JT007's Profile
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
Great advice for Healdsburg, thanks....I'm also starting to get the sense that Zuni might be better to pop in for a cocktail and oysters at the bar rather than a full-on dinner....leaving my choice between Frances and Nopa for my SF dinner.
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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Nopa
560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
Thanks for looking out...Cavallo does offer to pick you up at Ferry but I think i'm going to pick up a rental car from Hertz nearby for the trip out to wine country
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
A bit of an update: I'm on the waitlist for TFL for my last night in St Helena....thus far, after all your thoughtful advice and a bit of board research:
Sunday lunch: Ferry Marketplace (either Hog Island or make a picnic)...grab coffee at Blue Bottle
Sunday Dinner: Have a reservation at Frances but still leaning towards Zuni and considering Nopa (Zuni doesnt accept reses until 30 days out)..what are your thoughts on Frances v Zuni?
after dinner, going to try to grab a drink at Bourbon and Branch or Smuggler's Cove on our way back to hotel in Union Square area...
Monday: any recc's for great coffee near Clift Hotel? for lunch, My fiancee loves Mexican, so I think a walk in the Mission is in order for a burrito and then grab a taste of ice cream (Bi-Rite or Humphrey Slocombe??)
Monday Dinner: take a ferry over to Sausalito, grab a drink at Farley Bar at Cavallo Point (where we're staying) and then head to Sushi Ran or Le Garage....how does Sushi Ran compare to say Yasuda in NYC? The menu looks great but even though there are contradicting opinion on Le Garage, it looks like it could be a cool setting for a nice, comfortable meal...
Tuesday: head out to Healdsburg, while tasting Pinots along the way (making appts at Littorai, Merry Edwards and lunch/tasting at Lynmar...may try a stop by at one or two others but dont want to overdo it)
Tuesday Dinner: Cyrus is closed (bummed), casual dinner somewhere, have Ravenous or Barn Diva as the options as of now...
Wednesday: some Dry Creek Rd winery visits in the morning....I want to do lunch in Calistoga, any suggestions? all i'm thinking now is grab stuff for a picnic at CalMart...visit Pride Mountain or Viader before getting to friend's house in St Helena...
Wednesday Night: Dinner with local friends at Press (their choice..thoughts?)
Thursday: more wineries(!), not sure which yet but I will be with locals so I will let them guide me (i'd like to go to Heitz and Frog's Leap).....lunch in Yountville (so many choices and I don't think I want to do Bouchon...something quick and easy...thoughts?)
Thurs Dinner: on waitlist at TFL, got a rese at Meadowood, menu/setting look great, what are the chances it will be nice enough in mid-September to request outdoor table?
Really can't wait for this trip and all the advice is greatly appreciated....one last random thing, we're headed from St Helena to Lake Tahoe for a wedding...any can't miss diner/lunch spots on the drive there?
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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Nopa
560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Blue Bottle Cafe
66 Mint St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Sushi Ran
107 Caledonia St., Sausalito, CA 94965
Le Garage
85 Liberty Ship Way Ste 109, Sausalito, CA
Cavallo Point
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA
Smuggler's Cove
650 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
yeah, i guess so...i dont want to come across as shallow by dismissing Madrona on the grounds of ambiance but i tend to gravitate to more casual places but am also willing to step it up (ala TFL or Cyrus)...again, i could be totally off base. I've got the stomach for one "fine dining" experience on this trip and I want to make sure I make the right call.....
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
Sorry to be vague. With TFL, I'm expecting a service level and surrounding environs befitting a Michelin 3 Star and would be comfortable with that since it's a such unique experience (at least for me)....Food/menu isn't the issue but rather the Madrons setting seemed "fussy" to me for lack of a better descriptor...I could be totally off base but just my initial thoughts.
I'm going to try for TFL rese for Thursday night (2 mos from this Friday)...if I don't get one, then I can revisit Madrona Manor...other than that, should I go with Barn Diva when in Healdsburg?
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
Maybe I'm crazy but Madrona just looks fussy to me, if that makes sense, in reading reviews, i'm sure the food is top-notch but i just dont see myself being relaxed...
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
thanks for the suggestion...if i get a rese at French Laundry for the next night, is Madrona going to be a bit overkill? the setting looks lovely but is it formal? is Barn Diva a little too trendy? sorry to be a pain but trying to make the right choice...maybe I will take the advice above and have our special formal meal at Murray Circle...
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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Murray Circle
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA 94965
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
ok, first glitch in my plan has come up...Cyrus isn't open on Tuesdays...totally bummed as I was looking forward to it and was comfortable in my choice of Cyrus over TFL....now I may try to get an elusive reservation for French Laundry for when we are staying in St Helena...so now, where should we eat in Healdsburg? In looking at other threads, Barn Diva looks interesting, any other places to consider?
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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
Thanks for the thoughts...I figure we will want to hit the Ferry Bldg either Sunday or Monday for lunch...leaving the decision to be made between a trip to the Mission for a burrito or Tartine or lunch at Tadich on Monday....
I'm leaning towards Zuni still but am able to be swayed...just read some positive press about Frances....
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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
ok, maybe we should consider Murray Circle...the menu does look good but we really are more into grazing/relaxed meals, so i dont want to overload on "fine dining", which is why I was planning on either just Cyrus or TFL
got it, dont go to Oakville Grocery, i'm not sure what road down to St Helena, I was thinking silverado trail and potentially hitting up Viader or Pride Mountain...i really wish JoLe in Calistoga was open for lunch (familiar with chef/owner from when I was based in Philly..not sure how he stacks up in wine country but his restaurant, Matyson, was superb)
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Oakville Grocery
124 Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448
JoLe
1457 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, CA 94515
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
thanks for all the helpful suggestions...after looking at the menus, I think Le Garage is a great call for Sausalito. I'm sure the restaurant at Cavallo is great but I think we'll want to explore the town and/or eat in a casual setting...regarding the blow out meal, if we did French Laundry, it would be for when we were staying in St Helena, so the drive may be less of an issue...that being said, that is why I'm leaning towards Cyrus, we could really just relax and enjoy ourselves but am I missing something by skipping out on FL? i know its not an easy answer....
since i have only 1 dinner in SF, i really want to make the right call...Zuni looks fantastic and i know its legendary but i just want to make sure its not resting on laurels and/or if there is something along the same lines that might be a bit "fresher"....
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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Le Garage
85 Liberty Ship Way Ste 109, Sausalito, CA
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
hi, just wanted to bump this for some help....let me know if I need to be more specific, i've been doing research but just want some reassurance! I'm about to book the Fairmont unless others have suggestions for a place to stay....any restaurants that I should be checking out other than those listed above for my 1 dinner in SF proper? thanks!
SF/Sausalito/Healdsburg trip plan for review
Hi all, headed to SF and wine country for a couple days in September…wanted to run my initial eating itinerary by you after reading quite a few similar threads. A bit of background, two late 20’s NYC residents. Lean towards laid-back places in NY, all genres are fair game and love fresh seafood (Marlow & Son, Locanda Verde, Pearl Oyster, Momofuku are faves)….doing one night in San Fran, one in Sausalito, one in Healdsburg and 2 in St Helena…
Arrival day: get in around 11:30AM on a Sunday…lunch at Ferry Bldg? dinner: at first, I was thinking Zuni Café but now am considering Nopa or Delfina based on an SF buddy’s advice….and totally random but is Nob Hill good area to stay in??
Monday: lunch: Tadich Grill or Sam’s or is it crazy to go back to Ferry….or is there a good, easy place in the Haight? Headed to Sausalito for the night, staying at Cavallo Point, don’t really want to do formal dinner at the hotel, what are thoughts on Fish or Sushi Ran?
Tuesday: Head up to Healdsburg while hitting wineries on the way up (quick sidetrack: any experience with Littorai Winery tour/tasting? Love their wine, and def. hitting up Merry-Edwards)…planning to have lunch at Lynmar Winery based on a good review on this site…would anyone steer me differently? Dinner in Healdsburg: Here’s the big question, originally was planning on trying to snag French Laundry rese but now I’m really debating whether the one big dinner should be Cyrus….it’s walking distance to hotel whereas we’d have to drive to Yountville if we decided on tFL. If we decide not to do big dinner, should we try Cyrus lounge or what about Barn Diva?
Wednesday: hit up some more Healdsburg area wineries...then head down to St Helena (maybe pick up lunch at Oakville Grocery before leaving?)…staying with friends in St Helena but will be on our own for one dinner…I’ve read good things about Martini House, is that the move or is there somewhere else? Any great spots for lunch at a winery or somewhere nearby St Helena?
And one more random question, what are people experiences with hiring wine country drivers? It’s tempting to do this one day so that we could kind of let loose at wineries (not total booze bags but it’s been known to happen!).
Thanks in advance and sorry for the rambling!
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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Tadich Grill
240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Delfina Restaurant
3621 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Nopa
560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Lynmar Winery
3909 Frei Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Martini House
1245 Spring St., St. Helena, CA 94574
Oakville Grocery
124 Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Sushi Ran
107 Caledonia St., Sausalito, CA 94965
Cavallo Point
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA
Rehearsal dinner for 150 - Larchmont, Rye, Greenwich
Hi, reviving this topic with a bit of a different request...looking for a spot near Greenwich CT for rehearsal dinner. Probably 50-80 people. Thoughts?
Advice needed---drinks near 84th/Park
Need time to kill before wedding reception in the vicinity of 84th/Park. We're looking for a relaxed place with good drinks/cocktails...not too loud but something with a nice large bar. Any ideas? Thanks
Need Help with Menu for Double Magnum
I know, I know...not my decision, so I'm just going along with it
I like the idea of a white to provide contrast
So what cheese do you suggest?
Need Help with Menu for Double Magnum
hello! I am cooking for my family this weekend and planning a meal around a double magnum of 2004 Monbousquet (St. Emilion),
I think the main course will be roasted lamb loin and roasted root vegetables.
what about for a first course? I was thinking a mushroom tart but am open to ideas
and what cheese? cheddar, camembert...what else??
thanks in advance!
Help! Special Birthday Dinner
Thanks for the suggestions...I'm going to try Park Ave Winter and Toqueville
While not suggested, how is the food at Il Buco?
Help! Special Birthday Dinner
Hey, Philly 'hound here. My girlfriend has recently relocated to NYC for work and is about to celebrate her 25th birthday. Her entire family lives in NYC and eat out often. I appeal to the board at the last minute, as her b-day is a month away tomorrow and I know lots of places start accepting reservations 1 month out
here are the specifics:
8 people, eating at prime time on a Friday night
not 4 star prices but doesnt need to be necessarily a bargain
would prefer quiet and intimate over loud and trendy
Manhattan is a must but let's put the whole island in play
I would've loved to give Babbo a shot but they only take 6 as a max. I'm really all over the map...was thinking about Po, Tasting Room, Little Owl (fat chance)...suggestions?
Thanks!
Breakfast Sandwich- Rittenhouse area
while not in Rittenhouse area, the best breakfast sandwich I've found is at DiBruno's Pronto on 9th street...egg, pancetta, provolone and garlicky greens on a seeded roll...its amazing
Breakfast Sandwich- Rittenhouse area
fantastic BEC's (bacon egg cheese)...hard roll, fried egg and sharp cheddar
Cheap, out of the way, etc. in Philly?
one of the better bacon egg and cheeses in the city. nice crusty roll, fried egg and cheddar cheese.
Best happy hours in Philly?
I'll chime in with Rae. $3 lagers, $5 glasses of wine, a huge cheese/meat spread and a specially priced appetizer.
Sorta on the topic...where can I have a mint julep while watching the Derby?
Shad or Soft Shell Crabs?
I had them last weekend at Vintage. Served over greens, with a red pepper aioli. Simple, fresh and delicious.
Philadelphia Pizza Place: Mama Palma's
Food is good to great. Service is atrocious to amazing.
Drinks/Apps in Rittenhouse or Old City??
I'd suggest Snackbar. If you get there around 9, you should probably be able to snag a table with a minimal wait. If not, 20 Manning is right next door and has a cool bar/lounge area. And Friday Saturday Sunday is a block away.
Rae of Light
I'll chime in about their happy hour. I found myself in the Cira Center last night and popped into Rae for a drink around 6. Wow! Best happy hour deals I've found in the city. $2 lagers, $5 wines, a table full of cheeses/meats/fruits, a guy cooking $2 quesadillas. All this from a fine-dining restaurant, I was quite impressed. I definitely want to explore the actual menu but the happy hour was a pleasant surprise.
I wish I worked in the building!
Need Old City advice - Philly
I would add Fork at 3rd and Market, which has a great wine list and bar for drinks
Zento, 100 block of Chestnut, for sushi and other Japanese dishes
