La Texanita - Mexican, Santa Rosa

Best: Chicken flautas

1667 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa CA

Parking: In parking lot

Last Visited: April 2011

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $ to $$$

When I asked Leslie for suggestions for good Mexican restaurants in the area, she recommended La Texanita. Located on Sebastopol Road, the owners of this restaurant have expanded their taco truck business into a small, but cozy restaurant. The entrance is on the side, and the colors of the interior are bright yellow mixed with orange giving a sunny feeling all around. The sides of the arcs are painted with a brilliant purple. The tables are wood with flowers painted on them, and the chairs are simple. Colorful wall murals depict women with long flowing hair staring into the sea, portraits, flowers, and more. The room has a lot of character. Two flat screen televisions play the local Spanish station movies, soap operas, or sports depending on the time of day.

The decorations aren’t the only thing with character. The waitresses are pretty interesting too. It’s not your typical professional dress. The clothing ranges from tank tops, shorts, and more which normally wo

uldn’t be surprising, but it was a cold and rainy day during my first visit, and these gals were dressed for summer. Anticipate being served in a family operated environment where the native language spoken is Spanish. Also, when you order, you may need to be patient since depending on who is taking your order, the communication could get interesting if you don’t speak Spanish.

On each table is a selection of hot sauces – Tapatio, green hot sauce, and another type in a very large bottle. I never needed it, but in case you like hot sauce, you’ll be able to enjoy a few. On weekends, you’ll find oregano and a dried chili in a small ramekin for seasoning the weekend soup specials.

- Taco – These are made with tortillas about three to four inches in diameter. They are available with any kind of meat, so I selected carnitas. The carnitas is topped with chopped onions, cilantro, and a touch of salsa. Each taco is served with a few slices of radish and a pepper. For carnitas, a small piece of lime is served with the taco too. You can’t beat the price, and they taste very good.  Fish tacos (seen in the photo) cost more, but they're really yummy too. $1

- Taco con tortillas a mano – Similar in nature to the tacos above, these are made with handmade tortillas, so they have a larger diameter and a softer texture. When you eat it as soon as it’s served to you, as opposed to waiting a few minutes, you’ll enjoy the fresh flavor of the tortilla. There’s nothing like it, and it’s worth the extra dollar, though I wouldn’t have minded more meat, but it’s still extremely reasonable. $2

- Sopes o Carnes – If you’ve never had a sopes, think of those premade strawberry shortcake cakes that you buy at the store. It’s basically the same shape – fried masa shaped into an almost bowl like shape with a ridge or an indented platform. The diameter is about three inches. Sopes are made with the same ingredients as tortillas, but tend to be smaller and significantly thicker. This was one of Leslie’s top picks for La Texanita. Available with meat or vegetarian style, these sopes hold a little refried beans at the base (on top of the sopes), meat, shredded lettuce, crumbled cotija cheese, diced tomato, and salsa. I selected the meat version and small pieces of chopped carne asada topped my sopes. Lightly fried, the dough on the outer part of the sopes was crispy while the inside was tender, but not

too soft. Full flavored, this was a great little treat. $2.50

- Flautas de Pollo – Five deep fried taquitos/flautas are covered with tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, cotija cheese, and sour cream and served with a side of beans and rice. Wow, this is my favorite dish of all the things I’ve tried here. I like the crispy texture of the flautas, the fact that it’s not overly fried until it’s dry, that the chicken inside is still recognizable and juicy, and the toppings don’t make the flautas soggy – instead, they add to the flavor. I’ve gotten this dish several times and I know I’ll get it several times more. Delicious. Four stars. $6 -> Price has gone up, but I still always get this.

- Orden de Milaneza – Pork is breaded and cooked until the meat is done and golden brown. The dish is served with tortillas, rice, and a salad. If you like pork cutlet or chicken cutlet, you’ll enjoy this. The portion is huge and the flavor is quite good. There is so much that two people with small appetites could share. $8

- Super Burrito – The super burrito comes wrapped in foil and is accompanied by a small wedge of lime, slices of radish, and marinated jalapenos. The tortilla is warmed and inside comes your choice of meat, lettuce, rice, beans, salsa, cheese, tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream. I selected carnitas and there was a nice mixture of tender pork along with a little bit of the fat. Delicious and filling. Although my tortilla wasn’t toasted until there were golden spots like that of my dining companion, it was still very good. $6

- Quesadilla Con Carne – Meat Quesadilla – Melted cheese and your choice of meat are cooked in a warm folded tortilla until the tortilla shows some browning. A small cup of hot sauce accompanies the quesadilla along with a bed of shredded lettuce topped with a slice of tomato that has been topped with some sour cream and guacamole. Good stuff. This quesadilla is also the right size – not too small and not too big. It’s just filling enough without being overwhelming. $5

- Chicken Enchiladas – Three enchiladas are served topped with cotija cheese, fresh tomatoes, and shredded lettuce. Beans and rice accompany the enchiladas. Like the flautas, the enchiladas are very meaty and have a great flavor. Very good. Was $6, now $7

- Agua Fresca – Available in small or large, you can try horchata, Jamaica, or tamarind agua fresca. The only issue with this is that I’ve tried to order the small one several times and I’ve chosen the wrong Spanish word. Be sure to say Chico if you want the little one because Poquito means nothing here. I like their Jamaica and horchata – the latter being less sweet than the Jamaica – surprisingly. Small $1.50, Large $2

All of my visits have been good in terms of food with service being better now that they have a staff member dedicated to focusing on service.  The food is pleasant and flavorful, and the prices are more than reasonable. Service is friendly, though sometimes hit and miss if you don’t speak Spanish. Check out La Texanita for authentic flavor and fresh dishes.  This last picture shows the seafood tostada. 

During my most recent visit, I noticed that they got new menus – and you know what that means – prices went up. Fortunately, it’s only up by a dollar or so, and not for all dishes. Although this seems like a lot in terms of percentage, it’s still a bargain to eat here.

Esperpento - Tapas, San Francisco

3295 22nd Street, San Francisco CA 94110
(415) 282-8867
Parking: limited street parking
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am - 2pm, 5pm-10pm; Fri - 11:30am - 2pm, 5pm - 10:30pm, Sat 11:30am - 10:30pm, Sun 12pm - 10pm
http://www.esperpentorestaurant.com/

Last Visited: October 4, 2009

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 1 star

Price: $$

Walk into Esperpento and you'll see some bright colors, not just in the decor, but in people's hair. It was bright and sunny outside during the day I visited, so when I sat down, the bright light from the windows at the front of the restaurant detracted from the colorful lavendar pillars inside and the decorative paper fans on the back wall. Small tables and colorful decorations give the restaurant a feeling of Spanish culture.

I selected Esperpento for lunch after seeing an episode of Check Please! Bay Area where all three of the diners raved about the Spanish-style tapas, but found service to be initially good until the place got busy. From my own experience, if you're a person who wants prompt service and for your all of your waitstaff to look like waitstaff, this isn't the place for you. If you're interested in trying new dishes, then it might be okay.

Upon entering, we were quickly seated and given menus. My first glance at the menu found it to be a lot to absorb since everything was first in Spanish followed by its English description. However, that wasn't a deterrent to trying new foods. I asked the server for some recommendations since I rarely have tapas. She recommended the manchego cheese, potatoes of any sort, the oxtail stew, and some seafood. We started with glasses of water and waited for our food after ordering.

- Patatas Bravas - The menu listed this as spicy potatoes with little other description. A plate of potatoes with a flavorful spicy sauce poured on top of it arrived at the table. It was a lot like breakfast potatoes, but the sauce was seasoned well. It came extremely fast, so I would guess that there is a tray of potatoes being warmed in the kitchen and the appropriate sauce, either spicy or garlic aioli, depending on what is ordered, is put on top of it. There is more than enough to share. Okay. $4.75

- Croquetas de Pollo - Chicken croquettes. Not much else is listed about them on the menu, but if you remember those cans of chunky chicken spread, the texture is reminiscent of that but with a crispy outside. I liked the texture contrast and the mild flavor, and although I don't know for sure what the sauce is, I would guess it's the spinach bechamel that is listed on the menu in another location. The only thing I didn't like about this dish was the temperature. It came room temperature (and I like my fried foods to be hot and steaming on the inside) which seemed to keep the filling from having its maximum flavor. $5

- Queso Manchego - Spanish ewe's milk cheese. The menu didn't describe how it was prepared, and most of the time that I've seen manchego cheese on menus, it has been deep-fried. Bad assumption. What appeared were several small triangles of manchego cheese with oil cured red peppers and olives served with the slices. A drizzle of olive oil completes the dish. Although the server said this dish was smaller than others (and admittedly, we've already eaten a red pepper by the time this photo was taken, but all the cheese is there mind you), Esperpento could afford to give thicker slices of cheese! The pieces also seemed slightly on the dry side. $5

At this point in the meal, we wondered where the bread that was listed on the menu as accompanying tapas had been delayed at. We saw another table that arrived later than us served bread, and now that the cheese had arrived, it seemed appropropriate to bring bread, but none was found until we asked for it. When it did arrive, the French bread was room temperature and served with butter.

- Chorizo Salteado "Cantimpalitos" - Sauteed Spanish Sausage. Since the description in English was fairly minimal, I expected to receive slices of chorizo or larger pieces, but tiny sausages appeared. They were well-flavored, but slightly hard, likely due to the sauteeing. Okay. $5.25

- Rabo-Toro - Oxtail Stew. The meat fell off the bone of each of these pieces. The broth was flavorful with carrots and other vegetables. However, it came room temperature and that seemed

to result in a reduction of flavor. I'm not sure if tapas normally come cold, but I would have preferred this to come hot. Also, it apepars that there may have been a lunch special bargain available if you wanted to pay slightly more and get side dishes (potato or rice and other side selections) with it. I wish my server would have mentioned that option since I had told her I wanted to try more dishes. Good, but better if served hot. $7.50

- Jamon Serrano - Canapes of Spanish cured ham on toasted French bread served with ripe tomatoes and olive oil. This was probably one of the most comprehensive descriptions on the menu. From the photo, you can also see olives stuffed with pimentos as well as some sliced raw red onion on top. I liked the serrano ham - moist and with good flavor, it was also one of the better values considering the size of the tapa serving. $6

Overall, the food was okay - not the best value for what you're getting. The oxtail stew was good and the ham was a sizeable portion, but the rest was just okay and fairly unimpressive served at room temperature.

Upon completing our meal, it took the server more than five minutes to bring us the check after asking for it and more than 15 minutes for them to pick up the bill, and the restaurant wasn't that busy. My credit card was declined (and for whatever reason, that wasn't a problem before or after this transaction), and they made me use another card. After that, it again took about ten minutes to complete the transaction.

As mentioned earlier, some of the waitstaff have brightly colored neon pink hair along with a lot of piercings. For those of you whom may be concerned with that, be forewarned.

When we left the restaurant, our server passed us without comment or even a smile. There are many tapas places in the Mission District. Considering how hectic it can be to find parking, the time it took for service, and the lukewarm temperature of the food, I will be trying out some of the other tapas places before considering returning.

Kay Cheung - Chinese, San Francisco

Best: Deep Fried Shrimp wrapped in Tofu Skin

615 Jackson St, San Francisco CA 94133
(415) 989-6838
Parking: limited street parking, pay parking lot a few blocks away

Last Visited: December 12, 2004

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Kay Cheung is a crowded restaurant with a lot of clientele. Enter the establishment and it looks littered with round and rectangular tables all throughout the room with little space in between, leaving it with a bit of a chaotic feel. The seating is often shared by multiple parties at individual tables.

The walls are light colored with wood panel from half of the wall to the floor. There are multiple glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and along the walls are fans that have gathered a bit of dust. The front windows stream in a lot of light, and there is track lighting in the front. The walls are decorated with Chinese wall hangings, and two large red banners hang, one on each side wall, with the specials available. Three dishes available for $15 – an incredible value, but all of the dishes are written in Chinese, so if you can’t read, you’re out of luck.

The attraction at Kay Cheung is most definitely the price. The dim sum plates below were each about two dollars. Specialty dishes are available for a slightly higher price. Not every dish was superb, but they are definitely worth the price or are superb values. Each dim sum dish is only two dollars. Kitchen specialties are three dollars. Unbelievably inexpensive prices. Some of the food quality is superior to its higher priced competition, and it’s still only three dollars. Items below are $2 each.

- Beef balls (3) – Three beef balls mixed with cilantro are placed on top of a small bean curd. Good. The beef balls are soft and tender and slightly fluffy.

- Pork dumpling (4) – A pork mixture is stuffed inside a wrapper. The flavoring was nice and the mixture was the right consistency without being too dense. Good.

- Stuffed tofu (2) – Two tofu triangles are stuffed with shrimp paste and deep fried. The outer skin of the tofu was a bit soggy, but the overall flavor was good. The temperature of the dish was room temperature which probably meant it had been sitting out a bit, contributing to its softer texture.

- Deep fried Taro Dumplings (3) – Three deep fried taro dumplings are stuffed with minced pork. The dumplings had been sitting until they cooled to room temperature. This left the filling a bit cool, so some of its flavor had been lost. Otherwise, texture was good.

- Deep fried Shrimp Wrapped in Tofu Skin (3) – Whole salad shrimp mixed with celery pieces, waterchestnuts, cilantro, and bamboo shoots are wrapped inside a tofu skin and deep fried until puffy and lightly golden. The tofu skin is crispy and the quantity of shrimp mix is ample. It’s a delicious delight with the softness of shrimp and the crunchiness of the celery and waterchestnuts. The flavor is great. Think of a big puffy egg roll with shrimp inside. Not every place can make this well, and most places don’t have as much filling as Kay Cheung. Excellent. Five stars.

- Deep fried Sesame balls (3) – Deep fried rice balls are rolled in sesame and filled with lotus paste. The outside texture is slightly crispy while remaining soft which you bite into the shell. The lotus paste is warm and gooey without being too sweet. Excellent. Item below is $3 each (specialty dish).

- Beef stew with turnip. Beef and turnip are cut into small pieces and stewed until tender. The turnip is so tender that it just melts in your mouth. The beef gives the whole stew very rich flavor and the sauce is just ever so thick. The whole dish is served in a medium sized glass bowl. Perfect over rice. Very good.

Service varies. As the restaurant gets busier, it’s hard to get the attention of the wait staff. The hustle and bustle of all the people around is definitely felt in the air. Kay Cheung caters to a local crowd, so it helps if you’re flexible enough to share a table with people that you don’t know. Otherwise, you may be waiting a long time for seats. Also, it’s not the place to go if you’re looking for ambiance. There is little space in the waiting area, so move quickly or step aside.

The restrooms are located downstairs. It’s a bit messy with broken down boxes used as floor coverings. There is also often paper strewn within the stalls. You may also find that the place feels very ‘do it yourself’. During lunch, there isn’t a menu, so look for people bringing the food around. They may not stop at your table, so be ready to flag them down. The same is true about asking what they offer. They might bring it by, but if you don’t react, they’ll quickly move on. I also didn’t hear much English, so just be aware of that when you walk in. There is a really friendly guy that carries the kitchen specialties. You’ll recognize him by his constant smiling – what a great attitude. Most of the other people carrying dim sum are woman, so you should be able to tell the pricing based on who is carrying it.

The food is average and above average depending on what you get. During my most recent visit, I made a special request for dim sum that I hadn’t seen come out yet, and though there was a wait for it, they made it especially for us, so I appreciated their going the extra mile. Several other tables also experienced the same kindness. For Chinatown, Kay Cheung is one of the best. If you’re looking for a great deal, this is the place to go.

Cafe Europe - German, Santa Rosa

Best: German Food - anything

104 Calistoga Rd. (in St. Francis Shopping Center), Santa Rosa, CA 95409
(707) 538-5255
Hours: Closed Mondays. Lunch: 11:30a - 2:00p (Tues-Sat), Dinner: 4:30p - 9p (Tues-Sat),4:00p - 8p (Sun)
Parking: in shopping center
Last Visited: April 16, 2011
http://www.clickcafeeurope.com/

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$

Don’t let the shopping center fool you. You walk into Café Europe greeted by Herbert Zacher in his black pants with white vertical stripes, and with the German almost polka type music on the speaker system and the beer mugs on the wall, it’s a whole other world. This quaint German restaurant will aid in soothing the senses. Note if you’re under 60, you’re probably going to be part of the younger crowd of patrons. Chef Robert Buchschachermair whips up a treat.

Reservations recommended for dinner. The earlier the better if you don’t have a reservation. Early patrons get more attention and the food comes faster. Go with an empty stomach and save room for the apple strudel which comes a la mode. The staff is friendly and know what they’re doing. They keep an eye on everything and make sure that the water glasses are filled. The staff also helps each other out so that if one person is busy, another will take your plates – they work well together.

The entrees include choice of salad or soup. These days, it’s a bargain to get salad or soup included at these prices. The house salad is mixed greens with tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. House dressing is great. Other dressings are available. Most dishes come with garden vegetables and some sort of sauerkraut. The great thing is that the garden vegetables aren’t overcooked. They’re done just right and have a nice natural flavor.

- Cream of Asparagus soup – A nice blend of asaparagus and potato, this soup is not overly rich, but just the right texture and flavor.

- Cream of Mushroom Soup – Shitake mushrooms and cream make up a delicious soup that has just the right texture and flavor. The scent of fresh herbs only add to the perfume of the soup. Wonderful.

- Potato pancakes are crispy and light, golden brown, served with applesauce. A yummy treat. Two pancakes $4.50

- Nuernberger Combo - Two veal and three pork Nuernbergers served with homemade mashed potatoes. They give you the mustard and all the accompaniments. It’s great for sampling different sausages. Warm and light – these are a far cry from what you would find packaged on a shelf. They’re delicious. $14.50

- Wiener Hackbraten/ Vienna Meatloaf - Lean ground beef and pork herb sausages mixed with other goodies served with a creamy mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes. More of that homemade taste the way it should be. $13.50

- Schweinelende mit Pilzen / Pork Tenderloin and Shitake Mushrooms – Grilled pork medallions with sautéed mushrooms and a potato pancake and red cabbage sauerkraut. More of the same of what is listed above and below. $15.95

- Lamb Loin Chops - One great thing is that you get really nice pieces of meat. Café Europe doesn’t skimp. You get nice cuts of meat, all tender and sweet. The chops are grilled to perfection and that little bit of mint jelly makes them taste even better. $18.50

- Bayrischer Sauerbraten – Top sirloin marinated in red wine and vinegar roasted and so tender it melts in your mouth. It comes with spaetzle which is oh so good. I hear that with Germans, sauerbraten is the dish of choice and they do a great job of it. $17.50

- Kalbs Wiener Schnitzel – Four pieces (or three pieces depending on the size) of veal are breaded and pan-fried and served with a potato pancake. Again, it’s those pieces of thin, tender, and juicy meat that hit the spot. They are served with a wedge of lemon and the lemon juice brings out the flavor even more. The pancake in the photo is a little darker than usual, but it still tasted delicious. $17.50

- Jaeger Schnitzel – Much like the Wiener Schnitzel, except this one is served with spaetzle instead of the potato pancake. This one comes with that homemade creamy mushroom sauce with large white mushrooms cut thick and placed on top of the veal. The spaetzle, which has been ever so lightly browned on one side, soaks up the sauce and has a lightness about it. My side vegetables during this last visit included marinated carrots, marinated red cabbage, and a cauliflower floret. I love how the attention to detail is present in every dish. The veal contains light brown grill marks along the diagonal. Delicious and tender. $17.95

- Hungarian Goulash – This flavorful beef stew is served with wide egg noodles. It’s a treat because it’s on the specials menu and not always available. The second time I tried it, the noodles were replaced with seasonal vegetables – carrots, pureed spinach, and red cabbage. The pieces of beef are tender and can be broken apart with a fork. It still maintains its form and pairs well with the flavorful sauce. The many spices fuse together to create a rich dark red sauce that tastes delicious.

- Hassenpfeffer/Roasted Rabbit – The rabbit is deboned for the most part is topped with lingonberries and gravy. This dish is served with spaetzle and fresh vegetables. Out of all the dishes I’ve tried at Café Europe, I probably liked this one the least. If you like chicken breast, then you might find this one a favorite, but it was on the dry side for me.

Note: The salad was wilted once out of the six or seven times I’ve been there. Otherwise, it’s been pretty close to perfect. Unfortunately, the bread is cold, but it’s always soft. Don’t let this deter you, but the chain smoker out front is more than likely your host.

During the visit in 2007, the salad was very fresh and the house dressing, creamy dill, seemed a bit thicker than usual.

On Sundays, the rolls are warmed which make them absolutely delicious. Why they don’t do this the rest of the week, I don’t understand, but the just make the experience that much better. Café Europe is a great place to get an old world experience with first rate service and food that is hearty and delicious.