LSteffel's Profile
Best Authentic Mexican
I'm an SF-transplant in NYC & have eaten at Puebla & Chavellas so think I get a sense of what you're after. (Although I think La Superior in Williamsburg is better than both, and a taco crawl in Sunset Park is probably in order for you!)
In SF, I'd definitely do a super veggie burrito at Taqueria Cancun for an "authentic" SF mission burrito. I think Farolito is over-rated and while La Taqueria has great carnitas, other things are lackluster. My favorite tacos & burritos are down the peninsula in Mountain View at La Bamba, but if you're willing to travel just a little bit, I'd head to International Blvd and/or Fruitvale Ave in Oakland. The following truck have some devoted followings:
-El Gordo (4201 Intl blvd)
-El Grullo (Foothill Blvd at High St)
-El Novilla Taco Truck (1001 Fruitvale Ave)
-Taqueria Sinaloa (2138 Intl Blvd)
It's a good idea to buy a variety of tacos at each & see what strikes your fancy.
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Taqueria Cancun
2288 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
La Taqueria
2889 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
La Bamba
2058 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043
Moving to Prospect Heights
I have to say I've found Sushi Gen (on Washington) to be far, far, far superior to Geido or Taro Sushi!
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Geido
331 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Taro Sushi
244 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Union Square Cafe or Park Avenue Autumn?
I'd go with USC - maybe not inventive anymore, but I've had some consistently delicious meals there. The meals I've had at the various seasonal Park Ave restaurants have been well prepared but kind of dull and non-exciting.
more than naan
Dehli Garden in Edison/Highland Park - only take out or delivery but fabulous
Cupcake THANKS and results
It's a crime for Baked to not be mention in a best cupcakes blog... they're among the best in the city, especially the red velvet with cinnamon buttercream and the mocha. best frosting in the city maybe. also, i tasted a fantastic mini cupcake at that david burke lunch spot at bloomingdales. finally, 'dessert club' (formerly chicalicious puddin') is pretty fantastic
Mexican place in downtown San Jose with amazing & greasy quesadillas
I remember (from about 10-15 years ago) a mexican spot in downtown San Jose (near the courthouse I believe) with the most amazing, HUGE, semi-fried, incredibly tasty and also incredibly greasy quesadillas. However, I do not remember the name... can anyone help? My clues...
1) It was tucked into a little strip off of downtown near the courthouse (maybe off of San Carlos?)
2) As far as I recall, it was NOT La Victoria, as the building (as I picture it based on a foggy memory) was not in an old victorian house, but rather in some kind of nondescript place tucked in amongst other stores/office buildings
Help me choose - Aziza/Kokkari/O Chame/Limon or...?
I'll be in the Bay Area for a week in December and need help narrowing down a lengthy list of restaurants. I grew up in the Bay Area but live in NYC now, so I am craving inventive food that is not common in NY. I am looking for something creative (while I like 'purist' foods, I can often replicate them on my own, so I want to be blown away by something I can't recreate!). NYC has great Italian, Spanish/Tapas, & French, so they're not a high priority for me, but I'm open to suggestion... that said, here are the menus that have most piqued my attention, what are your thoughts?:
-Aziza
-Kokkari
-Limon (any recs for other inventive latin restaurants?)
-O Chame
-Chez Panisse (just b/c I've never been - to save money, is it safe to stick to the cafe?)
-Foreign Cinema (also for the environment - how is the food lately?)
Other restaurants I've thought about, but think I might be able to find equally good/similar spots in NY, are:
TAPAS - tapas are great in NY, though I do love Piperade in SF... what are your thoughts on:
Zarzuela, Laiola, Cesar, or others?
ITALIAN - again, great in NY - is it worth giving up one of my top choices above to visit:
Ducca, Incanto, Oliveto, A Cote, A16, or others?
OTHER - is it criminal to miss out on any of these, or some other place I'm missing?:
Quince, Canteen, Bar Crudo, Coi
just to give you perspective, my favorite meals in SF over the past few years have been at Sushi Ran, Myth, Piperade, and Jardiniere (and Taqueria La Bamba, my favorite ever in mtn view)
Sausalito
You have to go to Sushi Ran! It is among the best sushi I've ever had (I'd say the very best, but I hate making blanket statements like that). Better than Nobu for sure. The miso-glazed butterfish kicks miso-glazed sea bass's booty, and as boring and standard as tuna tartare is, the version at Sushi Ran has this gorgeous smoky flavor.
Best Cupcakes???
I think the cupcakes at Baked (Red Hook - sold at Blue Apron in Park Slope, not sure where else) are equisite. The frosting is outstanding, cake has been moist (at least what I've tried - and that's from Blue Apron!).
I'll defend Sugar Sweet Sunshine's pumpkin & red velvet, I think they're far superior to the other Magnolia, Buttercup, Billy's, etc crowd.
