maigre's Profile
Pizza Bocca Lupo (Neopolitan style), Downtown San Jose - Review w/ Pics
There is some indoor seating, but it's limited, maybe a few tables right in the restaurant. At least that's how it was the last time I was there, maybe a month or six weeks ago. Maybe as things evolve in the complex, there will be more indoor seating available.
This is a good pizzeria, easily has the best pizza I've tried south of SF and Oakland.
Please help us get excited about SF again! (a little long)
El Molino Central is terrific. Make sure to try it while you're up there.
Sea Rocket Bistro Review
I like the attention they give to vegetable sides here. We had a few of them recently and loved them all. I wish more restaurants did this. I'd come here just to eat that.
From LAX to Santa Monica - Where's the best place to eat?
My single lunch at Milo + Olive was so idyllic that it's hard to imagine overstating its charms. They seem to hit every note in all the ways maudies5 mentions. I don't live in LA, but will be at M+O at least once the next time I'm in town, more if I'm around long enough to take advantage.
Week in Palo Alto/San Francisco. Where to go?
Welcome to the area, eh27713. I've never been in Durham or the triangle area, but it's been on my radar lately as a place to check out. I'm hoping to do that at some point over the next year. I'm curious about what it's like to live there.
If you'll have a car, your options will broaden a lot. If there are particular cuisines you want to try, see if you can figure whether a given one is better saved for SF. I'd strongly recommend doing that for the Cal/Italian style spots. Very strongly. They're a weak point in the South Bay; even the few options in or near Palo Alto pale by comparison to lots of choices in San Francisco.
To avoid going on at ever greater length, I'll limit my ramblings to thoughts about Palo Alto and further south:
Is there much Korean food in NC? If not, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara are loaded with it. The Tofu House on El Camino in Palo Alto is a fairly popular spot that won't be far from wherever you're staying. A little fancier is Jang Su Jang in Sunnyvale. Check the threads here for lots of discussion about many others.
Mexican food here tends to be disappointing, other than as lrealml points out, some (not all, by any means) of the taquerias. A sit down non-taqueria that's good is Tu Mero Mole in San Jose. You'll have to drive 20+ minutes, though. It's kind of a hole in the wall, nothing unforgettable, but it's worth a visit if you're so inclined. There's also the upscale Casa de Cobre in Saratoga. Check the many threads for San Francisco places. Primavera at the Ferry Building farmers market in SF on Saturdays has terrific food, but their menu, which was always small, is even smaller now, so there are only a few things to be ordered. Still, if you're at the market, and it's well worth a visit, make a point of trying it. Lots of your best bets for Mexican food are probably in the East Bay, which may be out of your geographical range for this trip.
The Chinese regional stuff is worthwhile, at least from the standpoint that you might not be able to get some of these things at home. Some of these places, distinctive as they may be, tend to be on the oily side. Just a FYI in case that's an issue for you. If you want dim sum, save it for when you're in SF.
For Indian, though I haven't been there for quite awhile now, I like Sakoon, too, even if it's not mainstream Indian food in some ways. That's a strength, not a weakness, though. Read the threads for lots of discussion here about other options, which vary by style, region and quality.
I've never been to Kaygetsu, a higher end Japanese place in Menlo Park, but people like it and it's about to shut down, if it hasn't already.
There's good Ethiopian food in San Jose, something I take advantage of often. I'd recommend the newish Walia. Cafe Rehoboth and Zeni are good, too, as probably are a few others. Zeni is sort of an institution if you want a more popular place, though I prefer the food at the other two.
What about Tamarine in Palo Alto? It's upscale Vietnamese. I've only been there once, for lunch, but it was good. The vast selection of places in San Jose are worth exploring.
Something really satisfying is Oren's Hummus Shop on University in Palo Alto. It's a new, Israeli hummus place with falafel and various vegetable sides, all made from good, fresh, mostly organic ingredients. It's the kind of place I could go to regularly and enjoy. If you like that kind of food, it's right in PA. In some ways, given the not so dazzling local food scene there, it's my current Palo Alto favorite in that it's a tasty, healthy, simple, home style meal that hits the spot. In that sense, if I were elsewhere, I'd probably miss it more than anywhere else in town in that it would be the hardest to replace with an equivalent, something I couldn't easily say about much else there, even if they're places I enjoy.
Again, as others recommend, search for specifics as much is discussed here. Or come back and ask about some particular cuisine or place.
Have a nice week. And if you have anything to say about living in Durham, I'm very much interested in reading/hearing it.
Oren's Hummus Shop in PA
This place is a find. Tasty, healthy food for reasonable prices on University Ave. How about that. I like eating like this.
We had the beef kebab, which I actually didn't get to before it was all eaten. My wife thought it was a bit overcooked, though.
The rest was top notch. We had the hummus with fava beans (foul), the beans of which may not have been fava beans. Whatever it was, it was great, a generous portion, light and creamy with a great taste and texture balance with the beans and pureed hummus. BTW, the hummus is pureed, so if you prefer it with more of a food mill sort of texture, you won't find it here. I tend to like that texture, but this was so creamy that it more than made up for it.
I'm not a fries person, but the sweet potato fries were delicious and crispy on the outside without tasting that greasy. Same goes for the felafel. The sides of beets, Romanian eggplant and the Moroccan tomato dish (can't remember the name) were very good. Best of all of those dishes may have been the complimentary cabbage that we got when we sat down. The all you can eat pita bread didn't do much for me, but I'm not much of a pita bread fan or eater, so I didn't really care. I'd hope for a chewier bread that suits my tastes more, but that's outside the normal bounds of the cuisine, I think.
I didn't try the lemonade, but look forward to doing that. Tart won't bother me. On the contrary, I like it that way.
The downside was the almost hilariously bad service. It's not that anyone was rude, it's that there was barely any service at all. Tables didn't get cleaned, water and menus didn't appear in any reasonable time frame, the asked for and promised set of condiments (harissa, garlic oil and the like) never appeared at all. Nor did my requested refill of the cabbage that I was told would be coming.
Still, as one who likes this sort of food, both as middle eastern style dishes and clean, homemade, organic ingredient, not so starchy sustenance, it was a big hit. I'll be back soon.
Best Ethiopian in Bay Area?
Cafe Rehoboth replaced Zeni as my main Ethiopian spot in San Jose some years ago. I feel like they use better overall ingredients and no corn oil. I've almost certainly eaten more meals there than any other south bay restaurant the last few years.
There's a new place in San Jose at Bascom and San Carlos called Walia. Though it's at a seedy corner, it's pleasantly and brightly decorated, run by a welcoming and capable family who aims to make this work. It's moving into becoming a contender for the top spot for me. Among its virtues is that their injera is made mostly of teff and doesn't use the self rise leavening that lots of Ethiopian places do. So it tastes great and doesn't leave me feeling bloated, a matter of which they're conscious. Most of what I've tried there so far in a few visits has been very strong. Definitely check it out if you're a south bay denizen. They're happy to answer questions and tell you about what they're doing there.
I can sympathize with the poster in San Mateo who has to cover ground to eat Ethiopian. I wish there were some Ethiopian restaurants in places where there isn't an Ethiopian population. I feel like some of the places in Oakland and San Jose are hurt by their locations and the amount of competition, Rehoboth among them. Put a place like that into the quantity over quality morass that is Mountain View's Castro St. and I'm inclined to think they'd pack the place regularly. Easy for me to say, though. I might be wrong for one thing and the start up costs would be too high for another.
Blenheim apricots in 510/SF-415 Bay Area?
Jurevich has my favorite cherries, too. Firm and sweet/tart. I think the season is over, though.
Raw Milk?
I'm curious, too.
I don't buy it much, but the Claravale milk is really tasty. The first time I gave it to my daughter, I didn't tell her it was other than the Strauss milk she was used to drinking.
She immediately said it was the best tasting milk she'd had.
Steakout, unusual grass-fed hamburgers, downtown Mountain View
My second time around wasn't quite as dazzling as the first. I again ordered the aged version. My burger was slightly overcooked, though not enough to totally dry it out and make it gray. But this time, the flavor wasn't so startlingly lively. It was just another pretty good burger. And I'm not that into burgers that I'd come eat one like this every week.
I wonder if this isn't a function of what they're doing with the aged beef burgers. Grass fed meat tends to be a little erratic in its flavor and texture relative to the corn finished stuff to begin with. (That's fine with me, given the tradeoffs.) Plus, they're saying they're using far more parts of the cow than just chuck or whatever. So if on a given day, you get a mixture that has more chuck and sirloin and on another you get more rib eye and hangar, the experience will be quite a bit different.
I'll probably give it some time before my next visit, though my kids may get me back sooner. Knowing that there's a place other than home where I can feed them burgers with grass fed beef is comforting.
Steakout, unusual grass-fed hamburgers, downtown Mountain View
I've tried all the Turkish places on Castro other than Bodrum. I'd meant to go there, but never did. I feel like there really is something about that location, the building in particular, that keeps people away. It's paradoxical in that the outdoor eating area and multiple doors that make access easy and could create a tone of openness, but somehow the place seems cold and uninviting. Maybe it's just me, but plenty have stayed away from that spot.
Hopefully, this will go well for the owners. Whether there's much of a market for grass fed meat in Mountain View, I don't know. I hope there is. But plenty of people like burgers and the one I ate was bursting with flavor, texture and juiciness that was different from most, including high end ones. So those who don't care about the quality or origins of the meat may be persuaded by the taste.
It's been a few years since I've been to RWC's La Casita Chilanga, but the buns remind me of the torta bread there, at least as I recall it.
Steakout's definitely a work in progress, so some settling out and evolution of things is surely forthcoming.
Steakout, unusual grass-fed hamburgers, downtown Mountain View
The aged beef burger was sensational, rich with flavor. With the aged option, they use a mixture of ground meet from multiple parts of the cow, not just chuck or the like. That bun is light and has great texture.
I don't see where they're competing with many local places in content or quality, either. How many places in Mountain View serve grass fed beef in any form?
It'll be interesting to see what they do with the menu over the upcoming weeks.
I never ate at Bodrum, though I'd meant to. How was it?
Favorite SF Korean?
Please elaborate on those better than Jang Su Jang options in Santa Clara if you could.
Good butcher in the south bay or peninsula?
Have you tried the farmers markets? Prather Ranch is at Campbell and their meat (beef, vitellone, lamb, pork) is of the highest quality, grass fed and consistently delicious. There are two grass fed vendors at the Mountain View market, one with Longhorn beef and the other with a variety of grass fed meats, including goat among the other usuals. I don't find either of their meats to be as good as Prather, but they're worth a look.
This is different from a butcher, I know, but it's something to explore.
Great Clean place for Mole, Cabrito and Yucatan food in West San Jose
We've been here a couple of times recently and also liked it quite a bit. I second the recommendation on the goat (cabrito). The carne asada is a cut above, caldo de pollo tasty with a welcome bunch of veggies within. My wife liked the chile rellenos. The second time, I ordered some grilled veggies, which were fine and spicy, if not otherwise memorable. We tasted a few other things, too, including the fish tacos and the mole (not as part of a dish) all of which were good.
Lunch in/around Palo Alto Town & Country Village?
Good to see that you liked the Vegan Love Fest. It's a great blend of flavors and textures, one of the dishes I like a lot in this area. I'm with you on the Mayfield Bakery, too.
Lunch in/around Palo Alto Town & Country Village?
I'd recommend Calafia, too, especially if you're not that into eating meat. (Though their meat dishes are worthwhile.)
On the veggie menu, the quinoa/beet salad is good. I like the vegan love fest pizza, which I only recommend because it's a nice blend of flavors and textures that's a little different. There's a new dish, the vegan love plate or something along those lines. The other day, it was a sensual puree of cauliflower, sauteed greens, some large white beans that could have used a bit more cooking, polenta with what seemed to be shiitake mushrooms, maybe another thing or two. I'd order it again. The wakame salad is nice. There are lots of other good dishes, too.
I'm not crazy about the beet/citrus salad (it lacks character), or the braised greens with almond butter. I love almond butter, actually, but it just creates a texture and heaviness that doesn't work for me in that dish. I haven't had it for awhile, though, and it's always on the menu, so it may have evolved some or maybe others just like it more than I do.
I probably wouldn't make a point of going to Howie's, largely because the places mentioned by the OP are better and because I don't like the fast food restaurant ambiance there. Overall, I prefer Calafia's pizza, anyway.
What's the deal with restaurants in Palo Alto?
Believe me, bergersworth, I can relate. I moved to Mountain View six years ago after decades in SF. It's an adjustment in many ways. It's still the bay area, but it's really a different culture down here and values about and attitudes toward food are different. You'll be smiling in July, though, when it's summer here and it's 58 degrees with the wind howling in SF.
Sometimes, you'll have to head up to the city or the east bay to have an inspired meal in an urban environment and you'll savor it knowing that what was once easily available is now a special, but still accessible treat.
Otherwise, search the board and see what you can find. Be willing to drive twenty minutes. That will help a lot. Density of quality is not the name of the game in the south bay. (That's not unique to the south bay. Any suburban style area is this way, lots of SoCal, the Texas cities, etc.) You'll find your spots where you do and eventually, you'll build a list of places you feel pretty good about. There are a lot of good things to eat, but not a lot of great things, at least not for me and my family. I realize this offends some people, but it's not meant that way.
We enjoy Calafia. It's not necessarily the place for the greatest recipes; it's not at the top of the list for California cuisine, but it's good food in a casual setting made with high quality ingredients, including grass feed beef and the like, something which is in shorter supply in restaurants down this way. I think it fits the bill for what you're asking for if your expectations are in the right place.
I haven't tried anywhere near all the places near University Ave. or on Castro in Mountain View, but I find those areas to be more quantity than real quality. There are places I haven't been that I want to try, though. Scattered about are interesting ethnic restaurants that aren't worth a plane flight for those outside the area, but that are worth trying. Some will probably become regulars on your circuit, some that aren't will at least have been worthwhile adventures.
On a related note, there are lots of good farmers markets, very reasonable competitors to the ones in SF. Some items will require a trip north, though. Trying finding a good selection of cheese somewhere. If you succeed, please post its location.
SJ Eats: What did you think?
I had the same experience; two tries and I left without bothering to wait in the lines. It was so crowded it was hard to figure out where the lines even were. It was a bonanza for the neighborhood restaurants that got all the overflow, though. Must have been their best day ever.
ISO Good Eats in the Downtown San Jose Area
If we're including Hunan Taste in the territory of the OP's question, Cafe Rehoboth, which is a few blocks closer to downtown on 6th between Taylor and Jackson right near the main drag of Japantown, has very good Ethiopian food. It's likely that I've eaten there more times than any other restaurant in San Jose. It's run by a fine family with lots of organic veggies. Everything's tasty and satisfying.
Ephesus (Mediterranean cuisine), Mtn View
The white bean soup, only available on weekends, is worth a visit all on its own. White beans, a bit of chile and some stewed, melt in your mouth lamb. Just delicious. Get an order, than get another.
The Imam Bayildi, a baked eggplant with bell peppers, onions and a bit more is nice. The gyro meat is pretty good.
I'll go here again.
Napoletana Pizzeria, Mountain View
We tried the Margherita and Pizza del Cafone, in that order, with results and impressions that match Melanie's point by point, even though we made no requests.
I'd say that compared to other pizzas touted as Neapolitan that I've eaten in the bay area, that these are much drier and crispier. Flour + Water and Tony's Neapolitan pizzas, the latter in particular, are quite moist by comparison. It's been awhile, but my recollection of A16 and Pizzaiolo is that they're not this dry, either.
The minestrone we ordered had a nice melding of its flavors with a bit of butteriness.
We'll certainly be back, though I'm sympathetic to dump's complaint. We were disappointed by the size and dryness, the lack of delicacy relative to the other places I mentioned, though the latter two are probably more a matter of personal preference than anything else.
Destination dining in South Bay?
I finally stopped by Zitune while in downtown Los Altos the other day for a long desired first visit.
Uh-oh.
It shut down on January 9. A message posted on the door blamed the restaurant's demise on the economy and the failure of downtown Los Altos' revitalization.
Bummer.
SF-flavored Xmas gift for a foodie?
The La Cocina and Rancho Gordo suggestions are worthwhile ones from my POV. Beans aren't hard to come by, but I doubt you can find the selection of heirloom varieties that they offer in most places. They can be a revelation if you like beans and haven't had them before. Get 'em at the Ferry Building out in front on Saturdays or at Rainbow Grocery. Does Berkeley Bowl carry them?
What about a loaf or two of Anna's Daughter's Rye Bread? It's an old world bread that uses fermentation instead of yeast. It's sour chewiness is not for everyone, but I love it. You can find this sort of bread here and there around the US, but it's not everywhere by a long shot.
http://annasrye.com/
Maybe some good farmers market produce that we see here that don't necessarily appear elsewhere all that often. Not certain what that would be in this case. Maybe some heirloom apples, unusual varieties of persimmons, etc. But maybe those things are readily available in certain parts of Texas.
Healthy Food in San Fran
It's been months since I ate there, but my recollection is that the food I tried didn't have such distinctive flavors. I ordered a dish that had a few tacos and some beans. I recall the tortillas having a kind of crumbly, course texture, which didn't cut it for me. I wish I could remember what the fillings were. It was more bland in its flavors and textures than it was "bad." I don't even mean bland in the spicy sense. There just wasn't much character, nothing that made me want to savor each bite.
I like the idea of it, though. It just didn't do it for me, at least on that visit.
If you're really curious and you live in this area, I'd recommend checking it out just to see what you think. It's not terrible in the "stay away" sense. I expect that I'll give it another try someday.
Where to buy hazelnuts in the South Bay?
The Los Altos Whole Foods has them. It's further afield, but The Country Sun on California Ave. in PA probably has them, too.
Healthy Food in San Fran
I'm not a huge Gracias Madre fan, either, but I don't understand why Mexican food doesn't need to be healthy to any degree that's different than any other cuisine.
best authentic indian food in the bay area?
Let us know what you discover, foopenn, favorably and otherwise.
