Taki Sushi - Japanese, Novato

452 Ignacio Blvd, Novato CA 94949
(415) 883-2423
Parking: shopping center parking lot
Hours: Lunch Tues - Sat 11:30 am to 2:30 p.m; Dinner Tues - Sun 5:30pm to 9:30 pm

Last Visited: March 19, 2010

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

Friends wanted to try out Taki Sushi, but when we met there, they were closed. So after talking to some coworkers whom live nearby Taki Sushi, and doing some additional web searches to verify that it indeed was worth trying, I made a second attempt to try out Taki and was successful. At least one review said that Taki Sushi was the best sushi restaurant in Marin and a number of other reviews gave it four or five stars, which of course increased my expectations.

When you walk into Taki Sushi, you notice koi pond in the front. Behind that, the room is divided in half - on the left side is the sushi bar and tables; a divider separates the bar from the right side of the room which contains only dining tables. We were immediately seated on the right side of the room and given menus. Since the shopping center itself was going through a remodel, they featured a special - a California roll for every table ordering over $20 in food - good marketing from my perspective as well as good timing for our visit. Of course, they must expect you to see the sign explaining this promotion on the outside because they don't tell you about it when you order and it was nowhere to be seen in the restaurant itself.

When it's my first visit to a Japanese restaurant, I like to order a combination of a few raw sushi items, a few cooked sushi items, and an entree. It gives me a feel for what to get for future visits since I'll be able to experience all areas of their offerings.

As you can tell from the prices below, they are not what you would call expensive, but the quality is probably what I would deem medium. The pieces of fish are large and fresh, but there wasn't a wow factor. The rice was just okay. Interestingly, while I don't normally order California rolls, I would say of the items shown on this plate, the California rolls were the best and what I would recommend ordering. After my visit, I learned that they are known for their California rolls.

- Maguro (Tuna) $4.75

- Salmon (Fresh) $4.85

- Salmon (Smoked) $4.85

- California Roll - Good!

- Unagi - The unagi was good - a generous portion and cooked to a nice temperature. I've had better, and I've had worse. $4.85

- Baked Scallop - The scallop was fresh, but I would skip this one. It wasn't to my tastes in any case. I think the scallop loses its flavor in this preparation. $6.25

- Tonkatsu - The tonkatsu, fried pork cutlets, is served with a lot of teriyaki sauce, an abundant helping of cabbage slaw topped with a mayonnaise dressing, and a bowl of rice. Miso soup and a small pickled cabbage salad are served ahead of the main dish. While there is a lot of food, it was this dish that made them receive a lower service rating. More on that below. The miso soup was fine; nothing special. The pickled cabbage salad had a nice balance of sweet and vinegar flavor, but it wasn't pickled enough - it could be more crunchy (think good kimchee). The two pieces of tonkatsu is are large, but I would prefer the sauce on the side. There is a little too much breading, and the sauce makes it soggy pretty fast. Choose this if you want quantity, not quality. The cabbage slaw has some shredded carrots in it, but that's all it is - raw vegetables with a drizzle of dressing on top. It's bland and blah - why would you heap such a large amount of raw vegetable onto a plate? $13.50

The problem with the service was that they essentially created a trip hazard. The gal serving the tonkatsu dropped a bit of the heaping cabbage slaw onto the ground. Then she left it there after seeing it had fall to the ground. Let's assume she didn't see it - even if we give her the benefit of the doubt, other servers saw it. This action, or lack thereof, dropped their service rating from three stars to two stars.

My final thoughts on Taki Sushi - if you intend to go, get the California roll. The sushi is just okay. If you want a lot of food, consider the entrees, but make sure you like raw, undressed (or mix it yourself) cabbage slaw.

Kitaro - Japanese, Sushi, San Francisco

5723 Geary Blvd (at 22nd), San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 386-2777
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: December 4, 2004

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

Stuart recommended Kitaro’s to me, particularly noting that it is “hecka inexpensive.” I don’t know what Kitaro means in Japanese, but to me, it means value. For the price you pay, it’s excellent value.

The room is simply decorated. Light colored walls with wood benches where the seat back extends to almost half of the wall height. The tables are a light green with black edges. From the ceiling hang fluorescent bulbs that light up the paper masks on the wall and the other art. Also, there are colorful paper lanterns in various shapes hanging from the ceiling. As you enter the restaurant, the host or hostess table is the first thing you see with tables on both sides near the walls.

They have two bathrooms, both unisex. This is much appreciated as the wait is significantly shorter this way. The bathroom sink is quite small. One bathroom is wheel chair accessible while the other is not.

- Fried tofu – Three small bricks of soft tofu are deep fried and served with a sweet sauce. The tofu skin is golden and crispy. $2.99

- Tempura Udon – Hot broth with thick udon noodles are accompanied by a basket containing two pieces of shrimp tempura that were hot and crispy. Other tempura vegetables included broccoli, squash, and green beans. $5.79

- Unagi sushi - Tender pieces of unagi placed on sushi rice. This unagi is comparable to its competition. $2.99

- Spicy Tuna roll – This roll in comparison to other spicy tuna rolls I have tried is by far the biggest. A very large portion of tuna is stuffed into the roll – so much that it was causing tuna to creep out of its roll. The flavoring is not complex or delicate, but it is spicy. $2.99

- Salmon Skin Roll - Note that this is not grilled. This roll is just as it says – salmon skin in a roll. Again, not complex or delicate, but there is salmon and salmon skin in a roll. $1.99

- Uni (sea urchin) sushi – The uni didn’t taste fishy, which was a good sign it was fresh. Good quantity of uni on top of the sushi. $3.99

- Seaweed salad sushi – The seaweed salad is crispy and crunchy with a nice sesame oil flavoring. Good. $1.99

- Tea – I don’t think I’ve ever seen such bizarre pricing for tea. It wasn’t by the person but seemed to be the price for the entire table. The tea is warm, but flavorless, though the scent of roasted rice is distinct. $0.39

All of the sushi was served on one plate. Although neat, it wasn’t the most delicate presentation. The quantity of wasabi was sufficient, but the amount of ginger was far from enough. However, if you ask for additional ginger, the servers are more than happy to provide you with more.

There’s not much to say except that the value is incredible. It’s not the best sushi you’ll have, but certainly worth every bit the price you pay. Even at a dollar more per plate (which pretty much coincides with dinner menu prices), you would still rave about the excellent value. Next time, I would like to try the bento boxes. Presentation of the bento boxes were very nice and again, great value.

On my second visit in July 2004 (as opposed to the first visit in November 2003), I tried out the combination sushi dinner a combination dinner bento box. My second experience was much like the first – for a very reasonable price, I walked out of Kitaro stuffed and happy.

- Combination Sushi Dinner – Accompanied by small bowl of salad (lettuce, red cabbage, and half a cherry tomato) with a light mayonnaise-based dressing and miso soup, a lovely plate with a California roll in the center contained one piece of nigiri sushi each: unagi, ebi (shrimp), maguro (tuna), salmon, hamachi (yellow tail), and tai (snapper). Each piece of nigiri sushi was placed such that an asterisk/flower pattern was created. Wasabe and pickled ginger accompanied the sushi. The California roll contains imitation crab, but it still tasted good. Overall, very fresh and very good. $8.95

For the combination bento box, you select two items and add the price accordingly. It’s incredibly reasonable.

- Salmon Teriyaki and Shrimp & Veggie Tempura – Served with miso soup, you receive a bento box containing the salmon teriyaki (also available shioyaki style), tempura, dipping sauce, rice, and salad. A piece of boneless salmon filet is grilled until the skin is crispy and served with teriyaki sauce. The salmon is placed on top of a lettuce leaf. The salmon was tender and fresh. Good. If you like grilled salmon skin rolls, you’ll like how this salmon is made. Three pieces of lightly battered deep-fried shrimp and seasonal vegetables make up the tempura side of the combo. Today’s seasonal vegetables included two green beans, a slice of squash (it was either acorn or pumpkin), zucchini slice, potato, and broccoli. The tempura is light and crispy. Very good. $10.79

My second experience was probably even better than the first. Excellent prices, but how could it not be. Competition is stiff with a total of three Japanese restaurants on this side of the block alone. Recent visits have proven to be a little less wonderful perhaps because my taste buds for good sushi have gotten a little pickier than previously, but it's still lower pricing than many places in the city.

King of Wonton & Noodle - Chinese, San Francisco

1936 Irving Street, San Francisco CA 94122

(415) 682-9813

Parking: street parking

Last Visited: October 17, 2010

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars

Service: 2 stars

Price: $ to $$

King of Wonton & Noodle first caught our eye because of a television commercial. The commercial showed a man traditionally making noodles by seating himself side saddle on top of a long bamboo stick and then using the stick to flatten the pasta dough. Handmade noodles are always rather eye-catching when you see it being made - something about seeing it all made in front of you - and we had to make our way to Irving Street.

Upon our arrival, we found the restaurant to be more like a busy cafe. The kitchen is open, but you won't actually see any noodles being made. The tables are really close together and you find that at the larger tables, you'll share the table itself with another party. During all three of our visits, it was pretty noisy and bustling. While the most recent visit didn't require a wait, the first two times I went, there was about a ten to fifteen minute wait.

During my first two visits, I ordered noodles - after all, they are called King of Wonton & Noodle. Once seated, you'll receive hot tea in a stainless steel mug shaped like a wood barrel with a handle. The tea itself isn't particularly flavorful, but you can order traditional hot milk tea and other Chinese drink options.

- Dumpling and Shrimp Won Ton Noodles in Soup - While a good portion, after having the real deal in Hong Kong, this dish is just okay. The noodles are not as al dente as they could be, but the wontons and dumplings are large if that's your preference. The broth is good. Value is good. $5.95

- Beef Stew Won Ton Noodles in Soup - Similar to the description above, but with beef stew instead of dumplings. The beef stew is very tender and flavorful from the five spice used to make the stew. Again, good value and very filling, but not the best dish. $5.95

- Beef with Vegetables Pan Fried Noodles - The running theme of abundance continues into the pan fried noodle dishes. The beef isn't the most melt-in-your-mouth, but it's a nice sauce. There is a whole lot of bok choy cooked with the meat and all of it tops fried noodles. I thought this was good and preferred this dish over the chow fun listed below. Good. $7.99

- Black Bean Spareribs with Chow Fun (Wet Style) - I'm not sure this one is even listed on the menu. Usually, it's black bean beef with chow fun, but our dining companion asked for it and she got it. The pork spareribs were a little tough (not the best cut) and cooked with red and green bell peppers. There were also pieces of onion too. While the sauce has good flavor, it tends to be a bit on the thick side. The chow fun is also more clumpy than it should be - while it's hard to cook chow fun so that each piece of fun separates from itself, this one was clumping into chunks. Choose the noodles instead. $7.99

- Shanghai Style Dumplings (12) - This was one of the specials listed on the wall. There are some other dumplings available (not sure what the difference is), so the staff will ask which one you want. The dumplings were filled with pork and vegetables. Served with black vinegar, they tasted okay, but not wow.

My overall impression of King of Wonton & Noodle after several visits was that it is a good deal, but the food is just okay. It's so incredibly busy that there isn't a lot of space to maneuver considering the tables are so close together. It's often hard to get the attention of the staff for tea refills or other needs, and they seem far too busy to come back to you once food is served. If you're super hungry and want a good deal, then it might be just the place for you. If you're really into wonton noodles, then you probably won't be satisfied with the quality. Note that credit cards aren't accepted.

Hung To Seafood - Chinese, South San Francisco

221 South Spruce St, South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 877-0828
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-3pm, Dinner Daily 5pm-9:30pm
http://www.hungtoseafood.com/

Last Visited: June 15, 2003

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

Hung To’s atmosphere didn’t particularly stand out. I did however appreciate their large parking lot. Upon entering the restaurant, you will be able to see the seafood tank containing the fresh catch of the day. The colors are bright and the restaurant is clean, but the place doesn’t scream four stars. It’s definitely about the food.

I can’t quite remember all that we ate since it’s been a while since my last visit, but what did stand out for me was the geoduck in two flavors.

Geoduck can be rather difficult to cook. If overcooked, the texture is very chewy. If cut too thick, the same problem results – hard to cook and overly chewy. The geoduck at hung to was cooked in soup, and the other half of the geoduck was thinly sliced and sauteed with yellow chives, celery, and other thinly sliced vegetables. Both were outstanding. The soup contains some cilantro, some preserved duck egg, and tofu along with of course, the geoduck. The soup is excellent. It’s got the texture of a broth, but the seafood has made it creamy and the flavor has been infused into the liquid. The ginger prevents it from smelling fishy, and the aroma is very nice.

Both geoduck dishes rank amongst its five star competition. Overall, the food was around five stars, but be sure to try the geoduck. It’s excellent. Also note that they have dim sum available during lunch, although I've never tried it.

Kirala - Japanese - Sushi/Robata grill, Berkeley

2100 Ward Street, Berkeley CA 94705
(510) 549-3486
Parking: street parking, parking lot nearby
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm, Dinner Mon-Fri 5:30pm-9:30pm, Sun 5pm-9pm
http://www.kiralaberkeley.com/kirala/kirala.html

Last Visited: August 8, 2009

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

I think it was Hank's photos that first triggered my interest in Kirala. I looked it up, and since I had never been to a restaurant that served sushi and offered items from their robata grill, I thought it would be worth a visit. Of course, you can also get rolls and typical dishes like tonkatsu as well. Since then, I've been twice - once sitting at the bar (alcohol bar) since I didn't have reservations and once at the actual sushi bar (although I was closer to watching the grill than the sushi).

Both times, I found the food to be of good quality, service to be okay, and worth going back.

Located across from the Berkeley Bowl supermarket, you'll find the environment somewhat inspiring - the produce at Berkeley Bowl is outstanding. Although that has nothing to do with Kirala, it's nice to know that if you go to the restaurant, there is a cool destination to check out just across the street. As we waited outside for both visits, I noticed the decorations across Ward Street even matched Kirala - fish on the outside of the building that you can see from Kirala's entrance.

Whether you're early or late, there tends to be a line. Since I had to wait outside, then inside, and only managed to get a bar seat during my first visit, I was more prepared for my second visit. I showed up at about 5:15pm and waited outside around the corner (there were some other well-prepared folks) and managed to get a seat at the sushi bar.

The place is extremely packed (what happened to a bad economy?) and if you're at the alcohol bar, there are a ton of people packed into the waiting area that is adjacent to the bar. It's almost uncomfortable, and quite frankly, I think they shouldn't allow people to sit at this bar since the staff is trying to get drinks for the dining area. At the sushi bar, service is better since there are less handoffs, but it is hard to add items to your order and tea refills are not as frequent as they should be. These reasons account for the two to three star range on the service rating.

The food is presented well and is of good quality. Sitting at the sushi/grill bar, you do tend to get a little smoke from the grill than I would prefer even though the exhaust fans are good. It's a bit hard to avoid.

All of the fish was fresh and as you can see from the photo, the pieces were fairly generous. Prices are fairly typical for the area. Here's a listing of the sushi we tried.

- Aji (Spanish Makerel) - $6
- Hirame (Halibut)- $5
- Maguro (Tuna) - $5.50
- White King Salmon - $6
- Tai (Red Snapper) - $5
- Kanpachi (Amberjack) - $6
- Seared Tuna - $5.50
- Trout - $6

- Unagi - A generous piece of unagi and very good. $5.50

- Agedashi Tofu - During my first visit, I saw some Japanese people order this and so that prompted me to order it for the second visit. Good, but not wow. $6.75

- Ika Temp - A small plate of fried fresh squid - although nicely done because of the light tempura batter, the quantity is somewhat small compared to what you would get when ordering at an Italian place - I would rather pay a couple dollars more and get a larger quantity. Okay, but I would more than likely skip it on the next visit. $7.95

- Atsu Age - I really like fried tofu. I guess it's the combination of textures - slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. A really well done fried tofu is piping hot in the center and almost melts in your mouth, especially when soft tofu is used. The outside should be beautifully golden brown and the edges of the brick should be crunchy and the rest crispy. This one was okay - I wasn't wowed by it, but the presentation was nice with the green onion on top. Chinese fried tofu with salt and pepper is a better bargain - tinier pieces mean more crunchy edges. Okay. $3.75

- Ribs - Sitting next to the grill, one of the benefits was seeing what other people were getting firsthand. Although I had pretty much finished eating, I saw the ribs and they looked too good to pass up. Of course they had to be ordered. I really liked how the wedge of lemon helped to brighten the flavor of the ribs. Delicious and definitely worth getting. $8.95

This is one of those places where the service is the best when the check comes - they're friendly and fast to return your check with change to get you out the door for the next round of patrons. Alas, there is opportunity for Kirala to improve their service overall, but at least the food is good. I would go back for more, although it wouldn't be a destination I would deliberately drive an hour to try.

Happy Garden - Chinese, San Francisco

815 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 387-4011
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: June 4, 2005

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

Happy Garden has had the grand opening sign outside their door for about a year now. Having been there for dim sum, I found the overall quality of dim sum to be fair. There are some dishes that were fine and others that didn’t meet an average rating. My original rating was three stars for service and atmosphere, with the food rating at 2 to 3 stars.

Upon entering the restaurant, there is a counter to your immediate right, and the rest of the restaurant is filled with tables. The large circular tables are in the center of the room and far right. The staircase in back leads to the women’s restroom and another private room currently used for storage. There is a fish tank in the rear of the restaurant and the kitchen is also in the back. The atmoshphere is neat and the walls are fairly newly painted.

My most recent visit was for dinner. For their dinner for two to three people, the value is incredible. For $18.80, you get a complete meal including soup, two meat dishes, a vegetable dish, and dessert. It’s pretty hard to beat. Food quality for dinner is about three stars, but service could have used improvement. Knowing that you get better service from the family members that own the restaurant than the people who are hired to work there, you’ll easily recognize the owners.

Service this evening was toward the two star rating. When service is given by the family members, it’s about three stars. You’ll also find one other hard working gentleman that is not related to the family. They’re not particularly friendly, but they’re efficient in the hustle and bustle. What was bad about the atmosphere this evening was the yelling. Apparently there was someone calling the wrong number and reaching the restaurant multiple times either asking for the wrong person or not saying anything at all. The two waitresses were yelling loudly despite the presence of the patrons, and they went on and on about how they weren’t going to answer the phone. The appearance of the restaurant is reasonable, but the yelling really reduced my impression of the atmosphere.

- Winter melon soup – Chunks of winter melon and pork are boiled over a slow fire for several hours to create a clear succulent broth. The soup was good, and though the presentation isn’t pretty – it arrives in a big bowl with pork bones, it is typical of this type of home style soup.

- Pork spare ribs with spicy salt – These aren’t typical pork spare ribs. They would probably be considered small pork chops, but Chinese people refer to them as ribs. Pork ribs are lightly battered with spicy salt batter and deep fried with onions and chili peppers. The batter is seasoned well and not too salty. Very good - although there is a little bit of MSG, so if you are concerned about MSG, be wary of this dish.

- Salted Baked Chicken – The name is a bit deceiving in English, but in Chinese, when you translate it literally, the chicken is actually cooked in a salted broth. Half a chicken is served for two to three people and it’s accompanied with a ginger dipping sauce. The sauce is simple and made from grated ginger, oil, and salt. The chicken still has the skin on it and is chopped into manageable pieces with the bones still intact. Very good.

- Mustard greens – Whole mustard greens are pan fried with garlic cloves that are pan fried/oil fried until golden brown. The mustard greens take on the flavor of the cooked garlic and chopped garlic is added to the dish. The garlic flavor isn’t overwhelming, but it nicely seasons the greens which are a very nice light green. Very fresh. Good.

Several points of improvement for service were needed during dinner. The soup was just given to us. Good servers will pour the soup out into individual bowls and serve the bowls to each person. This soup was basically plopped in front of us. As for the chicken, the plate holding the dipping sauce was directly on top of the chicken and should have been put on the table. These small touches would improve their service greatly.

One of the special meal sets available during our last visit was a Seafood Meal for $28.80. It serves four to five people.

- Salty Spicy Shrimp – Shrimp in its shell is lightly battered and deep fried, then pan fried with onion slices and jalapeno pepper slices. The combination is shrimp that is slightly crispy with lots of flavor on the outside. The shrimp seemed to be sprinkled with salt and possibly MSG, though the latter is not confirmed. I didn’t like the additional sprinkling because the shrimp was too salty, and your mouth can’t taste the shrimp flavor because it’s overpowered by the salt. Fair.

- Soup with Fish balls – Spinach, tofu, and meatballs made with fish are cooked in a light broth. The broth becomes sweet with the flavor of the fish. Good. The fish balls were also just the right texture, not too dense, and not coming apart.

- Crab with ginger and green onion – Crab is sautéed with ginger and green onions. A slightly thick sauce coats the crab. Good. Nice flavor, although the sauce seemed to be lacking just a little extra something in the flavor. Okay.

- Seasonal Vegetables – Today’s vegetable was mustard greens. Caramelized garlic is cooked with mustard greens until they turn a beautiful green. Tender and crunchy, these were excellent mustard greens.

- Tofu with Shrimp – Tofu bricks are cut into large pieces and steamed with a large dollop of ground shrimp. A light soy sauce is drizzled over the tofu. The things they could do better with this dish are to cut the tofu into smaller pieces – usually, you get about ten pieces of tofu, here you get five long pieces of tofu – and divide the shrimp up amongst the pieces. The presentation needs to be improved, but the flavor was good. The shrimp meat was tender and succulent.

- Deep Fried Flounder – A large flounder is deep fried whole and plated over soy sauce. The flounder was large, which is good when it’s steamed, but I prefer it to be thinner and flatter when fried. When it’s thinner, there seem to be less eggs and the soy sauce absorbs into the flesh better. Okay.

- Dessert – Red bean soup is served for dessert. It wasn’t the best nor was it the worst I’ve had. Okay.

For dinner, the meals are a wonderful value, but there are several improvements in service to be made. The service during my most recent visit was better during our second visit when the place was less busy since it was early in the evening. The overall meal makes Happy Garden worthy of a visit if you are willing to discount the potential service and atmosphere mishaps.

La Briciola - Italian, San Francisco

489 Third Street, San Francisco CA 94107
(415) 512-0300
Parking: street parking
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, Dinner Sun-Thurs 5:30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10:30pm
http://www.labriciola-sf.com/

Last Visited: October 24, 2009

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

I first found out about La Briciola because I was looking for a place for dinner in the SOMA. After searching around a bit, I found this northern Italian restaurant and its offerings from earth and ocean sounded really delicious.

I had made a reservation and upon arrival, I was seated in the candle-lit room. The decorations were modern with simple lines. The tables and chairs are dark-colored wood, a few shades darker than the wood floors. Black and white photos and arches in the walls are nice touches that make the place feel warm and inviting.

I met Jay and Milly for dinner here on this cool evening. I perused the menu which is divided by the earth and ocean offerings. Each menu contains antipasti, primi, and secondi. The primi contained mostly pasta offerings while the secondi offered a variety of meat dishes. We started off by sharing an appetizer.

- Frittura di calamari - We split the fried calamari that was lightly breaded and served with marinara sauce. The breading was light and the marinara had a lot of spices. The portion is reasonable and a good size for sharing. Good. $13

- Linguine de mare - Mussels, clams, shrimp, tomatoes were cooked to create a delicious sauce and served with linguine. Although the menu serves the sauce with tagliolini, the waiter was accommodating and allowed us to change this to linguine. The pasta is al dente as true Italian pasta should be. The seafood was cooked through without being chewy. Another good dish. $18


- Agnello al Brunello - An item from the secondi portion of the menu, this rack of lamb was cooked until medium and served with a green peppercorn sauce and Brunello red wine reduction. A side of sauteed vegetables comprised of broccoli and carrots accompanied the meat. They did a good job of cooking the meat to my liking and the sauce was perfect - well-rounded and rich without being heavy. I enjoyed this dish a lot. $26

While I didn't personally order these dishes, I thought I would include the photos to show you what the portions and presentation for primi dishes look like.


- Gnocchi - The gnocchi sauce is rich and creamy. I liked how they browned it on top. $18

- Ravioli - I couldn't get the picture to turn the correct way, but you can tell that there aren't a whole lot of ravioli on this plate. It's truly a primi portion and not enough without other courses to supplement the pasta unless you happen to be a very light eater. I suspect it is high in quality and flavor both in regards to the filling and sauce, and it is ideal as a light course before the main dish. $15

Overall, I liked the food at La Briciola, but I found the prices to be a little higher than they could be, with the exception of the rack of lamb. The setting is modern and pleasant, and probably impressive for a first date or dinner with the parents. However, the service seemed slightly on the pretentious side. The server was in general, friendly and he knew the menu well, but the atmosphere could be made warmer through interactions with both the server and host staff.

At La Briciola, my suggestion would be to order a secondi or if you insist on getting a primi, order additional courses unless you have a small appetite. Good quality Italian overall with an atmosphere that fits in with city life.

Golden River - Chinese, San Francisco

5287 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 668-5105
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 10, 2004

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $ for lunch

I visited Golden River for dim sum during lunch. The building is far from fancy, with one well lit dining area. Tables vary from four person tables to large, round, family dining tables. These are covered in table cloths which are then covered with paper placemats.

The service was fairly inattentive. Since the dining room was very crowded at lunch, with only three main servers, we were lost in the crowd. If you want service, don’t even bother. If you want excellent shrimp noodle roll dim sum, this is a great place to try out.

Located a couple of doors from Ton Kiang, which seems to now have a very different clientele from several years back, you’ll find Golden River is filled with Chinese people. They probably began developing their reputation from those spilling over from the wait at Ton Kiang.

The most incredible attraction at Golden River is the price. All dim sum dishes are available for $1.95, no matter the size (most dim sum places charge accordingly based on a system of small, medium, large, and special dishes). Chef’s special plates are available for $3.80. There is no tea charge.

The best:
- Shrimp Noodle Roll – This is one of the best shrimp noodle rolls you can get in the city. It’s five star for sure! Large prawns are rolled in a thin rice noodle fun, and it is served with sweet light soy sauce. Not only is it better than a lot of other dim sum restaurants, there’s really not much you could do to improve on this roll – it has perfect consistency and flavor, and at $1.95, it can’t be beat! It’s the best of the best!

The good:
- Stuffed Eggplant – Fresh large pieces of Japanese eggplant are stuffed with shrimp paste and deep fried. Black bean sauce is served over the eggplant and shrimp paste. It was hot and the outer coating of the shrimp paste was a beautiful golden brown. Very nicely done.

- Deep Fried Turnover with Minced Meat – Pork and some vegetables are placed in a sweet rice dumpling and deep fried. The consistency of the dumpling was perfect, and the filling tasted as it should.

- Shrimp Wrapped in Tofu Skin Deep Fried – An unusual combination of ingredients in this roll. Typically, only shrimp is folded into tofu skin and deep fried. Golden River likes to add carrots and other vegetables which seem to work for them. It makes the roll juicier and allows for the contents to get hotter when deep fried. A bit unconventional, but still good.

The average:
- Spare ribs with black bean sauce – Spare ribs are steamed with jalapeno peppers and black bean sauce. Some spare ribs were spicier than others, thus it appeared the spices and meat had not been thoroughly mixed. Also, the fat content in the ribs was somewhat low, which creates a tough texture amongst the meat. This dish was so-so.

- Har gao – Shrimp dumpling – The presentation of the steamed shrimp dumpling in a rice wrapper is nice, but the wrapper is a bit on the thick side. Flavor is okay. I would go for another shrimp noodle roll rather than get the har gao.

- Pork dumpling – The presentation of the pork dumpling is a bit unusual in that they use pink shrimp roe rather than the typical orange. The portion of each dumpling is larger than typical, and flavor is okay, but the wrapper is darker in color than usual. It could just be a case of unexpected presentation, but I didn’t care for these pork dumplings.

Considering the prices for these dishes, it’s a great deal. It’s not top quality, with the exception of the shrimp rolls, but it’s worth a try. If you’ve never had good shrimp noodle rolls, it’s definitely worth a stop to help you set your standards for what good ones should be like. Have low expectations about the service and atmosphere, and you’ll be prepared.

Southland Flavor Cafe - Chinese/Taiwanese, Cupertino

10825 North Wolfe Rd #220, Cupertino CA 95014
(408) 446-9488, 446-9588
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
http://www.tainancafe.com/

Last Visited: November 15, 2009

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

Located on the back side of the Cupertino Shopping Village with Ranch 99, Southland Flavor Cafe is a little tucked away, but we found it to be a clean and bright place with a variety of menu offerings.

I have now been there twice, both times in 2009, and found the food to be good enough for return visits and the service has been friendly. However, once the place gets busy, there doesn't seem to be enough staff to be attentive to the entire group of patrons.

The photos seem to reflect the food pretty well. I haven't found anything to stand out in either an excellent or a bad way. While I wouldn't rave about a particular dish, Southland does better than many small town Chinese restaurants and their food meets the standards I have set for Chinese food.

- Green Onion Pancake - The green onion pancake tastes of green onion, has a nice texture, and came cut into four large triangles. Good. $3.95

- Shanghai Steam Small Bao (8) - While the skin is fairly thin, the top of the bao is twirled so tight that you get a small glob of dough at the top. The bao is served with thinly cut strips of fresh ginger sitting in black vinegar. In general, it was okay, but it was no Din Tai Fung (If you've tried DTF, you know what I mean). $6.75

- Beef Chow Fun - The beef chow fun was fine. The quantity is okay considering the price. It contained green onions and bean sprouts as it should. None of the fun were burned (a sign of bad chow fun), and there was good "wok-air," so this dish was also fine. $6.75

- Sliced Pork & Dry Rice Stick Noodle - There were a lot of rice noodles and the flavor was okay. It seemed a lot like something you would get at home. Green onions, carrots, and onion strips were also cooked with the dish. Okay. $5.25

- Dry Noodle & Spicy Bean Sauce - By the time I remembered to take the picture, the sauce had been tossed into the noodles. It was fine as well. I appreciated the vegetable strips that gave the dish a bit of freshness. Okay. $5.50

It's properly named a cafe because the dining setting and presentation of food is simple and more family-style. The restaurant seems to be geared more toward Asian clientele. I say that only because their website is almost entirely in Chinese. Also, many of the patrons love their oyster pancake and stinky tofu. I haven't met a stinky tofu lover that isn't Asian yet, so perhaps that my bias.

Food is fresh and good, though not wow, and don't expect it to be a fancy place. Southland Flavor Cafe is great for a good tasting meal and solid standard Asian dishes.

Capp's Corner - Italian, San Francisco

1600 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 989-2589
Parking: street parking
http://www.cappscorner.com

Last Visited: June 5, 2004

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

Capp’s Corner is a neat place. When you walk in, you can just soak in the atmosphere. The place is dimly lit. The bar is on your immediate left. Note that it’s a sports bar, so if a game is on, it’s pretty noisy. That’s part of the charm. It’s conveniently located next to Beach Blanket Babylon.

All around, you’ll see brown wood paneling, and in the back, in red letters it says Capp’s with white lights all through the letters. All around the room are photos of Italian boxers, local sports icons, and movie stars. The tables are laminated with red and white checkers, and there is a definite feeling of San Francisco in the establishment. If you ever visited New Pisa, you will now be directed to Capp’s Corner just a block and a half away.

Long ago in Oakland, I loved dining at Bertola’s for the family style dinners, and a friend recommended we try New Pisa which is how we found Capp’s. Dinner here is available family-style. Most dinners are $14.50 or $16.50. Also included with dinner is a tureen of hearty soup and green salad with beans and creamy italian dressing.

Bread arrives at the table after ordering. The only thing that could make it better would be having it warm from the oven.

- Soup – The soup is always minestrone served in a tureen family style. Very hearty and flavorful, it hits the spot on a cold evening. The vegetables are tender but not overcooked and the green beans have a bright color to them. I could eat this soup anytime.

- Salad - Green salad with garbanzo and kidney beans, dressed with creamy italian dressing and topped with beets are served in a stainless steel bowl. Presentation isn’t important on this one. All the vegetables were very fresh.

I like to order what people often feel is the most simple food. It's a great test for a restaurant. If they can't cook something simple, how can they go beyond that?

- Spaghetti and meatballs - Two large meatballs are topped with spaghetti and meat sauce to create a heaping plateful of hearty flavor. The meatballs are large. They are not overly dense or overly flimsy. The spaghetti, though appearing to be cooked too soft is actually al dente. Even on the first bite, it seems to have gotten too soft, but start to chew, and you'll notice the al dente texture. The sauce is hearty and complex. The flavors have married and the overall dish is great. It's not perfect, but it is really good. And considering the overall cost of the dinner, you'll find the value exceptional.

- Fettucine with prawns - Al dente fettucine is served with eight prawns in a butter garlic sauce. A fresh lemon wedge tops the entire dish. It’s simple and oh so good. The prawns have a lobster like texture and are very meaty. What more can you ask for?

Upon my second visit, as opposed to the first one made in January 2004, I found that the prices had increased 50 cents. Not too bad compared to many of its counterparts. The pasta dishes are now $15 and the meat entrees are $17. New York Steak is available for $19.

- Herbed Leg of Lamb – Three slices of lamb cut from the bone and cooked medium rare are topped with luscious gravy and served with pasta marinara (tonight was penne) and herbed mixed vegetables (zucchini, yellow squash, and carrots). Even the vegetables were delicious. The scent of the lamb was fragrant as it arrived at the table and tasted just as heavenly. It’s tender texture and great flavoring makes it a must try. Don’t worry about the medium rare – after the gravy tops the lamb, it’s perfect.

- Fish of the day – This evening, the catch was snapper with a lemon butter caper sauce. This fish was to die for. A generous filet of snapper is lightly floured and browned until golden brown. The fish is then topped with a light but creamy lemon butter caper sauce. It was heavenly. The edge of the fish was browned just right leaving a perfect texture that was slightly crisp while the center remained moist and flaky. Very fresh and delicious. The fish was also served with a vegetable medley (see above) and pasta marinara. Excellent!

I bumped up the food rating from 3 to 4 stars to simply 4 stars. I was most impressed with how the restaurant handled food quality. Despite a full house at the tables and the bar, our dishes were top quality and better than my initial visit. Pasta dishes are good, but the meat entrees are awesome. The chef was right on the money the night of my second visit, and I would highly recommend this place, especially if you are willing to try the fish of the day.

Capp’s is a bargain and a great place to go. There were a few large parties that evening, and it didn’t feel too loud or too crowded. It’s great Italian food, and it’s a cozy spot for great family style Italian dinners with a taste of San Francisco. Check it out.

Om - South Indian, Novato

1518 Fourth Street, San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 458-1779
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm
http://www.omcuisine.net/

Last Visited: August 19, 2009
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Nimish first suggested that I try Om to get a sampling of south Indian cuisine which he explained differs quite a lot from north Indian food which is what we typically find here in Northern California. With his hearty suggestion, I went to try Om's lunch buffet for $8.99 which offered a variety of dishes and included a choice of masala dosa or chapathi.

What I really loved about Om was their website. It was so informative and educational, but since my visit, they have changed the site. I even called at the beginning of 2010 to ask about their webpage and was told that it was being worked on, but the best part is gone.

Driving by, it might be easy to miss the restaurant entirely unless you know that it's there. The signs are inconspicuous. If you like dosas and uthappam, you'll like their selection - they offer more than ten dosas and at least seven uthappam. If you're unfamiliar with dosas, they are made with a batter fermented overnight and cooked like a crepe. An uthappam is like a dosa, but thicker and softer. Both are served with sambar and chutneys.

Their buffet offers about eight to ten hot dishes as well as some other items. Today's visit included chicken drummettes, rice, a dosa and some other good finds. Enter the restaurant and find that the raised dining area on the right and a floor level dining area in front of the entranceway. The buffet is set up in the rear of the restaurant. Each table is covered with a tablecloth and glass is placed on top. During lunch, paper napkins and paper placemats were presented on the table. In large chafing dishes, unlike traditional steam tables that you would find at neighboring Indian buffets, you'll see a variety of well-labeled offerings.

While Nimish got a plain dosa, he recommended a masala dosa to me which meant this thin cylindrical golden brown crepe that was crunchy on the edges and softer within contained a filling with mashed potato like consistency. The potato mixture contained onions and was mildly spiced with masala.

I also had a chance to try some chicken that had been cooked in a thick curry sauce; rassam, a soup that was sour in taste; dal; my first coconut chutney and more. Without their website, I'm at a loss for identifying what I ate, but I can tell you the flavors were great, and the lunch offerings were more than sufficient for a buffet.
Service received a rating of two to three stars because I had ordered a drink upon arrival, but even after returning from the buffet to the table and eating a portion of my dish, the drink failed to arrive. I had to ask for it again in the middle of my meal.

If Om were only a little closer to my workplace, I would probably visit more frequently. However, I would certainly be willing to try them again for their buffet lunch or dinner entrees. Good stuff and a great chance to learn what South Indian cuisine is all about.

Dudes On Foods

While dining at Sushi-Ran on Halloween night and enjoying Sausalito's annual family parade featuring local ghosts and ninjas, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the dudes (and his wife too) of Dudes On Foods. We happened to be seated right next to each other at the sushi bar and they noticed that I was taking photos of some of those scrumptious pieces of sushi. We got to talking and I learned that George blogs too. If you're ever in the New Jersey or New York area, you might enjoy reading their take on the local beat.

Cheung Hing - Chinese BBQ, San Francisco

2339 Noriega St, San Francisco CA 94122
(415) 665-3271
Parking: street parking
Hours: Open Daily 9am to 9pm

Last Visited (dine in): March 11, 2006

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

Cheung Hing seems to have a line out the door no matter the time of day. It’s a small place with dark gray industrial tiles on the floor, a meat and Chinese deli counter to the right, and a few tables for diners to the left. The big glass window in the front displays the roasted barbeque ducks and running chicken hanging in the window. On display on the counter is the many varieties of cooked dishes from chow mein to fried rice to beef with broccoli and more.

The ongoing line is waiting for the fresh Hong Kong style barbecue that Cheung Hing delivers. This type of food is difficult to cook at home since the equipment isn’t available and it’s a lot of work to roast an entire pig. People typically purchase the items by weight or box depending on the item and take them home to enjoy. They’re also great for taking to parties.

The few tables in the room are very cozy to its neighbors. The room has gotten a new coat of paint and the décor is now blue and peach. The tablecloths are gone and we’re back to the plastic table top, but that’s probably better than the picnic style tablecloths previously.

Cheung Hing doesn’t specialize in ambiance. It’s about excellent food at extremely reasonable prices. A delicious and enjoyable meal for anyone willing to give it a chance.

- Shrimp Won Ton Noodles – Available with thick or thin noodles, six shrimp wontons arrive over noodles in a flavorful broth. A few chopped scallions top the bowl of soup noodles. The noodles themselves aren’t actually thick so much as wide, but in Chinese, thick and wide is pretty much synonymous when it comes to noodle description. Everyone just knows what it means. We usually get the thin noodles, since thin noodles are more traditional style. The won tons are filled with a mixture shrimp and pork and are good even on their own without the noodles. The noodles are al dente and the broth is great. Excellent in 2004 and 2005. My most recent 2006 visit seemed to find only good tasting noodles – not as al dente as I have become accustomed to and somehow not as flavorful, but still good, especially at this price. $3.55

All barbecue items are available on their own as an entree, over rice, or by weight. You can also put two items over rice if you prefer, but then the portion of meat will be adjusted accordingly.

- Roast Pork over Rice – A portion of the roasted pig is cut into pieces and placed over rice. You can see the entire roasted pig hanging over the counter, and they cut each piece as it is sold for takeout at the deli or for your entrée. Today’s roast pork was certainly in one of my top ten. The skin of the roast pork was golden brown and very crisp. The meat was tender, juicy, and succulent with superb flavor. There is a little bit of fat between the skin and meat, so you just need to know that since they serve it as it without doctoring it, you’ll need to remove it yourself. Some people like roasted young suckling pig, but when you can have roast pork like this, you won’t even need to try roasted suckling pig. Excellent! $4.35

- Roast Duck over Rice – A quarter of a roasted duck is placed over rice and cooked cabbage (or lettuce depending on when you go). The cabbage has been cooked such that it has soaked up the flavor of the meat, so it’s just delicious. The roast duck was also excellent. It had been cooked to take on a beautiful rich cherry color. Much like the roast pork, you’ll find that there are a few pieces that may be fatty, but it’s just how this dish is served – part of the culture. Most pieces are meaty, but there are those few where you’ll just be able to enjoy only the roast duck skin. The rice soaks in the juice of the roast duck and is also enjoyable. Excellent flavor. $3.95

- Beef Chow Mein over Hong Kong Style Crispy Noodles - Slices of beef are sautéed with straw mushrooms, carrots, and baby bok choy in a sauce and placed over crispy noodles. Unlike regular chow mein, Hong Kong Style Crispy Noodles are typically deep fried or pan fried to a golden brown making them crispy. The flavor of the chow mein is different and also thin chow mein noodles are used rather than thicker noodles. There was a bit more sauce than desirable in this dish, but overall, it was still very good. $4.45

- Beef Chow Fun – Chow fun is pan fried with slices of beef in a light soy sauce. Bean sprouts, onions, and green onions accompany the chow fun. The flavor is good and the food arrives with good heat from the wok that stays with the dish. Good. $3.95

- Stuffed Deep Fried Tofu – Seven large triangles of firm tofu with a bit of meat stuffing in the base of the triangle are deep fried until golden brown. The triangles are then plated and served with a slightly spicy thick sauce. The tofu was fried well, but there was little stuffing. The flavor of the starch based sauce was lacking, and this dish alone would only receive 2 to 3 stars despite the value. Skip this dish unless you just happen to have tofu on your must eat list. $5.65

- Vegetables – We ordered Chinese broccoli during my 2006 visit and found the greens to be fresh and flavorful. It’s a simple cooking method of boiling in the noodle broth and topping with oyster sauce. However, it’s the broth that makes the vegetables good. They cut the broccoli neatly and place it on a plate. At dim sum restaurants, the same quantity and quality would run you about 1.5 times the price of what it is here. Great. $4.30

Any of the barbecued items or even deli items for that matter are terrific (although once in a while, the cut is a bit fatty which was true this last visit, so I dropped the food rating from four stars to the three to four range). Presentation of food isn’t as neat as it could be, but considering the excellent value, this shouldn’t deter you. Be adventurous. If you can get past the atmosphere (think of it as a hole in the wall), you’re sure to enjoy Cheung Hing. It’s one of the best places in town for this style of food, especially if you're planning take out!

Fishwife - Seafood, Monterey

1996 1/2 Sunset Drive, Pacific Grove CA 93950
(831) 375-7107
Parking: street parking
http://www.fishwife.com/

Last Visited: August 18, 2009

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

Glenn referred me to Fishwife located at Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove. Each time he and his wife visit the area, they always go to Fishwife and enjoy the good food. Their menu includes Carribean, Mexican, and Californian combinations.

I've now visited the location at least twice. Lunch menu prices are slightly less expensive than dinner prices. My first visit was for dinner and I was really quite amazed at the quantity of food offered and the value of it. The place was pretty packed, and luckily, we had come just before the crowd arrived. By the time our dinner was over, the line was out the door.

In general, the atmosphere was quaint with white paper lining the tables, smooth service, and a buzz about the place with all of its customers. Window seating doesn't offer much of a view, but knowing you're in Monterey and that just a short walk out the door allows you to hear the ocean waves and feel the sea breeze serves up a more romantic atmosphere. Admittedly, during my second visit for lunch about a year later, the value remained, but the luster had been lost a bit - perhaps because I had high expectations from my great first visit. The food during the second visit, while still fresh and in a lot of quantity, wasn't quite as eye-popping and mouth watering as during the first visit. However, I would still be willing to go back and try it again - perhaps sticking with grilled items.

- Boston Clam Chowder - Although a hearty helping and containing many clams, the texture was more starchy than creamy. I would probably pass on this if you have high clam chowder expectations. If not, you might still be okay as it has good flavor, but not the texture that I desired. Cup $4.25, Bowl $5.95

- Dinner Salad - I like the freshness of Fishwife's salad - romaine or green lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, red onion rings, and carrots. Good. $4.75 (also available at lunch with a bowl of Boston clam chowder $9)

- Alfredo Seafood Combo - Served with two pieces of soft garlic bread, pasta is combined with shrimp, scallops, and fish in a creamy alfredo sauce. The sauce is very rich and a bit heavy, but I guarantee that you'll be full after eating this dish. Nobody should walk away hungry. $15.95

- Golden-Fried Calamari - Unfortunately, I ate most of the calamari before I had a chance to tartar sauce which take a photo. Large calamari steak strips are lightly breaded and fried until golden brown. They're served with a wedge of lemon and Carribean style is a light orange color and has a bit of a kick. Since I didn't realize it was going to be calamari steak versus calamari tentacles and pieces, I was a little disappointed, but the flavor was still nice. If you like calamari steak, you'll probably enjoy it. If you're staying in the area, look for a coupon at the hotel that offers a free appetizer with an entree. It's a great way to get more value out of your visit. $7.75

- Crab Cakes served with habanero cream sauce. Two rather large crab cakes were plated with a cream sauce on top and an accompanying lime wedge and mound of salsa. When the menu described it as 'served with' sauce, I didn't realize it would be topping the entire cake. I prefer to have the option to dip into the sauce, so this was another miscommunication on my end. Another hearty dish, but as a crab cake purest in that I want to taste it without sauce, I was slightly disappointed. The sauce overwhelmed the cake for me and all I could taste was the spicy sauce. Just Okay. $9.50

- Tilapia Cancun - This was my first main dish at Fishwife and I found it quite impressive in terms of value and quantity. Spiced with achiote, the tilapia is grilled and served on a cashew cilantro pesto and topped with salsa bravo. While I didn't know what salsa bravo was going to taste like, I liked the fresh flavors combined with the grilled fish. They offered an option of beans and as you can see, nobody should go hungry with this dish. $13.95 Lunch, $15.95 Dinner

- Fried Tilapia Lunch Plate - Served with steak fries, salad, and black beans, this was great for lunch to allow a portion of vegetables, but still allowing you to enjoy some fries with your fish. Good crunchy crust on the fish and an ample serving of salad. This time, the salad was a little more wilted than last, so the food wasn't quite as impressive. $11.50

Some of the dishes get a solid three star rating, but in general, I dropped their rating after the second visit to the two to three star range because while the food is fresh and comes in good quantity, I find that the mixture of flavor sometimes prevents one from tasting the beauty and freshness of the seafood itself. Some of their dishes are a little overly dressed. While I would visit again, I found that the second visit during lunch had only fair service despite it being later in the lunch hour and there being fewer tables. Fishwife reminds me a little of watching a restaurant makeover show - it's a place with its regulars that like what they serve, but I think their menu could use a little updating to allow the seafood to be presented in a new way that simplifies the flavors a bit.

Grand Palace - Chinese, South San Francisco

415 Grand Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 872-1000
Parking: street parking
http://grandpalaceseafoodrestaurant.com/

Last Visited: February 17, 2008

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

Grand Palace opened a new location nearby their previous location on the 300 block.
I tried the new one and found it to be even better than the first. The new location is a large two story unit that has been newly remodeled. All the colors are warm with warm light peach walls and beautiful wood crown moulding trim. The carpet is dark green with a beautiful pattern with beautifully upholstered chairs in a regal green with gold patterns. It all goes together very well. The tables are spaciously set in the living room and the table cloths are also a lovely green. The atmosphere is fine and the high ceilings give the room a grand feel.

Service is good. We visited the new Grand Palace for a dim sum lunch.

Unfortunately, during my 2008 visit, I downgraded all of their ratings at least half to a whole star. Although the setting remains upscale, Grand Palace has gotten a lot busier and their prices have gone up. In their efforts to serve all of their new customers, service and food quality have dropped quite a bit. Sizes follow the item listed when available. 2008 prices for dim sum are as follows: Small $2.45, Medium $2.90, Large $3.90, Special $4.80. Tea is complimentary during dim sum hours.

- Pork congee with duck egg – Out of all the dishes that I tried out this afternoon, it seemed that this one would rank the lowest. The consistency was too watered down, and though I’m sure the flavor was fine, congee (rice porridge) should be thicker with more rice. Two stars. (Medium)

- Beef Noodle Roll – Nicely, though it seemed lacking of something. Perhaps it could be hotter, or a little bit more cilantro, but the consistency of the noodle was right. During my most recent visit, I found the roll nice and thin, so I’m bumping this up from the 2 to 3 star range to just 3 stars.

- Steamed Tofu pockets stuffed with shrimp paste – The tofu is deep fried to create a golden brown skin, then stuffed with shrimp paste and steamed. Three pieces per dish. The flavor was okay. Two to three stars. (Special)

- Shrimp dumplings – The flavor was good. Four dumplings filled with shrimp. The skin could be slightly thinner and then it would be perfect. During my 2008 visit, the skin had broken a bit, but otherwise flavor was still okay. Three stars. (Medium)

- Deep fried taro dumplings – Deep fried with a nice taro consistency and filled with meat and vegetable. The outer layer is deep fried golden brown and the flavors blend together well. Three dumplings per dish. Four stars. (Medium)

- Char Siu Bao/BBQ Pork buns – Three pork buns filled with barbeque pork. Good flavor and soft bun. Four stars. (Small)

- Button Mushrooms stuffed with shrimp paste – Four mushrooms are filled to overflow with shrimp paste. A brown sauce lightly covers the mushroom. Hot in temperature and juicy, these burst with flavor. Four stars. (Special)

- Eggplant stuffed with shrimp paste – Four pieces of Japanese eggplant are stuffed with shrimp paste. The eggplant is then rolled in a light batter and deep fried. The same sauce used to top the mushrooms top the eggplant. Excellent! Four stars. (Special)

- Pork dumpling – Four pork dumplings are served in a small steamer. The flavor is just right, and the presentation of the dumplings is great. Three to four stars. These were also okay in 2008. (Small)

- Deep fried pork dumpling – I have referred to this dim sum by other names, but this is basically an oval shaped dumpling that is puffed up after deep fried. Inside is ground pork and a little bit of vegetable. The outside is slightly sticky and sweet using sweet rice flour as the basis of the mixture. Very good. Three to four stars. (Small)

- Sweet soft tofu – Soft tofu is served in a bowl with sweet syrup as a topping. The tofu is infused with ginger flavor. The tofu was pretty good, but not the best I’ve had. I think I also didn’t get the top of the bowl, but the bottom instead since the pieces of tofu were sometimes on the small said. Two to three stars.

- Deep fried sesame ball dessert – Lotus paste fills a ball that puffs up when deep fried. The outer shell was crispy and golden brown. The sweet paste gives it a delicate flavor and the deep fried shell makes the texture a great match. The inside of the shell is just a little gooey making it soft and crispy in the same bite. Still good in 2008. Three to four stars.

- Deep fried stuffed tofu – Tofu bricks are topped with shrimp paste and deep fried until golden brown. A light brown sauce is served on top of the crispy tofu. Since it’s made with soft tofu, the inside texture is smooth while the outside is crispy. Good. Three to four stars.

- Cold octopus – Baby octopus is marinated, cooked, and served cold. Each piece is crispy and refreshing, and certainly an interesting sight. About 15 or so pieces are served on top of soybeans that have a bit of sweetness to them. Good. Three to four stars.

- Shrimp stuffed bell peppers – The shrimp is fried until golden brown and the bell pepper squares look gorgeous. However, once you’ve bitten into it, the bell peppers still taste great, but the shrimp is a combination of too many other items. There seems to be some fish paste, which normally would be ok depending on the type of fish paste used, that leaves the texture too chewy. The extra ingredient actually detracts from the flavor of the stuffing and left me wanting more. (Special)

- Steamed chicken feet with black bean sauce – Three chicken feet are braised then steamed with black bean sauce. Although they were very tender, they too lacked a little something in how the texture of the chicken feet held up – it seemed it had been a little over steamed. (Small)

- Golden Chives Beef Chow Fun – Although the name says golden chives, you’ll find very few golden chives included in this beef chow fun. The chow fun came on a chipped white plate and had beef, green onions, bean sprouts, and chow fun. There were some yellow chives, but very few. The chow fun was broken into smaller pieces rather than whole strips as they should be. The flavor was okay, but needed just a touch more salt. I had to ask the waiter to provide us with some soy sauce to get the flavor just right. Not worth the price considering the quantity and quality. Just okay. $10

Our most recent dinner visit was in 2005.
- Combination Cold Cut Platter – This appetizer contains warm barbecued pork, seasoned jellyfish, cold seasoned duck wings, sliced beef, and another cold cut. The plate is small, but it’s packed with goodies. There is enough to serve between four and six people. The pork was warm and juicy, and heating it makes all the difference. The sweetness of the barbecue sauce gives it a great flavor. The duck wings are boiled in a seasoned broth, removed from the broth, and refrigerated. The duck has an almost crisp texture which is just right for this dish. The jellyfish is crunchy and al dente in texture. Great. $18

- Braised Tofu with Green Veggies – The braised tofu bricks were cooked to perfection. The outside of the tofu is golden brown, forming a skin to hold the soft tofu inside which is heated through making it hot and tender. It bursts with juice. The tofu is accompanied by baby bok choy neatly placed in a row. Great presentation and excellent quality. Their braised tofu is excellent. $9

- Braised Dry String Beans with Pork – The braised dry string beans weren’t braised dry enough. True braised dry beans cause the beans to lose more of its moisture so that the beans are extra crispy. This dish was more like stir fried green beans rather than braised dry. Fair. They would have been good if the name had been stir fried or just green beans. $10

- Sauteed Sliced Lamb with Leek and X.O. Chili Sauce – Lamb is sliced into pieces and cooked with sliced leeks and red chili peppers in X.O. chili sauce. The X.O. sauce gives the lamb just enough kick that it tastes a touch spicy, but not spicy enough to burn your mouth. The leeks are crisp in texture and complement the lamb wonderfully. The lamb was tender and had just absorbed the flavor of the X.O. sauce. Excellent. $12

- Pan Fried Whole Flounder – A large flounder is lightly battered and deep fried until crispy. It’s served with head and tail and topped with sliced green onions. A little bit of soy sauce is placed on the plate prior to placing the fish on top. The fish was fresh, and the batter fried until lightly brown. Good$14

- Yang Chow Fried Rice – Rice is pan fried with egg, diced barbecued pork, carrots, and green peas. Each rice granule was separated from one another, but still retained its moisture. The flavor was very good – not too salty, but still flavorful. Great. $9

During the 2005 visit, I found service to be fair. In reality, it was just two people encountered during that visit, but it dropped service from the 3 to 4 range to just 3 stars. One person was taking the dim sum around. Her attitude just wasn’t pleasant and was barely offset by one of the happier folks doing the same job. One of the headwaiters was also quite unpleasant. She had taken our last dim sum order but seemed dissatisfied by what we had selected and even though she entered in the order, more than fifteen minutes passed before we received it. Being that there were few tables in her area, she should have checked back with us at the ten minute mark when she saw that we hadn’t received our order. The service rating would have dropped further, but there was a nicer headwaiter that offset her behavior. My last visit seemed to confirm that it was just two specific people that made service fair. Sitting downstairs this most recent time, I only encountered one of the people mentioned above, and overall, I had a much better experience.

A lot of the dishes that I didn’t try out had wonderful presentation, from the plates to the food itself. Grand Palace has done a great job of improving their level of atmosphere and food presentation rising to compete amongst some of the Bay Area’s finest. Food quality is good, and the atmosphere just makes it all the better. Grand Palace is definitely worth a stop.

However, in 2008, I found that presentation had gone downhill significantly. The plates were no longer beautiful as they had been two to three years before. Most plates were now white and chipped. My teapot was chipped and the elegance lies only in the surroundings. Service as mentioned above was disappointing. What was probably the most appalling was the dim sum service. It seems it started as a mistake. The people occupying our table had ordered the deep fried sesame balls, but likely due to the wait, had given up, so by the time the waitress brought the order to our table, she was quite disturbed that we didn’t have a tag on our receipt associated with the order. However, it’s important to have flexibility and to know what to do in this situation. Since our party wanted to have the sesame balls, and she had already taken them from her tray and put them on our table, but had not stamped our order check yet, she should have just completed the transaction with the stamp and moved on. However, she went back to the host station and started to get upset at the waiter. Meanwhile, we’re staring at the sesame balls not wanting to start eating them yet until this was cleared up. Another waiter came by and realizing the situation, told her to proceed with the remaining orders she had to fill. She then took our sesame balls away and went upstairs. Gasp. If you’ve gone to have dim sum, once the plate is on the table, you just don’t take it away, especially if the patron wants to order it and you have more on the tray. Nevertheless, this was only the first faux pas with this woman. After she had filled all of the pre-ordered sesame ball requests, she then passed our table and didn’t offer us the remaining ones. After making a full round in the restaurant, and much to our chagrin, allowing the sesame balls to cool, she came back asking if we wanted any. Faux pas number 2. The afternoon progressed with yet another step back when it came to service. Another waitstaff member came and took our soy sauce and condiments plate away for refills. Considering patrons are still using the items and eating, you just shouldn’t do this. It wasn’t just us though, every table proceeded to have their condiments removed. They didn’t return for another 20 minutes. Finally, our specially ordered items took about 20 minutes to arrive after ordering – an unusually long time considering the typical turnaround on dim sum orders, even when made fresh.
Given the number of choices in the Bay area, the lack of competition in the immediate vicinity has allowed Grand Palace to lower its standards. Service could be improved greatly and refined to eliminate some of these procedural faux pas experiences.

Sam's Chowder House - Seafood, Half Moon Bay

Best: Clam Chowder

4210 North Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay CA 94019
(650) 712-0245
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Lunch Mon - Fri 11:30am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4:30pm; Dinner Sun - Thurs 4:30pm - 9pm, Fri-Sat 4:30pm - 9:30pm
http://www.samschowderhouse.com/

Last Visited: July 5, 2008

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

The Chadwins first mentioned Sam's Chowder House to my mom when she had shared that we were heading to Half Moon Bay with some friends. Soon after, the American Automobile Association's monthly magazine, Via, came out with an article about Sam's. While Sam's Maine Lobster Roll was voted one of the top five best sandwiches in America by NBC's The Today Show, the Via article said that the Blue Crab Sandwich was the thing to get.

Never one to just trust what I read without being willing to check it out myself, I sacrificed my waistline for you dear friends and took the plunge - I ordered both.

Although it was the middle of summer, it was a cold day to start and coming in, the fireplace had a fire in it, offering instant warmth. The windows in the dining area streamed in light and just a bit of the sunshine peeking out from the clouds. Located along Highway 1, you can enjoy the beautiful ocean views and scenery.

Service was welcoming and we were quickly seated. Although I don't remember service as being exceptional, it was good and the menu offered a wide selection including grilled seafood (delivered fresh daily), fried platters of oysters and fish, cioppino, gumbo, mussels, salads, house cured salmon, and hamburgers too in case seafood doesn't suit your fancy. Their starter menu is very complete with hot and cold starters. It might be a good way to try more of their fare.

- New England Clam Chowder - As a clam chowder lover, this bowl of little neck clams, Yukon gold potatoes, smoked bacon, and cream was one of the best clam chowders I've had. The flavors were well balanced and the texture creamy and smooth. Excellent! $6.25 cup, $9.95 bowl

- Maine Lobster Roll - Maine lobster with butter is served on a toasted bun with chips and coleslaw. With such a high rating from a national search for best sandwiches, I admittedly had very high expectations for this roll. It was good, but when I compared it to the blue crab sandwich, I found that I liked the crab better than the lobster. I also wasn't too crazy about this being served with chips, but it was okay. While I would eat it again, given the choice, I would opt for the crab sandwich. Good. $19.95

- Blue Crab Sandwich - Fresh blue crab with tomato, cucumber salsa, and spicy remoulade is served on a brioche bun. Chips and a dish of sliced pickled cucumbers accompany the sandwich. Perhaps it was the combination of remoulade with the salsa, or that it wasn't as heavily dressed as the lobster roll, but I thought the flavors of this sandwich were cleaner and you could really taste the sea in the crab. I also liked the pickled cucumber side dish which cleansed the palate. As mentioned above, I would pick this one over the lobster roll given the choice. $16.95

Sam's has so much seafood available, that it's a bit hard to choose what to order. I would absolutely order the clam chowder again and probably try some fried dishes and other fresh catch. Sam's is definitely worth another visit and great for bringing friends!