Mango Lassi Picture - Ventura Indian Restaurant

Lassi Stock Photo (Mango Lassi Stock Photo) courtesy AeronauticPictures.com

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Maharaja Cuisine of India in Ventura, California, to prepare one of my Ventura Restaurant Reviews. While the review is in the works (and please follow me here, on Twitter and Facebook so you don't miss it), I thought I'd share this wonderful bit of foodporn captured while I was so hard at work sampling the food and hospitality.

The picture is of a delicious and refreshing Mango Lassi served by the staff at Maharaja Cuisine of India, complementary, after one of my meals. It was rather yummy and a nice surprise.

Urbane Café Ventura - Restaurant Reviews

I stopped for lunch today at one of the most potentially interesting of Ventura restaurants: the Urbane Café over by Barnes & Noble. Yes that's Urbane with an E, not urban.

Urbane Cafe - Ventura Restaurants

The Urbane Café is interesting for a couple of reasons. First the menu is fairly reasonably priced. Next that same menu is full of seemingly delicious sounding items that also appear to be relatively healthy to consume.

While the place tries to give you the sense that it's a tiny local eating establishment, the truth is the Ventura Urbane Café is one of six locations, so far, in a rapidly growing restaurant chain.

I've eaten at the Ventura location several times over the past few years, with mixed results. I really want to like the place. I really do. Just listen to some of these sample items from their menu: Rosemary Chicken Sandwich - grilled rosemary chicken, roasted red bell pepper, provolone cheese, green leaf lettuce, and aioli sauce. Sounds good, yes?

Anacapa Brew Pub Ventura Serves Bones In Salmon Burger

I'm truly appalled at my recent dining experience at Ventura's Anacapa Brew Pub. Perhaps I should not be too surprised as most of my prior experiences there have left me with the distinct impression that everyone who works there, from the owner to the waiters, feels that they are doing me a favor just letting me in the door.

One caveat: I've only seen the owner once and that was years ago. There could be new owners by now or it could be the same small man with small customer service values.

On this recent visit, a companion and myself met up at the Anacapa Brew Pub in downtown Ventura for a little business meeting.

In-N-Out Burger Ventura Review

In-N-Out Burger Animal Fries Double-Double & Burger

Ate at the In-N-Out Burger Ventura today - a Saturday at noon in July. Yah, it was going to be busy. Sitting at the rather slimy booth people watching was a bit like being ringside gazing on a slice of Americana - at least the West Coast edition. That's always interesting.

Trader Joe's Greek Style Apricot Mango Yogurt Review

Trader Joe's Greek Style Apricot Mango Yogurt Review

I just tucked in to an 8 ounce container of Trader Joe's Greek Style Apricot Mango Yogurt. I bought it because I like Yogurt, and having had this flavor before, I liked it too. Man does Trader Joe's have a gift for messing up a good thing.

While most of the employees are happy, smart and really helpful people projecting this Utopian image of good old Trader Joe's, my sense is behind the scenes at corporate HQ either "Joe" is being held captive while his company is being slowly destroyed or there is a clearly defined plan to very gradually squeeze every penny from the good will the brand enjoys while hoping nobody in the buying public notices. Well I have been noticing for some time. And it sucks.