tomritza's Profile
Lers Ros - Yum
Having spent many hours in the Thai restaurants of LA, inclduing Jitlada, this is, at the moment, the best SF has to offer, and it does not compare to quite a number of LA Thai spots in Mid Hollywood. Wish it were not so.
The Refuge in San Carlos: REAL Pastrami and more!
They do have a heavier smoke then NYC. While I'm not generally an advocate of a heavier smoke, which seems to prevalent in West Coast smoked fish, it does seem to work, here for their pastrami which I also think is the best I have ever had. Now, if only they had dark rye........
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West Coast Cafe
466 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066
Whole Foods Soup Alternatives-San Mateo Area
I had taken to have soup at Whole Foods for lunch but the prices have really gotten out of whack, even for Whole Foods. The larger size soups are approaching $10.00! So I am looking for an alternative to their soups, yet would like to maintain the quality. Any thoughts or ideas?
dRed 0 - The "Mr. Chow-is-to-Chinese" Mexican Equivalent
Well lets see. I was there last Saturday. Reservations at 10:45PM and we were there well past midnight as were lots of other people. I saw the restaurant and the sign quite easily. Don't know what that issue was. In any case, we had the address. Don't care about the website. The restaurant just opened. I am sure it will be more complete soon for those to whom it matters.
Yes they had someone out front checking a list. Yes it was kind of goofy. I just laughed. Its LA not Chicago I guess. But it didnt bother me in the least, and the young guy checking people "in" out front seemed to be having fun so not sure what the issue is there
The food was marvelous from the sopes and goat cheese tamale, to the sea bass and the suckling pig,
Of course the next day we were at Moles La Tia and I had a huitlacoche mole that had me considering moving to the neighborhood just to be closer to it.. The corn soup just added more pleasure as well as pain since we live 350 miles away.
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Moles La Tia
4619 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022
New Malaysian -Manja- Restaurant in WeHo
We ate there this weekend and found the food a little uneven but pomising. I understand it was not inexpensive however the LAT article mentioned it took two years to bring the building up to code. Its not easy running a business in California, and even less so in LA. It costs alot of money and someone pays for it. West LA is not KL,
We DID however, have very similar service glitches. They said their system was down but that didn't really account for not having utensils or the multiple requests for items. THAT needs to be fixed,
Anything interesting in Oak Brook/Lombard area?
Im going to second the Vie recomendation. It is, far and away, the best of the list you have been given. But call well in advance especially with a group.
The "C" Restaurant-Intercontinental Monterey
Curious if anyone has eaten here and if there are any impressions?
4 days in SF from a NYC foodie point of view
Do you have any more info on Dojimina? Sounds interesting but I dont see much on it anywhere.
Looking for a San Francisco local crab lunch...
Just had a crab melt at Ferry Plaza Seafood yesterday, at the counter, looking out on the Bay Bridge...and with a nice glass of Anchor Steam. I couldnt think of any place I would rather have been.
The Cask in San Carlos -- wine bar
Has occasion to try this as The Refuge was closed for the holidays. We had made plans to meet friends there (guess it pays to check first)
In any case, we tried this spot as a potentially reasonable substitute. It was not....in any way. I think the Sysco call is a good one. Ingrediants are not acceptable. Wine list was unintersting. Overcooked pasta dish appeared to have raw garlic in it. I would not give them a second shot. It did seem crowded for whatever reason.
Katsu Sushi in Beverly Hills
Boy that was my thought too. You call for a reservation, show up and then because nobody is there just drive off? I sincerely hope you called to cancel at a minimum. Common courtesy.
The Exquisite Heat of Oaxaca - Monte Alban [Review] w/ Pics!
I utterly love their Mole Negro. It has a finish like a fine wine....long and lingering and complex. Mouth coating. Are there this last Friday and now, two days later, i still taste, in my mind, that Mole. Its a bit lessy spicy than a few that I have had which, in my view, reflects its magnificent balance. Nothing overwhelms, just blends, the hallmark of a great Mole.
For those that find the chicken dry, try the Enchiladas with pork and the Mole Negro. The tortillas are small, folded and sprinkled with Queso Blano. I have found the pork to be moister and, quite honestly, think it matches better than the chicken with the Mole Negro. Service was, as usual,warm and professional.
Awesome breakfasts in LA, I can name two. How about you?
I will admit to not being a big breakfast person but....can I be the only person that is not a fan of Hugos. The coffee has been very poor on the two occasions I ate there...watery, weak..bland..but that is a bit of my assessment of it in general. I had the chilaquiles and....I thought they were bland.
The Oaxacan Kitchen-Palo Alto
Havent been there. Had a similar experience with a place in San Jose called Ricardos on Hamilton and Winchester. The definition of the phrase "hole in the wall". A coworker told me about it. Mole is not the focus of their menu which made me even more skeptical but it was actually very good. When I went, which was some time back over 6 months, they had a big old pot of it going in the back.
The Oaxacan Kitchen-Palo Alto
Guess I am going to be a bit of a contrarian here. Ate there over the weekend and we were disappointed in the moles to be honest. In one case, the poached chicken breast was bland and overcooked. The Mole Negro had a touch of heat but the layered complexity just wasn't there. To be honest it just seemed to lack flavor other than the chilies. In another, the Enmolada, there was almost a bitter taste at times. To use a wine comparison, if a great mole is comporable to a great Bordeaux, in its complexity and looooong finish, this was more of a non-rustic Vin de Pays.
Dont know if there is too much of an attempt to steer the flavors to local sensibilities with oils and such.
Sushi Zo -- Only if you'll pay $150/person to be insulted by the rude and arrogant Keizo
exactly. Look there is a sushi chef in SF that is well known for the same thing and is known for having one of the very best sushi bars in the Bay Area. In fact, I was there once when a patron was scolded for keeping his sushi sitting in soy. I can understand, i guess, being a bit annoyed by the reminders, but I have no doubt that, every day, he has people coming in asking for a Dragon Roll, or Cream Cheese Roll or....well you get the idea.
Signs on etiquette at the bar??? So what? Ignore them, as you would a "no shirt, no shoes, no service" sign. There arent alot of truly good sushi bars. There are thousand of mediocre ones. If these are his minor attempts and education, then so be it. Doesnt bother me at all.
And as far as the fish, I thought it was the best i have had stateside.
Am I stuck in a rut at Langers or Smart?
Corned Beef on Dark Rye. NO cheese. IMHO.....
Seeking unique LA food experience on the Westside
You have a couple of votes for Monte Alban and I will throw mine in as well. Mole is a particular favorite and mine and it is harrrrrd to find good mole. Very hard.
Monte Albans Mole Negro has the complex, slightly smoky fine wine complexity that is sooo hard to find. Its texture is smooth and silky, not the clunky chunky too sweet moles that are far to common. The Mole Rojo had the appropriate added heat that just added and did not overwhelm the flavors.
Based on a recommendation we also tried the Estofado De Pollo Mole, which is tomato based. Perhaps it was the tomatoes, perhaps it was my drooling tastebud expectations but it seemed too sweet and lacked the complexity.
I will also throw in a vote for Shaherzad for Persian. Good breads,Tahdig and stews. Lots of families when I was there, lots of energy! The decor has that "welcome to 1985" look going and the service has a bit of the "please dont ask me any stupid questions I have been answering since 1985" also....at least in my experience. But overall, I enjoyed it!
RockSugar
I think a "B" for the food is......generous.......After having been here, there are two ways to look at these places.
1. Is an entryway for people to explore more authentic versions of these foods in other restaurants
2. The amazingly oversalted yes still somehow very bland versions become the standard expectation that then infects other restaurants.
My fear is #2
Chow article on ten must haves in Beijing - where to get them in LA
Any other Peking Duck opinions?
One night in LA
I will third Sushi Zo. I still dream about the Toro. To me, its what sushi is all about. I have not had better.
Columbian or Central American Tamales
Thanks! I will continue search and report back on wherever I go, in a couple of weeks
Columbian or Central American Tamales
Had Columbian Tamales for Christmas a few years back. Homemade and awesome.Potatoes, meat, egg, olives, raisins, spices, and wrapped in a banana leaf. Are there any spots that specialize in these marvels, or similiar Central American style. No Mexican.....im covered there.
I know of Tamara's but I am looking for something a bit more authentic and I know Mama's comes up often because of the variety offered but also not what I am looking for.
There must be a hidden gem out there somewhere.....maybe.
Fav. mediocre eats (inspired by bianca pizza thread)
Ha. I was trying to decide between Cantors and Brighton Coffee Shop in BH
Best Omakase (L.A.)
Ate at Sushi Zo recently and, for me, it was the best sushi i have had in the US...and perhaps outside the US as well. I almost got down on my knees and cried after seeing and eating the toro and uni. He had a behind the counter helper that needs a little work on presentation but on the other hand, it helped remind me I was in LA, not outside Tsukiji...well that and the strip mall setting. Price was also around 75.00ish a person.
Casa Bianca Eagle Rock - Best Pizza Ever
Indeed Casa Bianca is one of those places you either get or you dont. I am a fan, but mostly because I get an almost primal response to eating a pizza that reminds me of my childhood pizzas back in Chicago many many MANY years ago.
SF- Does the Emperor have no Chowhound clothes?
mmmm perhaps. But SF has the "big rep" while the South Bay is looked on, in some quarters, as being bereft of adequate cuisine. And certainly, for well known fine dining, SF has it all over the entire Bay Area. And I refer to what is admittedly my own definition of "chowhound".
So yes I know there is a single Sardinian restaurant, the well know Argentinan steakhouse, the one or two German spots that are implied on that list....Italian I can certainly find outside the city. How Chowhoundy those spots are is another question. I wasnt really attempting to name all cuisines.
But now that you mention it, of your list, I can find equal or in some cases much better than the majority of that list. I just think that, for what I am defining as Chowlike places, (ie not upscale, well known, higher profile restaurants but the family run hidden gems) my universe has shifted outside of SF and into the vast hinterlands beyond....mainly South.
I would agree however, that perhaps I need to spend some more research time in SF.
No Reservations: Uruguay
Had a great all meat meal at a little nameless (at least nameless to my memory) outdoor parrilla in Uruguay. The owner/chef varied the heat on the meat by moving the wood around on the grill like an artist. Gawd was a fine meal.....course being outdoors helped.
SF- Does the Emperor have no Chowhound clothes?
It occurred to me that, as time has gone on, I now rarely if ever go to SF for what admittedly is my own definition of Chowhound food. SF seems to have become the home of higher end Cal Cuisine. It does have its Viet, Chinese and Northern Indian spots, or higher end "me too" spots such as Dosa, but I can get better and more diverse efforts of those in the cities I now seem to be spending my time in. (San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Fremont, Millbrae, Redwood City, Mt View, Foster City etc). I can also get better efforts of subsets of Korean, Japanese, and Mexican among others.
Seems to me that the Chowhound universe has shifted over the years I have been here. But then again, maybe I have shifted. Interested in others thoughts.
"I am from [insert city], so I know good food"
Interestingly the most Chowhoundy of food in the Bay Area is no longer in SF but in environs outside the city. SF has a uniquely undeserved arrogance. At least NY comes by theirs honestly. Its the third city I have lived in and it comes in third in Chow worthiness.
