This review will highlight the best restaurants of 2011 (in my opinion, of course) in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Each opinion will be short, and I am only mentioning places you should definitely try:

Best New Italian Restaurant......Pasta Cucina Rustica in La Verne at 2086 Foothill Boulevard. Best dish....eggplant parmesan with soup or salad (about $12)—it’s a huge portion.
Best Pizza still is Belagio in Montclair off Mountain Avenue. It has been around almost as long as me, and is worth the trip if you do not live near Montclair.
Best New and Inexpensive Old Style Coffee Shop is Norms off the 10 Freeway in Claremont. It is open 24-7 and it’s good.....fresh....fast and will cost less than eating at home. It is family owned with 18 locations in Southern California.
Best Sandwiches is Simple Simon’s Bakery in Riverside on 3639 Main Street located besides the Mission Inn. They bake all their bread on premises. Try the lamb or veggie sandwich. Beware—there is a long line at lunch time every day.
Best French Food.....for over 51 years Jean’s in Colton located at 592 North La Cadena—(909) 825-0905. Jean’s has been serving the finest French food—you have to be doing something right to be doing it for 51 years! Yes, same name and same family and same recipes with the same menu. Try the veal sweetbreads ($17.95) and the frog legs ($17.95)....and please don’t miss the crepe suzettes.
Best Sunday Brunch....Taps Fish House and Brewery at the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos located on 2745 Laneshore Drive in Corona (951-277-5800). At $31.99 this can easily be your Sunday breakfast, lunch and dinner....oysters on the half shell.....giant shrimp (yes, I know an oxymoron).....smoked salmon. Start with pancakes, waffles....eggs with ham....and don’t miss the fish and fresh pasta before going to the carving station (choose beef, lamb, pork or turkey), or if you are like me, try a little of each before the finale bananas foster and the chocolate bar. While dining, don’t miss trying an award-winning Taps beer (my favorite is the Bock).
Best Steak House......Cask n’ Cleaver Steak House which opened in 1967. Dollar for dollar, ounce for ounce, pound for pound and without having to mortgage the house, this affordable steak house is my favorite.....my favorite steak is the top sirloin baseball cut grilled black and blue (charred on the outside and medium rare inside) with baked potato and cheese sauce ($18.95). Start with the salad bar (included with entree and also the best salad bar around). My wife and I have been enjoying the steaks at the Cask n’ Cleaver for more than 25 years. Rancho Cucamonga location is located at 8689 9th Street and phone number is (909) 982-7108. Other locations are located in San Dimas and Riverside. Please note that all steaks are custom cut in-house and aged 28-35 days.

Next month I will send you the best restaurants between Palm Springs and Indio.
May I also wish each of you, and your family, a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!