DINNER: Sunflower cafe

Sunflower's Web site

I’ve heard about this place for years (mostly from the teachers at little C’s school) and after hearing that DC was going to skip a week, I decided to give the Sunflower café in Fair Oaks a whirl. I had heard AMAZING things about this mostly vegan place, so I asked Bernadette to join us so she could weigh in as well. This place is a kin to a drive-in — picnic tables outside and one long family style table inside the place. It’s super cute, just be prepared for the picnic style dining and take a look at the weather before you go since it's mostly outside. The menu includes things like veggie burgers, burritos, smoothies and the like. I had the black bean burrito — simple and natural; and it hit the spot. Just as you would expect, it was filled with black beans, sprouts, bosmotti rice and other natural goodies. Claire opted for the kids bean and cheese burrito - which came with a drink and a fruit leather. Our entire meals cost less than $10! Sweet. We began our dining adventure outside, where two rather large roosters greeted us. I don’t spend a lot of time in the city of Fair Oaks, but it seems that chickens, roosters and turkeys walking around is a daily and common occurrence around town. So, at first miss C liked the roosters.... until one jumped up on the table and snatched a piece of her burrito right out of her hands! Then, we promptly moved to the table inside that was rooster-free. B had the falafel which I had a bite of and determined was excellent. Be on the look out for her blog on this place. We will definitely be going back — but will keep the roosters in mind when we choose our seating!

DINNER: Hot Italian, Bernadette's take

Hot Italian's Web site

So ... Dinner Club had its first night out on the town. (We've actually all been out together, but this is the first outing on official Dinner Club business.) That in itself was fun -- a nice change. Our agreed upon restaurant was Hot Italian. First, I love the name. Second, interesting set up with the motorcycles and bikes and related apparel. Third, great pizza. Fourth, service was pretty good except our waitress had no knowledge of the wine list. Fifth, delicious gelato (that you can sample before ordering -- I tasted Ferraro Rocher, Pistachio and Dark Chocolate -- all were yummy). Sixth, the decor -- aside from the bike section -- is pretty sparse and monochromatic. Seventh, well ... that's about it -- there's not much else to Hot Italian. Oh, since no one knew anything about the wine menu, we chose a bottle of red from Super Umbria because we liked that it had "super" in the name. It wasn't bad.

LUNCH: The Counter - Custom Built Burgers

The Counter's Web site

Burgers ... everything a growing boy needs. My wife and I go to Whole Foods in Roseville every week because, oddly enough, the Whole Foods out there is a quicker trip for us (in Natomas) than the one on Arden. However, I don't mind going out to Roseville since right next to the Whole Foods is the newly minted The Counter (a.k.a. John's reward for chauffeuring his wife to Whole Foods). On the menu are burgers and...well, there may be other things on the menu, but who cares? The burgers are phenomenal, so why look at anything else? You can choose one of their tempting Signature Burgers, but why do that when you can exercise your creativity and adventurous streak and Build Your Own? The list of options is dizzying. You choose your meat, size and bread ... and then we get into the fun stuff. Want grilled pineapple, guacamole AND a fried egg on your burger? You got it (but that example sounds kinda gross, I only used it for emphasis). I've been to The Counter a few times and have settled on my favorite toppings: jalapenos, chilies, Dill pickles, fried onions and honey cured bacon. (Of course I don't put all of these on at the same time, it just depends on my mood.) Oh, and cheese, of course -- there are about 10 types from which to choose. Bernadette ordered the (boring) Counter Burger and wasn't crazy about the sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. Another time she ordered something with Gruyere cheese and carrots (weird) -- which she really enjoyed. Once, my sister Casey was on a diet and ordered a Chicken Burger -- which she ate but she was really drooling over our beef burgers. As for sides, I highly recommend the sweet potato fries. They have just the right amount of crunch to offset the juicy burger. And don't even think about dessert -- just order one of the shakes. They'll make them right there using a real milkshake machine. The only downside with The Counter is that it's always busy. (Even though there are several empty tables, they still tell us it'll be a 30-minute wait. Not sure why.) If there's only two of you, you can probably snag a seat at the counter -- which is the best place to sit. And, one more bit of advice: show up hungry.

DINNER: La Fiesta Mexican

We have been going to this place for years now to satisfy our craving for authentic Mexican food. When you need a night to throw healthy out the window and relax with some chips, salsa and margarita's this place fits the bill. Located right on 65th street, this spot offers no-frills, friendly and quick service. They do have a small bar so if you are in the mood to watch a game with a plate of nachos it's doable here. Claire loves the decor and recently discovered the chicklet machine by the front door. I ALWAYS have the veggie burrito served "wet" and I devour it each time. Full of beans, Mexican rice, guac, and all the extras, it's a steal at only $5.99. Chris has been known to get the steak burrito or quesadilla and has usually been happy with the very generous portion. The menu is pretty big, with all the items that come to mind - enchiladas, combo plates, tacos, you get it. It seems to be a family run business, which is always nice to support in these hard times. So the next time you are in East Sacto and want to grub on some good Mexican, check out La Fiesta Mexican.

DINNER: Woody's Grill & Bar

Woody's Grill & Bar Web site

Now I know what you are thinking... Woody's? Really? Well not all dinners have to be filled with fruity cocktails and fancy apps. The family was running errands and Claire was reaching her breaking point unless she was able to have a hog dog soon. Well, we were on Watt Avenue, so Woody's fit the bill. I have to say, I wasn't expecting very much of this place but was pleasantly surprised (don't get too excited, though). It had a large bar area with flat screens viewable from your table --- a plus since NCAA basketball is in full force. Claire liked the island themed decorations and that kept her entertained until her precious dog arrived. Woody's menu is what you would expect, burgers, dogs, salads, fish tacos... you get it. Chris was able to choose between two hefferveisens. Claire had apple juice with unlimited refills (always a plus). Chris was in the mood for a burger and had a nice selection to choose from --- he said the onion mushroom burger hit the spot, which came along with endless steak fries which everyone (me) enjoyed. Claire had a corn dog from the kids menu which also came with fries. For me, on the other hand, it was a bit more tricky. Being a pescotarian, I figured I would have one or two options at most. A had the taco salad with shrimp --- it was HUGE! Topped with gauc, olives, beans, tomatoes, salsa: in the biggest taco shell I'd seen in a while. They did have a yummy veggie burger option that I'd probably get next time. One warning: Do not eat here if attempting to diet. I usually try to eat healthy and this place did not have any options to fit that need. I would estimate that even my taco "salad" had a good 1000 calories in it. I guess it's all about portion control, right? We walked out with a $30 bill - and gave our server a generous tip because he was caring and attentive to Claire, which isn't something I always see a family-friendly joints.

DINNER: Masullo Pizza - with the kids

Masullo's Web site

Last night the whole family tried Masullo Pizza on Riverside Blvd. with a friend, her husband and their two year old girl. My friend had raved about this place and had been several times, so we decided to try it with them in order to fulfill a long over due dinner date. It's located in what appears to be a pretty lonely looking strip mall, close to Riverside Clubhouse. It's minimalist looking with concrete floors and long darkwood tables with mostly benches to sit on. The place is small, probably could seat 30 people. Since we had two 2 year-olds with us I wasn't expecting anything fancy and this place certainly met that requirement. They did have hi-chairs available but we opted to let the kids climb around on the benches (and tables). As they were getting squirrelly after a long day of Montessori daycare and waiting for the pizza - my friend and I took the girls over to see the open kitchen: with complete viewing of the pizzas being made and placed into the wood burning oven. This was a plus in keeping them entertained. The menu was simple: a few standard Italian starters, green salads, olive plate, the usual. The pizzas were all individual sized. Probably a good 12 inches but a VERY thin crust. I promised myself that I wouldn't eat the whole thing, but after giving a slice or two to Claire and my husband - my plate was empty. I was impressed by their selections: mine was topped with red onion, goat cheese, oyster mushrooms and mozzarella. However, if you are craving a deep dish or even normal thickness pizza, this is not your place. Overall I enjoyed the experience, but I would not go here to satisfy a heavy pizza craving. As for kid friendly - the open kitchen was a good distraction while waiting for our food to arrive, but all the concrete and openness made it loud when the girls got rambunctious.

DINNER: Malabar (Natomas)

Malabar's Web site

Unless I'm craving a burger, Malabar is not my top choice for a meal. However, when I don't feel like going downtown, this dressy diner hits the spot since it's close to my Natomas home. The burgers are pretty good. And probably the best reason to go to Malabar. Sometimes I'll meet fellow Natomas dwellers for a drink at Malabar (when we have some serious girl talk to cover and care more about convenience than the quality of our drinks and apps). The garden-variety wine list is lacking, but the atmosphere isn't bad for a suburban restaurant. The bar is sizable, which is a good thing since it's often crowded in the evenings. Last time I dined at Malabar, I tried the Mahi Mahi. I ate everything on my plate because I was starving -- not because it was delicious. I'd give it a C+. We also tried the coconut prawns, which were small, dry and flavorless. Even the dipping sauce was bland (and likely comprised of canned or highly processed ingredients). One of my dinner companions ordered the Reuben sandwich and gave that a thumbs up. The rest of the group ordered burgers and were very satisfied. On past visits, I tried salads. The Caesar wasn't great. The Thai Beef was OK. Once I tried the portobella appetizer. It was pretty good but that's because it was smothered in cheese. I'd rank Malabar as a first-rate family-friendly diner. It has yummy burgers and sandwiches and comfy booths. But if you're hungry for fresh seafood or a salad, go downtown.

DINNER: Chevy's (Howe Avenue)

Chevy's Web site

I know what you're thinking Chevy's....fine dining experience? Well, when you have a two year old, a long Thursday at work, a coupon (buy one entree at regular price and receive the second for $3.99) and a need for a margarita, this is the place! It's quick, simple and there are no surprises. Total cost, including tax and tip, for the three of us was $40. Ate Once we sit down, we order a side plate of rice and beans for my little one and it arrives in three minutes. My wife and I order our Corona or Margarita. I ate the steak burrito...nothing to get excited about...and my wife had the sizzling shrimp salad which was terrific. Now I'm not saying I would go to Chevy's for my fifth wedding anniversary (unless I'm looking for a kick in the a#% from my wife) but we've been receving these coupons in the mail and with our two year old, it makes a lot of economic sense in these times.

BRUNCH: Left Bank Restaurant in Larkspur

Taking a trip to Marin County? I recommend Left Bank for Brunch. Great area for hikes, shopping and just hanging out. Ate Brunch with wife Leslie, a 2-year old, my parents and brother on Sunday. Food was exceptional! Service always great! Think French food meets California Bistro. Small plates dominate the menu. Dishes are unique and seasonally oriented. Started with platter of foie gras. Then ate the salade lyonnaise. Other dishes at the table that were yummy: steak and fries ("frites"), salade nicoise, salmon. My 2-year-old chowed down on a hot dog and fries. Family friendly for brunch and can be fancy for dinner. Pros: outdoor seating for people watching....quick and friendly service.....french food at reasonable prices.....Cons: it's a drive.....