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I liked this place, although it is NOT cheap. Pricey, and yes, tragically hip in terms of its decor and mood, but as a vegetarian, I appreciated the vegan fish & chip options and nuggets which were delicious. Not an everyday sort of place, but a nice treat every now and then....which is just as good, considering the place is the size of a shoebox.
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Weird Fish
Cuisine: Seafood
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Mission |
5/31/2008
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I really love this place. First, a panino that doesn't use dripping-with-grease focaccia. Yes, your fingers will not be covered in oil after eating here. Second, their three mushroom panino is absurdly good. Third, they give you a truly decent side salad with every sandwich purchase. Just avoid the "bakery tray" with day-old cookies & pastries that they don't make there.
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Mondo Caffe
Cuisine: Italian Coffee Shop Deli
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SoMa |
10/18/2007
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Completely disappointing. Airplane salad for $5, store-bought dry gnocchi for $13, tiramisu with Hershey's syrup! Italian menu items misspelled (brushetta & gnocci). Water never refilled. Do yourself a favor and avoid.
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Caffe Cozzolino
Cuisine: Italian
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Bernal Heights |
9/29/2007
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I've only been there for lunch, but was pleasantly surprised both times. First, despite the overall look of the place, it's affordable. I've spent only $9 there, for a sandwich and their amazing sweet potato fries, each time (knock off a dollar if you want regular fries). The sandwiches are great - I've had a Mediterranean panino, and a more California style veggie one with avocado, and both were big enough to fill me up, and tasty.
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Zebulon
Cuisine: American Californian
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SoMa |
7/10/2007
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Plusses and minuses for this attractive SOMA eaterie. I loved the salad - (the right amount of) salted greens and tender roasted vegetables with a nice vinaigrette. I was less impressed with their vegetarian dish - it was entirely too sweet (the corn was sweet enough naturally). My dining partner's pork dish was "just okay". Dessert was just okay too - chocolate cake with cherries & pistachio ice cream. Nothing objectionable by any means, just not spectacular. The drinks were nice, but not jaw-dropping or innovative either. I guess I expected more for the price, but you couldn't be faulted for wanted to enjoy just-acceptable food here for the ambience alone.
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Salt House
Cuisine: American
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SoMa |
7/10/2007
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Mediocre sandwiches at high prices. But if you'd like to look like one of the anorexic models that seem to eat here, you'll appreciate the meager portions.
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wichcraft
Cuisine: American Bistro Deli
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Downtown |
6/29/2007
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Surprisingly good. Usually, tourist traps usually favor shtick over taste, but the food we got (not ordered, mind you - they decide for you, despite being given a menu) we colorful, very fresh and delicious. I'm a vegetarian, and got colorful peashoot salad with tofu, pea & zucchini dumplings with Chinese eggplant, and a deep-fried "pancake". All really flavorful and fantastic. The tea came with flowers & goji berries. Would easily go back again.
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House of Nanking
Cuisine: Chinese
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Chinatown |
6/29/2007
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I tried this place today and thought it was just okay. Pretty much the same price as SF Soup Co, but slightly nicer digs. The "broccotato" (broccoli & potato) soup was hearty and good, but not exceptional by any means. Would have to try again to see if I really liked it, but assuming they could narrow in on soups that people really like (like SF Soup Co has done), they could be successful.
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Soup Freaks
Cuisine: Organic American Bistro
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Downtown |
5/15/2007
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A bit greasy (well, the burgers), but surprisingly good. The french fries are fried using actual fresh potatoes (not frozen), and their Mediterranean plate (falafel, hummus, pita, tabbouleh and Greek salad) is DIVINE and so cheap ($6). I'd go so far as to say it's at least as good as La Mediterranee, which is three times as expensive. Milkshake is decent, too. Looks like a total hole-in-the-wall, but there's a reason this place is packed every weekday.
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Downtown Flames
Cuisine: American
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SoMa |
4/13/2007
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I like this place. It's not perfect, and yes, *of course*, lacks a certain authenticity, but it's better than most chain food. It is a bit strange in its inconsistency, though. The salt can be way too salty sometimes (and this is coming from a true salt lover) and the tortillas are sometimes downright gummy. But I like the romaine lettuce and varieties of salsas that they'll add to your burrito. The crispy tacos are a nice alternative when you're not in a silver torpedo mood. And it's CHEAP.
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Chipotle Mexican Grill
Cuisine: Mexican
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SoMa |
3/25/2007
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I've eaten here several times at several locations and have never been disappointed. The smoked split pea, gazpacho (summer), Southewestern corn chowder and Indian lentil are all really fantastic. The gazpacho, in particular, is my favorite. The vegetarian chili ones are just okay (but still inexpensive). One of my favorite, most reliable places for lunch.
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San Francisco Soup Company
Cuisine: Soups
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Downtown |
3/25/2007
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Deep dish pizza -- I'm not sure why I wasn't really thrilled with this place. VERY popular. But the crust is really not all that good, and the sauce & toppings just okay. I think it's a relative novelty in a sea of "standard" pizzerias, and it does have a nice, fun atmosphere. But I don't think I'd wait for this again.
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Zachary's Chicago Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Oakland |
3/25/2007
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A surprisingly pleasant experience. Plenty of restaurants can make something that sounds good, looks good but tastes FLAT. Everything we had here had really exceptionally nice flavors. The tofu salad had a great melange of complementary flavors, the ravioli had a delicious mushroomy flavor (a bit too much oil, though) and my quinoa and tofu (which can easily go hippie-bland) was flavorful and even spicy. The desserts--capuccino cake and molten chocolate cake, were divine. Delicious but not overpowering or cloying. Negatives? The lamb my dining companion had was chewy (although he admits to have high standards with lamb) and the espresso was not good (watery, no crema, and not hot). Excellent service. Mellow SoMa mood. Interesting wall art. Overall a positive experience- recommended.
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Triptych
Cuisine: Fusion
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SoMa |
3/25/2007
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I've been here 3 times and have never been disappointed. The salads are a bit better than those at Harvest & Rowe (but a bit more expensive, too). LOTS of options, from lettuce choices, to dressings, to toppings. I always make my own, but there are lots of "menu" salads to choose from too. Wish they had soup, too. The line is usually long at lunch, but clears through fairly quickly.
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Mixt Greens
Cuisine: Californian
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Downtown |
3/22/2007
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One of those restaurant chains, like Chevy's, that has seen portion sizes and prices skyrocket, but quality go down the toilet. The desserts have also gotten poorer but seem to compete on portion size. If you could eat a horse and have a cold (i.e. can't taste very well), then this place might be the ticket for you. It also has a pretty big menu to accommodate for large groups with picky eaters.
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Max's Opera Cafe
Cuisine: Deli Dessert
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Civic Center |
2/7/2007
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We had both the thin crust (just cheese) and deep-dish (with sundried tomatoes, pepperoncini and artichoke hearts). The thin crust was overcooked, although a friend says that this was unusual for the place--it's usually much better. The deep-dish was divine--NOT greasy (really unusual for deep-dish) and the sauce was great; rich tomato flavor, chunky, just the right amount of saltiness. We shared a salad that was just okay, but plenty for 4. Would definitely go again, although Pauline's is so close by...
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Little Star Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza DeepDish ThinCrust
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Mission |
2/7/2007
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Not bad. Traditional food made well, and with just a touch of the exotic for a nice flair. We went there for brunch and were all satisfied. The wait was ridiculously long, though--at least an hour.
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Tangerine
Cuisine: Pacific Rim
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Castro |
2/7/2007
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I love this place. The food is fantastic, and you get a LOT of food for the money. We consistently overorder here. The dosas, idli, and samosas are great. Paratha could be a bit more fluffy, less gummy. The chole is really fantastic (bring the Beano).
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Vik's Chaat Corner
Cuisine: Indian
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Berkeley |
2/7/2007
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This was, bar none, the WORST Thai food I've ever had. We had the "golden triangles" for an appetizer--bland fillings and fried way too long (more brown than golden). I had the green curry, which was watery and flavorless. My friend had a chicken dish that he said tasted like a frozen dinner chicken kicked around in dirt. It looked like it too. Friendly service, but with food this bad, there is every reason to avoid this place.
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Cha AM Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
2/7/2007
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A few bright spots: the mac & cheese is excellent, and so was the cheese stick appetizer. The iceberg wedge with bleu cheese dressing was so-so. However, my dining companion said his steak was flavorless, and had to get some A1 to get it down. It was also a bit pricey for the quality you get. Not a bad experience by any means, but not necessarily a place I'd be dying to go back to.
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Perry's
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Comfort Food
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Cow Hollow |
11/21/2006
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Like most in the neighborhood, it is a bit of a tourist trap, but it's good. The eggplant crostini were delicious, the spring salad with manchego and pumpkin seeds unusual but a bit small, but the nicest was the swiss chard, onion and fontina calzone. The dough was perfect, the swiss chard tender, the onions carmelized to the point of being sweet, and the sauce a nice complement. The tiramisu was DIVINE--easily the best I've had in about 10 years. The only low point was the espresso--bitter, overroasted beans.
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Calzone's Pizza Cucina
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
11/21/2006
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Went here for the first time for lunch, the sit-down kind, although their take-out lunch boxes are extremely popular (because they're considerably less expensive). You get a free salad and naan, both of which were pretty good. I got the Barj-e-Mehfil, which was an excellent vegetable curry--just the right blend of savory spices, not too hot or too mild. I also ordered a Zaffrani Lassi to drink, which was interesting--a blend of 20 different fruits/herbs and saffron in standard sweet lassi. That was just okay--wouldn't order it again ($2.50). But would definitely come back for an excellent-quality curry. They say their menu changes every day, so will be interested to see if the quality keeps up the second time around.
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Mehfil Indian Cuisine
Cuisine: Indian Pakistani
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SoMa |
10/20/2006
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We went there for lunch and our unanimous sentiment was "eh". My Kung Pao broccoli/tofu was just okay; the broccoli a bit overcooked and the sauce too goopy. Draws a huge lunchtime crowd, so maybe we were missing something...
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Hunan Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese
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SoMa |
10/20/2006
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We just went there tonight and had a really nice experience. Food, service and ambience were all really nice. First, the food: Excellent. I had the goat cheese salad, my partner the duck salad. Both of us were pleased. For our entrees, I had the tomato/corn risotto (which was good) and sauteed Swiss chard (delicious!), my partner had the steak, which he really liked despite being one of the pickiest eaters I know. Dessert was excellent too: strawberry shortcake and creme brulee with biscotti. The service was really phenomenally good, from everyone, quite possibly the best I've ever experienced. Finally, the ambience was just right; mellow, easy-going and convivial without being too noisy. Both of us wanted to take a nap after our meal (the sofas are pretty damn comfortable)... OH! The Cherry Blossom Martini was *fantastic*--highly recommended!
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Soluna Cafe and Lounge
Cuisine: Californian
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Civic Center |
10/20/2006
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Quite possibly my favorite restaurant. Consistently great (have never once had an even mediocre experience there), and reasonably priced. 100% vegetarian, but a mix of classic vegetable & tofu dishes, and fake-meat dishes (like curry "chicken", broccoli "beef", etc) made of gluten and other meat substitutes. The extensive menu (about 80 items) features noodle dishes, great appetizers (incl the Vietnamese crepe, which is completely unlike the French variety), clay pots, and curry dishes. Lunch specials are $5.50--a real steal for food like this. I probably eat here on average once per week and have never been disappointed. Also, the restaurant expanded a bit to include another 10 booths and tables about a year ago, so you're not pressed for space.
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Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant
Cuisine: Vegetarian Vietnamese
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Oakland |
10/17/2006
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I was embarrassed to have recommended this place to coworkers. One got a chicken dish which would be accurately described as "chicken gravel". Another got a simple rice-noodle dish for $8 (and almost choked on a honking jalapeno), and I had flavorless chow mein. I doused it with every sauce they had to give it some flavor. Not recommended!
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Long Life Noodle Company and Jook Joint
Cuisine: Asian Noodle
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SoMa |
10/15/2006
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Stylish restaurant, decent food, reasonable prices. The only Thai place I've been to that has a relatively innovative menu, and the 3 times I've been here been pleasantly surprised with my impulse to try something new. Extensive vegetarian options. Great value for such a sumptuous experience. (even the water is infused with *mint* and lemon)
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Osha
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
10/15/2006
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NOTE: I am a vegetarian, so I didn't eat their seafood. Nevertheless, despite the expense, the food here was stunning. They even prepared vegetarian food off-menu for me which would rival other fine restaurants' menu items. The wait staff was attentive and polite--I felt like royalty. One of the few high-end restaurants that I would say is worth it. My dining companion loved her seafood, although I can't comment on it personally.
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AQUA
Cuisine: Californian French Basque Seafood
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Downtown |
10/15/2006
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I assume this has the same management as the one in the Inner Sunset, but the food was so, so, so much better. Deep, rich flavors, warm and fresh naan, and great free chai. We went there on a Sunday evening and the place was almost empty, so we got our food quickly. $16 for a LOT of food (my dining companion and I couldn't finish everything) Highly recommended.
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Naan 'n Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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North Beach |
10/15/2006
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Reasonably priced, but just mediocre food. Granted, it was 11:30pm on a Friday, so we were lucky to find a place that was even open. I had the mozzarella sticks (pretty good), and veggie melt (a bit flavorless, esp. considering the onions), and side salad (bizarre bleu cheese dressing--not recommended!). Not to be overlooked if you find yourself in the neighborhood late at night, though--the kitchen's open until 1am.
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Pork Store
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Mission |
10/15/2006
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I believe in evaluating a restaurant relative to its price. If you're going to drop over $100 for a 2-person dinner including only a couple glasses of wine and no dessert, you should have your socks knocked off. Mine weren't. The appetizer (baked chevre) was greasy and just okay. The pizza was not as good as others (Pauline's, Pazzio) that I've had, despite being their "specialty". Just not worth it. Granted, I didn't have the mussels which are their specialty, but nevertheless, given the $120 bill, I was unimpressed.
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Restaurant LuLu
Cuisine: Mediterranean French
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SoMa |
10/15/2006
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*tiny* place, but great food. We had a simple salad (which had a fantastic dressing--my dining companion and I were both surprised a simple salad could taste so good), and my pizza margherita was divine--thin crust, great sauce and not too much cheese. Unfortunately we had no room for dessert. Next time!
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Pazzia Caffe Pizzeria Rosticceria
Cuisine: Italian Pizza
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SoMa |
10/10/2006
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Like most, I was expecting to be underwhelmed (not sure about the "raw/alive" concept and gimmicky "I love you" menu item names) but the fact is that the food is DELICIOUS and deeply satisfying. The flavors are really unique and you walk away from a modest meal feeling like you really weren't missing something. The place might be run by a cult (the waitstaff *are* a little bizarre) but it doesn't matter. I'd come back again. The only downside is that the space is unusually hot, uncomfortably so near the back. I thought there was no cooking going on! :-)
I ate: the "nachos" and "pizza", and both were fantastic and absolutely nothing like real nachos and pizza (which I also love). The dessert was underwhelming--tiramisu (not much flavor).
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Cafe Gratitude
Cuisine: Raw Vegetarian
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Mission |
9/5/2006
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Wow. There's a reason there's a line outside this place (and its cousins across the Bay). The pastries (like Chocolate Thing, blueberry scone, hazelnut shortbread, etc) are to die for alone...but the PIZZA! They only serve one kind per day, but it's guaranteed to be delectable, and next to Pauline's, the best quality, most savory slice you can get in the City. Highly recommended.
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Arizmendi Bakery
Cuisine: Bakery
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Inner Sunset |
6/13/2006
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A vegetarian's dream! Different flavors and textures from North Indian/Punjab cuisine, which is the usual regional cuisine featured at Indian restaurants. Reasonably priced, the right level of spiciness, and a peaceful setting perfect after a hectic day. Highly recommended!
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Udupi Palace
Cuisine: Indian Vegetarian
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Berkeley |
5/24/2006
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A bit pricey, but worth it--there's a reason that this unassuming Oakland eatery always seems to have a wait. ENORMOUS menu with most of what I've tried really delicious. Portion sizes are just right, too--you won't leave hungry or stuffed. The shakes they have (with tropical flavors like coconut, jackfruit, mango) are a unique touch. It's consistently been a hit with SFers who normally scoff at the East Bay... :-)
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Pho 84
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Oakland |
5/24/2006
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The crust was really good (whole wheat--tangy and flaky), but there was so much cheese on the pizza that some of the items inside were not cooked. Unfortunately, the waitstaff seemed a bit thick-headed, though.I had asked for a vegetarian pizza and got one stuffed with pepperoni. Thankfully, the manager took care of everything and comped another pizza--professional and very much appreciated.Still, not sure I would go back again--not really my cup o' tea.
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Patxi's Chicago Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Hayes Valley |
5/24/2006
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A charming Italian eatery in North Beach, with unique, romantic decor and some old standbys (pizza, penne, caprese, caesar salad, etc) along with a few unique items that were surprisingly good (portobello mushroom ravioli with roasted pepper and cilantro sauce--trust me, it was good). Pleasant, uncrowded and unrushed service. Probably the best part was the pizza, which had a delicious crust that even my dining companion (who *never* eats crusts) liked. It had just the right amount of flavor and saltiness to not only make it edible, but also to make it really delicious. Owner made rounds and chatted with customers, making sure everything was alright. Would definitely recommend, and eat at again.
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Viva Restaurant
Cuisine: Pizza Italian Seafood
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North Beach |
5/24/2006
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I guess I'm not much of a grilled-food lover. I didn't care for the food, although my dining companion liked it. It *is* reasonably priced, and they have an extensive and truly creative menu. To me, there's something unsettlingly generic about the place, though. Go to Squat & Gobble across the street and see if you don't pick up the same aura.
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Asqew Grill
Cuisine: Californian
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Castro |
12/2/2005
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Ate here again after a 5-year hiatus...and was not disappointed. We enjoyed the $46 p.p. prix fixe menu: bread, goat cheese & olive starter (standard), potato griddle cakes & savoy spinach salad (both excellent), the phyllo chiles & corn "bag", and vegetable gratin for entrees (preferred the phyllo dish, but the gratin was nice too--the fennel could have been better cooked), and chocolate/marscapone trifle and pistachio cannoli for dessert. Mint tea, and lemon verbena spritzer to drink. All this with probably the best view of the marina, Bay and GG Bridge possible... Heavenly!
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Greens
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Marina |
7/24/2005
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A bit overhyped, but the place has character. The 1st time I went in 1997, the waitress greeted us at the door while mashing meat in a pot, and shooed us into a booth. The cook woke up a sleeping wino at the counter by banging a pot near his face. Grandma was rolling up imperial rolls, and wiping her dripping nose on her sleeve. As for the food: kind of inconsistent, never great, but never horrible, and always cheap. One time, my bird's nest was sort of burnt; another time the spring rolls were dried up. Otherwise, decent, veering on the bland side, food. Worth checking out at least once, if for nothing else, the stories!
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Tu Lan
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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SoMa |
7/14/2005
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I still love their fresh (thin) chips and smoky salsa...it makes it worth going to just for that. But their menu items have gotten worse and worse over the past ten years; more trendy 'wraps' and less authentic Tex-Mex food, and everything tastes a bit...ordinary. Service and decor are nice, as they are just about everywhere, but you kinda wish the entrees were prepared with a bit more TLC.
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Chevy's Fresh Mex
Cuisine: Tex-mex Mexican
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Embarcadero |
7/13/2005
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Yes, it's a chain from the Midwest, and yes, most items you can probably make at home pretty easily, but this is a great place for decent food if you're in a group of about 6 or more (are you going to make lasagne for 8 people at home?!). I like the fact that they serve food like you're at someone's house, in big aluminum pans, and I like the kitschy decor (check out the bathroom, especially). I can't imagine going here with just one other person, though...it really functions best for groups.
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Buca di Beppo
Cuisine: Italian
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SoMa |
7/13/2005
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Great lunch, lots of Italian items, you pay by weight. (I paid just shy of $10 for my full plate) Sunny patio out front. The made-to-order chocolate wedge cake is absurdly good, can feed 8+ and costs $25...twice the size, twice the quality, 2/3 the price of other relatively-famous bakery/cake outfits...
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DeLessio Market & Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries Italian Deli
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Civic Center |
7/13/2005
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I didn't think these were authentic, and marketing them upmarket as the feature item at a restaurant is bizarre; in Holland, this is fast junk food (and I lived there for 2 years). The sauces have been adjusted to Bay Area palates (wasabi mayo? Where's the frittesaus and pindasaus?!), and the fries, when I got them, tasted a bit funny (old oil? cooked too long? not sure). Nice setting, though.
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Frjtz Fries
Cuisine: Belgian
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Hayes Valley |
7/12/2005
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Unless you eat very little, other Indian lunch buffets are a better bargain. The food is "Indian fast food"--lots of wraps and appetizers, which are just as expensive or more expensive than at traditional Indian restaurants. Quality is decent, nothing better. Personally, I would give this a (+) positive if the price more accurately matched the offering.
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Chaat Cafe
Cuisine: Indian
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SoMa |
7/12/2005
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Cheap and delicious, and the turnover is high enough that the food is fresh. I love their falafel deluxe (even though it is messy) and their tabbouleh is just right...not soggy.
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Truly Mediterranean
Cuisine: Middle Eastern Mediterranean
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Mission |
7/12/2005
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Making all necessary allowances for its tourist-trap nature, this place is great. The sourdough bread is fresh, delicious, with a golden, chewy crust. I got a bread bowl with butternut squash soup and was pleasantly surprised. Much better than most of the other nearby options...
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Boudin Sourdough Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries American Bistro
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Fishermans Wharf |
7/12/2005
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I love this place. Reasonably priced, for the most unusual variety of ice-cream flavors. Lots of Filipino fruit flavors (Ube, Macapuno, Langka, Halo-Halo, etc) and unusual Western ones, like Mexican Chocolate (has a touch of cinnamon) and a seasonal Red Peach that's better than anything you've ever tasted. The quality simply can't be beat. Great, rotating selection of sorbets (like lychee and kalamansi) and sherbets, if lactose isn't your thing. ;-)
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Mitchells Ice Cream
Cuisine: Ice Cream Dessert
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Mission |
7/12/2005
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Decent enough, but poor vegetarian options, *extremely noisy* (you're packed in there like sardines), and unremarkable food. I asked if they could make the springrolls without the chicken, and the waitress said that they had already pre-made them hours before, so that wasn't possible. (That's fine for a $2 tray at a hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place, but for $7 at Fuzio? Try making them fresh, please). The pad thai noodles I had was *boring*.
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Fuzio
Cuisine: Eclectic International Noodle Shop
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Castro |
7/12/2005
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The pizzas are nice, but the entire place smells like roast chicken (their specialty), an odor that seems to permeate your clothes afterwards, too.
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Firewood Cafe
Cuisine: Californian Italian Pizza
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Castro |
7/11/2005
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Despite the gimmicky name and menu items, the pizza really is actually good. I prefer the more neutral offerings at every pizzeria (margherita), but you'll never want for choices here.
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Extreme Pizza
Cuisine: pizza
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Upper Fillmore |
7/11/2005
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The pizza is really mediocre--no flavor, too much bland cheese--but the wait staff is friendly, the atmosphere cozy. Salad is a bit of a joke, too. Reasonable prices.
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North Beach Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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North Beach |
7/11/2005
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A true hole in the wall, with decent food, but gets a clear positive for two reasons: 1) you can be 100% sure the food is vegetarian (always uncertain in standard Chinese restaurants, no matter what the menu/waiter says), and 2) really low prices. Lots of "mock meat" dishes, so even carnivores might be able to find something they like.
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Lucky Creation
Cuisine: Vegetarian Vegan Chinese
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Chinatown |
7/11/2005
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Generally nice food, great decor and ambience, helpful staff....but REALLY expensive for what you get (for the imported Italian stuff especially...ridiculous). I've gotten a few items there and recreated them in my own kitchen for a fraction of the price, so I have to give thanks to A.G. Ferrari for plenty of inspiration!
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A. G. Ferrari Foods
Cuisine: Italian Deli
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SoMa |
7/11/2005
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You get a nice feeling just walking in to the place...cozy, with an old-world feeling and aroma. Pick your bread from the bin, and wait in line...great sandwiches, and Washington Square is just up a block.
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Molinari Delicatessen
Cuisine: Italian Deli
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North Beach |
7/11/2005
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The food here is above average for the cuisine (pretty good, not great, but not mediocre either), but the prices are really low. I think it's family-run, so you can wait awhile until Momma or Poppa comes to take your order, because they're making it in the back, too.
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Axum Cafe
Cuisine: Ethiopian
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Lower Haight |
7/11/2005
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Sure, there's entertainment, and the setting is more upscale than most Bay Area Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant, but how exactly can you f*** up Eritrean food? Well, this place managed to do it. Bland and greasy food items, soggy, flavorless injeera. Axum Cafe down in Lower Haight is half the price and three times as good.
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Sawa Eritrean Restaurant
Cuisine: Eritrean Ethiopian African
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Western Addition |
7/11/2005
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Decent prix fixe menu, although, true to French restaurant stereotypes, portions are small, so don't head there hungry! Quality is above average, friendly wait staff, and cozy atmosphere.
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Zazie
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
7/10/2005
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This place is definitely in *another* universe. The food *looks* good, and the choose-your-own aspect to the salads *should* make it taste good, but the food here is really, really BAD. Have had the misfortune to eat here several times, and it's always been a big, big disappointment...most accurately described as "Ramada dinner buffet food at 15 minutes after closing".
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Pluto's Fresh Food for a Hungry Universe
Cuisine: American salads
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Inner Sunset |
7/10/2005
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Really good, and really bad aspects to this restaurant.
(+) Shanghai tofu, vegetarian mu-shu, avocado rolls, prices (very reasonable);
(-) annoyingly urgent wait staff, some bland/unremarkable items (broccoli w/jade tofu, eric's pancakes, buddha's delight, which had a bizarre pungent aftertaste)
If you're looking for a few really tasty items, head here and know what to order. If you're looking for a pleasant dining experience, where the waiters won't bark at you to order within seconds of being seated, try somewhere else.
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Eric's
Cuisine: Chinese
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Noe Valley |
7/10/2005
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I'm vegetarian, and love Indian food. Why was this place so unimpressive, then?
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New Ganges Restaurant
Cuisine: Indian Vegetarian
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
7/10/2005
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I'm a vegetarian, and was disappointed. Flavorless, soggy pasta. More gimmicky than actually flavorful. Many of us vegetarians actually like delicious food, instead of stuff that might best be called "college student gourmet".
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Herbivore
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Mission |
7/10/2005
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Overpriced for the quality, which was really not all that great. More a place to dress up and be seen, and maybe enjoy a drink at the bar, than actually eat at.
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Mecca
Cuisine: American (New) Eclectic
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Upper Market/Church Street |
7/10/2005
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I'm underwhelmed by this place. It seems the menu is inspired by a need for variety and representative cuisines (Italian, Greek, California, yadda yadda), rather than taste. The crepes are enormous, relatively flavorless and *soggy*. Great patio, though.
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Squat and Gobble
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners American (Traditional)
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
7/10/2005
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I think this place is still worth its reputation. The food is fresh and delicious, and the main problem is the crowding. If you need a little elbow room and tranquility, you might look elsewhere; otherwise, expect great food at reasonable prices.
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Indian Oven
Cuisine: Indian
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Lower Haight |
7/10/2005
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Agree with the other two reviewers. Decent, nothing to write home about. If you feel a curry craving coming on, not a bad option since there's nothing else Indian around the neighborhood.
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Bombay Indian Restaurant
Cuisine: Indian
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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Pleasantly unpretentious southern Italian food. Decent and neighborhood-y in a way that's extremely rare in SF.
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Ristorante Capri
Cuisine: Italian Pizza
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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Nothing special, and overpriced for what you can essentially buy at a shwarma shop. The restaurant is substantially cozier, though. Hummus and baba ganoush are way too widespread and available to pull "exotic fare" pricing on items like these.
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La Mediterranee
Cuisine: Mediterranean Middle Eastern
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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Decent taqueria that looks like a chain (I don't believe it is). There is remarkably little variation among the dozens of taquerias in this city, and this place is no exception. Nothing wrong with that, though, if you're hungry and only have $5 on you!
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Cactus Fresh Mexican Grill
Cuisine: Mexican
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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GREAT, cozy place, decent cafe menu, but *don't* make the mistake of ordering food here. It's atrocious, and overpriced. Just order a latte, have a cookie, flirt, and then go to any of the nearby places afterwards for a bite to eat.
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Cafe Flore
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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I got food poisoning here, so sorry, can't recommend it!
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Thailand Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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Like Blue farther down the street, it specializes in bland, Midwestern "comfort food" for those who are apparently overwhelmed by more exotic delights that the City has to offer. To be fair, though, it's better than Blue: the mac & cheese is really, really delicious, and so are the fries. Not my cup of tea, generally, although if it is, you probably won't be disappointed by what they offer.
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Home
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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Atmosphere & ambience over food quality. But REALLY GREAT atmosphere & ambience. Get a table in the back patio, especially for brunch.
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Luna
Cuisine: Californian American (Traditional) Brunch
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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It's a chain...and a good one. The pastas are consistently good, especially the homemade gnocchi and ravioli. Salads and desserts are decent as well, and it's all reasonably priced.
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Pasta Pomodoro
Cuisine: Italian
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Noe Valley |
7/10/2005
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Greasy spoon, noisy as hell, not a great place if you need to mellow out after clubbing, but kinda fun otherwise. The crowd, menu and staff is somewhat surreal, trippy.
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Sparky's Diner
Cuisine: Diner
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Upper Market/Church Street |
7/10/2005
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Ate here about a year ago, under new management, and have to say the menu is better and so is the food. Used to be the place you went to if you wanted to people watch at 3am. Now, you can actually enjoy decent food, too. Still have trouble imagining eating here during the day, though...
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Bagdad Cafe
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Diner
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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Greasy, imitation-NY-style...the best (only?) thing in Marcello's favor is that it's open late.
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Marcello's
Cuisine: pizza
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Castro |
7/10/2005
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Delicious food, although fairly pricey. Try to go with someone who understands and can explain Persian cuisine, if you're unfamiliar with it--the flavors are really unlike any other cuisine in the world (but worth developing a taste for!). The ash reshteh and qeymeh were fairly nice, fesenjan decent (although I've had better). Wish they would have more vegetarian versions available. The faludeh for dessert is a real treat!!!
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Maykedah
Cuisine: Persian
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North Beach |
7/9/2005
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Not a fan of this restaurant. The macaroni & cheese was unbelievably bland, and the caesar salad was entirely too heavy on the anchovy paste (the dressing was dark brown, there was so much in it!). Some friends love it, but they tend to like "middle America" comfort food. Not my cup of tea.
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Blue
Cuisine: Comfort food American
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Castro |
7/9/2005
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Love this restaurant, but the items can be hit or miss. LOVE the green papaya salad, and the ginger (?) salad, and the spinach noodles with either the smoked picante curried vegetables, or "Man o Mango". Some of the other items have been underwhelming, so don't expect consistent quality among everything on the menu.
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Nirvana
Cuisine: Pan-Asain
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Castro |
7/9/2005
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Not a fan of Hawaiian cuisine, but maybe, if you're a fan of beignets and Spam, you'll like it. Not exactly vegetarian-friendly.
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Tita's hale 'aina
Cuisine: Hawaiian
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Castro |
7/9/2005
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Quality is decent, although prices are really outrageously high for this sort of cuisine. This sort of food is not expensive *in* Poland (where I lived for 2 years), even by Polish standards, so it's shocking to see it so high relative to other SF restaurants. The pierogi are good, the pickle soup nice, but why are the prices so high again?
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Old Krakow Polish Restaurant
Cuisine: Polish Czech Eastern European
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West Portal |
7/9/2005
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Just another Mission District taqueria (absolutely nothing different about its quality or menu), but with the benefit of being close to BART and open very late.
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El Farolito
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
7/9/2005
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Decent Italian food, bubbly Italian waiters, plenty of items on the menu, but not fantastic by any means. (actually, quite similar in quality and value to places *in* Rome) Can get pretty noisy in the evenings, so not a place for a quiet, intimate meal.
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Steps of Rome
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
7/9/2005
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TOURIST TRAP. There is a certain novelty to every item having garlic in it, although that wears off pretty quickly when you realize the food isn't that great for the prices, and the service is poor (too few waiters for such a big restaurant). One of those places you want to be able to say you've eaten at, but don't particularly want to visit again.
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Stinking Rose
Cuisine: Italian Californian
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North Beach |
7/9/2005
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Decent food, but a 'neutral' rating for the price ($$$). Portions are not huge, so don't head there with too big an appetite. Otherwise, the food is innovative and tasty, with a lot of vegan analogues of American favorites (like chops & mashed potatoes, I think). Classy atmosphere.
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Millennium
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Downtown |
7/9/2005
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Marcello's is greasy, Nizario's is *not* New York style pizza. Escape from NY is the only authentic option in the Castro (this coming from someone who enjoyed real Neapolitan & Sicilian pizza in Jersey growing up). The pesto/potato one is nice (you'll either love it or hate it), but the regular cheese one is still my favorite.
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Escape From NY Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Castro |
7/9/2005
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It's downtown, so of course it's a bit overpriced. But the salads and soups are really delicious. Don't know if 'organic' really makes a difference, but the salads always taste fresh and are custom-made to your order (and a billion times better than the salads at Pluto, for instance). The soups I've had there (carrot ginger, minestrone) have been hearty and impressive.
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Harvest & Rowe
Cuisine: American Bistro
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Downtown |
7/9/2005
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Underwhelming. Large portions, but unimpressive flavor (what does the restaurant's name mean again??). The sandwich I had there was massive and greasy, not very tasty. The patio in the back is great on sunny days, though. Salads and other entrees are your standard California fare, nothing particularly special.
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Savor
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Noe Valley |
7/9/2005
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The key to having an affordable, delicious meal here is choice of items. I'm vegetarian, and choose *EITHER* the mushroom crepe, or the ratatouille one (both are really delicious, much better than anything at the other Americanized crepe places in town). If you choose one of the combo/multiple-item crepes, you'll see something that goes from $4 to about $12, with little added enjoyment. Skip the juices, which are not great. The bread basket, with one of the flavored butters, is a cheap ($2), nice appetizer. The simple sweet crepes (like honey, or brown sugar), are cheap and delicious. If you insist on one of the "complicated"/multiple-item sweet crepes, go to Squat & Gobble or one of its clones, for a better value.
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Ti Couz
Cuisine: French Dessert
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Mission |
7/9/2005
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I had the fortune of having come here after 2 weeks in Barcelona and Madrid. I was pleasantly surprised that the food was just as good as--or better than--the tapas food we had in Spain. The patatas bravas and mushrooms were a favorite with us. They have an extensive menu, too. Not a bad option if Ti Couz's wait is too long.
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Picaro
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Mission |
7/9/2005
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Ate here with two friends, and we were surprised by how good the food was. The mod decor and dress of the wait staff prepared us for a pretentious & underwhelming offering...we were mistaken. The food is innovative, tasty, fresh, and the portions are large, so make sure you're really hungry when you go. Prices reasonable given the quality and portion size. Would easily go again.
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Osha Thai Noodle
Cuisine: Thai
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Mission |
7/9/2005
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This is one restaurant that has survived on its reputation for far too long. What it is: too expensive (despite the 'get your own silverware & water' gimmick), flavorless food (ate with 3 friends, and we all reached a consensus on this one), not worth the wait. Really, don't believe the hype. There are far better curry houses in the City. The reputation for cheap, delicious curry is not in any way deserved.
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Naan 'n Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Inner Sunset |
7/9/2005
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