karma_bites's Profile
Dinner for 1 in Palo Alto?
Two places spring to mind, The Refuge on Laurel in San Carlos, which is about 15 minutes up the El Camino Real in San Carlos, and Martins West in Redwood City on Main, just a little closer than The Refuge to Palo Alto. Both are top notch. I am partial to the wine list and selection of on tap Belgian beers at The Refuge and the scotch and bar snacks at Martins West.
Rangoli Sweets - Santa Clara
The curried cahsews are really good, but for some reason I absolutely LOVE the vegetable cutlets.
And no, i am not vegetarian. Why is it when you tell people you love a vegetable cutlet they immediately assume you're vegetarian?
fatted calf boudin noir and smoked duck breast
I very much enjoyed Boccalone's blood sausage. It requires gentle cooking and is well worth it. The casing is delicate enough to eat, but I always liked casing. I never skinned my franks.
The Refuge
I never loved Cel-Ray. I didn't even ask. Didn't despise it, but never loved it. They do make a cherry soda that is quite good. A cream soda though? Or an egg cream? Yeah, I wish that was on the menu. But it's not a deli. It's not that kind of place at all.
Think more of a first date place. The kind of place you can suggest to someone you're interested in. They'll be impressed by what a cool place it is, how good the food is, how really attractive and comfortable the bar is and you'll be happy with the food. Even if there's no second date you'll both tell your friends about the restaurant.
I guess what I'm saying is it's a place where the owners and staff have undertaken, with a considerable degree of time and effort, to make an excellent product which was previously lacking in our region, coupled with other excellent products from all over the Bay Area and the world, and the trouble to present it in an extremely clean and comfortable environment and a charming atmosphere.
Chowhounds are the most adventurous diners. Maybe you won't like it. You may find Belgian ales cloying. I'm not always in the mood for a Chimay (but I like one more days than not). Such a venture deserves a chance, even if it doesn't try to mimic our beloved delis. Try it, and then tell me what you think.
And I don't believe there is a corking fee if you bring your own Dr. Brown's.
The Refuge
The Refuge
963 Laurel Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
650 598-9813
http://www.refugesc.com/
If I can parrot Makansutra, this is Die-Die-Must-Try. They make their own pastrami and oh-lord-yes! is it good.
Yes, the great past-time of New Yorkers in San Francisco has been brought to an abrupt halt. There is now good pastrami to be had locally. Owner Matt Levin makes the pastrami and it is truly worthy. I won't bother to try to describe it. You know what good pastrami is. Go try it and see if I'm not right (I am right, don't even try it on). On a level with Katz's,Langer's, and whatever they serve in Paradise.
But wait, there's more! Chopped liver is to die for. Okay, it isn't Barney Greengrass, but then, what is? It is the best by far you'll get sans flight out of SFO.
There is a good wine list and, this is where the absolutely win my allegiance, a brilliant collection of Belgian ales on tap. Chimay? Sure, but oh so much more.
Pastrami rillettes - not a typo! Get the grand plate and try a variety not to be beat.
Burger meat is ground on site and it makes a difference.
And the fries? The fries are perfect. Crispy on the outside, pillowy on the inside. I know I cannot finish the fries with any other item on the menu, but I order them anyway. Because I'm a frites snob and I can't pass them up.
I have not tried the cheese steaks or desserts.If you try them let me know what you think.
Now that I've had a taste I expect to try everything on the menu. I think it'll take a few months. And I'll have to add a mile a day to my running routine to keep up. But I know it will be worth the extra effort.
The Oaxacan Kitchen-Palo Alto
It is open now and most everything is quite good, the moles can be outstanding, but...
Oh I like these people so much, why does there have to be a "but"?
But the ceviche came with tortilla chips. Really bad from-the-bag tortilla chips. It's little things like that which ruin an experience.
But I'll keep eating here and avoid anyhting with tortilla chips until I see somebody get them fried fresh.
Ron? Por favor?
Help - Picky Eater, Sunday Dinner.
Gregoire. You'll love it, she won't be intimidated. Can't go wrong.
Cheaper eats in Palo Alto area?
The good cheaper places are mostly off of California Ave. Homma's, Cho's, Mediterrannean Wraps, Izzy's Bagels (the pizza here is good if you like the thicker Brooklyn style). There's a decent sandwich place, The Sandwich Mill? Board? Something like that, right off of California. Also the Palo Alto Bakery offers some nice lunches and breakfasts. You can eat at Mollie Stone's relatively cheap.
Pizza My Heart on University isn't bad and you get a decent slice for about $3.50. Gyro Gyro on the other end of University is good and reasonable. Andale has a nice burrito.
Jack Falstaff
Eminently average, the kind of place that gets a rep for who visits, not any native merit. The service is extremely variable and the food, while usually capably prepared, is uninspired and uninspiring. Sorry if that hurts anyone's feelings, but that has been my repeated experience.
Best Croissant in SF/Bay Area?
I love the croissant at Liberty Bakery, but then again I just love Liberty Bakery (behind Liberty Cafe in Bernal Heights).
I also like Panorama's, but they don't have a storefront, you need to find them at a farmers market.
And at least once a year I roll out my own, just to keep my hand in. But you can't go wrong with most any of the choices already mentioned.
Top Five Restaurants in San Mateo
Gator's Neo Soul Food http://www.gatorsneosoul.com/
Please try it, I promise you'll all find something to love there. And make sure you go at least once for dinner so you can get the desserts. The prices are real reasonable. Check the menus for yourself and see what you think.
It is so darn good and the folks are so darn nice, it does deserve your patronage.
And take my advice, get an order of fried chicken to share at the table, because everybody will want a taste.
Where can I buy Sheboygan bratwurst?
Please do not order online, patronise a local butcher worth supporting.
Go to Dittmer's on San Antonio in Mountain View. Get the brats. And everything else you can lay your hands on. The smoked duck legs are great, but why single them out when Mark is so talented that everything is wonderful.
Special distinction with ribbons, stars and oak leaf cluster to the Mozart Loaf. An aptly named example of charcuterie, as it is pure genius.
Palo Alto Takeout - Need Your Best Ideas
No one suggest Homma's Brown Rice Sushi?
Ker-azy!
I don't like brown rice. I like Homma's Sushi, even though it is made with brown rice.
I don't like California Roll. I like Homma's California Roll.
They have vegetarian options.
Their food is excellent. The restaurant itself screams "Get my excellent food as takeout." And they do have a thriving takeout business. I can never make it that far though, I always end up eating there. But don't bother with the miso soup and get your drinks frfom Mollie Stone's which is a couple of seconds away.
They are in an alley off of Ramona which crosses California Ave.
Also, Cho's is right there if you want very inexpensive dumplings.
Students crowd both places so how expensive can they be? Not very, that's how.
Also, Molly Stone's is at the end of California Ave., they have a decent little deli and wine selection.
And California Street is not as far as you think. Just take the pleasant walk down the bike path next to the train track and then walk across the intervening lovely tree-lined neighborhood and you're there. A pleasant walk makes every cuisine taste even better.
For closer to home you could do worse than getting something takeout from Whole Foods. Not a lot worse, but it isn't bad.
Is Rangoon still around? I really liked their Tea Salad.
Avoid Pizza-A-Go-Go and New York Pizza like the plague (the Bad Pizza Plague).
Anything not to miss in downtown San Jose?
I apologize to my fellow NorCal chowhounds in advance but, having lived in SoCal and spent time in Mexico this is not the best place for Mexican food (however, we are the home of the burrito - try La Victoria downtown and sneak a bottle of the napalm orange hot sauce). The best Mexican I've had up here is from the stalls at markets. For example Oaxacan Kitchen, which is at several local markets including the Sunday California Street market in Palo Alto (and hopefully opening soon as a permanent establishment on Ramona St. right off of California Ave.!).
What we have in San Jose that is really great is our own locals and the Vietnamese and Indian food, of which plenty of good quality examples can be found. If you can work a good dosa place and a good pho place into your schedule you won't be disappointed.
Bay Area grocery shopping rant - is something missing?
You need to find one of the old school Italian markets, which are sadly disappearing. Cosentino's, Lunardi's, Zanotto's. Mollie Stone's is good too. But let's face it, nobody can compete with the big chains on the prices for paper products, toothpaste, stuff like that.
Truth to tell, I buy my meat and produce at farmers markets. But it's easy for me, I'm a single guy, not trying to feed a family.
When I moved from the city to the penninsula I used to go to the Cosentino's in Santa Clara. The guys there got to know me right away. They told me what was good and what wasn't. They wouldn't sell anybody a piece of fish that was past it or a piece of meat that wasn't up to par. They had pride in their work and cared about their customers. They looked out for us. I'm sad to see that go.
Anything not to miss in downtown San Jose?
Dakao - really, it looks like not much, but try it. Good and cheap and what San jose is all about.
TK Noodle is universally dreadful. Stay away.
If you can make it out to Julian and 17th, Casa Vickie's has some real fine Mexican hot chocolate and a little panaderia.
Costco's frozen CP Shrimp Won Ton - not bad, not bad!
You can get some very good dumplings from a stand at the Mountain View farmers market on Sunday. They are very good value for money and they all taste brilliant, including hte vegetarian ones. I can't remember the name of the stand, but you can't miss it.
Your "One Dish"
Albondigas at Casa Vickie's on17th and Julian (maybe 13th and Julian?) in San Jose. They make the tortillas there and it's passable good. Not mama's, but passable good and all.
Report: Nick's Crispy Tacos on Polk Street
I went last weekend. It was okay, just okay, maybe good for late night drunken dinner.
If you get it Nick's Way they put a soft tortilla around the (barely) fried inner tortilla, which causes it to steam a bit, defeating the purpose of getting something crispy. And the guacamole was beyond tired, I scrpaed it off after the first bite. What is the big deal about making fresh guac to order? I'm paying you a premium, yeah $4/taco is a premium, at least pretend to care.
I have to admit a big part of my disappointment was due to my own inflated expectations. I was hoping for a true crispy taco, the kind you get in Mexico City where they put the picadillo etc. in a soft tortilla, fold it over, then fry it on each side on a griddle in a little fat, then pile in anything else you want. Now if somebody opened that place here I'd go twice a week.
Dragon fruit
Palo Alto Farmers Market on California Avenue on Sunday, today in fact, there was a nice woman selling large very nice dragon fruit for $6, a very good value.
Also she had very nice longan and 2 varieties of guava that were good. A welcome addition to the market.
The market on California Avenue (there is another Palo Alto farmers market that is also quite nice, but on Saturdays and only until December 9) is supposed to be year around so come by and give her produce some love.
