I always enjoy visiting Daily Grill, particularly for happy hour.  The food is great, the price is right, and the service is what you’d expect for a higher end, sit-down restaurant.  While dinner is a little bit more expensive, the entrée selections are great; I’m a big fan of their rib combos!

So how can something so good get even better?  FREE DESSERT!

In what is likely another move to get folks to eat out more, Daily Grill is giving away the last course of every dinner for free.

But wait, restrictions apply, right?  Yes, there are some restrictions but they are few and far between.  Here’s how it works:

1.       Get an email from Daily Grill for a free dessert.

2.       Print the email and proceed to your local Daily Grill.

3.       Eat dessert.

It’s that easy!

I called the El Segundo office just to confirm I wasn’t missing anything.  Could I use the coupon during happy hour? Yes.  Was there a minimum dollar amount to spend? No.  Can I just walk in, lay my coupon down, eat dessert and then leave!?  That would be rude, but YES!

Eating after 4 PM and dining in are the main rules keeping you in line with this deal.  Oh, you can only use one coupon per table so leave your greedy friends at home.

So now I hope you’re wondering “How do I get the email!?”.  So glad you asked.

Daily Grill recently sent “Free Dessert” emails to members of their anniversary club (which is a great deal and could warrant  an entire blog entry on its own, but I digress).  On the email is a link to send the coupon to friends.  Leave a comment below and I’ll be glad to send you the coupon.  Don’t put your email address in the comment; just fill in the address field.

The only thing I’ll ask for in return is that you please let me know which dessert you ordered.  My favorite is the Key Lime Pie but I’m trying to experience them all, even vicariously!

Daily Grill

2121 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, CA
(310) 524-0700
http://www.dailygrill.com

The Habit Hamburger Grill Comes to El Segundo

Here’s another one for National Hamburger Month.  The folks at The Habit Burger Grill have seen fit to bless the South Bay with a second location of their counter-service style build your own burger joint.

Located at the corner of Sepulveda Blvd and Grand Ave, the new restuarant is filling the spot that was held down by the venerable but dated Grand Ave Cafe.  The Habit joins Chipotle as the second eatery in the new development on the corner.

If this location is anything like the Torrance one, the place will be packed soon after they open.  Stay tuned for reviews!

With the economy in rough shape, the casual and fine dining scenes are becoming a fierce battle ground for customers.  A perfect indication of this is when restuarants add happy hours.  Happy Hours are a great way for restaurants to get people in the door, buying food, drinks, and maybe even an entree.

Flemings, a higher end steakhouse, has just added a happy hour.  The menu, brief but well rounded, features five selections each of cocktails, wines by the glass and appetizers all priced at $6.  The specials are available daily until 7 PM! You can check out their menu here.

Now, I’m not tripping at all on Flemings having a happy hour.  I’m a big fan of discounted food and beverages, particulary at high end places where the service quotient is high.  And with the economy the way it is, I can certainly see them doing what they need to do to increase traffic.

I’m giggling a little though, becuase the last time I was in Flemings, a server there made it seem like happy hour was the last thing they would ever do.  I simply asked if they offered a happy hour.  His reply: “No, we don’t have a happy hour.  We open at 5!”.

As if 5 PM isn’t the perfect time to get the party started!

Anyway, for those of you that are blessed to have the budget to eat out and are looking for a deal, check out Flemings.  I’m sure you’ll get great food and great service…all at a great discount.

Flemings

2301 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245
310-643-6911
http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com

Peace Love & Ice Cream

To show appreciation for their loyal customers (and maybe pull in some new ones!), Ben and Jerry’s is once again offering a free cone.

Today(April 21, 2009) from noon to 8 PM, customers can try something new or one of their old favorites.

Unfortunately, the Manhattan Beach location is no longer open; it closed a while back and converted into a “Pinkberry” style modern day frozen yogurt place.  So if you’re headed out of the South Bay to get your free dose of Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, make the drive to the Howard Hughes Promenade or Long Beach.

Ben & Jerry’s Howard Hughes
Promenade @ Howard Hughes Center
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310-649-1026

Ben & Jerry’s Long Beach II
7559 Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90808
562-627-0051

I know it seems like a chore or a burden to give back to the community or donate to charity or recycle cans and all of that shiny happy world stuff.

Well here’s an opportunity for you to do something to benefit others while doing something you do anyway…buying gorceries!

On Wednesday, April 8, Whole Foods stores in the LA metro area will be donating 5% of their proceeds to KCRW, the community service radio station of Santa Monica College.

This is great for me, because it brings together two things that I enjoy.  The first being Whole Foods (their cheese selection is amazing) and the other being KCRW; I’m a big fan of NPR’s news and the radio show This American Life.  But I am also a slacker that rarely sends cash when pledge time rolls around.  I’ve contributed twice in the many, many years I recall listening to public radio.

On Wednesday, I’ll have a chance to sort of make ammends.  I’ll buy some cheese (and maybe a nice bottle of wine, and some other goodies to go along with it) and feel good knowing that I’m helping out my community.

I hope you’ll follow suit!

Several locations in the South Bay.  Click here to find yours.

Apple-tini, anyone?

After visiting the new Melting Pot in Torrance on opening night, I was sold. Good food, great service, and a location that is just as much sexy as it is classy. Talking with the owner that night, I learned that the Pasadena location has a Girl’s Night Out special that comes around every now and then. Of course, we asked if it they would have it in Torrance. After a few month delay, Girls Night Out is here!

On Tuesday, February 24th, from 5-9 PM you can enjoy a four course fondue meal for $32…if you’re a woman.

You can Get all the details online at their website.

In case you missed the ad during the Super Bowl, Denny’s is giving away free Grand Slam meals (2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon, 2 pieces of sausage, and 2 pancakes) on Tuesday, February 3, from 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. It has the standard caveats: valid for dine-in only & at participating restaurants while supplies last.

Choose from any of the local Denny’s in the map below (courtesy of Google Maps):

View Larger Map
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I’m always excited when a new grocery store comes to town and Fresh & Easy was no exception.  Their Manhattan Beach location opened last July and I’ve been a fan ever since. 

The store is much smaller than your typical grocery store but has everything you’d need if you’re just running in to grab something or shopping for a week’s worth of meals.  The prices are great too, often less than the big guys or just as comparable.   All check out lanes are self check out which is great for breezing in, getting what you need, and getting out quickly.  I’ve seen the lines back up on the weekends but they also have a “just a few items or less” line.

I usually head in at lunch time to peruse the pre-made selections in the front cooler.  They have sandwhiches, salads, and deserts priced from $1 to $4.  The next cooler over has beverages with juices, teas, and soft drinks.  I picked up lunch there today and was very pleased with my turkey club wrap, carrot cake, and Moroccan style mint tea.  Total bill was around $6.

Grill Pack and Tarurino 18 can case

The store has great deals all around but two in particular always catch my eye, the grill pack and the Taurino beer.  The grill pack is a nice touch for cook outs or parties which is why its usually specially priced around grilling holidays and the Super Bowl.  Its has everything you need to get your grill satisfaction on with hamburgers, sausages, and chicken.  The Taurino is a nice touch too since you can pick up a tasty, resonably priced beer at the same time as your proteins.  Taurino is comparable to Corona but slightly lighter in my opinion. 

If you’re planning to do some shopping at Fresh & Easy, be sure to take along this coupon!  Its good for a free canvas bag with purchase of $10 or more.  Sure the value of the bag is only 10% of the minimum purchase price but hey, its free and if you actually use it you might help the planet a bit.

Get a free Fresh & Easy Canvas Bag...groceries not included!

Two South Bay locations, both open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM:

ROSECRANS & AVIATION
1700-C Rosecrans Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 536-9807

PALOS VERDES & WESTERN
26640 Western Avenue, Suite E
Harbor City, CA 90710
(310) 325-1546

Quoting dineLA’s website, “dineLA Restaurant Week is a two-week dining event established to introduce local foodies and visitors to the vast array of restaurants in neighborhoods throughout LA County”. Restaurants all over LA county offer fixed priced menus, with three courses for lunch or dinner. This is a great opportunity for the foodies and casual diners alike to try out a variety of dishes, perhaps at a place they might not otherwise visit. On the other hand, its also a chance to get a great deal at what could be a favorite place to eat. For more information on the participating restaurants, the price levels, and more, check out the South Bay Foodies Restaurant Week page. While you’re at it, check out our exclusive Restaurant Week map!

The Line Up

Like last years line up, most of the participating restaurants for 2009 are located in Downtown LA, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. We’ve got ten places to choose from locally, though, with more not far away in Long Beach and Culver City.

Returning from last year are Baleen in Redondo; Cafe Pacific at Trump National in PV; Encounter at LAX; Ports O’ Call in San Pedro; and the El Segundo branch of the high class chain-pub, Daily Grill.

New to RW in the South Bay are Chart House in Redondo Beach; El Pollo Inka Peruvian in Gardena; Whale & Ale in San Pedro; the swank Sashi Sushi & Sake Lounge in Manhattan Beach; and the upscale steak chain, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in El Segundo.

For whatever reason, four South Bay restaurants dropped off the RW list for 2009 so our local ops didn’t grow but stayed about the same. Add on the locations in nearby Long Beach and Culver City, though (and of course the others all over LA), and RW still provides a tasty challenge for even the hungriest diners.

dineLA 2009

SPECIAL INAUGURATION 25% OFF
THIS MONDAY AND TUESDAY ONLY.
Celebrate history in the making.

25% OFF YOUR DINNER
This Monday and Tuesday only take 25% off your final bill.
With the minimum purchase of two entrees, not valid with any other discount or discounted gift certificates. Offer expires 1/21/2009

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse
207 N. Harbor Drive
Redondo Beach, California 90277

http://www.sambaredondo.com/

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse