plainfood's Profile
What are the best Chinese restaurants in Marin?
We took them to David Deng's Crazy Pepper (San Jose @ Geneva). They were particularly happy with the Meatless Chicken with String Beans; in fact, they insisted I bring it to a party at their house this weekend.
What are the best Chinese restaurants in Marin?
I dined at my favorite Chinese restaurant in SF recently with two friends from San Rafael, one of them Chinese-American. They were so delighted with the quality of the food, I was curious and asked them about comparable restaurants in Marin County. It seems they've given up on finding Chinese restaurants and usually go Thai. Hounds, what are your favorite Chinese restaurants in Marin?
We need to know!
Currently, what is your single most addictive chinese dish to order in SF?
David told me they are opening/have opened a sushi place like Matcha near Golden Gate on either Hyde or Larkin. Hope the electrical's better than the place on Kearny St (and the parking!). I never tried Matcha (don't care for sushi). But I'm mad for his Chinese dishes!
Currently, what is your single most addictive chinese dish to order in SF?
He left wild Pepper in August. You must try Crazy Pepper--it's crazy good! I want to have my birthday dinner there, it's that good! No beer/wine yet, but soon. He always has a good list of well-priced wines perfect with his food, not just "red" or "white."
Currently, what is your single most addictive chinese dish to order in SF?
My very favorite Chinese chef, David Deng, (former owner of Wild Pepper in the Mission) has JUST opened his new restaurant, Crazy Pepper, at the Balboa Park station--a very transit & parking friendly location. It's on San Jose at Geneva, easy on & off 280. I was thrilled to see him again--he took an extended trip back to China for family visit & culinary research--and his food is even better. We dined there tonight--and OMG, the Szechuan Grilled Butter Beef is utterly out of this world! It's my new favorite dish! Crazy Pepper only seats 36, and they do a lot of take-out to the Muni employees at Balboa Park, but when word gets out, the line will be around the block!
Check it out, hounds! David is passionate about food, and is a wonderful chef! (also a really nice guy). No beer/wine license yet, but in the works . .
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Wild Pepper
3601 26th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
SF Hounds on a Budget need good cheap eats!
Howdy, Hounds!
Three thrifty hounds will be driving down to stay at Hollywood Hills Best Western (Franklin @ Carmen).
Planning to visit Fashion Museum in downtown (919 S. Grand) and LACMA (Wilshire @ Fairfax). Particularly interested in non-chains, gay bars, memorable noshies.
Leaving on Monday--thanks so much!
SF Hound in Dubai on sort of a budget--dinner advice, please!
Thanks for writing! We ended up making dinner of the excellent protein-heavy snacks at Club Level Happy Hour at Le Meridien three nights in a row. Shelesh gave us excellent service, remembering what we drank after the first night. My daughter did take me to the BuddhaBar one night which was utterly gorgeous (the lighting makes every guest look great!) with rather mediocre food. Excellent service, though. We shared a Tempura Appetizer and my daughter loved her sushi. I made a bad choice and had some wok-seared beef dish with lots of baby corn (which I find disgusting, but that's me). Wine prices were too high to order a second bottle. I was glad to have visited BuddhaBar but next time, and there will definitely be a next time because we both love Dubai, I'll follow your suggestions. By the way, the Barasti Bar on the beach is outstanding on Thursday nights. It's a mega-version of The Ramp here in San Francisco. Cheers!
SF Hound in Dubai on sort of a budget--dinner advice, please!
Need advice on not expense account, not nightclub, nice casual attire dinner spots for older female hound from SF + adult daughter from London. No offal, please! Staying at Le Meridien Minah Seyahi Beach Resort.. We'll be taking a taxi. Just to make it more interesting, I'm doing Atkins Diet and my daughter's on Weight Watchers. Backsliding is ok but we're eschewing sweets.
Dubai lovers, please clue me in!
Thanks in advance.
Great lunch, happy hour, or dinner recommendations in Alameda?
Personally, I love the carnitas plate at La Pinata--really good meat with a nice selection of guacamole, pico de gallo, roasted jalapeno, pickled carrots, on the plate with rice & beans. Since it is madly popular (less so at lunch, with lower-priced lunch specials), with a rocking bar scene, others must think so too. This is not a high-end restaurant. It's a restaurant of the people. At lunch I observed a conclave of young mothers with baby strollers having a nice lunch in a tucked-away corner with room for all the strollers--good customer service!
Fifth Floor Review (with photos!)
Jennie is very talented, with the drive and organizational skills to head her brigade. The Fifth Floor has always gotten short shrift from the Hounds (until they finally participated in Dine Around Town this year and Ruth Lafler checked it out) who seem to be all about TFL, Chez Panisse (pro & con), and anything in the Tenderloin. Jennie has maintained her very high standards of quality of the cuisine, while lowering the menu prices considerably. The service staff rermain a very tight, well-trained team of friendly professionals. Roland rocks the bar. I think the Fifth Floor "gets it," and "gets it right" most of the time. Viva Jennie!
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Fifth Floor Restaurant
12 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Humphry Slocombe vs. Bi-Rite Creamery... Help me decide
They put one in at huge expense. I know the owner. Also, just before the cement floors were poured before opening, they were burgled for their copper piping! You've seen the clean room, you just didn't know what it was.
Lalime's - the George Morrone era
Ruth, that is so George. He truly loves kids. And his generosity of spirit gives so much "chi" to his food. Okay, he's passionate and hot-tempered, but he's also a genuine human being, not a Top Chef wannabe "hunk." I can't wait for the $$ and the occasion to go over and eat at Lalime's to have his food again. I'm glad you had a good birthday meal.
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Lalime's
1329 Gilman, Berkeley, CA 94706
ISO Breakfast Burritos
We like the breakfast burritos at El Castellito on Church near Market in SF (next door to "Our Lady of the Safeway"). They're dense with eggs and chorizo--no rice, beans or potatoes, and we like them spicy. This is a regular Atkins-style dinner for us on Wednesdays.
Early Friday night in Berkeley for older fun-loving SF artists
Mr Lauriston, my first choice was your restaurant, but you're not open yet, alas.
Early Friday night in Berkeley for older fun-loving SF artists
My secret is so simple: 30 Stockton to & from Market Street (my bus & Bart connection) + taxis.
It's not free, but it works for me!
Early Friday night in Berkeley for older fun-loving SF artists
I check them out online, and they looked really good to me. When my co-chair of hospitality looks at their menu, I think I'll make a reso.
Thanks, Hounds!
Early Friday night in Berkeley for older fun-loving SF artists
We have 3 cars coming at this point, and I'm leery of the parking on/near Solano. But we're still considering options. I looked at the menu online and it seemed like gussied-up Mexican food. But I'll put it to the committee.
Nothing about Chez Panisse interests me anymore. Been there, done that! And let's not forget the parking . . .
If this was an SF event, we'd probably end up at Capp's Corner or Nirvana or Home.
Early Friday night in Berkeley for older fun-loving SF artists
Love the suggestions! Keep them coming! Right now I'm dithering between Bucci's and Sea Salt. I know George Morrone is consulting for the group that own Sea Salt--is his influence in evidence now? Also, since Five was written up in the NY Times a few weeks ago, it'll be quite a while til reservations are easy to come by again.
Early Friday night in Berkeley for older fun-loving SF artists
My husband has paintings in a show at the Addison Street Windows (downtown Berkeley) opening this Friday. We will be joining friends for drinks, etc. after viewing the work and hope to find a place that can accommodate a spontaneous group of 3-8 for drinks, apps/dinner. No loud music! I'm not partial to Asian food and I hope for a full bar (but cocktails under $10, please). Enough guests will be driving so distance is not a problem. I know this is a list of "nots," but I hope for Hounds to sympathize with us older bohos wishing to celebrate three years of artistic struggle.
Please put your thinking caps on, Hounds, and help us find a venue for our little party.
Roland's Bagels > Real Bagesl in SF (Finally)
The landlord kicked them out yesterday--7 a.m., all the employees outside, the door gated and chained. Their new space @ Hayes & Gough due to open in April.
Now what will I do for fantastic morning buns in walking distance to Lower Haight?
Oilcloth Tablecloths in San Francisco
they have a good selection of bright patterned oilcloth at Mendel's on Haight Street..
Dine About Town 2010
Fifth Floor is NOT doing DAT on weekends (contrary to what everyone thinks) but they have extended til Thursday 2/4. Reservations are only available for DAT then. So . . .jump on it, hounds!
Humphry Slocombe - NEW duck fat pecan pies & walk-up counter @ DeLessio Mkt on Broderick, SF - anyone?
Wow! That's almost in my neighborhood!
Time for a "Secret Breakfast."
Breakfast/lunch/dinner suggestions for Scottsdale/Phoenix., please! [Moved from Elsewhere in America]
Actually, I've never been impressed with sushi (childhood disgust at seaweed, no doubt) but I do like sashimi. HOWEVER, I'd like to thank all you Phoenicians & Scottsdalians for your suggestions. Now I think I can avoid buying a Zagat and just use my list & my instincts. Thank you so much for your help--and Happy Holidays!
Breakfast/lunch/dinner suggestions for Scottsdale/Phoenix., please! [Moved from Elsewhere in America]
Dear Hounds,
We're vacationing at Firesky in Scottsdale. Know not to dine there. Breakfast no doubt way overpriced. Suggestions, please!
We will be dining at Avanti in Phoenix w. friends one night--second visit--loved it the first time!
We love Mexican, particularly if they have a full bar for Margaritas. We love French, Italian, "Continental" (remember that, fellow East Coasters?), BUT not vegetarian/vegan, not Thai.
No entrees over $20, please, unless spectacular food + generous portion. No "nouvelle cuisine."
We live in the Lower Haight in San Francisco (lots of great little places in walking distance) and I work in fine dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant here. I have top-shelf tastes on a well budget.
We will be most grateful for your advice! Thanks, hounds!
Small plates, lower prices @ Bistro St Germain in Lower Haight
A $10 filet mignon beautifully cooked with a lovely sauce, nicely presented and served--duh! I don't expect the French Laundry, but in the land of pizza & Indian food & SF cafe fare, it's really welcome! I'm doing Atkins Diet so French fries are not a big priority for me now. The salad was good, great dressing, and the 3 scallops on artichoke heart puree (my second course) very nice indeed.
The neighborhood is full of students, artists, musicians, low end workers in the hospitality industry: good but budget priced food is a very welcome addition. I don't want to give up a parking space to go dine when I can just stroll over to Bistro St Germaine.
Small plates, lower prices @ Bistro St Germain in Lower Haight
Dined in my neighborhood French place, Bistro St Germain, on Saturday. They've kept the basic menu intact as far as the food goes but are now a small plate format. There is a lot of food on those small plates! And the price per plate is awesome! We had yummy little Filet Mignons on a tiny bed of french fries with a wonderful traditional sauce--$10! The Short Ribs are $6.95. The meat/fish entrees top out at $10. The traditional onion soup is under $8. We "went to town" and had three courses--quite filling, and we're "fressers." Then we ordered desserts ($6.50)--and the waitrss comped us! Be warned, though, the wine prices have not gone down, so chose carefully.
So glad the owners have gotten the message and made it more affordable! Service was good, friendly and efficient, and the food was really, really good for the price.
Save our local restaurants!
Dine out more often!
Nice Bar near Bix?
Perhaps the Bubble Lounge on Montgomery (near Columbus)?
Champagnes & sparkling wines by the glass, rather glamorous younger crowd.
More "Bix" in attire than Vesuvio's!
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Bubble Lounge
714 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
Cheap fun lunch near Betty's Shop for Girls in Napa?
This downtown vintage clothing shop is our first stop on day-long field trip. Where to have lunch? Prefer less than $20 pp.
Proposing in San Fran (flying up from L.A.)
I dined at the Fifth Floor for my birthday, September 15th of this year. We were seated promptly at a window table overlooking the herb garden. The ambiance was soothing. The chairs were comfortable. The cocktails were delicious. The service was attentive without hovering. The manager introduced himself. The food was really, really good--surprising combinations executed with subtlety and finesse by Chef Jennie Lorenzo. The wine pairings were spot-on. The atmosphere was quiet and genteel but not so genteel that a gentleman from the next table came over to offer to share their large platter of various chocolate mignardaises with us. That was cute. They wrote "Happy Birthday" on my dessert plate (really good almond cake with ice cream & brandied cherries). The coffee was delicious. I would go back in a heartbeat. There aren't many restaurants that have lasted as long, been through so many chefs, and yet retain their exquisite "seamless" service standards and high level of cuisine. SF foodies are so trendy, always rushing off to the latest pizza place (!) and not seeming to understand that a fine restaurant deserves to be supported so it can continue to exist. Personally, I like to go back over and over to my favorite restaurants. They let me know that my patronage is important to them by recognizing me and adding the smallest personal touch. In this case, they wrote "Happy 45th Birthday" on my dessert plate--I'm now 68. That was a sweet little detail. Fifth Floor is full of such little grace notes. I think it would be a great place to propose. Best wishes to the young couple!
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101 Fish & Chips
36700 Cedar Blvd, Newark, CA 94560
