Wendy_san's Profile
Belgian Beer Glasses
Thanks to everyone for all the info. I'm looking for a variety of different styles of glasses and will try your suggestions.
food + jazz on the peninsula?
Cetrella and Pasta Moon in Half Moon Bay have live jazz many nights. Two of the top restaurants on the coastside.
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Cetrella
845 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Pasta Moon
315 Main St., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
food + jazz on the peninsula?
Food at BDDS is usually catered. Nothing outstanding, but decent. However, an AMAZING jazz club.
Belgian Beer Glasses
Anyone know of anywhere I can buy Belgian-style beer glasses in the SF Bay Area? Checked out local Bev-Mo and they didn't have any. Thanks.
Ramen Dojo San Mateo (coming April 2010)
Went there tonight, not knowing if they were open yet, but they were. Only one person at the counter and then us at a table for two (the place seats 24 with another 7 or 8 at the counter). Another party of two came in later. But this is bound to change -- I think this place will become very popular as it's the only restaurant in the Bay Area that serves this style of ramen, at least as far as I know.
The ramen soup base is made up of ground chicken, ginger, shiitake and dried shrimp with added chili oil that makes it turn red. You can get shouyu, miso or tonkotsu flavor and a spiciness of mild, regular or extra hot. I do not generally like spicy food and the mild spicy was just fine for me. My husband had regular spicy and liked that too. All bowls come with shredded red pepper, quail egg, and roasted garlic and bbq pork slices (chashu) and they are priced at 8.95. Extra toppings (there are many to choose from) are about $2.50 each. Right now this is all that is on the menu. Hopefully they will offer some appetizers in the future.
Noodles are excellent with kata yude texture (al dente). Ramen Dojo is a really good addition to the ramen scene.
No beer license yet and the only drinks available or Calpico, Ramune, Iced Coffee and Iced Oolong tea.
Yoko's/Suzu-you in San Mateo closing -- chef to relocate?
Was so sad to drive by Sunday and see that this was closed. One of the best in the area and, yes, like mom's home cooking. Would love to know if the chef is continuing somewhere else.
Great chick sticks at Yakitori KOKKO San Mateo
We have been to Kokko twice now and are going again tonight, having been invited by friends. We think it's quite good and, definitely a welcome addition to downtown San Mateo, but feel that authenticity-wise Los Altos' Sumika rates a bit higher. And service at Kokko has been disappointing. At our table one evening (among the sake drinkers) we had a tea drinker and she had to constantly flag down the server to receive more tea. Yes, it's busy and the servers seem instructed to only deliver the constant flow of small plates from the kitchen and not much else. Kind of frantic. Service is a bit better at Sumika. Sumiya in San Jose is also good, but we have been there only once and sat at the counter. At all of these places reservations are a must.
Nijiya Market Mountain View - about to get a ramen cafe?
I hope you're right about the ramen cafe and it would be great if it were another Santouka. But Santouka is always affiliated with the MItsuwa chain at all its locations in SoCal so I kind of doubt they'd open one at a Nijiya.
Cantinetta Piero in Yountville rocks
We have enjoyed their sister restaurant in Carmel, Cantinetta Luca, the two times we have gone. We're looking forward to trying this one.
Sakae in Burlingame - Cover Charge at Sushi Bar
KK -- you always know everything! I'm so impressed. My husband and I are anxious to try Kokko. We went to Kappo Nami Nami once and really enjoyed it. Time to go back there too!
Sakae in Burlingame - Cover Charge at Sushi Bar
I don't mind a minimum for a credit card -- that's no big deal. This thing Sakae does is over the top in my opinion.
OTOH, today I went for the first time to Jin Sho on California Avenue in Palo Alto for lunch. Dining solo I ate chirashi at the counter. Very high quality fish and an excellent chirashi. The saba was to die for. Expensive too, but worth it. Service was good and the chefs were friendly. Two are from the NY Nobu. I will definitely go back and try more things.
http://www.jinshorestaurant.com/
Sakae in Burlingame - Cover Charge at Sushi Bar
I know Sakae has been a long-time favorite for some on CH but my husband and I were never impressed with the place and suffered poor service both times we went to the old location.
The new location was reviewed in the Chronicle the other day:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/25/DDLE1AK60P.DTL
I was surprised to read that there's a $5 cover charge to sit at the sushi bar. This $5 entitles you to free tea and an amuse bouche. Free tea? Isn't this de rigueur at all Japanese restaurants? And whatever the amuse bouche might be, at fine sushi bars with professional itamaesan they almost always give some free little appetizer as a customer relations gesture. The review goes on to say that there is also a $20 minimum, which of course is easy to meet since prices are so high.
I hope this cover charge thing isn't a trend. I don't think they do this at Yuzu, which is our preferred sushi place in San Mateo and has a connection to Sakae. But we always sit at a table there. An intimate place, the food is always good and every time we've been able to snag a table, even though the restaurant is pretty small.
Also looking forward to trying Kokko.
Need Restaurants near Walnut Creek
I'd say that Va Da Vi is probably the best restaurant in Walnut Creek.
Tavern at Lark Creek: really good
Thanks for the detailed report. We were there about a month ago and thought the food and service were just okay. But you're right -- you can't beat the prices, especially if you remember how it was when it was the Lark Creek Inn. But I have to say that after a short walk in the area before dinner, I wished that my reservation was at Pizzeria Picco instead, which looked so intriguing, fun, and definitely the happening place.. And the Ward Street Cafe looked promising as well...
Santouka Ramen will open in Bay Area?
I've heard rumors that Santouka's broth is made in Japan, frozen, then shipped to the U.S. branches...
Santouka Ramen will open in Bay Area?
Just had the ramen in Torrance about a week ago. Always love this place when I'm in SoCal and am so happy it's opening here, though I wish they'd have a few more branches a bit further north. Halu is going to be shaking in their boots and poor Kahoo ramen in the same shopping complex -- don't know what they'll do. :-) I was in Mitsuwa yesterday and it looks as though they will have a ton of seating just like in their complex in Torrance. Only wish we could get another restaurant or two inside...
Japanese with Tatami Mats?
Offhand I cannot think of any in San Francisco, though there are some in the South Bay: Rokko in Sunnyvale and Hatcho in Santa Clara. Also Miraku in Walnut Creek.
Oustanding in the Field: "Admirable concept. Amazing locations. Mostly good food. Okay wines. Tiny portions."
Agreed! I don't know if it's at all comparable, but the quarterly harvest lunch events in the Kermit Lynch parking lot in Berkeley feed a lot more people than 125, and offer quite decent portions at reasonable prices. The cooking and serving (you do wait in line to get your food) are efficient every time I've gone. You pick the wine you want at the food station or buy a bottle from the store. All very civilized and fun.
New Restaurants in Half Moon Bay
I try and avoid gelato -- will get too hooked. But I am happy to do it for research and report back. :-) They do have some very different (to me) housemade Italian pastries that I'd never had before that were quite tasty. They don't seem to have them at their restaurant.
New Restaurants in Half Moon Bay
Another new place adjacent to Crab Landing is the Mezza Luna Cafe, which is owned by the same folks who run the fine Italian restaurant Mezza Luna in Princeton. This is a very casual place for dessert, gelato, coffee, etc. and also some lunch fare -- focaccia pizzas, salads, etc. It's a good addition to the area, though I wish they'd spent a little more time on decor instead of doing something so generic. There is also outdoor seating.
New Restaurants in Half Moon Bay
Haven't tried Sofia's yet, but I always liked the atmosphere at San Benito House.
New Restaurants in Half Moon Bay
Usually we only get take-out pizza at It's Italia, but we went for a late lunch a few weeks ago, our first time dining in the new location. Enjoyed my prawn Caesar salad and my husband had a good burger. Ate at the bar because there was a party at the outdoor patio. As for Milano, why oh why do we need another Italian restaurant in the area? I've had no desire to try it.
Half Moon Bay: Cetrella closed until May 1st
No, I haven't, but maybe in the near future since a friend wants to try it. Just received a gift certificate to Sam's Chowder House so will probably go there first!
Anywhere Good for Lunch in Brentwood?
Looks like I might have found an interesting Japanese place -- Mangetsu.
Anywhere Good for Lunch in Brentwood?
I have to be in Brentwood this Thursday and I have never been there before. Is there anywhere decent to have lunch that isn't a chain? Thanks.
Mayfield Bakery & Cafe, Palo Alto
We walked in last night at 6:00 pm and got a table with no problem, but it definitely got crowded later. Our first time there, we were impressed with the general atmosphere and the food. I had the potato and green garlic soup and the dorado -- both very good. My husband had a golden beet salad and the halibut, which he enjoyed. Also had a bottle of French sauvignon blanc for $22. We will definitely go back, but thought it might be fun to share several appetizers at the bar. The party of 10 next to us seemed to be eating family style and that seemed to work well.
Yakitori across from Tian Sing/Cyril Magnin
Best yakitori in the Bay Area is at Sumika in Los Altos, hands down. We were just there the other night and had, as usual, a fantastic meal. In addition to yakitori, we had a nabe and a curry poke/potato salad and a chicken and cabbage salad.
Cafe or Restaurant Near SF Main Library
Thank you very much for all the suggestions. Turned out that the gathering did not need to be inexpensive so we ended up at Citizen Cake. This was my first time there and, while I did not have any of their signature desserts, I have to say I was underwhelmed by the place as a restaurant. I had the Chinese chicken salad, which was just so-so. Wines by the glass started at a stiff $11 or $12 and the atmosphere was nothing to write home about. Don't know what the big deal is, frankly, but it was packed for Sunday lunch/brunch.
