This is an incredible eating experience. If you ever get to Austin, you must go. I went with thirteen folks from work, who thankfully are all big time food lovers and don't mind passing their plate around the table to share. I got to taste half of the items on the menu. We started things off with Calamari Fritti: Semolina encrusted fried squid ($8), Carpaccio: thinly sliced rare beef with mustard, arugula, capers, and parmesan ($9), Funghi Con Polenta: Trumpet mushrooms and gorgonzola cheese on top of baked polenta ($9), Caesar Vespio Salad ($8), Insalata Spinaci : Spinach salad with roasted red bell peppers, candied walnuts, mushrooms, and gorgonzola dulce with pancetta vinaigrette($9), and lastly the Potato Caramelized Onion Soup ($6). It was all incredible. I knew we were in for an awesome meal, when all of the starters that we ordered where exquisite. I wouldn't have changed anything to make them better, they were perfect. I am happy to say, the rest of the meal continued in the same mouth slurping, plate passing, and tummy rubbing style. For our entrees, we feasted on Pan Crisped Wild Salmon with Shoe String Potatoes with a Saffron Aioli ( $25), Seafood Mixed Grill: Lump crab cake with spring onion aioli, skate wing with herbed bread crumbs, fennel dusted day boat scallops, all accompanied with white polenta mash and garden peas ($28), Pansoti Di Zucca: Butternut squash ravioli with brown sage butter ($15), Bistecca Tagliatta: Oak fire grilled hanger steak with wine reduction, served with potatoes and sautéed spinach ($20), Cioppino: Seafood stew in a red broth with garlic focaccia bruschetta ($26), and Risotto Del Giorno: Prime rib and morel mushrooms on spinach gorgonzola risotto ($27). Are you drooling yet? Of course we had some wonderful desserts, perfect espressos, and tongue burning portos too. I think it is almost worth a trip to Texas just to eat here. Plan to make reservations, because they book up quickly. Give your self a lot of time to enjoy the wine list, watch the pizza cooking in the wood oven, and look at the beautiful homey atmosphere. I've NEVER had better Italian food. I miss it already.
Le Cheval 1007 Clay St., Oakland (510) 763-8495Oh so tasty French Vietnamese fare in a bustling atmosphere. This is a favorite among many East-Bayers, my friend Nancy included. The menu is huge, catering to both the American and the traditional French Vietnamese palates. So if you want Bun Rieu ( Minced Shrimp with Egg and Rice Vermicelli) your in luck. Perhaps you're feeling more adventurous and want the Hot and Sour Shark Soup. Or maybe you're in the mood for Roasted Quail ($10.75). I recommend the Calamari Salad ($8), which is perfectly done in a refreshing lemon grass mint dressing, severed over shredded cabbage. I also suggest taking your pick of the "Salty" prawns ($10.75) or calamari ($10.55), each of which is lightly battered and fried in salt and white pepper. You must eat it with spicy rooster sauce and vinegar for a combination made in heaven. Of course if you want Pho, they've got that. Also a large selection of rice vermicelli dishes, stir fried noodles, and grilled kebabs grace the menu also. It's very busy, so make reservations or be expecting to wait a looooong time. Once you're seated the foods comes very quickly. We got our appetizer of Sautéed Pea Shoots ($8) within four minutes of ordering it. The service is friendly and almost overly efficient. Drop by for their lunch specials some time to check them out ( 11-3 everyday)
El Yucateco Restaurant 1035 Geary St, SF (415) 440-9822Gone are the days when I suffer hungrily through a film at the AMC 1000 Van Ness. Like a godsend, this Yucatan restaurant opened in just one block away from the theater. We were going to get some liquor store snacks for the movie, when we got caught in the incredible smell of perfectly stewed chicken and freshly grilled tortillas, wafting out of their door. I put the breaks on and demanding a taco snack instead. There was only one occupied table in this hole in the wall, and they looked like they had been watching soccer and drinking beer for hours. Maybe family of the owners. We didn't have a lot of time, so we had to get quick food (read taco), but I am definitely going back for the incredible looking traditional Yucatan dishes like Conchinita Pibil: Pork marinated in Achiote seasoning baked in a banana leaf, or Poc-Chuc: Tender slices of pork marinated in orange juices and spices. Other good-looking things are Turkey in black Mole sauce, and Tamales. If you're in the mood for Mexican food, they got that too. Fill up on tacos, Burritos, Nachos, Enchiladas, Carne Asada, and Chile Verde. If you go on the weekend, you can score a bowl of Pozole or Menudo. The prices are cheap... Tacos $2 to Chile Verde $8.95. The family that was working is extremely nice and the food is very fresh. Get this, when we ordered our tacos, they made the tortillas fresh, then topped em with the perfectly spices chicken, avocado, cilantro and onion. Please give them some business, you won't be disappointed.
Asqew 3348 Steiner St, SF (415) 931-9201 ** 1607 Haight St, SF (415) 701-9301 ** 5614 Bay St. #240, Emeryville (510) 595-7471Long live cheap eats! EVERYTHING on the menu is under $10. You can get half or full orders. Halves are $5.50, wholes are $8.50. And what is it that you get for you dollars? Food on a stick. All of the main menu items come on a skewers: Texas BBQ Chicken, Blackened Prawns, Portobello Mushrooms, Ginger Basil Lamb... many, many more too! Then there are the Starches: Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cilantro Jasmine Rice, Citrus Cous Cous, and Mascarpone Polenta ($2.50 ea./ a la carte). Then Salads: Caesar, Baby Greens with Honey Dijon, Spicy Thai with Vinaigrette, Basil and Arugula Salad with Orange Champagne Vinaigrette, Grilled Pear with Arugula and Creamy Gorgonzola, and Beet Salad with Walnuts and Organic Greens ($6.25 a la carte). This is what you do... pick a Skewer, and a starch or salad to go with it. The half orders are plenty large, but get the full, if you're up to it. There are vegetable sides and soups available too. Treats include Grilled Carmel Apple Sundae, Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae, Root Beer Float, or the lovely Grilled Banana Split (all are under $5). It was fast and friendly service, where you pay at the counter when you order. I love the uniforms... grease-monkey jumpsuits in dark blue with bandanas. All the food was fresh and flavorful. Add this to your list of where to eat when you're low on cash. With locations in the Marina, Haight, and Castro. Check out their website: asqewgrill.com
Fish. 350 Harbor Drive, Sausalito (415) 331-3421The name really sums it up. It's all about fish, but don't forget you're in Marin. Fish and Chips? Yes! Crab Sandwich? Yup! Braised Swiss Chard? Yes! Espresso, top-notch wines, and champagne? Yes! If you bring the kids, you can get a $6 PB&J. Wow, that must be some special peanut butter. I ordered the Fish and Chips ($16), which was very moist Halibut with a perfectly flaky Anchor Steam beer batter. I somehow still didn't feel totally comfortable dropping sixteen big ones for it. It was 3 hefty pieces of fish on spiced steak fries, still it seemed a lot of money for a self serve restaurant. Ric got the Clam Chowder for under $10. It had a good flavor, but just wasn't thick enough. Ran right off the spoon. The Chili Lime Coleslaw ($5) wasn't for me. I tried it, but found it too tangy, with not enough flavor. I don't mean to make this sound like a miserable experience, cause it wasn't. The Ice Tea drinking, backed-up against the fireplace, while looking at the water was great. If I got board watching boats bob, I could look at the big screen TV, which plays non-stop surf videos. Everyone was friendly and casual. The prices just don't fit the atmosphere. Would I go back? Yes, but I would share a plate of Fish and Chips, to make the money go further. They have a great website, full of cute graphics, information, and the menu of course.331fish.com
Tacubaya 1788 4th St, Berkeley (510) 525-5160
Imagine a fancy taqueria that serves traditional Mexican food. Nestled in the fancy shops of Berkeley's Fourth Street, Tacubaya offers delicious food that is worth the occasional splurge. True to the philosophy of a good Berkeleyite, they use organic produce, dairy, and meat whenever possible. You can get typical breakfast items like Chilaquilles, Chorizo and Eggs, or Huevos Divorciados. I had just gotten back from Mexico when I went to Tacubaya. I was waxing nostalgic for the grilled corn, complete with charred kernels. I've never seen this on any menu in the USA, but I was in luck. For $2.95, I felt like I was back walking the streets of Oaxaca with my corncob slathered in chili and lime. Other menu highlights are Fish Tacos with Arbol Chile Aioli and Cabbage ($2.95), Chicken Soup with Avocado and tortilla strips($5.95), Ceviche ($7.50), Potato Fritters in Poblano Cream Sauce ($3.95), and Cesar Salad ($6.95). Of course you can get a basic taco too, or just a quesadilla. Wash it all down with Horchatta, Agua Fresca, or the locally roasted Blue Bottle coffee.
Le Colonial
20 Cosmo Pl, SF (415) 931-3600
This building is tucked away on a tiny one-way alley in the Tenderloin. It feels like you've stepped right into 1920's Vietnam, complete with the French colonialism influences. The floors are patchwork tile of green and white, the red and black walls are hung with old photos of everyday life in Vietnam. Of course there are big heavy bladed ceiling fans and bamboo birdcages, to add even more atmosphere, amid the lush palm plants. Now about the food...I'll get the bad news out the way, the soups sucked. I'll just say bland is an understatement. With that said, everything else was an awesome. We sampled tons of stuff on the menu (the joy of dinning with six folks who all love to share). The toss-you-out-on-the-street-with-your-tongue-wagging-wildly dish was the Deep Fried Lobster. Wait let me say that again, in case you missed it. DEEP FRIED WHOLE LOBSTER. This was one of the nightly specials, so I can't promise it'll be on the menu when you go. If it is there... you must order it! People were making fools of themselves trying to get each and every shred of meat out of the shell. I exclaimed that I felt like a crack-fiend the way I was frantically scratching at the shell to get any possible remaining meat. The taste was so rich and sweet, as to make us compare it to caramel. Other meal highlights were the Shredded Duck Rolls, a crispy roll with noodles, carrots, scallions, which you wrap in a lettuce leaf and dip in ginger sauce ($11). Folks were also fighting over the Scallop Ginger Pot stickers ($11). Before it got too violent, we just ordered another round of 'em. The Steamed Sea Bass was big time WOW ($27). It comes wrapped in a banana leaf with mushrooms, ginger and scallions. It was perfectly seasoned and melts in the mouth. Desserts are $8 each, and you can pick from things like Flourless Chocolate Cake or Crispy Banana Fritters. Desserts were good, but the entrees and appetizers were the stars of the show. Check out their website for photos and menu options
lecolonialsf.com. This is a definite Big Spender restaurant. You can always just go for drinks in their fancy bar and maybe splurge on an appetizer or two. It's just a purty place to be, with lots of yummy things to tempt ya.
Ericka and I had another success with our Eating Club. We discovered a wonderful Italian restaurant nestled in the low-key Bernal Heights. Valentina's owned by a mother and daughter, which may be why it feels so relaxed and homey inside. The food is fresh and delicious. We got the Bruschette Miste appetizer, which is not to be missed. I am the kind of eater who loves variety, which is exactly what this plate offers. Three different flavors of bruschette (2 pieces each)... the classic tomato, basil, and garlic... Sautéed eggplant with capers.... and lastly olive tapenade with goat cheese and roasted red bell peppers ($8). WOWWWW. We got the Insalata Della Casa Agli Agrumi, which must be Italian for Spinach, orange, grapefruit, sweet walnuts, pears, and parmesan with a balsamic vinaigrette ($7). It was refreshing and complex. Next we moved into entrée land. We got two, our favorite of which was the gnocchi Ai Tresapori ($12.50). I am sucker for a heavy pasta like gnocchi, especially when it's rolled around in a pesto sauce that is super creamy. Valentina also has pizza and veal dishes, though we didn't try them. We did get some awesome, write-home-to-your-mother Panna Cotta for dessert ($5.50). It was so freakin good that it inspired us to learn how to make it for our next dinner party. Our evening was a smashing success. I highly recommend a night of dinning at Valentina, you won't be disappointed.
My friend Emma had her birthday at this tiny hole in the wall Organic Mediterranean restaurant. To say that I was impressed is an understatement. Everything was flawless: the service, the food, and the atmosphere. Big glasses of heavenly refreshing Mint Lemonade filled the table. I personally had four! How could I pass up a tall glass of lemonade whipped with fresh mint and ice. Not too sweet, not to sour, just right. I also went out on a limb, and ordered Jalab, a date syrup and rose water drink. I wasn't too wild about this beverage. It was a bit out there for me, but it did grow on me by the time I finished it. ANYWAYS... our meal began with warm Pita, Hummus, Lamb Dolmas, Spanokopita, Falafel, and Mohamara (a pomegranate, walnut, and roasted red pepper spread). Next we had a garden fresh salad of Mixed Greens and Garden Herbs with a Lemon Balm Vinaigrette. For our main course, we had Spring Vegetable Dolmas and Grilled Chicken and Baby Vegetables on Cardamom Rice. The Dolmas are a collard leaf stuffed with acorn squash, parsnips, carrots, shallots, sprouted green wheat, and fresh herbs. WOW. For dessert we had warm baklavah along side some of the best ice creams I've ever had: Date with Walnuts and Saffron Pistachio. Sorry I can't tell you the prices of things, because Emma had a preplanned meal for all of us. Let me tell you of some other menu highlights that caught my attention. Pomegranate Sangria, Turkish Coffee, Orange and Date Salad with Orange Blossom Dressing, Warm Bread Salad with Olives and Feta, and Chili and Smoked Pepper Prawns with Garlic. There are lots of other options too. Zatar does private parties and catering, if you have the need. This is my new favorite restaurant, not just because of the taste of the food, but because of where it comes from. You can taste the love in each bite. Lots of the produce used is grown in the chefs' garden at their house in Oakland. I enjoy supporting an eating establishment that treats its customers like family and puts care into everything they make. Go here the next chance you get, even if you have to make a fieldtrip of it. Look at their website too for more info and photos on their garden and backgrounds. The menu's there too, if you want to check it out. Oh yeah, lastly... they are cash only, so be ready to pass the green backs. I just want to stress one more time how good the food was, it gave me goosebumps, really!
Ohhh I love garden fresh Mediterranean food, now let me see the menu:
This week's new restaurant pick came from my food guide to SF book. Be ready to be overwhelmed at Thep Phanom, cause the menu has 99 dishes to choose from, not counting 25 daily and house specials. Yikes. Needless to say, it took Erika and I a while to choose our culinary destiny. We hadn't eaten all day, so we were ready to stuff our faces, which we did. Our meal started with a beautifully presented appetizer of Deep Fried Panko encrusted Taro Root and Sweet Potatoes ($8.95). The came sticking out of a glass filled with sweet n spicy peanut sauce. WOW. Next was a Vegetable Tom Ka Gai soup ($8.95), which I have to admit wasn't the best. The broth was good, but the choice of vegetables was a bit weak. All right, now it's time for a Green Papaya Salad ($7.95), which was just as it should be...spicy, tangy, sweet, and refreshing. Thumbs up! Moving into the entree' realm, we filled our bellies with Goong, grilled prawn skewers with a chili garlic sauce ($11.95). As if this couldn't fill us enough, we went ahead with dessert. Our bellies were busting, but it all was so good, we gladly ordered the Sticky Rice with Mango, which like everything else, was presented with a great artistic flair. The rice was a tasty sticky coconut rice with sesame seeds, topped with chopped mango. Ahhhhhh. The divine ending to a great meal. Thep Phanom isn't the cheapest Thai place, but the price is worth it. It was packed the entire time we were there. The food was fast, filling, and memorable. I would gladly go back and recommend that you go try it. Remember, take a deep breath, cause you're going to have a lot of options for your meal.
Acme Chophouse 24 Willie Mays Plazza, SF (415) 644-0240A lot of main players make Acme Chophouse a homerun. Pardon all the baseball puns, I just can't help it, seeing that the restaurant adjoins the PacBell Park Baseball Stadium. As I was saying MVP Traci Des Jardins (owner/chef of Jardinere restaurant) is the managing chef. That alone was enough to get me sliding into Acme Chophouse. Picture an upscale steak house with all the comfort foods you can crave, and you've got it right. Mac'n Cheese, Creamed Spinach, Onion Rings, French Fries, Rib Eye Steak, Rotisserie Chicken, and an Iceberg Lettuce salad are available for your main meal pleasures. To satisfy your sweet tooth, perhaps a huge Butterscotch Pudding with whip cream, or maybe a Strawberry Rhubarb pie. Their most popular dessert is a house made S¹more. YES! My teammate Kara joined me in a hearty game of feed the face. The Mac n' Cheese was perfect: creamy and rich. The Onion Rings were hands down the best I've ever had. They are cut very thin and fried to perfection. No huge unwieldy chunks. The Iceberg Lettuce Salad had a rockin' good blue cheese. We also got a Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon, thinking that we needed some veggies to balance out all the fried and cheesy food we were having. This salad did not disappoint. Crap, it was amazing. Nothing like a thick cut bacon with a smoked aftertaste that makes you grab for the next bite. After all this, we still hadn't had our entree. We were smart and just got one: The Double Pork Chop. Easily cut down the middle, this pork chop was practically worshiped on our separate plates. We ate it slowly, savoring the juicy meat, which became more crispy and bacon-like as it reach the fatty edges of the chop. The pork had plenty of flavor by itself, but it came with a screaming Green Peppercorn Sauce, if you wanted knock it up a notch. All this eating made me thirsty, which wasn't a problem because the ice tea was all you could drink. My favorite! Next time you¹re making you way to the ball game, save some extra time and go to Acme. Oh, I almost forgot to warn you. Typically of most fancy places, the portions aren't big. We got full, but we also ordered an insane amount of food. Still, this said, it's more than worth it. Bring some cash, cause it ain't too cheap. I've got my ticket, now Christ, let me see the menu:
acmechophouse.com Yummy Yummy 1015 Irving St., SF (415) 566-4722My friend Ericka and I decided to do a once a week eating club. We pick places we've both never eaten at, then go and try 'em out. I can't remember who recommended Yummy Yummy to me, I just recall that I was complaining about the lack of good Vietnamese food, since my local favorite closed. I was quite pleased to be sent the Yummy Yummy where the menu has an overwhelming 127 options. Whoa Nelly. Good thing I knew at least one thing that I wanted. I love Pho soup, to the point of ridiculous. I don't know if it's because it's always a bargain, or if it's because you get a plate of varying vegetables to add at your own will. It makes me feel more involved and in control of the soup, which is a nice feeling. Anyways, I got the Beef Noodle Pho Soup (#3), which came with a plate of bean sprouts, jalapenos, lemon wedges and Thai basil ($5.50). It was good, but the broth lacked depth. It needed a little something more. To go with the Pho, we ordered a Rice Plate with Shrimp, Egg Rolls, Shredded Pork and Pork Chop ($7.50). All the meats came next to a mountain of fried rice with egg. It was good, despite one unidentifiable item that tasted yucky. I thought it was some type of fish cake, but I didn't see that on the menu description. Maybe it was. The rest was awesome, especially the pork chop! To balance out the rice dish, a nice light Squid Salad ($7.25). There's nothing like a big plate of cabbage with peanuts and fresh mint, mixed with some squid pieces and fish sauce. It's so light and refreshing. We give the food the thumbs up. The atmosphere was great too. It's a relatively small space, which was packed the whole night. A TV is perched up in the corner of the mirrored dinning room, but I think the sound was turned down. The waiters were super friendly and fast. One even gave me a quick squeeze and a huge grin as we were leaving. We are definitely going back. I think you should go, even if you don't want Pho, there are TONS of other options.
La Taqueria 2889 Mission St., SF (415) 285-7117I feel disloyal... Taqueria Cancun I'm sorry, you've been beat. I never thought the day would come when I would find a better taco, but that day is here. Imagine two thick homemade corn tortillas stuffed and dripping with juicy meats, avocado, cheese and a delicious mellow chunky salsa. It is perfect. These tacos aren't cheap ($3.00 and extra for cheese and avocado), but that's ok because they are HUGE. I mistakenly ordered two my first time. I could barley finish the first one and I had to give the second away to my drooling friend. Let me point out some important factors of La Taqueria 1) Awesome thick and crispy chips with homemade salsa, but it ain¹t free ( $1.10). 2) Only three menu items... tacos, burritos, and quesadillas (also called "Cheese Treats" on the menu). Please go to Cancun for enchiladas, tostadas, tortas, egg scrambles and more. 3) No rice anywhere. None for a side order, none for your burrito. Tough luck. 4) It's always busy, but you can call ahead your order and jump to the front of the line to pick it up.