JessR's Profile
Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley. Anyone been?
When I made my reservation a few weeks ago I was told the format would be staying basically the same, at least...
Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley. Anyone been?
I'm going next week. There's a review in the Standard today - http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-313277-details/Marcus+Wareing+at+The+Berkeley/restaurantReview.do?reviewId=23559471
Sushi in south London
I haven't been yet, but I've been told Tsunami, by Clapham North, is really excellent.
SF trip report July
Thanks so much for all the recommendations and advice when I was planning my trip to SF. I had a fantastic 10 days and really loved the city, and thought I would come and report back on the highlights.
I arrived on Friday and we ate at Scala's, recommended on here. Great choice for the first night, it was relaxed yet still quite buzzy, and I had an excellent bowl of clam linguini.
On the Sunday I took my sister to the Ritz for brunch for her birthday treat. I'd really recommend this as a special occasion venue - there's a huge choice, the service was very good, and it's a nice room - shame it wasn't better weather because it would have been nice to be outside, but coming from the UK I'm used to that... I started off with a plate of seafood - an oyster, different sorts of caviar and fresh blinis, a juicy king prawn, a crab claw... There are two rooms of food to choose from, including a large rib of beef and rack of lamb, other hot dishes, soups, cheeses (these weren't of the quality I'd expect actually, they looked like they'd been picked up at the supermarket), a fresh omelette/crepe/waffle station, and a seriously impressive dessert table. My sister had a nicely made fresh omelette and finished with two slices of red velvet cake... I had a slice of moist and dense almond cake, with fresh berries. The price included a glass of champagne and unlimited coffee.
I really loved the Ferry Building, and we went there a few times. Unfortunately couldn't get a reservation at Slanted Door - should have planned ahead better... but I had a crisp and succulent crab po-boy from San Francisco Fish Company that I ate by the sea; an enormous and fantastically fresh crab and shrimp salad from Ferry Plaza Seafood, and some of the best chicken and rosemary potatoes ever from Roli Roti at the farmer's market - worth the 45 minutes wait in the midday sun!
Other faves - Papalote in the mission - chicken quesadilla with perfect guacamole - smooth but with chunks, and just enough of a kick, and a spicy salsa. A satisfying amount of cheese, but everything tasted really fresh, with clean flavours. I also loved their hot sauces. And so cheap...
Pretty good quattro stagioni pizza at the Steps of Rome - I'd recommend this for a quick bite.
I had my first taste of Ethiopian food in the Mission as well - and enjoyed it. I wasn't crazy about the injera bread - I found it kind of like eating a sponge. But the meat and vegetable dishes were great, and I love the informal style of eating from a big plate in the middle of the table.
Ti Couz - I had the best French onion soup I've had outside of Paris here, and I loved the atmosphere of the place. I also had an excellent salad, one of the specials. I wasn't a huge fan of the crepes themselves, but that's personal taste, nothing to do with quality. And it's great value.
We stood in line for almost an hour on a Thursday morning to get a table at Mama's in Washington Squarel, but again, the food was worth the wait. I had a huge farmer's omelette, filled with zucchini, spinach and goat's cheese, with fresh juice and iced coffee, and it kept me going all day. We don't have a brunch tradition here so much, and omelettes tend to be ham and cheese, or maybe mushroom, so I loved the variety you get there. I'll definitely be recreating this one at home (or trying to...). I wish I'd had room for pancakes as well, because they looked seriously good...
On the final Saturday night we went to Chez Panisse. We got there quite early and so had a glass of champagne in the bar upstairs. Once at our table, we were given an the menu and our aperitf - a zingy combination of sparkling wine, vodka and fresh blackberries, along with bread and a dish of green olives stuffed with almonds and buffalo mozarella. It was an all fish menu, and we started with a plate of halibut tartare (delicately flavoured and melt in the mouth) fresh anchovies (which my sister had declared she was sure she wouldn't like, and then proceeded to wolf down) and smoked mackerel (smoked so lightly it let the flavour of the fish sing through still). Just beautiful to get fish that fresh so simply and well prepared. Then, a shellfish risotto alla veneziana, which was richly flavoured, but still light. The main course was sockeye salmon, grilled on its skin, with green beans, shell beans and tomato confit. Again, perfectly prepared, although this was my least favourite course, the salmon was slightly too undercooked for my taste, and I found it incredibly rich. But again, that's personal preference rather than a criticsim of the kitchen. We finished with a raspberry souffle, which was utterly perfect - light and fresh and served with berries and little scrolls saying Happy Birthday... A glass of mint tea was on the house - and special mention should go here to our waiter, who was wonderful - friendly, charming and attentive without hovering. All in all, a great experience. Oh, and we had a lovely bottle of Sancerre with it all.
I think those were the notable places. Wow, I had some really great food there! There were so many places I'd have liked to go to, but didn't make in the end, you're really spoilt for choice for good restaurants. Thanks again for all the help and advice. I've uploaded a couple of pics of the Ritz brunch but not sure if it'll work.
traditional sushi - good for a beginner?
Sebo sounds great! Pefect, thanks very much. Getting there shouldn't be a problem as my sister has been over there for a while and so (hopefully) should have got to grips with public transport...
traditional sushi - good for a beginner?
Where would you recommend? I want to go for sushi on one night of my 10 day trip in July. I'm not really interested in the Westernised/fushion style rolls, more just straight nigiri/sashimi.
I love sushi but am not an experienced sushi eater, so would like somewhere where I won't feel out of my depth but can try some new things. There'll be two of us (me and my sister, and while I'm pretty adventurous she is less so), I don't have a particular night of the week in mind, and somewhere we could sit at the bar might be good? I'd be happy to do an omakase meal, for example, but I know there's some controversy surrounding these if you aren't a regular... I want to go to have a look round Japantown itself so somewhere there might be good, but equally I'm happy to go elsewhere for the right place/fit it into other stuff. I want somewhere in central San Fran though, rather than going really out of the way (am going to be staying in Union Sq and Soma areas - am happy to go anywhere within a reasonable cab ride's distance)
I was looking at Ino Sushi, but have read some discouraging reports about the service/attitude which put me off slightly, so I'm not sure if that's the best option?
London - lobster roll
lobster rolls aren't really something you get here in fact i'm struggling to think of anywhere that I've seen one... I have a feeling I've read that there's one at the Boxwood Cafe actually, you could give them a call and see. Possibly Automat in Mayfair?
low-key first night in SF near Union Square?
Maybe Farmer Brown is best for another night when noisier would be better, then, thanks. I suspect that after a long flight I'm just going to want somewhere relaxed.
low-key first night in SF near Union Square?
Love seafood, and Bar Crudo was on my list! So might be an option for that night, thanks.
low-key first night in SF near Union Square?
thanks, will look at Canteen and Scalas.
low-key first night in SF near Union Square?
Hi, I'll be arriving in SF on a Friday afternoon in July from the UK so will likely be pretty jet-lagged. I'm staying at Campton Place, has anyone got any recs for somewhere low-key and relaxed to have dinner?
Would like somewhere near the hotel, probably 'American' food or something 'typically SF' maybe? Would prefer not Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indian.
Any thoughts would be excellent - I was wondering whether Farmer Brown might be one?
Thanks.
dalchini, indian chinese in wimbledon park
Ah, sounds great, this is very close to me so I'll have to check it out...
best places for 'flights'?
Sake is one of those things I would like to like more than I do...! I'm planning on doing one Japanese/sushi place, so maybe this will be the time I discover some that I actually like.
best places for 'flights'?
Definitely planning on a trip to Ferry Plaza and so will look out for the Wine Merchant. The Cowgirl Creamery looks worth checking out there.
best places for 'flights'?
Thanks rworange, I'll definitely look into those recs, and be sure to report back.
I've ventured into the UK board to see if I can help and yes, always looking for good new places here as well!
Kensington in Aug
There's a good Spanish place on the Old Brompton Road which isn't cheap - but which has a deli/tapas place opposite which I've heard is also excellent.
http://www.cambiodetercio.co.uk/aboutus2.htm
First time in London - dare I ask for recommendations?
1. Le Gavroche. Amazing value - for £48 you get a three course lunch plus canapes, amuse bouche and coffee and petits fours, and half a bottle of wine a head (choice of 2 whites and 2 reds). The service is phenomenal and it's a really great experience.
London - Which is the best Italian Restaurant? No budget
I haven't eaten there so can't recommend but it might be worth looking into Cipriani?
I like Cecconi's but it's less formal than some.
Have only eaten dessert at Locanda Locatelli, but it was excellent.
best places for 'flights'?
Lavender shortbread creme brulee sounds fab. Dessert flights still a novelty really here, so definitely worth mentioning - thanks!
(PS, hope I'm doing the right thing replying individually? This is my first thread, if it's more usual to do one big reply and it's annoying replying to each one then let me know!)
best places for 'flights'?
Will also investigate Jardiniere, thanks.
Good point re cocktails in general being of a higher standard, I think you're right overall. You can certainly get good cocktails here, but it is definitely in the higher end places, rather than your average bar. And actually one of the things about London which is a real shame is the way independent bars/pubs are hugely outnumbered by high-street chains. It seems by what I have read so far that SF doesn't really suffer from this as much?
It also seems that wines by the glass are of a slightly higher standard in SF, with greater variety (again, you often get this in high end places, but not more middling ones). I love wine so am really looking forward to making the most of this... and the 2 oz or taster glass isn't something I've seen here at all - great idea (though decent places will often pour you a small amount to taste for no charge if you ask).
It's interesting reading the menus and noticing the differences - oysters as an appetizer are everywhere, and so much cheaper than here, for example. Tasting menus are much more reasonably priced as well.
best places for 'flights'?
Thanks, I'll add Bacar to the list as well. I was looking at Incanto for a dinner option for one night yesterday as well, so that seems like a good option for combining two things. I'm over for 10 days so have a reasonable amount of opportunity to go to a variety of places.
best places for 'flights'?
Hi,
I'm currently researching and planning my trip to SF in late July. I'm interested to see that there are lots of places that offer flights of wine/cocktails; some with accompanying canapes/small plates. This isn't really something we get here (I'm in London) so I'm keen to try some. Currently on my list is Cav Wine Bar, and Bourbon and Branch. And thoughts on these or recommendations for places that do flights would be great. Am interested in both wine and cocktails/with food or without, and am happy to look at anywhere in San Francisco itself. I don't have a particular budget.
Thanks very much.
