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The ambiance is great and the bar scene is happening. However, this is a restaurant review website and not Interior Designer or Architectural Digest. The sushi was not good. Meaning it was fresh, but the pieces were super small and thin and the tuna was stringy/fatty. It was not the normal sashimi that you get at a sushi restaurant. It had the white lines in it and it was tough to chew. I got six small pieces that were about 2 cm thick, 2" long, and 1" wide. No spicy Vietnamese chili sauce to go in the Ponzu sauce. Absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS/CHANGES/SUBSTITUTIONS allowed at this venue. You cannot order rolls without rice. They do not have soy bean paper. The 6 pieces of sushi were $10 I think and it was probably the same amount of sushi that is in 2 pieces of Nigri sushi. The jazz club is great, it's convenient, good wine list, but the food, ah, next time I'll pass.....total rip off and not good.
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Yoshi's Jazz House & Japanese Restaurant
Cuisine: Japanese
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Upper Fillmore |
3/3/2008
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This place gets hopping around 8PM! Packed with groups looking for a good time with some reasonable prices. House marg's are just $4.50 and then they have specialty margs with fresh juices but they are a bit sweet for my palate. I had the Pollo sopes and there were three of them with a delicate corn crust, chicken, small pieces of onions, fresh crema and cilantro. They were good and although an appetizer, they were sufficient and reasonably priced at $6.95 (I think). They bring good chips and salsa to the table. The service is friendly and quick. Others in my group had dishes and I tasted the black beans and they were outstanding! Best black beans I've ever had. Portions are large, prices are reasonable, food is fairly authentic (better than Puerto Allegro) and somewhat innovative. This is a good place to go for someones birthday with a group of 8 and you can eat and drink, get rowdy, have easy parking and overall a fun time.
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Velvet Cantina
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
8/13/2007
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After having gone to Pasha the night before, this place was SUCH a disappointment....It's a 3 on a scale of 10. The menu looked great and interesting but the service sucked and the food mediocre at best. We ordered glasses of wine and when I asked her if the Syrah/Grenache ($9.5 I think) as good she said "it's popular." When I asked about the Zin($12) she said "It is the staffs favorite because at night we drink it for free." It took 20 minutes to arrive) and the dishes came before the wine. Gee, trying to rush us? We had the seared scallops (ah, you mean SCALLOP--one cut into four thin slices) $10 (I think) and it was good with a spoon full of mashed potatoes. I tasted sand in my first bite. Then the lamb sirloin with cherries and star cinnamon anise and it was overcooked and gamey ($16) and it came with orzo but no veggies...just 5 small pieces. We had the lamb tartare special but it was overpowered by cipriani onions in balsamic and atop three pieces of crostini ($9). Rip off
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Medjool
Cuisine: Mediterranean Tapas Small Plates
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Mission |
8/12/2007
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Attention all foodies! New owners, new chef, new menu, new wine list, new entertainment, new plates and silverware, and a whole new deal! This place has completely re-vamped itself into this fun and eclectic Middle Eastern restaurant. You will see not only Americans but also some real Middle Easterners and North Africans that appreciate the authenticity of the new menu. They are small plates and you all know how I detest small plates, but it's delish, clean, good spices, and such a refreshing change! We had many plates from the Pasha Sampler (Great for a party of 2), Bastilla (wonderful and delicate), Spinach dish with cilantro (who woulda thunk?), rack of lamb (generous portion), Miner Syrah 2003 ($81 and worth every dollar), the cookies and Moroccan mint tea (Love it!) and some other things....I just don't remember. I danced for a good hour to this Palestinian duo that plays the Arabic top hits.
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Pasha's
Cuisine: Moroccan Middle Eastern Mediterranean
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Polk St./Van Ness |
8/12/2007
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It is such delight to be able to walk to a great restaurant! It had been a couple of years since I went there but the place is still tops in my book. It is prix-fixe as follows: 3 course $70, 4 course $80, 5 course $90. You can pick whatever you want but be warned! 3 courses are plenty for the average person. I started out with the goat cheese tatin with roasted eggplant, artichokes, tomato confit, portobello mushroom and sauce Vierge. Then I had the butter poached lobster on pea ravioli with a carrot-fennel salad with toasted almonds. There was a lot of lobster in the salad (a whole tail) and that with a glass of wine could have made me full. Then for desert I had the Bing cherry and apricot clafouti with red wine poached cherries and a pistachio mousse glace. I could go back to this place every night! This is truly "Eat French and Lose Weight" type of place.
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La Folie
Cuisine: French (New)
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Russian Hill |
8/7/2007
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Not a big fan of "small plates" as the community here knows. The place is supposed to be Mexican-Nuevo and it is indeed...but it's also sort of pricey for what you get. There are no free chips here so take that off your mind to start! Yes, indeed, you must order guac to get chippos....We had the ceviche and it was okay with salmon and jicama. We had the crispy chicken tacos but they were so greasy (can you guys please drain them before serving?) that I felt guilty taking even one bite. We asked for a second glass of wine and got it when we got our check, way after our dinner of three shared plates was over. What else did we have? I forgot. Not terribly memorable except the service was bad, the food mediocre, the crowd was oh-so-marina and it was so noisy we couldn't even talk! We gave up any type of discussion or conversation and had to sit there quietly and just eat and drink. The portions of the small plates are small, prices are up there, and it's just a little too trendy
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Mamacita
Cuisine: Mexican Nuevo Latino
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Marina |
8/7/2007
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Every time I come here it gets better and better, with the exception of the tarte aux ognions. The salad with the beets, mache and house-cured salmon is wonderful. The tarte used to be made in a larger pan and then cut up. It had spring onions, petit lardons, and cheese. This is now done in a small dish (individual size) and you can't really taste any lardons anymore (small pieces of bacon). Overall it is a great place with wonderful dishes, prices are good, the selection of wine by the glass is fantastic and you feel like you are on vacation somewhere just by crossing the bridge. Keep it coming Roland! :)
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Left Bank (Blue Rock Inn)
Cuisine: French (Brasserie)
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Larkspur |
8/7/2007
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To start we had the anchovy stuffed olives fried and placed in a bowl with tough wild arugula greens. ($6.50) Then we had the beet salad (where were the beets?!?!) with chevre (four small dollops) and more of those nasty arugula greens that were tough..wild but tough and not pleasant to eat($9). We also had the beef carpaccio with more of that icky arugula, barely three shavings of asiago and way too much white truffle oil. There were just four pieces and it looked like it was from an eye of round, not a filet which is what is typically used and long and thin.($9) The bread came to the table and it looked good but it was hard and flavorless. The wait staff gave us two butter pats at one end of the table and when asked for more we received nothing. We drank a bottle of Gigondas which was great ($48) and decided to ask for the check. It was not memorable, ingredients lacking, taste not great, prices okay but not for what you get. I will stick to a drink on the patio in the future
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Enrico's
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
7/13/2007
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I went during prime time on a warm Saturday afternoon when all the bikers and their hog mamas are there. I had just come back from the beach for a couple of hours, was parched and hungry. I was TRYING to get a crab sandwich in HMB but traffic was heavy so I dodged outta town to Hwy 84, where I ran into Alice's restaurant. I ordered the tuna melt with cheddar cheese but it was icky. How the heck do ya ruin a tuna melt!?!?? It had "stuffing' of sorts, i.e, celery, something as a filler like corn meal or something. It was dry, flavorless, warm, and really not too swift. I ordered garlic fries after being pressured by the waitstaff and then tried to cancel them "Oh they were already starting to cook" and then they came out 8 minutes later barely cooked. The garlic was thrown on there raw (ewwww) and I had two and an upset stomach all day long (gee, quelle surprise!) it's a cute place with unsavory patrons, usually fine for me, but there was this super drunk guy next to me who kept br
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Alice's Restaurant
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Woodside |
4/28/2007
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I went to Village Pub tonight. The bouche amuse was a chilled cucumber soup with something crunchy in it--not sure what, but good. For my dinner I had the seared tuna with the delicious sauce of olives, capers, beets, caramelized leeks and chickpeas ($35). It also had a hint of mint hidden somewhere. They cook it on one side slowly (like Jacques Pepin) and so the top looks super rare. It was great but unfortunately I sat at the bar and there I was surrounded by two idiots. I also had Pastis 51 ($7) and not too many establishments carry that. It reminded me of my first trip to Paris many moons ago. I bought a bottle of that and drank it on the way back on the plane with my charter air seat mates in coach. Ah, those were the days..I also had (ok, I'm not a lush, okay?) a glass of the Liberty School 2004 Cab ($7) so my total bill with free dessert was $54. I asked for bread but sorry I did because it was dry and flavorless. They had good butter though but crappy bread. Somet
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The Village Pub
Cuisine: American (New)
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Woodside |
4/28/2007
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I had the SF Sandwich today with the crab (where's the crab?) and bay shrimp. It comes on some sourdough bread and then on the side some mayo, horseradish, lettuce and onion. You also get fries with that for $14.95. I have to say that Rickenbachers has a better one with avocado and melted provelone on grilled sour dough and a big handful of crab (no shrimp) but that's just my opinion. You get to sit outside here, listen to music, have the sun on your face, drink a cold Fat Tire and enjoy life. I think Pier 23 is great for gettin' down and funky with the band on a Sunday afternoon and it's okay for a lunch outside. It's not a gastronomical extravaganza and you should go in with a mind-set as such. It's just fun to go there and pretend you are on vacation somewhere ya know? Lighten up a little bit. Get yer groove on. :D
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Pier 23 Cafe
Cuisine: Seafood
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Embarcadero |
4/13/2007
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I had friends that went here and I thought "ah, someday, it's nothing special I guess" and boy was I wrong! I went with my friend Lydia and we shared some plates that were not exactly small plates thankyouverymuch.com! We started with the Spring salad with butter lettuce, pea shoots, fava tenders and herb vinaigrette ($8) which was perfectly dressed. Then we had the Sweet Pea Ravioli with mushroom puree and kohlrabi ($17) which were three large raviolis and filled with the most delightful puree of fresh peas. Fantastic! We got more bread (tasty brioche with a nice herb crust) and ordered our next dish, the Rib Eye. This comes with spinach puree, scalloped celery root, espresso jus and chocolate salt ($24). It's divided into two parts so it's easy to share with the rib eye cut off the bone and fanned out over the celery root. Delightful and filling. We each had two glasses of Cab, a Khroma Alexander Valley '05 for $8. Outstanding!!!!
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Brick Restaurant
Cuisine: American (New)
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Tenderloin |
4/7/2007
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I had the house lasagna recently and it was outstanding! They make it somewhat in a Northern style with a little cream in the tomato sauce. It was very flavorful and enough for a good dinner. The wine by the glass starts as low as $6 a glass. The service is friendly and it has a bar where you can sit and eat and read the paper. My bill for the lasagna and wine was about $19 so it wasn't too outrageous. I liked it and I'll be back. I hadn't been there for about 11 years and that was when they were on the corner of Stockton and Columbus....
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Original U.S. Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
2/28/2007
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I think the city has enough "small plates" restaurants. It's the new price-gouging of the decade! If one more restaurant comes out that is "tapas style" or "we do small plates here to share" I'm going to scream!!! We had small plates, of course, and while they were okay, the service was great and the list of wine by the glass was good. The small plates we had were duck rolls (Fried and a bit too much wonton paper), the Kobe beef skewers (ok, it's just beer-fed beef, so quit trying to trick patrons that this comes all the way from Japan cause it comes from California!) which were small but flavorful, and the crab wontons which were somewhat greasy and fried. The sofas you sit on are awkward as they have a long bench and the pillows are just little things so you slump or sprawl on the sofa or sit at the end with no back rest. The booths are nice but they don't have that if you just go in for apps and a glass of vino. Great DJ. Trendy, small plates, Marina crowd.
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Sutra
Cuisine: Californian Asian
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SoMa |
2/28/2007
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The interior is beautiful with the fabrics, unique ceiling and somewhat rustic decor. The staff is not terribly knowledgeable and they tend to "fake it" by placing claims on their dishes such as "This is the best Tuna Tartare in San Francisco!" um, according to whom? Have you been here? There? Ah, no...righhhhtt...So, tried it anyway, it was pretty good. Came with some taro chips and the tuna was fresh and perfectly seasoned. Had the lamb burger which was so-so. Bun was too big, lamb was not a point (medium rare) as I asked, but rather medium to well. Not enough spices such as sumac or coriander and so it was somewhat bland. The potatoes it came with were way underdone. We had the flights of wine which was fun and a good value. It needs work on service, hostess staff could be better (that's another story) and perhaps be braver on your ingredients. Oh, and staff, please don't presume that your patrons are tourists because chances are they are not.
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Pres A Vi
Cuisine: Eclectic Small Plates
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Presidio |
2/28/2007
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The sardines were too salty. The crab on top of the risotto cake was fabulous and the roasted sweet potatoes with garlic and rosemary were divine!
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Pesce
Cuisine: Italian Seafood
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Polk St./Van Ness |
12/17/2006
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I think it's a beautiful place with the most gorgeous and romantic interior. I normally don't go to hotels for food, but this place is a must if you want to go out for a lovely dinner with a beautiful ambience and delicate food. I started with the dungeness crab napoleon which was stacked high with fresh crab and a hint of citrus. Then I had the filet mignon (you can pick what type of sauce, if any, you want on it) with a green peppercorn sauce. The filet was perfectly cooked to a rare point and very flavorful. I also had the best brussel sprouts I've EVER had! They were baked and had a cripsy crunch to them with some divine lardons (no fat on them) and I have to say they were very memorable! This is a great place for locals and tourists alike. It's also good for guys that want to impress women and charm them! Hint hint to the guys out there!
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Cafe Majestic
Cuisine: American (New)
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Pacific Heights |
11/14/2006
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This place has good fresh fish and a willingness to accept special orders. Parking was a cinch and right on the same block. We sat up at the sushi bar with some Japanese men which seemed like we were somewhere else, not in the Richmond with a bunch of yuppies exclaiming "awesome" over the food. The hamachi sashimi ($3.95) was oust anding. The gyoza were light and crispy ($4.95.) The Bang Bang roll was delish (11.75) and tasty (tempura, unagi and avocado). We ordered a seafood salad which had tuna, hamachi, and some other stuff with greens and a spicy ponzu sauce. The seaweed salad ($4.00) was great and fresh too. The prices I wrote here are estimates and I'm probably wrong but they are really close to that. Over all it's a good place with a down home feel and super fresh fish that melts in your mouth!
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Hana Sushi Bang
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Outer Richmond |
11/8/2006
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It was probably the worst lunch I've ever had in these here parts! I got beef chow fun and it had this goopy sauce (their gravy) poured on top of boiled noodles with a little bit of beef, some tender baby bok choy (best part of it) and it just wasn't that good. Normally the chow fun noodles are in a wok and pick up the smokey flavor and get somewhat brown. These were sticky white noodles that had never seen a wok. I dunno, for $6.75 it's not worth it. Tai Chi has way better chow fun. U-Lee has the best bar none. I won't go back to this place, R&G. I think it's for American's that don't know any better personally.
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R & G Lounge
Cuisine: Chinese
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Chinatown |
10/20/2006
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I love the ambiance. Probably need to go back for a proper lunch or dinner. Had the croque monsignor but the "machine" was broken so I got a fried ham and cheese sandwich on brioche which was good but I was looking forward to that fluffy croque. They comped me on it because I knew the difference. Awfully nice of them. Had a glass of Fife Zin for $10 and it was berry and jammy and yummy. Okay, so I had two, sue me. :)
I'll have to go back. Liked the ambiance, their fessing up to the croque not being right and the service.
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Jeanty At Jacks
Cuisine: French Brasseries
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Downtown |
9/22/2006
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We use this place for catering of our office meetings all the time. It's inconsistent, they have dry sandwiches with barely anything inside, side salads are droopy with way too much dressing and they charge a fortune! Now, I've never been there for lunch in the restaurant so I'll add that as a footnote. But I've had their catered lunches over 50 times in my life. It's boring but has nice presentation and that's about it. The quality is not there and the food is so-so. That's why I've never gone in the restaurant itself because if the to-go or delivery is bad, I can only imagine what the rest of the entrees are like!
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Palio Paninoteca
Cuisine: Italian Deli Coffee Shop
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Downtown |
9/21/2006
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I went in here thinking it was just another sports bar. Boy was I wrong! Don't let the plethora of plasma tv's fool you! Try the Black and Blue salad ($12) which has seared hangar steak and chunks of bleu cheese with a tasty dressing. Have it with a glass of jammy and berry Zin ($9) from Wilson's winery in Napa. They also have the usual bar food like wings and sweet potato fries. Their burger is 1/2 lb. but I'd be embarrassed to order it (I'll leave that to the guys!) for just $12. They also have some interesting things like a tequila lime chicken salad with tortilla strips, corn, black beans and queso fresco ($12). Lots of different beers on tap to accompany that selection. In summation, I like it, it's friendly, nice artwork, friendly people and clean. If you get the tequilla lime chicken salad, ask for some tomatillo salsa on the side--the chef makes it like no other place--totally yummy and just the right amount of picante!
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Woody Zip's
Cuisine: Comfort Food
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North Beach |
9/20/2006
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I had the crispy carnitas taco ($4.35) as I loved one I had in Rosarita one time at La Fonda restaurant. This one was okay. There was a big piece of fat in it which sort of grossed me out. There wasn't too much flavor to the carnitas either. And they are stuffed full and so the shell is crispy but it doesn't close. I like them to be closed and the things like guac on the side. I also had the carne asada taco soft. ($4.25). It tasted fatty and the meat didn't have any asada flavor to it whatsoever. Seemed more boiled tasting. They had big frijoles in it and I wasn't expecting that (prefer not to have that at the office--ahem) so that was strange. The chips are great. The salsa bar is amazing. There are about 8 different ones and they are smokey/chipotle types of salsa which I like. You can be satisfied with just one taco but I don't know which one quite frankly. Neither one was that great.
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Tlaloc
Cuisine: South American Mexican
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Downtown |
8/29/2006
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This is my favorite new pizza! They are right down in the heart of the loin, but so what! They deliver and they have fantastic pizza! They serve it like Blondies on the paper plate but it's cheap and oh so tasty! It's better than Round Table, Pizza Hut, North Beach, Blondies, and Victors. I hate to say it, yes, better than Victors. Anyway, they have a special where you get a garden salad (generous portion), a 2 liter of soda, and a medium pizza for $14.99. It's Napoli style with a thin crust. Now, I still think Nicky's is the best for pizza in town (on Polk Street) but then again, I haven't been to Little Star either. But damn, Irving Pizza is taaaayystttteeeee!
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Irving Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Downtown |
7/27/2006
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This place has pre-cut and measured meat and cheese for their sandwiches. The salads are barely dressed and the lettuce not entirely fresh. Why would someone come here? It is a skimpy deli and if they were in NYC they would have protesters out front saying "Don't eat here!" because their sandwiches have less meat than Lee's and the salads are the same way--skimpy. I don't know, maybe I'm being too picky but I just can't stand deli's that weigh their meat in advance and put them on little pieces of paper and regulate their employees so much and then have the audacity to label themselves a deli, much less put Manhattan in the name.
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Manhattan Hub
Cuisine: American Bistro Deli
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Downtown |
7/27/2006
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I went on a late Sunday afternoon for dinner at the bar. The tacos al pastor with pork and chicken $14 (I asked for just pork) were outstanding! These little surprise chunks of grilled pineapple went well with the savory pork and the redish chili sauce. We got some guacamole and it's a huge bowl for just $8 and had big fresh chunks in it! The prices are more upscale than most Mexican restaurants but the flavors and quality are outstanding. Had a Cadillac margarita too and it was great. Overall, loved the tacos. Had an empanada too but it wasn't good and the crust was hard as a rock. Not sure what they were thinking there. I'll go back for sure after a Giants game cause it was good, the place was fun, the staff accomodating and talkative and gosh darn it, those tacos were memorable!
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Tres Agaves
Cuisine: Mexican
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
7/11/2006
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I really enjoy the lamb sandwich which is cut thin like pastrami and served on grilled rye bread. It's available at the bar. They call it the Lamb Pastrami and it's $14.95 (I think) but worth every penny. I found out about it from a friend and used to order the spicy chicken pizza. Now it's just that lamb sandwich and a good hearty glass of Syrah.
Now the bad part. On Sunday night they gave my boss a crappy table by the kitchen and that was after I had specifically called to say give him a good table and he's a VIP. You've seen Devil Wears Prada right? Yeah, well, now you know what I'm talking about. The bill for his table was $612 before tip for four people. I'm pissed at the hostess with the leastess right now so they are getting a neutral review. Guess who got screamed at for the crappy table right next to the kitchen? Moi!
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Postrio
Cuisine: American (New) Pizza
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Downtown |
7/11/2006
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The best curry I've had even surpassing Little Thai! I walk past this place every day as I get my boss his salad for lunch. I've never stopped and read the menu and never heard anything about it from my co-workers. Turns out their green curry is outstanding and clean, grease free, and very flavorful! It is #20 on the menu and called Gang Keaw. It has green curry with coconut milk, zucchini, eggplant, basil an your choice of chicken, beef, shrimp (I had chicken) for just $7.95. It came with a tasty crisp green salad with a yummy peanut dressing and some jasmine rice. The amounts were perfect and the seasoning/spices excellent. I couldn't believe how tasty it was! Most eggplant is greasy and mushy when you get it in curry, right? This was grilled and then added so it kept its shape and was not greasy. Overall, 8 stars out of 10! Yum Yum Yum!!! Although starting this afternoon a personal trainer is going to kick my a** if I go back to one of these joints in the next six months...
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Banana Best
Cuisine: Thai
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Downtown |
7/5/2006
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Tourist trap, yeah yeah yeah, but ya know what? Where else can you sit outside and enjoy the sun while sipping cold chardonnay and having some tasty lunch while people watching? I had a blast there one Sunday afternoon and throughly enjoyed myself. Service was great for an outdoor table and the pasta I had with paparadelli (wide noodles) with artichokes, spinach, toasted pine nuts and a bleu cheese alfredo was great ($12)! It's not a Michelin restaurant but it's pretty good and the people watching is fun, prices are moderate, and it makes you feel like you are on vacation sitting with all the tourists anyway. What the heck? Go for it!
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Calzone's Pizza Cucina
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
6/22/2006
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I'm not out dining infrequently. I'm patient. I like to experience new places. I think restauranteurs in SF are getting lazy. I ordered a glass of wine from the phony Mexican trying to be Italian waiter with the full on Buon Giornio and fake Italian accent. Then he kept coming back every 30 seconds until we had to say "PLEASE! Leave us alone for five minutes so we can talk!" as it was a first date from match.com. Then we decided to order food and I got some riggatoni with sausage, grilled peppers and a garlic cream sauce. Tasted like dog food. Just like the kind of Alpo that is ground beef that my dog won't eat. I ate some of it and left the rest. His was floating in so much tomato sauce and it was very flavorless. Needless to say I won't be going back there! The wine was good. I had the Cab Franc diamond series that was $10 a glass I think. That's not enough for me to continue going back there. Oh, dinner took 35 minutes to get to table once we had ordered it. Mine was barely warm.
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Cafe Zoetrope
Cuisine: Italian Pizza
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North Beach |
6/22/2006
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I had to wait 23 minutes for my small order of one roll and one order of seaweed salad!!!! Tokyo Slow should be the name, not Tokyo Express. The roll was supposed to be a super dynamite and looked great in the photo. Was to have hamachi, avocado, tobiko, and then quickly fried. It was fried for what must have been five minutes because the fish was dry and tasted really salty and the pieces of roll were about 1/4 inch wide. It was $7.50 and the salad was $4. I was still hungry after that and should not have been. The roll looked disgusting and was not in any way looking like the photo. Had the miso soup that came with it not have been on top and that on the bottom, maybe I could have returned it when I was there at the restaurant. Anyway, it sucked the big one and I won't ever go there again either---same with Sanraku. What is wrong with these places?! And while I'm at it, why are the Chinese buying sushi restaurants faster than you can say Ahi and faking to be Japanese?
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Tokyo Express Restaurant
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Downtown |
6/22/2006
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I just went there and picked up a sandy for my boss. They grill them there and it was loaded with turkey and cheese on sliced sourdough. I picked up their menu and they have really interesting things on there with a Med twist. Dad, Mom and daughter all work there. Natch I said "I saw you on SFSURVEY!" and the daughter nodded and said "oh, hum" and there ya have it! It's that place that is up a few stairs. Reasonably priced. My boss said it was the worst sandwich he's ever had though. Whaddya gonna do???
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Fida's Cafe
Cuisine: Deli
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Downtown |
5/24/2006
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They have the best bbq pork spare ribs! They are gooey, no fat whatsoever, and full of flavor! Not dry at all! The Singapore noodles are spicy and tender with the right amount of curry. The sesame beef is ta die for also! They do delivery and that's all I do. I never go there. If you buy two entrees you get something like fried rice or chow mein free. Not too shabby.
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China House
Cuisine: Chinese
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Fishermans Wharf |
3/29/2006
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A group of nine of us went last night. The pumpkin/taro root curry is really good. The assorted pupu platter was appropriate for a big group consisting of chi gio, kabobs, crab cakes and something else I didn't recognize. Had the beef tenderloin $28 which was beef cubes and pretty flavorless. They normally charge a corkage if you bring your own wine but if you then buy a bottle from them they waive the charge. That's nice. I like this place for a date or for entertaining guests from out of town. But I really like my authentic Vietnamese food at Anh Hong the most. Gotta say they have the best when it comes to grilled chicken and grilled pork.
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Le Colonial
Cuisine: French (New) Vietnamese
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Downtown |
3/21/2006
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I went there last night because my friend is renting the restaurant out for a private event. We tried the house specialty, the zucchini carpaccio which was divine! I'll be stealing that recipe for sure! It is julliened and fried quickly in olive oil for about 2 minutes and some toasted shaved almonds and shaved peccorino added. $8.95 and it's good for 2 people. Then I had the complimentary bruschetta which was good with lots of garlic, fresh tomatoes, basil and olive oil. Not dried out at all. For my entree I had the Tortellini ($13.75) which was baked meat filled with some proscuitto and then cheese melted on top. Just divine! I ate the whole thing because it was so darn good! It's super comfort food so if you are on a diet, it's probably not a good choice. But if you are hungry, cold, tired and cranky, wow! It's the ticket. I was all of those but not cranky thank goodness. I had a glass of wine ($7.75) which was a syrah blend and it was lovely. Got a free glass too which I like!
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Jackson Fillmore
Cuisine: Italian
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Upper Fillmore |
3/16/2006
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For delivery it's okay. I ordered the bbq chicken Caesar salad, wings and stuffed poppers. The salad was pretty good with lots of chicken. The wings I ordered Hot but they were sort of mild/hot. They were pretty good. I had it delivered to North Star Cafe so with that being said, it's a pretty good deal. I thought the poppers were not that great but my friend loved them!
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Jake's Steaks
Cuisine: Cheese Steaks
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Marina |
3/14/2006
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I was pleasantly surprised here!! I organized a big group of singles for Christmas Eve here and the food was excellent, served hot all at once, and the sauces were light and flavorful. Portions were very generous (I took half of my filet home) and really enjoyed the flavors of the grill. The dessert was a little bit heavy for my tastes. I don't want a big hunk of chocolate on my plate with a big dollop of whipping cream. I would rather have a tarte tatin (my weakness) or a tarte of berries or even a scoop of sorbet with some fresh berries and perhaps a little creme on the side. The food for the entree was good though and the price per person was reasonable. I would go back happily and really enjoyed my whole experience there.
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Eastside West
Cuisine: Californian Seafood
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Cow Hollow |
3/14/2006
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I had the unfortunate experience of attending a holiday event here. There were potato skins, really mushy and icky wings, and some other stuff. I just couldn't believe they could screw up wings so badly. The Tyson's frozen ones are supreme compared to this place. It's awful, smelly and icky. I shall never return.
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Elephant & Castle Pub & Restaurant
Cuisine: American Asian Indian
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Downtown |
3/14/2006
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Forget the attitude and go to the chain restaurant. It's a good value and it's quick and easy when you are hungry and downtown. I have the small BBQ Chix pizza with the small Caesar salad to go with it for $10.50. Their house wine is Mondavi for $6 bucks a glass. You can get out of there for under $20 which is not possible at most restaurants downtown. I sit up at the bar and it's always been good service. I would never ever go there with a big group and wait with one of those buzzers for a table. Forget it! But I would do the bar or one of the bar tables and it's a good value Oh, my friend Susanne, she ate one of the western salads entirely one night! I was shocked! She's a feed-bager when she eats, but this was wild! I tell ya what, those things are good for a group of four! And I always have left over 1/2 pizza which is pretty good. Good value.
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Cheesecake Factory, The
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Dessert
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Downtown |
3/14/2006
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They do a good job on fine glasses of wine and good steak. The ahi tuna tartare is not ahi, it's albacore but ahi is written on the menu. It's a steak and wine place and let's just leave it at that. My friends go there on trade so I go around once every two months. I've probably been there 20 times so I now know what to order. The bar staff is super friendly so it makes it a good place to go if your head is hanging low and you want a dry martini.
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Brazenhead
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Steakhouse
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Marina |
3/14/2006
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Yeah yeah yeah, I know I'm gonna get flack for this, but I thought it was a rip-off, the croque mon was tough and had very little ham and cheese and the service was non existent. Paying $8.00 or whatever it was for the piece of bread cooked ages ago with some cheese on it with a little bit of ham reheated in a bakers oven like Marios or Golden Boy isn't my idea of lunch. I'd rather go to Cafe Claude and have a proper one with a little salad. Oh, the pickle they gave me was a dried up carrot that was supposedly pickled. I had a glass of wine (had to go to another counter for that after they screamed my name out) and had to bus my own table!!!! Yes! No joke! You have to pick up your dishes and put them in the plastic bins, separating your dishes, forks, and stuff. Total was $18.80 (I foolishly gave a $2 tip) because I paid at the register and I had no idea that I had to get my wine and bus my own table. I love Bar Tartine and wanted to buy their bread which is sold after 4PM here
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Tartine Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Mission |
3/14/2006
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I like the pizza ingredients there but the crust needs improvement. They have interersting combinations of ingredients which is a draw. Also they have the mini size pizzas too which are good because then you don't eat too much pizza. Anyway, I would order delivery from there but only if they worked on their crust. Seems like they are premade and then frozen/thawed. Kinda stiff, ends are not even edible.
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Extreme Pizza
Cuisine: pizza
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Cow Hollow |
2/22/2006
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Perry Butler now owns this joint. He's done a lot thus far in terms of changing the menu, getting rid of the loser manager, and cleaning up the exterior of the building (flowers and trees). I recently had lunch outside and had the steak sandwich on foccacia. I liked it. It came with a large portion of baby greens with a light dressing. The dressing was pretty good but too thick for those types of greens. Tends to glob up. It was refreshing to sit outside though and have better food than Prego and better selections overall. I give it ** and will plan on returning once he has completed his interior renovation and so forth.
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2000 Union
Cuisine: Italian
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Cow Hollow |
2/17/2006
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I went today and had the cold rice noodle bowl with broiled pork, cha gio and it was okay. The pork at Anh Hong is better and there were no greens given to me with the cha gio. Also, the cha gio was preparred too far in advance and didn't have the good ingredients that I expect. The value is pretty good ($6.30) so for lunch, it's okay. It's mostly non-Vietnamese at this restaurant which is surprising to me. Since I've only had the one dish, I'm giving it a neutral. They seem to have an impressive dinner menu and perhaps sometime I will come back and try some of the other options.
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Bodega Bistro
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
2/17/2006
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I like the fact that they use quality meats and organic vegetables. The flavors are interesting and there is great care with each dish that came out from the kitchen. The decor in the bar is lovely with dim lighting and interesting c***tails. The wines by the glass are extensive and everyone should have an option of having something they like at this place. My favorites were the arugula salad with persimmons and pomegranates, the Prather Ranch beef kabobs and of course, the Bastilla!
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Aziza
Cuisine: Moroccan
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Outer Richmond |
2/17/2006
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This is my new favorite restaurant in the entire city! I started out with bread from their bakery with the creamy Oregon butter that was divine. Had a glass of the Chateaux Margaux which was equally delightful! Then a salad with watercress, thinly sliced pears, pieces of endive, lightly carmelized walnuts and some creamy whipped gorgonzola with small roasted beets. Then the lamb chops with the braised lamb shoulder with a hint of orange rind which was great. The mashed potatoes had a little touch of tarragon (one of my favs) and the demi glace was light and semi translucent, as it should be. Of course I had another glass of wine! I skipped dessert but it looked amazing. Between the lemon tarte and the cheese platter, I tell you, I would be in heaven for sure. Total bill $60 incl tip. The service at the counter, where I sat, was good and not overly attentive. The dishes and utensils were changed throughout the meal. I love this place! Especially since they have a counter. *** 1/2
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Bar Tartine
Cuisine: American (New) French
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Mission |
2/17/2006
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They used to have the hottest delivery guys and the best pizza. Now they have soggy pizza with cold toppings and old men for delivery guys. Their prices are still quite high and do not balance out with the quality of the pizza. I would rather have Za pizza if I were to have a delivery. At least I know it's going to be good. If I'm in North Beach, I'd go to Golden Boy or to Sodini's. NB isn't what it used to be and I think it's due to lack of quality control ---read too many outlets!
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North Beach Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Embarcadero |
2/12/2006
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The last review I did here was in 2006. Today I am going back and will update it afterwards.
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Fillmore Grill
Cuisine: American
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Pacific Heights |
2/12/2006
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I went with four friends to this friendly establishment. It's a nice date place because the music and ambiance are inviting. I was surprised that we got so much for the final bill. We were all stuffed and practically forced the remaining items down because they were SOOOO good. This place has interesting rolls that they specialize in like the salmon roll with cooked salmon, avocado and something else. I think it's Pete's roll. Good selection of sake by the glass. We had to ask several times for certain things but otherwise it was good service too. I'd go back again with another date. Who wants to go out on a date with me? :)
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Sushi Groove
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Russian Hill |
12/6/2005
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The food is good and rustica but the service is just rustica. Our server arrived at the table after 15 minutes and stated only "We are out of the Porchetta tonight and in it's place we are offering roasted quail." There was a minute of silence and I said "I'd like a glass of the Pollo Rosso please ($6.75) and my friend would like the Q Hill Cab ($9.00)." We started out with the grilled sardine crostini ($8.50)which was okay but tasted as though it was prepared way in advance. Then we got the grilled calamari salad on a warm white bean salad ($8.75) and did not receive a clean plate in between. We split the greens with a light sherry vinaigrette ($7.00) and I had the ravioli with Bellwether sheeps milk mixed with dandelion greens, chard and sage ($13)in a sage butter. That was delicious! My friend had the roasted quail ($23) which was so-so according to her. We split the warm apple & quince tart ($11) but no candle appeared on it as I had requested for her birthday. 7 out of 10.
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Delfina
Cuisine: Italian
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Mission |
10/19/2005
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Um, did anybody tell them that you can buy frozen pot stickers at Costco? Yeah, I didn't think so....This place is about as Americanized Dim Sum as you can get! The crab claws and shu mai are very mediocre and the really good things are not to be found at this place. The prices are really high compared to Ton Kiang and it's just so darn bland. They need more ginger and lemon grass in their mixtures. They need to understand that the whities would like the different and unusual dishes, not just the Asian crowd. In short, it's so-so but if you have a friend that has never had Dim Sum before, I guess it's okay.
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Yank Sing
Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum
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Embarcadero |
10/18/2005
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One of the owner was my neighbor for many years! He and his friend would sit there and drink beer and think about how they were going to make this restaurant work. They both had years of experience with the major hotels in the city's banquet department. From that experience, they pulled together not only an outstanding concept, but also food that is like home-cooking and fast. This place has healthy food from freshly baked turkey to outstanding Caesar salads. The only thing I don't like is no option for table service. I like to be served when dining out but I guess if you are used to never cooking it won't phase you in the least. In summation, for under $10 bucks, you get the Thanksgiving dinner without the annoying relatives.
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Pluto's Fresh Food for a Hungry Universe
Cuisine: American salads
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Inner Sunset |
10/18/2005
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I like this place if I want some good food at bargain bank prices. You can go in there starving and for $3.65 get a rice lunch plate with over 35 choices. I dare you to eat it all because there is so much! There are many good things here and it's just good basic Chinese food but with tasty spices and most importantly seasoned woks so you get that smoky taste. The place is packed with city hall folks at lunch time so you should be prepared to wait a few minutes. Or, ask for it to go and only wait about 5 minutes. They have all the basics plus many Hunan dishes. Like I said, it's super cheap and filling and a good find in this expensive city!
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Gourmet Carousel
Cuisine: Chinese
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Polk St./Van Ness |
10/18/2005
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Three of us went and did we do the right thing--shared all of the dishes! It was really good and the service outstanding! We started out with a carafe of the Syrah (wow! for $20) and each of us had the romaine and chicory salad with lemon and olive oil($5) that was huge. Then the Funghi pizza ($13.50) which was huge and has mushrooms, grana padano, garlic, oregano, parsley and olive oil. The crust is something you dream about and I've probably told 8 people how delightful it was since! We then split the Scialatielli (like spaghetti) with cherry tomatoes, capers, black olives and garlic ($13) which was perfectly al dente and flavorful. Then orecchiette (pasta that is from Bari that is called small pigs ears) with octopus, fresh borlotti beans, chiles and mint ($8) which was rich and wonderful. We split the apple and walnut crostata with caramel gelato and cherry coulis ($7), coffee and milk chocolate semifreddo ($7) and chocolate & orange napoleon ($7). All were fabulous! 10 stars!!!
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A16
Cuisine: Italian Wine Bar
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Marina |
10/14/2005
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I like the guy that works there on Saturday afteroon because he plays this heavy metal from his Ipod which facinates me. Other than that, the pizza is not living up to the old GB standards. The pesto barely has garlic in it, the combo had so much sauce that the ingredients slid off when you cut it. The service was great and the prices are outstanding. But I'd like them to use a little more care when making the pizza instead of just trying to turn it out as fast as they possibly could. I forgive them also because the last time I went it was pub crawl in North Beach so maybe they were jamming too hard. I've been going there for 27 years though so I would hope that it would be consistent. I'd love to buy that place cause they have the formula down and are probably making a mint!
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Golden Boy Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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North Beach |
10/11/2005
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Went there tonight (second time) and it was pretty good but the service was really less than good. I'm becoming a stickler on service these days! I guess because if I go out and order a plate of spinach salad for $8 and a glass of wine for $7, I expect a knife, fork and napkin. Maybe refill on the glass of water. It took gosh, an horu and 45 mins. for a spinach salad and glass of wine because of service. The owner was behind the bar with his wife (I think) and didn't really realize the young server was swimming over her head. The food was great. The salad comes with some berry dressing and chunks of goat cheese flavored with something. I just think that with terrible service the food can get spoiled.
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Nova
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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SoMa |
10/1/2005
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We shared everything at this delightfully charming restaurant. We started out with the warm spinach salad ($10) which had grilled pears and warm fresh polenta croutons. The spinach was almost cooked but it was delicious nonetheless. Then we had the polenta scuffle ($12) which was outstanding! It's dreamy and warm with the right amount of everything. I asked the manager for one of those pieces of cheesy bread because all the other reviewers here said they were good. They brought an order out for free. They were outstanding! Parmesan and hot little nuggets of gold! Then we had the braised short rib ($21) which was huge. The sauce was strained (thank you!) and light. We ordered green beans sauteed in garlic and butter ($4) which were young and crispy. They had fried plantains too but after the polenta and bread I was being good. We didn't have dessert but it looked great with fried bananas with caramel. The food was so good and satisfying. Had wine with meal but cocktails looked good.
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Mangarosa Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian Brazilian
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North Beach |
9/24/2005
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That pulled pork sandwich is soooooo good. It's something you can just crave. It's on the same bun that they use for their stellar burgers. They put coleslaw on it but I always ask for it on the side. I don't like mixing textures like that. Anyway, sooooo tasty you have to get one! They also give free refills on soda and iced tea which is cool. Nice tables outside. Parking is always easy there. I seem to be able to just pull right in. Here's a trick, the lot where Video Magic is (Pacific) is always empty during the day since they went out of business!
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The Bell Tower
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Polk St./Van Ness |
9/15/2005
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I go here frequently and enjoy real Vietnamese food at low low prices! They always give me the hot water with the dry papers so maybe it's a matter of who the server is that night! They give you a lot of greens with the food such as chia gio (imperial rolls). The imperial rolls are how they should be-small and neat. Their grilled pork pieces are delish and have that good grilled smoky taste. $5 corkage fee for wine but they do have other glasses of wine that are a cut above most little holes in the wall. Overall, it's a tremendous value and a great place to take out-of-towners for an Asian meal but in a good price range. Most of the patrons are Vietnamese and on Sunday night, you see all the family together at the table: grandparents, siblings, kids, etc.
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Anh Hong Saigon
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
9/15/2005
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Had the Jack LaLaine salad and it was packed with seafood! It comes with lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes, shrimp and lots of crab! The dressing is a very light blue cheese vinaigrette so you don't feel like it's heavy and overpowering the seafood. The cost of the salad is $14.75 which is pretty good considering that you could take half home. I picked out all the seafood and left salad in the bowl but I bet two people could split this and have maybe another appetizer to split and call it a good lunch! Great place if you are in Union Square holiday shopping. But ah, stick with the salad and lobster ravioli. The seafood cannelloni is weird. It's like a mushy mess with no defined flavors and has the consistency of baby food. I had that on a separate occasion. Anyway, stick with the salad and you are good to go!
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John's Grill
Cuisine: Steakhouse
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Downtown |
9/13/2005
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This was the first time I ordered pizza from them. I got a pepperoni/sausage pizza. It was kind of greasy but what do you expect with those two toppings, you know? I like the crust because it's thin and they don't pile too much sauce on it. The delivery took only 35 minutes which is super fast. The price was lower than Round Table with the coupon that came in the ValuePak. I would order from them again but the next time I'll check out their wings and order a specialty pizza.
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Blue Moon Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Marina |
9/6/2005
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There are three reasons that I would not go back to this place. First, the service was sooo slow and it's uncomfortable to sit at a table for 25 minutes before you get your glass of wine. The bread came and it was two pieces floating in this big basket (there were two of us). The food was drenched in sauce. The goat cheese salad was good but not the reason I would return. Parking was difficult and there are no close-by lots. I woke up the next day very ill and had just the lamb, salad, one glass of wine and that's it. I had made my lunch at home. Overall the slow service, heavy sauces on the meat and the scarce bread at the table made for an uncomfortable evening. I go out to about 8 restaurants a week from TuLan to Michael Mina and pay for my meals. I expect to have good service, clean and tasty food, and no hassles. I'm in the business of taking groups to restaurants and regularly check them out to make sure standards are met. This place needs some work.
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La Provence
Cuisine: French
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Mission |
9/6/2005
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October 2005 Review:
I went back and heck, I'm not even a winner for the certificate! Goes to show you that the duck is worth the repeat visit as is the friendly service. I chatted with Mattin the cute chef/owner when I went in and told him "I'm back!" and referred to SF Survey. The dishes were all exceptional and the bill was reasonable ($58 for two of us including 2 glasses of wine). It's worth noting that for $7.75 you get 3 beautifully plump scallops with avocado and nowhere in town can you get that kind of deal!
July 2005 Review:
The different flavors in each dish are wonderful and intense. The duck is outstanding and cooked to the perfect point of medium rare. The carmelized apples in that dish are dreamy. I liked the pasilla pepper stuffed with the salt cod very much as well. Overall a good value, caring chef that makes sure his dishes are served hot and not mass produced. The table ooohed and ahhhed over many things. Well done!
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Iluna Basque
Cuisine: French Spanish
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North Beach |
8/4/2005
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I liked this place. It's charming and perfect for a first date, dinner with the parents or just dinner with friends. There is a prix-fixe menu for just $24 that is available from 4:30PM to 5:30PM. You get your choice of appetizers (zuppa del giorno, green salad, baby spinach salad,) main course (salmon filet, lamb stew, bow tie pasta, chicken paillard) and dessert. I have not tried that though. What I have tried is the carpaccio with argula ($12,) the black ink risotto with scallops and lobster bisque ($14,) braised short ribs with mashed potatoes ($21,) and the scaloppine al limone ($16.) I've liked everything I've had there. The wine is very reasonable (who else has bottles at $24/bottle???) and glasses of wine are in the $7-8-$9 range. Not too bad. The waiter is a little bit on the over-the-top-I'm-Italian-don't-you-want-me but he's friendly all the same. The owner is super nice and makes everyone feel welcome and remembers your name. I strongly recommend it!!!
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Capannina
Cuisine: Italian
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Cow Hollow |
6/1/2005
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Love the tacos at Can-Cun on Mission! The carnitas and steak tacos are just wonderful. Salsa is pungent and smoky. Agua Frescas are refreshing!
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Taqueria Cancun
Cuisine: Mexican
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Downtown |
5/26/2005
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This place has new managment and they have really made some nice changes.
For starters, they now have white table cloths with plastic covers and real roses on the tables.
They changed their menu slightly and added about .75 cents to most dishes. However, it's still the cheapest thing in town.
They make their own chips now and they are fantastic! Light and fluffy with a crunch.
I normally have chorizo and huevos and they now use beef chorizo which is not as greasy and easier on the digestive system. Love it! ($5.75)
The guacamole ($1.25) has about 1.5 avocados in it and it's chopped up with chopped tomatoes. Really tasty.
The corn tortillas are still made by hand and are still light and fluffy and very flavorful.
This is by far, the best Mexican restaurant for breakfast or taquitos.
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New Central Cafe
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
5/18/2005
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I was surprised to get a bill for $71 for two people, let's start there. We had the clear chicken soup, some rice, the three's company dish with squid, scallops and prawns, and some beef dish with spinach that was really over cooked. I had two glasses of wine because I'm a lush but they were only $7.50 each! I thought the bill was outrageous. The food was okay but we cleaned up everything and were still hungry. Now, I order Thai from the local corner place and it's one third of the price, fresher ingredients with more bang in the spice department and it's just plain better. This place has gone down hill and is not as good as it used to be. Sorry! I know I'm offending dozens of young cool hippie kids but that's the way it goes baby! Over priced, waaaay over cooked, under spiced, too saucy, crappy parking in that neighborhood and terrible service.Took them 10 minutes to come the table for the glass of wine!
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Thep Phanom Thai Cuisine
Cuisine: Thai
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Lower Haight |
5/18/2005
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What a scene that place can be! I was surprised to see it filled with young hip professionals because outside there are at least four homeless derelicts sleeping on the street (per side/block.) I had the stuffed peppers which were okay but were floating in olive oil. Then had the lamb with the watercress salad side. The lamb was okay but tough and didn't really taste grilled, rather broiled. It was supposed to be sirloin but the pieces were a challenge to cut. The sangria is supposed to be fabulous but it was lukewarm and so-so in my book. They unfortunately sat me by the service station which is my least favorite place in a restaurant (and we got there at 6:30 when it was empty) and that sort of set me out on a bad foot. Maybe they didn't know who I was!?!? Ha! Anyway, it was okay but certainly not deserving of the Zagat rating that they received. The service was okay as well but not fabulous. I had to wait 10 minutes for my sangria #2 and was done with dinner by then.
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Ramblas
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Mission |
5/18/2005
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I was one of the lucky winners to receive the free dinner voucher. I took my friend Lydia and we ate and ate and still had leftovers with that certificate! We started out with the lucious halibut with pineapple and curry. Tasty! Then had the fried artichoke salad with Humbolt Fog goat cheese. The artichokes weren't my favorite and I love artichokes. For dinner we had the panfried seabass with blueberry balsamic glaze which was delicate. Also the pork loin with red chard which sort of tasted and looked boiled. Sides were spinach and yukon gold potatoes. They were great. For dessert he brought us some fudge brownie with raspberry sauce which was great. We were so full though at that point. The wine by the glass is reasonable and a good pour. Don't miss out on the disco bathroom when you go there! I always am checking that out because you see how clean a place can be by the bathroom sometimes. Overall David gave great service and the food was good.
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Triptych
Cuisine: Fusion
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SoMa |
5/18/2005
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The food is pretty good but not outstanding. The best deal is validated parking and happy hour between 3:30 and 6:30 which gives you half priced appetizers and drinks. Gotta like that! The place has the soybean wrappers too which I like and they don't throw a fuss when you ask for no rice.
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Sushi Rock
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Polk St./Van Ness |
4/30/2005
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I hadn't been there in about five years and nothing changed including the servers and prices. We had a late lunch and made it a dinner. It was $9.20 a person and they kept bringing dishes out and the table was crowded! We got imperial rolls, pork kebab which is really wonderful pieces of grilled meat you dip in fish sauce, chicken/coconut soup with vegetables, Chicken in a sauce with onions, rice, salad with lettuce, beef, and some other stuff. It was really good, a ton of food and a ton of left overs. Scary neighborhood.
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Tu Lan
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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SoMa |
4/30/2005
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Bring on the burger baby! Get it on the baguette and you will have one tasty treat! I like to eat just half and take the other half home. It's enough and you get a nice treat for the next day. The frites are good because they are shoestring, which I like.
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Balboa Cafe
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Hamburgers Brunch
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Cow Hollow |
4/30/2005
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Talk about a time warp! I could only remember Robert chasing me around the back when I went to this place! It's tough to get a reservation for the date and time you want so be flexible. It is delightful and very good but the portions are small. The pastas are just as delicate as could be and the tastes are exquisite. One of my new favorites except for the haunting memories of Robert!
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Quince
Cuisine: Italian
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Pacific Heights |
4/30/2005
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This place opened in October and it took months to get the reviews read and the people flocking to Myth. Each dish is crafted with care and each bite explodes in your mouth. My favorite was the seared sea scallops with morrels. I also tried the tuna tartare, cold asparagus soup with creme fraiche, lemon and lobster, oysters on the half shell, the asparagus salad with white and green asparagus, and the risotto with vegetables. The entrees are available in half order or full order. Pretty reasonable considering the portions/quality. I've heard from people that I've sent here recently (Jan 2006) that the scallops were tasting metalic and actually called the restaurant to let them know so avoid the scallops until they fix this. Also, they are now taking the place next door and will be opening up Myth Cafe shortly. I'm probably not going to dine there for lunch because I'm not around there then but it's a good idea.
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MYTH
Cuisine: French Californian
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Downtown |
4/30/2005
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Feel like traveling somewhere exotic? Al-Masri is the ticket! Great food, interesting and beautiful atmosphere, and friendly staff. The food is Egyptian and is comprised of different salads and grilled meats. Great for those on the South Beach Diet. Spices are pronounced and vegetables are fresh and crisp. Try the cucumber/yogurt side with some pita bread or lamb kabob. The grilled eggplant is superb. Belly dancing is hot. Gorgeous restrooms with gold leaf painting and artwork. 7 out of 10.
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Al Masri Egyptian Restaurant
Cuisine: Egyptian Middle Eastern
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Outer Richmond |
1/6/2005
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I won't go back again. Service terribly slow. Food was about a 5 on a scale of 1-10. Expensive entrees (avg. $26) and appy's (avg. $14). Drinks filled with ice and weak. Food mediocre. Bill for two with two apps, two entrees and a drink each was $104, not incl. tip. We split scallop app and tartare app. Then friend had mahi-mahi w/mac crust and beurre blanc. Sauce had no lemon and NO mac nuts. Had to request side of sauce and nuts. My duck was cooked medium instead of medium rare. Bad service.
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Trader Vic's
Cuisine: Polynesian
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Civic Center |
1/5/2005
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Big crowd to get into this joint. I liked the crust because it's cooked in a wood oven and it's thin. It's not that "tasty" insofar as flavor from the ingredients though. They could use much better sausage and more interesting toppings. We had the mushroom/sausage and split a caesar. Service was expeditious once you sat down. About a 45 min. wait on the weekends. I kind of prefer other pizza places if I'm going to be bad. In short-->tourist trap!!
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Tommaso's
Cuisine: Italian Pizza
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North Beach |
12/20/2004
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Best sole I've ever had! Wrapped in a cabbage leaf and delicately steamed with lemongrass and ginger. Infused with chili and coconut milk. Absolutly breathtaking and I cleaned every drop of sauce in the bowl! Delicious homemade sweet potato buttermilk biscuits. Had the peanut crusted prawn appetizer too which was wonderful. The caesar salad was very tasty, almost as good as mine. Had a nice pungent taste of anchovies which I liked. Lobster/cream cheese wonton with spicy sweet chili sauce good!
Went again and had the Kati Dragon Roll (or whatever it's called) and it was pretty good but too big of pieces to eat it gracefully. The wine list there is truly amazing.
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Cafe Kati
Cuisine: Asian Californian Fusion
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Japantown |
12/15/2004
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You want the best steak in town? Go to Bobo's. They have the most aged steak in town that has the most incredible flavor. The crab is outstanding as well. If you like a good steak though, this is the place! Although they have another restaurant at the Wharf, don't be fooled. This is not strictly a tourist trap. If you have friends in from out of town and someone wants seafood and someone wants steak, badda boom, badda bang! Boboquivari's is da place to go!
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Boboquivari's
Cuisine: Steakhouse Crab Seafood
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Marina |
11/7/2004
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Great deal if you are starving and want some tasty hot hunan food delivered expeditiously to your home. For $20 bucks you get enough food for days. They have, in my opinion, the best General's Chicken there is in town. Really gooey and spicy and super tasty. I've been going to this place since I was 12 and it just keeps getting better. The veggies are crisp and fresh. The sauces are not overpowering. Portions are hearty and makes good leftovers.
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Tai Chi Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese
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Polk St./Van Ness |
11/7/2004
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Want a 3-D effect? Dinner Drinks and Dancing. Add some S's in there and you have quite an evening! Food plates are interesting, reasonable and heck, it's just downright fun. Go there to get warmed up before Doc's Clock. I think it's probably one of the only places you can go to with a bar scene, dancing, and drinks. My only problem is the location. It's right near all that construction at Duboce and Mission. Parking isn't terribly difficult but can be sketchy if you park near the empty lots.
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levende lounge
Cuisine: american (new) fusion brunch
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Mission |
11/6/2004
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This place just keeps getting better and better everytime I go! The sushi is fresh, the creative rolls are delightful, the service is fantastic at the sushi bar and over all, a good value! I really enjoy going here because it's convenient, the rolls are different and somewhat complex, they are open to requests and things are done on an as-ordered basis. They head chef does creative work with the plate designs too and really goes all out to make it interesting. They are works of art when he is done with them. Love this place!
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Wasabi & Ginger
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Cow Hollow |
11/6/2004
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Oh how I used to love to go there for the saffron seafood risotto with some glasses of wine....sigh...nothing like it after a good hearty day of shopping. Alas, the saffron-like risotto doesn't cut it. The seafood is skimpy. The bartenders are openly gay (no flirting for the straight girl here) and overall, it's like eat and get out! Before you buy another glass of $11 wine. My risotto is just as good-if not better and I use real saffron, umkay? If you are starving and downtown, try Blondies!
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Kuleto's
Cuisine: Italian
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Downtown |
11/6/2004
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My third time there was better than the first two times. I went with a friend of mine and we got some free stuff, so of course, it was better! We drank some Qupe Syrah which was outstanding. Had every type of scallop that they make. Did the dish with the chef's bouche amuse which was tasty and had the tuna tartare which is exactly the same as Aqua's classic tartare, which Michael and George perfected together. We sat at one of the little round bar tables and I have to say, it's refreshing to sit there instead of the bar. However, we were sadly neglected and had an empty wine glass for 15 minutes and had to hail a server down to assist us. The check took equally as long so that was uncomfortable. Nothing like sitting at an empty table with empty glasses and a faraway look for 15 minutes in a place that is supposed to be top in service. Overall, the food was better this time around, the free stuff helped and the tuna tartare is really good like it was at Aqua.
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Michael Mina Restaurant
Cuisine: American (New)
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Downtown |
11/6/2004
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Bored on a Sunday at 10PM? Go there and you will see crazy Russians dancing on the bar, music blaring and people standing around smoking outside in the front. If you aren't invited there, you won't get in on a Sunday. It's like the secret place for the mafia. The food? It's interesting and sort of upper Baltic with ground spicy lamb, rice pilafs, etc. Chef Nikkos tries to do his spin on euroasian but the true core here is the spicy lamb.
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On Jackson
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Mediterranean
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Nob Hill |
11/6/2004
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My favorite place for Dim Sum! I love the brocoli rapini with black beans, the dumplings and the quickness in which the little trays come out. It's a crowded place so get there early to get a table. It's popular with the Asians and Whitey's alike. There's another Dim Sum place out in South San Francisco which I haven't been to that is supposed to be the runner up for this place. This has to be the best for Dim Sum though and it's reasonably priced.
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Ton Kiang
Cuisine: Dim Sum Chinese
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Outer Richmond |
11/6/2004
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The chef/owner used to be a chef for Clinton in the White House.
This place is closed and it's now Campinini and fabulous! Really reasonable prices and very interesting. The wine selection from Italy makes dining out affordable. We had the Sangiovese from Tuscany and it was delightful at $24. I had the risotto which was wonderful, the carpaccio which I won't share again because it's too good, and the veal scallopine with capers and lemon. Waiting for the new restaurant to be posted.
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Merenda
Cuisine: Italian
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Cow Hollow |
11/6/2004
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Fun atmosphere. I had the baked frommage D'Affinois with fingerling potatos and roasted garlic. Deeeelightfully yummy. Split a spinach salad with friend pancetta, sweet red onions and toasted hazelnuts. Split the chicken with madras curry coating but it had five spice in it too. I know because I was able to recreate it at home! Tasted very similar! Nice place for a date. Friendly wait staff.
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Foreign Cinema
Cuisine: Californian Mediterranean
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Mission |
11/4/2004
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I agree with SF Miss. Good food, price is perfect and the flavour is outstanding. Not only that, they are lickety split fast with deliveries. Servings are huge. I tell you what, for $30 bucks, you can feed one person for five nights, or, 3 for two nights or 2 for three nights. It's a lot of food. Try the mixed seafood with chili, basils and lemon grass. The other favorite of mine is the grilled NY strip with asparagus, tiny corn and straw mushrooms. I like it a lot! (Jim Carrey voice in D&D)
Oh, and after going to Thep Phem the other day, this place is far better than that place so if you are looking for a comparison, there you have it. The flavors are true, they are not afraid of spices, the fish and meats are not overcooked, the soups are pungent and full of flavor and over all,really great and good value!
My favorite is the NY Steak with veggies, the hot and sour chicken soup, the fried tofu with peanut sauce and spinach and the quick delivery service!
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Little Thai Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Polk St./Van Ness |
11/4/2004
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It's cold and you are hungry for something that is going to quench that chinese craving. This is the spot. Authentic hunan food with some spice, smoke and fresh veggies. I recommend Marty's special with the chicken, smoked ham and scallops. While I'm suggestng dishes, everyone seems to love the Diana appetizer but really, it's just ground round in a tortilla fried and served with cabbage, umkay? Yuk. Go for the good stuff--the specials! Lunch special is $6.25.
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Hunan
Cuisine: Chinese
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Downtown |
11/4/2004
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Order the crepe with the crawfish and asparagus. It's packed with both and not skimpy by any stretch. I had that and split the salad with the chevre souffle on top. One normally wouldn't think that works together but it actually did. This place is one of the few restaurants that serves Evian in the bottle and it's hereby duly noted that I appreciate that "nicety" in an establishment.
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Cafe Claude
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
11/4/2004
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Updated 9-26-05
I went for breakfast but the eggs were dry, the tortillas weren't as good as New Central. The service was one star out of four. I dunno, I probably won't go back... :(
Tasty breakfast. This is the place to go when you are ravenous and want a solid breakfast with a bloody mary and it's 1 in the afternoon. Best Machaca around! Somewhat pricey for a breakfast. I'm not used to paying $11.50 for my breakfast. But it's worth it.
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Puerto Alegre
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
11/4/2004
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Sadly George and Aabi have closed the doors on this restaurant. I loved it. Went there on several occasions. George! You're the man! Don't forget it!
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tartare
Cuisine: Seafood American (New)
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Downtown |
9/18/2004
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Parking is a bitch but the flat iron steak and frites are pretty tasty. Not sure if it's worth it when you have to fight for parking. The ambiance is delightfully charming. It's a great place to go wtih a few friends and have dinner at a reasonable price ($29 per person) and enjoy a night out with some style. This restaurant has a high rating in Zagat. I enjoy dining out at a bistro so this is the ticket when I'm in the mood for steak and frites.
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Chapeau!
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Inner Richmond |
5/27/2004
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It's very good if you know what to order! The bar is happening on the weekend and Thursdays.
I have now gone there three times. Twice for dinner and once for appetizers. This time I ordered the lamb a point, or medium rare. It came out medium and it was floating in about a 1/4 cup of olive oil with bits of garlic and salt. The lamb chops are the house specialty but I think they can stand on their own in their own richness and don't need a ton of dippage like olive oil for every bite. Yuk. Overall, I'd give it a 5 out of 10.
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Kokkari Estiatorio
Cuisine: Greek Mediterranean
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Downtown |
5/27/2004
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I almost love the service there as much as the food! Outstanding clams and oysters! Cherrystones *** John, we all miss you! I wish you were still here with all of us because you are sorely missed. <3 <3
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Swan Oyster Depot
Cuisine: Seafood
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Polk St./Van Ness |
5/27/2004
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Not as good as it was before. Don't sit in the patio unless you want a waiters a** in your face. Their popularity is alarming considering the quality of the fare. It must be that they ride on their old reviews and people still flock there for that reason. I think things there are very mediocre and would opt to go elsewhere for my Italian food.
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Pane e Vino
Cuisine: Italian
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Cow Hollow |
5/27/2004
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I think it has slipped since moving from Guerrero. The food prices are steep, the service is somewhat off on the last two trips there. Both times I had to wait 20 minutes for the first dish and both times they brought the wrong dish. Then I had to wait 15 more minutes and finally, my dish(s) arrived! There was never any compensation like "let's buy you a glass of wine!" or "this appetizer is on the house." Rather it was like "you should be thankful that we let you sit here at our fabulous restaurant". Personally, Ahn Hong is more authentic, 1/10th of the price, and service is better. The decor is stunning and the bathrooms are beautiful though. It's a good spot to go to the bathroom when at the Farmer's market though (shhhh!)
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Slanted Door, The
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Embarcadero |
5/27/2004
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It's pretty good but inconsistent enough for me to not be confident to take others from out of town there. The grilled calamari is sometimes wonderful and sometimes not cleaned well hence salty and mushy. The grilled brocolini is great. Love sitting and chomping on their slightly picante breadsticks with parmie as they are crunchy and spindley in size. THe chickpea pancake needs serious work (no flavor). The salmon tartare is grrrreeaaat! It's a happening place that you can go to by yourself and sit up at the bar. I like it but again, sometimes hit or miss.
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Rose Pistola
Cuisine: Italian Seafood Pizza
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North Beach |
5/27/2004
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Best braised short ribs with gnocchi! Went there for a Jug Shop winemaker dinner for Rioja last week. Their appetizer dish where you get little pieces of different appetizers was pretty good and a good value too. Their wines by the glass are reasonable. The decor is outstanding and I love to see one of Mark Stock's original paintings of the Butler series when I go there. I wish it was more lively earlier but the SF Financial crowd isn't like it used to be in the 90's. Half the crowd is in AA down there I think because all the bars are empty at 5pm now.
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BIX
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
5/27/2004
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Good gnocchi, excellent grilled calamari salad and love the fresh little bread you get! Bad chairs..
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Chez Nous
Cuisine: Mediterranean Small Plates
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Pacific Heights |
5/27/2004
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Well, He hung up his hat and moved to the country! Darn him! I liked it. Loved the earthy flavors, the grilled veggies and the prime pieces of meat that were grilled to perfection.
Old review:
Wonderful duck breast and roasted beet salad! Excellent service and quite romantic tables.
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Zare
Cuisine: French (New) Italian
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Downtown |
5/27/2004
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Perrys goes back and forth for me. I like the breakfast where I can get the Beneflor which is 1/2 eggs benedict and 1/2 eggs florentine. It's the perfect combination and they actually have that in the computer because lots of people like that together. This place has been a staple on Union Street since I was 15 and I've been going there for a looooonnng time. I suspect it will be around for at least another 80 years. I'm not certain if I like their new menu for lunch and dinner. I have tried it a couple of times and have been disappointed. But for breakfast, sure, I like it.
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Perry's
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Comfort Food
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Cow Hollow |
5/27/2004
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I went back after not going for over a year. It was fantastic! I got this cute sexy table in the corner by the lamp on the banquette side. I ordered the beet salad ($9) and asked for no frisee. It had tons of greens and beets with two toast points with a good herbed goat cheese that had been warmed. Next, the house cured gravlax. This salmon was so delicate and fresh served with some blood orange slices and tiny ruby grapefruit slices (with no white on it) that accompanied the salmon beautifully. I asked for toast points and creme fraiche and was in heaven! We ordered a nice syrah and had an enjoyable dinner. I'll be back for sure as the service was outstanding, the portions on the larger side, and overall taste was great!
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Le Petit Robert
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Russian Hill |
4/22/2004
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Went there again in Feb. of 2005 and had the sweetbreads. My 12 year old neice ordered the squab which made me gasp (what the?) but that's okay. The dinner was delightful and the atmosphere was beautiful. It doesn't get any better than this folks. Consistent service, consistent food, charming decor, and beautiful flower arrangements make this top notch in the city for romantic dining. I don't think I would want to go anywhere else if someone were to propose to me. This is the spot!
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Fleur De Lys
Cuisine: French (New)
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Nob Hill |
4/22/2004
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I've gone here for 10+ years. Just got sushi delivered today and it sucked! A 2 on a scale of 1-10. I've given this place thousands of dollars in business with sushi bento boxes for corporate events and party platters. I ordered a rock'n'roll with eel and avocado and no sauce was on it ($6) and it was flavorless. THen got a roll with spicy tuna, crab, avocado, req. asparagus but didn't have any on soybean paper. Guess what they charged me? $14! And it sucked! It had rice, which I didn't want (carb watching) and no flavor, and they claimed I asked for real crab and I did not. It was bad in flavor, small (like smaller than normal rolls) and was just terrible. My whole lunch with the small $2 salad was $25 and I thought it would be $16. Absolutely SUCKED! They were ditzy on the phone when I called to complain and did not offer any compensation. I will never EVER go there again, I will not give them corporate business anymore either. Rip off tourists but not me damn it. Crappy attitude!!!
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Sanraku Four Seasons
Cuisine: Japanese
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Downtown |
4/22/2004
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I've been coming here for 28 years. I have to say that they do have some pretty good food for lunch. I like the daily specials because you can get a nice piece of fresh fish grilled to perfection with some steamed veggies and big steak fries. The crab and shrimp salad is a terrific dish because you get a big handful of crab on your salad along with the hard boiled eggs, lots of shrimp and then you can just sit back and enjoy the fresh seafood. They do this in a small or large portion so you can have a cup of chowder and the dinner salad and be fine. They now serve Boudin bread because Parisisan went out of business (I hear it's because of union labor issues). My last visit there was 3/13/06
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Tadich Grill
Cuisine: Seafood American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
4/22/2004
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See what rude reservationists can do to a restaurant? Try to get a table there other than 5:30PM or 9:30PM (who wants those times) and then see what the place looks like at 8PM. Yeah, you got it, half full. They ain't all dat no mo.
Old review
Phenomenal service and food. Best steak in town albeit small.
After going there recently, I have more favorite restaurants in town that I prefer to go to because they don't have the snooty hype.
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GARY DANKO
Cuisine: American (New)
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Fishermans Wharf |
4/22/2004
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I went in this month (September) and had some Lassi, the hot soup with coconut and noodles. It was pretty good but it costs $9.95. I also had the seared halibut but it had a slight funny smell to it. Not sure if that was the toasted sesame oil but it didn't smell like that kind of funny. Smelled to me like a fish smell. Anyway, I ate it because it was also $9.95 and I was starving from not eating for 3 days from food poisoning. I sat at the bar and it was fine with good service.
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Betelnut Pejiu Wu
Cuisine: Pan-Asian
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Cow Hollow |
4/22/2004
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Have you ever had the lobster pot pie? OMG! For $50 bucks, it's worth it! There are huge chunks of lobster folded into this delicate pastry puff. I found this company that makes them on the east coast that are half the size and frozen for $20 each and they ship them to you. Why not go for the freshest and go to Aqua? Love it! Sit at the counter and dine on the best by yourself! The classic tuna tartare is good as well but sometimes you gotta have the comfort food!
Old review:
This is not basque seafood by any stretch. It is delicate seafood with the most exceptional taste.
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AQUA
Cuisine: Californian French Basque Seafood
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Downtown |
4/22/2004
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