Italian Fisherman - $

We've finally made it to Toluca Lake, aka the Promised Land. I thought we'd never get here. This is going to be a fun ride, albeit expensive, but fun.

I've driven by the Italian Fisherman many times and have wondered what it's like inside. I guess part of the reason I haven't gone in is because I've secretly waited for it to go out of business like others in that space before it. But, this one seems to be standing the test of time. They must be doing something right.

Ambience: coffee shop comfy meets fast food friendly. There are booths with pendant lighting. Warm, deep beiges along the walls and seats. A counter stretches the length of the dining room. When we walked up to it, we were greeted by a very buxom, motherly Italian woman. She was my long lost Italian mom. I think everyone needs a large Italian mom to call you, "Honey" at the end of a long day while ordering fish. You think I'm kidding? I'm so not. 4 forks.

Bathrooms: Clean, and not being used for storage, which is always a welcome relief. 4 forks.

Food: They say their fish is broiled "to perfection." So, we gave it the Dinette test. They have different types of fish, and you get to choose your sauce - teriyaki, garlic butter, or cajun seasoning. Laurie ordered the ahi tuna steak with teriyaki glaze, their "famous garlic and onion potatoes" and a cup of homemade clam chowder for only an extra $1.50. Her soup was a great start to a really outstanding meal. They didn't tell us it was homemade, but when there's a big fat bay leaf floating around in the styrofoam cup, it's pretty obvious. It had generous portions of red potatoes. Every meal comes with their homemade sourdough bread and garlic butter. How can something so soft, delicate and tasty be artery clogging? I don't believe it! But, then again, Satan can come dressed in sheep's clothing. 4 forks.

Laurie brought her dog, so we ate on the patio. The owner offered water to the dog. Any place that offers to take care of the dog is top notch in Laurie's book.

I almost ordered the baked eggplant parmesan. But, when eating at the Italian FISHERMAN, it might be a good idea to try the fish. I ordered the trout "broiled to perfection" with cajun seasoning and steamed veggies. Lemme tell ya. They ain't kidding. I'm not that good with cooking fish because it's so hard to tell when it's done. But, this really was broiled to perfection! It was light, flaky and melted in my mouth. The cajun seasoning wasn't spicy, just flavorful. I mean, fuggedaboutit. Trout doesn't have a whole lot of meat on it, so if you've got a small appetite, this is a good dish for you. But, if you're me, you order a slice of cheese pizza. My Italian momma heated up the thin crust in the oven. She took care of me! I folded it in half and ate it like a New Yorker, or at least, like an angeleno who's been to NYC a coupla times. It was lightly sweet. 4.5 forks.

Laurie: "This place is close to being the Best on the Street." We both agreed that we have to come here more often.

Dessert: When the menu says, "Ask about our dessert selections," consider it a bit of a warning. I mean, if a restaurant isn't advertising dessert on the menu, and is making you work for it, then maybe it's best to leave it alone. I got a piece of cheesecake to split. We put our forks in and hit the hard, still frozen middle. Hmm...well, if you ignore dessert, this place is still tops. Or, if you get dessert, get it to go, so it'll be defrosted by the time you get home.

At the Italian Fisherman they make a great deal of their menu from scratch including the tomato sauce and dough. Many of their ingredients are organic with no preservatives. So, if a health conscious meal for under $10 is what you're craving, this is your place. Welcome to your new hangout. Say hi to momma for me.

Overall rating: 4.5 forks.

Next up on the Riverside whistle stop tour: Sushi Sho Japanese Restaurant.