Monthly Archives: March 2011

Denny’s revels in Baconalia

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OK, bacon lovers…Denny’s has the “cure” for your cravings.

They’ve cooked up an entire menu just for you.

There’s bacon breakfasts, a triple-decker, eight-slice BLT, bacon meatloaf and a bacon sundae.

That’s right…a bacon sundae!

It’s maple flavored syrup with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of diced hickory-smoked bacon on top. Of course, that’s topped by another layer of syrup and vanilla ice cream topped with even more bacon and a drizzle of syrup.

Whew!

You could say Denny’s has gone “whole hog” on the bacon thing.
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Wok N’ Grill’s big Wednesday deal

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I’ve written about what is probably the best deal on Chinese food on Tuesday, with Magic Wok’s $2 single-entre bowl deal.

But what do you do the rest of the week?

Recently-opened Wok N’ Grill, 905 N. Waterman Ave., San Bernardino, has your answer on Wednesdays, at least.

They’re offering the same deal as Magic Wok, only a penny cheaper — a single-entre bowl is $1.99 on Wednesdays.

While not quite the spectacle that Magic Wok was, a short line queued up the entire time I was there last night.
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Hangar 24 adds distribution center

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We received a press release from the City of Redlands today announcing the expansion of Hangar 24 Craft Brewery.

While keeping its beer-making operations at 1710 Sessums Drive, it’s adding a 22,000-square-foot distribution center at 1939 W. Park Ave.

The center will include the brewery’s administrative offices as well as a 4,000-square-foot “cold room.” They had been shipping barrels to a Colton warehouse for distribution.

The brewery’s business has been growing by leaps and bounds, going from sales of 1,100 barrels in 2008 to more than 10,000 barrels last year.

The new center will help them toward their goal of being able to distribute to all of Southern California and eventually expanding to the rest of the West Coast.

In other Hangar 24 news, they’ve begun bottling of 22-ounce beers. The larger-size bottles of its Columbus IPA will be ready for sale in the tasting room at 11 a.m. April 9th and in stores beginning April 11th.

Roundup of recent closures

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Even as there are new restaurants popping up here and there, closings also seem to be happening fairly regularly.

In downtown San Bernardino, long-time (since 1953) establishment Nena’s Mexican Restaurant (their website is still up), 642 N. D St., has ceased operations.

The restaurant, which was sold by Nena herself a few years ago, had recently only been open at lunchtime and for special events.

At one time, the eatery was home to many a county employee birthday lunch. We used to do the same for Sun staffers, too, when we were still located downtown.

I can think of only three other sit-down restaurants downtown — Molly’s Cafe, Yum Yum, and Mardi Gras — when once there were many.

Speaking of Sun staffers, former Sun staffer Julie Farren wondered about a frequent haunt, Casa Sanchez, at 265 W. Highland Ave., in San Bernardino.

The restaurant closed abruptly and already has a real estate advertising banner stretched across it.

Signs advertising restaurant specials still hang in the window, but nothing to indicate why they closed.

So, if your dream is to own an old-school IHOP restaurant, now’s your chance!
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Little Debbie bringing smiles to the Inland Empire

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The Little Debbie Million Smile Mission has reached the Inland Empire.

And boy, can we use them!

The Smile Missionaries have been tooling around the country in an Airstream trailer, connecting with Little Debbie fans, taking pictures of smiles to add to their mosaic and doling out free Little Debbie snack cakes.

We love free!

Oh…and you can win prizes, including Kodak cameras, printers, photo frames, Kodak Gallery gift cards and Little Debbie gift boxes. You could even win the grand prize — your very own 16-foot Airstream Sport trailer!

Where can you find the Little Debbie Smile Mission? Follow the jump to find out.
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Alberto’s vs. ex-Alberto’s in San Bernardino

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An interesting little Mexican food war has begun on South E Street in San Bernardino.

A former KFC restaurant at 477 S. E St. was converted years back into an Alberto’s Mexican Food. It lasted for a while and then was replaced by an Alanberto’s Fresh Mex.

And hey…since we’re on the subject…what’s up with the names of all these former Alberto’s? Albaro’s…Adalberto’s…Alanberto’s…Albertaco’s…Alvaro’s…Albiero’s…Rigoberto’s…Ramberto’s? Do sign companies charge by the letter? Seriously…can’t we come up with something a little more creative?

Sigh.

Meanwhile a former Tacos Mexico directly across the street (480 S. E St.) has recently been transformed into…you guessed it…Alberto’s Mexican Food. They’ve got a Grand Opening banner hanging out front — facing the former Alberto’s.

I’m curious to see how this will all pan out.

Perhaps the Alberto’s will eventually become a Rigoberto’s. Hmm.

The Mira Loma Five Guys is open!

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Courtesy of this tweet, we learned that the Mira Loma Five Guys Burgers and Fries, at 6285 Pats Ranch Road, Suite A, opened today!

As with the recently-opened Rancho Cucamonga location, the Mira Loma location will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Besides the Rancho Cucamonga location, the Mira Loma store joins the current I.E. locations in Temecula and La Quinta.

Future Inland Empire locations include: San Bernardino, Redlands, Moreno Valley and Corona.

Click here to read Andrew Edwards’ story on the chain’s expansion into the Inland Empire.

Chino Hills getting two new eateries

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The Shoppes at Chino Hills will be gaining both an Irish pub and a coffee house/ice cream shop in the coming months.

Currently located at Hollywood and Vine, Dillon’s Irish Pub & Grill will be expanding into the Inland Empire this fall. Dillon’s will set up shop in an 8,000-square-foot space near H & M. Dillon’s claim to fame is comfort food and a wide variety of draft beers at affordable prices.

The Hollywood location offers $3 draft beer pints. Not too shabby.

Hmm…suddenly, I’m craving a black and tan.

Dripp, a new coffee boutique, is preparing to open this summer at 13855 City Center Drive, Suite 3015, across from California Pizza Kitchen. The Chino Hills Dripp is the first of what owner Rabih Sater hopes to be a chain of coffee shops.

Utilizing a unique Japanese slow drip technique, Dripp will hand-brew one cup of coffee at a time, to order, using specialty-roasted, ground daily coffees and espressos from around the world. Dripp will also offer a variety of ice cream flavors and freshly baked cookies which can be combined for made-to-order ice cream sandwiches.

Your contributions to Japan relief efforts doubled at Panda Express, Panda Inn

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Panda Restaurant Group, Inc., which operates both Panda Inn and Panda Express here in the Inland Empire, is among the many restaurant chains (and local restaurants) donating to the relief effort in Japan.

Through the end of March, Panda Express, Panda Inn, and the non-I.E. Hibachi-San restaurant locations across the country will have in-store drop-boxes allowing guests to make contributions of any amount.

All guest-donated proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross.

Also, contributions by the company’s 18,000 employees will be donated to the compassion relief organization, Tzu Chi Foundation, which is currently providing two hot meals per day in Oarai Town to the thousands of displaced people living in shelters.

The best part? Panda will match 100% of the proceeds collected at Panda Express, Panda Inn, Hibachi-San locations and by associates nationwide.

Panda Express locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire. You’ll find Panda Inn at 3223 E. Centrelake Drive in Ontario.

More Freedom Courtyard fundraisers scheduled

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The latest in a series of restaurant fundraisers for Rancho Cucamonga’s Freedom Courtyard project are happening Sunday (March 27), March 31 and April 4.

  • Sunday’s fundraiser is from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Antonino’s Italian Restaurant and Bar, 7945 N. Vineyard Ave., Suite D-7. The restaurant will donate 20% of your tab when you present this flier. Antonino’s will support the fundraiser whether you dine in or take out.
  • The fundraiser on Thursday, March 31, will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Applebee’s, 10709 Foothill Blvd. The restaurant will donate 15% of your check when you present this flier.
  • The third fundraiser will be Monday, April 4, at Wahoo’s Fish Taco, 11561 Foothill Blvd. Wahoo’s will donate 20% of your total bill when you give them this flier.

The project is planned for the city’s Central Park. To learn more about it, click here.