instagram

Sunday, July 25, 2004

Rate-A-Restaurant, #46 and #47 in a series

Restaurant: Senor Fish

Location: 4803 Eagle Rock Blvd. (Eagle Rock); also in downtown; Alhambra; and South Pasadena

Type of restaurant: Mexican

They stipulated: Apparently, that you dismiss their actual hours of operation and call ahead to make sure they're open. We got there 20 minutes before their 9 p.m. close... but they had already shut down their kitchen.

What we ordered: Nothing. Couldn't. Would have had an Ensenada-style fish taco, or perhaps a shrimp burrito.

High point: The woman at the counter felt bad for us, and showed some humor as she admitted that the Senor Fish restaurants don't always observe their own hours of operation. "You could come here tomorrow for breakfast," she said. "What time do you open?" I asked. "8... which means you should probably get here at 10:30." Comedy!

Low point: We came hungry, and left hungry.

Overall impression: We've been to the downtown location once or twice, and the tacos are excellent. But this is now that second time that we've tried to eat at the Eagle Rock location (not too far from our new house) and have been turned away -- despite the fact that they should have still been open.

Chance we will go back: We're already at strike two. I'm loathe to try a third time. But we probably will, anyway.

But, in the meantime, since we were still hungry, it was time to visit a Glendale landmark. Yeah, I know you can find it in Hollywood and Pasadena, but it's the Glendale location of Zankou Chicken that Beck made famous in the classic Prince-ish tune "Debra."




Restaurant: Zankou Chicken

Location: 1415 E. Colorado Blvd. (Glendale); locations also in Hollywood, Van Nuys, Anaheim and Pasadena

Type of restaurant: Shawerma/Chicken/Tarna/Falafel

They stipulated: You gotta pay with cash. Credit cards not accepted here. Luckily, Zankou is a bargain -- so you won't have to dig deep for change.

What we ordered: Half chicken plate (served with two pitas, hummus, tomatoes, pickled beets and Zankou's famous garlic sauce) -- $6.98; and a falafel sandwich (topped with lettuce, tomatoes and sesame sauce, wrapped in pita bread) -- $3.60

High point: Mmm... Zankou chicken. So moist. Don't know how they do it, but this is juiciest chicken you'll find anywhere. I guarantee. Mixed with Zankou's amazing garlic sauce, or with the hummus, it's truly amazing. The portions are extremely generous -- in particular, the half-chicken could feed two people, with a tremendous amount of juicy white breast meat.

Low point: On the flip side, I've had better falafel. It was just all right, nothing compared to the chicken.

Overall impression: I met you at JC Penney
I think your nametag said "Jenny"
I coldstep to you with a fresh pack of gum
Somehow i knew you were lookin' for some
Like a fruit that's ripe for a pickin'
I wouldn't do you like that Zankou Chicken
'Cos only you've got a thing
That i just got to get with
I just got to get with you
And you know what we're gonna do

I wanna get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra

I pick you up late at night after work
I said "lady, step inside my Hyundai"
I'm gonna take you up to Glendale
Gonna take you for a real good meal


Chance we will go back: Without a doubt.

For a complete archive of our Rate-A-Restaurant reviews, check out our companion ratearestaurant.blogspot.com website.

No comments: