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Nary a change since the Eisenhower administration. But sometimes that's what you want. I recommend the minestrone and the cheese ravioli with meat sauce. The interior is dark and funky in a cool sort of way, rather like a Victorian cathouse. This a good place to bring out-of-town visitors who want Italian food but who would be freaked out by balsamic vinegar and shaved fennel. Instead, they can be freaked out by the prices.
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The Sausage Factory
Cuisine: Italian
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Castro |
1/31/2008
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Goodness, what a mess. Upon entering the dining room, I immediately knew something was amiss because the entire place was filled with a haze that made my eyes water. I don't know if the exhaust system was out of whack that night, but it was seriously unpleasant and my clothes stank the next day. Service was well-intentioned, but frazzled. They appeared to be under-staffed. As for the food, my turkey burger seemed slammed together and did not sport the sprouts that were mentioned on the menu. Maybe it was an off night, but I'm not eager to go back to find out.
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Flippers Gourmet Burgers
Cuisine: Hamburgers American (Traditional)
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Hayes Valley |
1/2/2008
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Marica is a *great* choice when you want dinner on College Ave in Oakland but don't want to deal with the insanity of Zachary's or some of the other crowded Rockridge restaurants. The speciality here is seafood, mostly in an Asian-fusion style. I had the seared tuna on a bed of pureed root vegetables, which was one of the most delicious things I've eaten in a long time. Nice atmosphere, very attentive service. I'd give it two green dots if I could.
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Marica
Cuisine: Seafood
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Oakland |
7/15/2007
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I went to Jeanne d'Arc for a Bastille Day dinner. The slightly claustrophobic underground setting does feel like a genuine French cave. As for the food, it's perfectly fine but nothing really special or refined. The salad with avocado and bay shrimp had good ingredients, but the presentation (a dollop of shrimp in a halved avocado) seemed like something from the 70s. Staying with the time warp, I chose the blackened salmon as my main course. The word "blackened" gave me pause, because I thought this disappeared from menus around the same time "Miami Vice" was canceled, but I was in the mood for salmon. Fortunately, the salmon wasn't blackened at all, so it's one case where an inaccurate menu listing was fine with me. The Grand Marnier souffle for dessert was okay.
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Jeanne D'arc
Cuisine: French
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Downtown |
7/15/2007
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Sorry, but this place kinda creeps me out. I grant you that the focaccia is extra tasty, but I'm pretty sure that's because they use lard. I don't have anything against lard, per se, but when a vegetarian friend asked about this, no one was willing to give a straight answer. Also, there is a gal who works here with a sort of hook thing on her finger that she uses to cut the string after she wraps your focaccia; it's like something from a cockfight. (That's why I thought it best not to press the lard issue too much.) Anyway, try the onion focaccia , but caveat emptor.
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Liguria Bakery
Cuisine: Italian Bakeries
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North Beach |
6/29/2007
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Had dinner here with a group of colleagues from work and it's a good thing the company was paying because the meal was a total shipwreck. Service was excruciatingly slow, with nary a word of acknowledgment. For my first course, I chose the tomato-basil-mozzarella salad from the specials list, thinking it would be hard to goof this up, given that great heirloom tomatoes can be had at any farmer's market at this time of year. Wrong! Imagine cottony-pink tomatoes, limp basil leaves, and an appalling, viscous dressing. My main course of halibut, also from the specials list, was hardly any better and did not sport the advertised shrimp. There are many better choices for French food in SF. As for Le Central, quelle horreur!
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Le Central Bistro
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
6/21/2007
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I was surprised to see so many neutral reviews of Isobune. I had lunch there today and it was delectable. All the sushi was impeccably fresh and the prices were lower than other places. The "fancy" rolls that normally cost $8 elsewhere were about $3.95 at Isobune. The place was packed on a Saturday afternoon at 3:00, so nothing floated around on the boats too long. My friends and I staggered out into Japantown very full and very happy.
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Isobune
Cuisine: sushi japanese
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Japantown |
6/2/2007
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Had a really good meal here tonight. My main course consisting of tilapia, shellfish, and polenta was right on the money, and the service was excellent. We were a group of six and we needed to be finished by a certain time in order to get to the theater. Our server made sure to pace out the meal accordingly and took great care of us. 2223 was the first restaurant to revitalize this strip of Market Street and I can see why it has lasted all these years. It gets a wholehearted green dot of positivity.
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2223 Restaurant
Cuisine: American (New)
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Castro |
5/10/2007
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I must admit that I usually eschew the Castro restaurants that are located up a flight of stairs. For some reason, the street-level places just seem more inviting. Anyway, some friends wanted to try Ararat, so that gave me the incentive to climb the stairs and I'm glad I did. It was better than I expected. We shared the delectable Ararat sampler, which is a big plate of all the vegetarian appetizers: hummus, baba ganoush, dolmas, a filo thing that looks like a kazoo, etc. For the main course, I had the salmon, which was cooked perfectly. Service was well-intentioned but a tad goofy, and the interior feels a little gloomy, but Ararat is well worth a visit next time you're in the neighborhood.
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Ararat
Cuisine: Mediterranean Lebanese
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Castro |
5/8/2007
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Basic Italian food, nothing surprising, no funny business. But I think this is a good choice in North Beach because it feels much less touristy than the majority of restaurants in the area. It also helps that it is a small place and that it is not on Columbus. There is nary a dessert here, so afterwards you'll want to head over to Caffe Greco for a cannoli.
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Sodini's Green Valley Restaurant
Cuisine: italian
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North Beach |
5/7/2007
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In the ongoing battle between Tasty Curry versus Naan & Curry, I would give Naan & Curry the edge when it comes to the food. I think their's has a better mix of spices. But Tasty Curry is also good and it has the advantage of offering a less frenetic experience than N & C. In any case, Tasty Curry is fairly inexpensive, but you don't get a lot of meat -- my Chicken Tikka Masala had exactly 6 small nuggets of chicken. Fortunately, that means lots of the yummy sauce to soak up with your naan.
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Tasty Curry
Cuisine: Indian Pakistani
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Inner Sunset |
5/4/2007
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The first time I went to Eric's, maybe 15 years ago, it seemed like a revelation. Now whenever a friend suggests going there, I tend to hesitate because the whole routine feels kind of tired. The food is okay, but most of the dishes taste pretty similar because everything is slathered in EBS (Eric's Brown Sauce). Add to that the jam-packed, frantic atmosphere, and you have the makings of acid reflux. I much prefer Alice's around the corner on Sanchez or Yum Yum House on Valencia. At both places, the food seems just a little more refined and you're less likely to have someone's purse hitting you in the head.
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Eric's
Cuisine: Chinese
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Noe Valley |
4/17/2007
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I spent a really nice evening at Cafe Kati in the company of some other SF Surveyors. We had a four-course prix fixe meal, which was a steal at $29.95. That's a weeknight special for April 2007, so hurry! The curried soup was the weakest link, as it was overly harsh and marred by tough shards of ginger. After that, it was ever-upward with diminutive fish tacos made from ceviche and a main course of halibut in parchment, which was clean and fresh and right on the money. The highlight of the meal came last: a rustic strawberry-rhubarb crisp, which was not too sweet (just how I like it!)
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Cafe Kati
Cuisine: Asian Californian Fusion
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Japantown |
4/17/2007
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When I got to the counter at Roadside BBQ I said, "I'll have the Memphis Pulled Pork Platter please." That's a lot of fun to say, but I managed to keep from cracking up just long enough to ask for a beer to go with it. I liked everything on that platter, although the cole slaw could have been moister and it would have been nice if the hot BBQ sauce (available from the fixin's stand) had been truly butt-kickingly hot. Based on what I saw at other tables, Roadside BBQ would be a good choice if you want something that looks like the big ol' slab of ribs that tipped over the Flintstones' car.
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Roadside BBQ
Cuisine: Barbeque BBQ
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Inner Richmond |
4/10/2007
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I was pretty disappointed by the food the two times I ate here. For example, the turkey sandwich sounds good in theory, but it is pre-made and comes from the refrigerator, so it's all cold and tasteless. I have a feeling the hot food may be a bit better, but I haven't tried it. The setting is lovely, but for actual eating, the cafe at the Museum of Modern Art is much, much better.
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de Young Cafe
Cuisine: American Bistro
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Inner Richmond |
3/14/2007
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It's a mixed bag at the Woodside Bakery and Cafe. The bakery section of the restaurant always offers beautiful cakes and pastries (although they are rather dear). They also make great foccaccia rolls, which are served with the salads. On the other hand, the menu needs a serious update. This must be the last place on Earth that is still serving blackened salmon. Also, it seems pretty expensive for food that is far from creative.
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Woodside Bakery and Cafe
Cuisine: American Bakeries Pizza
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Woodside |
3/7/2007
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I'm not generally a fan of small plates (for many reasons), but Bocadillos was okay. I liked the seared tuna and the prawns were pretty tasty. On the other hand, our waiter seemed a bit tetchy and distracted, and he brought our olives at the end of the meal. Piecing together a dinner that consists of a normal amount of food will run into big bucks, but this would be a good choice if you're in the neighborhood and just want a glass of wine and a couple of things to nibble on.
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Bocadillos
Cuisine: Tapas
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North Beach |
3/1/2007
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I was all set to be disappointed because I'd heard so much hype about Nopa, and I'd also heard that the place is noisy, which is my #1 annoyance since Lionel Ritchie stopped making records. But I have to say everything was right on the money. We sat along the wall under the balcony which may have tempered the noise, so that wasn't much of a problem. And the meal was the best I've had in a restaurant in a long time. I especially recommend the seafood stew which is a generous and voluptuous bowl of fish, calamari, and an intense sauce. We shared a bowl of warm olives, which has extra oil at the bottom for dipping your bread. Yum all around.
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NOPA
Cuisine: Mediterranean Greek
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Western Addition |
2/2/2007
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I was bit disappointed by B44. On a Saturday night in January, the restaurant was mobbed, indoors and out, but the food seemed a bit lackluster. I had the B44 paella ($22), which was pretty bland. Other reviewers have complained about saltiness, but maybe they've since over-corrected the problem. Also, my paella lacked the crusty rice on the bottom of the pan that one hopes to scrape up after everything else is gone. I dunno. Might be worth another try on a weeknight, but I'll probably look elsewhere to satisfy my paella hankerings.
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B44 Catalan Bistro
Cuisine: Spanish
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Downtown |
1/20/2007
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There's nothing terribly wrong with the Metro, but it also seems to fall short in many subtle ways. The endive/radicchio salad is a muddled hash. The mahi-mahi is underwhelming. The servers mean well, but they're stretched a bit thin. This place might be okay for bunch or lunch (I haven't been there for those meals), but for dinner there are better options for this kind of food at this kind of price.
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Metro Cafe
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Western Addition |
1/20/2007
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This is a great example of a place where you can get really good, interesting food for not very much money. I ordered the combination tofu soup, which boasts the unlikely trio of beef, shrimp, and clams. It turns out to be a meal in itself because it comes with a bunch of attendant dishes of kim-chee and other delicacies. The soup itself is delivered to the table at 1000-degrees Fahrenheit, literally boiling like something from a science-fiction movie, so you'll want to nibble on those fixin's while it cools down. Can't wait to go back!
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My Tofu House
Cuisine: Korean
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Inner Richmond |
1/18/2007
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This is a great spot for lunch in the Mission. What you want to do is order one of the lunch plates (on the back of the lunch menu). You get a ton of food (for about $8) on a plate the size of a manhole cover. The vegetarian sweet-and-sour soup is about the best I've ever had and everything else is fresh and flavorful. You can even ask them to substitute fresh spring rolls for the fried ones that come with the lunch plate. The only downside is that if you sit in the 16th St restaurant, you'll walk away with your clothes smelling like lunch. I'm guessing the exhaust problem is not such an issue around the corner at the Valencia St restaurant.
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Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Mission |
1/5/2007
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I have to give Marcello's the gray blob of neutrality. On the one hand, the pizza is generally really good, especially the pesto. On the other hand, the overall Marcello's experience is not so pleasant. When I was in there the other night, the tables were filthy, the music was ear-splitting, and the staff seemed to regard the customers as a nuisance. (How can you horse around behind the counter if people are constantly coming up to order things?) Best get take-out.
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Marcello's
Cuisine: pizza
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Castro |
12/16/2006
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I had Thanksgiving dinner at Jeanty at Jack's this year. My friends and I chose it because none of us are fans of traditional Thanksgiving food and we were glad to see that J at J was offering their regular menu. The smoked salmon appetizer was delicious. What I liked best about it was that it was not too salty (which is ironic considering some of the other reviews complained about the saltiness of the food and this is a dish that you sort of expect to be salty). I followed that with more salmon, this time baked and stretched out on a pile of ratatouille... all very fresh and perfectly cooked. I didn't miss the turkey at all.
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Jeanty At Jacks
Cuisine: French Brasseries
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Downtown |
11/25/2006
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The atmosphere is like a workplace lunchroom, but the food is great. We had the roti pratha (a flaky, bread-like discus that you dip in a curry sauce), curried glass noodles with chicken, and the daily special, which was a rice plate with lots of funky little toppings. All were spicy and satisfying. Most of the dishes cost about $5, so it's a great deal. I just wish they had a larger selection of beverages; it's mostly Coke and Snapple, when what you really want is a beer... or at least a ginger ale.
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Lime Tree
Cuisine: Southeast Asian
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Inner Sunset |
10/13/2006
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For the sake of variety and hilarity, this review shall be written in the style of a speech by Donald Rumsfeld: Is Baker Street Bistro the best restaurant I've ever been to? No, of course not. But is the food well prepared? Yes, certainly. Is it a good value? Most definitely. People ask if we have a plan for ordering at this restaurant and I say, "yes, we do." Get the Bourride Provençal (seafood stew), but ignore the side dish of rice, which tastes like an MRE. Next question?
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Baker Street Bistro
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Cow Hollow |
9/30/2006
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As others have suggested, you're best off ordering the firecracker pork fusilli, which is packed with flavor. (I have a feeling it must be very bad for you. ) Other dishes can be bland and boring. Still, Fuzio is an okay option if you want a relatively inexpensive dinner before seeing a movie at the Castro Theater.
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Fuzio
Cuisine: Eclectic International Noodle Shop
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Castro |
9/16/2006
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I won a free dinner for two (thanks SF Survey and Hana Sushi Bang), of which I partook last night. We ordered a bunch of sushi rolls and nigiri, and all of them were fresh and yummy, especially the voluptuous Bang Bang Roll. Service was cheerful but scatterbrained. I'm not sure what went wrong, but there was a very long gap between rolls, as if a bunch of them had been forgotten. I suspect it was a one-time problem. Anyway, I don't think I'd make a special trip to the Richmond to eat here, but if I were in the neighborhood, it would be a good choice. By the way, be sure to ask for water, because it is served in undulating multicolored glasses that evoke the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.
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Hana Sushi Bang
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Outer Richmond |
9/16/2006
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I had a very good dinner at Thai Chef last night. The green papaya salad was just right, the green curry with chicken was tasty (although it could have been a bit spicier), and the fried tofu with vegetables was awesome. The restaurant has a few special touches. Everything on the vegetarian menu looks tempting. Also, the rice is served in what appears to be the hollowed-out skull of a gorilla. My companions warned that the place can get noisy when it is crowded, but that wasn't a problem when we ate there.
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Thai Chef
Cuisine: Thai Vegetarian
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Castro |
9/4/2006
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The thing I like best about LPR is that it feels like a restaurant for grown ups. That's not to say it's stuffy or that they provide packets of Metamucil with dessert, but it's nice to go to a restaurant where you can have a conversation at a normal volume and where they don't infantilize the food (what's up with this macaroni-and-cheese trend?) The beet salad is great and you can't go wrong with the fish of the day. Last time I was there, I had white salmon which was perfectly cooked and perfectly lovely.
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Le Petit Robert
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Russian Hill |
9/1/2006
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A great choice when you want sushi that is a bit different from the usual fare. It's also beautifully presented, with artful smears of wasabi around the edges of the plates. I am definitely not into the "scene" (rock-star sushi chefs, DJ) and the tables are seriously crammed together, but that is all outweighed by the intriguing sushi.
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Deep Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese sushi
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Noe Valley |
8/28/2006
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The food at Chez Nous is uniformly good. But I feel that the small plates concept (of which I am not a big fan in the first place) doesn't always lend itself to this type of food. During my last meal at Chez Nous, one of my friends ordered the kobe beef and the portion was literally the size of a Sacagawea one-dollar coin. Barely enough for one, let alone to share. Then there's the grilled calamari salad, which is so good you won't want to share it.
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Chez Nous
Cuisine: Mediterranean Small Plates
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Pacific Heights |
8/24/2006
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It's a mixed bag at Tart to Tart. The atmosphere is not especially inviting and the place never seems to be entirely clean. On the other hand, the "lemon sweethearts" are one of the few desserts that I sometimes crave, even though I don't have much of a sweet tooth. Overall, I guess it's more about the convenience/location/people watching than it is about the food or coffee.
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Tart to Tart
Cuisine: Bakeries dessert coffee
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Inner Sunset |
8/22/2006
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Eiji opened in the diminutive space that used to house Ibisu. I ate there during their first week, so they were still developing the menu (which, by the way, is riddled with charming typos) and they didn't yet have their liquor license. Nonetheless, the sushi was fresh and tasty and there were several unusual dishes that I'll have to try on future visits. They get big bonus points for having a traditional mochi-making festival as part of their grand opening and handing out the mochi to everyone who lives on the block.
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Eiji
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Castro |
8/14/2006
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I really like N&C, although I agree with other reviewers who pointed out that the meat-to-sauce ratio can be a tad low. Also, they seem to chop the chicken with a buzzsaw because you sometimes find small bone shards in your mouth. Nonetheless, the naan is great and the chicken tikka masala is really tasty. I also like that big cauldron of chai at the back of the restaurant.
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Naan 'n Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Inner Sunset |
7/30/2006
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One doesn't usually associate East Germany with comfort, but Walzwerk, purveyor of East German cuisine, is a great spot to get a big ol' helping of comfort food. I like the fact that it's in an out-of-the-way neighborhood and has a funky, mismatched interior. The two gals who run the place are adorable.
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Walzwerk
Cuisine: German
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Mission |
7/30/2006
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I never know where to eat in Chinatown, so I was glad when some friends suggested Lucky Creation. The lucky side of things was evident immediately when we found parking just a couple of blocks away on a Saturday night, but I don't recommend trying this feat yourself. I thought the food was generally quite good, although a bit bland. The thing about the fake meat dishes is not to expect that they will really taste like chicken or beef, but to use the names just to get an idea of what to expect in terms of texture. Anyway, my only real quibble is that the food could have been a bit hotter (temperature-wise).
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Lucky Creation
Cuisine: Vegetarian Vegan Chinese
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Chinatown |
7/30/2006
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This has become my sushi spot of choice in the Castro when my favorite place, Warakabune, is closed. (Warakabune is on Church St. near 15th. It rocks.) The sushi at Osaka is nice and fresh, and they are known for those big crazy rolls with the avocado on the outside. I find those things impossible to eat, so I stick to tekka maki and the like -- and Osaka does a good job of it. Can't beat the location if you're seeing a film at the Castro Theater.
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Osaka Sushi
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Castro |
7/9/2006
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Their burrito is definitely a cut above the rest. First of all, they grill the tortilla, which makes it flakey and luscious, and while it is grilling they melt the cheese onto it. That already puts it way ahead of your standard burrito. You can also get fresh avocado instead of guac. Mmmmmm... Located on a weird stretch of Church St. next to Safeway, but worth seeking out.
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El Castillito
Cuisine: Mexican
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Upper Market/Church Street |
6/29/2006
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As others have pointed out, the service is great and, yes, it does seems overpriced. But there's something about the overall Zuni experience that really works, even when the food is not terribly exciting. For my recent dinner there I had a salad of mixed lettuces and a chowder consisting of clams, fish, and potatoes. While the quality of the ingredients was top-notch, it all seemed like something I could easily make at home. On the other hand, the ice cream sandwiches for dessert were awesome. In any case, if the prices were a few dollars lower on each item this would be the perfect SF restaurant.
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Zuni Cafe
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Hayes Valley |
6/8/2006
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Here's the situation: you have out-of-town guests and they they suggest going out for seafood. You hesitate (because, let's face it, San Francisco isn't as much of a seafood town as people imagine it to be). Your guests suggest going to Fisherman's Wharf. You think, "Oh God, please, no." This is the moment to remember Pacific Grill. The fish is fresh, the options are many, and the preparations are straightforward. Everyone will be happy.
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Pacific Cafe
Cuisine: Seafood
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Outer Richmond |
6/4/2006
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All of the items on the menu are named with phrases like "I am fulfilled" and "I am generous." At first, I was a bit leery of this whole concept, which I think cries out for parody -- a more appropriate name for many of these vegan concoctions would be "I am gassy." But I ordered the daily special, which has the added advantage of sparing you from having to say one of the phrases, and found it quite tasty. It was a spicy "sushi" roll with a side salad. My apple-ginger-lime juice was also very good and virtuous.
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Cafe Gratitude
Cuisine: Raw Vegetarian
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Mission |
5/31/2006
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Part of me has been resisting Thai House because the old location on Noe had a sort of dowdy charm, whereas the new spot on Castro Street is all sleek and modern and stylish (which usually translates into "not my cuppa tea"). But this place RAWKS! I ate there last night with some friends from France who were craving Thai food -- it is not nearly so ubiquitous over there and they had a major hankering. We had a meal that was formidable! Excellent curry, pad thai, basil-eggplant-chicken, and very attentive service.
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Thai House
Cuisine: Thai
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Castro |
5/23/2006
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This is the best museum cafe I have ever been to. The chicken focaccia sandwich with caramelized onions is mouthwatering (although a tad skimpy) and it's a great environment to watch people while you sip your coffee. I like to go there and pretend I am a character in the film "Manhattan" -- one really could run into Diane Keaton while waiting to order at the counter.
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Caffe Museo: SF Museum of Modern Art
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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SoMa |
5/16/2006
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This may be my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. It's definitely my favorite in Noe Valley because it is less frenetic than Eric's and I think the food is not quite as heavy, while being just as flavorful. Wish I lived closer so I could get a take-out order of hot-and-sour soup whenever the mood struck me.
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Alice's
Cuisine: Chinese
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Noe Valley |
5/10/2006
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There is something slightly surreal and austere about this place. I have never been able to put my finger on it, but the "energy" (or lack thereof) never feels quite right. Also, I think the food used to be better. During the first year or so that Le Zinc was open, they made a really fantastic salade niçoise, with a light dressing and actual anchovies (a big plus in my book). The last time I had it, it was okay, but it didn't have as many interesting ingredients and the seared tuna seemed less fresh than it should be.
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Le Zinc
Cuisine: French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
5/10/2006
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I've had many memorable meals here. Love the ceviche, love the scallops, and especially love the empanadas. The only dish I have ever ordered that I am not wild about are the pimientos stuffed with quinoa, which sound good on the menu but have the consistency of a raw kidney. The service is usually very friendly and knowledgeable. So to summarize what we know: ceviche, scallops, and empanadas!!
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Destino
Cuisine: Nuevo Latino Tapas
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Castro |
5/9/2006
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Man, this is some good eatin'. Wish I could give it two green dots. The pho is always fresh and it's incredibly cheap. I usually get the "medium" bowl, which is about the size of my bathroom sink and costs around $6. The seafood combo is my favorite, but all the soups that I have tried were delicious. As if that weren't enough, the service is amazingly quick. You no sooner give your order than they are wheeling out a trolley bearing your soup and all the fixin's.
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Pho Hoa Hiep
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Inner Sunset |
5/9/2006
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Hmmm.... I dunno. This seems like one those places where people go after work to have cocktails and talk loudly, with their volume increasing proportionally to the number of cocktails ingested. That's all fine with me, but I get the impression that the food here is an afterthought. A lot of it seems way too sweet, especially the sauce on the fish I ordered. Could be fun if you're in the right mood and with the right group of people, but probably not the spot if you're mainly looking for a great meal.
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E&O Trading Co.
Cuisine: Asian Southeast Asian
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Downtown |
5/9/2006
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As other reviewers have pointed out, it's overpriced. Everything on the menu seems at least $1 or $2 more than it should be. But it's a lovely atmosphere and everything I've tried has been really good. It can be a bit noisy (which is my biggest pet peeve about SF restaurants in general), but the decibels can vary a lot depending on where you sit.
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Absinthe
Cuisine: French Brasseries
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Hayes Valley |
5/7/2006
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Absolutely terrifying. When we arrived, the place was packed and we couldn't even get in the door. While we were standing on the sidewalk deciding what to do, a man poked his head out of a side door and asked if we were waiting for Shalimar. We said yes and he motioned us into a sort of side alley. This in turn led to an unused and filthy apartment in a public housing project which the restaurant apparently uses as an overflow room. Still wondering if we were going to be cracked over the head, we sat on a torn sofa, took the menus we were handed, and ordered a few dishes. The waiter left us alone with another bewildered threesome and a TV tuned to an Indian station. At this point, a spirited debate ensued about whether we should lock the door. Finally, the waiter returned with the food, which we ate off paper plates. It was plentiful, delicious, and cheap. Then we hightailed it out of there.
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Shalimar Gardens
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Tenderloin |
5/4/2006
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I have to go neutral here because the negatives really cancel out the positives. All of the baked goods that I have tried were delicious, especially the bread pudding, which is topped with seasonal fruit and has a luscious texture. On the other hand, this place may be a victim of its own success because it is always packed and it never feels very relaxing. In fact, I find it a pretty stressful environment. Even if you do manage to snag a table, you'll have someone's elbow in your ear. I guess the best thing to do is get your bread pudding to go.
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Tartine Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Mission |
5/4/2006
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I had a really good meal here last night. The green papaya salad was the the best I've ever had, with just the right balance of flavors. The server asked how spicy we wanted it, and we said "mild" because my companion was feeling a touch woozy from an earlier ill-advised meal. Next time, I'll be interested to see how it is when you ask for it spicy. The pad thai and green-curry chicken were also a notch above the typical Thai restaurant. The good food plus the nice courtyard setting means I will be keeping this place in mind any time I am in San Rafael.
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Royal Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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San Rafael |
4/27/2006
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There are several things on the menu that I think are really good, not just for a vegan restaurant, but for any restaurant. For example, the veggie kung pao features perfectly-grilled broccoli, peppers, onions, etc. , plus some nice chewy tofu. I just wish it were a bit spicier. For lunch, the veggie burger is about as good as such things get.
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Herbivore
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Western Addition |
4/24/2006
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I ate here for the first time last week. It struck me as the kind of place that is trying too hard to be "fancy." Almost all of the preparations suffered from being too complicated. The rock shrimp dumplings were leaden, when they should have been light and fresh like good dim sum. At the recommendation of the waiter, I had the pistachio-crusted halibut as the main course and, although the fish was cooked perfectly, the whole dish just seemed too heavy for its own good. If they could lighten up a bit, this place would be a winner.
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A Tavola
Cuisine: Californian Italian
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Redwood City |
4/22/2006
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Hit or miss. Last time I was there I ordered the barbwire chicken pasta and it was really boring. I usually have no problem putting away a bowl of pasta, but it was tedious getting though this one. On the other hand, I have had the spicy pork fusili pasta and it is really good (it's one of those things that can be so delicious that I'm convinced it probably causes cancer). The whole thing may depend on who is cooking in the kitchen the night you are there.
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Fuzio
Cuisine: Eclectic Noodle Shops
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Embarcadero |
4/21/2006
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This is a good spot to get your burrito in the Castro. I recommend ordering a regular (the BBQ chicken is good) but then asking them to add a dollop of guac. The ordering process can be a bit stressful here because you will have to answer a series of rapid-fire questions and if you mess up it will hold up the entire line and possibly goof up your burrito as well. Best to make sure you have your ducks in a row before getting on line.
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Taqueria Zapata
Cuisine: Mexican
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Castro |
4/21/2006
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I like Firewood, but it's the sort of place where you have to know what to order. For example, some of salads are really dull, but the appetizer special (you can choose 4 or 5 from the day's choices) is always a safe bet. The pizzas are good, but the pastas are more of a mixed bag. The best thing is to go with a bunch of friends, sample their food, find something you like, and then stick with it in the future.
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Firewood Cafe
Cuisine: Californian Italian Pizza
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Castro |
4/19/2006
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Had an early dinner here tonight. The food was okay, but rather bland. And although the place was practically empty, the service was pretty bad, with the waiter disappearing for long stretches to fiddle around with the aquarium! Overall, I think Thai House down the street (19th and Castro) is a better choice.
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Thailand Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Castro |
4/19/2006
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I ate here on Saturday night with a group of friends and we had a good time although the place was packed and the noise level was absolutely brain curdling. Most of the dishes have a ton of garlic, which is fine, but it is something to consider if you have a job interview the next morning. My favorite dish is the artichokes. My favorite drink is the sangria. My favorite item to bring from home is earplugs.
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Esperpento Restaurant
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Mission |
4/9/2006
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Hamano is okay, but not quite what it used to be. Their sushi used to really taste delicious and unique in an indescribable way. Now it tastes like the sushi you get elsewhere -- still good, but nothing special. Also, they used to have an awesome salad (simply described as "green salad" on the menu). It was a mix of maybe 20 vegetables with a peanutty dressing. Now it is a mere shadow of its former self -- fewer veggies and the dressing doesn't seem to have the old kick to it. Nonetheless, this is still a safe bet for sushi and the lunch special is a steal.
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Hamano Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Noe Valley |
3/16/2006
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This is probably my favorite French restaurant in the city. Every time I have been there the service has been gracious and the food delectable. The portions may be a tad skimpy, but that's my only complaint. Look for a very nice bowl of steamed mussels among the appetizers.
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Clementine
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Inner Richmond |
3/14/2006
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Many people eschew the Stinking Rose because it is touristy and a bit kitschy. Okay, *way* kitschy. But I've been there several times (always with out-of-town visitors, I must admit) and have always had a good time. If nothing else, their "famous" bagna cauda appetizer is totally yummy. It consists of a pan of roasted garlic and little buns on which to spread it. I could make a meal of that and a nice glass of zin.
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Stinking Rose
Cuisine: Italian Californian
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North Beach |
3/14/2006
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My favorite pizza in the city. Order the vegetarian special, no matter how ill-conceived it may sound. Usually, it will involve an unlikely combination of ingredients (e.g., parsnips, leeks, and sage... or something along those lines), but it always works. Don't be put off if there is a wait -- it moves fast.
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Pauline's Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Mission |
3/14/2006
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I was tempted to give this place the red dot of death, but opted for neutral because the food is pretty tasty, and that counts for a lot. But I think the restaurant has changed since it opened, with the portions getting smaller and smaller. Granted, it is mostly "small plates," but even the main-course entrées seem stingy. Last time I was there I ordered the chicken tagine. This is normally a sort of stew with all sorts of vegetables, olives, preserved lemons, etc. My tagine consisted of a single chicken leg and very little else. The accompanying couscous was served in a truly minuscule dish. I mean, come on! Couscous hardly costs anything -- they could have at least provided a big pile of it! In the end, I felt like I spent a lot of money on a small amount of food that was good, but nothing really special. Don't think I'll be going back.
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Baraka
Cuisine: French Mediterranean
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Potrero Hill |
3/14/2006
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Great coffee and excellent pastries. They make a flan tart that is really delicious. What I like about all the baked goods is that they are not too sweet. It's rare to find a tarte tatin that really tastes like apples rather than sugar. The only drawback here is that it can be tough to get a table on the weekend.
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Boulange de Cole
Cuisine: French Bakeries Dessert
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
3/14/2006
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This has to be the strangest location for a restaurant in SF. The place is hidden in a sort of passage connecting Market St and 16th St, with no direct access from either street. And it's a bit weird inside the restaurant since the windows look out onto the underside of a staircase. But this is all part of the charm. The special rolls are always good and the service is friendly. Worth checking out (if you can find it!)
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Sushi Time
Cuisine: Sushi
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Castro |
3/14/2006
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It's really not about the sushi here, but the bowls of noodles. My favorite thing to order (especially on a dreary, foggy day) is the nabe yaki, which is a little cauldron filled with noodles, shrimp, vegetables, and lots of other yummy things. When it comes to your table, the broth will be about 500 degrees and you will wait until you think it has cooled down enough to venture a taste and you will burn your mouth anyway. It's worth it.
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Hotei Restaurant
Cuisine: Japanese Noodle Shops Sushi
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Inner Sunset |
3/10/2006
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You have to be in the right frame of mind for dinner at Jackson-Fillmore because it's a bustling place and it never feels especially relaxing (unless you nab one of the really good tables). But it's a great choice for straightforward Italian food. You can sit at the counter and eat linguini before going to see a movie across the street at the Clay. The zucchini-parmesan appetizer is especially good.
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Jackson Fillmore
Cuisine: Italian
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Upper Fillmore |
3/10/2006
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Over the years, I have developed a serious hatred for this place. It used to be a good hang-out, especially because it is open late, but several problems have made it unbearable. (1) Even if there is one person ahead of you on line, you will wait three times longer than you expect. (2) The coffee is served in small mugs and is not very good anyway. (3) The desserts seem to have been conceived with the sole intention of making them as enormous as possible (typically about the size of a brick) and as expensive as possible (a slice of cake will run you about $8). Forget it.
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Sweet Inspirations
Cuisine: Bakery
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Castro |
3/3/2006
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I'm going neutral on this place because I've only been there once and had a really disappointing meal, but I'm hoping that was not typical. I ordered the Saltado de Pollo, which the menu describes as sliced chicken breast sauteed with onions, tomatoes, and fries. Yes, the french fries are mixed right into the dish and, while this may be traditional, it is simply not a good idea. A really nauseous concoction. But I hope to give Limon one more try.
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Limon
Cuisine: Peruvian
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Mission |
3/3/2006
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It's great to have Red Jade in the neighborhood because there wasn't very much in the way of decent Chinese food before this. Many of the dishes are similar to those at Eric's, but maybe not quite so heavy. The chicken-basil-eggplant special is really good and you can request brown rice with your meal. Along with your fortune cookies they bring out some sesame-ball things, which are peculiar and waxy (and inexplicably hollow) but simultaneously delicious.
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Red Jade
Cuisine: Chinese
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Castro |
3/3/2006
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It seems like this restaurant has been exactly the same, with an unchanging menu, since the Reagan administration. But that's perfectly okay with me, because we need reliable and good things in our lives. You can't go wrong with the middle eastern combo plates, but my favorite dishes are the sesame chicken salad (a lunch special) and the weekly special on Monday nights, which is simply described as half a roasted chicken. I am convinced they put heroin in it, because I am addicted.
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La Mediterranee
Cuisine: Mediterranean Middle Eastern
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Castro |
3/1/2006
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My absolute favorite haunt in North Beach. They make an awesome cappuccino and, even though it's mostly a coffee place, the food is quite good too. (I recommend the roasted eggplant sandwich.) The guys behind the counter are always friendly and ready to joke around with you. This is definitely the #1 spot to hang out and read the paper on Sunday, especially if you can snag a window seat in the main room.
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Caffè Greco
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
2/28/2006
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The worst dining experience I have had in the past year. I was recently on jury duty and stopped in for lunch. The sight of a large, greasy mound of pre-cooked potatoes in the kitchen did not inspire much confidence, but the restaurant wasn't crowded so I was at least anticipating a fairly quick meal. That was not to be, given the scatterbrained service. When, after much confusion, my crepe was finally ready, it was brought to the wrong table and the diner at that table tucked into it only to find that it was not what she ordered. She complained to the server who brought it back to the kitchen, and I had a strong feeling that this crepe was going to be "repurposed" and delivered to my table. I walked out before this could happen.
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The Crepe House
Cuisine: Crepes French
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Hayes Valley |
2/27/2006
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The main thing about Greens these days is the location and the beautiful interior. As for the food, it's fine, but nothing really special. When the restaurant first opened it was rare to see a salad of baby greens. Now that kind of food is commonplace (which is great) but Greens hasn't really evolved. It's probably best for lunch or if you have friends in town who will enjoy the setting. It's especially good if the friends are paying! Greens always ends up costing more than you expect. (A small sandwich, side salad, and drink at the take-out counter can run close to $20.)
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Greens
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Marina |
2/27/2006
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The last time I ate at Pakwan, I got a seat by the window, which is normally a good thing, except on this particular evening there was a mouse darting about underneath the tables on the sidewalk. This caused occasional bursts of madcap activity among the outdoor diners. It's not really the restaurant's fault that there was a varmint out there (maybe it was an upscale mouse that wandered over from Andalu next door), but it was by far the most memorable thing about that meal. I think the food at Pakwan has been on a slow downward spiral, with ever less meat and ever more sauce. Sure it's inexpensive, but I think Naan-n-Curry does a better job for the same price.
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Pakwan
Cuisine: Indian
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Mission |
2/27/2006
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I just came back from Cafe du Soleil, where I consumed one of the best cups of coffee I have had in a long time. (That would be the cafe au lait, which is served in a bowl). The pastries are also uniformly excellent, especially because they are not overly sweet. I haven't had a proper meal here yet, but the tartines (open-faced sandwiches with salad) look very toothsome. There are one or two people behind the counter who seem a bit curt, but overall the service is good and the place has a nice vibe.
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Cafe Du Soleil
Cuisine: French (Bistro) Coffee Shop
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Lower Haight |
2/25/2006
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I really love this place. The pies are yummy and healthy and I eat them all the time for lunch. The best ones are the Basque beef and the spicy clam-tomato. The worst one is the ginger armadillo. Just kidding -- there is no such pie. But do try Peasant Pies if you haven't been there before. It's one of those only-in-San-Francisco places that is worth checking out
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Peasant Pies
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Noe Valley |
2/24/2006
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This place always ends up costing a bit more than you expect, but I really like the herb salmon, especially with the citrus couscous. The main problem is the overly-complex menu at the counter where you order. You first choose from a long list of grilled items and then have to decide upon the starch (yes, "starch"!) upon which it rests. Add to this the possibility of swapping a salad for the starch, as well as the option of a whole or half order, and you have the makings of a very slow-moving line. If there is just one person ahead of you who doesn't know the drill or can't make up his mind between polenta or mashed potatoes, you will have a very long wait indeed. Nonetheless, that herb salmon can be mighty tasty.
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Asqew Grill
Cuisine: Californian
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Castro |
2/23/2006
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I know it is sacrilegious to say it, but I just don't find the crepes that interesting. They are the approximate size and shape of a business-size envelope and, frankly, all the variations I have tried ended up tasting more or less like a business-size envelope as well. On the other hand, the salade de marée is a very good choice, with lots of enticing ingredients: grilled tuna, shrimp, corn, rice, olives, and heaven knows what else.
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Ti Couz
Cuisine: French Dessert
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Mission |
2/23/2006
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Say it's Saturday night and a friend calls you up and you both feel like going somewhere nice but not too expensive, but you haven't made reservations anywhere. Fattoush is the perfect choice, because it never seems to be too crowded (which raises the question of how they stay in business, but that's not our problem). Anyway, there are lots of great appetizers, the fattoush salad offers some interesting flavors (and is big enough to split), and the salmon/eggplant entrée is awfully tasty. Keep this place in mind.
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Fattoush Restaurant
Cuisine: Middle Eastern Mediterranean
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Noe Valley |
2/22/2006
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I live in the neighborhood and every time I've been here I have felt like I'm being had. I can't help but think that they developed the concept for this place by starting with the question, "Okay, how can we charge $6 for a cup of tea?" Well, in that sense they've came up with a winner. Let's face it, it's just some dried leaves and boiling water. The food is fine, and the atmosphere can be nice when it isn't too crowded, but I always feel like a sucker afterwards.
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Samovar Tea Lounge
Cuisine: Tearoom Fusion Tapas
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Castro |
2/22/2006
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I love this place. You can sit at the sushi bar and get instant gratification by snatching up sushi as soon as it floats by on a boat. The seafood is always fresh and the seaweed salad is the best in town. A lot of the specialties have a rather peculiar thousand-island style sauce, which I eschew, but the simpler preparations (nigiri, maki, etc) are right on the money.
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Warakubune
Cuisine: Sushi
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Castro |
2/22/2006
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This is one of my favorite restaurants in SF. I eat here all the time and never get tired of it. Great with a group, but if you go with just one other person, the thing to do is to order the zigni (which is the most delicious beef dish ever created), and then get the vegetarian combo, which lets you choose three of the vegetarian items. Lots of food for two people (under $20) and they aren't stingy with the injira either.
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Cafe Ethiopia
Cuisine: Ethiopian African
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Mission |
2/22/2006
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The most delicious thing here is also one of the least expensive. Get the funky curried tofu/squash/veggie entrée. It is a ton of food and fun to eat because you keep unearthing different tidbits. Also, the tofu is nice and chewy -- just how I like it.
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Tangerine
Cuisine: Pacific Rim
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Castro |
2/21/2006
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This is the only restaurant I can think of where the food is tasty and the service is perfectly fine and yet I have taken a solemn oath never to return. Why? The last time I ate there with a friend, our conversation went something like this: "I'm going to order the mussels." "What?" "The mussels!!" "I'm sorry I can't hear you." "Never mind." "What?" The dining room should actually be called the dinning room because the din is earsplitting. Maybe the acoustics are better in other parts of the restaurant, but where we were sitting (near the center) it made for a very disagreeable evening.
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Restaurant LuLu
Cuisine: Mediterranean French
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SoMa |
2/21/2006
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