slickmachines's Profile
Say Goodbye to Hawthorne Lane
I find it interesting that they are changing the restaurant, and completely understand. When I ate there I found the surroundings very boring and business like. A great restaurant but not a place I really wanted to go back to. With this new change the owners are following other examples like 'Home'. They used to be a high end restaurant but weren't making any money. They re-did their menu, made the restaurant more relaxed and most importantly lowered their prices, BOOM, Instant hit!!!
Straits Cafe in the Westfield Mall- I was disappointed, does anyone agree with me?
I grew up in Singapore and when I moved to San Francisco I was thrilled that there was a Singaporean restaurant in the city. Straits Cafe when it was on Geary was not quite authentic but was enough to bring back a lot of good memories of the wonderful food of my youth. My wife and I even had our first date there. So we were excited to find out that Straits Cafe was reopening in a spot that was much closer to us.
We just ate there two nights ago and I was very disappointed in the food and missed the charm of the old restaurant.
We didn't stray from our favorites; Roti prata, beef rendang and chicken rice and of those only the beef rendang stood out. The roti prata was smaller in size, was rough and without taste. I don't think they used the right dough or cooked it with enough oil. The sauce was soupy and bland.
The chicken rice came without sweet soy sauce and while the chicken was good, the rice was undercooked and the soup incredibly oily and over salted.
I also have to note that one of the strengths of Straits was the very Singaporean dishes they had on the menu that made it truly special from the glut of Thai and Chinese restaurants in the city. I loved Chin Chow (grass jelly drink) and Gula Mulaka (sago desert with palm sugar and coconut) when I was growing up and ordered it every time I went to Straits. In the new restaurant neither of these items were on the menu anymore. In fact the desert menu seemed lazy, with over half the items containing coconut.
I am truly saddened that I no longer have a place to get my comfort food.
Town Hall - Recent Reviews
I went to Town hall with my wife a few months ago and our meal was good but not spectacular. If we are in the area around dinner time again we would consider it (I work close by) but I wouldn't call it a destination restaurant. The room is incredibly loud so don't expect a romantic meal if you're there on a date, in fact even if you are part of a large party you'll have a hard time talking to people other than the person sitting next to you.
Bar at Gary Danko?
You may also want to try the Buena Vista, which is on the bottom the hill near Fisherman's warf. It's kind of a tourist trap but it has it's own charm and the Irish Coffees (they claim to have invented the drink) taste great!
2 days and 2 nights in Chicago
I'm planning a trip to Chicago in October. I'll be there with my wife for two days and two nights. If you only had two days in Chicago what restaurants would you go to?
Thanks
Blue Plate - what to order?
I like the meatloaf at Blue Plate. My wife orders it every time we go.
I had the mac and cheese for an appetizer last time we were there and loved it.
birthday dinner for 15 in sf... save me from a chain!
I second the choice of Patio Espanol. I've eaten there twice and had a great experience both times. I love the fact that it's a family restaurant with several banquet rooms throughout the building. If you're lucky you'll see some large family celebrating something in one of the rooms. I think it's quite entertaining to see all this activity around while you are eating.
I always like to go and have a good bowl of Pho for my Birthday. Vietnam II lacks any cool hipster vibe but the food is great, it accomodates large parties and Olive and Bambuddha Lounge are right around the corner from the restaurant.
You should also try Matterhorn. It's a Swiss Restaurant on Van Ness Ave that serves Fondue. I ate there for my rehearsal dinner and everyone loved it!
Recs in Japan Center or the area
I like Saporro-Ya as well. There's nothing better than homemade noodles, yummy. I recommend you venture beyond Japantown for other places, though.
Don't get me wrong, there are some good restaurants in Japantown but there are so many Japanese and sushi places that are far superior to what you get at Japantown.
Nagano Sushi on Geary and Arguello Blvd is great.
There's the "no name" sushi place on Church and 15th.
Tokyo Rose on 16th in the Mission
Osaka Japanese on Fillmore
Sushi Groove South on Folsom and 11th
Good Vietnamese near the Lower Haight??
You'll probably have to leave your hood for good Pho. Here are some places that are worth it.
Vietnam II on Larkin and Ellis is a great Vietnamese restaurant with excellent Pho. I don't order anything else there. They have all varieties of Pho but my fav is Pho tai with beef on the side. If you go there for dinner ask for the lunch menu. The dinner menu, for some odd reason, does not have any pho listed in there.
Other choices are Pho Hoa on Geary in the Richmond, Sunflower on 16th is another and the closest to you. I have not been to Will's yet.
