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Based on the reviews here, I headed over to Marcello's last night expecting something wonderful. What I got was a good slice of pizza, but not the best in the city. There's really not a lot to say. Pizza is just cheese, sauce and bread, right? My take was that I would have liked the sauce a little saltier and the crust a little more thin. Marcello's comes close though. It was a good slice, which is why it deserves a Positive rating, but my favorite is still Escape From New York on Haight. Marcello's might be a better place if you want a calzone, which EFNY does not make.
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Marcello's
Cuisine: pizza
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Castro |
3/7/2005
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I did a little shopping downtown today and for whatever reason, thought, "I could really go for a slice from Blondie's." What was I thinking!?! This is terrible pizza. Actually, if you're into the high school cafeteria style slice, with the really fluffy crust, then maybe this isn't so bad. Personally, I think you ought to be able to fold a slice of pizza in half without the crust ripping. Blondie's is also always crowded and they don't put out any napkins. WTF?
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Blondie's Pizza
Cuisine: pizza
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Downtown |
3/5/2005
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Wanting a quick bite to eat before meeting some friends for a movie, I walked over to Caffe Delle Stelle to try it out. The waiter was friendly and happy to substitute pappardelle for the linguini in my pasta dish, which was pretty good. But everything else was a little off: They don't serve chianti by the glass (stupid), so I ordered something else and the glass they brought had lipstick on it. They also brought room temperature bread to the table. Why, oh why doesn't every restaurant warm the bread before they bring it to the table? It's so easy to do and so much more enjoyable that way. Eh. The other thing that struck me was how bad the lighting is in this place. The mix of brilliant recessed lights and old lanterns made for an uncomfortable mix of harshly lit and overly dim areas. So yeah, the entree was tasty and the service was fast and friendly, but they just overlooked too many details for me to rate this one a positive.
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Caffe Delle Stelle
Cuisine: Italian
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Hayes Valley |
3/5/2005
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Ah yes, yet another positive review of Little Star. When my friend told me about this place, I was like, "Corn meal does not belong in my pizza crust," but it turned out better than expected. Being that I'm from New York, and therefore a pizza snob, I can only say that the pizza was good, but didn't exactly meet my ideal. It wasn't bad, just different. Also, because I'm from New York, I have a very particular notion of what makes for a good chicken wing - and that is deep fried wings slathered in a sauce of butter and Frank's Red Hot. The Little Star wings were tasty, but not what I look for in a wing. We sat in the back and it was a lot darker than the pictures suggest. Our table was kind of tipsy, but after a few glasses of Racer 5, so were we, so it didn't matter. Our server was friendly, but not particularly attentive. By around 9:00, the place filled up with people hanging out around the bar and generally being more casual than us, which I think is the way to go at Little Star.
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Little Star Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Western Addition |
3/4/2005
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Ok, I grew up in New York (upstate), and like all New Yorkers, I am an authority on good pizza. ;) Seriously though, as far as I'm concerned, this is as close to a true New York slice as you can get in San Francisco. Don't bother buying a whole pie, a truly good slice needs to sit around for a while and then be warmed up before you eat it. I haven't been to the other Escape From NY locations, so I can't say how this one compares, but if you don't mind being asked about "green buds" by every third person on the street, then take a walk over there. It'll be a good slice, I promise. Oh...and don't bother with all those silly toppings - that's a California thing. Straight up cheese slice with red pepper flakes, baby!
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Escape From NY Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
3/4/2005
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House of Nan King is yet another SF restaurant that's less about the food and the service than it is about experiencing a genuine San Francisco institution. Follow Girlrrilla's advice: go with friends, check in with Peter (the owner) when you get there and then head over to the place "where friends and girls meet" for a drink. They'll call the bar when your table is ready. Nice! When you sit down, don't bother with the menu, just have Peter order for you. He's a whiz at asking the right questions to find out what you'll like. Be adventurous! You'll try some new things and the surprise of it all will make it an experience you won't forget. Honestly, he's never brought us a dish I didn't like and every time we eat here, I can't believe how cheap it ends up being.
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House of Nanking
Cuisine: Chinese
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Chinatown |
3/4/2005
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On a recent visit to Luna Park for Girlrrilla's birthday, we had a very mixed night. About 12 of us arrived on time for our 9:30 reservation and we ended up waiting for over an hour. Not cool, but we didn't mind too much because we were in a celebratory mood and were already sauced up a bit from hanging out around the corner, at Cama. When we were finally seated, I did manage to convince the host to buy us a few appetizers for having to wait so long. What can I say, I'm a sweet talker. Once we finally got our table, the service could have been more friendly, but it was pretty hectic in there - they were doing their best. I remember the food being good, but after several vodka and sodas, well, I can't exactly tell you what I had. I think it was steak. Because of the wait, I'm giving Luna Park a Neutral, but otherwise it's worthy of a Positive. Oh! It's probably too loud in there to be a good date place.
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Luna Park
Cuisine: Hamburgers, American (Traditional)
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Mission |
3/3/2005
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Personally, I think this is dirtiest of the three Taqueria Cancuns. The last time I went, there was a crazy guy outside having a discussion with his hammer! Kinda scary. I almost didn't go in, but well, if you've had Cancun's Carne Asada burrito, you know I had to have it, crazy hammer guy or not! So yeah, it's dirty, but I'll be damned if they don't make the best burrito in the city. The "best of" lists are right on this one, my friends. In summary: if you visit this particular Cancun location, be safe and bring a friend...and pick up a Carne Asada Super burrito for me, no salsa. Thanks!
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Taqueria Cancun
Cuisine: Mexican
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Downtown |
3/3/2005
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Universal Cafe was the first restaurant I ever went to in San Francisco. This was back in 1997, I think. The neighborhood was a lot more sketchy back then. Either that or I was a lot more naive. Anyway, my meal was great back then and it was great when I returned a couple weeks ago for brunch. Their blood orange mimosa is a real "awww yeahhh" experience. I also had the chile verde and fried eggs with carnitas, corn tortilla, monterey jack, crema, cilantro and lime. Splendid! The host/waitress was delightful and if you can't get a seat outside, don't fret because watching the kitchen staff do their thing is lots of fun - you see, at Universal Cafe, the back of the house is actually in the front of the house. Oh! Their frites with herbs and aïoli are awesome! One of my favorite restaurants in the city.
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Universal Cafe
Cuisine: American (New)
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Mission |
3/3/2005
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I can't in good conscience give Tommy's a negative rating, but there are some things you need to know up front: The food is merely decent and so are the margaritas. You also should be prepared to wait...and wait...and wait. Despite the fact that much better Mexican food can be had elsewhere, in a place where you don't have to yell to be heard, one can have a great time at Tommy's if one's m.o. is about eating and drinking with friends in a party atmosphere. About the wait: it goes by much more quickly if you buy a beer at the corner store down the street and drink it in front of Tommy's while watching them prepare food through the window that looks in on the kitchen. It's endlessly entertaining. Just be sure to get a little paper bag for your beer!
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Tommy's Mexican Restaurant
Cuisine: mexican
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Outer Richmond |
3/2/2005
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Oh Suppenküche, how I love thee. The first time I went there, I ate alone and the waitress totally flirted with me. I ordered a very standard meal: pork sausages with kraut and smashies (that's what I call mashed potatoes). Very good, especially with the Buten Alt (on tap). My other experiences there have been equally good. Wait staff seems to be pretty attentive and friendly. I know of no other place like this in the Bay Area, so that gets Suppenküche extra points in my book. Plus, it's right around the corner from my place. Highly recommended.
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Suppenkuche
Cuisine: German
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Hayes Valley |
3/2/2005
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Ah Savor, my most despised Noe Valley restaurant. They seemed to have a lot of trouble with temperature when I went. The orange juice was warm (not cold or room-temp, but warm), the French toast was cold and so was the syrup. That combined with a practically nonexistent wait-staff made this one of my worst dining experiences ever (and I've eaten at a Denny's full of drunk teenagers). :)
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Savor
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Noe Valley |
3/2/2005
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Skip this one. People keep telling me that I must have been there on an off-night, but the service was so bad and the sushi so mediocre, that I'm certain I'll never go back. For Noe Valley sushi, I like Amberjack, at 27th & Church (across from Eric's) much better.
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Hamano Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi
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Noe Valley |
3/2/2005
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Ok, I've had limited Tartine experience, but I have to tell you that the Humbolt Fog grilled cheese sandwich is completely outrageous (in an "I can't believe how decadent this is" kind-of way) and the bread...oh, the bread! I have had sex that isn't as good as this bread. Show up at 4:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, I think, and get it hot out of the oven. It will blow your mind. I promise.
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Tartine Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Mission |
3/1/2005
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To the reviewers calling Eric's "Americanized Chinese food:" think again. PF Chang's (yes, I ate there-once, bleh): now that's Americanized. Eric's is something different. Californian-ized perhaps? Anyway, I lived two doors down from the place for a couple years and couldn't get enough. The Crab Meat Rangoons will blow your mind. Same with that prawn and walnut dish they serve with mayonnaise. I think it's called Walnut Prawns. Eric's has a very reasonably priced lunch special too. My Mom, a tight-wad if there ever was one, thinks the lunch deal at Eric's is the greatest thing ever. "And you get soup too," she keeps telling me. Yeah Mom, I know. Be prepared to wait for a table. By the way, the MUNI J train stops right in front of the place.
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Eric's
Cuisine: Chinese
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Noe Valley |
3/1/2005
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I lived across the street from Amberjack for a couple years and I never really understood why it wasn't more popular. It must have been the atmosphere, because the food was great! Exceptionally fresh fish; nicely done, not too salty, miso soup; a solid selection of rolls (but nothing too trendy); good tempura & perfectly done edamame. The service was always friendly too. Regarding the atmosphere: it does tend to be either disturbingly quiet or painfully loud. Eh, it was never much of a bother for me. Check it out! Unless you're one of those people who always complains about the "integrity of the the rice," I'm sure you'll have a great meal. It's also a great alternative for when Eric's (across the street) is packed (which is almost always). Oh! Be sure to get an order of Amberjack if they have it. It's sublime!
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Amberjack Sushi
Cuisine: Sushi, Japanese
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Noe Valley |
3/1/2005
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