We had dinner at ComicX in Phoenix, Arizona, having seen it on a list of places to visit in the area. It’s a superhero-themed restaurant with 36 locations in Mexico, plus this one in Phoenix.

The walls are covered with stuff from various movies, games, etc:

I had a margarita to drink:

For an appetizer, we had a cheese stick tower:

Then Jenn had a BLAT, and I had a burger; both were pretty mediocre:

We had cheese- and bacon-covered fries, which was interesting:

Overall, the food wasn’t great (and we regretted our choices), and the ambiance was kinda schlocky, as much as we enjoy superhero movies. The place was probably more aimed at kids. It was an interesting experience, so goal achieved, but we won’t be going back there.

Another regional food place we visited for the first time (for me, anyway) was Cracker Barrel in Buckeye, Arizona:

It’s unlike most restaurants, in that you enter and exit through a store:

A very kitschy store:

We enjoyed the decorations in the restaurant:

The food was fine, nothing too exciting; I had a sampler with chicken & dumplings (kinda bland), meatloaf (not great), ham (fine), plus sides, and Jenn had fried chicken and sides:

They’re also known for breakfasts; we’ll try that next time we visit one.

After our day in Joshua Tree National Park, we went to the Big Rock Pub in Indio, California for dinner. As their website says:

It’s like a Hard Rock Café, only better.

The entrance:

Some decorations within the entrance:

The pub is actually part of a public golf course, which can be viewed from the balcony seating, where we ate:

Me:

I had a glass of wine, and Jenn got a fancy cocktail:

Jenn:

Jenn had a pub burger and fries:

I had a margherita pizza:

I got my hat and long-sleeve shirt (and a shirt for Jenn) as it cooled down a bit. In theory I’m smiling in this picture, but it looks more grumpy than smiley:

Then they turned on the big fire pit next to us, and we were suddenly toasty warm:

Houses next to the golf course, with lit up trees:

Another decoration by the entrance, on the way out: a piano under the floor:

For a lunch (just after I got my COVID booster shot), we went to Mario’s Italian Cafe.

Jenn had Sand Dabs aliolio, and I had Medjool Date Pasta; both were delicious:

For a dinner in Indio, we went to Macario’s Grill, a Mexican restaurant.

Jenn in their outdoor patio:

Margaritas and chips:

Wall decorations:

A Fiesta Platter and Carnitas a la Michoacana; all delicious, perhaps in the top three Mexican restaurants we’ve tried:

As a bonus, some live music at the table after we’d finished:

For a weekend breakfast while in Bakersfield we went to Maggie’s Sunrise Cafe.

It was a very foggy drive:

I had an omelette, hash browns, and biscuit; Jenn had pancakes, eggs, bacon, and hash browns:

Her chocolate chip, peanut butter, banana pancakes were rather interesting (not really like the picture on the website, but still tasty):

Another new-to-us burger restaurant — Fatburger:

Very nice “fat” fries, burger, and shake:

A dinner while at San Benito Preserve, also in Tres Pinos, California: the 19th Hole Booze and Food steakhouse and saloon, apparently founded in 1883:

I had a margarita, and a delightful steak, loaded baked potato, veggies, and garlic bread: