Chili's Capitola Mall

If you have read some of my other reviews on this blog, you know there's high-end places like West End and Laili's and there's not so high end. This is one of the latter.

Chili's

Chili's is at the Capitola Mall and it's near the main entrance. There's a nice sports bar on one side and a sit-down restaurant on the other. My daughter loves to go there - maybe because it will usually include mall shopping too. She's a sneaky one!

One thing I love is value. And the Chili's endless chips and salsa is all about value. For $3.29, you get a never-ending supply of this appetizer. The chips are warm, thin and crispy. The salsa is smooth and not too spicy in a ranchera style. You finish one tray and they bring you another. You want some to take home and they give you a bagful. It's pretty fantastic!

Kelly's favorite dish bar none is the Chicken Crispers ($10.19) which includes fries, corn on the cob and dipping sauce. She said the corn wasn't soggy (like other places - KFC) and tasted fresh. The chicken was crunchy and meaty - what more could you want? She devoured it in record time. You'd think the chips would have slowed her down.

I got a bowl of chili ($5.29 - hey, it's named after that!), but was saddened by the shallow bowl. The flavor was okay, but not very spicy. I had trouble identifying the chunks of meat vs. peppers vs. beans since they were all just brown and mushy. The cheese did not add much taste either. This is school cafeteria food. Sad panda.

I had a coupon for a free dessert with any entree and Kelly's chicken qualified. Get on their email list to get these sweet deals, people! The Chocolate Molten Cake (normally $6.79) had vanilla ice cream on top and fudge and caramel sauce all over it. Inside was a fudgy sauce that oozed out when broken into - OMG. I'm at the age when I try to justify eating this, calculating the amount of sit-ups and how long to hit the treadmill. My daughter laughed and dug right in. Oh, to be a teenager again!

Have you seen these? There was a small touchscreen computer at each table and you could order more drinks and food from them. Also, games like Bejeweled and Zuma's Revenge to while you wait for your order. At the end of our meal, the waiter said we could slide a credit card on it and pay. It also will calculate the tip and print a receipt or email it to you. Modern tech! Is this the future of dining??

I view Chili's as a place to grab a quick bite before a mall trip, not a dining destination. Their menu is geared more towards kids and sports bar fare, instead of Mexican food. The chili was very underwhelming, but the chips and salsa were great. Without kids, I'd only come back here to watch a Niner game.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 5
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Value for price: 6 (just chips = 10)
Overall: 6

Oak & Rye Pizza - Los Gatos

Today's review comes to you from the charming little town of Los Gatos, California. Only a few miles over Highway 17 from Santa Cruz, you take the first (left!) exit into the heart of its downtown. Parking is always a challenge, but I like the lot behind Pizza My Heart. That way, you can walk the length of downtown, peeking into shops and many good places to eat.

Oak & Rye website

So even though this place has "pizza" in its name, it's more like a bistro. Comfy and eclectic decor, cocktails, wine and beer, brunch on the weekends... They have a wood-fire oven for delicious pizza, but check out these small plates:

Wow, I have never had this before - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad ($8). It's just the sprouts, romano cheese, lemon juice and olive oil but it was amazing! So light and airy like a cloud. I know this vegetable isn't everyone's favorite, but if you like them, I highly recommend this simple, yet delicious dish.

The Homemade Pretzel ($6), served with beer cheese and wholegrain mustard, was also wonderful. You could do just this and the salad above for a dinner for one! The pretzel was soft and warm, with a buttery and slightly salty taste. It was great even without the cheese and mustard.

Next up was the Chili Verde Fries ($12) with pork shoulder, pickled onions, jalapenos, smoked sour cream and cheese. This was okay, but I found the flavors didn't meld well together. Some bites were very spicy and others were just plain. I guess some effort could be made to incorporate all the ingredients in each bite. Maybe a melted sauce over it would help.

Now the main course, a pizza called Scottie 2 Hottie ($17). This beauty had tomato, basil, mozzarella, honey, Italian ham and pepperchino oil. It had a this crispy, but chewy crust, which was perfect. I really like the burnt edges too for nice flavor. The oil and honey gave a spicy and sweet experience. For $17, I would've liked a bigger serving, but I guess you are paying for the quality toppings. Still a thumbs up.

I also got the burger special ($15) of the night (Mondays are burger night) and it was glorious. They make the sesame seed brioche buns in house and it's light and chewy. The burger is very fresh with beef, brisket and short ribs mix. Cooked to perfection and served with homemade potato chips. It's worth circling that day on your calendar.

There's outdoor seating and inside is a hip, causal vibe. You can sit at the bar or indoor tables. I had a few very tasty Mama's Little Yella Pilsner in a can ($3.50) and was not disappointed. Not an everyday eatery, unless you are on Bill Gates' good side, but quite nice for a special occasion.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 8
Value for price: 6
Overall: 7.25