Friday, April 25, 2025

Garrett's Popcorn

Garrett's Popcorn is THE famous popcorn from Chicago.  Whenever I mention my popcorn obsession to others, they always ask, "Oh, have you had Garrett's?"  Given that I have never been to Chicago my answer thus far has been no.

Update Review, 2025 - Las Vegas Location

When I was recently in Las Vegas, I spotted a Garrett popcorn store in the mall I was walking through.  I wasn't actually hungry for a snack, having just finished a meal, and wasn't going back to my hotel anytime soon, so I didn't really want to lug popcorn around with me, but I couldn't resist taking a closer look ...

They actually only had a few flavors: the classic CheeseCorn and CaramelCrisp of course, along with one with nuts, and I think either butter or plain.  Not much jumped out at me, so I nearly walked away, when the staff member asked if I wanted a sample of anything.  I of *course* turned right back around to get one! 
Adorable mini sample bags.
I was absolutely charmed by the sample bags.  Mini, really mini, popcorn bags.  <3!
Spicy CheeseCorn.
"Experience the savory delight of freshly melted sharp-cheddar cheese - with a spicy, chili-lime twist - in this gourmet popcorn from Garrett Popcorn Shops."

I went for the most novel, the limited edition Spicy Cheesecorn, to see how spicy it was.  The answer?  Not very.  I was quite underwhelmed by the spice level.  Great cheesiness, like their regular CheeseCorn, but the heat was quite subtle, and took quite a few pieces to build it.  It was fine, but not as spicy as I was anticipating.  ***.

Original Review, 2016

But, this past year, one of my co-workers went to Chicago and came back with ... yup, a giant tub of Garrett's Popcorn!

Garrett's has been making popcorn since 1949.  The signature creation is Garrett Mix®, their version of Chicago Mix (which used to be marketed as such, until, lawsuit).  In addition to "CheeseCorn" and "CaramelCrisp", the two components of Garrett Mix, they also offer up plain and butter, plus some nutty variations on CaramelCrisp: Macadamia, Pecan, Almond, and Cashew.

My co-worker of course brought the Garrett Mix.  I was glad to try it, but, well, I don't see any reason to hop on a plane to Chicago for it.
Garrett Mix®
"Our handcrafted recipe is often imitated, but never duplicated. First created by our loyal fans, the Garrett Mix® combines the sophisticated sweetness of CaramelCrisp® with the savory goodness of CheeseCorn. The original Chicago style Popcorn, from THE original gourmet Popcorn Shop."

Breaking this down into its mixed components:

CheeseCorn: "Freshly-melted, sharp cheddar cheese is stirred into each and every batch. Fans proudly display their "Cheesy-Fingers!"

Ok, wow, yes, this gave me cheesy fingers.  Each piece was absolutely coated in orange goodness.  It tasted like fake cheddar, but I really liked it.  It required consumption by the handful.  And, yes, of course I liked it better frozen.

CaramelCrisp: "Deep butter notes, sweet brown sugar and a crème brûlée crunch combine for a rich taste sensation."

Caramel corn can go so many ways.  This one was ... mediocre for me.  It was sweet and they get great credit for perfectly coating the kernels, but, the caramel itself was just a bit too deep of a flavor.  I still did enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't my favorite.

The interesting thing to me is that I didn't really like these when mixed together.  I love mixing sweet and savory.  I should have loved this mix.  But, I didn't.  I had the same experience last time I had Chicago Mix, from G.H. Cretors.

So, I froze a bunch, gleefully ate all the cheese corn, and eventually ate the caramel.
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Thursday, April 24, 2025

TCBY, Las Vegas Airport

Before I visited the Las Vegas airport, I of course did a tiny bit of research to see my food options, so I could plan to bring my own, or get something there.  I was pretty thrilled to see the large number of decent places in the D gates area where I was departing from, including ... ZOMG, froyo!  And not just any froyo, TCBY!  My hometown had a TCBY when I was much younger, and I had such fond memories of it.  Not somewhere we got to go often, definitely just a special treat, and I remember loving the Shivers.  But it closed when I was probably 10 years old at most, so it had been a really, really, really long.  I was so excited, despite the fact that this location gets *horrible* reviews (for the service, for having such a limited menu, etc).

I approached the counter eagerly.  My first TCBY in more than 30 years!!!  I was met by an extremely unfriendly staff member.  She was openly mean and hostile towards each guest.  Well, now I understand the reviews at least.  She made me feel so incredibly unwelcome, and honestly, I wasn't sure she'd even prepare my order.  She burst my bubble slightly (ok, a lot, I didn't do anything remotely annoying, didn't make special requests, wasn't indecisive, etc, and she was still just soooo mean!), but I still was happy to claim my treat.  
TCBY / Mrs. Fields.
This location is tiny, just a little counter shared with Mrs. Fields.

They had only two flavors, golden vanilla or dutch chocolate.  Only 4 toppings/mix-ins (mini m&m's, Oreo, sprinkles, Butterfinger), although the toppings sign said they had chopped mixed nuts too. When I tried to order these, I got VERY rudely told "We don't have!  See, only have these!", and she pointed at the little bins of toppings in front of her.  The menu board clearly had the 5 options listed, but she just GLARED at me, and I didn't press further.  Anyway.

Froyo comes in two sizes, or in shake or Shiver form, both of which are one size only.
Golden Vanilla Shiver, M&M.  $6.49.
"Your favorite frozen yogurt swirled and blended with your choice of toppings."

As Shivers were what I always got as a kid, that is clearly what I had to get, even though they didn't have Heath Bar nor peanut butter cups (which I think is what I always got back then?).  I opted for the mini m&m's not very excitedly, as it was the best of the 4 options: I don't care for Oreo, I kinda OD'ed on Butterfinger a while back when my office had it as a topping for froyo, and sprinkles I adore, and find essential in my daily life, but more as a garnish, not the star.  So, m&ms it was.

It came well mixed up, with a reasonable number of m&ms.  The country vanilla flavor was fine, pretty average vanilla flavor, average sweetness.  Definitely froyo, not richer, creamier soft serve ice cream, but not tart or lower sugar tasting.  Reasonably creamy, melted fairly nicely.

This hit the spot in terms of giving me something to do in the airport, and for scratching a *serious* nostalgia itch, but it wasn't particularly amazing.  Still more enjoyable than a McFlurry, as I think the base froyo flavor is a bit better than McD's soft serve.  ***+.
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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Special Event at Stripsteak, Las Vegas

Michael Mina is chef who I learned about early on in my time exploring San Francisco's dining scene, when I went to his flagship Michelin starred restaurant (back when it was on Union Square), and loved it. Sadly, the newer location let me down in 2012, as did the Farewell to Foie Gras dinner we attended there later that year.  But I still followed his restaurants, and really enjoyed the cocktails and desserts at his smokehouse collab with Ayesha Curry, International Smoke, some of the sushi and bites I had from his Japanese Izakaya, Pabu, some of the bites and desserts from (now closed) RN74, and the (now-closed) Hawaiian inspired Trailblazer Tavern.  These were all in San Francisco.

I was excited to see that he had a restraurant in Las Vegas, where I recently was for a business trip.
"Located inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, STRIPSTEAK Las Vegas offers a reimagined dining experience where the elegance of a modern steakhouse meets the vibrant energy of the Las Vegas Strip. 

Designed to evoke the natural beauty of the Mojave desert, STRIPSTEAK provides an upscale yet inviting atmosphere, perfect for both intimate dinners and lively private events. Indulge in premium cuts of beef, fresh seafood, and an array of signature dishes crafted by renowned Chef Michael Mina."
The restaurant is a classic steakhouse, open only for dinner.  I visited two nights in a row, both times for hosted happy hours.  I would gladly return for a proper dinner though, as the main menu has some items I was really, really interested in (I'm looking at you caviar jelly donut (!!!), seared foie gras, lump crab cakes, and basically, ALL of the desserts).

Setting

The location is ideal for those attending conventions at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, as it is in the area between the convention center and the main hotel complex.  Every single person walking through must go right past it.
Entrance.
The area has a decently large bar with lounge seating around it, and a dining room.  The whole establishment is quasi-open to the hallway, as is common for many of the restaurants in this area.

Drinks

The first event I attended had a full open bar, with no special menu set out for us, and seemingly no limits on what we could order.
Special Cocktail Menu
The second night had a special cocktail menu, with 9 cocktails named after the happy hour theme (the Killers, since it was right before a concert for them).
Cabernet Sauvignon.
The first night, I had wine.  When I asked for "red wine", I was given a choice of pinot noir or cabernet.  I gleefully selected the cab.  The server told me the maker, but I didn't quite catch it.  In retrospect, I wish I did!  It was actually really quite good.  I think it may have been Pillar & Post Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, as that was offered the subsequent night, and is the cheapest cab on their wines by the glass menu.

Very little acid, very little tanin, yet still really well structured and robust.  I enjoyed it more than any other cab in recent memory.  ****.
Speciality Cocktail.
The second night, I opted for a cocktail, but ... I don't remember which I actually got.  This was my third stop that night, after the tasty margaritas and blue drinks at Border Grill, so my memory is a bit fuzzy.  I think it was probably the Neon Tiger (mezcal, aperol, lime, pineapple, vanilla, orange peel) or the Mr. Brightside (bourbon, sugar, orange bitters), as those are the ones that still jump out at me now, but I can't be certain.  I also don't recall much about it, besides that I vaguely liked it?

Food - Canapes

Since I attended Happy Hour special events, the hosts had pre-selected food both nights from the event menu, which included passed canapes and a few stationed platters.

For passed canapes, Stripsteak has 7 items available (1 vegetarian, 1 vegan, 3 seafood, 2 beef).  I skipped the tuna tostada since I had one just a few minutes before at Border Grill, and the falafel as I'm not generally into it, but I tried everything else.

This is not a cheap place to host an event, where every piece is priced at $8-11 each, with 24 pieces per item minimum.
Stripsteak Cheeseburger Sliders. ($11).
"American cheese, secret sauce."

The first item to show up was a slider.  For a moment I thought, "ho-hum", everywhere has sliders right?  Classic happy hour grub.  Usually mediocre bread, thin fully cooked well done patty, congealed cheese, maybe some attempt at a special sauce.  I nearly skipped it, but, I thought, "Hey, this is a steak place after all ...".

It also just looked dry and bland.  They didn't try to add lettuce, tomato, onion, caramelized onion, pickles, or anything to jazz it up.  Which at first glance, definitely made this look like a below average slider.

It was definitely the best slider I've had in ages.  As in, it was actually good.  But not without flaws.

The bun was incredible.  I know it doesn't look special, but it was shockingly delicious.  Definitely buttered, rich and fluffy, lightly sweet.  Just, wow, such a good bun.  I'm not normally one to fill up on bread, but this was totally worth it.  **** bun.

The online event menu said the cheese was just American cheese, but the cheese on this was shockingly good too, and didn't seem like American.  It was a white cheese, not too sharp or anything, but had a depth and nuttiness to it.  I really liked the cheese, although it wasn't particularly soft and gooey.  ***+.

The menu also said it would have secret sauce, and mine did not have any sauce.  I luckily had a packet of ketchup in my bag (always prepared!), and that was good to add.  I think it really must have just been an error that it was missing any sauce.

So, fantastic bread and cheese, would be happy enough with it just as a cheese toastie!
Slider: Close Up.
But of course, this is a steakhouse.  The patty was also a highlight.  Very thick, much thicker than your average cocktail slider.  Nice char/sear to it.  Flavorful beef.  Very moist.  And ... mid-rare!  The bite you see here is actually the most cooked, it was really nicely rare in the center.  Such a surprise for an event.  ***+.

Interestingly, the next night when I was also at a happy hour there, others had the sliders (after I raved about them) and they were medium-well, a totally different experience.  I would have had one that second night, but after seeing theirs, I skipped.
Lobster Fritter ($10).
"Pink peppercorn tartar."

Next came lobster!  

I thought the lobster fritter would be an easy favorite of mine, but I found it only ok.  It was nicely crispy, but I didn't taste any lobster at all, and seemed to mostly be like risotto?  The aioli was too easily lost.  Fine for an arancini, but boo for a lobster fritter.  **.

I realize in retrospect that possibly the server misspoke when presenting this, and it was actually the vegetarian mushroom arancini?  That would make considerably more sense.
Beef Kebab Skewer. ($10).
"Chimichurri, cilantro."

After the great slider, I had high hopes for the beef skewers, and again, I was at a steak place after all.  

The skewer beef itself let me down - it was slightly chewy, although quite tender, and cooked medium-well.  I really wanted more pink.  **+.

The chimichurri however was absolutely fantastic.  Fresh, vibrant, and extremely flavorful.  It opened my eyes to how good chimi could be, and definitely went well with the steak.  ****.
Tempura Shrimp Skewer. ($9).
"Spicy aioli, sesame, nori."

Another fairly common cocktail hour item, shrimp tempura.

This was a decent tempura shrimp.  Not quite as crisp as I'd like, probably because it wasn't super fresh (I got the last one from the tray), but the shrimp inside was succulent, and I appreciated the spicy aioli drizzle.  ***+.
Market Vegetable Crudite. $25/pp.
"Housemade buttermilk ranch." 

I was really craving veggies and not just standard happy hour appetizers after several days of this kind of reception, so I was really happy the hosts the second night selected the crudite platter.  

Everything was fresh and crisp, although some was a bit random, like, the slices of tomato?  Fairly average ranch dip. ***+.
Cheese and Charcuterie. $35/pp.
"Assorted artisanal cured meats & cheeses."

We also had a basic charcuterie and cheese board to graze on that second night.  I had the triple cream, it was fine.  I prefer more funk, and riper.  ***.

The mortadella though was fantastic.  I appreciated how huge the slices were.  Tender, flavorful, mmmm.  I love good mortadella.  ****.  Second favorite bite from the event.

The $35 per person price seemed quite high, as most people had at most 1-2 bites from here.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The Club, Las Vegas Airport

The Club has two locations in the Las Vegas airport, one in Terminal 3 at the E gates (that I didn't visit) and one at the D gates, which is a satellite terminal accessible by train from either Terminal 1 or Terminal 3.  It is that one that I visited, briefly, when flying out of Las Vegas recently.

I somehow failed to take photos of the actual space, but it is a totally reasonable lounge, fairly large, fairly light filled, with plenty of seating, all different styles.  There was a side room with more comfortable seating, a bar area with seating, a dining area adjacent to the buffet, and more assorted seating along the windows.  Plenty of power and USB outlets.  Wifi worked well.  They even had showers.

I had access through Priority Pass, and there was no wait (mid-week, mid-day).  

Buffet

The buffet at this location is really quite minimal, as the focus is more on made to order items, which I hadn't seen at a Club location before (granted, I've only visited the very ho-hum ones in Boston and in Seattle, and the newly opened fairly impressive one in San Francisco).

In addition to the food, there was a water tap for still or sparkling, and self-serve coffee machine (it did not make hot chocolate, which was quite a sore point with a family there when I arrived).  I didn't see any sodas available.
Basic Salad Bar.
The main offering is a salad bar, with mixed greens, carrots, croutons, red onion, and dressing.  Everything was fairly fresh and vibrant.
Salad Bar Toppings.
They also had tomatoes, pepperoncini, and olives.

And that was it.   No pasta nor potato salad as most Club locations have.  No celery/carrot sticks nor hummus.
Basic Salad.
Still, I made a basic salad.

It really was fine, the greens crispy and not limp nor browning, the tomatoes relatively juicy.  I wasn't unhappy with my simple side salad.  ***+.
Breadsticks & Soup.
As is common in lounges, there was also one soup of the day (garden vegetable) and warm breadsticks.  Kids seemed really into the breadsticks.
Snack Mix.
There was also a trio of snack mixes: milk chocolate raisins, "Sunburst Trail Mix" and "College Crunch", all from Truly Good Foods, who supplies all of the Club locations.

The milk chocolate raisins were standard. The trail mix is basically GORP, but with the addition of almonds. The college crunch was 90% sunflower seeds, some quality control is needed here!

Made to Order

Each table / seat has a QR code to scan to place an order for other food and drinks.
Menu
There were 4 small plates available: one vegan/gf, one vegan, one meat, one chicken.  And just one dessert (brownies, that seem like they could easily just be on the buffet line?  I saw them served to others, and they didn't do anything to embellish them, no whipped cream nor berries nor drizzle of sauce, so really not sure why they weren't just on the buffet).  You were limited to ordering 2 per person.
Hot Italian Slider.
"Ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, hot cherry peppers, pepperoncini on an Italian seasoned brioche bun."

Somehow it felt fancier to order the slider through the mobile ordering.  I realize in retrospect that if this was sitting in a buffet, as is standard for little sandwiches, I would have looked right past it.  But it felt ... special somehow to order it.  Lol.

Anyway, um, yes, it was just a deli meat slider.  Not quite sure what I was expecting.  I think maybe it was supposed to be served hot?  But it was kinda just room temp, with the provolone cheese kinda congealed like it had been melted long ago, pretty unattractive.  Again, I would have looked right past this on a buffet, but now I had it in front of me.  Oops.

Inside, along with the congealed cheese, was a single slice of salami, a single slice of pepperoni, and a piece of ham folded over, along with 3 slices of pepperoncini.  There were no condiments of any kind, no mustard nor mayo, so it was really quite dry.  The deli meats were low grade average.  The bun did have a sprinkle of Italian seasoning on top, but it wasn't particularly flavorful, and didn't taste particularly fresh.

Overall, really lower end buffet quality, even if ordered in a slightly fancy way.  *+.
Vegan Cauliflower Wrap. (Vegan, GF)
"Filled with chili seasoned cauliflower, shredded cabbage, and pico de gallo."

I was moderately excited for the cauliflower wrap, which just happened to be vegan and gluten free.  I go through phases from time to time of really liking cauliflower, generally roasted or grilled.  My brain somehow thought this was going to be battered fried cauliflower, or perhaps buffalo cauliflower style, but it wasn't either of those.  It was just ... as they said, chili seasoned cooked cauliflower.  Lukewarm. With cold pico de gallo, in lettuce.  It lacked anything creamy, it lacked anything for crunch.  Just, boring, very healthy, vaguely Mexican I guess. Eh. **.

I did not try the chicken tacos, nor the bruschetta.

Drinks

Beer, wine, standard cocktails, and a few signature cocktails and mocktails are also available through the app.  These are limited to 1 per person.
Wine List.
The wine list was fairly large, with 3 white, 3 red, and a rose on offer.  All seemed to be in the $10-15 range.
Colby Red Blend.
I went for the red blend, and was given a generous pour.

It was an absolutely fine wine.  Low acid, low tanin, easy to drink.  Not too boring though, a bit of complexity to it.  I was more than happy with it and would get it again.  ***+.
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Monday, April 21, 2025

Border Grill, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

Border Grill is a Mexican restaurant mini-chain that I've heard of before, but never paid any attention to, as Mexican food is really not a cuisine I gravitate towards.  
"Critically acclaimed Modern Mexican cuisine featuring conscientiously-sourced, seasonal fare from Chef/Owners Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger.   Since opening on Melrose in 1985, Border Grill has been renowned for spotlighting sophisticated regional Mexican cuisine. Today, Border Grill has locations in Las Vegas and LAX Airport, multiple sister restaurants, food trucks, and a full-service events and catering business based in Los Angeles."

I did know of it however, probably from seeing locations elsewhere, and seeing the chef-owners on Food Network shows at some point.  Again, not really my thing, but I was recently in Las Vegas for a conference, and Border Grill was chosen by event sponsors multiple nights  to host our happy hours, and thus, I visited, only quasi by choice.

Setting

Border Grill's Las Vegas location is inside Mandalay Bay, closer to the convention center than the hotel areas.
Entrance.
It has an open entrance and dining room to the main hallway, with a lot of foot traffic (particularly during a convention) and thus is pretty loud.
Bar + Dining.
Upstairs is the main bar and dining room, along with a second dining room that can be closed off.  I didn't get a photo of it, but that dining area is where the first event I attended was held.  Very convenient location, and the noise isolation in the private room was a must.
Outside Patio.
"Steps away from Mandalay Beach and the Lazy River, surrounded by trees and string lighting; warmed by heaters in winter."

The second evening I attended an event at Border Grill, it was downstairs, and actually, outside.  Downstairs they have multiple indoor spaces, including several dining rooms or a room with a bar.  Outside, they have a bar area (suitable for groups up to 60 for cocktails and passed appetizers), and a large patio space that can be reserved together or separately.  We had both the outdoor spaces for our event.

I really liked the outside space, as the weather was lovely.

Drinks

The drink menu at Border Grill has a slew of margaritas (everything from the classic blanco to one with guava), cervesas, and sangria as you'd expect, plus a fairly long list of "crafted cocktails".

I attended special events two different nights, and each night had a couple signature cocktails to pick from, rather than a full cocktail menu.  The drinks were the highlight of the evening, both times.
Margarita. $14.
"Tequila blanco, agave nectar, fresh lime."

The first night, I had a margarita.  I'm assuming this was the basic margarita blanco, they were being handed out by servers as you entered, so I wasn't provided details.  It was this or a Corona, my choice was clear.

The margarita was actually pretty good.  Tons of salt on the rim.  Good sour notes, slight sweetness, fairly strong tequila undertones, refreshing.  Made me almost want to consider getting one sometime in the future somewhere, as it had been years since I last had one as they just haven't really been my thing.  It was particularly fitting and refreshing for the hot weather.  ***+.
Special Cocktail.
"Tequila, lime juice, blue curacao."

The second night, there were no pre-made cocktails, but rather a curated list of special cocktails for us to order from at the outdoor bar.  I went for this one, because it both looked cool, and I do like tequila drinks.  

This drink was also pretty good, again, lots of salt on the rim, balanced flavors, and hey, it *looked* cool.  ***+.

Food

Both events I attended were simple happy hour type receptions, not full dinners.  The hosts both nights selected a few passed appetizers for the group, which came out fairly infrequently.  Besides the chips and salsa, the food was fairly limited, which I'm assuming was a decision made by the hosts to keep costs down?  Still, for a 80+ person event, a server coming out with a single tray with only about 8 pieces on it seemed odd.  They never made it more than a few steps into the space, and never came back with a replenished tray.

I had of course scoped out the event menu in advance, to see if there would hopefully be things I was interested in.  Even just for passed appetizers, Border Grill has a huge selection - I think I counted nearly 65 items to pick from!  It is clear they specialize in these kinds of parties, which makes sense, given the location.  The menu is obviously very Mexican, with a slew of mini tostadas, tacos, sopes, tamales, ceviches, empanadas, and skewers, plus ... toasts and sliders.  They have plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free offerings.

 The event menu has a number of appetizers I actually thought sounded fun, like mini lobster corn dogs or butter poached lobster rolls on mini brioche buns, or even cubano sliders, but alas, my hosts for both events didn't pick any of those items (or, at least, I never saw them).  I didn't enjoy any of the food.
Chips & Trio of Salsas. (GF) $4/pp.
"Tomatillo | arbol | smoky chipotle."

Both events I attended had plentiful chips and salsa around, set out on all the tables.  These are also featured on all their regular menus as a starter (NOT complimentary as is common at Mexican restaurants).

Chips and salsa aren't really my thing, but I was pretty hungry, so I tried them.  The chips were very, very average, a surprise for such a well regarded Mexican establishment.  I'd think chips would be something they'd do a bit better than average, but these seemed like they could have easily come from the grocery store.

The smoky salsa was my favorite, it had some nice smoke.  But overall, still pretty average.  **+. 

Event pricing is $4 per person for the provided chips; from the regular menu a serving is $5.
Fish Tostaditas. (GF).  $6/7 piece.
I'm not actually sure which kind of tostada this was.  The server just said "fish", and I assumed it was thus the "Baja Ceviche Tostaditas", which has "lime marinated sustainable seasonal fish & shrimp | tomato | jalapeño aioli", but it also could have been the tuna one, with "ahi tuna | ancho crema | avocado balm | salsa macha".  I couldn't really tell what kind the fish was, nor what the minimal toppings were, and the dot of green could have been jalapeño aioli or avocado balm, as it was too tiny of a dot to really taste.

Anyway, this was not particularly good nor bad.  A very small bite.  The tortilla flavor dominated.  The fish (tuna?) was fine, but there was just not much flavor at all.  Low ***.
Duck Confit Sope. (GF). $5/piece.
"Blue corn masa | fennel and orange slaw | avocado."

The servers came around with two animal proteins next, either lamb tamales (boo, I don't like lamb) or these duck confit sopes.  Duck confit sounded good to me, but I didn't notice until I had started to grab it that it was loaded with avocado, which I'm allergic to.

My allergy isn't severe to avocado though, so I still tried it, just removing the avocado as much as possible.  It had a thick blue corn base, kinda greasy pulled duck, and obviously lots of avocado.  I didn't like any element really, and obviously I'm allergic to avocado, so this one was a fail for me.  *.
Dobladito. $4.50/piece.
"Grilled corn | shishito pepper | mexican cheese | kale | crispy bbq chips | salsa macha aioli."

The dobladito is one of their signature items, a vegetarian quesadilla.  

This had a nice char on the crispy tortilla.  I appreciated the tortilla.  The filling was basic Mexican veggies (corn, peppers, cheese).  I didn't find the bbq chips or salsa macha aioli in mine.  It needed toppings.  **.
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