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A friend brought over a chocolate mousse cake for a lunch party - it is die-licious. So so creamy, fluffy, airy, chocolatey goodness. Not too sweet and just perfect to satisfy the chocolate demands of a PMS'ing crank monster.
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Schubert's Bakery
Cuisine: Desserts Bakery
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Inner Richmond |
8/9/2009
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Food- quality was average, leaning on the poor. The mussels were undercooked, although the sauce it was in was good. The calamari was tender tasted like it was coated in old oil. The veal was overcooked and too salty. The tiramisu was way soggy on the bottom.
Service - very prompt and friendly
Ambiance - a bit too loud for dinner. I can see why it would be a good place for happy hour though.
Seemed to be an over-priced diner to us.
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Puccini & Pinetti
Cuisine: Italian
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Downtown |
7/11/2009
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The converted the old bank space to a nice lofty & open dining space. Considering how busy it was on a Tuesday night, I was pleasantly surprised that the noise level was minimal. The waitress was nice and knowledgeable of the wine list.
The pork chop, supposedly a signature dish, was WAY undercooked that we sent it back. They recooked the same piece - is that typical, or should they really give us a different chop? By the time it returned to the table, everyone else had already finished own main course.
The baby back ribs was tender yet on the bland side to me. The warm olives were nice and the fries are good there. Sardines were on the fishy side. Come to think of it, all the appetizers were much better than our entrees.
The deserts weren't the best - the chocolate pudding cake was a little to orange-y. The pecan pie was good, not too sweet yet not out of this world. The only thing worth tasting was the earl gray ice cream.
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NOPA
Cuisine: Mediterranean Greek
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Western Addition |
11/29/2007
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I'm giving it a negative b/c it made me sick. I have a fairly iron stomache and it takes something really wrong for me to get food related illnesses.
The color of the broth was a little to dark for my liking. The taste was on the bland side.
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Pho Hoa-Hiep II
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Daly City |
11/3/2007
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"It sure is expensive to eat healthy." That's a quote from my partner after we got the bill. We both enjoyed our meals. He had the "I am Elated" which was the enchilada - and I had the "I am Whole" - their sample plater. The pesto crostini was very good. We also ordered the "I am Thriving" - their daily soup which was a curried cauliflower.
Service staff is/was very warm and inviting. The back patio is very nice to sit in.
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Cafe Gratitude
Cuisine: Raw Vegetarian
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Inner Sunset |
11/3/2007
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A group of us went for lunch and it felt like I sat forever. Service was spotty and slow. The food was okay - only one thing stood out for me and that was the duck terrine. My friends liked the green beans but they weren't anything spectacular to me.
The pulled pork panini I had was good but I left feeling hungry still.
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Coco 500
Cuisine: Californian Mediterranean
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
10/15/2007
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A friend suggested this place as their 'go to'. I must say I was a little disappointed with the the Mousank (?) Lamb dish I had - the one in yogurt sauce. The lamb was dry, the dish flavorless, and I walked away still hungry. My partner had 3 of their skewers (veggies, salmon, and tofu) and said they were 'okay' -- my son poo-pooed everything.
The outdoor patio in the back is nice. Staff is nice too. I don't know that this will be my go-to, but I might be back to try their signature rotisserie chicken.
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Bistro 9
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Inner Sunset |
10/5/2007
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One of the reasons I like this place is that the wait, if there is any, is very minimal on weekends. Every time we go for dim sum here on a Sunday, we are seated right away.
They don' t have carts - order off the menu - like traditional dim sum places. Their dumplings are super tasty. Try everything with shrimp in it. I haven't gone for dinner but it seems like a very popular place for local Chinese banquets and such.
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South Sea Seafood Village
Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum
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Inner Sunset |
9/26/2007
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Hostess staff was a bit off-putting. The waitresses were fine, the food was okay. The noise level high.
Nothing knocked our socks off and we tried many of their rolls and appetizer dishes.
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Ace Wasabi's
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Marina |
9/26/2007
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Food is great. Noise level is awful though. My ears hurt walking out of there.
The beef appetizer had that great wasabi kick to it.
Sea bass in green & red curry was creamy delicious.
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Osha
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
8/7/2007
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Order your food, take a number, and have a seat. Not a fine dining place.
The Beet Salad w/goat cheese was very good, but it's hard to mess up a salad if you ask me. My partner really enjoyed his eggs Benedict and said he could taste the organic difference.
Kid friendly place so to the other poster complaining about the kids, what can you do?
They have a kids menu but they don't serve it until after 2 or something like that. This is a pain if you want to feed your kid brunch before 2.
The chocolate brownie and cupcake are musts too. Not too sugary.
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Lettus Cafe Organic
Cuisine: Organic Vegetarian
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Marina |
8/7/2007
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The setting certainly gives it a bit of a flair. The entrees were ordered were very good - with the fish tagine and Moroccan seafood specialties being the best.
We weren't too keen on the banana fritters but that's okay b/c we were all full by then. The mint tea was a nice ending.
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El Mansour
Cuisine: Moroccan
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Outer Richmond |
7/13/2007
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I tried the catfish po'boy sandwich with a side of yams. The batter on the fish was super crispy - I'm guessing it's the same batter they use for their chicken. Good that it wasn't too greasy and the flavor of the fish was light and not drowned in mayo. The yams were nicely flavored with cinnamon and not overly sweet.
Service was quick.
Will go back and try their signature friend chicken.
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Hard Knox Cafe
Cuisine: Southern Soul Food
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Potrero Hill |
6/18/2007
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The spinach & mushroom is really good, especially if you add garlic to it! Yum. Both the deep dish pizzas and thin crust pizzas were great. Fresh ingredients, crusty crust. The mediterreanian pizza was awesome.
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Zachary's Chicago Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Oakland |
6/18/2007
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Such a cute place- they have a really peaceful little garden in the back. Good and affordable sushi. Great dinner specials. Can't believe I haven't been sooner- actually, it's probably because the front looks a bit suspect for some reason. Great little date spot too.
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Goemon Japanese Restaurant
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Inner Sunset |
6/18/2007
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This place can get very noisey even with it being half full of customers. The wait staff was attentive. Nothing stood out from the many plates we ordered. The chiles rellenos were a little overcooked. Was very disappointed in the entree portion size and taste --- I mean for $15, I want more than 3 tiny little bland tuna cakes on a tiny tortilla. Will not go back. BTW - the menu on their website is outdated.
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Mamacita
Cuisine: Mexican Nuevo Latino
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Marina |
6/4/2007
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This place is fantastic. Took my mom for mother's day meal and arrived w/o reservations and early enough for their Early Bird special, which was a 3 course meal for only $16. They have prixe fix meals for either $22 or $32, with different selections. The clam chowder was creamy and not to salty like most restaurants tend to make it. The apple and walnut salad was nicely dressed. The fish stew was the best with 2 huge prawns, mussels, clams, fresh fish etc in it. My mom enjoyed her wild snapper and my partner liked his seafood linguine. They gave us a generous portion of ice cream at the end. The owner was very accommodating to bring us more sliced apples for my son to eat. They have a good selection on their kid's menu - for only $5. What a great place- we'll defiantly be back.
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Pisces California Cuisine
Cuisine: Seafood Californian
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Outer Sunset |
5/13/2007
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Nothing too impressive here. I found the sushi to be too cold and not that fresh. Probably won't go back.
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Kiki's Japanese Restaurant
Cuisine: Japanese Asian Sushi
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Inner Sunset |
5/9/2007
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A bit on the glorified salad bar approach, if you asked me. Good price for the amount of salad you get but because the way the items are laid out, I didn't see the other options available. The tri tip was dry and chewy and the stuffing was a huge disappointment because it was so tasteless and soggy.
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Pluto's Fresh Food for a Hungry Universe
Cuisine: American salads
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Inner Sunset |
5/9/2007
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The shop is so cute. We often order sandwiches here for the office and everyone loves whatever they order. My personal fav is their turkey sandwich w/cranberry. Everything is fresh. You chose your own bread, condiments, etc.
The chicken breast sandwich is on the dry side.
Update: tried their chicken breast w/ provolone sandwich - bland !
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Hazel's Kitchen
Cuisine: Deli
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Potrero Hill |
5/9/2007
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I rarely eat Chinese food, except dim sum, mostly because for fear of MSG. Thankfully, Jasmine Tea house doesn't use it in their cooking. I've only tried take-away lunch specials which were are good. Try the spicy eggplant w/chicken & Shrimp or the Mongolian beef. The general tsao chicken was okay. There are a lot of really good vegetarian options too. And you can ask for brown rice.
10/15 update: stay away from the garlic fish. Stodgy mess. The ostrich, on the other hand, was tender and tasty!
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Jasmine Tea House
Cuisine: Chinese
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Mission |
4/6/2007
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I've only been once so those dedicated patrons to Tartine may give you a better review. Though first impressions may count for much. Anyway- I went there on Valentine's Day to buy a nice something for the SO - not much was left but the Coconut & Passion fruit cake they had. Even the guy in front of me says he goes a lot and loves everything the bakery makes. Well, I thought the cake was a little dry and the passion fruit made the cake way too tart. The bread pudding, on the otherhand, was great. Pain au Chocolat - eh, tasted a bit stale. The store front is really dark - they need to get a brighter sign.
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Tartine Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Mission |
3/28/2007
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Limon, with us
We (party of 5) ordered a bunch of plates to share and nothing really stood out for me. The Limon ceviche was good -chose this if you're debating over others. The calamare was very tender but I wasn't so fond of the batter. The waiter spilled our drink order over my friend. The good thing was they offered to dry clean her jacket and also gave us 2 free desserts. I've been wanting to try Limon for a while now. And now that I have I can check it off and probably not go back.
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Limon
Cuisine: Peruvian
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Mission |
3/28/2007
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This is such a great coffee shop with awesome sandwiches. For the herbivore out there, try the portobello mushroom sandwich- so good. And much to the pleasure of my friend who doesn't like mayo - they have a very good tuna salad on house greens that is yum yum. There is a garden/ open area in the back of the cafe that nice to sit and relax. The only downside is that I wish there were sides with the sandwich order. Atlas also serves breakfast but I haven't tried it.
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Atlas Cafe
Cuisine: Vegetarian Deli Coffee Shop
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Mission |
3/28/2007
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This clean-closet of a space serves delicious hotdogs w/a smile. So glad it's in the neighborhood. The walls are covered with posters that the owners had in their home - from Bart Simpson to Bob Marley. Their vegetarian hotdogs are good, as are their meat choices. I like the sweet Italian the best so far.
Don't expect any 'exotic' condiments here like mango chutney. They have different types of mustard, mayo, and ketchup, chopped onions, relish & sauerkraut that self-serve. All organic, of course. Just good 'ol hotdog on a bun.
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Underdog
Cuisine: Organic Hot Dogs
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Inner Sunset |
3/6/2007
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Their hummous is nice a creamy, not too garlicy. Their fresh pita breads are on the doughy-side. The open flame chicken is tasty.
Even though I love lamb I thought the flavor of their lamb shwarma was a little too overpowering. They can improve this a bit by adding a little more salad or cucumber or some type of veggie in the wrap.
Stay away from the rice pudding - echk!
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Good Frikin' Chicken
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Bernal Heights |
1/27/2007
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Not as authentic as the taquerias in the Misson, but this will do. Friends highly recommended the Thai chicken wrap but when I ate it, it didn't impress- tasted too sour, wasn't very thai-like at all. I also tried their pollo verde burrito, which comes w/guac...I was all most down to by last few bites before I hit a huge glob of it.
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Dos Pinas Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican Taqueria
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Potrero Hill |
1/27/2007
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The pomnegranite chicken drumsticks were pleasantly good. The white bean soup was a bit too sour/lemony for my taste. We went for lunch so it was pretty chilled there. I'd go back to try their weekly lamb dinners specials.
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La Mediterranee
Cuisine: Mediterranean Middle Eastern
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Castro |
1/27/2007
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Nestled in the middle of office buildings, it's not a likely spot for wanderers to find this place. The atmosphere is very marina. The food was awesome. Try the following and you won't be disappointed: soy-maple glazed black cod, chili glazed chicken wings, cherry brown butter tart, chocolate truffle purse, mashed potatoes, and kobe beef tenderloin ‘petite filet'. All were so so delicious.
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Pres A Vi
Cuisine: Eclectic Small Plates
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Presidio |
1/27/2007
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You can rely on Darla to cook your juicy burger to order. Good quality meat and a nice portion of shoe string fries. Can't go wrong. They have a nice patio area in the back.
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Darla's
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Coffee Shops/Diners
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Inner Sunset |
11/5/2006
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So we ordered the calamari & rock shrimp as suggested by other posters and was slightly disappointed. I tasted more batter than filling and it seems a bit oily/greasy to me. The three dipping sauces were good though. The acorn & pumpkin soup was nice. The waiter was nice and food came slightly on the slow side. The warm artisan bread was tasty. I ordered the duck in a cherry wine sauce. Pretty creative flavors that were nicely married with the duck. The duck seem on the dry side. The special for the evening was a sea bass. Cooked nicely but nothing spectacular. What WAS spectacular was the SUMI sundae. It didn't matter that the chocolate cake seems more like a brownie, it was the best part of our meal. Thanks SUMI & SF Survey for the $50.
Oh- and FYI all desserts now are $8.
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SUMI
Cuisine: Fusion
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Castro |
11/5/2006
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We stopped in here for a cup of tea & desert. The carrot cake was airy and moist - pretty good but the frosting wasn't a nice cream cheese frosting we had hoped. The large chocolate chip cookie was a bit on the sugary side.
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The Grove
Cuisine: American Bistro Coffee Shops
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Marina |
10/26/2006
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Wow. Really wonderful sushi. We sat at the bar and had the chef help us stuff our face and send us to heaven with blissful bites of nigiri. You MUST try the "King Crab Remix" - it has king crab(duh), salmon, avacado, and scallop. Divine. The trout, scallop, New zealand salmon, and butterfish were wonderful.
I'm definately going back.
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Zushi Puzzle
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Marina |
10/26/2006
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The service was quick and people nice enough. The burritos were a bit on the bland side. I had a regular steak burrito and my partner had a vegetarian one. It's so-so.
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La Fonda Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican
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Inner Sunset |
10/26/2006
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Nice shop with a few novelty items for sale. I can't remember if there was any seating. Their white pistachio gelato was not very pistachio-y. The mint chip was though. The gelato flavor change so don't expect to see the ones people review on here if you go.
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Holy Gelato!
Cuisine: Ice Cream Dessert
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Inner Sunset |
10/22/2006
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L'Avenida Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican
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Inner Sunset |
10/22/2006
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Nothing in here is too sweet, which is the way I like it sometimes. Try a slice of their green tea cake w/red bean. Nice aroma and airy sponge cake. Their c***tail buns and taro twist are yummy too. We recently purchase their mochacino cake and was a little disappointed with the cake itself, a little on the dry side and the mocha cream was a bit too tasteless. Their portugese custard tart is okay, I've still to find one that brings me back to Portugal.
Clean space, fast service, booths to sit and enjoy your bun, cake, and coffee.
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Sheng Kee Bakery
Cuisine: Asian Bakery
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Inner Sunset |
10/22/2006
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I ordered the lamb shank special and it came out pretty ordinary and too spicey. Also ordered the sea bass special and was again disappointed - although it was nicely seasoned, the quantity was not enough to fill us. The sag palek was oily and also a bit on spicey side. Probably won't go back, you'll find my tent in the Tasty curry camp.
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Naan 'n Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Inner Sunset |
10/22/2006
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The owners recently remodeled and the place looks great. The food is still good and I will venture to say that this is the best Pho I've had in the city. My sister tried their grilled pork w/ rice dish, she said that it was nicely marinated/seasoned and grilled. The omlette/egg thing (Cha) that goes with the dish was too eggy.
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Pho Tu Do
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Inner Richmond |
10/22/2006
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I was hankering for a really, moist and airy piece of cake. Looking at their nice display, I decided on the Chocolate Hazelnut cake and was disappointed in it. Didn't 'hit-the-craving-spot' for me. Perhaps b/c I thought it was hazelnut cream in between the cake but it was more crunchy. The cake was not as moist as I would have liked. I've also tried their chocolate cream cheese muffin, which tasted a little bland. Their lemon poppy seed muffin okay too. Doesn't make me go wow, yummmm.
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Tart to Tart
Cuisine: Bakeries dessert coffee
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Inner Sunset |
8/30/2006
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Such a great place for a healthy snack/meal. My favorite is the tofu black bean. They have a different pie-of-the-month too that I always try. This place doesn't seem to get as packed as the Noe Valley location and the small area to eat is still clean and airy.
If you've ever traveled to England and love pasties, this is a good thing to try!
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Peasant Pies
Cuisine: Bakeries French
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Inner Sunset |
8/24/2006
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This place is so not worth the drive from San Francisco. It was recommended to us by and Indian acquaintance and we also saw it reviewed on the show "bay area backroads'. Boy were wee disappointed. The spinach dosa was slightly burnt, the Veggi Zhalfrezi just tasted OFF, and the lunch buffet items were mediocre. It's okay if you're in the area but nothing to make a special trip for!
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Sitara Indian Cuisine
Cuisine: Vegetarian Indian
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Santa Clara |
8/24/2006
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This is definately one of those 'word-of-mouth' places b/c there are so many chinese restaurants down Irving it's hard to know which to choose. Their 'dried fried chicken- is really good - you can order it diced or wings, wet or dry. I go in the late afternoon on weekdays when I can -- avoids all the lines.
Note- they're closed on Wednesdays
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San Tung
Cuisine: Mandarin
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Inner Sunset |
8/24/2006
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We went with a group of about 12 people and we all had a good time; although it gets loud and you have to shout or play musical chairs in order to speak with everyone. All the dishes were good except maybe the meatballs. We had the calamari (fried and sauteed), mushrooms, spanish omlettes, asparagus, mini sausages, potatoes (2 ways)... all were pretty garilicy.
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Picaro
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Mission |
8/24/2006
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Be prepared to WAIT and WAIT, even if you have reservations. The variety is good (try the King ShuMai) and you can see the chefs preparing the dumplings from the dining area. Although the women come around with the carts/ trays, you can order off the sheet they give you and the kitchen will bring it to your table, which is quicker than waiting for the carts to come around again. They also have a nice selection of chinese teas for special order.
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Koi Palace
Cuisine: Dim Sum Seafood
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Daly City |
6/8/2006
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Eh. Typcial choices for the masses, but what do you expect for a chain restaurant? My co-diner got a very bad stomache afterwards. Will never go back to a chain if I can help it- especially with all the real authentic Mexican restaurants in the city.
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Chevy's Fresh Mex
Cuisine: Tex-mex Mexican
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Embarcadero |
6/8/2006
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Okay- so the queen bee of the place is annoying to some, but to her defense, it's very typical Thai to scream orders to the back kithcen. Have fun and loosen up people. The food, once your order is in, comes out very quickly. We found all the dishes to be full of flavor. The coconut ice cream is looooovely.
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Marnee Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Outer Sunset |
6/8/2006
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This Chinese bakery get lots of foot traffic for good reason. Their variety of pastries (especially for holiday time), cakes, and breads are a hit with the locals. They have seating in there and is bright and airy. Don't want to buy the whole cake? Take a slice and sit down.
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J & J Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries Asian
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Inner Sunset |
6/8/2006
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I like the crust on the pizza and it's always freshly made, not greasy. Definately try their pesto pizza, and the veggitarian pizza. They have seating, deliver, and sell by the slice.
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Irving Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza Italian
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Inner Sunset |
6/8/2006
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The wait here can be atrocious on the weekends. When you go, you have to leave room for the ginger cake w/cinnamon ice cream.
Their chicken pasta was good. The brunch is okay. The Monday fish sandwich special was very disappointing - tasted more bun than fish and I was left hungry.
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Park Chow
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Inner Sunset |
6/8/2006
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We had a really wonderful 'experience' here on valentines - their first "Once in a Lifetime" event where they had Babel Gilberto perform for us. It was very intimate and certainly a spot for special occasions. The food was good (not spectacular) and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
The only improvement they should make is to let the diners know that the masseuse that they may have going around should be paid (not just tipped).
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Supperclub
Cuisine: Continental Fusion
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SoMa |
3/14/2006
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Upon a recommendation of a co-worker, I went here for their roast duck. Wasn't disappointed. Not the absolute best I've tasted but certainly aromatic and not so fatty. I wouldn't call this place small - there are quite a few tables in there to dine-in.
The roast duck noodle soup was very disappointing.
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New Cheung Hing Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese
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Outer Sunset |
3/14/2006
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Everything we ordered was nicely flavored, cooked, and presented. A bit pricey like everyone said - but we enjoyed ourselves. The flamingo dancing was cool but noisy. It entertained my nephew for a few minutes!
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Thirsty Bear Brewing Co.
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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SoMa |
3/14/2006
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They have a nice variety of pies- crust taste really fresh. The staff is nice & the vibe is laid back/ casual.
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Goat Hill Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Potrero Hill |
2/10/2006
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The only disappointments are when the pizzas are sold out ! Can't go wrong with their fresh-baked pastries and pizza. Check their website for the menu/ pizza of the day. I LOVE their blueberry muffins and mint chocolate chip cookies. *drool just thinking of them*
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Arizmendi Bakery
Cuisine: Bakery
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Inner Sunset |
2/10/2006
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Yawn. The food was a bit unoriginal and didn't tantalize our taste buds. The calamari seemed overly fried and rubbery. The Carrot Ginger soup was bland, except for the last spoonful which had all the ginger bits in it. I had the Morrocan Lamb Shank and was disappointied - meat was not falling off the bone and the sauce it was in was too confusing yet bland. Fish & Chips were mediocre. We won't be back for the food, not worth the prices. And service was mediocre.
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Luna
Cuisine: Californian American (Traditional) Brunch
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Castro |
2/10/2006
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I prefer to buy my bread here - their multigrain being my favorite - you can have them slice it for you or bring it home and slice it yourself. Thier carrot cupcake w/cream cheese frosting and chocolate chip cookies are my favorite sweets they have. The croissants are a bit too doughy for me. They have seasonal/holiday bakery items too that you can order.
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Noe Valley Bakery & Bread Co
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Noe Valley |
12/16/2005
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The Saag Gohst (lamb w/spinch) was mild in flavor. The dahl was good, even though I"m not a big dalh/ lentil eater, the veggie dish was the best. Always a good sign when 95% of the diners were of South Asian decent. Unpretentious eatery that can get very busy. And don't forget to try the mango lassi. They also have a milky tea that you serve yourself.
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Shalimar Gardens
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Tenderloin |
12/16/2005
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My friends took me here for my b-day after raving about it and I didn't have the heart to tell them I didn't think the whole 'experience' was worth what they paid. It was noisy and crowded, the wait staff was ambivalent -- and messed up my order, and the food was alright. The only great thing about my $90 lunch for 2 was the dessert.
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Slanted Door, The
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Embarcadero |
11/30/2005
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Our waiter was great (knowledgeable, invisibly available, patient) and the food was superb. Their special-of-the-day soup (Roasted s**take mushroom) would have gone great as a gravy to my thanksgiving dinner the week before - ha ha. It was delicious, as was the sea bass everyone is raving about, which was melt-in-your-mouth & perfectly seasoned. My co-diners both tried the special cod for the evening and loved their dish too (I had a taste and still preferred the sea bass). The ceasar salad with crispy scallops was okay, nothing too spectacular. The Maine crab cake was in the form of a pear and was a bit light on the crab-side. The bill came out to $110 for 2 course for 3 people. Entrees were much better than the starters. Too full to try the desserts. next time
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The HOUSE
Cuisine: Pan-Asian Pacific Rim
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North Beach |
11/30/2005
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This is THE place to go for a GREAT burger. Even better place for a Buffalo burger! Perfectly flame-broiled and served with a side a of thick-cut french fries. They also serve steak and have a small salad bar. No-frills type place, but who cares when you're craving a juicy burger? They have a good veggie burger with sauteed 'shrooms & onions & avocado.
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Bullshead Restaurant
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Steakhouse
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West Portal |
11/30/2005
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I concur- the duck curry is very good. Although I asked for four-chilli pepper spicey (they have a scale of 1 to 5), the duck only had a hint of spice to it. The duck with spinach is also worth a try, as is the beef and green beans. The pad thai seemed really bland and overcooked. Pass on the fried calamari - way too much overfried batter that made the calamari all rubbery/ crunchy. Not so keen on their egg rolls either. Oh, and order the brown rice everyone liked that better than the white rice.
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Thai Stick Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Downtown |
11/22/2005
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After failed attempts, we finally went to Firefly. The descriptions on the menu of all their options make us salivate. Unfortunately it reads better than it taste. The menu does change - if you spot the shrimp and scallop potstickers- order these! The goat cheese beet salad was wanting in more salad and beets. The ahi tuna roll was nice. I had the lamb shank, which was tenderly cooked yet on the salty side. My co-diners had the mahimhai which they both described as 'a little dry'. For dessert, I tried the chocolate cake and vanilla gelato - I only ate the gelato, the cake so just too powerful (and I love chocolate!). The pumpkin tart had a great buttery, flaky crust and aromatic filling. The mint & green apple sorbet was refreshing.
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Firefly
Cuisine: Eclectic
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Noe Valley |
11/22/2005
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Love this place for a quick healthy snack. The monthly specials are always good. My favorite regular filling is the Spicy Black Bean & tofu. Of the sweet pies, I like the chocolate pot the best; although I would say the crust is a little thick. The apple could be more flavorful.
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Peasant Pies
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Noe Valley |
11/22/2005
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The decor is nice, although the tables and people are really packed in there. I tried the same dish as Chunky_Monkey below (Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio) and wasn't all impressed for the 7 bucks I spent on it. The vermicelli was too thick for my liking and it looked like the same noodle used in their noodle stir-fry dish, which my co-diner ate. The imperial roll tasted too oily and the grilled pork was tender but light in flavor. The herbs they used in the dish was nice, but not enough. It's a decent place to go, but I doubt I'll make it a regular spot. Better VN'ese choices on the same street.
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Mangosteen
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
11/9/2005
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A Jem in the 'loin. The food tasted fresh/clean/healthy. They serve jasmine brown rice, yippee! We went for lunch and orderd the Red Duck curry (really good) and cashew nut chicken. They claim to use all natural, no genetically-modified ingredients. WONDERFUL selection for ominivores, herbivores, and yes, vegans. Highly recommend this place.
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Mekong Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai Vegetarian
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Tenderloin |
10/28/2005
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The waitress (and staff) are very professional and knowledgable of the menu items and wine. We came here for lunch - one glass of red wine, fresh lemondae (really good); a hamburger on foccacia bread, roasted chicken sandwich w/balasmic mayo (tasty but not much filling), Apple-huckleberry tart with vanilla ice cream (fruit was not fragrant, the thin buttery crust was all we could taste) with vanilla ice cream (tasted re-frozen) came out to $50. Not the greatest lunch I've had for that amount of money. The portions are small and I was left still hungry.
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Zuni Cafe
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Hayes Valley |
10/14/2005
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A great little place that reminds me of the small sushi houses in Japan. The unagi was tender and delicious (try the dragon roll and unagi nigiri). Miso soup hit the spot. The seaweed used on the rolls and in the soup tasted really fresh. The rolls were on the small-side, but for only $4, I can't complain b/c there were still full of flavor. Staff is super nice and the place is really cozy. Four-top tables max - I wouldn't know what they did with larger parties. So if you're in Noe Valley and found Hamano to busy- try this little gem.
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Matsuya
Cuisine: Japanese
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Noe Valley |
10/10/2005
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The restaurant is nicely decoration and clean. The waiters were flirting with all the women at the table to a point that it got annoying. The pompodams were starting to taste a tad too greasy and stale. The mango lassi was yummy. Garlic nans were tasty as I mopped up my palak lamb. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. A little on the pricey side considering it's not spectacular but better than what else is around. The chicken pokoras(sp?) were much better than the veggie ones.
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Bombay Indian Restaurant
Cuisine: Indian
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Castro |
10/8/2005
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We had reservations for 5 people for my friend's b-day but the table wasn't ready when we got there so we had to wait and they ended up squeezing us in the corner on a 4 top that was there when we walked in 20 minutes before. Definiately a good idea to share the plates so you can have a taste of everything. Mussels, warm chocolate cake, ribs, orange lamb were the best. Pass on the crab cakes - too salty & not much crab. The banana beignet split wasn't as spectacular as I'd hoped - niether were the 'porcupines'. Too cramped in there!
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AsiaSF
Cuisine: Californian Asian
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SoMa |
10/7/2005
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I've been looking for a half-way decent place for Roast duck (egg) noodle soup for lunch cravings and this place is the best so far (even when compared to the place up a little further on Larkin that has roast duck hanging from the window). The egg noodle doesn't taste/smell like ammonia, the broth is sweet, the wontons they have in it taste fresh (not frozen), and the duck has meat on it (not just fat & skin). The duck tastes more like five-spice duck rather than the true version, but for $5.50 - it'll do for lunch. My friend tried the Mongolian beef over rice and said it was edible but needed a touch more flavor to it.
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Golden Kim Tar Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese
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Civic Center |
10/7/2005
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I've been here twice and found the food fairly bland and catered too much to the 'western' taste. The owners are nice. Decor is sparse and diner-like.
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Golden House Restaurant
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Civic Center |
9/23/2005
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What a let down. After the 1 1/2 hr wait, I was expecting a great burrito (especially for $9). Sadly, there was hardly any rice or beans to be found in my grilled chicken burrito - or much chicken for that matter. The surprise is that they pour some type of red sauce on top of the burrito making it look like a chimichanga. Tasted really salty too. Service was efficient enough, I suppose, for a busy night. Doubt that I'd go back to this place for the food.
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Puerto Alegre
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
9/23/2005
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We went here was a very large group and got the back room. It was still super noisey. The pre-fixe menu was pretty good, the salad was great. I had the meatloaf w/mashed potatoes and carmelized carrots. The presentation of the food wasn't so appetizing, thank goodness it tasted a lot better than it looked. That evening, they had guava sorbet that was fabulous. The banana bread pudding was moist and tasted like banana bread. The seared tuna tasted better than it looked also.
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Home
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Castro |
9/23/2005
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Yummy creamy smooth gelato! Besides the usual flavors, they have a great creative selection (e.g. Rose). Looking forward to my next visit.
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Naia
Cuisine: Dessert Gelato
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Castro |
9/20/2005
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I tried the Pho dac biet ($6.50) here and it was good enough for a repeat visit. The menu options are good here with many traditional dishes. My friend had the rice vermicelli noodles and grilled shrimp ($6), the only down side to this dish was there were no fresh herbs in the bowl. The place was full but we didn't have to wait long for our food to arrive once we were seated.
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Yummy Yummy
Cuisine: Vietnamese Asian
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Inner Sunset |
9/20/2005
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The staff is very nice here and the interior is clean and quaint. The prices are great, with the entrees running between $6.50 -$8/plate. I go for their specials that aren't on the menu (I'm always waiting for their duck in red curry to reappear). The Gang Pa (Sliced pork in red curry) was on the sweet side and full of all sorts of veggies that weren't in the description of the entree. I've only had one bad experience here recently (Pad thai had to much food coloring, the egg was one big burnt lump, and only 3 prawns in it).
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Swatdee Thai
Cuisine: Thai Asian
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Noe Valley |
8/20/2005
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Parking around here can be very difficult (as it competes with Ton Kiang customers). The restaurant is clean with nice decorations and the service is good. The food was decent.
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La Vie Vietnamese Restaurant
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Outer Richmond |
8/20/2005
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I've eaten here a few times, not the best VNese but becoming my fall-back in the area. The lunch like the rice plates deals(under $6)are good- try their 5 spice chicken or grilled pork chop. They use fresh noodles in their pho and the broth leans on the good side more than not but can be spotty. The menu is full of choices (including vegetarian options) so this is a good place for large parties and for people with different tastes. The bun rieu oc is was worth a try. Pass on the duck w/rice or egg noodle soup. They have fish tanks in the back so you can select a fresh fish - and when in season - dungeness crab. The have a large screen TV with kereoke capabilities.
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Vietnam II Seafood Restaurant
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
8/10/2005
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We tried this place for dim sum and was so incredibly disappointed. All the choices we had tasted like they came out of a frozen packet. Service was super slow/ inattentive. Granted we went on a regular weekday and not the weekend, perhaps it's better? I'm too scared from the first experience to try it again, even under new management. The dining room is super large and can probably cater to large private parties/functions.
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Yet Wah Chinese Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese
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Noe Valley |
8/10/2005
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I honestly don't know why we are rating a cookie joint (or ice cream parlors for that matter) as they aren't technically restaurants. Nevertheless... I wasn't expecting my cookie to be hot out of the oven, so I wasn't disappointed in the oatmeal choc. chip w/nut cookie I devoured. The guys behind the counter are nice.
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Hot Cookie
Cuisine: Bakeries Hot Cookies
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Castro |
8/10/2005
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If the sandwiches fit their enticing descriptions, then I would be a regular here. Alas, the sandwiches didn't tantalize my taste buds and a bit too cold for my liking. Service is relatively quick.
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Lulu Petite
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Embarcadero |
8/10/2005
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This place can get pretty busy (read: noisy) and we were trying it b/c Ton Kiang was even more packed. Nevertheless, we were quite satisfied with the dim sum here and found that they have more selections than Ton Kiang. Service was crappy for us. It took them a very long time to serve us our drinks and it was hard to have the staff follow through with getting that extra fork or side of hot sauce.
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Mayflower
Cuisine: Chinese Seafood
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Outer Richmond |
8/8/2005
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It's easy to walk by this place and miss it because it's right next to the Open Hand volunteer center and I thought it was part of their cafeteria. Not to say that the restaurant looks like a cafeteria- in fact, it's pretty nice inside. They have good lunch specials for less than $7. The pad thai was nicely flavored a moist. Also tried their red curry, which was fragrant and tasty. Decent Thai option in the 'loin.
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Racha Cafe
Cuisine: Thai Barbecue
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Tenderloin |
8/8/2005
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This would be a good place to introduce someone to their first Viet Namese dining experience. The decor is nice and clean (probably the reason for the higher prices) and the food is consistently good. The fried rice is clay pot is good. As for me, I'll continue looking for THE VN restaurant.
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Le Soleil Authentic Vietnamese Cusine
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Inner Richmond |
8/8/2005
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When I saw the line stretched to the back of this place, I thought "This MUST be good." The large bamboo steamers in the front window looked promising too. Boy was I let down. The steamed dumplings I got were COLD which really kills the flavor. They have both steamed and pan-fried versions of the chives and shrimp dumplings (my favorite). The rice in lotus leaf is worth trying - the one with the meat in it. Prices are great and taste is mediocre. Not worth the wait in line but good if you only have a few bucks to satisfy your cravings.
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Good Luck Dim Sum
Cuisine: Dim Sum Chinese
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Inner Richmond |
8/8/2005
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Other than the sangria, I can't say that I'm a big fan of this place. I found the tapas to be a little greasy and the noise level and amount of people became unbearable. It's okay to hang, just don't expect to be able to speak to anyone without SHOUTING.
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Cha Cha Cha
Cuisine: Caribbean Tapas
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
5/18/2005
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Thought this place was a tad over-priced and the food mediocre. The decor was very homey and the staff was nice. The menu is varied so perhaps once I exhaust all the other VN'ese restaurants, I may give it another try... but I suspect it'll be awhile.
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Minh's Garden
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Inner Richmond |
5/18/2005
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This is a great 'cheap eats' type of place for chinese./Vietnamese food. The Pho is better across the street.
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PPQ Vietnamese Cuisine
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Inner Sunset |
5/18/2005
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The staff was nice enough (but slow moving), the rolls were mediocre. Don't think I'll go back.
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Opera Plaza Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Civic Center |
5/18/2005
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The dishes on the boats range from $1.80 to $3.85 which is reasonable. There are special rolls you can order off a short menu. The euro-pop/techno music made our head and vision spin while watching the nigiri float past us in fast-spinning boats. The sushi is fresh enough.
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Isobune
Cuisine: sushi japanese
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Japantown |
5/18/2005
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The falafel wrap here are great - you can taste the chickpeas! Their chicken dish is a must try- call and order it first b/c it takes them about 10 minutes to prepare it. Don't forget to finish with the homemade deserts. Lots of seats to eat your lunch/meal.
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Gyro King
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Civic Center |
5/18/2005
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This lounge has nice small plates at reasonable prices. The menu is creative and great for sharing. Try the grilled asparagus, duck confit tacos, and the roasted red beet arugula salad. Not so much options for vegitarians. Too much frite and not enough pommes- their version of pomme frites were ribbon thin. The atmosphere is posh yet relaxed with the DJ spinning groovy eurobeats. ($10 cover after 10 pm I think) Nice cocktail and decent wine menu also. Serivce can be a little slow.
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levende lounge
Cuisine: american (new) fusion brunch
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Mission |
5/7/2005
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What is missed in taste is compensated by the portion size, although I suspect you figured that out yourself from the other posts. 2 people can share one order and be full. The menu options are varied so it's a good place for different taste buds. Decent place- clean, you won't throw up, it won't break your bank, and you'll feel full (or a wasteful US American throwing half your meal away)...
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Max's Opera Cafe
Cuisine: Deli Dessert
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Civic Center |
5/6/2005
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We enjoyed our Santa Fe Salad. The corn salsa on it gave it a pepper kick. I would recommend getting the Salsa Vinegarette with it. The iced tea was a weak. $14 (including tip) for salad and iced tea is too much for me for lunch.
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Chevy's Fresh Mex
Cuisine: Tex Mex
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Civic Center |
5/6/2005
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The lunch time service could be a little quicker IMO. The food is average and reliable, with typical salad options. Don't expect to be able to share a pie if you're a big eater.
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California Pizza Kitchen
Cuisine: Californian Pizza
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Civic Center |
5/5/2005
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The prices are way above the flavor of the dishes. $17 for an arugula salad? Please. The chicken breast was nicely flavored and everyone enjoyed their meals. Nothing outstanding IMHO.
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Moose's
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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North Beach |
5/5/2005
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In addition to the savory and sweet crepes, they offer a healthy selection of sandwiches served with their well-seasoned house potatoes, and salads served with a bagel or dinner roll. Their Chorizo scramble ($7.75) was yummy, and my buddy like his pesto crepe ($7.85). Good brunch spot. Service is fairly quick and friendly during the weekday lunch hours. Great options for vegitarians!
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The Crepe House
Cuisine: Crepes French
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Hayes Valley |
4/29/2005
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This place has a very nice vibe to it. The waitresses are dressed in saris. They have a very nice selection of coffee, teas (both loose and bags), smoothies, etc. All the ingredients are fresh and healthy. Try their neatloaf sandwich (one of their best sellers). Their soup of the day has never been disappointing.
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Ananda Fuara
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Civic Center |
4/21/2005
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Of the 3 VN'ese sandwich shops on Larkin, this place is my favorite. The french baguette is crispy on the outside and soft on the in. The shop is CLEAN and has fresh sugar cane juice and OJ. The VN'ese ice coffee ($1.50) rocks. They have more choices of fillings than the Saigon Sandwich and Wrap Delight shops down the same street. Certainly try out their Cha Ca (Fish cake) sandwich and they also have a vegitarian option. I think I've tried nine out of their 13 sandwich options (all under $3)and have been pleased with all of them. They have about 3 bistro tables & chairs, so you can sit and eat your yummy banh mi. Also, try the sweet deserts in the fridge - mostly are coconut based but all very Vietnamese.
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Baguette Express
Cuisine: Deli Asian Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
4/21/2005
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This tiny place is right next to Tu Lan VietNamese restaurant and so all the things said about the neighborhood applies to Pad Thai Express. The restaurant seats about 20 people and acceptably clean. I tried the Roast Duck in Red Curry w/rice ($6.50). Requested that it was spicy, which they responded with a small spoonful of red pepper flakes on top of the bowl of curry. Sorry, not spicey enough. Most of the bowl was undercooked onions and maybe only 3 pieces of duck. :-( boo hoo, the curry wasn't as fragrant as I'd hoped but at least the fresh basil in it perked it up. My friend had the Pad Thai ($5.95)and enjoyed it very much - fresh, flavorful- but there was a lot of oil left on the plate when he finished. Note that this place offers brown rice for $1. I'll go back to try others as the price is right and b/c of the other dishes recommended by the other reviews.
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Pad Thai Express
Cuisine: Thai
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Civic Center |
4/19/2005
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I have a very high tolerance for crusty hole-in-the-wall eateries but for some reason, this place really skeeved me out. Perhaps it was the neighborhood and colorful people outside the door or perhaps it was the water they poured out of an old gallon milk jug. I ordered a bun thit nuong cha gio (grilled pork and imperial roll over rice vermicelli). The grilled pork was like eating jerky. It was encrusted with black pepper and dry. The imperial roll was full of meat and a good crispy outside. For 6 bucks I could probably order the same thing at a much cleaner & tastier spot. If this is the 'Best' VN'ese food in the city, then I'm driving down to San Jose.
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Tu Lan
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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SoMa |
4/12/2005
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Fish is fresh, nice creative (yet expensive) selection of rolls - most expensive being around $15. Have never eaten in - always take out b/c of the long wait. If it's your first time and there's a long wait, then it may not be worth it. Try again when it's less busy.
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Ebisu
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Inner Sunset |
3/26/2005
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Funky urban hip decor & dishes. Leans on the pricey side, tasty but nothing that really stands out in my mind (except the decor). Nice initmate dinner spot b/c the space is small.
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Deep Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese sushi
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Noe Valley |
3/26/2005
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"Euphoric" "Divine" "Oh my god that's delicious" "Heaven" Outside of Japan, this is the BEST sushi I've EVER eaten. The hotate, my favorite nigiri, tasted as if I stepped into another dimension of tender, fresh, open sea. Really, I had an out of body experience biting into it. :-)The most creative sushi options (e.g unagi & mangos, hamachi & papaya) I've seen on a menu, so try something new here, you won't be disappointed. California influenced sushi for sure.
The whole meal was so wonderful I almost broke out into tears. There will be people cued up waiting for the doors to open at 5pm . Seats about 12 max at the sushi bar, and there are 2 booths (four seaters- squeeze if 4+) so don't go with a group larger than 4- better yet, go with just 1 other person. There is no kitchen in the back, so if the sushi chef can't make it or it can't be done in a tiny convention oven, it ain't gonna be on the menu.
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Sushi Zone
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Castro |
3/25/2005
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The food is consistently good for lunch here (haven't been here for dinner). The decor is nice/ spacious. Good spot for a business-lunch. Or, I guess, for the area, before-court lunch. Food comes out pretty quickly but don't expect the servers to be accessible. Ask for what you may need with your meal before they walk away. Their lamb curry can get a little dry.
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Lalita's Distinctive Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Civic Center |
3/16/2005
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This salubrious place on the corner has a friendly staff and a diverse (yet limited) small plates menu. It certainly reminded me why tea is the world's most drunk beverage. The highest priced single serving of one of their teas is $23. They close at 10:30 PM now. The low tables in the back has a sunken pit so those long-limbed can dangle their feet. We had the desserts - Fig cake, Coconut Rice pudding, lemon tart, bread pudding - all of which were VERY tasty and a bit pricey. EAch of us had a different tea 2 cold, 2 hot. All delicious. The chilled masala chai was superb and served in a lovely cold goblet. The soy matcha shake was refreshing. I had the 'Gold toucha' and was slightly disappointed b/c didn't get the taste or aroma of chocolate. Bill came out to about $30 (including tip) for four of us. Be prepared to pay more than you would at a coffee lounge. But worth trying new teas!
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Samovar Tea Lounge
Cuisine: Tearoom Fusion Tapas
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Castro |
3/16/2005
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Northern-style pho means that they will NOT be bringing you the typical plate of bean sprouts, lime slices, and sweet basil. The noodles are freshly made, which makes them slippy-slidy on your chopstickes, and has a nice broth base. The Pho ga (chicken) is a really great twist and option for the chicken-noodle-soup remedy if you're feeling sick.
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Turtle Tower
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
3/15/2005
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The Pho here is clean tasting and doesn't seem to have (much) MSG in it. The broth is clear and sweet. Good mom n' pop type place.
We also tried the egg noodle soup and the clear rice noodle one with seafood - it's passable but definitely not their forte. Stick with the pho.
Psst.. the pho here is better than the one across the street.
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Pho Hoa Hiep
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Inner Sunset |
3/15/2005
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This place is what I'd call, 'ol reliable'. The food is consistently good for the price and portion size. Service can be a little slow. Kid & dog friendly. There are a few tables outside to sit and dine. Their lunch specials are a really good deal.
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Pasta Pomodoro
Cuisine: Italian
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Noe Valley |
3/10/2005
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This place doesn't ever seem to be to full capacity, which is a shame b/c the food is good. Great place to bring a large party if you don't have a reservation. Their menu isn't very diverse and they don't typically have specials. Their Pad thai seems a little bland to me but my sister in law likes it more than Swatdee's down the street. Worth a try.
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Rin's Thai Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Noe Valley |
3/10/2005
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This is the 'original' shop on Larkin. There are 2 other VN'ese sandwich shops on the same street within one block of this place (Wrap Delight and Baguette Express) and both of these owners used to work for the Saigon Sandwich shop. The bread can be really hard at times - the roof of my mouth gets torn up as if I ate Cap'n Crunch. The choices of filling are not as extensive as the other 2 places. The lines for this place can be long- there's usually only 2 women working and they'll take about 10 orders and make them all at once and then get the next orders. Worth a try but not worth the wait.
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Saigon Sandwich Shop
Cuisine: Vietnamese Deli
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Tenderloin |
3/10/2005
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2 of us had the Lamb Gyro on lavash bread inhaled it all in. The Helal food there is fresh and tasty. The tabouli salad had a wonderful aroma of lemons and the parsley was not overpowering. The chicken plate was also very well done...'like it outta be' says my co-diner. Tab came to $28 for 3 people at lunch. The rice pudding is light with hints of (I think) rosewater, not a thick custard type.
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Gyro Kebab
Cuisine: Mediterranean Greek Italian
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Tenderloin |
3/9/2005
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This irish pub sits across the street from the CA Culinary Academy so it's not unusual to see a few of its students having a pint in there. We had the grilled chicken, portobello mushroom, melted brie, avocado, and grilled onions on ciabatta bread. Sounds good, right? It was!It'll be a good idea to rearrange your thin strips of chicken first to make sure you get a taste with each bite. It was nice that I could taste each individual flavor in the sandwich - nothing over-powered the other (a nervous point for me when it comes to brie sometimes). Sandwich comes with your choice of side salad or french-fries. Tasty for around $8. Plus for those of you who like to watch football/soccer - they had the Barclay's Premership on 2 flat screen TVs above the bar.
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Temple Bar and Restaurant
Cuisine: Pub Food American (Traditional)
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Tenderloin |
3/4/2005
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The spicy curly fries were nicely seasoned (not too salty and just enough kick) and not greasy but crisp. They come with a side of their Ranch sauce, which is fresh and tangy. The Maui Waui burger I had was DRENCHED in canned pineapple bits-a little too much ( and I like pineapples!). Plus the teriyaki sauce on the burger was on the sweet side and detracted from the nice beef. The Portobello burger was well done - my vegitarian friends says .."tasted like a meaty burger."
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Barney's Gourmet Hamburger
Cuisine: Hamburgers
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Noe Valley |
3/3/2005
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Eh. The rice paper for the goi cuon (summer rolls) was too thick and chewy, the shrimp inside was not fresh (previously frozen and reboiled). The only thing good about the summer rolls is they used purple basil, but it didn't have any mint or cilantro. I don't think I've ever had a goi cuon without mint in it. We also had the Bun Thit nuong Cha gio ( grilled pork and emperial rolls with rice vermicelli). The dish was, overall, bland even though we added the nuoc mam (fish sauce) on it. The meat was a little dry and there weren't, again, any fresh herbs in the dish which, to me, is a big No-no. Their lunch menu didn't offer much variety in terms of rice plates. Very disappointed.
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Bodega Bistro
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
3/1/2005
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The seating capacity at this place is around 70, with the largest table seating about 8 people, so don't come here if you have a large party. They also have take-out service. The prices are FANTASTIC.. we had about 7 plates and our bill came out to $11. The portions are fairly large and the ingredients are fresh (especially the tofu). There were only 3 women working (at least when I was there) so be patient and hope that you sit close to the kitchen to get the food 1st. If you love shrimp, then you won't be disappointed with their variety of things stuffed with shrimp! Try the shrimp & eggplant, the steamed prawn dumplings are oh-so-homemade fresh! Definately one of the top dim sum in Chinatown.
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Dol Ho
Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum
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Chinatown |
2/28/2005
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I go here mostly for after-work drinks, which are reasonably priced. Because we go so often the owners recognize us and adds a special touch here and there. The decor is great- rich morroccan colors. The food at lunch is tasty and light. Although a little pricey for lunch, it's a good place to bring clients/guests. Lots of little private parties are held here too. For dinner, I had the mussels as an appetizer, the grilled sea bass as entree, and the coconut/mango sorbet. The best was the sorbet, as it was the only thing that was not salty. I thought it was more a sex-in-the-city type vibe before 10 pm Saturday night, then the a diverse hip-hop crowd came in for the DJ spins.
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Soluna Cafe and Lounge
Cuisine: Californian
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Civic Center |
2/28/2005
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The Indian pizza can get greasy at times but tasty. They were very accommodating to make one pie half vegetarian and half deluxe version. Still hot when delivered.
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Zante Indian Cuisine & Pizza
Cuisine: Indian Pizza
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Bernal Heights |
2/19/2005
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on my quest for the best pain au chocolat in the city, I found the one here to be comme ci comme ca. Gotta keep looking. C'est la vie.
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Boulange de Cole
Cuisine: French Bakeries Dessert
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
2/19/2005
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ordered one nan and a veggie (okra bindhi) dish for lunch. Not much okra/lady fingers in there, but a whole lotta onion, oil, and tomatoes...too much. Very disappointed. The waiter/cashier was honest to tell me that the rice pudding wasn't thick the day I went in and advised me to order it some other day. Don't know that I'll go back for awhile, though.
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Naan n' Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Tenderloin |
2/19/2005
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They recently updated the interior of the restaurant to make it a little more posh. The grilled pork chops over rice (Com suong nuong) is better than any other ones in the area, but not the best I've tasted.
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Pagolac
Cuisine: Vietnamese Asian
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Tenderloin |
2/19/2005
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This chain restaurant is pretty decent in terms of portion and price. The kimchi is not spicy at all. The BBQ meats have the grilled taste. The Unagi is hit or miss- sometimes tastes as if it's right out of the freezer and into the microwave.
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Hahn's Hibachi
Cuisine: Korean Barbecue bbq
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Noe Valley |
2/19/2005
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Good for first-timers to dim sum. The prices are high per plate. I didn't find much variety in their selections but what they do have, is tasty. We usually go for all the items with shrimp in it. Most of them are a nice texture and sweet.
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Ton Kiang
Cuisine: Dim Sum Chinese
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Outer Richmond |
2/19/2005
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Tasty, big portions, reasonable prices, nice garden dining area in the back, kid friendly, diveristy in the menu for those with dietary needs. VERY busy for Sunday brunch, so be prepared to wait - they do not take reservations. Great place for those who like breakfast food for dinner. Their dinner specials changes and have been deliciously cooked. Very consistent in their quality and quantity regardless of the meal. Try their 'New Orleans'- yum!
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Savor
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Noe Valley |
2/19/2005
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The party platters are a great deal for catered events. Eating in, on the other hand, can get quite expensive. The tako (octopus) nigiri was very rubbery. The hotate (scallops)and unagi were nice and tender. The pieces of fish is larger than the rice underneath. $2.75 for a small bowl of miso soup is a little high if you asked me. The turnover of tables were relatively quick for a Friday night.
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Hamano Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Noe Valley |
2/19/2005
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It's just ok. The pate is a little coarse and she tends to put too much mayonnaise and some sauce which makes it all gooey. Nice owner, though. Walk one block up past Saigon Sandwiches, and to Baguette Express, which has better bread and fillings.
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Wrap Delight
Cuisine: French Vietnamese Fusion
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Civic Center |
2/18/2005
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They have the best grilled meats (chicken, Pork, & beef options) I've tasted so far. Try the Banh xeo (VN'ese style crepe) also. The chicken and mix veggie dish has way too much corn starch in it and tasted a bit bland. They also offer a good variety of vegetarian options too.
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Thanh Tam II
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Mission |
2/18/2005
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