Foodie Review: Lazy Dog Cafe Open Doors in Cerritos, CA.

Lazy Dog Cafe is a new chain that’s been launching in the greater So. California area. Created by the team that launched Mimi’s Cafe, the Lazy Dog Cafe it meant to compete head to head with Claim Jumper, Macaroni Grill and California Pizza Kitchen in terms of demographics. What makes this particular restaurant special is that it has a diverse menu with a reasonable price range (very much competitive with the other chains in that sector).

The Lazy Dog Cafe is located within the Cerritos Mall next door to the new Nordstrom store and my SO (significant other) and I went to the soft opening for media and friends on a Saturday evening and we were surprised that the parking lot was packed, the mall was busy and people who were walking by the restaurant wanted to go in– but it was a closed event. Lucky us that we got a chance to check out this restaurant that was entirely a new entity for me.

The welcome was warm and friendly and we were seated quickly. At 5 PM the restaurant was filling up and it was a Ralph Lauren-infused mountain cabin atmosphere. It was cozy, warm and inviting and I was very glad to sit down and see a cocktail menu. With a blonde ale and a pomegranate martini along with the Hummus Trio appetizer, a tasty treat that featured walnut pesto, sundried tomato and traditional hummus served with flatbread, tomatoes and cucumber slices.

The Hummus Trio appetizer and the Pomegranate Martini in the background

Sensational, fun, and the walnut pesto hummus was my favorite. Now you might be wondering why there are 2 red scoops of hummus and only one white one. Someone missed a scoop and popped on the wrong one and as soon as it hit our table and we had our first bite, a server came out and brought us the walnut pesto that was absolutely fabulous!

During this time, the restaurant manager, two PR people and Director of Operations Roshan Mendis stopped by to introduce themselves and to make sure we were happy. Oh we were happy!!

Dinner turned up just as we finished speaking to Mr. Mendis (I got the company history from him) and they left us to eat. The menu was a variety of salads, sandwichses, burgers, soups & chili, wok platters, pasta, flatbread & pizzas as well as meat, chicken and seafood entrees.
(Are you full yet? They also have a brunch menu, and “puppy dog menu” for children as well as specials!

We had great difficulty deciding exactly what to have but eventually with some help from our friendly server, we had two great platters before us. The SO had the Mushroom & Onion Flatiron Steak (really yummy) with mashed potatoes and veggies

Veggies were julienned squash (zuchini & yellow) along with carrots and initially it looked like cole slaw till you tried it and wow– who knew veggies could be this good! (ok, I am a huge veggie fan but the SO isn’t.) I was stealing bites across the table.

I had the Spicy Moroccan Chicken & Cous Cous . Spicy but not too spicy, this meal was really great!!

This was one big meal! I don’t eat this much food in an entire day! (It actually served us both for lunch the next day.) I worked hard at it but couldn’t finish it. (Because I wanted to have dessert, I did stop early.) Amazing!! Great food and this is a dish I would highly recommend!

The server(s) kept checking back with us to see if we needed anything.
The Lazy Dog Cafe bar is substantial with US and imported liquors and beers along with an array of specialty drinks that could fuel a great “girls night out”!
A red ale was ordered (they have a sampler of 6 different beers– worth doing if you are into beers and ales!) I had finished off my martini and wanted something different. Given that we were having dessert, I needed something not as sweet that would slow me down to sip it. I ordered the Phuket Martini.

This is one sensational cocktail and it’s potent- but it’s definitely my kind of cocktail.
Recipe:
Absolut Pepper Vodka
housemade sweet & sour mix
muddled basil and jalapeno (it’s got a kick to it!)
and candied ginger sprinkled on top.

Do I have the proportions? No– but I know that it’s probably 1 part vodka 2 parts S&S and
the muddled part is floating in what the cocktail with a kick
Yummy and not overly hot or spicy– just enough to keep me interested and I wish I could have taken it home.
Don’t forget about dessert!! A great array of tasty treats and being so full, we split the Dog Bowl Sundae (aka banana split).

Enough for 3 or 4, it’s definitely a great dessert– and we “cleaned” the bowl. Sorry– but someone’s an ice cream junkie (just not saying who)!

You can find Lazy Dog Cafe’s in So. Calif:
Westiminster
Torrance
Orange
Thousand Oaks
Valencia
Irvine
Temecula
Cerritos