Review 1: BEST RESTAURANT AWARD
"Wright Gourmet" Restaurant Review
Market Broiler Restaurant
By: Ed Wright, The Wright Gourmet

Market Broiler Restaurant
(909) 581-0866
4553 E. Mills Circle
Ontario, CA 91764
At Ontario Mills
between AMC Theaters and The Improve New!

Kamiyama Sushi
(909) 581-0866
4553 E. Mills Circle
Ontario, CA 91764 At Ontario Mills
between AMC Theaters and The Improve New!

Market Broiler Restaurant
(951) 276-9007
3525 Merrill Street
Riverside, CA 92506
Across from the Riverside Plaza

It has been my personal experience that there are two kind of seafood lovers… those that know where to get great fresh seafood, and love it; and those that do not, and don’t really like seafood because of it. This is easy to cure, because once anyone tastes really fresh fish grilled over Mesquite coals, I have yet to find anybody who did not love it! The key to enjoying seafood is knowing where to go… and the signs of what to avoid. This is important because lots of restaurants who claim to serve fresh seafood start out with fish so old or processed that it would not even make good bait, let alone a meal you would want to eat!

How do I know this you ask? There is not much reason to talk about it, but “The Wright Gourmet” grew up only steps from the water at the beach and literally walked past the Newport Pier Fish markets (because it was fun to check out) during the early 1960s daily on my way to school on the Balboa Peninsula. This was back before it was "cool" to live at the beach, and when the dory fisherman actually sold the fish they caught hours earlier right out of fish stalls on the beach, just to the right side of the Newport Pier. I also remember watching as the fishing trawlers offloaded their catch at the packing house on cannery row when their really was an operating fish cannery instead of the rather over-rated, hit or miss, restaurants in their place today. I can also remember when my brothers and I use to go along the shoreline at low tide and fill buckets with steamer clams at low tide for clam bakes with friends that visited… “The Wright Gourmet” (Ed Wright) quite honestly grew up with great seafood just out my back door. We took it all very much for granted… and fresh fish was reasonably priced, because seemingly everybody sold it if you did not go out and catch it yourself!

My point in all of this is that there is probably nothing better than really fresh seafood cooked to perfection, or anything worse than what has come to pass as “Great Seafood” at many restaurants. Unfortunately those days are history and it is now very hard to find quality fresh seafood, plus all of it is expensive. But that does not mean that it is impossible to find... you just have to know where to look! Hint; Think Market Broiler.

Presently, 30 (plus) years past my childhood one of the things I have come to look forward to most in working with restaurant reviews over the past 7 years is the enjoyment of dining with friends and discussing our favorites… which often turns to the topic of seafood and where to go. Without exception the top seafood recommendations have been “The Market Broiler Restaurants.” When it comes to consistently fresh, reasonably priced, exceptional seafood… time after time, with knowledgeable friendly service, Market Broiler provides it all. Even if you are not sure what you might like seafood wise, or find fish boring, the Market Broiler Staff are expert at recommendations with a menu that is about as diverse in selection and creative as any we have seen plus complete meals priced reasonably enough so as not to most budgets. 

If you go to their website you will read about how “The Market Broiler” rose from the tradition of California's seafood landmarks which date back to the 1950's, and how they are a casual, comfortable, moderately-priced, full-service, restaurant. One of the keys to this success is that much of their menu is prepared over mesquite charcoal flames… and that “The Market Broiler” specializes in serving up truly generous portions of only the freshest seafood plus chowders, sauces, and dressings that are made fresh in each restaurant. If you look around the restaurant when you walk in you will see all the trophies and plaques they win as awards for both service and food… and as such are also easily the number one choice for Best Seafood Restaurant with this reviewer (The Wright Gourmet) and our Online Restaurant Magazines.

Seemly every meal at “The Market Broiler Restaurant” begins with a warm greeting and a loaf of “The Market Broiler’s” incredible sourdough bread which is served warm to your table and just about as tasty as the breads that made San Francisco  famous without the drive. Unlike just about every other restaurant the “Wright Gourmet” reviews the menu at “The Market Broiler Restaurants” changes every day based on what fresh fish was just delivered. The menu and specials litterally change day to day... and sometimes during the day. 

Typically, there are a about a dozen or so fresh fish choices every day; but if the weather is too severe to allow the fishermen to go out, the menu can be a bit shorter. When “The Market Broiler” says fresh, they mean it, and the fresh fish is always on display as you walk in. If you have never seen really fresh fish before, you may not have noticed but it does not smell fishey plus it almost glistens and even sparkles with the depth of the color. Your local markets only wish their fish was this fresh!
 
Wright Gourmet Insider Secret:
Those that frequent “The Market Broiler” are familiar with the poorly kept secret (which is not very secret) that from time to time, The Broiler features “Daily Specials” which are posted by the door and on the front of their menu. It is important to understand that these specials are “Short-Term,” and subject to end when the supply runs out… (We hate it when that happens).

Ordering Hint: These specials are always the way to go when available and are a fantastic deal. So what is the food like… and what make “The Market Broiler” so great, other than “Fresh?”

Personally, as “The Wright Gourmet” I would tell you (once again) it is all about the 100% mesquite charcoal flames which the Broiler uses to sear in all the natural flavor and juices fresh fish naturally contains. Too often restaurants grill their fish to death, or prepare their seafood using too cold a grill. “The Market Broiler” uses a rocket hot mesquite grill that both locks in the flavor of the fish but also imparts a wonderful taste that only mesquite provides… this costs more than a gas fired grill but makes all the difference in the world. This is my favorite way to cook fish… and lots of restaurants offer it, but not at the consistently lower prices of the Market Broiler. You have to sell a lot of fish to be able to offer the value “The Market Broiler” does; and no one else in the area comes close.

Items we have reviewed: This is kind of unfair, because we have been dining at “The Market Broiler” for business and with family and friends for years now… and can recommend just about everything on the menu. We have never had a disappointing meal at Market Broiler.

As appetizers, we typically order the Calamari; either Traditional or their newer Sweet & Spicy Calamari, and or the “Onion Stack.” If you like those “Blooming Onions / Awesome Blossom” type deep fried onion presentations, you will enjoy this one also (the chipotle sauce really makes it).

When it come to entrées we tend to be a bit boring and go with what ever the Market Broiler has on special… we like a great deal, and the “Manager’s or Daily Specials” are unbeatable. If there is no specials (which happens), we order the Mahi-Mahi, sea bass, halibut, shark or sword fish. This is all pretty fool proof because it is all good. Something you want to try is the Broiler’s Cheese Potatoes… very good. We can also recommend the Broiler’s Tri-tip and like their ribs. It is fair to note that “The Market Broiler” may specialize in seafood, but serves up meals for those that do not enjoy fish or can’t eat seafood, they are sure to enjoy… all of which has been very good also.

We have ordered several of “The Market Broiler” desserts, and have not found any we did not enjoy, but usually go with their cheesecake. Kind of boring considering some of the other fancier, trendy offerings… but we love cheesecake.

Our favorite branch of “The Market Broiler,” because of where we live is their Riverside location… but we have dined at most all of their locations, and recommend them all. If you are looking for really good seafood in the beach area, you want to avoid the pricier restaurants and go straight to the Broiler’s Huntington Beach location. The money you save avoiding the supposedly “better restaurants” will easily pay a reasonable bar bill at the Broiler, and the food is probably better at the Market Broiler. Trust “The Wright Gourmet” on this one… we have tried just about all of them multiple times and recommend from experience. This is not to say the other restaurants are not good… just to say many tend to be overpriced comparatively (food value wise), and despite the advertisements can’t offer any fresher seafood.

A note about Restaurant Reviews: In speaking with numerous other reviewers The Market Broiler comes highly regarded, but seems to be reviewed less because they do not buy the levels of advertisements many of the other restaurants do. They still win more awards and top the “Best Of” lists with just about any legitimate reviewer in the Southern California area… and we say this without any compensation of any kind from “The Market Broiler.”

We refer them because they consistently serve some of the Best Seafood we have enjoyed anywhere, provide great service plus reasonable pricing and for no other reasons (as is with all of our “Wright Gourmet” reviews). We understand that Riverside is a long way far from the ocean, but “The Market Broiler” I have always enjoyed is this location, which was recently remodeled.

The pictures we have included were all taken at Market Broiler’s Ontario Mills location… which is a bit fancier than the older Riverside one.

“Kamiyama Sushi Bar”
The Ontario Mills “Market Broiler” also features their new “Kamiyama Sushi” Bar which features the skills of Sushi Master Travis Kamiyama. You can see some of the fabulous Sushi presentations from the “Kamiyama Sushi” Bar in the pictures included… and may want to note that “Kamiyama Sushi” specializes in custom catering; including On-Site Catering. This service will enhance any up-scale office party or event and add that special touch everyone will talk about and remember while absolutely destroying that old dead finger food thing no one likes anyway.  

This article was posted by: Ed Wright and Central City Mortgage’s “Wright Team,” specializing in Residential and Commercial Mortgage Lending… Purchase and Refinance. Serving all of California from offices in the Inland Empire. For all your mortgage lending questions please call Ed Wright “Your Personal Mortgage Consultant For Life” at (909) 938-3777 or E-Mail “The Wright Team:” Ed@ForHomeLoan.info

For other Questions and Answers about this Restaurant Review Magazine, Reviews and/or to Submit Reviews;  Click Here

To post comments about this review in “Real Time” using “The Wright Gourmet” Suggestions and Comments area (you can use the “QuickSearch” to find the review in question) Click Here: http://www.TheWrightGourmet.com