LASHER'S

PICTURED (top to bottom): Restaurant Sign, Restaurant, Garlic Shrimp, Maryland Crab Cakes, Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops, Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf, Double Cut Pork Chop, New Zealand Rack of Lamb, Apple and Caramel Bread Pudding, Chef's Chocolate Cake.

 Lasher's

3441 East Broadway 

Long Beach, CA 90803

(562) 433-0153

www.lashersrestaurant.com

We had been to Lasher's once before, and enjoyed it so much that we decided to return to celebrate my birthday. I made the reservation and requested the same table we had the first time ( the "fireplace table") for our birthday celebration. I was told they would try to honor the request, and at the least we would have a table close to it in the main dining room.

We were the first to arrive when the restaurant opened. Our host opened up what appeared to be a closet door, and seated us in a small, hot room off to the side. Imagine our dismay when the next party to arrive ( a couple, stating it was their first time there) was seated in the main dining room at the fireplace table we had requested. The entire evening, we felt like we were being rushed. Our entrees arrived before we could finish our appetizers. The dessert menu was placed in the middle of the table before we finished our entrees. They tried to whisk away my coffee cup before I had finished even half of it. Before we could finish our desserts, the server set the check on the table and blurted out "may I take care of that for you sir?" before I could even get my wallet out. Talk about a "bum's rush"! We were outside in the parking lot 90 minutes after arriving.

On to the food. Sweetie Pie started off with the Garlic Shrimp appetizer, which was excellent. Her mother ordered the Maryland Crab Cakes, which were in her words "average". I had the Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops, which were quite tasty but a little smallish. For her entree, Sweetie Pie repeated her dish from last time- the Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf, because it was "so good". Her mother had the Double Cut Pork Chop- roasted and served with cinnamon-apple glaze. Also, the same thing she had last time and worth repeating. I decided to try the New Zealand Rack of Lamb ("full rack"). I ordered it medium-rare, but it arrived well-done and charred on the outside, rather fatty and, quite frankly, the puniest full rack I have ever seen. For dessert, the ladies split the Apple and Caramel Bread Pudding. I had the Chef's Chocolate Cake ( with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ). The desserts were pretty good, but would have been better if we were given time to enjoy them.

Tonight's Lasher's dinner gets one and a half thumbs up from the 3 Tubby Tummys.