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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, March 22, 2025


IN SUMMARY: 

The Review of the Review

Writing restaurant reviews is a lot like making 
soup for a crowd—you’ll never please 
everyone. Someone will say it’s too salty, 
someone else not enough, and one guy 
in the corner just wants to know why you 
didn’t mention his grandmother’s meatballs.

Take last week, for example. I wrote a review 
about a well-known neighborhood spot. 
I thought I was being fair. I even said nice 
things like “the burger was juicy,” “the server smiled,” and “you can sit at the bar 
and people-watch if you're into that kind of thing.” But the emails started flooding 
in before my coffee got cold.

“You were too nice,” said one reader. “That place hasn’t been the same since 2019.” 
Okay, noted.

“You were too mean,” said another. “That’s our date-night go-to. You must’ve gone 
on an off night!” Duly noted.

And then there's the fan favorite: “How come you didn’t mention me?” That was 
from Dennis, the ever-charismatic manager at Plate 38. Dennis, if you’re reading 
this—and I know you are—you are the heartbeat of the place, the human Yelp filter, 
the man who remembers your drink before you’ve even sat down. There. Consider 
yourself officially mentioned.

So how does one write a review? It starts like this: I scribble on a napkin, because 
I never remember to bring a notebook. I jot down notes like “crispy,” “ask about 
chef,” or sometimes just “what was that sauce??” Then I try to decipher these notes 
two days later, only to realize that “bread pillow” may have been about the focaccia… 
or a dream I had.

I remember the ambiance (was it 'cozy' or just dimly lit?), the service (friendly or 
hovering?), and of course, the food. But here’s the secret—every review is just a 
snapshot. It’s one moment in one restaurant’s life. The soup may be off today and a 
masterpiece tomorrow.

What I try to do is tell the truth, with a little humor and a lot of garlic. As my dad, 
Elmer Dills, always said, “Never enough garlic—keep it coming.” I’m not here to 
tear places down or hand out Michelin stars. I just want you to know if it’s worth 
getting off the couch and putting on pants.

And if I forget to mention someone—like Dennis—it’s not personal. Sometimes, I 
just run out of ink or room. Or maybe I was distracted by that bread pillow.

In Summary: Everyone’s a critic, including me. Just remember—it’s only one guy’s 
opinion, scribbled down on a napkin and brought to life with a dash of salt, a splash 
of wine, and a whole lot of love for the people who keep our restaurants humming.

email me diningwithdills@gmail.com and listen to my podcast

pod.link/1116885432

SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 
RETROFORMAT SILENT FILMS PRESENTSA DOUBLE 
FEATURE OF TWO TIMELESS SILENT FILM COMEDIES

"The Garage" (1920) starring 
Buster Keaton and Roscoe 
“Fatty” Arbuckle;

and

"The Battle of the Century" 
(1927) staring Laurel and Hardy

Suitable for All Ages

 

Saturday, April 5, 2025, 11 AM, 

at Sierra Madre Playhouse

 

The historic century-old Sierra Madre 
Playhouse harkens back to its fabled 
roots as a silent film theater when it 
presents two delightful and timeless 
silent film comedies suitable for all 
ages, including "The Garage" (1920), 
a 21-minute whirlwind of slapstick hilarity set in a small-town fire station starring legendary comedians 
Buster Keaton and Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 11 am, at Sierra 
Madre Playhouse. The double feature also includes "The Battle of the Century" (1927), a 19-minute 
laugh riot noted for its legendary pie fight starring the beloved comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It 
was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Con-
gress in 2020 for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The enduring humor 
of these two classic films is sure to bring laughter to adults and children alike. The program is presented 
in partnership with Retroformat Silent Films, an organization renowned for its dedica-tion 
to the preservation and celebration of silent cinema.

 

Tickets ($12) are on sale now. For tickets and information, please call 626.355.4318 or vis-it www.
sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

 

ABOUT SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE

Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning 
a century, energiz-es audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and 
captivating live performances. Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” 
(ABC7 Los Angeles), the performing arts center has gar-nered tremendous accolades for its varied 
repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact 
in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel 
Valley’s only performing arts center presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including 
theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local 
and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the 
Southland. The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection 
to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, 
and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main 
Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Retain-ing 
its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone 
numer-ous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie 
theatre to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich 
cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and 
spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring 
pursuit of shared understanding.

 

ABOUT RETROFORMAT SILENT FILMS

Retroformat Silent Films is a non-profit organizations whose mission is to promote education and 
enthusiasm about the art of silent film, so films from the silent film era can be widely enjoyed and 
fully appreciated as a cor-nerstone of modern film and visual art. The organization’s programs 
include silent film screenings in and around Los Angeles, always with live music, free screenings 
of silent films with live music and discussion in public and private schools, and a one-of-a-kind 
online silent film archive for members, the Retroformat Vault. According to Retroformat Silent 
Films, it is estimated that 85 - 90% of all silent films made from 1896 to 1929 are lost forever, so 
it is imperative that the surviving films from the silent era are experi-enced and enjoyed, or there 
will be no interest to preserve what remains. Losing this part of film history would mean forgetting 
how the most important art form of our time evolved, as well as how people a century ago viewed 
the social issues shaping our lives today. https://www.retroformat.org/


CREAMY CHICKEN 
MARSALA

(Serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

12 tablespoons olive oil

salt and ground black pepper to taste

8 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

4 onions, diced

4 cups sliced cremini mushrooms

4 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

4 cups Marsala wine

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, 
then add to hot oil and cook until browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in onion and mushrooms; 
continue cooking until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.

Pour condensed soup and Marsala wine over chicken mixture; cook until hot and 
chicken is no longer pink in the middle, 3 to 5 minutes. An instant-read thermometer 
inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).


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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com