Diningout 11 12 17

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NOVEMBER 12, 2017

DINING OUT

COMFORTABLY

CONSISTENT A little effort goes a long way at Wood Grill Buffet, Page 6

Shakey’s Pizza Parlor

Page 9

Los Domingos

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Sunday, November 12, 2017

From the publisher’s desk

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izza. Other than burgers, there’s probably no other food Americans eat more of. And why not? There is so much variety and so many places that make it so well. In this week and next week’s issues, Staff Writer Kathy Young writes about two of the best places in the High Desert to pick up a pie: Cross Eyed Cow Pizza in Oro Grande and Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Victorville. You can’t go wrong at either restaurant, in my opinion. Cross Eyed Cow on Route 66 serves up great pizza, no matter how you like yours or what kinds of toppings you prefer. On top of that, the building itself is a conversation piece. One look at it and you know fun awaits. The pleasant surprise is good food awaits, too! As for Shakey’s, it’s been America’s go-to pizza parlour for more than a half century. You can get just about anything you want on your pizza at Shakey’s, and you can count on the same great quality and taste every time you visit. Shakey’s also caters to the working crowd, which I appreciate. It’s Bunch of Lunch buffet offers pizza, chicken, Mojo potatoes, salads and more, all for a price that won’t break the budget. And you can get in and out in less than the time allotted for a traditional lunch hour at work. If you haven’t visited Cross Eyed Cow Pizza or you haven’t been to Shakey’s in Victorville in a while, I encourage you to acquaint or reacquaint yourself with these two great restaurants. You’ll be glad you did! Let’s eat! — Steve Hunt

DINING OUT From the publisher’s desk �����������������������2 Weekly specials �������������������������������������3 Happy Hour specials �������������������������������4 Where to dine ����������������������������������������5 Wood Grill Buffet �����������������������������������6 Food in photos ���������������������������������������8 Shakey’s Pizza Parlor �����������������������������9 Restaurant grades �������������������������������11 Los Domingos �������������������������������������12 Dining Out is published by the Victor Valley Daily Press, 13891 Park Ave., Victorville, CA 92392. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

President and Publisher Steve Hunt Advertising Director Steve Nakutin Advertising Manager Lisa Woodhart Circulation Manager Mario Mejia Contributing writers Kathy Young Martial Haprov Steve Hunt Contributing photographers James Quigg, Kathy Young, Lisa Woodhart Cover and page design Ivan Hundric Copy editing Steve Hunt To advertise, call Lisa Woodhart at 760-951-6253.

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Daily Deals Monday through Friday: 2 slices with 2 toppings and a drink for $6.95

W Spoon Buffet

Daily Deals (cannot be combined with any other offers) Monday: Buy 2 regular adult price buffets, get 1 kid’s El Salvador Del buffet (3-7) free or (8-11) half Mundo price Daily Deals Tuesday: Military extra 10 percent off with military ID Wednesday Wednesday: Senior 65+ Pupusa $1.99 all day extra 10 percent off A1 Grill, Teriyaki Thursday: Buy 4 reguand Roll Firehouse Subs lar priced adult buffets, get 1 Daily Deals Daily Deals adult buffet free Buy one specialty roll, get Wednesday: Kids eat for Friday: Buy 9 regular second roll 50 percent off 99 cents priced adult buffets, get 1 (with coupon in this publicaadult buffet free tion only!)

Los Domingos

Burgerim Daily Deals Monday

Merguez Burger in a combo meal or a la carte Marshmallow Dream

Tuesday

Trio combo meal Turkey burger

Apple Valley and Barstow

Daily Deals

Mile High Cafe

Thursday

Monday through Sunday: Daily breakfast and lunch specials

Friday

Ninja Sushi

Saturday

Monday through Sunday: All sushi and rolls 50 percent off (all day)

Trio combo meal Turkey burger

Fries Flourless cake

Salmon burger Chicken strips Chicken sandwich Salads

Sunday

Salmon burger Chicken strips Chicken sandwich Salads

Cross Eyed Cow Pizza

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Daily Deals

Taco Tuesday (Apple Taco Tuesday: after 4 Valley only): $2 full-size p.m. tacos Wednesday: Wing Night Wednesday: half-priced after 4 p.m. margaritas, 3 to 8 p.m. Friday: Seafood Night Mojo Potatoes have become a favorite of Shakey’s Pizza Parlor customers. Kathy Young, S u n d a y ​ : C h a m p a g n e after 4 p.m. Dining Out brunch, all you can eat, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ($13.95 adults, $7.95 kids)

Wednesday

Wagyu beef burger Chicken wings

Wood Grill Buffet

Daily Deals

Daily Deals

Shakey’s Pizza Daily Deals Monday - all day 15-inch large one-topping thin crust pizza for $9.99 with the purchase of a pitcher of beer or 4 soft drinks. Monday through Sunday: Buy one medium pizza, get the second 2-topping medium pizza for $7.99

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DAILY SPECIALS

Sunday, November 12, 2017

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Sunday, November 12, 2017

A1 Grill, Teriyaki and Roll

HAPPY HOUR

SPECIALS

$4 Shots (Jager Bombs & Cactus Coolers) $2 Tacos (Chicken & Happy Hour Beef) 20 percent off on teriTuesday, 3 to 7 p.m.: yaki bowls and specialty Drink specials rolls from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, 8 p.m. to daily (with coupon from this midnight: Family karaoke publication only!) (Apple Valley only) and drink specials Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m., Firehouse Subs bar only NFL Football Package Happy Hour $2 Beers (Bud Light Monday through & Coors Light) Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m. $4 Shots (Jager Any small sub + chips + Bombs & Cactus Coolers) small drink $5.99 $2 Tacos (Chicken & Beef) Los Domingos Friday, 8 p.m. to midApple Valley and Barstow night: Karaoke (Apple Happy Hour Valley only) and drink speMonday, 5 to 8 p.m., cials bar only Saturday​, 8 p.m. to NFL Football Package midnight: Live band $2 Beers (Bud Light & Sunday, 4 to close, Coors Light) bar only

NFL Football Package $2 Beers (Bud Light & Coors Light) $4 Shots (Jager Bombs & Cactus Coolers) $2 Tacos (Chicken & Beef)

Mile High Cafe Happy Hour

Taco Tuesday, 4 to 9 p.m.: $2 tacos, $2 enchiladas, beer specials

Ninja Sushi Happy Hour

Monday through Sunday: Large beer, 2 for $7; small beer, 2 for $3.50; small sake 99 cents; Sake Bomb 99 cents (with $10 minimum food order)

to close: 9-inch small one-topping thin crust pizza with 6 wings for $12.99 Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.: Under $5 menu: m ojo potatoe s ½ orde r $.99,cheesy garlic bread ½ order $2.49, pepperoni pizza twists 4 twists for $2.99, boneless chicken wings with choice of dipping sauce $4.99, small 9-inch pizza one topping, thin crust $4.99 Pint $2.99, 22-oz super mug $3.99, Lime-A-Rita or Straw-ber-Rita $3.99

Wood Grill Buffet Happy Hour

Monday through Shakey’s Pizza Friday, 2 to 4 p.m. S e n i o r H a p p y H o u r, Happy Hour Monday Night, 5 p.m. $8.99

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Breakfast

R

Brunch

C

Catering

D

Dinner

H

Happy Hour

O

Online Ordering

Wood Grill Buffet

14135 Main St., Hesperia 760-981-4418

B

D C A

H

W Spoon Buffet

14689 Valley Center Drive, #C, Victorville 760-241-0900

A

D C

AMERICAN

Burgerim

The Mall of Victor Valley, 14400 Bear Valley Road, #701, Victorville 760-243-4494 www.burgerim.com

D C Mile High Cafe

8832 Orange St., Hesperia 760-947-8844

HEALTHY

Ninja Poki Yaki

17878 Wika Road, Apple Valley 760-646-9966

A

D C ITALIAN

Cross Eyed Cow Pizza

19242 National Trails Highway, Oro Grande 760-241-1987

A

MEXICAN

Los Domingos

D C

Shakey’s Pizza

14120 Bear Valley Road, Suite 103, Victorville 760-952-0010 www.shakeys.com

17790 Wika Road, Apple Valley 760-946-5344 www.losdomingosapplevalley. com

R D C A

D C A

H O

H

SUBS & SALADS

WHERE TO DINE

Sunday, November 12, 2017

B

B C A

Firehouse Subs JAPANESE

A1 Grill, Teriyaki & Roll 15061 Bear Valley Road, Hesperia 760-949-8900 www.a1grill.com

D C

O

D C

SALVADORIAN

El Salvador Del Mundo

Ninja Sushi

15850 Apple Valley Road, #116, Apple Valley 760-242-3913

D C A

13325 Main St., Suite 108, Hesperia 760-983-5512 www.firehousesubs.com

H

15329 Palmdale Road, Suite J, Victorville 760-241-8308

B

D C

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SYMBOL KEY A Serves Alcohol

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COVER STORY

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Traditional themes tell Wood Grill’s tale

Fresh-carved turkey breast added to buffet’s seasonal selections By Martial Haprov Dining Out

H

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Meat loaf from the Wood Grill in Hesperia. James Quigg, Dining Out

ESPERIA — Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but if you’re hankering for a tasty turkey dinner, you don’t need to wait until the fourth Thursday of this month. To kick off November, Wood Grill Buffet added f re s h - c a r ve d t u rkey breast to its already-appetizing array of delicious dishes. Cooked on-site daily, this turkey meets Wood Grill’s impeccable standards, meaning it’s consistently moist, full of flavor and readily available every day Wood Grill is open now through the end of the year. But the traditional themes don’t stop at turkey. For many local companies, this time of year means planning holiday parties for management, employees and families to celebrate another year of hard work in the books. Wood Grill Buffet’s Banquet Room is a prime location for those parties. Its walls are adorned

with photos of Hesperia’s history, its size is large enough to accommodate a mid-size company’s staff and the food is the same top-quality dishes available at Wood Grill on any given day of the week. Shelby Merell, a cosmetologist in Apple Valley, previously worked for a Hesperia-based company that’s held its annual holiday party at Wood Grill for several years in a row. Merell tells Dining Out it was always a highlight of the company’s year. “We always had lots of fun there,” Merell said. “(The food and service were) always consistent. We always knew what to expect.” One of those items that’s seemingly always consistent and is a big hit at Wood Grill is its meatloaf, which is prepared fresh in-house every day, according to General Manager Joe Vasquez. Pair it with a hearty scoop of mashed potatoes and brown gravy and a bundle of tasty green beans and you have a meal that’ll put you right back in your


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home dining room without having to do any of the prep or cooking work. Another standout item, especially among seniors who have their own Happy Hour deal offered every day, is Wood Grill’s pot roast cooked to a tender texture with that same lush and hearty brown gravy joining each bite. Even with items like the turkey, meatloaf and pot roast maintaining a status

of customer favorites, consistency is overall theme to Wood Grill’s selection of nearly 200 food items between breakfast, lunch and dinner. “The consistency has to be there,” Vasquez tells Dining Out. “It always has to be there. When our customers come in, they want the same good food they had the last time, and the time before that. It’s what makes us unique.”

But it’s not the only component that makes Wo o d G r i l l u n i q u e . Vasquez recently told Dining Out about a little secret that helps create an identifiable “Wood Grill” flavor. “We have our own seasoning,” Vasquez said. “We use it on many of our items — on meats, some of our side dishes. It gives our food that taste that lets you know you’re at

Wood Grill.” That taste Vasquez speaks of may be enhanced by the secret seasoning blend, but it’s created in the true-to-form nature of the preparation of dishes here. “We don’t just pull stuff out of a can,” Vasquez said. He references the pot roast as an example, a dish which is roasted for 12 hours overnight, ready to devour fresh each day.

“We put the effort and work into making this food. Yeah, it may take a little longer to prepare, but it’s worth it.” Vasquez encourages local diners to visit Wood Grill and find out for themselves what happens when tradition and effort combine to make you forget you’re at a buffet. Check out Wood Grill Buffet for lunch or dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 14135 Main St., just east of Topaz Avenue in Hesperia. Breakfast is served from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday while seniors can dine at a special price from 2 to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Visit www.woodgrillbuffethesperia.com or call 760-981-4418 for more information.

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The Wood Grill Buffet in Hesperia offers carved turkey breast daily through the end of the year. James Quigg, Dining Out


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Sunday, November 12, 2017 Tilapia, rice and fresh broccoli make a great meal at the Wood Grill Buffet in Hesperia. James Quigg, Dining Out

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Shakey’s Pizza Parlor has not lost its ‘Mojo’ By Kathy Young Dining Out

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hat is a Mojo? We checked with Shakey’s online and here’s what we found:

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Mo jo noun (pl. -jos) Circular potato wedges drenched in spicy batter and deep fried; aka Shakey’s Pizza’s signature side, perfect with pizza, salad or eaten alone.

Just one variety of “Make Your Own” Shakey’s pizza, the sausage and pepperoni. Kathy Young, Dining Out

for $8; Saturday and Sunday, $9.89, kids 10 and under $4.99. You can do lunch (“all you can eat”) with a 9-inch cheese pizza baked fresh to your oder, $4.99 per person (or a 9-inch pizza with up to five toppings, $6.49, or a pan crust for just $1 more; all you can eat salad, $7.29 per person, or unlimit-

ed pizza and salad bar, $7.89 per person Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (The salad bar only is available all day). And yes, you read it right. Pasta with delicious sauce — ready to enjoy with salad and more. It’s the Mojo Potatoes that bring us back to Shakey’s again and again.

Not only as an accompaniment for any of the signature Shakey’s food items, Mojos also make the perfect snack, an alternative to chips but just as perfect for dipping. Shakey’s has Happy Hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; they have an Under $5 Menu, too,

with Mojos, cheesy garlic bread, pepperoni pizza twists, boneless chicken wings or a 9-inch pizza. Prices range from $1.99 to $4.99. They offer party p a c k a ge s , t o o, w i t h pizza, chicken and Mojo Potatoes in three different serving sizes or pizza and mojos. For more information, call 760-952-

0010. S h a k e y ’s P i z z a Victorville is located near The Mall of Victor Valley at 14120 Bear Valley Road, #103. They are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Online ordering is available at www. shakeys.com.

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Mojo potatoes are something most Shakey’s Pizza lovers order because that’s just what pizza lovers do at Victorville’s new Shakey’s establishment. Having been around for more than 60 years, Shakey’s Pizza has come a long way, literally and figuratively. Its success is due to a myriad of factors, starting with the food. Its thin-crust pizza (though a thicker crust Shakey’s Special is fast becoming a favorite among “Chicago-style pan crust pizza” fans), its delicious chicken — golden fried pieces, wings or chicken strips — and the Mojo potatoes. Ordering all pizza, chicken and Mojos “to go” is one way to sample all three Shakey’s menu favorites, but we recommend you stop by the restaurant to see what they are serving for their “Bunch of Lunch” — unlimited pizza, fried chicken, garden salad, Mojo potatoes, pasta, dessert and more Monday through Friday


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Sunday, November 12, 2017

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RESTAURANT GRADES

(All grades provided by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and represent the latest grade given. A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79. To view restaurant grades for yourself, visit www.sbcounty.gov/dph/ehsportal/ Facilities/Food)

Apple Valley

Juice It Up ���������������������������������������������������������������������90 Yogurtland ���������������������������������������������������������������������90 Apple Valley Arco AMPM �������������������������������������������������97 Apple Valley Golf Operations ��������������������������������������������95 Apple Valley Moose Lodge ����������������������������������������������93 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar ��������������������������������95 Ashwood Golf Course Snack Bar �������������������������������������96 Baskin-Robbins ���������������������������������������������������������������97 Carl’s Junior #165 ����������������������������������������������������������97 China Wok ���������������������������������������������������������������������95 Del Taco #1007 �������������������������������������������������������������91 El Pollo Loco #3715 �������������������������������������������������������97 Golden Chopstix �������������������������������������������������������������97 Historic Apple Valley Inn ��������������������������������������������������96 Jack in the Box #5400 ���������������������������������������������������94 Jimmy Johns ������������������������������������������������������������������98 KFC Apple Valley ������������������������������������������������������������97 Linko Sushi ��������������������������������������������������������������������96 Ninja Sushi ���������������������������������������������������������������������90 Papa John’s Pizza �����������������������������������������������������������93 Pieology Pizzeria ������������������������������������������������������������98 The Pizza Factory �����������������������������������������������������������96 Spirit River Cafe �������������������������������������������������������������97 Starbucks Coffee #9873 ������������������������������������������������97 Subway #38118 ������������������������������������������������������������96 Taco Bell #28214 ����������������������������������������������������������98 The Galley ���������������������������������������������������������������������98 Wienerschnitzel #768 ������������������������������������������������������95 3D’s Bakery �������������������������������������������������������������������94

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Alberto Mexican Food �����������������������������������������������������80 Long John Silver’s ����������������������������������������������������������97 Amigos Mexican Restaurant ��������������������������������������������96 Los Domingos ����������������������������������������������������������������97 Ample Korean Restaurant ������������������������������������������������98 Mr. Kabob ����������������������������������������������������������������������95 Arby’s ����������������������������������������������������������������������������99 Panda Express Lenwood �������������������������������������������������94 Ate 8 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������97 Panda Express (Main Street) ������������������������������������������100 Black Bear Diner ������������������������������������������������������������93 Pizza Hut (Armory Road) �������������������������������������������������95 Burger King (Main Street) ������������������������������������������������98 Oggis Brewhouse �����������������������������������������������������������96 Burger King (Montara) ������������������������������������������������������97 Canton Restaurant ����������������������������������������������������������92 Hesperia Carl’s Junior (Main St) ������������������������������������������������������96 Casa Delicias ��������������������������������������������������������94 Carl’s Junior (Lenwood) ���������������������������������������������������93 Chili’s Grill & Bar �������������������������������������������������������������97 Desert Barn Brewery ���������������������������������������������98 China Town Buffet �����������������������������������������������������������93 El Torito ��������������������������������������������������������������100 Chipotle Mexican Grill �����������������������������������������������������93 Five Guys Burger & Fries ��������������������������������������100 Dae Ho Restaurant ���������������������������������������������������������96 Hesperia Golf & Country Club �������������������������������100 Del Taco #1 �������������������������������������������������������������������98 Hesperia Pizza Factory ������������������������������������������91 Del Taco #2 �������������������������������������������������������������������98 Jeff’s French Dips & Subs ��������������������������������������95 Del Taco #201 (Lenwood) �����������������������������������������������90 Juliano’s Italian Restaurant �������������������������������������98 Denny’s (Fisher) ��������������������������������������������������������������92 Thai-Lotus Restaurant ��������������������������������������������94 Denny’s (Lenwood) ���������������������������������������������������������94 Whiskey Barrel ������������������������������������������������������93 Denny’s (Main St) ������������������������������������������������������������98 Yogurtland ������������������������������������������������������������95 Desert Manna Ministries ��������������������������������������������������97 A1 Grill, Teriyaki & Roll �������������������������������������������90 Diamond’s Pizza �������������������������������������������������������������92 Arby’s �������������������������������������������������������������������96 DiNapoli’s Firehouse �������������������������������������������������������99 Baconballs Cupcakery �����������������������������������������100 Domino’s (Main St) ��������������������������������������������������������100 Baker’s Burgers (Main St.) ��������������������������������������97 Dunkin Donuts ����������������������������������������������������������������97 Fat Burger (Lenwood Road) ���������������������������������������������91 Baskin-Robbins (Main St.) �������������������������������������100 Hana Grill (Lenwood Road) ����������������������������������������������93 Burger King (Main St.) ��������������������������������������������94 Idle Spurs Steak House ���������������������������������������������������91 Burger King (Mariposa Road) �����������������������������������93 In-and-Out Burger (Lenwood Road) �����������������������������������98 Cancun Mexican & Seafood Restaurant �������������������94 Jack-in-the-Box (Main Street) ��������������������������������������������94 Carl’s Junior (Main St.) �������������������������������������������95 Little Caesars (Main Street) ���������������������������������������������91 Carl’s Junior (Bear Valley Road) �����������������������������100

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Barstow

Barstow Community Hospital �����������������������������������������100 Barstow Senior Nutrition �������������������������������������������������98 Barstow Station Ice Cream ����������������������������������������������95 Barstow Station Subway �������������������������������������������������92 Barstow Station McDonald’s ��������������������������������������������92 Casa Jimenez �����������������������������������������������������������������94 Slash X Ranch Cafe ��������������������������������������������������������97 Subway and Jumpin’ Juice & Java ������������������������������������98 Viking Grill ���������������������������������������������������������������������98


12

DINING OUT

Sunday, November 12, 2017 The signature Los Domingos Fajita combines steak, chicken and shrimp with onions and peppers. Kathy Young, Dining Out

Los Domingos ‘steaks’ its reputation on fine food By Kathy Young Dining Out

O vvdailypress.com

K, so you’re in the mood for a really great meal and you’re making plans to go with a group to a really great restaurant where you can sit back, relax and have a wonderful dining experience. So far so good, right? Then you look at the members of your dinner party — family, friends, a combination of both, perhaps — and you realize everyone has special favorites and you might

not find one dining establishment to handle all those preferences. May we offer a suggestion? Try Los Domingos in Apple Valley or, if you’re “up north,” try the Barstow location. Not only does Los Domingos offer a diverse menu with everything from kid-friendly meal options to fine dining choices that will satisfy the most discerning palates in your party, but they have a wonderful knack for making you feel right at home the min-

ute you walk through the door. Co-owner Claude Atalla says their variety is “pretty good,” which makes him the master of understatement. Our opinion is, their variety is phenomenal with many seafood options, fabulous steaks including ribeye, porterhouse, New York and more plus burgers, sandwiches, and an astounding selection of fajitas as well as other Mexican dishes. If you cannot decide among the fajita choices — Chicken? Steak?

Shrimp? — Los Domingos has made your choice an easy one with the Los Domingos Fajita, a signature dish that beautifully combines all three choices into a mouth-watering, sizzling-to-your-table dinner with plenty of tortillas designed to help you enjoy your meal to the max. Another plus on their Faita popularity is a special in-house “secret blend” of spices. Whether you enjoy domestic beer or wine with your meal, prefer Mexican beer or cerveza or really enjoy a

Margarita, the bar at Los Domingos is ready to serve your favorite beverage. They also serve a variety of other drinks as well. To say Los Domingos is family friendly is really an understatement, too, because their “family Karaoke Night” each Wednesday in Apple Valley always sees plenty of kids on stage sharing their singing skills with diners. Margaritas are half priced, too. Los Domingos has othe r da ily specials — Sundays, Mondays

and Thursdays enjoy Football Specials — $4 shots (Jager Bombs and Cactus Coolers), $2 beers and $2 tacos from 5 to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays it’s fullsize tacos for $2; Fridays are Karaoke night in Apple Valley; Saturday enjoy live bands in Apple Valley. Sunday is the champagne brunch from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., all you can eat for just $13.95 adults, $7.95 kids. Los Domingos Apple Valley is located at 17790 Wika Road. Visit them online at www.losdomingos.com.


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