Thank you MTV Games and Harmonix for your kick-ass Rock Band party.
Cheaply eating in LA: Day two
I reviewed La Bella Cucina, a mediocre Italian eatery downtown.
Mexican food jaunt #1: El Pollo Loco
ARTESIA, Calif. — Blast reporter Terri Schwartz and I figure on eating a ton of Mexican food between our nine days in Long Beach/Los Angeles and four days in San Diego.
Our first stop was a chain joint called El Pollo Loco, the McDonald’s of Mexican food.
I had a green quesadilla, while Terri played it safe with grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli.
The food was filling, and the service was quick and friendly. I was a little sketched out by their “salsa bar,” which looked like it was sitting out for a while. There’s just something un-kosher about anything buffet style at a takeout fast food Mexican restaurant.
We didn’t realize that El Pollo Loco has locations in both Massachusetts (where she’s from and I live) and Connecticut (where I’m from) — we’d never heard of it before.
Off to a good start, food-wise.
Uh, up yours, Alamo Rent-a-car
LONG BEACH, Calif. — I have a serious bone to pick with Alamo rent-a-car after we were quoted $380 for the rental car for the two weeks that we’re in California and then charged $770 — SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY DOLLARS — because I’m only 24. The car officially cost more than the hotel and airfare combined.
I put my date of birth into the system when I reserved the car. This 25+ bullshit to rent a car is just that. How can you justify charging $800 for someone to drive a car for two weeks?