mspea's Profile
cupcake/wedding cake/Miette
You might also consider Sibby's Cupcakery, http://www.sibbyscupcakery.com. They did the cupcakes for my daughter's wedding (4 different flavors), and they were delicious and lovely.
Chez Saigon, Belmont?
I haven't seen any mention on the boards of this relatively new, reportedly upscale Vietnamese restaurant. Any reports?
Pacific Grove/Monterey - Need Help
Many on the board, including me, would heartily recommend Passionfish in Pacific Grove. (Search the board and you'll see lots of posts.) Sustainable seafood-heavy menu, with a fabulous wine list priced at just about retail. (If nothing else, the price to quality ratio of the wine can't be beat!) I've seen lots of well-behaved kids in there, including young ones like yours. www.passionfish.net
By all means, head out to Spanish Bay one evening to watch the bagpiper who walks the links every night. I think it's at 6:00, but call and double check. To keep it food related, you can order apps and drinks from Roy's while you huddle up next to the outdoor fire pits.
Fine business dining suggestions in Palo Alto area?
If "Palo Alto area" can extend to Redwood City, I'd throw John Bentley's into the mix, http://www.johnbentleys.com/redwood-city/home.html. I also like the Woodside location (just up the road from the Village Pub), but the Redwood City location seems better suited to a business dinner.
Carmel Area Restaurant Needed (Dungeness Crab)
I would nix Fresh Cream and Fandango, as they've both been in serious decline for several years. My favorite for fish (and that of many other posters here) is Passionfish in Pacific Grove, www.passionfish.net. It can sometimes get a little noisy, but that hasn't often been a problem for me. (Use the search feature and you'll see lots of posts.) If you like wine, you're in luck, as their extensive and interesting wine list is priced at about $1 over retail.
Best Turkish in Bay Area (doner kebab, hookah?)
Tarboosh is in Redwood City (on Jefferson, across from the new movie theater complex). As far as I know, the hookah smoking is outdoors on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.
Buck's in Woodside
I'm a big fan of the artichoke, half stuffed with Dungeness crab, the other half with shrimp.
If you haven't checked out their menu, it will give you a pretty good idea of the overal feel of the place. www.buckswoodside.com
graduation dinner in San Francisco, recs please!
After my daughter's USF graduation last year, we had a Chinese banquet at Great Eastern. The food was good (plenty of seafood and veggie options, of course), and it was fun for the out-of-towners. We ordered one of their set menus, and everyone enjoyed it. As you probably know, 10 is the perfect number for a banquet table.
Looking for Italian sub in SF, specific requirements
If you can venture down to Redwood City, try the Woodside Deli on Woodside Road. (try the Godfather, hold the artichoke hearts): http://woodsidedeli.net/sandwiches.htm
Looking for LA style mexican in SF
Mexquite on Broadway in Redwood City has a huge selection of tequilas, makes a good margarita, and has both "old school" dishes (which is what I think you're looking for) and more modern, upscale items.
Broasted Chicken?
It's actually now a pho place, but they still serve the original "Speedy's" chicken. 756 Woodside Road, in the same little strip mall that houses the newest El Grullense.
AWOL in Monterey: Massaro/Santos, Monterey FH
I'm also a huge fan of PF's mussels, esp. if prepared in any sort of Asian-style broth.
monterey carmel great food
For many of us, the best restaurant in the Monterey Bay area is Passionfish in Pacific Grove. Delicious sustainable fish (also good non-seafood items), and a wine list at $1-2 above retail. Search the boards and you'll find plenty of glowing recommendations.
Best Cheap Eats located Mid-Peninsula
Saigon City in San Mateo (418 E. 3rd) has delicious pho and bun, good banh mi, and a full menu of Vietnamese dishes.
The new place on Woodside Road (in the same strip mall as the new El Grullense) has OK pho. There's another new pho place on Broadway in Redwood City but haven't tried it yet.
Next Question: Chinese Lettuce Cups in the Bay Area?
Long ago I heard them attributed to Cecilia Chiang of ex-Mandarin fame.
Cheese shop with great selection on the peninsula?
Try Woodside Deli on Woodside Road in Redwood City. Good selection, very knowledgeable folks. Avoid lunchtime, though, when the crowds are out the door. I assume you've also tried Draegers in San Mateo or Menlo Park.
Group-Size Savory Pies (a la Noble Pies)?
For many years, my family's tradition was to have several varieties of Noble Pies' tasty offerings for our final holiday meal. It was always the perfect ending to the festivities. Does anything similar exist anymore? I work in SF and live on the Peninsula, but would be willing to trek to the East Bay to pick something up if necessary.
Liberty Grill suggestions?
The tomato soup is delicious. I'm not a seared ahi fan, but the diners around me were ooh'ing and aah'ing over their ahi salad.
Blowout dinner for 10 people - where?
The Dining Room at the Ritz has a lovely private room that holds a max of 16, I think, and I imagine they'd accommodate 10.
Garlic butter in a tube?
Are you sure it was garlic *butter*? I've seen garlic paste/puree in a tube, by the same people who make the tomato paste.
Looking for good food in Monterey
I've never had it, but I've seen people eating fish and chips at Sea Harvest (market and restaurant) on Foam in New Monterey and it looks very good. I buy most of my fish there, and it's always delicious. There are other locations in the Crossroads Shopping Center and in Moss Landing, but I've never been to those.
I like the oyster preps (and even more, the mussels) at Passionfish in Pacific Grove, and on my last visit, had a delicious Dungeness crab and avocado salad. I think the crab is coming from Alaska at this time of year, since the local season doesn't start until mid-November. I'd also recommend Passionfish for the best fried calamari I've ever had anywhere, but it wasn't on the menu last week; I think the season may be over for the year, but I'm not positive.
Sahara - New Turkish on Larkin in SF
The beyti at Troya is decent enough, but I far prefer New Kapadokia's version.
Recs for Monterey - nothing trendy, please
La Giostra? http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/88549?user_name=&query=la+giostra
Recs for Monterey - nothing trendy, please
The Fishwife in Pacific Grove, if ever good, has slipped badly. Their sister restaurant, Turtle Bay Taqueria, in Monterey and Seaside, is good. And to clarify, if the "Fish House" referred to is Monterey's Fish House (in an old pink house), it's on Del Monte in Monterey, near the entrance to Hwy. 1 (and not near PG).
The best fish to be had IMO, and a favorite among posters here, is Passionfish in Pacific Grove. It's neither fancy nor trendy, although it is quite popular and serves wonderful sustainable fish (and good non-seafood items as well). If you're a wine fan, they've got a great wine list, with bottles sold at about $1-2 above retail.
Other good breakfast spots are Toasties and the Red House Cafe, both in Pacific Grove. Red House also serves lunch, and dinner on weekends.
http://www.fishwife.com/turtlebay.htm
http://www.passionfish.net/index.html
http://www.redhousecafe.com/
Really good rotisserie chicken on the mid-Peninsula (Redwood City to San Mateo)?
Sounds great. I often get my fish there, but haven't ever seen the chicken. Thanks for sharing your find.
Really good rotisserie chicken on the mid-Peninsula (Redwood City to San Mateo)?
On those nights when I just don't have the time or energy to fix dinner after work, I'd love to find a place that has really good rotisserie (or roasted) chicken. I've tried a few of the local markets, including Piazza in Laurelwood as well as various larger chains, but have so far been underwhelmed. I haven't tried Whole Foods or Roberts in Woodside. I know that Costco's version is supposed to be great, but none of the nearby Costcos has them. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
Bouchee in Carmel--is there a better place?
I was remarkably underwhelmed by my recent visit to Bouchee, and my experience was apparently not an aberration: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/327283 I'd consider Marinus at Bernardus if you don't have to be in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Downtown Los Angeles Grocers??
Don't know if this will help, but here's a link to a related question I asked a short while ago: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/309936?user_name=mspea&query=downtown
Incredibly disappointed at Carmel's Bouchee
The "tasting menu" is really a four-course prix fixe. When I went, it was the same as described in the original post, with abalone instead of the corn soup. The tiny, tender and sweet morsels of abalone were by far the hit of the meal.
In our case, no acknowledgement of any of the service problems.
Liberty Grill in downtown los angeles
NorCal hound here. I had dinner there Saturday night, as my daughter lives a block away. The service was actually (mostly) fine -- definitely pleasant and well-meaning, if not entirely polished. Cirque du Soleil was at Staples, so it was pretty crowded when we arrived (6:30), but we were seated right away (in the heated patio) and never neglected.
As to the food: I had the 1/2 roast chicken with roasted veggies and mashed potatoes. The chicken was delicious: moist and flavorful, with a great crispy skin. The veggies had an incredible smoky flavor that I loved, but my daughter thought too strong. The potatoes were eh. mrpea started with the cream of tomato soup, which was great, followed up with a steak. I forgot to taste it, but it looked good. Daughter started with the lettuce wedge, which she liked a lot, then had the mushroom ravioli as her main; the ravioli were okay, not great, and had clearly been sitting under the heat lamps too long. We split the berry cobbler for dessert, which was sublime and just enough for the three of us.
All in all, I thought the restaurant had promise and will definitely give it another try.
