Japanese dinner mid-peninsula, kid friendly?

When my kids were younger, we used to enjoy the heck out of Ni-Mo in DT San Mateo. The food's probably not quite in the same league as Kirala, but it's certainly serviceable, and the wait staff always seemed to handle the little ones well.

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Ni-Mo Japanese Cuisine
73 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area

Five Guys Burgers opening in Fremont

Made a slight detour to Five Guys yesterday en route from RWC to Oakland. Turns out, a "veggie sandwich" is a bun with any of the 15 free toppings you'd like. A "cheese veggie sandwich" is the same, plus cheese.

I opted for the latter, with lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, grilled mushroms, green peppers, mayo, and hot sauce. It was quite tasty. The mayo and hot sauce worked very well together. I think next time I'll leave off the lettuce, and possibly the pickles.

Perhaps more importantly, my wife and kids LOVED their burgers. Mrs. Zen is very particular about the bacon on her burgers. It has to be very very crispy, without any hint of sogginess or greasiness, and this fit the bill perfectly. Everyone spoke highly of the quality of the meat.

The fries were good, but I think I'd gone in with such high expectations that I was bound to be disappointed. They were maybe a bit more limp than I'd hoped. IMO, Nation's does this type of fry a little bit better.

We'll definitely be going back.

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area

Sunday breakfast, Berkeleyish?

I just checked - Eccolo doesn't open until 11 (but, man, that brunch menu looks good!)

Rick and Ann's, on the other hand, opens at 8, so that looks like a winner!

Thanks a bunch, folks.

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area

Sunday breakfast, Berkeleyish?

Sunday morning, the Mrs and I are dropping one daughter off in Berkeley at 9, then have to be back in Redwood City to pick up the other daughter at noon. I was planning on finally getting to try the brunch at Fonda, but realized that they don't open until 11. I'm hoping to have a really good breakfast in the East Bay, in this fairly small window of time I've got, and want to try somewhere that's new (to me), which means no Cafe Fanny, and no Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (both of which I love, btw)

I was thinking Rick and Ann's, but would there be too long a wait for my time constraints?

Any other ideas? Thanks, 'hounds!

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area

Santa Ramen closed until Feb. 1

Nijiya's sushi is indeed quite good. Quality-wise, I'd put the fish on par with the places on the second (ok, maybe third) tier of Sushi Monster's massive list. And it always manages to be fresh. Also, last Sunday afternoon, I tried one of their vegetable croquettes (they were out on a tray, on a table in front of the refrigerator case where the sushi and bento boxes are, with a pair of tongs to help yourself to as few or as many as you'd like on a little styrofoam tray, at 99 cents per, IIRC) for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised. Kinda reminded me of the potato knishes of my (Los Angeles) youth.

Now, about Santa... I've never been, because the lines just seem too darn long. I really really enjoy the ramen at Himawari (and have had the good fortune, or timing, or whatever, to have never had to wait for a table there) - is Santa really that much better, as to make the wait worth it?

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area

10th B-day tonight, mid-Peninsula

Thanks for the suggestions. folks. We ended up at Macaroni Grill. Could been better, coulda been worse... I forgot about Max's, that might've been better.

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area

10th B-day tonight, mid-Peninsula

My youngest daughter turns 10 today. We're doing her "party" tomorrow, but tonight she wants to go somewhere for dinner where they'll sing to her. I'm willing to set aside my usual aversion to chain restaurants, but really really (really!) don't want to go to Chevy's or Friday's. Anywhere from, say, Menlo Park to Burlingame, would be great. Any ideas? Something different?

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area

Egg Custard Tarts - the hunt is on!

I couldn't agree more about the amazingness of Sogo Bakery's Portuguese egg tarts. I get mine from the Burlingame location. Now I think I'm gonna have to go get some tomorrow.

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Sogo Bakery
1849 El, Camino Real Burlingame, CA

captainzen in San Francisco Bay Area