition to the area. Their website has a menu.

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