Panama City, Panama

A day ago I returned from a week in Panama for my cousin's wedding. I'd been there as a kid on a cruise, but we only crossed the Canal, and didn't stop to visit the city. So, it was exciting to be back for such a special occasion.

As a place that's consistently on many top travel lists, I had high expectations of Panama City as a tourist. I'd recently read that it was one of the happiest places as reported by their citizen's outlook on overall quality of life.

Aesthetically, it's awesome- I got to run along the water where you can be fooled into thinking you're in Miami by all the high rise buildings. On the other end, you're met with a gorgeous historic part of Panama known as Casco Viejo/Antiguo, which is old Panama and is currently undergoing restorations to its buldings, homes, and churches.

You can find almost any type of cuisine in Panama, and am not sure of any specific Panamian foods, but I was there to go with the flow of the wedding and didn't have leeway to explore that many restaurants. I never ate bad, in fact the food was pretty great, but I have to disclose the astonishingly bad customer service.

Panama hasn't ever really known unemployment- the Canal, some tourism, and it's locale as the hub of Central America makes it ideal for large company headquarters. As a result, employees are complacent. There's not much fear associated with getting fired, and no incentive to go out of your way for customers.

Examples of this sub par service are: hearing you request something at a restaurant or hotel and being utterly nonchalant about addressing your needs, often forgetting you even mentioned anything. You'll spend an eternity waiting for drinks, a server for your order, your food, and your bill. Bring patience to Panama and you'll definitely have an enjoyable trip.

At one restaurant, Beirut, I had an average lunch experience with my friend Brandon the first day I arrived. So I took my brother there a few days later as it was only a walk away from the hotel, and at one point I was in the middle of speaking my order to the waiter and he held his hand out to quiet me as he was getting a phone call he felt like answering. He proceeded to answer it and walked aside to chat, then came back with no apology! It was baffling! It's a Lebanese place and I will admit the salad and chicken schwarma I tried, plus the complimentary Arabic tea at the end of the meal, were all good but not worth the bad service. I did go back again though because I'm weird and wanted a baked potato and didn't know where else to get it :/

At the Hotel Bistrol, where we stayed, they had a good breakfast buffet with an omelette station, but definitely no gluten free options, not even oatmeal. One day I asked for rice and got charged $5 for one cup of steamed white rice haha. The lunch and dinner were really good though! Ceviche, burgers, soups, and an awesome ahi poke bowl left everyone happy.

Capital Bistro has an incredible view on the water, and the night we went we sat on the rooftop of the 3 (downward) story restaurant. Some had the filet mignon and loved it, and a few of us got fish entrees which albeit tiny, were excellent.

Another day, my uncle who had lived there for 2 years before, took us to La Puerta  which is super cute inside and here the service was relatively quick and without issues. We had shared spectacular tuna tartare, corvina en papillote (poached sea bass with vegetables), salad, and some all time best mojitos!

The last night we ate at Mostaza for my mom's birthday, in Casco Viejo, and their roasted garlic, asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, salad, pastas, and fish entrees were a hit. It's cozy and intimate and makes you feel like you're in "old Panama".

Finally, the very last day, after I missed my morning flight :) another cousin and I went to get sushi at Sake in the Tower of the Americas building. I found it on Trip Advisor and it was touted as the best sushi in the city and 22nd amongst 370somthing restaurants in Panama so we decided to check it out. There was obviously a business crowd but it wasn't packed and the waitress was nice. The salad I ordered was outstanding for a sushi place- so many vegetables and a light dressing. My favorite roll at most sushi restaurants is the rainbow roll- how can you not love avocado and a variety of sashimi on top?! They nailed it.

A related but random comment...The day before we left, we went to the mall. I know, why go to the mall in Panama of all places? But my great aunt has a shopping addiction and frankly it was a fun, weird escapade. I mention it because we went to Crepes and Waffles and it took me by surprise! Usually I'd rather starve or quickly flee than eat in a mall, but these fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, crepes, and salads made me remember this little franchise gem for the future.

So that's a wrap! I doubt I'll ever go back to Panama City again, however the trip as a whole was incredibly memorable. Family is the most important thing to me and spending this week under an umbrella of love with all of them was priceless.

LA Madness

There's really no great excuse for abandoning my food blog that I had such aspirations for. But the last few months were a total whirlwind and the most stressful period of my life thus far. I finally let go of triathlon and moved to Los Angeles in hopes of finding a job that would sponsor my visa long term.

However, long story short, it's been so exhausting to deal with visas my whole life with no clear way toward residency any time soon, that I'm going to move to Mexico- Cabo San Lucas- by end of 2014.

Personal life aside, I have had the pleasure of enjoying the awesome food in LA since I came to West Hollywood in December, and luckily still have a few more months to continue to share it with you! To get this blog rolling again, and not bombard it with many individual posts, I've created a short list of my favorite LA spots to date. What I value in a restaurant is that the food is fresh, consistent, and made from real ingredients that prepared skillfully "wow" you with their taste. I have plenty of pics of some of these on my Instagram: tativertiz.

Casual/Healthy:
Gratitude Cafe (Santa Monica and West Hollywood locations)- I've written about Gratitude before. This is vegan/vegeterian heaven! Amazing buckwheat pancakes and other cretive breakfast plates, awesome "bowls" full of superfoods, great gluten free pastries, awesome fresh juices and unique coffee blends/teas. Flavor explosion!

True Food Kitchen (not unique to LA, in Santa Monica)- I eat here at least once a week. You can see the whole kitchen, and fruit and produce are beautifully placed behind the bar giving it a market feel. Great juices/drinks, gluten free options for pizzas and burgers (buffalo, turkey, ahi, vegetarian quinoa), amazing salads, fresh and beautifully plated seafood and meat entrees. It won't break your wallet and you'll get better food than at most upscale restaurants.

Urth Caffe (many LA locations)- I love a coffee shop that has milk alternatives with robust coffee, delicious Chai,and is open from early morning to late at night offering a solid menu of very healthy breakfasts, and salads and sandwiches.

The Farm (Beverly Hills)- A cool Beverly Hills cafe experience. Pricier than your average breakfast or lunch spot, but you're right in the middle of all the glam shops, and the food is as farm to table as the name suggests.

Kreation Kafe (Venice & Santa Monica on Montana St)- Very cool, very LA/hipster/healthy, can be pricey, but they serve large portions of awesome food. Smoothie and juice options are endless.

Huckleberry (Santa Monica)- Brunch! Expect a super long line on weekends. They rotate their menu seasonally, so you can always find something you haven't tried. Their salads and sandwiches are great as are their (often vegan) soups-of-the-day. My favorite dish: quinoa with sunny side up eggs, butternut squash, and brussel sprouts...I know, I know :)

Hugo's Restaurant (West Hollywood)- you could spend an entire year eating your way through Hugo's Bible-length menu. They cater to the gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, and meat lover. It's a healthy hoom cooked, diner type of place. I'm obsessed with their gluten free, vegan tamales, corn cakes, and pumpkin pie.

Bludso's BBQ (West Hollywood)- Remember Franklin's in Austin? Well, I'm not sure I dare say Bludso's is better, but...my goodness those pork ribs!!! I no longer have anything food related to miss from Texas. I can walk to it from my apartment, and you can't believe the self control that takes. Their sauce is made from scratch and either mild or spicy. They have great beers on tap and wine, and their perfectly cooked side dishes make it clear this is high quality bbq (mac n cheese, collard greens, beans, etc).

Venice Ale House- This place is BOMB! The ideal spot for brunch or happy hour, in front of the beach, with a menu that is just sheer genius!! Kale at an ale house? Yup! Organic fish or chicken or grass fed beef tacos on handmade tortillas?! Omelettes with perfectly seasoned breakfast potatoes, and pancakes that taste like the weekend...yes please!

800 Degrees Pizza (Santa Monica & LA)- Neapolitan pizza is arguably the best pizza. What makes 800 degrees fantastic, besides their pledge to authenticity, is the cafeteria set up with a more upscale ambiance than your typical pizza stop. You order your custom or pre designed pizza, or salad, and by the time you get to the register your pizza has cooked in their imported 800 degree oven. They also have wine on tap which is pretty neat!

Clementine (near Century City)- Super cute tiny coffee shop with a fantastic breakfast and lunch, and prepared foods case. They change their menu often to keep it innovative and fresh, and have a delectable selection of cookies and pastries. I don't recommend the hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows unless you can physically and financially afford the addiction.

 Nicer:
The Misfit (Santa Monica)- Freakin' cool seemingly little spot right on Santa Monica Blvd. Once you walk in it's way bigger than it looks, and resembles an old English library. Awesome date spot, great happy hour drinks, incredibly flavored, healthy and elegant plates.

Oscar's Cerveteca (Venice)- Fish tacos!! This place is a must for Mexican food. Corn on the cob is delish! Young vibe and fun atmoshphere. Always packed.

Haru Sushi Cafe (Beverly Hills)- My absolute favorite sushi place in LA. Why? It's very simple: not overpriced, they have brown rice, they fry in healthy oil, their fish is ridiculously fresh, plenty of rolls, and the servers and sushi chefs are so nice it pains me.

Koi (Beverly Hills)- Pricey, but it has hype and backs it up. The retaurant itself is beautiful, with a nice patio in the back and elegant sushi bar inside. It's definitely worth at least one visit.

Sugarfish (many LA locations)- A sushi/Japanese dining experience few have had. This is authentic sushi. You won't find creative rolls with influences from other cuisines. It's a very simple and straightforward menu with set combinations or a la carte nigiris and hand rolls. The sushi literally melts in your mouth. You will be wow-ed.

Toscanova (Century City Mall)- Yes it's "in" the mall, and next to other good spots like Seasons 52 and The Counter Burger, but Toscanova is notches above. This italian/mediterranean restaurant is cozy and beautiful, with delicious wines and awesome happy hour eats. Everything I've tried there has been outstanding- their wild salmon with sauteed vegetables, roasted chicken with potatoes, tuna tartare, a huge salad of vegetables with buffalo mozzarella that is a meal by itself...and the dish that won me over: grilled octopus in a cabbage leaf with garlic and parsley seasoned potatoes. It is one of the best things I have ever eaten!

Taberna Arros (Santa Monica)- New Spanish/Tapas spot on 2nd. They have a few different sangrias- one with jalapeno and other peppers that is ridic! Their paella is amazing, particularly because it doesn't leave you with that fishy after taste that makes you not want to eat seafood in days. They have a ton of hot and cold tapas, fabulous service, and it's super cute and romantic.

Seasons 52 (Santa Monica & Century City...not unique to LA)- Even though it doesn't stand out in LA, I wanted to include Seasons 52 because it's a guaranteed healthy and fresh meal. Their menu is calorie conscious, without sacrificing taste or portion size. If you've been shopping all day or looking for somewhere to eat before or after a movie, it's perfect.

 The Ivy (Santa Monica and Beverly Hills)- Why skirt the obvious, it's overpriced. But they deliver food and an atmoshphere that the little hesitation you get when paying the bill quickly fades and you're back again the following week. Excellent crab cakes, salads, seafood, and steaks. You'll probably spot a celebrity or two;)

Connie & Ted's (West Hollywood)- Another pricey, but worth it, one. By the time their dinner service opens, valet really is the only parking option so there's that. Surprisingly there's not that many restaurants you can go to in LA to get a large selection of raw oysters and Connie & Ted's took advantage of that. The layout is very cool, with a large raw bar that is usually packed. Incredibly fresh seafood in the heart of West Hollywood, with a young professional crowd that is pretty unique for WeHo.

Santa Barbara on a Plate

Adama Vegan Cuisine

https://www.adamavegan.com

We stumbled upon this gem while working the Orbea expo for the Tour of California. One of the Orbea guys that joined us halfway in, Dan, was vegan. Being a lover of unique and healthy restaurants, I jumped at the idea of finding a place that would offer him such dishes. One quick “vegan Santa Barbara” google and it was clear Adama was the place to go as they pride themselves in being the only pure vegan place in the city.

There was no shortage of humor at the table when Chris ordered the “mock chicken” mole enchiladas…. “mock mock mock!” as he flapped his arms, had us with a few tears of laughter that I’m sure the waitress was stumped by. Anyway, the four of us (Dan, Heather, Chris, and I) shared a bottle of I forgot what red wine, and while Chris had his play on a Mexican dish, Dan and I both ordered the lasagna, and Heather I’m pretty sure got the Shpeherd’s Pie. I should’ve snatched a photo of the other dishes, but I was too busy devouring the (I kid you not!) best lasagna I’ve ever had, dairy or no dairy! It was a wonderfully rich blend of cashew cream in place of the cheese with a truly Italian marinara surrounding brown rice noodles, butternut squash, and sautéed veggies. So. Amazing.

As we were there right at closing hour, our dessert fix was a red velvet and coconut carrot muffin from their in house baked display case of everything from mini pies to cookies.

What I loved about their menu is that in relating to well known comfort food dishes through their entrée titles it eases the skeptic into giving vegan food a try.  The only downside to our evening at Adama was my knowing I wouldn’t taste their incredible breakfast the next day!

Pierre LaFond Wine Bistro

https://www.pierrelafond.com

Two weeks later, I was back in SB with my brother, Daniel. I couldn’t wait to walk up and down State Street with him, browse shops and restaurant menus, and make our selection for dinner. With all the incredible options, I can’t pin point exactly we chose Pierre LaFond, except that their menu stuck out to me with its decorated simplicity. Standard poultry, steak, and seafood selections were described in a way that you knew were treated with the finesse of a chef and laid out in front of you to please your taste buds in an unexpected manner.

 

Anytime I see cioppino on the menu- a tomato seafood stew classic to California- there’s little chance I’ll order something else. Plus, I especially love when a place adds their unique touch like making the cioppino with wild rice in this case. Usually you’ll get the option of pasta or solo with toasted bread. So I went with that for my entrée with the market vegetable plate as an appetizer.

Daniel had the flat iron steak with ratatouille and crispy polenta, and the kale salad to start.

He gave me a bite of his kale salad and it was heavenly. The kale and accompaniments (squash, sunflower seeds, mung beans, buckwheat, and red radish) weren’t drenched in dressing, but kissed enough by this sweet and savory sesame ginger vinaigrette that you just wanted more…and more.

We were both very pleased. The one thing I didn’t appreciate was the slightly overcooked salmon in the stew.

For dessert we headed to Rockin Yogurt which deserves a review of its own as this is no ordinary frozen yogurt shop!....

Rockin Yogurt

In California frozen yogurt is everywhere and it seems to have spread like a plague in other states as well. That’s great if you just want something fat free, cold, and sugary. However, if you really value how you spend your sugar calories, good luck finding the real deal that’s not some probiotic-enhanced powder or liquid churned to resemble actual yogurt.

Rockin is not a franchise, just a little shop on State Street by the movie theatre, that’s all about giving their customers quality. They use Strauss organic yogurt, with natural flavors, real sugar, and amazing fresh fruit and granola amongst their array of toppings.

The consistency of this frozen treat addicts you in one spoonful. And so, we returned the next day after our lunch hour swim.

Backyard Bowls

https://www.backyardbowls.com

Comparable to the fro-yo craze, Acai and its superfruit illusion to turn your body into that of a sexy Brazilian struttin down the beach, is quickly replacing boring smoothies and oatmeal with Acai enhanced ones and bowls full of the stuff topped with coconut, granola, and other fruits of your choice. Most places that offer acai products water them down too much. My 3 favorite places that don’t skimp on the stuff are Basik in Kona, the actual Sambazon Café in Cardiff, CA, and Backyard Bowls in Santa Barbara.

This cute hole-in-the-wall (literally) is right next to the famous Santa Barbara Roasters coffee shop, in front of the main parking lot where State Street commences. Their smoothie and bowl choices are endless- you could have a blast trying them all one visit at a time. They also sell GT’s Kombucha- any place that sells GT’s earns points with me.

Just look at the pretty bowls!!

Raw Meal

Another Ultimate Find!

Athletes are notorious for their recovery shakes. There are so many out there that it's hard to discern which one is "best". A lot of it comes down to sponsorships, personal taste, personal food allergies, and taste and viscosity each of us perfer. 

Unfortunately, too many powders out there are artificially sweetened, or at the very least, sweetened with stevia. The only vegan option that I've found to be great post workout is Vega as it has plenty of glutamine, and tastes fantastic. But it also has stevia. I use Vega after a workout when I've had enough carbs such as in a long ride where I'm constantly fueling, or after a short run or gym session where protein is my only concern to replenish.

For everything else, if I need something simple, nutritious, easy to digest, and that will keep me full and restore my body properly, I use RAW Meal.

Typically, I use one heaping scoop, or almost 1.5sc if say I just finished a hard/long morning swim and want to be refueled and satiated through lunch or later.

For days when I do a swim/bike/run brick I'll use Raw Meal as my post-shake. It's just too hard to beat the nutrients, protein content, and quality carbs! It'll hold me off until a proper dinner on a long IM training day while speeding up the recovery. 

I also looove it when I'm traveling. I'll either have a whole jar in my backpack or for a quick trip, I buy the single serving packs.

So what should you mix it with? Well, thankfully it's not overly sweet as it has no sweeteners. So you can use your favorite juice, and throw in some frozen fruit. I like the commodity of plain coconut water- especially when I'm mixing in my car or at the airport. I use about 10-12oz for every 1scoop.

The caloric breakdown and nutrient profile also make it a great snack that beats any bar out there, just look for yourself:

I hope you can find some and give it a try! They have Raw Meal at Sprouts, Whole Foods, and probably the local health store in your area.

Rimel's

Getting a group together for dinner where everyone can find something they really like is hard. If I had to pick one place in N. County, San Diego where anyone other than a vegan or a vegetarian would leave raving about the food it’s Rimel’s.
 

Rimel’s exemplifies the sort of menu that I often pondered for my own hypothetical restaurant: grilling of fresh meats and seafood, with a south of the border flare, served in a way that makes it like healthy comfort food.

At first the menu can be a bit overwhelming; although they improved the design/presentation of it, but we used to joke it was like an encyclopedia. To simplify it there are three main sections: tacos/burritos, wok bowls, and grilled plates. The burritos are huge, the tacos are served on local made stone ground corn tortillas that hold very well (it’s awful when you make the perfect taco and it breaks before the first bite), with pico de gallo, cabbage, and a spicy aioli.

The wok bowls are sautéed veggies (with a touch of soy sauce- tamari if you’re gluten free- and some of their homemade chicken stock) with your choice of fish, chicken, or steak, on top of brown or white steamed rice.

The grilled plates are a choice of market fresh fish, chicken, or steak, and all of the above come with 2 sides….mac n cheese, sautéed veggies, sweet potato fries, steamed white/brown rice, house salad, mashed potatoes, or beans.
 

Believe it or not, I’m listing all of this from memory- that’ll tell you how many times I’ve been at Rimel’s :)

Their image is of a rotisserie so anything with their free range chicken is incredible and their homemade soups which are all butter and gluten free are made with the chicken broth. I’ve had the lentil and the tortilla ones and loved them!

Rimel’s has one of the cleanest (nutritious) overall menus I’ve come across. They even offer some sushi items from their sister restaurant, Zenbu (next door). As well, they have a few randoms like dumplings and burgers.

Arguably, these are the best fish tacos in San Diego- or anywhere. I know some will disagree but let me argue my case. First off, I’m Mexican so I know real tacos. Other than the aioli, which I specify I don’t want on mine, these are authentic. Let me clarify Mexican food: we don’t use sour cream, we don’t use cheese in tacos (American/yellow cheese is never in anything!), rarely will flour tortillas ever come into the picture (burritos are American), and we don’t use mayonnaise (in most American Cali-Mex, Tex/Mex tacos for “dressing”). I digress, but want to note that Mexican food is actually very healthy. Americanized Mexican food is NOT.
 

Rimel’s star ingredient is their green sauce. I’ve tried to sneak the recipe out of the cooks when I sit at the “open kitchen” bar, but they’ve only disclosed the ingredients: sesame oil, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, onion. Simple, but it’s the quantity of each that makes or breaks it. Besides, I’m sure they’re leaving out the secret ingredient.

Their consistency and portion size is awesome. The only times I’ve been bummed is when they took the roasted rosemary potatoes out of the Cardiff location (they only have them in La Jolla), and yesterday the mahi in my fish tacos was overcooked. Each time I've ordered a steak though, it's been perfectly cooked medium rare and that's key to judging the experience of the cooks.

Rimel’s wine/beer list is fantastic, and you can also get Sake from Zenbu. The staff is awesome, and even though they don’t take reservations, there’s rarely too long a wait, and most often a spot or two is available at the bar, which I prefer because I love watching the cooks in action.

Ultimate Finds...

To break the label of "restaurant reviewer" I will often share unique healthy, but scrumptious, foods- whether it’s in a store or just one item from a place that “wow”ed me.

I’ll start with these Raw Cacao Goji Bites. The branded version is made by Navitas Naturals http://navitasnaturals.com/product/442/Snack-Cacao-Goji.html and sold at most health food stores such as Sprouts. However, the small package is $9 which if you portion it appropriately is okay; and honestly these are one of the few treats that I can adhere to the serving size and be satisfied, especially as a hungry athlete! Take cereal or granola for example. One serving is usually 1/4c for granola up to ¾ cup for cereal. It’s a joke. My bowl ends up being half the dang box! Not exactly figure friendly.

But these bites show you the power of real “superfoods” A bite (square) or two will absolutely be plenty to fix that sweet tooth, without a surge of sugar from a typical dessert. Plus it’s such a small quantity that it’s perfect after a meal…and even better with a glass of wine ;).

The best part, is you can find these at some Whole Foods locations in bulk!! I haven’t found them in San Diego, though I’ve yet to check out the new store in Del Mar. But they have them in San Antonio (where I first discovered them), so I recently brought back a bag full.

If you’re like me and need to have chocolate at least once a day and also don’t like overly sweet foods, you have to try these!! Yes, they are gluten free, too!

Click on the link above and you’ll see the awesome ingredients and caloric breakdown!

Muzita Bistro- University Heights, San Diego

Wednesday I was feeling rather spontaneous and as usual was spending some time in the morning researching restaurants. I've been doing this since high school. Sometime during sophomore year I became fascinated with the Food Network and cooking. My mom could barely scramble an egg until recently (now she's quite the little wanna-be Martha Stewart), and my dad mainly enjoyed eating out unless he was manning the grill. He can make some insane lamb chops!!

This new hobby coincided with my interest in health/nutrition as I sought to loose some weight that had appeared once I hit puberty- ugh! I grew up eating quite healthy (not the typical "Merica" way), but I'd never really cared about, nor understood, the impact of nutrition on our health and the degree of processing and modifying the majority of our foods undergo. A few months later, I was so into it that I went through a handful of books every couple of weeks and even convinced my mom to drive me to Orlando (I was in Tampa at the time at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy) to visit Le Cordon Bleu :)

Anyway, back on point...I was looking for a unique place that also served healthy food. Enter Muzita Bistro. One look at the menu http://www.letseat.at/muzita/menu and you quickly realize why other countries don't have the obesity problem the US does. Muzita serves Eritrean/Ethiopian food, which is very similar to Indian food, in my opinion- lots of spices yielding a ton of flavor, and concentrated on vegetables and rice. Their "bread" called injera is somewhere between a crepe and a pancake and often used as a utensil. The entrees are meant to be "family style" but they will also accommodate personal selections.

If you're a vegetarian or vegan this place is definitely for you. They even have a key on their menu highlighting meat free dishes. For the rest of us, they have a variety of options: lamb, free range chicken, "natural" beef, shrimp, and fresh fish.

I ordered the beet salad which was pretty straightforward- too much so, actually. Other than the cute presentation, it was nothing more than steamed beets with a subtle hint that they'd been marinated with onion and something else. It was good, but I wouldn't order again as I can make that at home in 5mins.







My entree, however, did not disappoint. Normally I would've tried the lamb, but I'm still seriously full from Franklin's that I can only handle seafood right now :/ So, I went with the prawns....

If you've ever dined with me you probably noticed my love for salt. Thank goodness I have low blood pressure and am an athlete! It runs in the family though- any meal with us leads to a fight over the salt shaker until one of us finally gets up and grabs more from other tables. Yes, I'm that person at the snobby restaurants with 5 different size forks that "insults" the chef by asking for the salt. Sorry, not sorry.

Well, at Muzita I didn't need a sprinkle of salt at all!! Dare I say it was a bit on the salty side? Nonetheless, I was very pleased with the taste and portion size. Four prawns, with a side of stewed vegetables, steamed white rice, and house salad. You must mix the four components of the dish to get the most of it- especially with steamed rice. Everything was well cooked, and the lettuce was crisp with a light dressing.

My overall opinion is that I would return to Muzita but only for lunch. My entree was $16 and the beet salad $9. The lunch prices in the $10-15 for entrees are much more appropriate. That salad should be $5 and the prawns $10-11.

The place itself is quaint. As the picture shows, it's a little cottage, very clean and "modern" on the inside with a bar area as well. The waiters all seemed happy and attentive so no complaints on the service.