We went looking. We have questions.

The FIFA World Cup is here. The biggest sporting event on the planet. Billions of people watching. And I, someone who grew up treating football like a religion, wanted to find somewhere in Santa Clarita to watch it properly.

So I ran a little experiment. Two venues. Same Saturday. Same tournament. One American sports bar. One British pub. A World Cup head to head.

Here's what I found.

Schooners is the obvious call for sport in SCV. Big room. Lots of screens. Sawdust on the floor. Cold beer. Everything you'd want from a sports bar. I sat at the bar for Brazil vs Morocco and had lemon pepper wings and an Ultra Zero with lime, because someone had to test the zero-alcohol option, and honestly it held up.

The barman told me it was absolutely rammed for the US game. Electric atmosphere. The full experience. Brazil vs Morocco on a Saturday afternoon? Half empty. A couple of people vaguely watching. Motocross on the other screen.

Rose & Crown is decorated exactly as you'd hope properly British, Union flags, the kind of place that feels like it was airlifted straight from a pub on a rainy high street somewhere. I ordered a Guinness, found the Scotland vs Haiti game on, and sat with approximately two other humans who appeared to have discovered the game by accident. I left at half time.

In fairness to them, Rose & Crown feels like it's primarily a restaurant that happens to have a bar. But as a match-day destination? It wasn't competing.

So who wins the head to head?

Schooners wins by default. Not because it was great. Because it was the only venue that felt remotely like a sporting event.

But neither place gave me what I was looking for.

What I wanted was football fans, singing, shouting, groaning at missed chances and someone calling the referee a *********.

And that raises the real question. Actually, a few of them.

Is Santa Clarita just not a football valley? Was I watching the wrong games, because when the US, Mexico or Canada are on, does everything change? Are the fan parks in LA pulling everyone down the 5 before local bars even get a chance? Or is there a spot we've completely missed, somewhere that fills up, gets loud, and actually feels like a match day?

I genuinely don't know. So I'm asking you.

I've put the question out on social media this week. Where do YOU watch football in Santa Clarita? Is there somewhere that actually delivers when it matters?

Tell us and next week, we'll report back on what the valley actually said.

Lorena D's Mexican Restaurant
18902 Soledad Canyon Rd, Canyon Country.

Lorena D's has a good origin story. The previous restaurant on this site was called Betito's, Lorena was the waitress. Now her name's above the door. Respect. It's a family run neighborhood spot that locals have quietly loved for years, and the carne asada burrito at $20.80 is very much the main event.

The verdict: The meat is the story here — well-seasoned, generous, and it held up beautifully the next morning. The pico de gallo doing exactly what they should. Structure solid throughout.

But here's this week's question for the Belt: Lorena D's skipped the rice entirely. The burrito was mostly meat, and honestly? It didn't suffer for it. Which raises something we're going to be asking all season is rice a filler or a feature? Because right now, the scoreboard says feature. But the burrito says otherwise.

Debate opens below. Reply and make your case.

Wow Spaghetti
28124 Newhall Ranch Rd, Santa Clarita.

I'll be honest. "Wow Spaghetti" is not a restaurant name I was rushing across town to try.

But tucked among the chain restaurants and big name stores of Valencia, you'll find one of the more quietly interesting food spots in Santa Clarita.

The concept is build your own pasta with a Korean twist. Four pasta choices. Nine sauces. Twelve bestsellers plastered across the wall. And, refreshingly, a member of staff who actually knows what they're talking about when you ask what to order.

Following the recommendation from behind the counter, I went with the pepperoni baked bolognese on penne with a side of creamy corn. I also ordered the truffle pappardelle to take home.

The food tells you exactly what kind of place this is.

My bolognese arrived in a foil tray. The creamy corn came the same way, straight from the oven. The pappardelle arrived in a white takeaway carton. No fancy plating. No theatre. Just fast, efficient, grab and go food.

And within about thirty seconds of the first bite, you stop caring about the packaging entirely.

The pasta had proper bite. Al dente, not overcooked, which sounds like it should be the minimum standard, but somehow isn't. The sauce was rich, the cheese generous, and the pepperoni baked bolognese was exactly what I wanted it to be: filling, well seasoned, and $16 including tax for a portion that actually does the job.

There was a steady stream of people coming through while we were there. Couples. Solo diners. Takeaway orders. Fast service, friendly staff, and a concept that has no right working as well as it does.

The downside? You're not getting much atmosphere. It's a quick service restaurant, not somewhere you're lingering over a bottle of wine for two hours. That's not what it's trying to be but it's probably what keeps this from climbing higher.

Still, it was the takeaway pappardelle that stuck with me.

"This is some of the best pasta I've had in Santa Clarita."

Once that was said, there wasn't much left for me to add.

Is it a destination restaurant? No.

Is it the best grab and go pasta in the valley?

It just might be.

If you haven't been, give it a try. And if the truffle pappardelle is still on the menu, don't overthink it.

Best For: Quick lunch or easy weeknight dinner

Order: Truffle Pappardelle

Skip: Nothing obvious

Return Visit?: Yes

Openings, events, and things worth knowing.

NEW THIS WEEK - ANGRY CHICKZ

Nashville hot chicken has arrived in SCV.

Angry Chickz opened its first Santa Clarita location on June 19th at 19187 Golden Valley Road. The menu runs six heat levels, from no heat "Country" all the way up to "Angry" a level so intense it requires you to sign a waiver.

We haven't been yet, but any restaurant with a waiver-based spice level has our attention. Expect a full report once someone on the Secret Sauce payroll is brave enough to sign it.

NOW OPEN - YARD HOUSE, VALENCIA

The long-awaited Yard House has officially landed at River Oaks, taking over the old Mimi's Cafe spot.

Huge menu. Massive beer list. Plenty of patio seating.

We suspect half of Santa Clarita has already been.

FREE EVENT THIS FRIDAY - CELEBRATE: INDONESIA

The City of Santa Clarita is hosting Celebrate Indonesia this Friday from 6–9pm at the Canyon Country Community Center.

Expect Indonesian dance performances, authentic food, live music, and a beer garden.

Free entry. All ages. No tickets needed.

The series continues through September, with Argentina in July, Jamaica in August, and Mexico in September.

Worth a look if you're free Friday night.

COMING UP - CITY CINEMAS IN THE PARK

Free outdoor movies return this month, running every fourth Friday through September at locations across SCV.

Food trucks arrive an hour before showtime, which means you can either pack a picnic or let someone else do the cooking for once.

We're heading back into the Burrito Belt Championship.

We'll reveal what Santa Clarita told us about World Cup watch parties.

We've got another restaurant review lined up.

And we're announcing a new competition that may or may not be a terrible idea.

See you next Thursday.

Know something we should know about?

A restaurant opening. A hidden gem. A local event. A food truck worth chasing across town.

Reply to this email and tell us.

We’re Listening.