KFC franchisee KBP Brands is sending positive vibes to customers directly to their phones. In a partnership with a company called, appropriately enough, Vibes, it is providing local store information via text message. Through SMS and mobile wallet via it can send targeted messages to customers based on menu preferences, specials, pricing tier, demographics and competitive … [Read more...]
Prince Street Pizza Brings New York Style – And New York Crust – To San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger Ever since I moved to Southern California, I would hear transplanted New Yorkers say – complain, really – that "you can't get good pizza here!" They would talk about the pH level in the water and the dough not being the same and oh, by the way, the bagels aren't the same here as they are in New York, either. Again it's the … [Read more...]
These California Restaurants Make Michelin’s Bib Gourmands Guide
The MICHELIN Guide California has added 15 restaurants to its list of 141 Bib Gourmands locations in the state. What is a Bib Gourmand restaurant, you ask? Named after Gourmand, the "MICHELIN Man" mascot, it recognizes restaurants where you can get two courses and a glass of wine or a dessert for $49 or less. “Food lovers can get a taste of cuisines from around the world … [Read more...]
San Diego’s Bleu Bohème Restaurant Christmas Eve Dinner
San Diego's award-winning French restaurant Bleu Bohème is having a three-course, prix fixe dinner and cocktail, on Christmas Eve. And running from 4-8 p.m., it's early enough to get back home to wonder what's in all those packages under the tree that you can't open until the next day. The dinner, created by owner and executive chef, Ken Irvine and costing $75 per person, … [Read more...]
Restaurants With Live Performances
There are a lot of great restaurants with live performances in town. Whether you're looking for a romantic night out or an evening filled with entertainment, these places have got you covered. From jazz clubs to Mexican cantinas, here are some of the best spots in town for enjoying a meal and some good music. So grab your date or your friends and head to one of these fabulous … [Read more...]
I Had Breakfast At Scotty’s On The Strand Hermosa Beach And Here’s What I Thought Of It
By The Kevbeaux, PubClub.com Hermosa Beach Blogger It had been so long since I went to Scotty's On The Strand in Hermosa Beach, CA, that I could not remember the last time I ate there. I don't really have a reason for not going there, other than the fact that it's "always there and I can go there anytime" that so many of us say about so many things close to us. I do … [Read more...]
Mr. Sorehead: Waiters In Fancy Restaurants Who Talk With An Intentional Thick Accent
By Mr. Sorehead, PubClub.com Lifestyle Blogger Dining out can be both a rewarding and frustrating experience. Mostly, I like casual places but on occasion it's great to go out for a really good meal at a nice restaurant. The problem with the latter is that they are often staffed by waiters who speak with a thick accent that nobody whom is not from that country can … [Read more...]
P.F. Chang’s Launches Flagship Location in Hawaii
Honolulu restaurant offers unique menu items and distinct ambiance SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--P.F. Chang’s today announced the opening of its Royal Hawaiian location as an upgraded flagship restaurant. The dining destination was the focus of significant investment recently completing a 6-month renovation, resulting in significant upgrades to design, décor and ambiance … [Read more...]
Food For Thought: Breaking Down San Diego U-T’s ‘Best Of’ List
Chewing On The Union-Tribune's Best Burgers, Fish Tacos, Steakhouse & MicroBrewery By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger I always love it when newspapers and other publications put out a "Best Of" list. They provide moments of "hmmm," a few thoughts of "I need to check out that place," but mainly the question of "what were they thinking!?" And … [Read more...]
The San Diego Blogger: Roberto’s Taco Shop, The Original
Enjoying A San Diego Tradition With A View Of The Beach By Kevin Wilkerson, The San Diego Blogger Whenever my friends James and Heather Hills dial me up and ask if I would like to go somewhere with them, I jump at the chance. As I pointed out in this San Diego Blogger post, they are taking this relative newcomer around the city and showing me lots of places to … [Read more...]
Where To Eat In Little Italy San Diego – Check Out The Food Hall
Eating Our Way Through These Restaurants While Soaking Up The Italian Atmosphere By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger Little Italy is one of the coolest places in San Diego. With people strolling around India Street and the main plaza, it makes you feel as if you are in a lively section of an Italian city. It is also home to most of San Diego's … [Read more...]
Outdoor Dining In San Diego Extended Into 2022
City Council Allows Outside Seating Into Next Summer By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger The great outdoors is going to be great for San Diego restaurant owners and diners for another year. On May 18, the City Council voted to extend an ordinance that allows restaurants and bar/restaurants to have outdoor dining and drinking in the streets in … [Read more...]
How To Tell If A Restaurant Customer Is Going To Dine & Dash – Spotting Key Symptoms
Signs A Person Or Group Is Planning On Leaving A Restaurant Without Paying By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Food Blogger I was in the Greek Islands on a lazy late afternoon, and my friend and two friends had just plopped down at the first taverna we spotted. We were hot, tired and hungry, having had nothing to eat to that point as we had just arrived by … [Read more...]
The Pros And Cons Of Contactless Payments At Bars & Restaurants
Why Ordering & Paying Via A QR Code Isn't Always Ideal For Customers By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Blogger A server approached our table and before we could ask anything she instructed us to point our smartphone cameras at the QR code on the table. My friends and I had the same "ugg, another waitress-less, contact-less encounter at a … [Read more...]
Outdoor Dining Is Back In California And Here’s Why That’s A Good Thing
The Nightlife Blogger Rejoices That We Can Eat Outside Again outdoor dining, California, restaurants, Gavin Newsom By The Nightlife Blogger, PubClub.com We can eat outside again! Our embattled governor – more than 1.5 million Californians have signed a recall petition against Gavin Newsom for his restrictive and ever-changing COVID-19 policies – has reversed … [Read more...]
How San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Restaurants Are Adapting To The Purple Tier
More Outdoor Seating And Heat Lamps Are Critical For Survival By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger The sound of construction is echoing through the San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. It is not, however, coming from hotels, apartments and condos being built. Instead, it is on streets and sidewalks in front of the restaurants, as those businesses are … [Read more...]
Popular Din Tai Fung Dumplings & Noodles Restaurant Opens At ARIA Las Vegas
Taiwanese Restaurant Features 'Small Miracles' Of Food The popular Din Tai Fung, celebrated from Taipei to Los Angeles for perfecting the art of the Xiao Long Bao, has come to ARIA Las Vegas. The legacy of Din Tai Fung dates back to Taiwan 1972 when Mr. Bing-Yi Yang transformed his simple cooking oil shop to focus on what was then an increasingly popular food item … [Read more...]
Tivoli Bar & Grill Has The Best Burger In The San Diego Gaslamp
V By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger I should have started here first. After going around the Gaslamp Quarter to various restaurants and bars to locate the best burger in this part of San Diego, I found it. It is at Tivoli Bar & Grill. This should not really have come as much of a surprise to me because through the years, I have learned that … [Read more...]
What To Expect In Restaurants When The COVD-19 Shutdown Ends
Social Distancing & Limited Hours Will Change Eating-Out Habits By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Food Blogger The excitement of going out to eat again is an appealing thought to many people locked up in this #stayhome time. But what diners expect and what they experience is likely to be completely different. Here’s what to expect when the restaurants open … [Read more...]
Restaurants To Offer More Delivery And Take-Out Service In 2020
'Ghost Kitchens' To Be A Top Industry Trend The power of Neflix, the abundance of sports of TV and other in-home entertainment options are having a tremendous effect on the restaurant industry and one of the top trends in 2020 will be more restaurants offering take-out and even delivery service. They have to, or they may not be in business at the end of the … [Read more...]
Back Bay Bistro Newport Beach A Scenic & Delicious Lunch Destination
A California Restaurant Where The Food Meets The View By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Blogger When the food meets the view, then you know you've got something in a restaurant. And both are great at the Back Bay Bistro along the back bay at Newport Dunes in Newport Beach, CA. Located next to a boat ramp with stand-up paddleboarders silently slapping along the … [Read more...]
Five Crowns Restaurant Tasty Spring 2017 Menu Food Blogger Review
Tri Tip, Grilled Octopus, Halibut & #CheeseLover Cheeses & Creative Cocktails By Kevin Wilkerson, PuClub.com Blogger I have long known of the Five Crowns restaurant in Corona del Mar as a place for fine dining, but had never actually been to it until I went to sample its new spring menu. And while I could barely get past the cheese table, I was at least as … [Read more...]
Ruby’s Diner Considers Adding Cocktails To Resturant Menu
Bloody Mary, Moscow Mule, Mai Tai, Margarita & Mojito Help Celebrate 35th Birthday When you think of Ruby's Diner, you think of a 50s cafe, burgers, fries and shakes. You certainly don't think of it as a place to go for beer, wine and cocktails. But that may change as the chain of diners, predominately in Southern California coastal towns, is experimenting with a … [Read more...]
Why Restaurants’ Instagram Food Photos Can Be Deceiving
When Great-Looking Tacos Give Way To A Great Burger By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Blogger I was lured - deceived as it turns out – to a restaurant/bar in Manhattan Beach, CA, by one of its photos on Instagram. The photo showed three delicious-looking tacos and was accompanied by text that said "3 tacos for $5 and $5 margaritas all day." As it was lunchtime, a … [Read more...]
Dine Out Long Beach 2016 Serves Up Restaurant Week
Week-Long Event Features Lunch & Dinner Deals After a successful first year, DIne Out Long Beach is back for 2016. The dates for the week-long event are Feb. 28-March 5. It is sponsored by Gazette Newspapers. Dine Out Long Beach showcases restaurants from across the city, among them Open Sesame, Brix at The Shore; Fuego at Hotel Maya; Russo’s Ristorante & … [Read more...]
The $45 Free Dinner: A Food Blogger’s Experience
How A Comped Meal Cost Nearly 50 Bucks Here's how I got a free dinner at an outstanding restaurant yet it still wound up costing me $45. And before I start, I'm not complaining. It's common for comped dinners for journalists and food bloggers to cost you some money. That's because unless you are part of a group with a PR person, you're expected to tip. And because … [Read more...]
Switzerland Travel Blog: Hiking To A Restaurant In The Swiss Alps
A Great Meal In The Middle Of A Meadow By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger The day was lovely. Not the kind of stunning lovely day one might expect to find in late summer in Switzerland – clouds kept us from seeing the famous reflection of the Matterhorn shining in a pond, the image which has graced a thousand postcards – but lovely none-the-less. We were … [Read more...]
San Juan Restaurants Guide From Fine To Dining Cheap Eats
From Fine Dining to Food Stands & Authentic Puerto Rican Cuisine San Juan may not be the dining destination of, say a San Francisco. But it does have many fine restaurants to keep one's pallet pleased for the length of their San Juan stay. Two main areas are filled with choices to fill the stomach. Calle Reciento Sur, the street just two blocks from the … [Read more...]
Wine Tasting In The South Bay Goes From Bottle Inn To Baleen To FishBar
A Tasting By The Beach, Half-Priced Wines By The Harbor And Reverse Happy Hour I went on a wine tasting tour recently in California. It was not in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez Valley or even Monterey or Mendocino County. Instead, it was a tour of my own design and right here where I live, in the South Bay Beach Cities of Los Angeles. Inspired by a Tweet … [Read more...]
Whiskey Tasting Dinner At Five Crowns Restaurant Corona Del Mar
Five-course Meal Being Paired With Gordon & MacPhail Scotch Whiskeys Five Crowns in Corona del Mar, CA, is having a Scotch whiskey dinner. On Monday, March 4, it's having a a five-course meal created by Chef Greg Harrison with select whiskey pairings for each dish from the award-winning Gordon & MacPhail and their personal distillery, Benromach. Derek Hancock, … [Read more...]