Technique at Le Cordon Bleu - French, San Francisco

350 Rhode Island St, San Francisco CA 94103

(415) 216-4415
Hours: Tues-Fri Lunch 11:30am-1pm, Dinner 6pm-8pm
Parking: ample street parking
http://www.techniquerestaurant.com/

Last Visited: June 10, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 2 to 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

Technique allows students of Le Cordon Bleu culinary school to show off their culinary and customer service skills in a real restaurant environment.  Since working in the restaurant is actually a course at the school, Technique is only open during the school year.  Friends Braden and Kelly recommended that I try it and noted that if possible, I should wait until the end of the semester for a better experience. 

It's an awesome bargain too - only $15 per person for a five course dinner.  Lunch is also a great deal.  However, while the food tastes pretty good, the consistency of portion sizes and service could use some refinement. 

The dining room is fairly minimalistic.  They've done a nice job dressing up the room so that it's elegant without being too fancy.  Chairs line the walls and there is a divider between the foyer area and the dining room.  You can see the open kitchen in the rear and a table on the side holds self-serve coffee and tea.  Midway through our meal, they turned on the stereo and the music was a little too loud, but otherwise, it was a pleasant dining space with lots of natural light from the windows.

First, it's important that I address portion size so one can understand how they can serve food at this price.  It's best to go as a party of two because anything more than that essentially suffers from smaller portions.  Each course is shared by the entire table, so what you see in the photos are portions for two, however, we noticed that a table of four or six people get the same-sized dishes with maybe one or two more pieces of the least expensive ingredients.  For example, the appetizer comes about the same with additional quarters of the pita bread.  The risotto dish comes with a few more asparagus spears, but is still about the same.  Each diner gets their own intermezzo and main dish.

Upon our arrival, the hostess seemed confused after asking about our reservation.  At first, I thought she wasn't the official hostess, but she stayed at that post the entire night.  Also, after ordering, the server forgot to remove the menus.  Initially, I thought it was to allow us to know what was coming next, but then I saw that some of the other servers removed the menus after ordering.  There are a lot of inconsistencies in service, but I guess that's part of the culinary school experience.

- Buckwheat Flatbread and Fried Potatoes with sauce romesco, aioli, and olives - The flatbread was light in texture, but definitely tasted very fresh.  It was super thin, but held up to the sauces.  Romesco is a red pepper based sauce and it was just a touch sweet.  The aioli seemed a bit unnecessary with the other two sauces available.  The potatoes were fairly standard in taste and texture. The plate was pretty and you could taste a lot of fresh garlic in the sauces. 

- Not So Classic Cobb Salad - The cobb salad was considered not so classic because it had been deconstructed.  Also, duck confit was used instead of chicken breast.  Blue cheese, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and bacon were served on top of romaine.  The salad was fresh tasting and the dressing was good, with just a little bit of tanginess.
- Shrimp and Lobster Bisque Risotto with Grilled Asparagus - This was more like a soup surrounding a risotto.  While the shrimp and lobster were a bit indistinguishable from one another, you could definitely see the small pieces of both cooked within the rice.  The green sauce from the appetizer plate looked like it got drizzled on top of the risotto.  The risotto had a good texture and the sauce/soup was flavorful from a lot of spices.  It was a nice combination.

- Intermezzo: Raspberry Lemon Sorbetto - A small scoop of sorbet with a fresh raspberry was served between courses.  I wouldn't have minded eating a larger portion of this for dessert. 

Main Courses

- Sauteed - Fig wood smoked salmon with grilled escarale, currant reduction, and potato gratin.  While the smoked flavor was less detectable, this was absolutely one of the best sauteed fish dishes I have ever had.  The browning on top doesn't show just how incredibly crispy this was.  The half of a baby bok choy wasn't terribly exciting.  The currant reduction was sweet and complemented the flaky perfectly cooked fish well. It was memorable in a good way.    

- Grilled - Korean beef short rib and assorted pan chan.  When I think of a short rib, I think of tender meat that can be pulled apart with a fork.  While I recognize that making pan chan and Korean short ribs isn't an easy task, this was definitely not up to expectations.  The pan chan was fine and could pass for that found at a Korean restaurant.  However, the beef short rib was chewy and not cooked through.  While the flavor was good, I kept chewing and chewing.  It just hadn't been cooked enough to break down the fibers.  The pan chan might appear more authentic if each item was in an individual ramekin.  This dish dropped the food rating down from four stars to a three to four star range.

The other option for an entree was Roasted Chicken with porcini sauce, parmesan rosemary gnocchi, and baby carrots.

- Chocolate Hazelnut Frangipane Tartlet, Caramel Ice Cream, and Cherries - Frangipane is an almond flavored filling.  With this dish, the chocolate really is the star.  If you like ganache, it has a flavor like ganache with a texture that is just a touch more dense.  It's a little like the center of a gooey fudge brownie.  Although the description refers to cherries, those are definitely in the background.  I liked the ice cream with the buttery crust of the tart. 

The head server came around to some of the tables to chat and announce the ingredients of the dish as it was served, but he didn't do that for every table.  He only came to our table once.  Getting served fresh cracked pepper is also inconsistent - some tables get it and others don't. 

The other issue I saw with entrees had to do with portion size. At a nearby table of eight people, there were at least five or six people that ordered fish. The size of the portions varied greatly - enough that I noticed even though I was sitting a table away. On one plate, a piece of fish was half the size of that on another plate. Also, not every piece was sauteed as beautifully as the one that I tried.

It's good to go to Technique for great food at a great value, but be reminded that you are at a school and that this is a training ground versus the final destination.  Some of the dishes are better than what you would find at many restaurants while others are less memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons.  It's a great place to go for fine dining at a great price.

My Ha - Vietnamese, Santa Rosa

385 Aviation Boulevard #B, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 527-8882
Parking: in shopping center

Last Visited: October 23, 2004

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

This establishment has by far been the cleanest Vietnamese restaurant I have visited in Sonoma County. In a new building next to the Airport Cinemas, it has a fresh coat of paint, clean carpet, and new everything – from tables, to chairs, to dishware. It’s a refreshing change from the dingy dusty pho places in the county. The walls are bright, the windows bring in a lot of light, and it’s competition is Quizno’s subs, right next door (totally different sector of the market). Prices here are a little higher than the other places, but My Ha’s menu is clean – limited selection, but good choices and quality food. They even had a lunch buffet which looked appetizing – I just couldn’t eat that much for lunch. My Ha is going for a more upscale look. They still use paper napkins, but there were four servers for a lunch hour on a weekday which is pretty impressive.

- Pho – Well Done Beef Brisket, Eye Round Steak - This dish came in a big bowl. Did that come across clearly? The bowl is big. Unlike other pho restaurants, their pho was one size fits all. Each person received their own accompaniments – lime, jalapenos, bean sprouts, and thai basil. I would have liked more noodles and one of my dining companions felt the meat wasn’t lean enough. Her eye round steak was very rare; mine was well done. The soup is hot, but could be just a touch hotter in temperature. Also, although they give you a lot of jalapenos, I dropped most of them in my soup and didn’t taste their presence at all. They didn’t look dried out, but they were missing their fire. Overall, it was still good. $5.75

- Bun Cha Gio,Thit Nuong – Imperial Rolls and barbecued pork – A large bowl is layered with a salad (made of shredded lettuce, beansprouts, cilantro, mint leaves, and shredded cucumber) and topped with room temperature rice vermicelli. An imperial roll is cut into pieces and placed on top of the vermicelli. Thin slices of barbecued pork are seasoned with lemongrass are also placed on top of the vermicelli. Crushed peanuts garnish the dish. Dressing with a fish sauce base is served on the side and poured on top of the noodle mixture. The barbecued pork is very nicely done, not overcooked. The salad mixture gives the dish a light crunch, and the dressing accompanies all of the ingredients well. The thing I liked most about My Ha’s bun is that the vermicelli is room temperature. At many places, you’ll find that the vermicelli is cold like it just came out of the refrigerator. Although this is refreshing in summer, in the winter, it is less pleasant. Very good. $6.50

- Coconut Juice - More ice than juice, but still refreshing with fresh pieces of coconut meat $2

- Banh Kem Flan – The flan is served on a dish and topped with a maraschino cherry. The top of the flan is golden brown and slightly bitter. The bitterness doesn’t make the dish taste bad, but rather adds complexity to the flavorings. The texture is smooth and a bit more solid than other flan I have tried, but still good. $2.25

The nice thing about getting the Pho is that you get your own dish of thai basil, bean sprouts, and lime. They aren’t stingy about giving you these ‘condiments’ for your Pho. Unlike other places, each of us at the table received our own plate. As for what could be done better, if they were going for the truly high class crowd, the bean sprouts would no longer have the bean or the thread at the bottom of the sprout.

On my second and third visits, I had another version of pho with meatballs. One thing My Ha is excellent at is explaining what the dish is made with. For example, they’ll let you know the meatballs are made with pork or that the seafood noodles will have two kinds of noodles. If you’re hesitant about trying Vietnamese food, this place is perfect for you since they’re patient enough to answer any questions and they anticipate the concerns one has. My previous conclusion remains the same - Definitely worth another trip back to My Ha.

Fifth Avenue Corner Cafe - American, Seattle

1900 5th Ave, Seattle WA 98101
(206) 728-1000
Parking: street and hotel parking
Hours: Daily 6am - 2pm

Last Visited: March 31, 2011

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

Located at the Westin Hotel, the Fifth Avenue Corner Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch.  The staff is cheery and friendly even during early morning hours.  I was looking for something fairly substantial and settled on a waffle.  They have oatmeal, cereal, omelettes, fresh fruit, bagels, and other choices available too.

- Belgian Waffle - While the menu above the counter never mentioned it, the waffle came with fresh berries - blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.  They also served it with warm maple syrup.  Yum!  The texture of the waffle was good - slightly crisp on the outside and cooked through, but soft on the inside.  Great.  $8.50

- Odwalla $4.50

If you're staying at the Westin, this is a convenient stop for breakfast.  Much of the food is made to order and done well.  Prices are a little higher than other cafes, otherwise, fresh and good.

Ohana Hawaiian BBQ - Santa Rosa

2150 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 571-8882
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: June 3, 2006

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

Although Ohana Hawaiian BBQ is a chain restaurant, it’s unique for the area – at least until the Petaluma branch opens up. Think fast food style with a little longer wait.

When you enter Ohana, the friendly staff greet you with a loud ALOHA. The restaurant colors are warm and sunny with wall murals depicting Hawaiian settings and of course, a woman with a lei and a grass skirt. Hawaiian music fills the room.

The menu is displayed behind the counter and offers BBQ selections including authentic Plate Lunch (though they call it Lunch Plate to accommodate the mainland style of jargon) to burgers and fries. It appears that everything is made fresh considering the wait time. Our wait time for two dishes was about ten minutes – not so fast for fast food, but it tasted good. And, being an authentic Hawaiian fast food place, they offer Loco Moco and Spam Loco Moco too. Yes, SPAM.

- Grilled Short Ribs Combination Plate – Three short rib steaks are marinated and grilled and placed over raw shredded cabbage. It’s served with a scoop of macaroni salad and two scoops of steamed rice. The rice is a bit loose, and I prefer mine a touch stickier. Two of the short rib steaks were just right, while one had more tendons. The flavor was very good with a sweet tang to the meat. The macaroni salad is good when accompanying the other items on the plate but a bit too much mayonnaise if eaten on its own – accompanying the shredded cabbage balances it out. Good. A healthy portion for a good price. $6.75

- Grilled Spam Saimin – A hot bowl of soup containing ramen noodles and grilled spam rectangles. It really is fresh with piping hot soup. Good. $3.75

- Hawaiian Drink – choice of several Hawaiian Sun canned drinks from the refrigerator $1.25

The only room for improvement I would make is more environmentally friendly packaging – Whether dining in or out, everything comes in Styrofoam.

Ohana offers catering of many dishes too – perfect for a party. And there are also party packs available too. There are multiple locations in California, mostly through the East bay and LA area. Check it out for a flavor of Hawaii in Sonoma County.

House of Prime Rib - San Francisco

1906 Van Ness Street, San Francisco CA 94109
(415) 885-4605
Parking: street and valet parking
Hours: Mon - Thurs 5:30pm - 10pm, Fri 5pm - 10pm, Sat-Sun 4pm - 10pm

Last Visited: June 30, 2011

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 4 to 5 stars
Price: $$$

The House of Prime Rib is legendary in San Francisco.  Located on Van Ness Street, I've passed by it for years.  They're about serving well-marbled prime rib in the English tradition, carved at your table. Even the dining area is decorated in English style - very cozy, classy, and very traditional with large elegant paintings and decorations, lots of dark wood, and candles.  Established in the 1940s, it's an institution. 

Getting reservations to this place can be quite tricky, so book early.  It's a little more flexible if you're able to visit during a weekday.  I managed to get a reservation within 48 hours since I took the earliest time available.  When I arrived, food service hadn't started yet, so they seated us in the bar area and we were given Japanese rice crackers in a little carafe and asked if we would like a drink.  While it was nice to be given a snack to start, I do wonder how Japanese rice crackers fit into the English tradition.  Either way, you won't be thinking about that for very long because once you start your meal, you feel like you've entered into another world and experience.

Before getting started, it's important to know that unless you're a kid, dinner is going to run around $50 per person or more if you choose to order drinks or dessert.  With that in mind, the expectations are high, but House of Prime Rib really is a cut above the rest.

A server took us to our seat and asked how my name was pronounced.  What a nice personal touch!   He was very pleasant and after learning that it was our first visit, he told us to be sure to let the waiter know.  Once we were seated, a round of hot bread on its own cutting board arrived with a knife standing straight up in the middle of the bread.  The waiter arrived and asked us if we had been before.  When we told him that we had not, he gave us the full explanation about the various cuts and that every cut except for the City Cut came with an additional helping that had to be enjoyed at the restaurant.  Everything else was simple - a choice of creamed corn or creamed spinach and a choice of baked or mashed potato.  Salad comes with all meals.

Here is what is on the menu:

- City Cut - A smaller cut for the lighter appetite - $35.45
- House of Prime Rib Cut - $37.85
- English Cut - Thinly sliced prime rib - $37.85
- King Henry VIII Cut - Extra generous thick cut of prime beef - $39.85
- Children's Prime Rib Dinner - $11.45
- Fresh fish is also available

The salad comes layered in a stainless bowl over ice and the waiter may do a little show for you. While some servers are fairly low key about it, our server enjoyed spinning the bowl and adding the seasoning salt at the table and taking the tureen of cherry wine vinaigrette dressing high up in the air and drizzling it into the bowl.  The salad contains chopped egg, chopped beets, pimentoes, and romaine lettuce.  After drizzling the dressing, he tossed the salad and divided it between the cold salad plates and warned us to leave room for the main dish.  If you enjoy a slightly sweeter salad, this is really good and refreshing.  For those with a small appetite, you may be overwhelmed by the quantity of the salad.

While we were enjoying the salad, a server came and brought us hot corn bread that had been cooked in a pan with molds shaped like corn.  The bread was delicious.

We both ordered the House of Prime Rib Cut.  The picture above shows what it looks like.  The picture below shows the same cut with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and Yorkshire pudding.

The prime rib comes on a large metal cart with a round cover.  When they unveil the prime rib, you see several large mounds of meat standing before you.  A separate area within the cart holds the creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  The chef slices your prime rib, pours on the au jus, and serves you this wonderful cut of meat.  The meat was super tender and I loved how the edge was extremely juicy.  

The mashed potatoes and gravy seem fairly standard.  The creamed spinach is very flavorful from lots of timy pieces of bacon - probably what doesn't get used from the baked potato toppings.  We preferred the creamed spinach over the creamed corn.  As we started in on the prime rib, the skillet containing the fluffy Yorkshire pudding arrived and each skillet holds two to three servings depending on how many are at your table.  The server divided the Yorkshire pudding and placed it on top of the meat. The creamed corn was creamy and served on the side, but not the best that I've had.  Just okay.  It's a little hard to tell from the photo, but the baked potato is pretty massive.  They load it with bacon and offer you butter, sour cream, and chives.  Of course, I had to have them all.  The potato is enough to be a meal in itself, especially for those with smaller appetites.  Those pieces at the bottom of the plate are all real chopped bacon bits.  Delicious!  It's so full of flavor. 

Throughout our meal, our server checked on us at least once and the owners of the place came by to see how we were enjoying our dinner.  While some may think these older gentlemen are due for retirement, you'll find they seem to enjoy wandering and checking on their clientele.

If you still have room for dessert, that's available on a separate menu, but I ended up taking a portion of my prime rib and potato home for the next day.  The prime rib leftovers made an awesome sandwich and the rest of the potato left me stuffed.

House of Prime Rib is a great stop for delicious prime rib.  Nobody should ever go away from this place hungry.  Service was impeccable, leaning heavlily on the formal side at the host's desk and bar, and along the lines of what you get on five star cruiseships.  Our server, Manolo, was professional and friendly. While it's not a place I can afford to go to everyday, House of Prime Rib is worthy of a stop if you're in town, celebrating a special occasion, or just love a good prime rib.

Negri's Italian Dinners - Occidental

3700 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental CA 95465
(707) 823-5301
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: August 7, 2004

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

Negri’s has been run by three successive family generations. It’s classic Italian dining. As you walk up the steps, you can see the large windows facing the town of Occidental. On the door are a gigantic fork and spoon which are also the door handles. Upon entering, the bar is to your left and the dining room is to your right. When entering the dining room, you’ll find the natural light from the large windows complements the surroundings nicely.

The painted walls are yellow with a green awning above the cash register area and the area near the kitchen. The walls are dark wood, and the thickness of the ceiling beams reminds you of the quality building construction of the old days. There are strings of lights as well as lamps with a white ball for a lamp cover. The ball has been painted with a red and green stripe each which make the Italian theme all the more prevalent.

The floor is light in color, and the tables are spaciously placed. The rear dining area was closed, so this evening, there were seven tables lining the large windows, and a moveable planter dividing the room. The tablecloths are red and white checkered, and a bottle of chianti as well as a pitcher of water sit on the table. On the walls, you’ll also find various paintings containing chianti bottles as well.

Upon arriving, a basket of crusty bread with a soft center arrives at the table along with a plate of olive oil containing drops of balsamic vinegar. You’ll also receive a bowl of freshly grated parmesan cheese and a container of individually wrapped butter.

All pasta and non-pasta dishes are accompanied with minestrone soup and mixed green salad. In addition, non-pasta dishes will also receive an antipasti (tonight’s antipasti was four slices of salami), zucchini pancake, and raviolis (six pieces).

- Minestrone soup – A large stainless steel pot holding hot minestrone arrives at the table with a large ladle to allow you to serve yourself. This homemade minestrone is incredible. A pot given to serve two people easily contains enough for four servings. The minestrone soup contains all the typical ingredients - cabbage, greens, beans, carrots, wide thick noodles, and so much more. The flavors marry together to create a taste extravaganza. Excellent. Five stars.

- Mixed green salad – The salad is comprised of iceberg lettuce, grated carrots, red cabbage, grated zucchini, and dressing. The vegetables are fresh, but there was too much dressing for me. In the future, I will know to ask for dressing on the side. I had enough dressing that by the time I completed my salad, there was enough remaining to dress another serving. One thing that is unique about Negri’s is that they still serve additional dishes during the salad course. Along with the mixed greens came a plate of old style cottage cheese, a plate of marinated vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, peppers, and more) that were quite tart from the marinade, and finally a mixed bean salad (garbanzos and kidney beans dressed with small diced onions and dressing). It was refreshing to see Negri’s continue this old tradition.

- Zucchini Pancake – Although the menu says that zucchini pancakes are served with non-pasta dishes, you only receive one pancake. It’s a small yellow round slightly smaller than the palm of one’s hand. It’s golden yellow with some green from the zucchini peaking through. Nicely done, and just a little crisp on the outside.

- Lasagna – Lasagna noodles are layered with meat sauce. Although the red sauce was hearty and thick, by the time I got to the lasagna, I was pretty stuffed. In comparison to the raviolis, the lasagna noodles are thick and don’t have the same homemade flavor. The portion is large, but just not as appetizing after fabulous minestrone. Average.

- Raviolis – Incredible. Their raviolis are homemade and filled with meat and spinach. Excellent. Probably some of the best raviolis I have ever had. They are served in a tomato sauce with parmesan cheese, and of course, you can sprinkle on as much parmesan as you wish. On my next visit, I’ll probably order the raviolis as an entrée and enjoy the splendid taste and texture. A must try! Five stars.

- Grilled Calamari Steak – Calamari steak is lightly breaded and grilled. Served with French fries (other options available). The calamari steak was a nice thickness, and the texture was good, but I found it to be a little oily. The breading was light and only grilled until faintly yellow. Nothing outstanding, but not bad. Average. The French fries were a bit oily – not to the point of being soggy, but also average.

At Negri’s, it’s worth just getting a bowl of soup if you choose to get nothing else. Raviolis are also a must try. They’re spectacular. The place is neat and clean, overlooking Occidental. It’s quaint and just an enjoyable place. The entrée itself (at least the two I tried) is not as outstanding as the soup and raviolis, so be prepared to bring them home since portions are huge, or maybe just order the good stuff alone. Beware if you order the hamburger because you’ll likely receive comments about ordering a hamburger in an Italian restaurant. No matter what, just come hungry.

Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream - San Francisco

1447 Taraval St, San Francisco CA 94116
(415) 731-2833
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: July 13, 2011

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 4 stars
Price: $ to $$

I had heard about Marco Polo some time back when I was looking for ice cream places in San Francisco, and one weekend recently, it was one of those 90 degree days where the weather was gorgeous.  It was the perfect setting for an ice cream treat, and our friends, the Tams, said we absolutely had to go try it.  With their high praise, we just had to go. 

Marco Polo is a small shop and despite the word Italian on the front, it offers a ton of gelato in Asian flavors.  Their menu includes lychee, mango, soursop, durian, jackfruit, sesame, chestnut, taro, cantaloupe, red bean, coconut, and more typical fare like vanilla bean, fresh strawberry, double chocolate, and mocha chip too. 

Small - 1 to 2 flavors $3.3.5

Medium - 1 to 3 flavors $5.25
Large - 1 to 4 flavors $5.85
Pints - starting at $9

The gelato is rich and creamy, but know that you're getting gelato and not ice cream.  During my first visit, I tried cantaloupe and lychee, and for my second visit, I tried pistachio and sesame.  The cantaloupe is an absolute delight - so refreshing and full of cantaloupe flavor - I didn't know it was going to be so incredible.  The lychee and sesame are just as you expect them to be - also very good.  I've made sesame ice cream at home and this flavor was just as wonderful.  The pistachio was my least favorite - maybe I just prefer this flavor in ice cream more than in gelato form.  

The options of plain, sugar, and waffle cone are also available.  I really enjoyed the fresh flavors and unique offerings of Marco Polo.  Service is friendly and they're very patient with kids.  The music can be interesting - Chinese pop, but it does seem fitting with the Asian flavors.  This is a great stop on any day.

Pho Saigon II - Vietnamese, Richmond

3288 Pierce St, Ste A116, Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 528-6388
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 9 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am - 10 pm

Last Visited: June 4, 2011

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

Located in the Ranch 99 shopping center, Pho Saigon is very casual and super fast.  We met some friends there for a pho dinner and found it to be okay overall.  While we used to visit Pho Saigon more frequently about a decade ago when the shopping center first opened, it's been a while since we've been back.

Like many other pho restaurants, the atmosphere is simple with chopsticks, spoons, napkins, and condiments already set at a station at the table. The windows that separate the restaurant from the main hallway are left undecorated and the restaurant as a whole is fairly bare when it comes to decorations.

After sitting down, we were promptly brought plastic cups of water and given a bit of time to peruse the menu.  After placing our order, it seemed like onlhy minutes before the meal arrived.

- Combination Pho - As is typical, you'll find that the noodles are soaking in hot soup and covered with the meat of your choice depending on the pho dish that you ordered.  Also, accompanying the hot soup is a dish of bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime wedges, and Thai Basil.  These items were fresh, but according to one of my dining companions, the beef meatballs in her soup was not so fresh today - while not spoiled, they were completely flavorless which seems to indicate that they have been in the freezer for quite some time.

Nobody else had any issues with their meal, so I left the food rating at 2 to 3 stars.  With this quick service, this is a great place to go for a fast meal and the price is great for those on a budget.  It seemed that a lot of the tables around us were getting fried chicken wings, so I might consider trying that the next time I come back.  While it's not a destination restaurant, it's good when you're looking for a hot bowl of noodle soup.

Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant - Chinese, San Francisco

3132 Vicente St, San Francisco CA 94166
(415) 564-3481
Parking: street parking
Hours: 11:30am to 9:30am, Tues/Thurs: 5:30 pm to 9:30pm

Last Visited: May 14, 2006

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

Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant is located in the Sunset district. It’s a small store front with a sign that stands out, but otherwise, might be passed by without a second look. Enter the restaurant and notice the many many decorations all around the room. The top half of the walls is painted light blue, and the bottom half is painted golden. From the ceiling hang glass chandeliers and colorful, shiny paper decorations. The wall displays include both paper and wood decorations.

The top half of the left wall has multiple mirrors to enlarge the room. The left side of the restaurant houses three large round tables while the right side contains typical rectangular tables for parties of four or less. It’s a small family owned restaurant with three people working in the dining room and at least three or four more working in the kitchen in the rear.

Old Mandarin was recently featured on a local public television show discussing restaurants in the area, as well as the local newspaper. Their specialties include Mandarin cuisine and hot pot. Hot pot is available with a per person charge for the broth, and a per plate charge for items including raw meat and vegetables that are cooked in the hot pot. Since we visited for lunch, we tried the regular dishes.

- Stirred Flour Ball with Beef – Dough (flour ball) is cut into dice and stir fried with beef and vegetables. This dish contained a lot of vegetables including diced carrots, zucchini, celery, water chestnuts, peas, young corn, straw mushrooms, beans, bean sprouts, peanuts, and garlic. It’s all stir fried with soy sauce and takes on a brown color. This was my first time trying flour ball, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. It’s basically dough that has been cut into small squares, so the consistency of each bite is that of meat and diced dough and vegetables. The meat is cut into thin slices and cooked just the right amount of time leaving it juicy and tender. Overall, I would say that flour ball is just okay for me. I prefer the texture of noodles or Chinese rice cake which contains larger pieces of dough. Perhaps that’s just what I’m accustomed to. Most of the items in this dish take a lot of preparation to cut to such a small size, and they do a great job of keeping the dough pieces from sticking together. It also had great wok-air. However, this dish is just okay for me because of the mixture of textures and flavors. $7.50

- Three Flavor Dumpling (12) – Twelve dumplings are served on a white oval dish. The three flavors are chicken, beef, and shrimp. There are also some chives mixed in with the meat. The dumpling filling is a little on the dense side, but the overall flavor is okay. Not the best dumplings I’ve tried, but unique for the three flavor mix. $6.95

- Onion Pancake (1) – A large pancake is cut into wedges. The pancake is cooked until golden brown and crispy on the outside. Inside, the dough is evenly layered into multiple thin layers with green onion scattered about. Very good. A dash more of salt into the dough would have made it perfect. Excellent color and texture. $5.95

- Lamb Noodle Soup – Noodles are cooked with tender chunks of lamb in a rich broth. The hot and steaming bowl of noodles is topped with spinach and the temperature of the broth is hot enough to cook the spinach through. This broth has a wonderful flavor. It’s dark brown in color, and the lamb is cooked until very tender – the meat fibers break away from each other with ease and it melts in your mouth, without the flavor of game often associated with lamb. Excellent. The portion is also large and great for the price. $6.95

The first two dishes fall into the three star range and the last two dishes put Old Mandarin Islamic closer to the four star range. Other specials include beef tongue, braised eel, fish, and other three flavor dishes. The lamb, in any form, is a must try. A new place to check out for some dishes with excellent wok-air and lamb cooked to perfection. Great.

Noodle Palace - Vietnamese, Thai, Santa Rosa

1310 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa CA 95404

(707)  528-1548

Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Mon - Sat 10:30am - 9:30pm, Sun 10:30am - 8:30pm

Last Visited: July 2, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

My aunt and uncle recommended we try out Noodle Palace.  If ever the phrase 'looks can be deceiving' were appropriate to talk about a restaurant, Noodle Palace is certainly the place where if you were looking only at the outside, you might run in the opposite direction fast.  However, I've now been there twice, and both times, I was pleased with the food.  If you can look past the white building with red roof and homemade white sign with red letters, you might enjoy what Noodle Palace has to offer.

My guess is that location once housed a Mexican restaurant.  With a white brick wall and metal fencing above the wall surrounding their own parking lot and more metal bars covering up the windows of the restaurant, the outside decor doesn't seem to fit Southeast Asian or Vietnamese food.  When you see the arches inside the restaurant, you might also be surprised, but inside, you'll find a simple and clean environment with large wall murals depicting Thai or Laotian women dancing and of course, the giant flat screen television (very common for restaurants of this style in the Bay Area).   A white board at the front shows that Noodle Palace has added a number of specials to its Vietnamese menu and the specials are typically Thai curries and other Thai dishes.  The restaurant has morphed into offering Southeast Asian food.  I talked to the owner and found out that they're of Cambodian descent, so they pretty much feel comfortable cooking everything from that region.  In the cooler up front, you'll see the selection of beer available and get a look at the tri-colored drinks/desserts (rainbow drink) unique to Southeast Asian cuisine.

During our first visit for dinner, we had bowls of pho.

- Pho -  The hot soup came with with well done flank, brisket, tendon, and tripe.  As is typical with these bowls, the noodles are formed into a ball at the bottom with hot broth poured on top along with the selection of meat you have chosen.  Accompanying the soup is a plate of bean sprouts, Thai basil, jalapenos, and a wedge of lime.  I liked how the broth was lighter than some of the other places in town, but still very flavorful and delicious.  Good. Four stars.  XLarge $7.95, Large $6.95, Small $5.95

- Pad Thai  - The pad thai came with a choice of meat.  When we asked the server about the chicken and whether it was breast or dark meat, she responded breast meat.  One of my fellow diners ordered this dish with chicken and the other with pork.  The chicken turned out to be dark meat.  The pork tasted like it had been boiled and then stir fried, so it wasn't very flavorful and a little dry.  The noodles were good - softer than some other preparations we had tried, but not falling apart yet.  The flavors also weren't as sweet which we appreciated.  Bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and lime wedges accompanied the noodles.  Presentation looks a little messier than some others that I've seen, but the taste was good.  The carrots were a bit on the dry side - however they're storing it, it should be covered with saran wrap to maintain moisture better.  Aside from that, I found it alright.  Three stars.  $8.95

- Rice Plate with BBQ Pork, prawns, and egg rolls - The BBQ Pork is marinated and sliced thin, then grilled.  After it comes off the grill, it's sliced into small squares.  The meat is served with a skewer containing three grilled shrimp, an egg roll, pickled vegetables, white rice, dipping sauce, and a bowl of clear broth.  There is a lot of food on this plate!  The BBQ pork tasted super fresh and with the dipping sauce, it's a great balance of sweet, salty, and grill flavoring.  The shrimp was cooked just right - tender and succulent.  The egg roll was crispy and very fresh.  The pickled cabbage and carrots added texture and balance to the dish.  I was delighted with the plate that came and enjoyed it thoroughly.  Four stars!  I would definitely get this again.  $7.95

Service is friendly and when it comes to pho, it's fast.  For stir-fried dishes, the wait time is longer. I was disappointed that our server didn't know that the chicken meat for the pad thai was actually dark meat.  Also, when you're waiting for your check, you might want to flag down the server because they don't normally bring it until you ask.  Payment is made at the front counter. 

Overall, the food is reasonably priced and the value is great.  From what I've tried so far, I would stick to the Vietnamese dishes for more authentic flavors, but I would be willing to try a Thai curry dish or two to see how it goes. 

If I were to give Noodle Palace some advice, I would suggest they work on their servers' knowledge of the food more and also consider upgrading the exterior.  A little paint in bright Southeast Asian colors (maybe chartreuse or orange) or at the least, a change of their signage, would guarantee attracting more customers, and once inside, the food will keep them coming back.

Traverso's - Italian/Deli, Santa Rosa

Fountaingrove Village, 2097 Stagecoach Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 542-2530
Closed for lunch on Sundays
http://www.traversos.com/

Last Visited: December 2, 2006

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 4 stars
Price: $ to $$

Normally, I wouldn’t write about a deli, but I have had terrific sandwiches at their old location on Fourth Street.  I'm confident that their move hasn't affected their quality.

- Mild Coppa Deli Sandwich with Avocado – Choice of bread, choice of meat, and choice of what you want on your sandwich. They have a great gourmet selection, and the price of the sandwich varies by the type of meat you select. Some were about $5.99 while others would be about $9.99. I selected mild coppa on a soft sour roll with lettuce, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and mayo. Avocado was $0.55 extra. Delicious. The bread was crusty on the outside, soft on the inside and just amazing. What a treat. $7.54

- Hot Coppa Deli Sandwich – So you can tell that I like coppa. I don’t get it elsewhere, so that’s why I get it at Traversos. This time, I tried Dutch crunch, jack cheese, and the usual lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayo – absolutely delicious. And, they even gave me a slice of the coppa while they were cutting it for me. You can’t beat Traverso’s for friendly people behind the counter and excellent meat. $6.99

Check out the gourmet goods at Traverso’s deli and and market. Excellent cheeses and all sorts of goodies. They even offer cheese samples – the gouda is delicious. If you want an excellent, fresh, deli sandwich – this is the place to go. Yum!

Lily Kai - Chinese, Petaluma

3100 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma CA

(707) 782-1132

Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Hours: Mon - Thurs 11am - 9pm, Fri - Sat 11am - 9:30pm, Sun 4pm - 9pm

http://www.lilykaipetaluma.com/

Last Visited: June 25, 2011

Food: 3 stars

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

Voted Best Chinese Restaurant in Petaluma for the People's Choice awards in 2008, 2009, and 2010, you start to have slightly higher expectations for Lily Kai than you would for a regular Chinese restaurant in Sonoma County.  Located in the Adobe Creek Center, you'll find it to have an elegant decor in this newer shopping center with lots of natural light streaming from the windows.

Lily Kai has had a reputation for higher quality service and food compared to other Chinese restaurants in Sonoma County.  I first tried it when it opened, but it's been a couple of years since my last visit.  We had a good impression of it from past experiences, but it's still not to the caliber of San Francisco Cantonese restaurants in flavor, although the atmosphere is pleasant and good for bringing guests. 

Today, we came by for lunch to see if it has maintained its quality.  All of the lunch specials are served with hot and sour soup.  Most of the dishes, with the exception of noodle dishes, come with a choice of brown or white rice and an egg roll.

A photo of the hot and sour soup is shown above.  While the flavor is okay, it's not authentic.  There are a couple of missing ingredients, that may not be there on purpose because they don't suit the American palate, and fresh mushrooms are also not common. 

- Mongolian Beef Lunch Special - First, I'll start with the egg roll. The wrapper was underdone - the wrapper was kept whole and should have been cut down to size since the additional layers didn't get fried through leaving it soggy in the center.  The filling was primarily cabbage and carrot shreds and seemed skimpy.  While the price is low, I would prefer they not give an egg roll if its quality is poor.  The mongolian beef itself was spicy and the meat was tender and plentiful.  Two broccoli crown pieces blanched until its color changed was fine, but probably a little too crunchy for some folks.  The rice noodles that had been fried and used to garnish the beef were not fresh and you could tell it had been fried some time ago.  It would have been better for them to fry the rice noodles at the time of the order or just leave it off.  Fair.  $6.95

- Singapore Style Noodles - The broccoli crowns described above accompanied the noodles.  Flavored with a little yellow curry, this noodle dish was also plentiful.  BBQ pork, chicken, three shrimp, onion strips, bean sprouts, and green onion accompanied the noodles.  One thing I appreciated was that there were three shrimp - in Thai places, you have to pay way more than this price to get a few whole shrimp. $6.95

Service today was fair.  While the hostess took us to the table, she used the menus to slap the butt of one of the servers.  While I maintain a sense of humor about stuff like this when it's your own family or friends hanging out during non-business hours, it's completely unprofessional when you're at work and the customer can see you doing this.  For that reason, I dropped the service down to a 2 to 3 star range. I kept the food rating at three stars because of the generosity with the shrimp at the low price of the dish.  One thing I wanted to acknowledge - they've held their pricing for their lunch specials since they first opened in 2006 - that definitely deserves some recognition.  High on value, Lily Kai's still needs to work on overall food quality.

Mamma Pig's - BBQ, Windsor - Just open!

News about Mamma Pig's is spreading fast.  Located in Windsor at 275 Windsor River Road, replacing Mirepoix (which earned a Michelin star) and opened by the same owners, Mamma Pig's is getting plenty of attention in news and social media.  Local radio stations, newspapers, and Facebook fans are buzzing about Mamma Pig's barbecue and casual environment.  Their motto is "Experience Sonoma on a Plate."  Featuring BBQ, Burgers, Bacon, Beer with ingredients sourced from local farms, Mamma Pig's is expected to be a great local hangout.

Sapporo - Japanese, Santa Rosa

518 7th St (located in Brickyard Center), Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 575-0631
Parking: street parking and parking lot across the street

Last Visited: September 3, 2004

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

When you enter the restaurant, you’ll notice the different locations available to sit – there are several dining areas. In the rear, there’s a good sized banquet room available. There is also a sushi bar with the white curtains behind it. There is a lot of wood decoration.

The food at Sapporo is satisfactory. The hottest temperature dish we had was the miso soup. The tea is cold (or perhaps I should say not hot enough). Sushi is average in taste and standard in presentation. For the price, you could get a lot more in San Francisco.

The best thing I found there was the seaweed salad. Crunchy and crisp with a nice sesame oil flavoring.

The tonkatsu is standard in every way. Crispy panko bread crumbs on the outside, but not a particularly tender cut of meat on the inside. The food is okay/average, but not spectacular. Service is good – they check on your fairly frequently. Not much more to be said.

Pam's Kitchen - Trinidad/Carribean, Seattle

5000 University Way N, Seattle CA 98105

(206) 696-7010

Parking: street parking
http://pams-kitchen.com/
Hours: Closed Mondays, Sun and Tues - Thurs 5:30pm - 10pm, Fri - Sat Noon -3pm, 5:30pm - 11pm
 

Last Visited: April 1, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars

Price: $$ to $$$

I had heard about Pam's Kitchen through an episode of Guy Fieri's show on the Food Network, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  While on an overnight trip to Seattle, my cousin, his girlfriend, and I decided to check out Pam's to see what it was all about.  From the outside, Pam's is located at the corner of the university district with lots of eateries available to choose from.  University students lovingly refer to the street as The Ave.  Further down the street, more businesses are close together, and the action is even more lively.  We were fortunate to find a back-into parking space (something you rarely ever see in California) about a block away.

Whenever I think of Carribean food, I think of jerk chicken - not because of personal experiences in the Carribean, but more because of stereotypes about Trinidad and the nearby area.  After trying the food at Pam's, I think of Carribean food as having Indian influences - the garbanzo beans and curry were reminiscent of the type of food I would have in Berkeley Indian joints, but with slightly different spices.  A friend of mine told me during a conversation a few weeks later that many Indian people immigrated to the region, so their ingredients and spices have influenced those of the natives.

Enter Pam's and it's a little surprising to see patrons facing the front door as you walk in.  The high tables have stools behind the table so you see rows of people facing you.  There are also high stools lined up on one side of the restaurant too.  We sat at one of the few regular tables.  The music was a little louder than I would have preferred, and the table top was strangely sticky and I still don't know why that is.   

The menu is fairly simple with a listing of roti entree choices, four which are curried curried with meat and the remainder are vegetarian.  A listing of sides and drinks are also shown.  Drinks like peanut punch, rum punch, and mauby, made of boiled tree bark, are sure to be inviting and interesting conversation starters.  Our server was really nice and offered to answer any questions we had about the food.  She was genuinely friendly and ready to share about her native culture. 

After ordering, the three of us each received a small side salad containing lettuce, carrots, and apple strips.  Crisp and refreshing, it was a nice way to start the meal. 

- Curried Chicken Roti - Each roti comes with a choice of roti.  We selected the parantha since the server told us that was her favorite.  The parantha, shown in the picture above, looks like it might come in smaller pieces, but it's one piece folded to fit into the basket.  The menu describes it as thin and fluffy with a flakey croissant-like texture.  While the description makes me think of the outside of the croissant, it's more appropriate to think of it more like the layers inside of the croissant.  The chicken was tender and flavorful and served with a cumin-spiced garbanzo bean and potato mixture.  According to our server, you tear pieces of the roti apart and while holding the roti with your hands, you use the roti to scoop up pieces of chicken.  It's a lot like eating Ethiopian style with the injera bread. The curry is flavorful and fairly mild.  Good.  My cousin liked this dish the best between the two main dishes we tried. $13

- Pelau - Boneless chicken is cooked with chopped carrots, celery, and white rice browned by pigeon peas or red beans.  It's a lot like jambalaya.  Accompanying this dish is the refreshing side salad we had earlier.  This was a nice mixture that was well-spiced and flavorful.  Good.  $14

- Callaloo - This vegan dish is made with fresh spinach simmered in coconut milk and okra.  I was expecting it to taste like creamed spinach because of the description, and although it's not pictured here, it looked a lot like creamed spinach, but because of the okra, the texture was more glue-like.  It was flavorful, but if you're not accustomed to the okra, it may seem too glue-like. $5

Dessert offerings include homemade coconut ice cream, Guiness stout ice cream, cassava-pone cake, and more if you have saved room for it.

While it's not entirely clear why the pelau came with another salad, considering we all got salad, I found the meal to be filling and satisfying overall.  Two main dishes and a side easily fed three people who were not starving, but hungry.  It's a nice change of pace and the folks are friendly.  If I had to the chance to visit again, I would love to try the other roti that they make as well as some of their eclectic drink offerings.  Dining is fairly leisurely in terms of the pace of food being served, so make sure you come here with plenty of time to enjoy the experience.   

Puerto Vallarta - Mexican, Santa Rosa

3333 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 575-4374
Parking: in parking lot
http://www.puertovallartasantarosa.com/

Last Visited: June 24, 2005

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

The funny thing about Puerto Vallarta is that I asked a coworker whether he had been there before, and his initial reaction was, “I HATE THAT PLACE.” This came from a person who I had never heard use the word ‘hate.’ Well, after some explanation, it wasn’t the food, service, atmosphere, or price that he hated, but the mariachi band. Apparently, when the mariachi band is playing, they can drown out your conversation.

So, with that, things were okay again since I was heading there for lunch, and the mariachi band only comes after 7pm daily. Enter Puerto Vallarta and on the wall are tons of photos of people. I don’t know who these people are, but there are many many photos of people sitting in the restaurant.

The place is decorated with lots of colorful blankets bunched in the middle and fanned out on the sides. There is also a painting of the mariachi band, and on the bottom of the painting is the phone number for how they can be reached – artful advertisement. There is a television in one room on a high shelf. There are four dining areas: one near the kitchen separated from the main room by waist high walls, the main room, another section on the side, and a small atrium facing the road. The atrium has a lot of windows which brings in a lot of sunlight. There is a lot of wood – fairly light in color, but somewhat old style.

Large tables are covered with white plastic tablecloths while small tables are not covered. We had reserved our table for a large group, and when we arrived, there were pitches of water, overturned water glasses, stacks of napkins sitting upright in glasses, and silverware rolled in napkins already on the table. There was also a basket of chips located between each group of four seats and salsa and bean dip adjacent to the chips. I was impressed at how everything was well prepared for us. Puerto Vallarta seems accustomed to handling large groups. They are also available for catering.

The bean dip was very good. The salsa was a little tangy and spicy and they give you plenty, but the chips were just so-so. I’m not sure if the chips were homemade, but they didn’t seem to have the freshest crunch. Maybe I’m just used to very crunchy chips. On my second visit, I found out that the chips from my first visit were stale, or at least on their way to being stale. During my second visit, the chips were great. I wouldn’t have even questioned their freshness because they were obviously fresh. Unfortunately, this just makes my first impression even worse than I thought.

The lunch menu features the regular dishes as well as a number of lunch dishes for around $5 to $6. Some come in around $5. All the lunch dishes are served with rice and beans, and the only thing that seemed to differ about these compared to regular dishes is the size. Lunch dishes are slightly smaller.

Most entrees are available with chicken, pork, or ground beef. Shredded beef is available at an additional cost.

- Deluxe Taco Salad – I selected chicken with my deluxe taco salad. It was a rather large portion with my tostada shell standing up from the dish holding the seasoned chicken, lettuce, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. All of this was topped with a slice of tomato. The cheese had been placed on top of the meat, so it had a melty (but not completely melted) texture. The tostada shell was held in place by refried beans. There didn’t seem to be any refried beans on top of the shell, so that was a little disappointing because I didn’t get to enjoy the beans. The shell was crispy and the ingredients of the food were very fresh and certainly filling. $7.95

- Burrito Lunch – The burritos at Puerto Vallarta are very basic. They’re actually quite like the enchiladas, minus the cheese. I selected shredded beef and a combination of shredded beef and green bell peppers were cooked and wrapped inside a flour tortilla. That was it. I was expecting some lettuce or salsa, but there wasn’t anything else in it. Rice and beans accompanied my burrito. The flavor of the shredded beef was good, and it comes with plenty of sauce. The tortilla is soft. The beans are much like the dip – refried. It’s a great value, but not quite what I expected. ~$5 (I don’t remember the exact price)

The service was very good. Our servers cleared all of our plates very politely and promptly. At the end of our meal, they also gave us a plateful of cinnamon and sugar deep fried chips. These chips were large and topped with a large dollop of whipped cream. Strawberry syrup was drizzled across the chips. That was a nice way to end the meal. During my second visit, service remained good, and they were great with getting us in and out within an hour. They were not rushing us mind you, but we told them we were in a rush, and they accommodated us very well. The dessert was great getting to eliminate any aftertaste from the previous dishes.

I would be willing to return to Puerto Vallarta for their large portions and friendly service. It’s hard to determine the true quality of their food since I only tried one dish. They have been around Santa Rosa for quite some time, so they certainly appeal to the locals. They don’t seem to be the best place in town for Mexican food, but certainly good in terms of service, atmosphere, and style.

Icon Grill - American, Seattle

1933 Fifth Ave, Seattle WA 98101
(206) 441-6330
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon - Thurs 11am - 11pm, Fri 11am - Midnight, Sat 10am - Midnight, Sun 10am - 11pm

Last Visited: March 30, 2011

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

I was in Seattle for a short stay at a hotel across the street from Icon.  Since I got in somewhat late, I decided to order takeout and relax back at the hotel.  When I got inside Icon, I was surprised at how much blown glasswork was displayed.  The ceiling is a feast for the eyes with lamps and lots of bowl shaped wonders.  The stairwell in the middle of the dining room creates these great lines that lead your eyes towards the ceiling.  If you like your environments clutter free, this is pretty much the opposite of that where no matter where you look, the decor is filled with color and lights.

Service would have gotten a better rating  if it hadn't been for the hostess.  I found her tone and demeanor to be very stuffy and not particularly welcoming.  When I told her I wanted to order takeout, she didn't seem too happy about it, but directed me to the bar to look at the menu.  The bartender was very professional and did a great job managing the couple of us ordering takeout, fielding drink orders for the dining room, and serving those at the bar. 

The portions are good, but there were a few surprises. 

- Caesar Salad - Romaine lettuce is dressed in caesar dressing and with it, comes parmesan, garlic croutons, and Asiago cheese doodles.  The cheese doodles aren't small like you might expect.  Instead, they are gigantic cracker like things - notice how they take up almost half of the salad.  The salad is fairly standard.  It's these doodles that were way too cheesy for me - a quarter of the doodle that was given would hav ebeen plenty.  I found the quantity to be overwhelming and only managed to take a few bites of the doodle.  Okay.  $5.99

- Warm Granny Smith Apple Pie - The menu describes it as having a brown sugar and streusel crust and topped with a scoop of Olympic Mountain vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce.  That's accurate for the most part.  The apples are sliced thin and stacked layers upon layers.  The outer crust was flaky and good.  It was quite delicious until I got to the surprise.  There is cheddar cheese in the bottom crust, and a lot of it too.  Had it been mentioned, I would have been okay with it, but it's a bizarre surprise if you don't know it's coming.  The cheddar made the dish incredibly rich and while the quantity is enough for two, the cheese became overwhelming. $7.99

The food was okay, and the decor was nice, but the cheese in these two dishes were a little too strong.  I would have preferred that they at least mention the cheddar in the pie in the menu description.  It also took a while for the food to be available, probably 20 minutes, which seems a bit long for salad and a pie.  Also, maybe it's because I'm from California, but I found the reception of the servers to be a bit on the cold side.