Salsa's Scotts Valley

This will be a quick review since time is running fast and I'm trying to catch up! But better a quick one than nothing. As the song says "A little bit is better than nada..."

Salsa's (somebody please update me!)

Remember where KFC was on Mt. Hermon Road on the way out of SV? Salsa's took over more than a year ago and yes, they still have a drive-thru window. We decided to go in to check out the interior. It was nice and no hints of a fast-food chicken place. Upon entering, there's several barstools and a full bar on the right. Many margaritas are born there. Further up is the cashier and a salsa bar. There's 10 or so tables inside with TVs on the wall and a nice patio out back. We decided to enjoy the sun out there.

We love Mexican food, so it was only a matter of time before we ate here. My go-to Mexican is nachos ($8.95), so I ordered mine with grilled chicken. Would Colonel Sanders be proud?

Si, senor! Mega-loaded with beans, chips and cheese, the meal was very generous. The toppings were fresh and the chicken was cooked well. I added some of the tomatillo salsa to make it even better. This plate was a winner!

She got two shredded chicken tacos with rice and beans ($7.95). She liked the crunchy taco shells and filing but said the chicken could have been better. Not enough flavor. But it looked good and was a nice portion.

There are a handful of Mexican restaurants in SV, Maya's, some taquerias, Cafe Carlos, and Salsa's is as good as any of them. I liked the outside patio option for sunny days and the salsa bar to choose your own. Maybe some bigger salsa bowls, but I can understand why they aren't. Just get a table close by for frequent trips.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 6
Service: n/a (order and they bring it to you)
Atmosphere: 8
Value for price: 7
Overall: 7

Greek Spot - Sunnyvale

Hello kittens and kaboodles! It is time for another installment in the Santa Cruz Food Blog. I've been driving all around the South Bay these days and found a new place to write up. If you ever are in Sunnyvale and are feeling Mediterranean, you should try the Greek Spot!

Website

On the corner in a strip mall, you will find them at El Camino Real and Mary Ave. Julie and I were looking for a quick bite before a comedy show at Rooster T. Feathers, which was just up the street. We both like Greek food and Yelp said it was good. Let's put it to the test!

All the classic Greek dishes were represented. I appreciated the pictures of the food listed hanging below the menu. Julie opted for the Lamb Gyro and I wanted the Special Plate with chicken. As a treat, we also got the Spanakopita appetizer. You order at the front counter and then they bring you the food at your table. Everything inside was blue and white with pictures and souvenirs from Greece.

The Spanakopita ($5.99) came out first and looked good, but was too hot to eat right away. When I finally did tempt fate and take a bite, thankfully it was manageable. The crispy outer layer was perfect with the spinach and feta cheese interior. I wished there were more in the basket.

The Lamb Gyro ($7.49) was plentiful and big. Red onion, lettuce, tomato were all there and some French fries too! Julie thankfully offered me a bite, which I took whole-heartedly. Wonderful!

My Special plate ($10.99) was very full with a chicken skewer, rice, pita bread and a nice salad. A little Tzatziki sauce on the side filled it out, but the container was too small. The chicken was nicely cooked. The best part was the salad, which had cucumbers, olives, onions and feta. Not bad!

The place was about half full on the Saturday night we were there. It was mostly clean, but we noted the floors were a bit dirty. Maybe they don't sweep up during the day? The food was good quality, so maybe next time, we'll get it to go. There's not much to make you want to eat in.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 7
Service: n/a
Atmosphere: 5
Value for price: 7
Overall: 6