MissVeg's Profile
Visiting San Francisco in December
I'd skip a meal at Greens but it's a nice place to sit for a glass of wine or a coffee mid afternoon.
We like the vegan sushi in the mission at Cha-Ya...cash only. The avocado rolls are delicious and the soups are great on a cold day.
Super Duper Burgers is open in Mill Valley
How could they possibly compete with Pearl's?
Bubble tea in Marin?
Preferably the kind made with fresh fruit? Or do I need to make a trip to Ranch 99 in Richmond or Clement St.?
Thanks!
Planning a Food Pilgrimage to Fremont tomorrow: Chaat, Indian Sweets, and more...
Finally getting around to reporting back...sorry it took so long, but I wanted to add some recent adventures.
Truth be told, we're pathetic crawlers, as we always eat too much at the first place and then the rest ends up being slightly painful.
We started out at Chatpatta Corner, got there at 11:00am only to find they didn't open until 11:30. We drove over to Chaat Bhavan (feeling famished) and ordered the following:
Chili pakoras, dahi papdi chaat, dahi pateta sev poori, pav bhaji (although I can't find this on the menu), methi paratha, and multiple cups of chai.
The chili pakora was okay-- besan batter was nice and crisp, but the chilis were very mild and we would have liked a little more chaat masala on top. I liked the chaat with yogurt, my husband did not. The buns in the pav bhaji were buttery perfection, but the real star was the methi paratha-- flavorful, flaky and delicious with a very fresh fenugreek flavor. We'd definitely go back. It was quite crowded and service was good.
Next we headed over to Dana Bazaar to do some grocery shopping and get some Pani Puri at the little Chatpatta Corner there, but it was closed as the owners had headed back to India for a family funeral. It should be open again by now. I got a big box of PG Tips tea for my English friend for only $4.99.
Next we headed to a new chaat/sweet shop that was fine but not memorable. We only had sweets but I wasn't blown away-- everything was a little grainy rather than creamy. Then we went to the other Chatpatta corner for pani puri, which was tasty, but not amazing.
Today we were down in the peninsula and we stopped at Chaat Paradise in Mountain View, and oh boy, was it delicious.
We had sev puri which was wonderfully tangy with a perfect amount of raw onions. It was our favorite of any chaat we've had in the Bay Area. We also had delicious mixed veg pakoras, that reminded us a little bit of well-spiced potato latkes. The tamarind and coriander chutneys were both excellent. We also had a mediocre methi paratha, which was flat and didn't have any distinct layers (disappointingly UN-flaky) and didn't have much methi taste. We also liked the tea. It was bustling at 2pm and the service was fairly accommodating, although we had a hard time flagging anywhere for more water.
There's also a new chaat place in San Rafael, owned by the same folks who own Lotus. Granted we only went there once (on opening night!), but we weren't terribly impressed, although we'll certainly give it another chance since it's so close to us. We thought the samosas had too much coriander powder in them and the dosa was a little soggy, but I liked the paratha I had (although it probably had a tablespoon of butter mounded on top).
While I'm talking chaat, I've recently discovered the sandesh (or shondesh, a paneer sweet) at Vik's and I'm hooked. It's great with a cup of tea and reminds me of the sandesh I had at my favorite Bengali sweet shop when I spent the year in Darjeeling. Looking forward to much more chaat exploration!
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Chaat Paradise
165 E El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040
Chaat Bhavan
5355 Mowry Ave, Fremont, CA 94538
San Rafael: Picante or Taqueria San Jose?
Our regular place is Taqueria San Jose on 4th St., but one of my students swears by Picante in the Canal.
How's the salsa and guac?
Agua frescas?
Any strong opinions?
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Picante
340 Bellam Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901
Best Veggie Burger in SF
I love a delicious veggie burger, but I'll also take an average garden burger with some decent toppings. I'm pretty happy at Barney's with a veggie burger smothered with BBQ sauce and jack cheese (did I mention the sweet potato fries and the spicy curly fries?) or at Pearl's Phatburger (we go to the one in Mill Valley but there's one in the city). Occasionally I'll even go for a "grilled cheese" at In N Out Burger. There are some great veggie resources in SF and I wish your son the best as he finds some good veggie spots.
My two current favorites (neither have veggie burgers) are both in the Mission-- Cha-Ya (vegan sushi and Japanese) and Big Lantern (yummy fake meats and veggie dim sum).
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Big Lantern Restaurant
3170 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Planning a Food Pilgrimage to Fremont tomorrow: Chaat, Indian Sweets, and more...
Good evening!
I'm looking for some suggestions in Fremont for delicious Indian (north, south, chaat, sweets).
We're already planning to stop at:
Dana Bazaar/ Chat Patta Corner
Taste of India Sweets
Lovely Sweets and Snacks
Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
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Chat Patta Corner
34751 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont, CA 94555
Taste of India
5144 Mowry Ave, Fremont, CA 94538
Vegetarian Orange Chicken?
If you make it into the city, we love Big Lantern in the Mission for fake chicken dishes. Their fake general's chicken is out of this world. They also have really excellent fake meat dim sum.
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Big Lantern Restaurant
3170 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
URGENT - Hong Kong Airport: 2-Hour Morning Layover
Oh, just what I was looking for! I'll have about 5 hours in the Hong Kong airport on my next trip. Any suggestions for an Asian restaurant with plenty of vegetarian options? I'd love noodle soup or dumplings, but I fear ordering when I don't want anything with chicken broth or bonito flakes...
Where to find Quelque Chose, the cherry beer from Unibroue in the East Bay or SF?
The search continues-- I was completely unsuccessful last winter. Not even at Ledger's. If anyone knows of any bars or stores that have Unibroue Quelque Chose, please let me know!
Cozy wine bar or other spot for drinks in the rain?
We're thinking the Pelican Inn would be perfect, but I'm not as keen as my husband to drive the windy road in the rain...
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Pelican Inn
10 Pacific Way, Muir Beach, CA 94965
Cozy wine bar or other spot for drinks in the rain?
Suppose it was raining, and suppose you wanted to sit in a comfy chair by a fireplace and have a glass of wine or hot mulled cider and talk quietly with your sweetie (or even read a book by yourself) ... where would you go?
Marin, East Bay and SF suggestions all welcome.
Thanks!
Best Fish and Chips?
Excellent! Thanks everyone. Let me know if you think of any place decent for fish and chips in Marin...
Best Fish and Chips?
Where can we find the best fish and chips...preferably in Marin, SF or East Bay (although we are open to excursions too!)?
Thanks!
New to Marin (Mill Valley)...having second thoughts about leaving the East Bay
Thank you, everyone! These suggestions are exactly what we're looking for. Last night we had pizza from Tony Tutto in Mill Valley, and they were spectacular. We had one with smoked mozzarella and one with hot peppers, and we'd order both again in a heartbeat. The crust was the perfect amount of chewy, and the ingredients were top quality and so thoughtfully matched. About 10 minutes after we ordered, they ran out of pizza, so we felt especially lucky to have gotten there when we did. Picnic tables outside, a few tables inside, we opted to take it home. I had a nice glass of red wine ($6.25) while we waited for our pizza. The place was filled with families and free range organic children, and the atmosphere outside was like a neighborhood party. This will definitely go into our regular rotation!
New to Marin (Mill Valley)...having second thoughts about leaving the East Bay
Thanks Scott! Any favorite veggie dishes at any of the places you listed?
New to Marin (Mill Valley)...having second thoughts about leaving the East Bay
Oh Robert...it's like being back in the East Bay seeing your posting! Please open up a restaurant here. Preferably in our house! We're looking forward to trying Locanda de Eva next time we're back east.
New to Marin (Mill Valley)...having second thoughts about leaving the East Bay
Hi,
My husband and I just moved to Mill Valley. We'd love some suggestions on how to replace our regular favorites in Oakland and Berkeley. (We do realize that some days we'll have to bite the bullet and pay the bridge toll!) We generally eat for about $25-40 for two for dinner (generally no alcohol, usually no dessert, and veggie entrees tend to be cheaper) but we're also looking for places where we'd spend more for when we feel like something a little nicer. We mostly eat vegetarian (I'm very strict, he's not) and our favorite kinds of restaurants are:
1. Indian (What is the best Indian in San Rafael? Are there any places to avoid?)
2. Various Asian cuisines, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, (especially hole in the wall...we love Shan Dong in Oakland), Nepali, and Japanese too. Any place for amazing avocado rolls in Marin? We usually do Cha-Ya in Berkeley.
3. Pizza/Italian (We like Lanesplitter and Trattoria la Siciliana in Berkelely, and of course Arizmendi Pizza)
4. Breakfast (We love Aunt Mary's Cafe in Oakland, Ann and Rick's and La Note in Berkeley)
5. Mexican (of all kinds, authentic to totally mex-american/tex-mex)
6. Anything else you think is worth trying (with plenty of veggie options).
We've tried Pearl's Phat Burger (loved it) and Small Shed flatbreads (yummy, a little pricey...but welcome to life in Marin!).
We'd appreciate any suggestions within about a half hour of Mill Valley. It's hard to know where to start when you are in uncharted territory!
Thanks so much,
Ms. Veg (and her husband)
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Pearl's Phat Burgers
8 E Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Shan Restaurant
5251 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Arizmendi
3265 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA
Aunt Mary's Cafe
4307 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Otaez for a vegetarian?
The Otaez in Alameda also has a white rice which is vegetarian, and their whole Pinto Beans have no lard (I've been told). I generally order items a la carte so I don't have to deal with the whole beans and rice issue. I've had their chile relleno and cheese enchiladas and both are yummy, although it's definitely a melted cheese fest. Good luck!
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Otaez
1619 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501
Cannoli in the East Bay?
I'm excited to make a pilgrimage down to San Mateo, but I haven't had the time yet. I was in Berkeley Bowl West yesterday and I noticed the cannoli at the bakery counter (in the main market, are there more in the cafe?) had pistachios on the ends. I was looking for something a little more plain. Sure I could scrape off the pistachios, but I wonder if they ever have more plain ones. Also, at the WF in Oakland, I've only seen almond or chocolate...has anyone had more traditional ones there?
Thanks for all the great suggestions.
What about somewhere in North Beach, since I'll be starting work in the city soon?
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Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA
South Bay Sichuan peppercorn and South Indian - here I come!
Definitely Madura Indian Cuisine in Sunnyvale. Pure veg, excellent chutneys, really delicious coffee. Enjoy!
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Madura Indian Cuisine
1635 Hollenbeck Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Cannoli in the East Bay?
Once in a while, I get an incredible hankering for some good cannoli. I'd love to find some that I could bring home (perhaps from a bakery), but restaurant suggestions are good too. We're in Alameda, but willing to travel a bit. And where are your favorite cannoli in the city, in case we decide to venture westward?
Thanks!
2 Veg Heads Hitting SFO
Hello! My husband and I are both strict veggies and frequent veg or vegan restaurants, although we currently live in the East Bay so we're not as familiar with the options in the city.
We love:
Cha-Ya in Berkeley. Vegan sushi. Avocado rolls with perfectly ripe avocado, truly delicious miso...and no danger of bonito flakes anywhere in sight. I know there is a branch in the city, but I've never been. Note: Cash only at lunch time.
Madura Indian Cuisine in Sunnyvale (South Bay). We think this is the best pure veg South Indian in the Bay Area.
We also like Vegi Food in Berkeley, a delightful little hole in the wall run by a sweet Chinese couple who have been cooking for people in that space for 25 years. All of their food is made without onion and garlic, but it sure is tasty, and they are very flexible in their preparations. When we've been there, there have been a lot of conversations between tables, almost like being at a communal table, which is fun. Note: cash only.
Souley Vegan is vegan soul food near Jack London Square (Oakland). Again, another hole in the wall and service can be slow, but it's a treat to have soul food sans animal.
There's also Encuentro, a wine bar and cafe in Jack London Square which serves only vegetarian small plates to accompany the wine. I haven't been been but I've heard some good things.
I'd suggest Cafe Gratitude also...raw and vegetarian. I think it's pricey for what it is, although the juices are terrific. Mostly you should go because it's hilariously self-absorbed and oh so California.
And definitely Ubuntu when you are in Napa.
Happy eating!
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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558
Vegi Food
2085 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709
Madura Indian Cuisine
1635 Hollenbeck Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Albany: Aangan Indo-Nepalese?
Rightstar, nothing South Indian here...just pure Punjabi/North Indian dishes, some chaat options, and some Nepali/Himalayan dishes too, like momos. Prices look good. I'll go try the veg momos this weekend, probably. Are the owners Nepali?
Was there something specific you were wondering about the menu?
Suggestions for Dinner with FUSSY parents in the East Bay for this Tuesday (someone help! PLEASE!)
East Bay 'hounds, you are my knights in shining armor. Thank you so much for all your ideas. I promise to report back, if I survive. Ah, family... if only Tara made her saffron ice cream with trazodone.
Suggestions for Dinner with FUSSY parents in the East Bay for this Tuesday (someone help! PLEASE!)
Thanks, Robert. I thought about that, but it's not so veg friendly. Otherwise, it would be perfect. Maybe I could just send my husband there with my parents and I could take to my bed with a couple of martinis. I'd LOVE your opinion on what Italian might work for them.
Suggestions for Dinner with FUSSY parents in the East Bay for this Tuesday (someone help! PLEASE!)
Hi 'hounds,
My parents are in town for a few days, and we're planning a celebration dinner for 4 on Tuesday night in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, or thereabouts. If you know of the PERFECT place in the city we'd venture into SF.
What we need:
a non-threatening place with GREAT food. Entrees under $30. They don't care about food sourcing or wine (pass the diet coke), and they don't eat "ethnic" food (unless it's Mediterranean). I think they'd do better with a slightly bigger menu (rules out Corso or Rivoli), and they'll probably freak out if there are too many unfamiliar items. They like to complain and my father has the disturbing habit of flirting with female waitstaff. That said, I want them to be happy (especially so I don't have to hear about it for the next 5 years).
Also, I'm a vegetarian (or, as my father likes to point out, a pain in the you-know-where), and I'd like to find a place with more than one vegetarian option.
My husband and I really like Trattoria la Siciliana in Berkeley, but I want to give them some options. Chop Bar in Oakland? Angelina's Bistro in Alameda? Fellini in Berkeley is possible, but always seemed a little run-of-the-mill to me.
Thanks in advance.
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Rivoli Restaurant
1539 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
a search for a Ham and Brie sandwich...
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I do have one silly question: is there a specific "kind" of ham, or do you just order ham?
Thanks!
a search for a Ham and Brie sandwich...
I'd like to find a delicious ham and brie sandwich for my husband. Maybe with a yummy chutney or delicious mustard? Served warm would be amazing. I don't eat meat so I don't know a lot about ham (smoked, cured, etc.), but I want it to be good quality and delicious. We live in the East Bay, but he works in SF, so that's fine too.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
