rgj's Profile
Dinner w/ Mother-in-law in SF this weekend
We're looking for suggestions for a higher end restaurant. We'll try for a Sunday night reservation since it's so late in the game. We took her to Ame on her last visit. She's been to Michael Mina, Gary Danko, Fleur de Lys, La Folie, & Farallon. She's staying downtown and any location is find.
Places we like a lot are NOPA and Kiss Seafood.
Thanks!
South Bay - Need Fun Group Dinner Place
My work group has a series of meetings next week which will be capped off with a group dinner. I am the agenda-master to whom falls the duty of selecting the dinner place for this team-builder. Looking for a unique place, with good food for 15 people. Had thought about Menara in SJ for the group Morrocan, hand-eating, belly dancing experience. Unfortunately, the reviews are not-so-good. Looking for a place that could be anywhere bwtween San Jose and Palo Alto.
Good eats near Lake Merced/Daly City?
There's a good Korean place, Shin Toe Bul Yi, on Taraval & 30th.
Going to Yummy Yummy (SF) Tonight
We ordered take-out on Sat. The fresh spring roll w/ shrimp was wrapped in cellophane. I took a bite and they were clearly pre-made and old. The lettuce was brown in places and the shrimp did not taste fresh. Yuck! I had to throw this out. The claypot catfish was good on the first bite but much too salty. The last dish was the grilled beef that you wrap up with noodles, lettuce, mint, bean sprouts and cucumber in a wrapper you dip in water to soften. This dish was okay though the dipping sauce did not taste right. All in all, a waste of $30. I would not go there again.
Thai grocery???
I've taken her beginner and intermediate classes. The beginner class is great. I used to cook multi-course Thai meals for friends when I had more time (before kids). It spoiled me for eating at Thai restaurants though.
Eiji Restaurant - Oboro Tofu - Anyone tried?
We tried Eiji on a rainy Sat. night. We were seated next to a party of three that were talking with loud voices. The tables are very close together, and I quickly tired of trying not to be part of their conversation and vice versa. We noticed a couple of open seats at the counter (they make sushi in the kitchen, not at a bar) and changed seats. It was nice to be able to have a private conversation and watch the oburo tofu being made to order. This dish is worth trying. We also had a plate of sashimi and a few specials: eggplant w/ miso and walnut, pork cube and grilled black cod. The food was good but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way for it. I like that it's a more homestyle Japanese restaurant, not your typical menu (no tempura nor teriyaki). But for more unusual Japanese dishes, I'd spend more and go to Kiss Seafood, which I really enjoy every time.
SF Dim Sum to Go
I agree, Gourmet Dim Sum has pretty good har gow. I'm not carzy about their cha siu bao though
"Roasted Tofu" @ Shangri-la on Irving St.
They make their own "roasted tofu" (dofu gan) and sell fit or $0.50 a piece (2"x2"x1"), minimum 4 peices. A friend brought this to a Chinese New Year party, sliced it very thin and drizzled with sesame oil (it's already marinated). It is delicious and a real find.
I went to the restarant for the first time today to buy the tofu and also bought a sesame noodle "kit" for $3 from their refrigerator case. The noodles come with cucumber and bean sprouts, the sauce and peanuts are in separate containers on the side. I came home, blanched the noodles and whipped up a yummy lunch. This would be a great side dish or a main dish with chicken or the roasted tofu on top.
Shangri-la Vegetarian Restaurant
(415) 731-2548
2026 Irving St
San Francisco
Carmel-Monterey-Pacific Grove Report
We went to Monterey over New Year's and had a decent lunch at the Aquarium Cafe. If you have an early lunch (11:00-11:30), you'll have the cafe to yourself and a table by the window with a great view (but you might miss one of the feedings). Dinner was at Hula's a couple blocks from Cannery Row. It was fine (husband liked the fish taco) but the maitre d' was a serious jerk. I heard him make disparaging remarks about a customer to a waiter and be rude to customers. When we came in (w/ a child and infant) at 6pm, the place was about half full. We didn't know there was another room off to the side. It would have been quieter and warmer. He seated us a couple of tables from the door in the bar area. The next day we had lunch at Sea Harvest a couple of blocks from the Aquarium. The food was mediocre, service lame.
Sausalito Fish
I had a visitor in town from Europe and I took him to Fish. for lunch on the way back from Muir Woods. Everyone complains about the prices and this time I really felt taken. The green salad was $9. The clam chowder was watery. My fish taco actually tasted a little fishy in a not so good way. My water glass had someone's lipstick still on it. My friend had a half a roasted crab. I didn't try it, he said he enjoyed it. I won't go back.
Good non-Asian cheap to moderately priced restaurants in Sunset, West Portal, Richmond?
The three course Early Bird at Chapeau! for $19 on Clement is very good value. Every day except Fri and Sat. 5:00 to 6:00pm
Melissa Teaff Catering - Napa Valley
Avoid Best of Everything Catering (Pauli Halstead).
Need a Romantic Spot
We thought Coco500 was pretty disappointing. My husband's fish entree did not work at all, sole with grapes and croutons on top. I had the beef cheeks, it was salty and I woke up thirsty a couple of times in the night.
Your Favorite Korean places in SF?
Um Ma Son (north side of Geary betw 22nd and 23rd)
Open Early Near Laurel & California?
blissful bites on arguello & clement is open very early...love their cinnamon brioche. she could stop and pick up a pastry and coffee on the way to clement st. they have an area to eat there too.
Thanksgiving dinner within 2 hours of Berkeley--with 2 kids, 8, 10
our friends go to bernardus in carmel every year for thanksgiving and love it.
Good Pho in the Tenderloin?
i like pho hoa too. it's my fave since "pacific" closed years ago.
Cannoli Bliss--Romolo's in San Mateo
i just stopped by for a post lunch (@ Yuzu) cannoli. Yum! But next time, I'll ask them to skip the powedered sugar. It made a mess on my black clothes.
Um Ma Son - Geary Bl. in SF
I stopped by Um Ma Son for lunch recently. I really like Korean food for lunch because it's yummy and good value. It was a cold, foggy day in the Richmond and the spicy soon tofu soup with seafood totally hit the spot. I'm not Korean nor a Korean food connoisseur. (I did go to several Korean restaurants and ordered the same dish at each one - the kalbi lunch special - to satisfy my pregnancy cravings. I was hoping there would be a clear winner...but there wasn't.) Most restaurnts have the same 10 or so lunch specials. What made Um Ma Son very unique was the gracious service and the lovely panchan (side dishes). I especially liked the pea sprouts and another one with broccoli. I read that it's a mother and daughter team, mom in the kitchen and the daughter waiting tables. Um Ma Son means "mother's hand..."
I'll be heading back to try some more lunch specials.
5850 Geary Blvd (betw 22nd and 23rd)
San Francisco
Is Ame really worth it?
We were being treated by my mother in law, so I didn't get upset that they sat us at what is likely the worst table in the restaurant (right when you walk in, in front of a waiter stand). I had a chance to check out the rest of the L-shaped room when we were leaving. I think the far end away from the maitre d' stand is quieter and nicer.
We had apps: poke, hamachi, smoked trout and chawan mushi and entrees: signature cod dish and the Fish Spontanee (which that night was a striped bass on gnocchi served in a butter sage sauce finished with bacon). The bass was served medium rare (which the waiter had warned us). I took a few bites and didn't think having to cut it with a knife was the best way to showcase the delicate texture of that fish. I sent it back, it came back just cooked until it was translucent -- perfect IMHO. My husband loved the cod dish. Eating lighter dishes made it easy to make room for dessert :) Unfortunately, the desserts we had were just average: doughnuts, apple tart, chocolate gateaux.
Overall, the service was not in the same league of restaurants like the Ritz or Gary Danko. I like that the food is very good and the atmosphere is stylish. But Ame is pricey, and if I were paying, I'd expect more polished service.
Sushi Bistro in the Richmond
we ordered from here for our anniversary b/c we had just had a baby and couldn't get out. the sushi was terrible, huge slabs of fishy smelling and tasting (unfresh) fish. yuck! i think that's the first time i actually threw sushi away.
we had gone there on a recommendation from a friend...but got it confused with (there's a sushi place on 6th and CA we meant to order from called Chin Bistro).
Rumblefish - San Francisco
We saw good reviews here and on Yelp. So four of us ordered take-out from Rumblefish recently...and it was pretty bad. The fish tasty and smelled fishy, not at all fresh. We would not order from them again.
6:30 am - Blissful bites
i love those cinnamon buns, like a brioche dusted with cinnamon and sugar. yum.
this little bakery is full of heart...but they don't get the buzz they deserve.
25th & Clement
I recently tried Um Ma Son for lunch (5850 Geary @ 22nd). It's Korean, the lunch specials are especially good value. The mother cooks, the daughter serves the food. The service is wonderfully friendly. I especially liked the panchan (side dishes), a couple of unusual ones like pea sprouts. I had the soon tofu w/ seafood...yum. Perfect for a cold, grey day in the Avenues.
Best tasting menu with emphasis on fish/veg
Ame in the St. Regis. http://www.amerestaurant.com/dinner.html
5 courses, $77. Try Open Table for a reservation.
lunch near Russian Hill on Sunday
Please suggest a yummy lunch place in the Russian Hill area. Thanks in advance!
