Nuevo Southwest Grill - Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

After living in Santa Cruz for nearly ten years I have made countless trips along both East and West Cliff Drives because they both wind along the coast. I have passed the Nuevo Southwest Grill more times than I can recall. To be brutally honest I had prejudged this place and frankly thought it was just another taqueria of sorts based on the outside. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with a great taqueria I honestly thought that inside this rather mundane facade were only tacos and burritos waiting.

A highly nondescript storefront at 2-1490 East Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz

But once you step inside the cheery colors and bright Southwestern decor instantly welcomes you into a place of warmth and hospitality. It's a hint that something special is upon you.

As fate would have it I got introduced to this great eatery by a friend who lives in Sacramento. Go figure. After some research I learned that the guy behind the fantastic food at Nuevo is owner, Chef Ruben Partida whose experience includes Aqui, Gordon Biersch and an all-time favorite of mine in San Jose called Eulipia. The Nuevo team is a family effort with Ruben's wife, Kathy and his daughter, Alexandra both lending their talents as well as some old family recipes kept alive. Chef Ruben and Alexandra took a moment out of their always busy evenings to pose for this shot.

Chef Owner Ruben Partida and his daughter Alexandra

One of the house specialties is a variety of sangrias that go beyond the typical red wine version. Since I could not easily decide Alexandra was kind enough to bring me a trio of them to sample. From left to right is the Peach (White cranberry peach juice, Chablis, lime juice and honey), Red (Burgandy wine, orange juice, lime juice and sugar) Mango Nectar with Chablis wine.

Trio of house made sangrias for me to sample

Although I liked them all the Peach version won my personal taste test. They float fresh bits of apple that makes this very refreshing drink fun and festive. It is so light it's almost like a spritzer.

Nuevo Southwest Grill's house made Peach Sangria – $5.00

On my first visit here I let my friend order and we started off with one of their most popular appetizers, Smoked Seasoned Salmon on grilled flat bread with dill cream cheese, red onions, capers and tomato relish. Normally I am not a huge fan of smoked salmon but this version actually had a crust on it that was fantastic. And the layers of other complementing flavors made for a great start to our meal. It was a salty and savory way to get our taste buds going without filling us up. Perfecto Apertivo!

Smoked Seasoned Salmon Appetizer – $10.95

Two standout entrees we've tried many times over is the Seafood Risotto and anything with their special Tamarindo Sauce. The risotto shown here is a generous portion loaded with crab, shrimp and salmon served in a broth with sweet corn and spinach.

Seafood Risotto – $14.95

I mentioned their special Tamarindo BBQ sauce which is offered on their Braised Ribs but I tried it on a seafood skewer of salmon, scallops and opa fish. On the side was a tangy mango slaw and sweet potato fries. As you'd expect from good BBQ the sweet and tangy flavors were all playing well together here.

Seafood Skewer Special with Mango Slaw and Sweet Potato Fries – $14.95

Vegetarians are not forgotten at Nuevo with many opportunities to substitute tofu or other non-meat options in nearly all of their dishes. Pictured here are the Red Potato Enchiladas from their vegetarian entree menu. They are rolled with onions and cheese then topped with sour cream, both red and green tomatillo sauce and served with green rice and pinto beans.

Red Potato Enchiladas with Rice and Pinto Beans – $10.95

For the more traditional Mexican food lovers they also offer more classic choices like steak, chicken or prawn Fajitas, Pork Chile Verde, and Carne Asada. This photo shows the steak with all of the fixings you'd expect to find on a good fajita platter.

Steak Fajitas – $14.95

Attention to detail and tiny nice touches are everywhere at Nuevo. Chef Ruben really knows flavors and makes them pop on even simple salads. Pictured here is my favorite from their Ensaladas list. It includes Hearts of Romaine topped with carrots, jicama, cucumber and mango with a ginger sesame vinaigrette. You can have a half version for $6.25 or a full portion for $8.25. You can even add steak or chicken for $4.00 more or Salmon for an extra $4.25.

Ginger Sesame Salad ($6.25 half or $8.25 whole)

Desserts change daily and are always a pleasant surprise on their own special menu. Some of the regular offerings are Caramel Flan with crispy bunvelos, Apple Crisp with sundried cranberries and Mexican Truffle cake with chocolate raspberry sauce. However, for me the hands down signature dish at Nuevo is their Sweet Potato Bread Pudding. I am not even a big dessert eater but I find myself telling total strangers about this dish. It is rich and light at the same time. It perfectly splits the difference between sweet and savory but never once do you question its status as a dessert. I cannot say enough good things about this bread pudding is so I will just let this picture do the talking for me.

Sweet Potato Bread Pudding – $5.50

For the last seven years Neuvo Southwest Grill has kept a steady stream of loyal customers returning for their exceptional food with a large percentage being locals. Every Wednesday is Ukulele Night where the popular clubs converge for a live mass performance and Nuevo provides a special $10 menu. It is truly a comfortable local hangout with a family spirit but making some seriously sophisticated flavors. Come for the food but also enjoy the warm and friendly service. Basically they make you feel like you're at the Partida home for dinner.

Nuevo Southwest Grill – (831) 475-2233
2-1490 East Cliff Drive
Live Oak neighborhood in Santa Cruz
Closed on Mondays
Tuesday/Wednesday 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Dinner only
Thursday/Friday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Lunch and Dinner
Saturday/Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Brunch and Dinner
Excellent value with dinner entrees from $10.95 to $14.95

LYFE Kitchen Vegan - No Animals Were Harmed in Making This Meal

By now my affinity for LYFE Kitchen is no secret. I posted about their Forklifting Ceremony this summer and then again for their Grand Opening in October. As often as I have eaten at their flagship Palo Alto, California location I simply cannot tire of it. The flavors are great and the menu is so expansive that there is always something new to enjoy. They make it quite easy to "Love Your Food Everyday" at LYFE Kitchen.

This time I was invited along with my foodie friend, Stacie Tamaki, to sample their vegan menu created by the renowned purveyor of veganism, Chef Tal Ronnen. To see Stacie's recap of our sampling session with Tal click here. To see the complete vegan lunch and dinner menu at LYFE Kitchen click here.

We also ordered a couple of smoothies because we couldn't make up our mind which flavor sounded the best. Pictured here are Strawberry Banana and Very Berry. Each one was so rich and smooth you would have sworn that some kind of dairy product was making it so delicious, however, they were both completely vegan.

LYFE Kitchen Smoothies are all vegan and $4.49

One of our first samplings was a Caesar salad. I have a great vegetarian recipe for a mock Ceasar salad but this one was completely vegan and absolutely delicious. Tal mentioned that he uses capers to get replicate the saltiness which comes from anchovies in the traditional version.

Caesar Salad with multigrain croutons - $6.49

A first for us this visit was the BBQ Flatbread Pizza with Gardein "Chicken"pieces. Stacie and I both voted it the best bite of the night. The whole wheat flatbread crust means a very short preparation time and their tangy house made agave bbq sauce takes the flavor over the top. Daiya vegan cheese is a subtle part of the flavor profile but adds to the whole pizza eating experience. This rich pizza would easily satisfy most carnivores and big eaters as well.

BBQ Flatbread Pizza with Gardein "Chicken" - $7.99

One of our regular favorites at LYFE Kitchen is any variation on the Gardein version of chicken and their Crispy Gardein Chicken Sandwich is no exception. It is piled high on a great flat multigrain bread and dressed with fresh tomatoes, garlic aioli, chayote slaw, and housemade agave pickles. This piled high sandwich is fun to get your mouth around and really hits the taste and texture bulls eye.

Crispy Gardein Chicken Sandwich with side salad – $7.99

Speaking of housemade pickles our server brought us a side of them for everyone to taste. They are sweetened with agave nectar and super fresh tasting. Even the generous slices of onion and bell peppers that are pickled with the cucumbers have the same great sweetness from the agave.

Bread and Butter pickles sweetened with agave nectar

Another sandwich on the menu which was new to me was the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich served on the same multigrain bread as the chicken sandwich. It was piled high with fresh cucumber, onion, tomato and their fantastic edamame hummus.

Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with side salad – $7.99

On a side note I love the LYFE Kitchen sense of humor and the way they brand their name. For example the sandwich section of their menu is called [GRAB LYFE WITH BOTH HANDS]. The newest item from this section of the menu are the Tofu Tacos. Although they also offer a fish version of this popular item with grilled Mahi Mahi the one we enjoyed had strips of breaded tofu. As you would expect from any good fish taco they were served on warm corn tortillas and loaded with all the fixings like chayote slaw, avocado, chipotle aioli, cilantro and a chipotle vinaigrette.

Tofu Tacos with kale side salad and salsa – $8.99

LYFE Kitchen's two signature entrees from their main dish menu were next. We enjoyed both Art's Unfried Gardein Chicken and Tal's Ancient Grain Bowl. Chef Art Smith created this hearty main dish which is delicious yet only checks in at 388 calories. The vegetables on the side (roasted winter squash, brussels sprouts with dried cranberries, cashew cream and dijon vinaigrette) are so good they almost take center stage on this dish.

Art's Unfried Gardein Chicken – $11.99

My favorite entree at LYFE Kitchen has been Tal's Ancient Grain Bowl and I have even tried to make it myself at home. Again, Gardein beef tips stir fry nicely with Asian veggies in a sweet chile-ginger sauce. The key to this dish is the surprising combination of two whole grains, farro and quinoa. They pair up for an extraordinary texture combination and a delightfully refreshing alternative to rice.

Tal's Ancient Grain Bowl – $11.99

Although all of this tasting had fill us to the brim we could not resist what they call [THE SWEET LYFE] to complete our all vegan experience. Another thing I appreciate about this company is the focus on simplicity. We tried two desserts and both were full of flavor but did not overwhelm you. I can always eat lots of food at LYFE but never do I walk away feeling bloated or overstuffed. Non-dairy Banana Rum Cheesecake is made with a pecan crust and topped with rum sauce. And yes, it tastes every bit as good as it looks! It has all of the flavor and none of the guilt.

Banana Rum Cheesecake – $3.99

And what's not to love about a chocolate chip cookie to grab and go? The LYFE Kitchen people know that flavor comes first but they also make everything healthy, inexpensive and fast. It is a combination you just don't see at other restaurants.

Only $1.29 for here or to go makes their Chocolate Chip Cookie a big favorite

You notice that I have not been beating you over the head with healthy facts about the LYFE Kitchen vegan menu. The reason is that I was there just to sample but I got completely wrapped up in how great everything TASTED. The fact that no animal products were used in this food was amazing but also kind of secondary to me. I loved every bite and did not even miss the dairy products even though I am a big cheese eater. Part of the beauty of the LYFE Kitchen mission is people like Tal Ronnen. It was such a pleasure to talk with him. He is low key and non-judgmental. His knowledge of food is immense and yet he talked with us on a level we could all understand. His great tasting food sells itself and I know his mission to promote veganism will succeed without having to wage a war on carnivores. Thank you Chef Tal for your continued inspiration that makes us strive to eat better.

On a closing note I want to mention the special gift card promotion taking place now through January 31, 2012 at LYFE Kitchen. If you buy a $50 gift card, you'll receive an extra $10 gift card with it. If you buy a $25 gift card, you'll get an additional $5 card. These card make great holiday gifts so surprise someone who has yet to experience LYFE Kitchen. It will be a gift that tastes great and is good for them too!

My parting shot is of the very cool GPS table locators at LYFE KItchen. These devices are the best I have seen at any quick service restaurant. Everything about this place just rocks. I am a person who frequently dines out and pays a lot of attention to the food trends. I try every new dining out concept that comes along. LYFE Kitchen not only tastes great but is a very big step in the right direction to change our eating habits for the better.

LYFE Kitchen Opening in Palo Alto is a Grand One

The very first thing to catch my eye at the opening of the first location of LYFE Kitchen is a huge display of fresh herbs right in the center of the dining room. Fresh herbs are the perfect metaphor for this really unique new restaurant. While so many other food sources pay lip service to quality, sustainability and natural sourcing LYFE is actually walking the walk. And not only is the flavor there but at a super affordable price point that still has me scratching my head. This restaurant is really a fresh idea that is quickly coming to lyfe.

Ever since my foodie friend, Stacie Tamaki, and I first learned about this new restaurant concept we've been eagerly awaiting the opening. In June we attended their Forklifting celebration where they first broke ground for the Palo Alto flagship store. You can read my story of that event by clicking here.

The menu at LYFE Kitchen is full of choices and has something for every vegan, vegetarian and carnivore. We ordered many dishes to get a full sampling of the dinner items.

Hands down my favorite flavor of the night came in the way of an appetizer which LYFE cleverly calls their "SHAREABLES". For just $3.99 you get the most flavorable Edamame Hummus with flatbread crisps. The hummus bursts with a lemony fresh flavor. The flatbread crisps are a perfect vehicle with which to scoop the hummus goodness.  The hummus plate is shown here in the foreground with the Roasted Beet Salad and Farro for $7.79. This salad also featured roasted fennel, walnuts, dried cranberries, orange, red onion, basil and a maple-sherry vinaigrette. Another winner from the shareables menu (back of photo) is the Grilled Artichokes with lemon aioli.

Zooming in on the Grilled Artichoke it was perfectly cooked and nicely paired with the lemon aioli for $3.99.

Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Aioli was definitely shareable by all.

Whole wheat flatbreads come in three varieties and they are all under $8.00 for a very generous portion. We opted to try the Margherita which combined fresh mozzarella, sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and a pomodoro sauce.

Margherita Flatbread – $6.99 or half-order for $4.99

The first of two entrees we tried was Art's unfried chicken. Art being Chef Art Smith who helped create the LYFE Kitchen menu along side Vegan Chef Tal Ronnen. This dish rocked with roasted squash, brussels sprouts, dried cranberries and dijon vinaigrette. The only thing we ate from the entire sampling which did not win us over was a corn puree which was the bed for this dish. We opted for the Gardein version of this dish which is meatless. Gardein stems from the words garden and protein and is a plant based food that has all the taste and texture of meat without any of the disadvantages. We love the fact that LYFE Kitchen is so eager to please everyone to satisfy special diets and tastes. You will never see the "No Substitutions" sign anywhere around here.

Art's unfried chicken entree – $11.99

The entree I was most eager to try was Tal's ancient grain bowl. We watched Chef Tal demonstrate this dish at the Forklifting and it has been on my mind ever since. I found a recipe for it on-line and tried to recreate it at home with Gardein beef tips I found at the store. My version was okay but lacked some of the great spicy kick of the original's sweet ginger-chile sauce. The key to this dish is the surprise combination of two great grains, whole grain farro and quinoa. I have eaten them both many times before but never enjoyed their pairing in one dish. It was both light in the stir fry sense and yet very satisfying with the substantial hearty grains.

Tal's Ancient grain bowl – $11.99

Another plus to the menu is that many of the vegetables and sides are also offered separately as items on their SIDES menu. After enjoying so many of the flavors we ordered on the first pass Stacie had to go back for the Baked Sweet Potato Fries. They are served with a very nice house made ketchup distinctively sweetened with agave.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with house made ketchup – $2.49

Two of the offerings on their dessert menu called THE SWEET LYFE immediately caught our attention. First up was a Lemon Pound Cake with Greek Yogurt and Fruit. As simple as this sounds the layers of sweet and tart flavors/textures hit a perfect finishing note to our meal. Using yogurt instead of whipped cream keeps this treat at just 359 calories.

Lemon Pound Cake with Greek Yogurt and Fruit – $3.99

The other must try guilt-free dessert is what I call a very reasonable indulgence. At just 367 calories the non-dairy Banana Rum Cheesecake is made with a pecan crust and topped with rum sauce. It was very rich and really sweet but not overly so.

Banana Rum Cheesecake (non-dairy) – $3.99

If all this great food isn't enough we learned that LYFE Kitchen also strives to reduce their footprint with everything they do. Their flooring is all bamboo and much of the furniture is made from recycled materials. The decor is deco style with bright accents yet comfortable and makes you feel welcome.

LYFE Kitchen's commitment to the environment goes all the way down to using compostable cartons instead of plastic bottles for their water to-go.

We appreciated the open kitchen, fast service and sense of freshness that emanates from this well designed space. There are also plenty of tables where you can get privacy too.

Like every great downtown Palo Alto restaurant LYFE Kitchen has patio dining out front.

That prominent herb display and profound quotes printed on the walls are a constant reminder that you can Love Your Food Everyday because it is not only good for you but tastes great too.

My parting shot is of us posing with two of the key players responsible for bringing LYFE Kitchen to fruition. From left to right is CEO Mike Roberts, me, Stacie, CCO Mike Donohue and our friend and photographer, Elley Ho.

Normally I avoid being the first in line at a restaurant's opening night. I prefer to give them time to get any kinks out. However, we simply couldn't wait to see if LYFE Kitchen could live up to our expectations. Not only was the food great but the attitude matched the very positive message and mission of this company. The excitement shared by everyone at the restaurant was contagious and we cannot wait to return when both their breakfast and lunch service begins. The official ribbon cutting takes place on Tuesday (18th) morning at 11:00 a.m. Congratulations to both Mikes and the many LYFE team members who have worked so hard to bring us such a great new food experience.

July Food Adventure: All About Cheap Eats & Secret Menus

Shhh! A secret menu is something you tell only one person about at a time.

This month we explore what we call "cheap eats." Although we set no hard and fast rules for this category it mostly came down to food priced around the five dollar mark. Since we also shot for some ethnic diversity I called our little excursion "Around The World on Five Dollars a Day."

The other thing we sampled this trip were secret menus and I was surprised to learn just how few diners are aware of them. Secret menus are really just unconventional combinations of the existing menu items that someone has created and more regular customers learn of them by word of mouth.
Secret menus are off the grid so even the restaurants themselves don't publicize them. They are a win-win because they add intrigue and variety to the offerings but avoid the confusion of too many choices on the menu board. Although there are many sources for secret menus on-line I like Coupon Sherpa because their concise list is mostly popular places you're likely to find anywhere.

My partner in culinary crime, Stacie Tamaki, did some serious research and compiled her own list of secret menus from many sources. To see her Secret Menu Greatest Hits and read her version of our adventure click here for her story on The Flirty Blog.

Here is the line up for our value based food journey:

In-n-Out Burger
604 E. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA

The Pita Pit
151 South Second St.
San Jose, CA 95113
408-694-3200

Cheese Steak Shop
832 W. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA
408-530-8159

Taco Bravo
1950 S. Bascom Ave.
Campbell, CA
408-371-5611

Mitsuwa Marketplace
675 Saratoga Ave.
San Jose
408-255-6699

A word about secret menus. Like many people I was not too familiar with them and even thought they might just be urban myths. However, with just a little digging I found that they are not only wildly popular but really an essential part of the fast food culture. We decided one of the best spots to try secret menu items was at our first stop, In-n-Out Burger. We ordered a patty-less burger which, in secret menu terms, is called a Grilled Cheese and a special version of their fries called Animal Style. The fries are topped with melted cheese, grilled onions and smothered in their special 1,000 Island-like dressing.

Grilled Cheese on the left and Animal Style Fries from In-n-Out's Secret Menu

Zooming in on the grilled cheese reveals it is loaded just like their standard burger only without the meat. It is a great combination of textures/temperatures with the warm melted cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato and fresh onion. The animal style version of this sandwich features grilled onions instead of fresh ones.

Grilled cheese very neatly wrapped and ready for a big bite

If you try the animal style fries, grab plenty of napkins. It's super messy and always served with a fork.

Animal Style Fries could be a meal in themselves

Rounding out our all secret menu meal was a drink called Lemon Up which is simply a combination of lemonade and 7UP. As simple as this sounds I had never mixed the two and it is really a surprisingly refreshing twist. Combining any of the fountain drinks to your own taste is easy at In-n-Out because they have a self-service beverage dispenser. In-n-Out gets an "A" in the branding department because their red/white colors and palm tree icon is neatly present everywhere.

Lemon Up blends lemonade and 7 Up

Stop number two was in Sunnyvale at the Cheese Steak Shop. Tucked in a small shopping center it is part of a chain but with much fewer locations than the big names in fast food. However, we chatted with two loyal cheese steak fans from Philadelphia who meet there every Tuesday to satisfy their cravings for this famous sandwich born in their home town. From the steady stream of customers I get the feeling that this place has lots of phone and faxed in orders for pickup.

We tried a couple of vegetarian sandwiches here which were both unique and delicious. Mine was straight off of the menu and called a Zesty Veggie Sandwich. It got some nice kick from roasted chili peppers and hot sweet peppers. The whole roasted garlic cloves were done perfectly. These sandwiches are served on very soft rolls and simply melt in your mouth like the cheeses they come with.

Zesty Veggie is super soft and big on flavor

Stacie prefers a variation on their Original Vegetarian Sandwich. She requests that they make her their Classic Philly Cheese Steak sandwich but hold the chicken. The key to this "secret menu" version is they actually grill the lettuce. Grilled lettuce is a bit tricky to get right but it is delicious. I loved both my choice and her version because they are super soft without being soggy.

Special Stacie Tamaki Version Veggie Sandwich

The Cheese Steak Shop adds another touch of Philly to their menu by carrying a line of dessert pastries called Tastykake. The Tasty Baking Company foods are a tradition on the East Coast that dates back to 1914.

East coast sweet tooth solutions available right here in California

We headed downtown San Jose for our next stop at The Pita Pit. I like this concept. The world doesn't really need another fast food burger joint when a concept this strong is available. There is really no need for a secret menu here as the selection and choices are only limited by your imagination.

This menu board shows only some of the many choices available

Everything is made fresh while you wait and enjoy watching the action

I love their selection of breakfast pitas so I ordered the Morning Glory which includes avocado, grilled tomatoes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, grilled green peppers, onions and your choice of cheese and sauces. I opted for the hot sauce which nicely rounded out all of the other more subtle ingredients. On your choice of white or wheat pita these beauties are served all day long. Nice!

Morning Glory is just one of six great breakfast pitas available all day long.

The key to this great pita is the equal size pieces of each ingredient make it into every bite you take.

No cheap eats excursion is complete without a taqueria or some kind of Mexican food. I could not resist stopping at my long time favorite late night spot in Campbell, the legendary Taco Bravo. Open until 3:30 a.m. it is renowned for dining after everything else except Denny's has closed. This famous sign has been a landmark on Bascom Avenue for about as long as anyone can recall.

A fixture on Bascom Avenue – Some things never change

After many a mobile DJ event my favorite stop was to browse at the now defunct Tower Records store and grab something at Taco Bravo just one-half block away. T.B. is always the busiest just after 1:00 a.m. when most bars close. The entertainment factor of watching the bar patrons with munchies in the middle of the morning is priceless. While standing in line it is a hoot to guess which club they were at by the way they are dressed. The cast of characters who work the late shift at Taco Bravo are also well equipped to have a battle of the wits with the steady flow of intoxicated bar goers.  All of these ingredients make it ripe for laughing out loud and create an after hour sideshow like no other.

My favorite taste at Taco Bravo is the Super Red or Green Veggie Burrito and I enjoy them at any hour of the day. The staff is super quick at lathering on the refried beans, shredded cheddar cheese, onions and lettuce then quite adept at a quick wrap. Their hot sauce on the side is very perky. This food is hardly authentic Mexican but has an originality all its own that has created a huge fan base for quite some time. The secret menu at Taco Bravo is late night only and means some monster burritos using multiple mega size tortillas to house the multitude of makings inside.

Taco Bravo Super Burrito (Red is mild and Green is Spicy)

For our final stop Stacie suggested the deli counter at one of her favorite supermarkets called Mitsuwa Marketplace on busy Saratoga Avenue near Highway 280. This store is part of a large Japanese supermarket company with eight locations in the U.S.

Notice the $1.39 price tag. There is a lot of good eating inside for well under two bucks. The key to these little morsels is the special double wrap packaging. It keeps the rice and nori (seaweed) from touching and that keeps the outer wrap leaves crisp while inside the salted seaweed is very soft and savory. It is a lot of texture and flavor in a tiny portable package that makes for the perfect finger food on the go.

The concept of prepared foods inside supermarkets continues to gain momentum and has now moved way beyond just bakeries and deli sandwiches. It makes sense for the shopper who might have intended to come in for all the ingredients but is short on time to leave with a completely cooked meal. In most cases it certainly beats anything they will find in the frozen food section.This trend is so widespread that we decided an entire food adventure of in-store delis might be interesting so watch for that story from us down the road.

So whether you are looking for good value right off the menu or something less expected from the secret menu there are plenty of eats at that five dollar marker. The good news is you can find them both at the big chain outlets as well as your local ma and pa eateries exclusive to your neighborhoods.

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More Food Adventures:

January - The Eats of San Francisco:
February - A Tasty Tour of Santa Cruz
March - The Cowgirl Creamery
April - Confessions of a Sushi Virgin
May - Best of the East Bay
June - Palo Alto Eateries
July - Cheap Eats & Secret Menus

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