Iron Hog reopens

An email dropped in our inbox this week here at The Sun.

The “historical” (sic) Iron Hog Restaurant and Saloon has re-opened.

The structure was built in 1931 on Route 66 in Oro Grande.

It was featured in the movies Easy Rider, Poker Run and Erin Brockovitch.

Over the past 70-plus years, it has been (among other things), a biker bar, a strip club and a farm equipment sales office.

Now they’re serving up steaks and barbecue dinners. They have a vintage ladder fire truck and other memorabilia on display.

I’ve been past the building several times over the years and never really given it a second thought. It’s kind of off the beaten path, though it might make an interesting side trip on the way to Vegas.

Follow the jump to see how far off the beaten path they are.
Continue reading “Iron Hog reopens” »

Kobari Beef giveaway at Panda Express

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Calling all Panda Express devotees!

Today, you’ll be able to get a single serving of their new Kobari Beef free with a coupon.

According to the chain, “Kobari Beef is thin slices of marinated beef with fresh, wok-seared peppers, mushrooms and leeks, all wok-tossed in our sweet, smoky, spicy Kobari sauce.”

The dish is said to be inspired by Korean BBQ flavors. Get it? KOrean BARbecue?

The usual restrictions apply…one coupon per person, not valid with any other offers or discounts, participating locations only, etc.

Click here to get your coupon.

Panda Express can be found throughout the Inland Empire.

World’s Largest Ice Cream Social is Thursday night

September is Make-A-Wish month, and the folks at Cold Stone Creamery are helping out by giving away ice cream during their 9th annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Social, which takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday (September 30).

This year’s Make-A-Wish Creation was designed by 11-year-old Kate. Kate’s Creation is Caramel Apple Ice Cream mixed with chocolate shavings, graham cracker pie crust and apple pie filling.

Find out more about Kate’s wish here.

Visitors to Cold Stone during the event will receive a 3-ounce portion of Kate’s Creation for free. Guests are encouraged to make a donation to Make-A-Wish.

Throughout the month, Cold Stone has been raising funds for Make-A-Wish by selling paper stars for $1.

An estimated 85 percent of all donations collected by Cold Stone this month will benefit the wish-granting organization.

So, show up, get some free ice cream and help make some kids’ wishes come true!

Cold Stone Creameries can be found throughout the Inland Empire.

The price of nostalgia? $4.75

The Los Angeles County Fair is winding down, but there’s one more thing I’d like to mention before they close.

Some of you may be old enough to remember the Gingerbread House in the Inland Center, which was in what is now the Macy’s wing, I’m guessing about where the Regis Salons is today.

I have vague memories of it. I’m sure I must’ve had a gingerbread cookie or two from there. I do remember that they had a little patio-like area where you could sit and eat your gingerbread.

And apparently, before that, they sold gingerbread at Santa’s Village.

Well, now you’ll find them at the county fairs.
Continue reading “The price of nostalgia? $4.75” »

Kids eat free on Family Day

Happy California Family Day!

Family Day was begun in 2001 by the National Center on Addiction Substance Abuse at Columbia University

They based it on their research that found that the more often kids eat with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or abuse drugs.

National Family Day was celebrated yesterday, but here in California, we’re so laid-back, we celebrate it a day later.

As California’s First Lady Maria Shriver (and honorary chair of California’s Family Day puts it: “Family Day is a great reminder for all of us to simply eat a meal with our loved ones.”

Indeed.

The California Restaurant Association has also joined in the celebration.

Nearly 750 restaurants across the state have signed on to participate in the event, which includes free meals for children with the purchase of an adult entre from 4 to 8 p.m. today (September 28).

Among the participating restaurants are all California locations of El Pollo Loco, Rubio’s, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s and Ruby’s Diner. Other participating Inland Empire restaurants are Togo’s in Palm Desert and Billy Reed’s in Palm Springs.

For more information, and to find a participating restaurant, click here.

GameWorks debuts its new menu

Dine 909 was among a group of people invited to a dual celebration at the Ontario GameWorks recently.

One celebration was of their partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire.

The other — the topic of this post — was the debut of their new menu created by Executive Chef David Sonzogni.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that, when I think of eating at Ontario Mills, GameWorks is not first on my list. In fact, it might not have even been on my list.

The new menu might just change all that.

While not everything I tasted was a winner, there were many items on the new menu that I enjoyed.

Follow the jump to find out how the new items fared.
Continue reading “GameWorks debuts its new menu” »

Claim Jumper celebrates its anniversary with 77 desserts

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Ah, but as their anniversary is one day only, so is this deal.

So, today (September 27) only, you can order any dessert (up to a $9.95 value) for only 77 pennies.

Why 77? Claim Jumper was founded in 19…you guessed it…77. They’re celebrating 33 years of serving up humongous portions.

The details: Limit one offer per table, per visit, per check. The offer can’t be combined with any other offer.

My favorite? The chocolate chip calzone, but there are others who swear by the ginormous Chocolate Motherlode cake. Which one will you pick?

For more information, click this tweet.

Inland Empire Claim Jumper restaurants can be found in Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Corona and Temecula.

Rialto soon to get In-N-Out?

So, we’ve been chronicling the saga of the Highland In-N-Out.

Well, Rialto has its own little Double-Double drama playing out at Riverside Avenue and the 210 Freeway.

The city council voted last week to move forward on plans to bring the burger purveyor to the site of the former Fire Station 202.

There’s still a little bit of work to be done on the site — including moving two cell towers — but officials are hoping to have the restaurant open in the middle of next year.

Click here to read Josh Dulaney’s story on the quest.

Get ready for Chino Valley Restaurant Week

The Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce has designated next week (September 26 to October 2) Chino Valley Restaurant Week.

Several restaurants in Chino and Chino Hills will be offering special discounts all week.

Here are just a few examples:

  • Riverside Grill: First Champagne, Mimosa, or Chamberry during breakfast is $1. First Hangar 24 Orange Wheat during lunch or dinner is $2.
  • Swasdee Thai Cuisine: Get $5 off a $25 food purchase.
  • Felipe’s Mexican Grill: Get 20% off your bill.
  • Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Before 10 a.m., get a free classic breakfast sandwich with the purchase of a smoothie. Buy any wrap, sandwich or salad and get a low-fat smoothie for $2.
  • Papachino’s Grill & Greens: Complete meal daily special is $6.95. Spend $20 or more and be entered into a drawing for $250 in catering or gift cards valued from $10 to $100.
  • Owen’s Bistro: $15.95 three-course Italian dinner offered Tuesday through Saturday.
  • Cannataro’s: Mention “restaurant week” to get a free appetizer with the purchase of an entre.
  • Honolulu Harry’s: Four lunch plates offered at $6.99. $2 off two signature dinner plates.
  • Shima: Get two teppanyaki/shabu shabu entres and an appetizer for $20 (lunch) or $30 (dinner).

Other participating restaurants include City Broiler, Larios’ Meat Market and Sandra’s Mexican Grill.

Participating restaurants will have a “Restaurant Week” logo in their window.

Not like you need an excuse to support local restaurants, but this is a good one!

For more information, follow this link.

Grab your lederhosen and head to Hangar 24 on Saturday!

Achtung, meine Damen and Herren: This year, for the first time ever, Hangar 24 Craft Brewery is creating an Oktoberfest Lager.

To celebrate, they’re having a release party from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow (September 25) at the brewery, 1710 Sessums Drive in Redlands.

In keeping with the theme of the festivities, Mill Creek will be selling two types of barbecued bratwurst, as well as hot dogs and hamburgers, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Guests are encouraged to dress in Oktoberfest attire, so break out that dirndl and join the fun!

Click here for a preview of the seasonal brew.