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I finally made it to Zazie's after reading it on the top 10 and have to say I'm not sure what all the excitement is about. The wait was long, the service pretty bad...our table hadn't been cleaned before we were seated and the wait for its cleaning and for some water was extraordinarily long. A few friends and I went there for brunch and it was okay. I had the mushroom scramble. It was fine but not stellar and the potatoes were rather bland; soft with huge pieces of garlic with the peels still on. The prices were on the high side but in this case you don't get what you pay for. I don't think it worth the wait.
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Zazie
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
8/10/2006
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I was craving Tom Yum soup and ordered it spicy. I did take out and when I unwrapped it, it was as if an oil tanker had overturned. Greasy, chili oil leaked over the container edges, over my plastic spoon and after a bite or two where I hopelessly tried to rescue any surviving shrimp or mushrooms, which were sparse to begin with, I relegated the the oil pit to the bin. Bleh! Drop the chili oil and heat up with real peppers and add some crew to your oil tankers, er shrimp to your soup.
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Banana House
Cuisine: Thai
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Downtown |
6/12/2006
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My roommate and I discovered this place recently and are really impressed. The prices are a bit high but they are generous with the portions and you will find a variety thats different than the standard Thai menus. The pad thai is standard, but the soups are delish and they are not afraid of adding some heat when you say you want it "hot". They also add more real pepper and less of the oily stuff that some Thai restaurants douse it with. The effect is clean, light and good. A few other tasty treats are there curry with shrimp and avocado, lamb and pumpkin curry and spicy Ahi tuna appetizer. If you are strictly a pad thai or beef chow mein type person then maybe it won't be your fav, but if you like a some more spicy treats, it's definitely worth trying.
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Chilli Cha Cha
Cuisine: Thai
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
6/12/2006
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After hearing great things, I finally went here with a friend and was greatly disappointed. The fries were well just okay. A bit greasy and definitely over priced. The sauce was flavored Mayo. Mayo is one of those phenomenally bad for you but wonderfully yummy condiments. So you can't go too wrong with that, but most people no doubt could doctor up some flavored Mayo at home for equal effect. The salad I had was boring. It wasn't bad, just pretty tiny for the price. I was still hungry since I didn't bother eating the thin, bland sliced small rounds of French bread that accompanied it. A taste of my friend's crepe proved it equally a matter of one of their Mayo sauces carrying a punch, but the crepe was thin and doughy and the chicken inside meager. The places had character but long waits and they need to improve the clean factor. I think I'll stick with Belgian waffles.
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Frjtz Fries
Cuisine: Belgian
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Hayes Valley |
6/12/2006
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Good with room for growth. Greens has a lovely view and manages to balance a relaxed with a slightly refined atmosphere. The menu rotates and you can purchase a couple different cookbooks with a variety of their vegetarian recipes. The menu and portions seem to way more heavily to a carb then a greens side. I did enjoy the brochettes, a tofu and veggie kabob over almond, currant couscous. Their famous black bean chili, which I tried for the first time was good but not memorable. I was, however, reassured by a fellow dining companion that usually it was more zesty. Their appetizer portions were a bit on the small side for the cost. I finished my lunch with a cherry chocolate cookie to go, which was a bit on the dry side and I couldn't taste the cherry liquor. There doesn't seem to be a large range on spices and menu items seem to be all very mild in flavor. I would like to see them up the greens to carb ratio and add a little more spice to some, not all of their menu choices.
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Greens
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Marina |
3/14/2006
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A friend and I stumbled across Kwanjai Thai on their opening night as we were on our way elsewhere to eat. The grand opening sign beckoned and we were soon ensconsed at a small, swank table in a dimly let restaurant. The food was delightful. We enjoyed the shrimp roll which came with a tangy and well balanced sweet and tart sauce, Tom Yum soup which had a wonderfully delicate, spicy broth which didn't suffer from some other Thai restaurants which sometimes have a bland or greasy broth with less layers of flavor. The Kwanjai Shrimp Salad was beautifully presented and tasty as well. (Yes, we had tons of shrimp dishes, since my friend was suddenly into shrimp.) I would definitely love to go back and try some more of their selections. One suggestion would be to up the lighting a bit. When we were there it was a bit too dim.
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Kwanjai Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Marina |
3/1/2006
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I tried the Cafe con Leche, which was described to me as being different in a latte in that the espresso was added to the milk rather than the other way around. It was fine, but reminded me more of a cafe au lait. The menu items I wanted to try they were out of and the service was very slow. The place itself was simple and unpretentious and a bit nondescript. I would enjoy trying some of the missing menu items and seeing a bit more enthusiasm.
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Cafe lo Cubano
Cuisine: Coffee Shop Cuban Sandwiches
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Laurel Heights |
3/1/2006
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Yumma's gets kudos for using Neiman Farms meats. The food is good but not great and not all that cheap, but of course you are getting a more expensive cut of meat. The sides are not very distinguished and when I asked for extra salad rather than pita, they kindly obliged but I didn't notice much pieces of green for the green I handed over. It would be a big plus too if the friendly factor was equal to their invitation to enjoy their hospitality. They also do have other listings on a board by the register but its a big over loaded and confusing. Perhaps these items should go on the regular menu or be presented in a more visual way.
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Yumma's
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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Inner Sunset |
3/1/2006
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The Mitchell brother have been making ice cream since 1953 and deservedly winning awards and recognition. They start with 16% butter fat and only the freshest ingredients. Expect to find authentic Bourbon vanilla, along with real Kahlua and Bailey's Irish Cream flavoring some of their delicious ice creams. They add a touch of the exotic with Philippine flavors such as mango, ube (a purple yam, also known in Japan), avocado and Mexican chocolate. Dare I say yum! I really love Mitchell's and have been going there for years. It brings back fond memories of a happy wait with good friends for a scoop of spicy, pumpkin ice cream on a sugar cone dipped in chocolate during Halloween time and the sweet coconut, Macapuno ice cream on a hot summer day. I wish them all the best and hope they are around many years to come.
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Mitchells Ice Cream
Cuisine: Ice Cream Dessert
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Mission |
3/1/2006
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Wonderful scents of spice tantalize you a block away from Nan 'n Curry. I have been here a few times with friends, but while the aroma hints at a great taste, I've never been that impressed. The sauces tend to be either spicy, in such a way that you are hit with spice but not subtly of flavors or rather dull. The dishes can be a bit on the greasy side as well. The naan, however, is consistently good; fresh from the oven. In terms of portions, the quantity of meat in their dishes has gone down to where you want to say, "Could I have some meat with my sauce?" or "Is this the high-sauce, low-protein version of this dish?" I do think this is one of those illusionary value dining places. If they up the protein portions slightly and rebalanced some of the flavor (and oil), along with upping the friendly factor, I think they would be able to live up to their reputation and the enticing aromas.
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Naan 'n Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Inner Sunset |
2/25/2006
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It was cold and rainy and a friend and I decided hot tofu soup would be a combination of comfort food and warm up food. It was crowded but the lines moved fast. There were three basic menu items: tofu soup, bibimbop and a few meat dishes, namely: bulgogi, kalbi and sauteed, sliced meats. I had the mushroom tofu soup and my friend the combination tofu soup. We ordered a small tofu salad and bibimbop. My mushroom soup was very enjoyable, with lots of various mushrooms and a nice spicy broth. The sides were tasty and they kindly offered refills on them. We did however, have to try to gain attention to get a refill on our tea,. Admittedly they were very busy, so it was a much forgiven over site. Enjoyable, spicy, warm Korean comfort food.
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My Tofu House
Cuisine: Korean
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Inner Richmond |
2/23/2006
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J&J Bakery is cute, clean and has a beautifully presented array of delectable sweets. In the front case are small, cake-style individual pastries; just right for a small indulgence. In nicely presented, enclosed cases along the wall is a selection of bread and sweets. These include roll sized yeast breads filled or topped with turkey, tuna, egg and ham, corn, sweet red bean paste and a variety of other delectables. Some of the breads could use a little more filling, but what keeps me coming back are these yummy little purple Taro root pastries. They have one shaped like a small cube and a new one, which is a purple globe. Flaky, delicate dough on the outside and filled with taro puree. I want the recipe! But I love the idea of being able to buy them. J&J also offers cakes for order and beautiful bouquets They have a few seats and serve basic coffees and a few blended ones. It's not couture food but its definitely good eats!
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J & J Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries Asian
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Inner Sunset |
2/23/2006
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Golden Gate bakery is one place worth waiting in line for. Yes, the egg tarts are great and I also enjoy the melon cakes, with the flaky pastry on the outside and the sweet, crunchy and slightly apple-pie gooey centers. The prices are not such a bargain anymore, so I may buy less then I would otherwise, which is probably good since its easy to keep eating those little egg tarts.
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Golden Gate Bakery
Cuisine: Chinese Bakeries
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Chinatown |
2/23/2006
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I have to agree, the mango mochi is yummy. I also tried one of their drinks; mango with coconut and aloe jelly. Again, I say yum. It was thick, fresh, fruity and flavorful. Definitely, it inspired me to want to try every menu item. As far as nutritious, I have reservations. I wish their website gave calorie count and other vital statistics. Somehow, even with the healthy and taste fruit involved in their creations, I have a feeling the calories would challenge a Starbuck's frappucino. One thing I would like to see for some items is the option to add your own sweetener, such as "Splenda" versus straight sugar. (Yes, I know the fruit is fructose sweet, so I'm only speaking above and beyond nature's goodness). The option would encourage me to buy more a little more calorie guilt free.
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Creations Dessert House
Cuisine: Dessert
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Outer Richmond |
2/23/2006
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I was craving some Tom Yum Goong. I placed my order to go delighted to see Bangkok Noodle's "special soup" listings came with a choice of rice or noodles on the side. I opted for the noodles. As I waited I noticed the kitchen staff wore surgical like masks and gloves. I thought they really must be into cleanliness which is a good thing. But also, as I waited, I noticed a sign. It said, paraphrased here, the state required this notice so customers were aware that something in the food and drink of the establishment was believed to be a possibly cancer or birth defect causing substance. Hmm. I left with my food and ventured a noodle taste; they were a congealed lump of tasteless, sauceless, seasonless rice noodles. I tasted the soup, bland with bruised mushrooms,a few meager shrimp. If I'm going to die from what I eat, it at least should taste good. Perhaps more of their potentially lethal items are tasty, but until the potentially harmful substance is taken out, I won't be coming in.
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Bangkok Noodles
Cuisine: Thai Noodle Shops
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Downtown |
2/23/2006
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Spice! I craved spice and decided to try Phuket Thai. I ordered chicken satay (even though it only has beef or pork options on the menu), Tom Kha Kai soup, Pud Sarm Sahai (stir fried sugar peas, mushrooms, zucchini, and garlic), along with chef suggestion, Ok Kai Sa Wan, described as char broiled chicken marinated with curry powder and cumin and served with a chili garlic sauce. All I can say is, "Please, please! Kick it up a notch! " to quote Emeril Lagasse Really kick it up several! There was no punch, no bite, no kick to any of it! The chicken was cooked tender but in the soup there was hardly a piece to be found or a mushroom for that matter. The veggies had potential but were a tad oily. Overall there was lots of potential but it wasn't followed through on. A little more generous portions, a lot more generous spice would definitely kick this place up several notches.
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Phuket Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Lower Haight |
1/3/2006
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Cute little piggies. The food though is good if a bit high priced and inconsistent. I found the brisket to be tender and the chicken good if slightly dry. For brunch the brisket hash was probably some of the best hash I have tasted, while the shrimp omelet was a bit bland. While I adore cornbread, having lived in the South, I found the muffins here dry and indifferent. The sauces are okay, if on the thin side, nothing memorable. The salmon was something I would never order again. It was cold and fishy tasting. Yes, its fish, but it shouldn't over emphasis the fact with every bite. It would be great to see the prices a bit more reasonable and a greater drink selection. How about sweet tea and some good Creole coffee? Since it is California, Splenda-fied sweet tea would be a great choice too for those sugar conscious diners.
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Memphis Minnie's BBQ Joint
Cuisine: Barbecue
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Lower Haight |
12/28/2005
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Slightly dilapidated, independently owned coffee shop. It seems to be rather popular, but I was disappointed with the late I ordered. Instead of nice creamy foam, it was thin with big air bubbles and quickly deflated over my slightly bitter brew. The atmosphere is very San Francisco and kudos for the free wifi, but for the better cup of coffee, go down the block to Cafe Organica.
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Central Coffee Tea & Spice
Cuisine: Coffee Shop American Bistro
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
12/28/2005
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The name is based off a bareback horse raise, which started in the 13th century in the town of Asti in Northern Italy. The owners trace their ancestry back to this town. Nice, basic fare. Panini sandwiches, are named after parish horses entering the "Il Palio" race, are made fresh daily, soup, salads, Italian ice cream and some pretty good cappuccino, that are a step above the Starbuck's and other coffee chains in the area. The counter service could be a bit friendlier though. There up scale sister store, Palio D'Asti, is right around the corner.
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Palio Paninoteca
Cuisine: Italian Deli Coffee Shop
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Downtown |
12/23/2005
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I finally tried Magnolia's, although I have walked by it time upon time. It is a perfect spot for some good eats in a nice environment in the Haight, but the menu never intrigued me and I don't drink beer. I ordered the duck confit salad. The description read, "with mixed chicory lettuces, walnuts and plumped sour cherries." Ducks must have been scarce, because after poking through the prickly frise lettuce (which is very trendy lately and honestly has bit of a Brillo Pad feeling), I noticed what looked like tiny, miniscule slivers of duck jerky! The walnuts turned out to look and taste a lot like crushed almonds, in equally scarce and mouse sized piece (meaning meant for a mouse, rather than the size of one). The plump cherries, were not plump, unless they were before the one or two were minced prior to being tossed in the salad. The small piece of duck bone that I bit into did little to help the vinegary tasting dressing. So, I conclude its all about the beer.
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Magnolia Pub & Brewery
Cuisine: Organic Pub Food
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
12/18/2005
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I really wanted to like this cafe! It's right near by and I really tried. The owners are friendly and its spacious and airy. However, while I was excited about the coffee being organic, organic alone doesn't make it tasty and I found the actual coffee drinks unexceptional and being organic, of course they are pricer than other places. There is plenty of seating and even books and magazines, a really nice touch, but everything is vegan and politically oriented. Myself and a number of others, kept thinking they were associated with the anarchist bookstore around the corner. While, I love the idea of an updated version of the historical coffee house, as a political, thinking and idea exchange environment, many of the decorations lack the neutral tone, needed to promote a non biased free flow of ideas. Up the coffee taste, down the prices and tone down the political slant to up the power to the people.
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Coffee to the People
Cuisine: Organic Coffee Shop
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
12/16/2005
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I forgot my breakfast and having walked by Soup Freaks months ago, had been wanting to try their eggs and steel-cut oatmeal breakfast. Here was my chance. Only, I was disappointed. The staff was indifferent to unfriendly. I was the only customer who walked in and was noticed but ignored until I had to directly say excuse me, and say it was my first time there. Even then I felt I was interrupting their prep for lunch. I ordered the Greenbelt Egg Steamer with green onions and dill, plus a small oatmeal with blueberries and cranberries. The seasoning was of such a small quality it did little to enhance the egg and while the oatmeal itself tasted good and creamy, the fruit was sprinkled equally economically on top, rather than cooked into the oatmeal as I had hoped. In the $9 range it was way too expensive. More reasonable pricing, more flavor and friendly service would make a big difference. In the meantime Bob's Red Mill oats cooked at home is the way to go!
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Soup Freaks
Cuisine: Organic American Bistro
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Downtown |
12/16/2005
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Yummy, huge salads at a decent price where you can pick seven toppings to add to it! What's not to love about that for someone who is health conscious and hungry? The side mushroom dishes which change daily is tasty too, though sadly I think the portion-size has somewhat diminished of late. The turkey, which I have only had as an add on to my salad is taken right off a whole roasted turkey. I love the idea of Thanksgiving diner out of season, on the fly. The dessert selection could be re-thought Currently there are some standard cookie and baked square affairs, but how about some bread, banana or rice pudding, cobblers and pies to go with the down home fare?
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Pluto's Fresh Food for a Hungry Universe
Cuisine: American salads
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Inner Sunset |
12/16/2005
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Decent but not spectacular. The fare is consistent at least and the wait not as long as Pork Store so if you are in a bit more of a time crunch. The breakfast items are decent if not memorable and the service equally undistinguished. They do offer daily specials but they seem to be the same for weeks. It would be nice to see a greater variety of specials to tip the scales a bit more in their favor.
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Squat and Gobble
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners American (Traditional)
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
12/13/2005
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Elegant, majestic, with a museum quality, this formal gem has superbly presented French infused Chinese cuisine. The executive luncheon is a wonderful taste tour, consisting of 2 appetizers, 3 small entrees and their four flavored fried rice. A wonderful place to dine from business lunches to romantic ones.
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Tommy Toy's Cuisine Chinoise
Cuisine: Chinese French (New)
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Downtown |
10/18/2005
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This place is great! Its in the Crocker Galleria amongst a sundry of other fast food style eats, but stands out in that the food actually is above your average quick lunch places and would be right at home in a casual restaurant The prices are reasonable too and the portions generous. One of my favorites is the salmon shioyaki (freshly grilled), which comes with broccoli, rice and a small miso soup. For an additional 95 cents you can get a side of tempura or 3 pieces of California roll added to it. How cool is that? The people there are friendly and the service fast. It's definitely not a place to go for ambiance but it is a sure winner for a good, quick, healthy and satisfying lunch. My only wish is they would add a few new menu items, such as a larger selection of donburi, some tofu sides, and that they vary their daily specials, which seem to pretty much stay the same. What they do serve, however, is certainly tasty.
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Niji Japanese Grill
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Downtown |
10/18/2005
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Finally a satisfying breakfast! Definitely worth the wait, the food is good, the portions generous and the prices not over the top. The biscuits were light and fluffy and the pancakes were too! Yum! The omelet I had was cooked just right, not over or under cooked and the hash browns were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They even served us small cups of coffee while we waited in line outside. That was a nice touch.
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Pork Store Cafe
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
10/18/2005
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I absolutely love breakfast, so I was excited about trying Dottie's for the first time. I braved the 45 minute wait in line with my roommate and dreamed of the delicious meal I was about to have. Then it happened! I was disappointed. The food was okay but nothing to wait 45 minutes in line for. The omelet was good, but nothing extraordinary. The pancake was flat and doughy; a huge disappointment, and the potatoes tasted oily. My roommate likewise wasn't overly impressed with his food. The grilled cornbread which I substituted for the regular bread was fine, but they charged me 50 cents extra for the jalapeno jelly that comes with it if you order it on your own. I'm still boggled by what the big draw is.
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Dottie's True Blue Cafe
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners Breakfast
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Tenderloin |
10/18/2005
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"Hands down the best coffee in the Haight and possibly SF. " That is what I said in my first review. Sad to say I had to revise that after the owners, who were once highly respected, suddenly, a number of months back, seemed to lose it and fired two employees for supposed coffee-spying (is there such a thing?) and shut down the business. Not sure if they are opened or closed now. They did have fabulous coffee and I wish them the best and hope they recover from whatever pressure caused the sudden loss of professionalism and reality.
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Cafe Organica
Cuisine: Coffee Shops
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
10/17/2005
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Healthy, fast, tasty and moderately priced. Its a nice alternative on the Haight and very good for people concerned with carbs, as you are welcome to substitute a salad for your choice of starch. One suggestion would be to be able to choose two different skewers when ordering a regular meal, i.e. one chicken, one fish. It would be a nice touch and add to the variety of the meal.
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Asqew Grill
Cuisine: Californian
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
10/17/2005
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Medicine Eat Station’s concept is a traditional, vegetarian Zen monk diet or "shojin"-style blending with modern nutrition to be "new-shojin". Having lived in Japan, I was excited to try their cuisine. A co-worker and I went ordered two of their "sets" and a couple of sides. Sadly, we were both terribly disappointed. The servings were small, the food bland, the prices high and we both left hungry. Our neighboring diners gave us a similar assessment. The final shock came when we received our check which, unlike their food, this was super-sized by the addition of a 17% service charge. If you read their website they actually state this "automatically added" "For [your] convenience" and “No tipping is accepted." It would be more honest to add the 17% into their menu prices and allow customers to tip. Obviously the Zen monk influence doesn't have any bearing on tallying up the bill. Nixing the 17% enforced fee, being a bit more generous with their sizes is highly recommended.
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Medicine Eatstation
Cuisine: Vegitarian Japanese
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Downtown |
10/10/2005
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