February 2009 Archives

OK, this time it's Quiznos who's giving away free stuff.

They're giving away a million free subs for those who subscribe to their "Q-Club" mailing list, which you can opt-out of once you get your free sub.

The coupon you receive is good for any small Every Day Value or signature sub, and it's only good for five days after you print it.

They have already given away 678,687 subs as of the time of this posting (including one to yours truly), so get crackin'!

Click here to go directly to the sub giveaway page.

If there's one thing Dine 909 enjoys, it's a great bargain.

Usually on Friday, we get a lunch review from Elaine Lehman and a dinner review from either Allan Borgen or David Cohen.

From the Redlands Daily Facts, we learn that this week the Royal Falconer pub in Redlands is celebrating their 10th anniversary, which was yesterday (February 25th).

Happy 10th anniversary!

They will be celebrating with select $4 pints from 6 p.m. 'til closing time through Saturday (February 28th). Those select pints would be:

• Thursday: Guinness
• Friday: Smithwicks
• Saturday: Hangar 24

In addition, they're offering fish & chips for $9.95.

Also, on Saturday, they'll be having their big bash from 9 p.m. to closing with a DJ and drink specials. They'll be giving free shirts to the first 50 people.

Yeah, like we need an excuse to drink Guinness!

Click here to read more.

Mmm...beer!

Farm Artisan Foods in Redlands will be having a beer and cigar dinner at 8 p.m. next Monday (March 2nd).

Each of the four dinner courses will be paired with eight beers (four from Redlands' Hangar 24 Brewery) and an optional cigar from Redlands' The Humidor.

Diners will be able to meet and talk to Ben Cook, brewmaster and owner of Hangar 24, and Tim Hughes, owner of The Humidor.

The event will be held on the Farm's newly refurbished patio.

Cost is $35 for the beer dinner, $55 with cigar pairings, and reservations are required for this space-limited event.

Call the Farm at (909) 792-1162 for reservations.

For more information, click here or visit the Farm's Web site and click "events."

To mark the Lewis Family Playhouse's bloody production of "Sweeney Todd," a number of Victoria Gardens restaurants will be serving bloody mary drinks to get everyone in the mood. Anytime bartenders celebrate an occasion by pouring hot sauce into a cocktail is noteworthy in my book. Here's a glimpse of what they're serving, as listed in VG Dine.

Wow, that Elaine Lehman sure gets around.

I mean, she works for the Daily Bulletin in Ontario, but she eats here and there and everywhere.

Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana...Yucaipa.

And San Bernardino.

This isn't her first visit to our fair city, and I'm sure it isn't her last.

This particular trip was to an old standby, The Little Dragon on Highland Avenue.

Apparently not wanting to be upstaged by Denny's and their free Grand Slam giveaway earlier this month,  International House of Pancakes is giving away free pancakes on Tuesday (February 24).

From 7 a.m. 'til 10 p.m., you can go to IHOP and get a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, just for the asking.

All they ask in return is that you consider donating money to support children's hospitals via Children's Miracle Network or a local charity.

Eat fluffy IHOP pancakes and help out a worthy cause at the same time? Sounds like an excellent deal to me!

More details here.

Thanks to my friend Janet, who tipped me off on this one...

As part of a settlement deal, Subway is offering up $2 gift cards for Californians.

The gift cards are limited to one per household and only 142,500 are being distributed.

Click here to register.

Of course, I registered before making this post. Good luck to the rest of you.

Let's add two more stores to the slowly growing list of completed Inland Empire fresh & easy stores that have yet to have an opening date set.

• 2015 N. Riverside Ave. in Rialto
• 22985 Cottonwood Ave. in Moreno Valley

These two join the previously-discussed Loma Linda store, which has been ready for about, oh, three months now.

So basically, these stores are now fresh & easy-sized advertisements for...fresh & easy.

Look to Dine 909 for updates. We'll keep you posted.

The quaint sushi spot at the Village Expansion in Claremont is marking its one-year anniversary on Saturday. All beer and house sake at Kazama will be 50 percent off.

Kazama is one of the better Japanese restaurants in the 909. The eatery, which used to be in Upland, is owned by the husband-and-wife duo Shushke and Jenny Kazama. On most days, Shushke Kazama, a Tokyo-trained sushi chef, runs the joint behind the bar. Kazama is located

101 North Indian Hill Blvd. near the Coffee Bean.

Information: (909) 450-2505

 

Arcadia Press will be holding a book signing from 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday (February 21) at the Graber Olive House, 315 E. Fourth St., Ontario.

Donald Laine Clucas, author of "Upland," and Kimberly J. Creighton, author of "Mt. Baldy," will be on hand to sign their books.

While you're there, you can explore the wonderful world of Graber Olives, which are the best olives I've ever tasted. They're plump and flavorful and just plain mmm!

And they've been a part of the Inland Empire since 1894.

Life is too short to settle for Olive Number 3.

For more information, call the Graber Olive House at (909) 983-1761.

Sometimes you have to suffer for your art.

In this case, the suffering is operating on very little sleep after having worked the late shift and then deciding to get up early (7 a.m. is early for me) to attend the grand opening of the Fontana Mimi's Cafe.

Was it worth it?

Having scored a $25 Mimi's gift card for my efforts, yes.

The restaurant was scheduled to open at 9 a.m., and I arrived about an hour before that. There were very few cars in the parking lot, so I figured I had a good chance at getting one of the 75 gift cards they were giving out.

Maui Wowi, the Hawaiian coffee and smoothie spot at Claremont's Packing House, has closed. For whatever reason, caffeine addicts in town have gravitated toward Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, which had every one of its chair occupied on this rainy Monday afternoon. I liked the Maui Wowi in Claremont, which was run by a nice family who remembered my order a week after my first visit. According to its Web site, their locations in Rancho Cucamonga and Phelan will be opening soon.

Canter's, even!

I didn't believe it either when I saw Josh Dulaney's Fontana Now blog post here.

Odd. Just odd.

OK, so I had a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for Ruby Tuesday, and it was expiring in a few days.

Now I had been there twice before. The first, on the day they opened, went OK, considering the circumstances.

The second, a couple of weeks later, didn't go as well. We had problems from the time we sat down to the time we left after getting our entire meal comped.

Since I had the coupon, I thought I'd give them one more chance. I decided not to get my hopes up, though.

I called a friend and had him meet me at the restaurant, which is on Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

For those who haven't been to Ruby Tuesday yet, the phrase that keeps coming to mind is "Upscale Coco's."

I mean that in a good way.

The Corner Butcher Shop on 2359 Foothill Blvd. in La Verne is serving up $1 sausage dogs today; no limits.

They also have a couple of Valentine's specials including a Porterhouse for two and a half-bottle of sparkling wine for $29.95; and a steak, lobster tail and chocolate dipped strawberries for $24.95. 

Information: (909) 596-6345

So as I was on my way to Ruby Tuesday for dinner the other night, I noticed that the Wendy's on Tippecanoe Avenue had shut down.

That makes the fourth Wendy's that I can recall that has opened and closed in San Bernardino.

There used to be two Wendy's (Wendy'ses?) on Highland Avenue back in the '80s. The one on West Highland Avenue is now Michael's Burgers. The other on East Highland Avenue is Union Bank of California.

Around that same time, there was also one on E Street. It's now a Juan Pollo.

I'm not at all shocked about the one on Tippecanoe closing. It was in a terrible location.

...and Friday always brings new reviews.

Well, that, and the obvious.

This week, we've got David Cohen's review of AK Lotus Garden on Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

Don't know where the "AK" came from, but Lotus Garden is a longtime mainstay on Hospitality Lane. I haven't been for years, but from what I remember, it was pretty good.

Cohen agrees...he gave it four stars.

However, I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd consider $25-35 per person "relatively economical." For that price, and a sampling of 10 dishes, I'm sure you're going to be carrying home lots of those cardboard take-home cartons though.

My last visit to Lotus Garden was with a vegetarian friend, and he ordered all faux meat dishes for us. They were very delicious and if nobody told you they weren't meat, you probably wouldn't guess.

Read David's review here.

Out in Fontana, Elaine Lehman reviews Dickey's Barbecue Pit, on Sierra Lakes Parkway (just down from the brand-spankin'-new Mimi's Cafe...more on that later).

Mimi's Cafe at 16933 Sierra Lakes Parkway (just north of the 210 at Sierra Avenue) is finally opening!

They're celebrating with a "Meet Me at Mimi's" party beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 12).

What's a party without gifts?

In this case, that means more than $3,000 in gift cards given out to the first 75 adult (18+) guests in line. Also, they'll be handing out valuable coupons throughout the day.

Of course, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the usual dignitaries...Tim Pulido (the president of Mimi's Cafe), folks from the Fontana Chamber of Commerce, etc., but really...free Mimi's gift cards!

I didn't think I needed to say it twice.

"I just wanted to call and say, 'Thank you,'" John Hassan said, then paused for dramatic effect, "for ruining my business!"

You might have read my article about Hassan, the owner of The Mirage, and his enemy Kal Halik, owner of Aladdin Jr. The dueling proprietors of Mediterranean food were also mentioned on this blog last week.

Apparently, Hassan is furious that I quoted Halik saying not-so-nice things. Hassan believes my article has single handedly runined his business.

It's hard to say which of these neighboring restaurants in Pomona is better. They have nearly identical menus. But since I've gone and runined a business, I'll try to make it up by informing readers that The Mirage has an A rating by food inspectors, which is more than I can say for Aladdin Jr.

What's funny is that Halik used to be a food inspector and yet he still managed to get a B rating. He insists the B came from inexperienced inspectors.

"It doesn't matter," Halik said. "Business improved after we got the B anyways."

Why do you taunt me so?

Why do you continue to advertise your "pizza, pasta, salad and dessert all for under $5"?

Why?

When the nearest CiCi's Pizza location is in Las Vegas?

And the total number of California locations is zero?

I've been hearing your ads for, what, like two years now. You've whetted my appetite. I really would like to give you guys a try.

It's just that I'm not willing to drive all the way to Vegas to do so.

The Starbucks on Vineyard near the Ontario Airport is offering a free 8 ounce coffee on Friday for anybody who stops by wearing all black from 6 to 8 p.m. This Friday is special because it falls on the 13th.

This spot near Holt has become a traveling hub since it opened earlier this year. On a recent visit, I found a young man with a rodeo shirt on his cell phone speaking in a thick Southern drawl. An elderly couple poured over a USA Today and conversed about how great it is to enjoy their drinks while they wait (for an incoming flight to arrive?) without paying for airport parking.

It seems that Starbucks should be able to afford a better special than this. Who really drinks coffee after 6 p.m.? But if you're in the area for an after-dinner beverage, encourage a posse of friends to don black and get as many cups o' freebies as you can. That way, you won't feel bad spending $4 on a macchiato later.

I'm on their list.

They send me emails.

They leave me voice mail messages.

Rockin' Baja has tracked me down.

However, they bring good news! This year is their 25th anniversary, and they've got a deal for you.

Friday's Sun/Daily Bulletin restaurant review is of Kin Noki Fusion Pot Restaurant in Chino.

Critic Allan Borgen informs us that in this Japanese-, Chinese- and Korean-influenced restaurant, you choose your broth, then your meat (or veggies) and you get the privilege of cooking the meat (or veggies) in the broth.

Great.

Just what I need, a restaurant where I have to cook my meal too!

Actually, I have done this. A friend once paid for us to go to the Melting Pot in Rancho Cucamonga. It was not a great experience on several counts.

I've always thought of Domino's Pizza as being near the bottom of the pizza totem pole, just above Little Caesars. but I'm sure they have their fans.

It's for those people that I offer the following information.

From 10 a.m. to noon on February 24th, Domino's Pizza (three stores in the West Valley, at least) will be giving away free samples of their new American Legends pizzas.

The three stores involved in the giveaway are:

• 366 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont
• 9885 Central Avenue, Montclair
• 1650 E. 4th Street, Ontario

Their American Legends pizzas are six regionally-inspired specialty pies named for different locales around the country.

From Daily Bulletin reporter/fledgling Dine 909 contributor Wendy Leung comes the tale of Pomona's "kebab war."

In a nutshell, John Hassan, owner of Mediterranean restaurant Aladdin Jr. for six years, sold that business in 2004 to twin brothers Kal and Wally Halik.

Later on, the brothers went on to open Casablanca Bar and Grill in Claremont's Packing House. Hassan responded by opening a virtual clone of Aladdin Jr., The Mirage, four doors down from his former restaurant.

Hassan claims that he and the Haliks had an agreement that Aladdin Jr. would be a hookah bar, while The Mirage would serve food. Kal Halik disagrees. He believes Hassan was jealous of the brothers' Packing House restaurant and opened The Mirage nearby to spite them.

Thankfully, the rivalry has simmered peacefully for two years.

Really, falafel and hummus are not worth fighting over.

Interested in making your own comparisons? Aladdin Jr. is at 3161 N. Garey Ave., while The Mirage is at 3171 N. Garey Ave., in Pomona.

Click here to read the whole sordid tale.

Businesses are trying lots of new tricks to entice customers into their establishments these days.

Um, free breakfast anyone?

Dine 909 fave fresh & easy has come up with a simple way to increase sales...cheap produce!

Good food. Cheap prices. It sounds painfully obvious, but apparently it's working.

They're reporting that their produce sales have increased 11 percent since their 98-cent Produce Packs were introduced in January.

The goal is to offer six different fruits and vegetables for that low price, depending on seasonal availability. Currently, they're offering grape tomatoes, yellow onions, green bell peppers, pears, lemons and oranges.

Did they or didn't they?

Turns out they probably didn't.

Kids at McKinley Elementary School in Redlands sold recalled peanut butter cookie dough from Santa Clara-based Dough-To-Go, but most likely it wasn't tainted with Salmonella.

Principal Tim Hoch attests to eating a lot of cookies made with the recalled dough with no ill effects.

Still, the school is playing nice with anyone who still has some of the dough. They are offering $5 refunds or an exchange for a tub of chocolate chip cookie dough.

Classy move, McKinley!

Redlands Daily Facts reporter Jesse B. Gill takes time away from his usual burrito beat to report on McKinley's cookie dough. Read his story here.

The 8-hour free Grand Slam offer had dozens of people lining up outside local Denny's from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

Daily Bulletin photojournalist Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino (no, I don't know how to pronounce her name either) detailed the scene in the West Valley, with her report on the stores in Rancho Cucamonga and Pomona.

You can read Mediha's story here.

She's also got pictures of the mad houses in Claremont and Rancho Cucamonga here.

In the East Valley, Redlands Daily Facts reporter Megan McClain (now, that one I can pronounce) visited the Denny's in on Alabama Street in Redlands and chatted with some of the 70 or so people in line there.

You can read Megan's article here.

According to this post in the Upland Now blog, Cherry On Top frozen yogurt in Upland is having a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Thursday (February 5).

Cherry On Top, housed in the former Winchell's Donuts building at 887 W. Foothill Blvd. (at San Antonio Avenue), is yet another of those self-serve frozen yogurt places where you pay by the ounce.

Surprisingly, all the ones I've been to are 39¢ per ounce.

Wanna really capture the burgeoning frozen yogurt market? Open a self-serve place at only 38¢ per ounce!

Seriously, though, Cherry On Top been open in Upland for 3½ months already and now they're having a ribbon-cutting? Um...OK.

I guess if it brings in business, more power to 'em.

Don't know if they're planning any deals after the ceremony, but if you're in the area, it might be worth checking out. It's in front of the center that includes fresh & easy and the delicious, I-can't-believe-it's-not-meat Veggie Era. (Why does everything have to be linked to fresh & easy?)

Their other Inland Empire location is in Riverside Plaza, and they're planning to open an outlet in Chino Hills.

In case you didn't happen to catch the Super Bowl ad and aren't planning to read USA Today today, from 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday (February 3rd) Denny's is "giving a free Grand Slam to everyone in America."