Vanilla Mochi
The Shortline

The Shortline

118 Buchanan St, 61008, Belvidere, United States

Sushi • Asian • Lunch • Japanese


"Food is good, but just order it to go. The “service” is terrible. We didn’t have a waiter/ it was a self service concept, but no one let us know this. We found this out after waiting some time for drink refills after almost done with our pizza. There is no self-serve drink station so I went up to the bar to ask for a refill mid chew. The bar tender said she was going to give me a to go cup since they were closing. I had just told her that I didn’t know we had to get our own drinks and that I wanted something quickly so my food could go down. (In my opinion, it would have been quicker for her to just refill my cup that i had already brought up. Before the pizza, we had ordered sushi rolls and crab rangoon. After each item was dropped off, first the crab rangoon in a to-go bag, then 10 minutes later, the sushi in to-go containers, no one asked how everything tasted or if they could get us anything else. After the sushi, I had to stop her as she walked away for some soy sauce, but the look on her face and energy gave annoyance. Which is why after a guy came out with the pizza and quickly walked away, I didn’t bother asking him for plates, so we just ate it on a napkin. At one point, the bar tender came up to us to let us know they were closing while still eating. As we walked up to pay, there were 2 men at the bar drinking. I asked the “server” while paying what time the bar closed and she said the restaurant closed at 9. I asked, “oh, but what about the bar, she said “the whole restaurant closed at 9”, and I said “oh” and turned towards the 2 men and the bar tender who came up to us earlier to let us know they were closing. She then says, “they are just finishing up their drinks”. It looked like to me the bar tender was getting them another drink. This was a VERY bizarre and unwelcoming experience- coming from someone who worked as a server in the past and who enjoys new restaurants. There were no smiles and it had a very cold “get the hell out” energy. Sad to say as I want locally owned restaurants to thrive."

Tajima Ramen Mercury

Tajima Ramen Mercury

4411 Mercury St #110, 92111, San Diego, US, United States

Ramen • Sushi • Asian • Vegan


"I had to go try Tajima cause I already tried this other ramen spot. This is located by In-n-out and in a strip mall right off the 163. There is another Tajima spot on Convoy but this was near by. The spot had an Izakaya vibe since it also had a bar. It's a nice spot, good decor and good vibe night ambient place. It got crowed once I got seated. I beat the rush I guess. I got a beer, of course, Karaage and their Tajima ramen. The Karaage should've came out before I got my ramen but it's okay. It was a bit over crispy and alil burnt in taste. You can tell from the fryer oil and how darker it was. The lemon and mayonnaise didn't help. Now to the ramen. Tajima ramen is a Tonkotsu pork broth ramen. The charshu pork was a chunky strip. It was heavily marinated and just right between juicy and tough. It kinda bothered me since it was stronger than the broth but also felt balance while eating. The broth was light, not as creamy but flavorful. It really didn't mix/soaked into the noodles or charshu. The noodles, to me, felt like regular noodles. The website doesn't say handmade but it does say fresh noodles. The slurpability was okay, 6/10. Broth didn't clinch to the noodles. All together it was good ramen I have to say. In all, Tajima was a surprise spot. With alot of people saying how it's not like how it use to be and now company oriented to where it's becoming an Izakaya. It beats out 1 out of the 2 other ramen spots around them. I have them #3 on my list. If you follow me, you kno the top 2. If not, just hit me up and follow me! Well, on to the next one."