kleungsf's Profile
Special occasion dinner - Spruce or Quince or somewhere else?
I would suggest Gary Danko, Spruce and Quince on your list based on order. I like the serivce at Gary Danko and Spruce has great casual menu for your 13 year old if she is not into formal food. For a steakhouse Harris Steakhouse on Van Ness is old school service but they only have 2 large tables, rest are all booths. Boulevard is also a great choice with the breadth of the menu.
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Gary Danko
800 N Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Two Nights in Napa: One at French Laundry the other at....???
i would say Cyrus in healdsburg is my second choice to French laundry in terms of quality/creativeness of food and service
Another one I would suggest would be Farm at the Carneros Inn at Napa (Across from Domaine Carneros), a little more casual but the food is excellent.
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Domaine Carneros
1240 Duhig Rd, Napa, CA
Las Vegas restaurant trip review (8 restaurants in 72 hours) day 2
Day 2 of the trip started with breakfast at
Payard Patisserie at Caesars Palace
http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/payard-patisserie-detail.html
for some croissant and coffee. The lines were long but it moved very fast. We opted to just grab pastries and sit by the water fountain rather than do the sit down restaurant portion. The pastry was warm and delicious and good portioned for the price.
After shopping at the Forum Shops, we ended up at Beijing Noodle Number 9 inside Caesars.
http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/restaurants-dining/beijing-noodle-no-9-detail.html
Normally I wouldn’t do Chinese food in a casino but they were making fresh noodles in the front and it looked good, plus it is supposed to be an offshoot of a famous chain in mainland China. While we were there we noticed quite 1-2 Chinese speaking visitors being brought there by what looked like casino hosts so we assumed the food is probably authentic.
There was a bit of wait and we were seated at the bar in the back facing the stir fry and main kitchen station rather than the noodle station in the front.
My observations:
The noodles were really tasty and fresh. We had a scrambled egg and tomato tossed noodles and it was unusual but delicious.
We ordered what is listed on the menu as steamed dumpling with pork filling and it turned out to be steamed buns filled with pork filling. The dough is very delicate and nicely done, however, the filling tasted identical to the filling I got from the buns I get from a San Francisco Chinatown bakery called New Mong Kok. Not sure if that’s a compliment to New Mong Kok in Chinatown or not, but the buns costs $3.5 for three at New Mong Kok nd these buns from Number 9 costs close to $10 for three.
Since we were looking at the main kitchen station while we were eating, we were noticing that the kitchen was rather chaotic with a lot of running and scrambling by the staff and the manager (who walked into the kitchen to ask for special orders and was told by the chef to get out of the way LOL). Definitely not in the same style at Robuchon’s kitchen the previous night (but I have never seen a quiet organized Chinese restaurant kitchen) so I guess that’s just the norm.
For dinner we had reservations at Picasso at the Bellagio
http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/picasso.aspx
and we had a nice table for two with the view of the water fountain show which was lovely. We also met and chatted with Julian Serrano, the executive chef whom we also had lunch the day before. He mentioned that he was at the restaurant the day before but came in after we left, and he thanked us for having two meals at his restaurant.
We ordered the Pre Fix menu and unfortunately I lost the receipt with the list of items so I am going by memory.
Amuse Bouche included potato pancake with caviar, a roasted pepper soup and one of dish that I forgot, but it was delicious.
Poached Oyster garnished with Caviar. It is interesting to compare with the previous night with L'Atalier which also had oysters. Both are good but different, L’Atalier was classic French, just sauce and oysters and you pay attention to the sauce, while at Picasso the caviar worked well with the oyster to make the dish more luxurious and the sauce is less pronounced. I would do either any day.
Foie Gras au Torchon – Really Good
Kobe Beef Roll – If there was one dish at Picasso I didn’t get, it was the Kobe beef roll, which is basically small meatballs in a wonderful sauce. It was delicious but I am not sure it is a good use of kobe beef since the meat was masked by the sauce. A bit of a waste of excellent beef.
Roasted Pigeon – really good
Fillet Mignon - really good
Dessert – really good.
I had the wine pairing with my meal (which was great which probably contributed to my loss of memory of the details of the meal LOL)
We had a really friendly conversation with a British couple on the next table who are also visiting Las Vegas and enjoy the fine cuisine Las Vegas had to offer. They had dinner the night before at the French restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire which they recommended.
The service was perfect, the pacing was perfect, and the view was perfect. Would definitely return to Picasso. Great place for a date.
Thus end of Day 2 of Las Vegas Dining
Las Vegas restaurant trip review (8 restaurants in 72 hours) day 1 Julian Serrano L'Atalier Robuchon
Thank you to those who gave me input to the food in Las Vegas. Here is the trip report
Landed Sunday morning after Christmas.
First stop at the new Aria hotel at City Place and checked out the new complex.
Lunch at Julian Serrano (whose chef we will visit again the next evening at Picasso)
Right off the registration area is Julian Serrano, a nice looking place with decor and music inspired by Barcelona. Got there just as it opened for lunch with tapa style menu.
What I remembered of the meal (forgot the receipt which had what I ordered:
Nice white and red Sangria (one of each at 11:00am makes the rest of the day good)
Chicken croquettes wasdelicous , fluffy with excellent flavor
"wrinkled" Potatoes in spicy dipping sauce - A little too salty I thought, but I am sure it help sell a lot of Sangria
Very nice play, definitely recommend for people to visit for a nice lunch or dinner.
Dinner at L'Atelier de Joel Robucon
I have waited 5 years to eat at this restaurant (when it opened it wasn't in my budget, when I had the budget I didn't have someone to go with)
We sat at the bar to give us a view on how they prepare the food and the chef walked through twice during our meal to make sure everything was fine. Even closed the outside door himself when the noise outside got too loud when the crowds were leaving the Cirque Show.
Ordered the $175 degustation menu
Foie Gras Parfait with port wine and Parmesan foam
Langoustine Carpaccio with roasted poppy seed dressing
Poached baby oyster with French butter
Steamed egg in a macaroni ring with black truffle and parsley caulis
Duck Foie gras with confit quince and yuzu
Dover sole fillet with baby leek and ginger
Choice of Foie gras stuffed quail with truffled mashed potatoes or venison with sweet and sour cranberry and chestnuts
Fresh passion fruit and coconut meringue
Chocolate ice cream with hazelnut crunch
Coffee
Observations:
Definitely worth it. The dishes were prepared with incredible skill and flavors. Even the simple dish of steamed egg in macaroni ring)is cooked perfectly in taste and consistency. I still couldn’t figure out how they made a ring of perfectly vertical and aligned macaroni held together with a poached egg on the inside of the ring.
It is definitely for people who enjoy food and company of people who enjoy food. Sitting in basically a variant of sushi bar of French cooking for two hours may not everyone’s cup of tea.
I like the fact that the service is comfortable and the staff was knowledgeable and helpful.
I do find it interesting that the ergonomic design of the counter forces the staff to reach over to deliver the food, and if you are tall you hit your head on the overhead counter, if you are short you have trouble reaching over the counter. One of the staff mentioned after I observed that fact that it is a lose lose situation for the staff …..
Other items on the menu I would love to try next time is the L'Atelier pasta (they told me it is a pasta with cream sauce and ham) and the slider burger (with foi gras)
Thus end of day one. Will post Day 2 next
My dining plans for 3 days in Las Vegas, any thoughts/comments?
Planning to be in Las Vegas between Christmas and New Year's Eve. So many restaurants, so little time :-)
Current plans are:
Sunday breakfast - Payard at Ceasar's Palace
Lunch - Wynn Country Club or Emeril's at MGM (for the BBQ Shrimp)
Dinner L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Monday
Breakfast - Tableau at Wynn
Lunch - Lotus of Siam maybe something at the new City Center
Dinner - Mix at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay
Tuesday
Breakfast - TBD
Lunch - Enoteca San Marco - Venetian - A little Mario Bartale pasta
Dinner - La Cirque at Bellagio
I will check out the new Aria and Mandarin Oriental, but not sure what the food will be like. I figure dinner reservation is locked and do walk-ins for breakfast and lunch.
Any thoughts/comments?
French Laundry in Napa or Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas - Which one?
Sometimes one has to plan to climb the Mount Everest of dining.
In Northern California Thomas Keller and the French Laundry would be considered by most to be the peak (both in food and difficulty in getting a table)... I also have a chance to go to Las Vegas and there the peak would be Joel Robuchon at the MGM in Las Vegas (considered god of French cooking).
Given both places are essentially $500 and up per person including wine, one has to plan to decide which one to go for (though I have a feeling i can get reservation at Joel Robuchon easier than French Laundry)
Anyone been lucky enough to dine at both to give a comparison?
Sentinel - First look
Stopped by today and chatted with Dennis, he really likes small restaurants, was commenting how large restaurants don't make money and that's why he likes small spaces .... :-) Today I had the pork lunch and a cup of Chai, definitely will return. As previously discussed there are no chairs there, just take out.
The previous owner of the space had managed to secure an outdoor seating permit for 4 seats, so it is possible to get outdoor seating if Dennis chooses to.
Attache are some quick snapshots of the place and my lunch.
Trip report - Anchor & Hope on 83 Minna Street San Francisco
Walked around on Saturday in the neighborhood and found a new restaurant, they opened up last Tuesday and it was their first weekend.
Turns out this is owned by the same group that does Town Hall and Salt House.
The layout is a converted industrial warehouse look, large bar that also opens to the salad and dessert station. When I was there they didn't have a liquor license yet. They should have it next wek.
The menu has a strong fresh seafood emphasis,
I sat down and ordered four appetizers at the bar
Baked Clam with basil
Fresh Scallops Civeche
"fries with eyes" fried scallops
Mashed potato with crab and sea urchin served in a sea urchin shell
chocolate cake dessert
The food was decent, the baked clam was a little salty and fries with eyes was decent, the scallops and the sea urchin shell is worth repeating.
Look forward to going back and trying the main courses including fish and steak
recs for business dinner SF
For business dinner esp. with out of towners, I would say beween Boulevard and Town Hall, pick Boulevard because you have other places to walk around near the waterfront afterwards (such as Hotel Americano for a drink, and you can see the bridge from a nice angle). Town Hall's location near the bus terminal may not be attractive to people who want to see the city afterwards.
Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolate shop SF, report w/ pics
Stopped by there last Monday night when they first opened. Ordered a cup of spicy mexican hot chocolate and a couple of pieces of chocolate and sat at the lounge which looks into the street. Very cool place and very good chocolate. Staff was very helpful to explain the chocolate and the place has excellent chocolate and good vibe. Given the quality of the chocolate I can see why they don't do samples (this isn't See's :-) )
Definitely worth stopping by after dinner for dessert.
Dinner Review: Golden River Chinese Restaurant (Geary bet 22nd & 23rd Ave)
Location: 5827 Geary Blvd (Bet 22nd and 23rd Ave) San Francisco. Next to Tong Kiang Restuaurant.
Got several recommendations to try their dinner (they also do Dim Sum at 9:30am every day all day, will go back to try it, I hear it is very good).
We had a very good experience. The service was very attentive, and the main courses were exceptional and the desserts surprisingly creative. The decor is sparse but the place is bright, and the meal is of excellent value.
3 of us went for dinner, dishes ordered included:
Soup special of the day
3 Steamed Whole Fresh Scallops with Scallions and soy sauce
Stir Fried Pork Cheeks with vegetables
Salt baked chicken (1/2 a chicken)
Garlic stir fried pea pod sprouts.
Desserts (Our friends advised us they have excellent desserts):
Red Bean Soup (House made)
Black Chinese Herb Jelly (House made)
Mochi mixed with bitter melon puree rolled into a ball filled with black sesame paste, deep fried and covered with shredded coconut (Very good, highly creative, you can barely taste the bitter melon but it adds depth on this dessert)
The Salt Baked chicken is very moist and just the right level of saltiness. The stir fried pork cheeks are very tender, and the scallops were done just right. The pea pod sprouts are quite tender
The red bean soup is the default dessert, and is quite good, not diluted like other places.
We ordered the black chinese herb jelly and the mochi dessert.
The chef is actually the opening chef for the May Flower restaurants in San Francisco and Fremont, the head waiter is his brother and has 15 years experience waitering at the Hyatt in San Francisco.
I will be returning for Dim Sum soon, but the dinner is definitely worth $65 plus tips we paid and we will go back for that. They have many specials posted on the wall.
Overall, excellent value for the money, and surprisingly creative and well executed food for a restaurant that looks modest from the outside.
Quick Review: Baghdad Nights 682 Haight St
Had an early dinner at 6pm last nite at this restaurant based on recommendation from friends
Decor: Middle Eastern meets San Francisco, warm with a modern touch, 2 levels of dining space with a short staircase in between.
Location 682 Haight Street, SF 41581-6111
Food: For two people. We ordered the Maza Platter for 2 (mix of cold appetizers - parsley salad, eggplant salad, pickled vegetables, etc), Kubba (hot appetizer of minced rice with minced meat filling, Quzi (boneless lamb shank over rice with cream sauce), Custard dessert, Iraqi Coffee and tea. Waitress was very nice (from Dublin Ireland I think based on accent) and explained the dishes very well.
Total Bill: $52 plus tips
Impression: Definitely would return. The food was good everall. Everything tasted fresh and well made. Some of the food reminded me of Moroccan food at Tajine restaurant on Polk with a twist. Loved the Iraqi coffee. They will have belly dancer performing in the future at 10pm (forgot which nites). They have a full beer and wine list which I didn't go thru.
Definitely recommend. I think you would want reservations for prime dining hours. We walked in at 6pm and we had no problem with tables
"BEST" RESTAURANTS
If money is no object for dinner:
Ame, Gary Danko, Michael Minna, Fluer De Lys
Lunch
Zuni Cafe, Defina, R&G Lounge, Canteen
Solo dining near Palace Hotel
For me solo dining means bar dining, and there are some good ones. I live in the area near the Palace Hotel, and I would walk over and try Salt House (a gastro pub on Mission St) or Umbria Italian Restaurant (Howard St) both within 2-3 blocks. Both have bar seating with friendly bartender who handles a lot of bar dining, and usually some good conversation to be had. Salt House is new can get very crowded early, Umbria has been around for a long time and the bar fills up a little slower but can be packed later in the nite.
If you want to go higher end, walk to Aqua for their tuna tartare at the bar as an appetizer and go to Plouf for their mussels.
First Look - TWO - ex-Hawthorne Lane Restaurant location reopened tonight
If you remember the old place, they basically haven't opened the back area. They told me the seating capacity is about 100 and they think it is fine for now. I think you should call ahead just to make sure. Since the layout and seating and menu is changed, I am sure they will be doing some tweaking of the place in the next 3-4 months.
First Look - TWO - ex-Hawthorne Lane Restaurant location reopened tonight
The pasta dish is spaghetti was interesting. The uni is deep fried I think (I have never cooked uni so I don't know how the chef cooked it, but there were crunchy pieces of uni flavor with parsely embedded in it that I initially thought were croutons) and the sauce is uni colored and spicy from chili and parseley. I can taste the uni, chili heat and garlic flavor in the sauce.
I like raw uni and putting it in a pasta sauce is very unique and you can call it a brilliant idea or waste of good uni :-) I enjoyed the dish when I was eating it, I will probably order it again just to figure out how the chef prepared it.
Since it was first nite I didn't want to test the bar, I am more of a food person. I didn't see any specialty cocktails ordered, and most people ordered wine. From the conversations I overheard last nite was mostly old Hawthorne Lane regulars and vendors coming in to check out the opening.
I had two Grey Goose and Tonic with the small plate for pasta and it was $34 plus tip.
First Look - TWO - ex-Hawthorne Lane Restaurant location reopened tonight
Just walked by today and noticed that the Hawthorne Lane location has reopened as TWO at 22 Hawthorne Street. Turned out it is their opening nite so I stopped in for a drink and a bite.
The place has been completely remodeled, new lighting and shades, the central bar has been replaced with something bigger and you can see thru to the other side. The music is more modern and the restaurant menu reflects a more casual restaurant. The front of the restaurant is done and sits about 100 people. The back area is not complete and won't be complete until April, but there are ample bar seating and tables for dinners. They are serving dinner now and lunch in two weeks.
The menu:
The menu looks like it could change since it has a date stamp on it. For tonight, the menu was in 6 sections:
Soup and Salad
Ranging from $7 to $9. Spicy Onion Soup with Poached Egg, Fish Soup Rouille, chicken livery dumplings in boullon, iceberg wedge salad, chopped veg salad and Deer Island Scallops
Appetizers
Ranging from $8 to $15
Roasted Sardines, smoked salmon, duck liver pate, grilled half dungeness crab, herb crepinettes, and slow roasted marrow bones
Pasta
They do small plates as well as main course pasta, $8 to $10 for small pltes and $9 to $18 for large plates.
Fettuccine with sausage, farfalle with cauliflower, mushroom agnolottie, spaghetti with sea urchin, bacon and egg raviolo.
I had the spaghetti with sea urchin, very creative approach to bind the sea urchin with spices to keep it from disintegrating.
Meat, Fish and Poutry
Ranging from $16 to $36
Braised lamb cheeks, roasted pork, prime NY strip, grilled swordfish, roasted striped bass, cast iron Half chicken on cast iron pan
Roasted half duck on the bone.
Veg Sides
Ranging from $6 - $7
Potao garlic purre, fried potato skins, french fries, creamy polenta, caramelized broccoli, grilled radicchio, caramelized brussel sprouts, and braised escarole.
Dessert $7.50 each
Root beer float, Margarita Sundae, Banana cream pie brulee, 3 mini icecream sandwiches, two cupcakes
Definitely planning to stop back by to try different foods. I understand most of the staff from Hawthorne Lane is working at the new place
TWO
22 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco
Ame or Slanted Door???
Hope you enjoy Ame, definitely try the Staff Meal appetizer which is a signature dish from the chef.
Tea flower or flowering tea - the whole blossom kind
Vital Tea Leaf in SF Chinatown, across from Golden Gate Bakery (have the custard tart there, then walk over for some tea). They have free tastings and the owner and staff speak fluent English and Chinese. They spend the time explaining a lot of the tea and I know they have it. They keep one in a wine glass on the counter at all times.
Vital Tea Leaf
1044 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, 94133 (Directions)
415-981-2388
Union City and surrounds...
Sushi Yoshi in Newark near Newpark Mall is very authentic Japanese food, when I lived there a lot of Japanese expat frequented the place. If you chat up Yoshi and tell him you are adventurous he will pull stuff from behind the counter that you seldom see in the Bay Area.
Sushi Yoshi
www.eatsushi.com
39261 Cedar Blvd
Newark, CA 94560
(510) 797-3835
If you ask for the Ika Nato you will find it is what the "staff meal" dish at Ame at St. Regis is inspired by.
name the best tacos in the mission
I would do El Farolito on at 24th St for some of their tacos. Their beef cheek tacos and tongue tacos are my fav. but their carnitas tacos are excellent also.
Michael Mina or Cyrus
Having eaten at both, I would pick Cyrus, it is a further drive if you are in SF.
Michael Minna's food is very creative, but the restaurant as a certain "clinical" feel to it with the almost military precision of the wait staff and presentation and the all white decor and dishes. It makes me want to sit up and pay close attention to the food as it is presented (which I guess is Michael Minna's point)
Cyrus presents the same kind of creative food but in a warmer atmosphere (with techniques leaning more French than Michael Minna which is Calfornia fusion), with wait staff that is friendly without being intrusive.
I would tell people "If you are a foodie and you want to have a great meal and be amazed at the level of difficulty and labor intensity of the courses served, go to Michael Minna. If you are a foodie who wants to have a great meal and admire the dood and have a great time with your date, go to Cyrus."
Fantasy menu combining courses from multiple restaurants for San Francisco Bay Area
I was reading this article on NY Times food section where the author created a fantasy menu based on courses from multiple restaurants in NYC assuming you can teleport from one restaurant to the next on the same night.
It started me thinking what the menu would be like if you do the same thing for San Francisco Bay Area with its huge selection of restaurants. Assuming you have room for 3 appetizers, 2 main courses w/2 sides, and 2 desserts in one nite (which is not out of the realm of possibility food wise) and power of teleportation(with reservations). What would yours be?
Here is my thoughts so far
Appetizers
Traditional Style Tuna Tartare at Aqua
Staff Meal (squid "pasta") appetizer at Ame
Toro and assorted sashimi from Sushi Yoshi in Fremont/Union City
Main Courses
Roasted Duck from Kam Po Hong Kong BBQ restaurant in Chinatown
Grilled Beef Short Ribs from Brothers Korean BBQ on Geary St
Side dishes
Potato Trio from Michael Minna
Mac and Cheese from Home Restaurant
Desserts
Creme Brulee Trio at Gary Danko
Popcorn Soup with chocolate netting at Cyrus
What would yours be? (bonus if you include wine pairings)
Grubstake
I stopped by Grubstake for a late dinner 2 nites ago for the first time. Drove past it many times and finally decided to stop by. The crowd is neighborhood casual but some dressed up (including one family dressed up after watching the Nutcraker). Menu is your breakfast burger with portugese items. Ended up having the pork chop and eggs for me and the claim jumper (cheese burger with mushroom). Both were delicous and I washed it down with a portuguese beer.
Items not tried was the Portuguese coner menu including prawns with garlic, boiled codfish and rib eye steak with a fried egg.
Not a large place but has its charms, understand it used to be a railroad car.
Next time I will stop back fro the Portuguese food. They claim for 6 people they can do a full portuguese dinner as long as ingredients are avaialalbe.
Definitely recommended for return trip either on late dinner (less expensive than Oola, and you can do Osha or King of Siam so many times :-) ) or breakfast.
Lunch Jan. 1 for 8 people in SFO?
I would suggest Chinese food and Dim Sum since they are generally children friendly and there is a large variety of food available. How about R&G Lounge in SF for chinese lunch or Koi Palace for Dim Sum in Daly City? Reservation would be recommended and both has parking on site or nearby. Since you are coming from Peninsula I assume parking is an issue to consider.
One night in SF! Where should I go?
They have counter seating at Boulevard so you can watch the chef work. Gary Danko's bar is also available for full dinner with very good service (have eaten there with GF because I couldn't get reservations and we had a great time chatting with neighbors). Canteen would be another good choice if you can get it since you get to eat the counter facing the chef as he is prepping the food.
Michael Mina, La Folie, or other options?
I would also consider Ame for creative Japanese/Western fusion in SF.
Personally I am more into food then wine and I have done three restaurants in one nite to maximize the sampling of cuisine (sit at bar at Aqua for tuna tartare, dine at Myth for main courses, dessert in Chinatown).
Poutine in Bay Area?
I had the Salt House Poutine when they first opened, it tasted good but I wouldn't rate it high on the authenticity scale (i had just gotten back from Toronto). Real ones is supposed to be dark beef or chicken gravey with cheese curds on fries, Salt House used Beef Short Rib juices and feta on potato wedges I believe.
Overrated disappointments
The problem is always a matter of expectation management and price performance. I go to a "must go" restaurant with an open mind, understanding that one person's "Warm Service" is another's "Intrusive", and everyone has different taste buds.
At the end of the day, the main question is "for the price did I get good food and service and is it to my liking?" If the first part of the answer is Yes and the second part is no, I'd still recommend others to go, with the qualification on why I am biased against it.
Slanted Door, Bong So and La Colonial are three of "I don't get it" resturants. I am sure many people like it, but it just doesn't turn my taste buds on.
Gary Danko, Cyrus, Ame, Scott Howard and Michael Minna are restaurants that I consider matches the hype. They each offer excellent food and service, but has their personality that I understand would turn some people off.
Hence the tough part of restaurants, how do you provide a differentiated and excellent food and service to create a loyal clientale without turning off too many people?
What to put together for a great, reasonable meal for two without cooking
I drove and thought it was another Naan and Curry franchise location who bought out Shan. My mistake.
