Batika - Indian, Novato

Best: Indian Buffet in Novato

868 Grant Ave, Novato CA 94945
(415) 895-5757
Parking: street parking
Hours: Open Daily - Buffet Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, Dinner 5pm-10pm
http://www.batikaindia.com/

Last Visited: March 23, 2011

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

Batika opened very late in the year in 2010 and introduced to us more Indian cuisine on Grant Avenue. Located near Sherman Avenue, this one block now has two Indian restaurants offering lunch buffets. Not related to any of those Indian restaurants in San Rafael, Batika has brought chef Anil Shahu to serve local Novatans more options for great food.

Enter Batika and there is a warmth to the place from the scent of spices wafting through the room. During this lunch visit, the back door was open, the kitchen was pretty much empty and spotless, with the exception of the chef in charge of cooking naan, and the buffet was ready for service. The walls are a combination of gold and black blended together well. One side of the restaurant has cushioned bench seating with a row of framed mirrors decorating the wall. The other side of the room is decorated with interesting clothing and bejeweled decorated metal frames.

Their lunch buffet is $8.95 with champagne offered on weekends at the same price. The chafing dishes are set up in a line on a table located in the rear of the restaurant, just in front of the kitchen area. Darker colors seem to decorate the room – rich burgundy curtains decorating the entrance to the kitchen are offset by the white tablecloths throughout the room. While the tables are put fairly close together, on a beautiful day, one can enjoy their patio seating outdoors where there are umbrellas set up over tables.

Each item in the buffet is clearly labeled. During today’s visit, there were three main dishes, many sides, green salad, and one dessert. Fresh hot naan is brought to the table after you have settled in from your initial buffet visit.

I appreciated the thoughtful service here – they came by during the middle of the meal to see if we wanted more naan and also asked us about the buffet. I overheard some tables giving suggestions for tossing the salad with a little more dressing since it had been dry. They also checked in with us at the end of the meal. I hope that their willingness to listen and learn goes beyond their first few months as they continue to mature. The first dish offered was a green salad with tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. There was also a bin of fresh melon.

On most days, they offer three meat dishes, several side dishes, and rice pudding seems to be a standard.

- Tandoori Chicken – The tandoori chicken is cooked with onions, tomatoes, and spices. The color of this tandoori chicken is not as bright red as others I have seen, but whatever is used here is great. It seemed to be more juicy than others that I have tried and I appreciated that a lot. Tender and very good.

- Butter Chicken – Butter chicken is made of pulled tandoori chicken. It’s cooked with fenugreek, spices, and a touch of cream. Fairly mild in flavor for the buffet, I think it will appeal to many audiences, especially those whom are not accustomed to Indian food. The color of the sauce is a beautiful rust orange.

- Coconut lamb – The lamb was tender and didn’t have any gaminess to its taste. This dish was more like a rich stew with the lamb cut in cubes and the sauce like a dark brown spiced gravy. What is interesting is that this dish doesn't appear on the menu, but they also say that the menu will change with the season.

- Methi Murg - Chicken with onion and spices is finished with cream and ground cashew. You can't taste the texture of the cashew, but the flavor is really quite delicious and rich.

- Vegetable Samosa - The samosa was just okay. I like it when the samosa wrapper is really crispy. Like most samosas available in a buffet, these are just alright, not wow.

- Corn Pakoras - Sweet corn is mixed into a chickpea batter and deep fried into tiny balls.

- Yellow dal - Yellow lentils are cooked with cumin, shallots, and turmeric. This was a very wet dish, but that allowed the lentils to stay relatively whole.

- Aloo Gobi – Cauliflower florets are cooked with potatoes, cumin, and spices. This was a nice side dish.

- Palak – Spinach is cooked with spices. Good stuff, especially if you like the texture of creamed spinach.

- Rice Pudding – The rice pudding had a thinner consistency than most Indian rice puddings that I’ve tried, but the flavor was very pleasant. I liked the nuts that were in the dessert and the level of sweetness was light and delicious. The name is a little misleading to an American audience, but maybe it gets more people to eat it than just saying Sweet Rice Dessert.

From the menu, you can see that they offer seafood as well - prawns in mint and a tomato marinade, salmon spiced with black peppers and Indian spices are just a few of the ones available. There are a variety o fbreads and of course, your typical Northern Indian dishes like chana masala and palak paneer too. Batika also offers catering; for take out orders, there is a 10% discount. Batika is a nice stop for trying some great Indian fare – flavorful and delicious, I hope they stick around.

Bistro Don Giovanni - Italian, Napa

4110 Howard Lane, Napa CA 94558
(707) 224-3300
Parking: in restaurant parking lot
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 11pm
http://www.bistrodongiovanni.com/

Last Visited: January 16, 2005

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

Bistro Don Giovanni is located in Napa just off the St. Helena Highway. The red earth tones of the building nestled amongst a lush green garden might cause you to miss it if you aren’t paying attention. Once in the parking lot, you’ll find there is a lot of greenery in the garden, from potted plants and tall trees to fruit trees. As you walk up the steps of the restaurant which are lined alongside with topiaries, flowers, and other plants, you’ll find just past the terrace is a beautiful scene with a fountain in the center, serene and beautiful on a sunny day.

Once inside, you’ll see the beautiful fresh flowers in tall vases just past the hostess’ podium. On your left is a full bar with bottles of wine on the racks behind the bar, along with the usual bottles in front of the back mirror. Lamps hang from the ceiling above the bar. The restaurant colors seem to be an earthy red, yellow, and green.

On this second visit, we were seated in the side room. To get there, we were led past the bar into a doorway, then past the waiter’s station, and to the dining area. It sounds as unusual as described. I thought we were headed for a closet. It’s an inconvenient nook to go through, particularly when waiters are at the station itself. Along one wall of the room are large window panes that brought in a lot of natural light. There was a fireplace keeping the room warm and giving it a cozy feel, along with ceiling heaters to keep patrons warm. Large topiaries decorated the room along. Large artwork depicting people in multiple colors and a good sized rectangular mirror hung from the wall. The large tiles on the floor were an earthy brown. From the ceiling hung large stringed lights in soft yellow tones. The tables were covered with white tablecloths topped with white paper. In general, the tables were large and spacious. A table for four could easily seat six with lots of space between tables. The chairs were wicker colored in burgundy, yellow, and green.

The waitstaff is in professional uniforms consisting of white and black. Only the hostess seems to wear color.

The prices on the menu posted on the website have changed since they were posted, probably due to the new year. In general, the portions are okay, but seem to be on the small side for the price.

Upon our arrival, we were asked if we desired ice water or sparkling water. After ordering, we were promptly given focaccia bread, but we had to ask for olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The olive focaccia bread was soft on the inside, and crisp on the outside. Great focaccia bread.

- Fritto Misto – Calamari rings, rock shrimp, green beans, fennel slices, and onion slices are lightly battered and deep fried. The combination of seafood and vegetables are then placed on a square glass dish and served with spicy aioli. The aioli is served in a blue glass bowl, so the contrast of the red/orange cream color is great with the bowl. The batter is seasoned and complements the seafood and vegetables nicely. The addition of green beans and fennel seem to be inspired by Japanese tempura since Italian fritto misto doesn’t usually have these vegetables in them. Good. $10

- Bistro Back Door Salad – Harvest greens are paired with slices of Granny Smith apples, small chunks of blue cheese, and candied walnuts in a persimmon vinaigrette. The persimmon in the vinaigrette is very light, but there is a hint of its presence. It goes nicely with the greens, but I would prefer the persimmon flavor to be stronger. The menu mentions the presence of pears, but I didn’t seem to find any in my salad. The apples give the salad a refreshing crunch. Good. $8.75

- Pizza House Smoked Salmon – The pizza is topped with smoked salmon pieces, meyer lemon mascarpone, capers, small diced shallots, and crème fraiche. The pizza is then topped with arugula and shaved parmesan. The pizza crust was thin, light, and crispy. The flavors of the capers, shallots, and crème fraiche nicely accompany the smoked salmon. The creaminess of the mascarpone was noticeable, but the meyer lemon portion of it was lost on me. Overall, it tasted great on the first slice, but seemed to get saltier with more slices. Good at first, then average as the meal continued. $13

- Coniglio al’Latte – Milk braised rabbit. Rabbit is braised and served over soft polenta and broth. The quantity of rabbit seemed a bit on the small side, however, it was very tender and soft, falling off the bone. A chiffonade of lemon rind and onions are used in the braising process to counterbalance the gaminess of the rabbit. The flavor was light and lovely. The polenta was custard-like in texture, soaking up the broth so that it became lightly salted. Very good. $20

As for the service, I noticed that tables that came after us received their focaccia bread with olive oil already, and there was no need to ask for it. I’m not sure why that inconsistency occurred. The waiter for our table seemed to come back too frequently. I almost felt pestered. However, he was quick to pick up on our empty bread plate, and he was very polite, but just a bit too frequent in coming to our table. Service is proportional to price for me. If the price of the food is higher, I expect the service to be better. Two of my tablemates had requested water without ice, and were given a carafe to refill their waters. However, my water was ice water, and at the end of the meal, nobody came by to refill it. That was disappointing too. However, all of these things I could easily let go. The largest faux pas came from the staff member who boxed up our leftovers. He only asked if we wanted two of the three items, completely disregarding my remaining fritto misto. It would have been better for him to ask if I wanted everything boxed up rather than two of the three items. He was ready to throw one dish away for me. That downgraded their three star service rating to what it is now. This was just inappropriate. There was plenty of fritto misto left, and to disregard it just wasn’t right.

The atmosphere of Bistro Don Giovanni is trendy. It’s a happening place. The food is good, but the service leaves something to be desired. When waiting for the restroom, I observed some of the staff’s lack of professionalism (though minor in the grand scheme), but it’s important that people know that when they’re at work, they’re being watched whether they know it or not. Overall, it experience was fine, and the food presented in a nice fashion. Try it out for yourself, but be wary of the service. If you want a leisurely lunch, it might be best to tell the staff at the beginning of the meal to make sure that they are aware of your desires.

Yue Kee Roast Goose Restaurant - New Territories, Hong Kong

9 Sham Hong Road, Sham Tseng, New Territories, Hong Kong
Ph: 2491 0105

Last Visited: 2008

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

Although the restaurant says it’s been open since the 1950s, they have been known for their roast goose since way before that. My mom told me about how they, among other restaurants, first started as a food stall. From there, they gained fame, drawing more customers and giving good cause for a brick and mortar establishment. With a strong following, people have been going to Yue Kee for roast goose for many decades.

Being open for many years also means that the atmosphere tends to be a bit old school. The restaurant is clean, but these days, nobody would structure a facility this way and the décor would be more rich. Instead, it’s pretty bare bones, but the food is good.

- Roasted Goose - Of course, you can’t go into this restaurant without ordering a roast goose. First, the color of the goose is gorgeous – a beautiful mahogany color. The skin is crispy and the meat is tender. You can tell it’s a goose by looking at the head and seeing that the cheek bulges out. Otherwise, it would be quite easy to mistake it for duck in both flavor and texture. Delicious!

- Fish with Preserved Lemon - The fish looks like any other. Steamed and sitting in a bath of light and sweetened soy sauce, the fish doesn’t look that exciting, but the flavor of the preserved lemon made it absolutely wonderful. It was cooked just right without getting tough – I could eat this every night and probably never get tired. Who knew that the fish would be my favorite dish at a goose restaurant?

- Deep Fried Cuttlefish - I think this is fried cuttlefish shown in the picture. I know it’s fried seafood for sure. It came with Worcestershire sauce for dipping. Fried crispy, it’s tasty.

- Deep Fried Tofu - Pretty standard stuff, I wasn’t wowed by it, but the tofu was fried to a beautiful color.

While it’s not a restaurant that I would eat at every night, just because I hear eating that much goose isn’t exactly healthy, I would love to have that fish more frequently. Yue Kee is worth a trip to enjoy the roast goose, the fish with preserved lemon, and to participate in the history of Hong Kong and its former food stalls!

Black Bear Diner - American, Sonoma

201 W. Napa St, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 935-6800
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
http://www.blackbeardiner.com/

Last Visited: 2003

Food: 2 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $$

Until I read the menu, I didn’t realize that Black Bear Diner was a chain. With Sonoma being such a bear city, it seemed appropriate for Black Bear to open up with its bear statues and the bear flag located out front. The controversy about having wood bear statues displayed about their premises surely woke up the locals, but they’re here to stay.

Black Bear serves typical diner fare. I found nothing impressive about the place except for the wait. We must have waited over half an hour for a table. Once we got our table, the food was of mediocre quality. Even the garlic fries weren’t worth raving about. The service was not particularly fast or attentive (hence the reason I had time to read the menu). In fact, the table that had ordered after us received their salads and soup before we did. We found the waiter to be stressed out and could use some additional training in customer/waiter interaction.

The atmosphere is okay. The menus share history about Black Bear’s start, and in the waiting area, you’ll find lots of Black Bear merchandise. Formally the location of Carrows, you can imagine the atmosphere fairly easily.

Overall, I found Black Bear to be barely bearable. It’s a wonder how they have remained open so long in Sonoma.

Basque Cultural Center - South San Francisco

599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 583-8091
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Lunch Tues-Fri 11:30am - 2:30pm, Dinner Tues-Sat 5:30pm to 9:30pm, Sun 5pm-9pm, Closed Mondays
http://www.basqueculturalcenter.com/

Last Visited: December 19, 2010

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

Alan and Sandy brought us to the Basque Cultural Center (BCC) about a year ago. After watching the television show Check Please, they were excited to go check out BCC and share the experience with us.

Sunday Lunch
While BCC is not officially open to the public on Sundays during lunch, we were invited to join the regular BCC members for their family style lunch. Upon our arrival in the dining room, we noticed that all the tables were set together to make several long tables for 20 to 30 people. A small loaf of French bread had been set out at each seat and the meal was about to begin. The noise level in the room was high as the regular members were enjoying telling stories and fellowshipping with one another. We sat across from Lucian (shown here in his cute beret), a regular, and his family and neighbors and learned about how the Basque members purchased the site and built the building on their own in the early 1980s. The BCC currently has about 500 members. Each Sunday, a number of them gather in the dining room for lunch – one of the men referred to the BCC as his church :) and his family.

Unlike meals that are open to the public, these Sunday lunches have a set menu served family style for 6 to 8 people. The meal begins with the aforementioned French bread (no butter, unless you’re not Basque and you ask for it), and starts with a soup served in a large stainless bowl. The soup is divided amongst patrons of the immediate table and we enjoyed a hearty vegetable soup with zucchini, potatoes, carrots, and more. Next, the first course comes. Today, the first course was stewed pig’s feet. The whole dish was so incredibly tender that many asked for seconds. Next up was the second course – chicken thighs braised in onions and tomatoes until tender. This came in a large casserole and the flavors melded together wonderfully – a little sweet, and the meat fell off the bone. Saffron rice and French fries are served on big plates alongside the chicken. And the French fries at BCC are really good. Everyone passes the plates around and serves one another. Lucian explained to me that the French have their salad first. The Basque however end their meals with salad. This fresh salad of mixed greens had a creamy dressing and like everything else, it was also served family style in a large bowl. If that weren’t enough, a cheese plate follows – each person enjoys a big slice of Basque cheese. If you go to Costco or Trader Joe’s, you’ll find Petit Basque cheese which is pretty close to what we had – it’s soft and has delicate flavors, but served just below room temperature, it’s quite good. Lastly, we enjoyed individual cakes that were filled with a lot of liquor, and those whom were interested were served liquor as well. This is in addition to the wine on the table throughout the meal. The quality of the food was wonderful! And they definitely know how to have a good time!

Since this experience, I have been to the BCC at least three more times. Regular dining is equally good when it comes to food, but there is really something special about the camaraderie shared during the Sunday lunch. The people are incredibly warm and inviting. During the meal, people told stories and jokes, asked us where we were from and how we came to know about the restaurant, and we enjoyed great conversation. Bowls and dishes are removed frequently and the servers are really on top of things, including joining in on the great conversation.

All of my recent dining experiences at BCC have been for dinner. Reservations are recommended because there are some occasions when the center closes for special events and other times when you might find yourself waiting a long time for a table. Each time, the hostess and waiters have been the same. The staff know their individual jobs well, and while you see that they have the makings to be a well-oiled machine, service can fall short when the restaurant is crowded. I prefer to eat dinner early to avoid the crowds and have a better experience.

All entrees are served with soup or salad. One of the Basque gentlemen from lunch shared that when he first arrived in this country, he went to a restaurant and asked if he wanted a soup OR a salad. He said he was disappointed because in Basque culture, it’s always soup AND salad. And with that, the BCC is successful in giving you a true Basque experience. The waiters are happy to answer any questions for you, but as mentioned earlier, there are times when they miss a beat or are slower than preferred.

At my most recent visit, we had a party of five. Upon our arrival, we were given two loaves of bread. Their bread is quite delicious and you can keep going back for more. I initially thought that the quantity they gave us was too much, but after seeing how everyone went back for a second piece of bread, clearly, they know what they’re doing.

The salads are served in cold plates with a creamy house dressing made with tarragon. The vegetables are fresh and served very cold too. Topped with a little bit of red cabbage, the presentation is simple and the dressing has a nice flavor. The soups are always served in a large stainless bowl and the server usually serves you the first bowl. Almost always, there is plenty for seconds. So far, we’ve had vegetable soup a few times and a pureed squash soup for the rest. I find the soup to be flavorful, but a touch saltier than what I would make at home. The salt in their soups have seemingly been consistently saltier than that of other restaurants, but equally as salty as other Basque places, so maybe Basque tastes prefer saltier soups – this question remains unanswered.

The menu features regular entrees that are served with soup and salad and daily family style dinners that change with the season. The daily family style dinners feature a different pair of items each day of the week, and like the lunch, they have a first and second course. The first course is usually served in a smaller portion, similar to an appetizer, but more substantial. The second course is served smaller than what you might find at another restaurant, but still very sufficient. Examples of recent family style dinners include chicken roulade and boneless beef short ribs, braised oxtail stew and roasted pork shoulder, and salmon cake basquaise and roast leg of lamb. If you’re a vegetarian, this probably isn’t the best place for you. Even their pasta dishes have meat, but perhaps they could accommodate you upon request. Entrees include cassoulet, duck legs confit, pepper steak with cognac sauce, and veal sweetbreads. There really should be no reason to go hungry when you go to the BCC. Family style dinners also offer a choice of ice cream – vanilla, chocolate, or spumoni. If you still have room, there are a number of desserts available for reasonable prices – all of the desserts are under $6. There is a cheese plate, crème brulee, frozen almond nougat, and port wine sabayon glacee amongst other offerings.

- Roast Rack of Lamb - BCC's roast rack of lamb is super generous. The bones are frenched, the outside of the lamb has been seared until it develops a little crust, and the meat is tender and delicious. This is one of the best and most generous roast rack of lamb dishes that I have ever had. There were seven bones in this rack, and the flavor was terrific. The dish is accompanied by pan-roasted potatoes that are crisp on the outside and tender inside. There is also a side of fresh vegetables including green and yellow string beans, broccoli, zucchini and carrots that have been sautéed with some finely chopped garlic. I was really pleased with the dish and the portion. I would definitely order the roast rack of lamb again! Excellent! $26.95

- Fresh Salmon of the Day with Beets and Potatoes - The salmon is pan roasted and finished in the oven. While the presentation was a bit unusual with the beets spread out on the bottom of the plate, they were just the right texture and tasted good. The potatoes are shaped like quenelles which made me think they might be made from mashed potatoes, but they’re just like a sliced potato in texture, but bigger. Another large portion that is sure to fill you up. Good. I've forgotten the price, but it was probably around $20.

- Sunday Dinner - Lamb Stew & Roast Prime Rib - I ate the stew before taking a picture of it. Chunks of lamb cooked in a brown gravy came in a small casserole dish. The flavor was rich without any gaminess and the lamb pieces were very tender. They melted in your mouth. The prime rib was sliced thin – a little more than a quarter inch. It was also covered in brown gravy, a different one than the lamb though. While I prefer prime rib cooked in au jus, this was good. The same side dishes that came with the roast rack of lamb were also included with the prime rib except the broccoli had been replaced with brussel sprouts. Since a thick gravy covered the meat, it cooked more on the plate and was not quite as medium as I would have liked. I would probably order it medium rare in the future. I tried the spumoni ice cream for dessert and as characteristic of BCC, the helping was generous.
$21.95

Service varies with the evening. On busy evenings, they may not come back as frequently to check on you throughout the meal and they may not come back to ask if you would like fresh ground black pepper on your salad. On a good day, they will. On a bad day, you’re waiting to be seated after your reservation time has come and gone. On a good day, you’re seated immediately. In general, service is still good.

While the restaurant décor is very traditional – you could be stepping into the 1980s, the food is hearty and tastes like what you might get at grandma’s house. One other item to note, depending on the time you go, you may find the crowd to be mostly comprised of senior citizens. During my recent visits, I’ve seen a variety of patrons – sometimes very old, but mostly, lots of families of various ethnicities. Either way, it’s a great bargain for the variety and quality and I will certainly be back.

Depot Hotel - Italian, Sonoma

241 1st St W, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 938-2980
Parking: street parking
http://www.depothotel.com/

Last Visited: June 18, 2003

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

The Depot Hotel has been part of Sonoma’s history. Just off the Sonoma Plaza, people have come to love the Depot Hotel. It has rooms with a lot of windows bringing in the natural light, and outside, there is a little pond/fountain that makes for a nice atmosphere in summer. People especially enjoy the fireworks here during the 4th of July.

Service was good and the atmosphere was nice, but I didn’t find the food particularly impressive. They have a wide array of choices on the menu. I went on an evening when they had a surf and turf special. It was okay, but nothing particularly good or bad. Certainly not as splendid as what I have heard. However, I would give the Depot Hotel another try to find out what the hype is all about, but at this point, I’m just not understanding the appeal.

Redwood Cafe - Breakfast, Cambria

2094 Main St,Cambria, CA 93428
(805) 927-4830
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: December 2008

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

I was staying at the Bluebird Inn in Cambria and since their breakfast was comprised of a plate of some cold store-bought bread, I asked them for a recommendation for breakfast. The person at the front desk suggested we go to Redwood Cafe.

Walking into Redwood Cafe, you feel like you're walking into a very traditional cafe. The decor is a bit older, but comfortable.

- French Toast with Butter and Syrup $7.50

- Two eggs any style with choice of toast $7.25

The food was okay. My experience was fairly standard in every way. Although it was about 8am, the place was packed and there wasn't a table for four, so we separated into two tables for two. I appreciate their being accommodating in this manner, but in general, I would say Redwood Cafe is an okay place to go for breakfast. Service can be a bit slow since it's so busy, but if you have time for a sit-down breakfast, you probably won't mind that.

Doce Lunas - Fusion/California, Kenwood

8910 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452
(707) 833-4000
Parking: in shopping center

Last Visited: July 27, 2003

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

Doce Lunas is located in the heart of Kenwood. When you walk into Doce Lunas and sit, you’ll notice lots of interesting plates on the wall. For those who love collections, each plate is unique and you’ll find the collection quite enjoyable. There is patio dining available, and a number of seats in the dining room have a view of the open kitchen. Just above the kitchen wall is a blackboard listing the menu. This is especially difficult for older patrons, since there some seats require you to strain to properly see the menu. I visited Doce Lunas for brunch.

- Chicken teriyaki – The chicken teriyaki was nicely presented over rice accompanied with vegetables in a black iron pan. The chicken, though tender, didn’t have the fresh taste that is desired. It tasted like it had been frozen. The sauce soaks into the rice, and the portion is good, but there wasn’t anything spectacular about this dish.

- Poached egg over crab cake over a muffin - The crab cake was good, but also not spectacular. This dish is accompanied with fried potato wedges. I found the English muffin to be a bit soggy, so wasn’t particularly impressed.

At this time, I find no reason to return to Doce Lunas. Service was slow since there was a large party on the patio. In fact, I found the servers to be a bit snobbish and noticed them talking about our table in an unfavorable light which dropped them from 3 star service to 2 stars.

Cafe Rustica - California, Carmel

10 DelFino Place, Carmel Valley CA 93924
(831) 659-4444
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Tues-Sun 11am - 2:15, 5pm until closing
http://www.caferusticacarmel.com/

Last Visited: 2007

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

At first, I thought I had passed the restaurant. Located in Carmel Valley Village, you drive through the gravel parking lot (at least that's how it was during my visit) and drive past the pottery stores and other shops. Then you see a sign above a patio area and umbrellas that says Cafe Rustica. The patio is divided from the parking lot by trellis work.

The atmosphere is very warm and inviting with lots of wood in the decor. This morning, the sun had just started to stream into the windows creating comfortable lighting.

- Butter Lettuce Salad - Butter lettuce is lightly dressed with a champagne and extra virgin olive oil vinaigrette. The salad is served with cherry tomatoes and garnished with chopped chives. The vegetables were very fresh and nicely dressed. The flavors were just right - not too tart. The portion was small for the price, but the quality of the vegetables were good. $6.75

- Housemade Country Soup - Mushroom soup was the special for the day. As you can see, it comes in a cup. The soup was rich and delicious - you only wish you could have more. Again, slightly expensive for the quantity, but see the note on the bottom about pricing. $6.75

- Flammekueche - Alsatian -Diced prosciutto, onions, fresh thyme, creme fraiche top a thin crust pizza dough that is baked in a wood oven. The combination of ingredients are very good together and the pizza is fine. It wasn't the best pizza I've ever had, but it was good. $12.75

Overall, the food was pretty good although the portions were small for the price. Lowering the price by $1 to $2 would be more reasonable. The place was getting fairly busy throughout the lunch period, and service was not particularly attentive. The pizza took a while to arrive at the table after the first courses and I noticed that some tables got better service than we did.

I would go to Cafe Rustica if I was in the area, but probably wouldn't make a special trip . Based on this visit, there were opportunities for improvement that if addressed, could make this a really terrific place to go for comforting food.

A look at the menu posted on their website shows that pricing has changed. The soup costs less now in 2011 than in 2007. The salad and pizza are slightly more, but still very reasonable increases (less than a dollar over several years).

Five Nine Nine Thai Cafe - Sonoma

599 Broadway, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 938-8477
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 12, 2007

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

We entered Five Nine Nine Thai Café on a cold Friday evening. This restaurant, formerly La Poste, has been given some good reviews by some friends, so I had to see for myself.

When you walked into La Poste, there was this curtain that wrapped around the door. It was a bit odd, like a magic trick or game show – behind door number 1…. After being seated at the table closest to the door, it becomes quickly apparent how much cold air the doorway lets in. It’s even worse on a busy Friday night as people without reservations try to get a table and those who opted for take out come to get their food.

The white decorated ceiling remains the same as before. Above the mirror runs a ledge in the rear corner where various figurines and pottery is displayed. The art featured are eclectic Thai drawings and some unusual looking objects. The blackboard at the rear of the restaurant is leftover from its La Poste days. In the window hang icicle Christmas lights and snowflake trinkets. The room temperature is fairly cool, especially with the incoming cold, despite the small space heater in the front of the restaurant.

As we walked in, one of the two waitresses/hosts was on the phone and another was in the back. She pointed at the three available tables by the door, and when we asked about the one in the corner, she shook her head. The second waitress then appeared and let us know the one in the rear was reserved. Wearing a polo shirt over a long-sleeved shirt and a long apron over jeans, one waitress looked more professional than the other whom was wearing the same outfit with a hooded sweatshirt on top of the polo shirt. The hooded sweatshirt had a college name listed on the front. When we were seated, one came with the menus and asked us if we wanted anything to drink.

On the table are a tiny salt shaker and a tiny pepper shaker. A small decorated aluminum bowl holds sugar packets. Two forks, a knife, and a spoon are set on a white paper placement along with a napkin.

After ordering, it took quite some time for the food to come, but tonight was rather busy. There appeared to be at least two people working in the kitchen, but it’s hard to tell since you can only see the kitchen from the open doorway. However, our observation of service during our wait period showed that there is great room for improvement. The people who came in wanting a table were asked if they wanted to “chill out” and come back, or if “you guys” would prefer one thing over another. “Do you guys need more time?” was a common question no matter the age of the patrons at each table. The professionalism of one of the waitresses was greater than the other which is how the rating is not just 1 star, but in the range of 1 to 2 stars.

- Chicken Satay – Six skewers containing a piece of chicken each are served in a large white leaf-shaped dish with a small container of peanut sauce and a small container of marinated cucumbers, bell peppers, and red onion. Romaine lettuce tips are used to garnish the plate. The chicken was tender and had been marinated. The pieces of chicken are chunky as opposed to flat, and had a nice mild flavor. The marinated vegetables tasted good – the cucumber had been deseeded and cut into chunks. There was only a small piece of bell pepper. The red onion looked like it had been cut, but the pieces never separated. Four stars. $6.95

One of the reasons for the low service rating was the appetizer course and related service. We were given small white square plates for our appetizer. When the waitress came to remove the plates, she dropped one of the skewers which brushed against my dining companion and then fell to the floor. She took notice of this, but made no apology. Also, she left the skewer on the floor which serves as a trip hazard. This lack of response exhibits the nonchalant attitude of this particular wait staff member and needs to be acknowledged. It’s unacceptable and hinders me from returning. Although the waitstaff were younger in age, this showed a lack of training.

For the main dishes, we were given larger green square plates.

- Eggplant with beef – Served in a green bowl that sat on top of a paper doily on a green plate, eggplant mixed with beef, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, onions, and Thai basil are served in a sauce. This was the worst dish of the evening, and I give it two stars. The beef, cut thin, was overcooked and chewy. There was more meat than eggplant in this dish, and with a dish of this size, there was notably not enough eggplant. The eggplant itself lacked prominence in the dish both in presentation and flavor. The overall flavor of the sauce was okay, but I wouldn’t order this again. Much better eggplant can be had elsewhere. $7.75

- Pad Thai with Chicken and Prawns Served on a square white plate with a wedge of lime, the noodles were al dente and nicely flavored. Red cabbage is cut into fine and toasted peanuts are also placed around the noodles. A few sprigs of cilantro top the dish. There is also some chicken breast in the dish as well as two prawns. You’ll also find some bean sprouts, chopped green onion, and small cubes of tofu. I gave this dish three stars. It would have earned more stars had there been more prawns and if the chicken had been more tender. Also, some of the peanuts had been toasted too much adding a touch of bitterness, but not enough to overpower the dish. $7.50

- Chicken Pumpkin Yellow Curry – Served in a medium sized white bowl on a paper doily on a green plate, the pumpkin pieces are cut into chunks and cooked with chicken, green and red bell peppers, carrots, coconut mil, and Thai basil. The flavoring of this dish was nice, but the chicken was a again slightly overcooked. I would give this item three stars also. The portions are small relative to other Asian cuisine, but the curry is great over rice. $8

- Brown Rice – Served in an aluminum bowl with a rather large spoon, it’s a small portion. It’s cooked like most other brown rice. $1.25

The majority of the dishes are available with chicken, pork, beef, or tofu. For a slightly higher price (about $2 more, they are available with prawns). The menu offers some typical Thai dishes, and the flavoring is nice. The meat is slightly overcooked for the most part, especially the beef, but the satay makes up for a lot.

Overall, I found the room to be a bit crowded. There are only two tables for four, and six other tables for two. You can put some more tables together to get a table for six, but even then, you’ll find the space quite small. The rush of cold air hits almost everyone except the bench seat in the rear.

Service leaves much to be desired. Although the wait staff said goodbye as we left, I found their overall demeanor to be almost disturbing and their level of service was insufficient. Take out was popular this evening, and that might be the better way to try Five Nine Nine.

The Tuck Box - Breakfast/Tea, Carmel

Dolores St. between Ocean & 7th Ave.
Carmel, CA 93921
(831) 624-6365
Parking: street parking
Hours: Open Daily 7:30am - 2:30pm, No reservations
http://www.tuckbox.com/

Last Visited: December 2008

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

I first heard of the Tuck Box through Rachael Ray's $40 a Day television show. Constructed in the late 1920s, and used as a restaurant as early as the 1930s, the building is just so cute that it's hard to resist wanting to check it out. If you know a little kid whom loves fairy tales, this is the perfect place to show him or her.

I have now had the pleasure of visiting The Tuck Box twice, both times for breakfast. During both visits, it's been fairly packed, but the wait has been reasonable (less than twenty minutes) in my opinion.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. Each table has fresh preserves available, and you can also purchase these in addition to the scone mix that they make through the restaurant and website.

Enter the restaurant and note the high ceilings. One of the best places to sit is in the breakfast nook adjacent to the window if you want to watch all that takes place. I enjoyed sitting there during my second visit.

- Smoked Salmon Benedict - Two poached eggs top smoked salmon on the two toasted English muffin halves and all are covered in a beautiful Hollandaise Sauce. A tomato slice garnishes the plate. The smoked salmon is delicious and I was happy with the dish. $12.75

- Waffle - Home made from their scratch recipe with fresh eggs and buttermilk. Served w/whipped butter & syrup, this waffle is a little flatter than some, but tastes great and is a reasonable price. $6.50

- Scones - You must get these scones. Unlike the type you might find in some bakeries, this is served like a pie with individual slices. The top is slightly crisp and buttered - it's wonderful with fresh preserves (orange marmalade today) and whipped cream. Must try these! $4.50

- Tea - I appreciate that they gave us a large pot of tea to enjoy. $2

The atmosphere is quaint, the food is good, and prices are okay. The servers are accomodating, though there is room for improvement. The Tuck Box will likely continue to be a stop on my Carmel visits.

Another item to note - The Tuck Box doesn't take credit cards, so have your cash ready.

The Girl and the Fig - Country/French, Sonoma

110 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 938-3634
Parking: street parking
Hours: 11:30 am to 11pm
http://www.thegirlandthefig.com/

Last Visited: January 2, 2004

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

The Girl and the Fig first opened in Glen Ellen quite a number of years ago. They then expanded and opened a new location on the ground floor of the historic Sonoma Hotel, and in 2003, opened a new restaurant in Petaluma. There tag line is “cuisine de campagne avec une saveur francaise” which is translated to Country Food with a French passion.

The entrance of the Sonoma location leads directly to face the vintage bar. Upon entering the dining area, one finds a lot of earth tones which include mustard, orange, dark green, and burgundy. The walls chairs are yellow and the tablecloths are mustard topped with white paper stamped with the Girl and the Fig logo and a squiggle of orange atop the stamp. Each table is adorned with a bright orange candle holder, an orange flower, and ornamented with a silver fig. The chair seats are upholstered in either dark green or burgundy fabric. The windows are draped in green fabric. Along the walls, one sees pictures of a lady with figs or flowers, depending on the piece. The lamps are in the shape of upside down cones and illuminate soft yellow lighting.

Windows along one wall bring in more light and along an adjacent wall, the tables are set against a bench upholstered in more green fabric. Most of the other tables are set in the center of the room. After ordering is complete, rustic country French bread arrives at the table.

- Soup of the day: Leek and potato soup – A creamy green soup is served with several homemade seasoned croutons. The soup had good flavor but didn’t follow the typical look or taste of potato and leek soup. I would definitely put this under a country style version. It’s not white or very creamy, but rather light in flavor and texture. $6.50

- Quiche Lorraine – The menu mentions that the quiche comes with matchstick frites, but surprise, it also comes with a green salad. Although the website makes mention of this, it’s not clearly written in the menu nor is it mentioned upon ordering. This is one of those points of improvement. If something isn’t clearly mentioned, I might have ordered a salad as a first course and then been disappointed upon the arrival of the quiche dish. The salad is lightly dressed and slightly sweet; the greens are fresh. A healthy slice of quiche is served along with the salad and a mound of matchstick frites. The slice of quiche filled with a mixture of egg, cheese, and bacon, was thick, but surprisingly dark in appearance. The crust on the bottom of the quiche was a bit tough on the bottom and required a knife to cut through. The crust on the side could be flakier and more delicate. The filling has good flavor and is light and fluffy. The matchstick frites though plentiful were a bit disappointing. They weren’t as crunchy as expected, and though seasoned nicely, they were tough to handle. If you want matchstick fries, you’ll probably enjoy the Pik Nik brand original shoestring potatoes. I expected the consistency to be more like these with a distinctive crunch, but perhaps I had different expectations. $10.95

Other dishes ordered but not tried included a Crabcake ($9.95) starter and a Croque Monsieur ($10.95). The single crabcake came atop a mushroom ragout (both chantarelles and button mushrooms) with a meyer lemon confit. The presentation is rounded out with pomegranates scattered around the golden lemon sauce. The croque monsieur, lightly grilled bread sandwiching prosciutto and cheese could be grilled less – it came rather dark in appearance also. It also seemed a bit greasy and according to my guests, it didn’t meet typical French croque monsieur standards.

During my visit, I felt that service was directed more to the people who the wait staff thought would pay the bill, but at least all the water glasses were constantly replenished and we were far from neglected. The atmosphere during the lunch period was quiet earlier in the lunch, and as the afternoon passed, the restaurant became fuller and noise level increased. Overall, the food was nicely presented, but it has room for improvement, both in the description on the menu as well as in quality.

Main Street Grill - BBQ, Cambria

603 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428
(805) 927-3194
Parking: street parking
Hours: Daily 11am - 8pm

Last Visited: December 28, 2008

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

As you come into Cambria's downtown, this is one of the first places that you see. If you're looking for a casual spot for a reasonably priced meal, Main Street Grill is a terrific place.

You walk into the large space (it feels a little like a warehouse) and order off the boards above the counter. There are a number of choices including BBQ, sandwiches, and burgers. After ordering, you wait for your number to be called, and retrieve your food.

We ordered a half rack of pork ribs, a burger, and fries to share. The ribs were fall off the bone tender and the burger was juicy and fresh. The price was good and service during our visit was fairly standard (not outstanding in a good or a bad way).

Cambria seems to have a lot of expensive fine dining restaurants along the downtown strip. Main Street Grill is a terrific option if you need something fast and tasty, and it's family-friendly.

Glen Ellen Inn - California/Fusion, Glen Ellen

13670 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 996-6409
Parking: street parking
http://www.glenelleninn.com/

Last Visited: November 23, 2003

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

Glen Ellen Inn – even the name incites a feeling of warmth. The cinnamon and other earth tones of the walls are also inviting. When you walk into the building, you see the bar and tables, and there was a very strong scent of vinegar coming from the kitchen the day that I visited.

The interesting thing about this place is the toilet paper stand in the bathroom. Rather than a holder on the wall, there’s a shiny stand holding a single roll of toilet paper. The restroom also had five chairs just sitting there. Maybe the bathroom makes for an ideal storage spot, but I couldn’t help but feel like the room was waiting for an audience.

One of the best things about the Glen Ellen Inn was the beginning of the meal and the end. Upon our arrival, we received hot savory scones. It seems to be rarer and rarer that hot bread is served, and on this cold day, it was very inviting. At the end of our meal, we were given warm spice cookies. It’s these little touches that make this place special.

Okay, onto the meal itself. All sandwiches are served with choice of soup, salad, or potatoes.

- Artichoke and Sonoma Jack Sourdough Melt – Served with red bell peppers and mushrooms. I’m not sure where the sourdough was, but the sandwich was a melt. It was served on the same homemade rosemary bread that the other sandwiches were served on, so I was a little disappointed having prepared myself for some good sourdough. The sandwich is flavorful, but not the best it could be. $9.95

- Pulled Kahlua Pork Sandwich – Served with caramelized onions and red bell pepper aioli. The pulled pork was very tender and accompanied with a nice dressing. There is a lot of succulent meat in the sandwich, and it is also served on homemade rosemary bread. Since the bread is very homestyle, it tended to break apart fairly easily although it was sliced very thick. The bread itself had a crumbly texture that just didn’t seem to fit the sandwich appropriately. I think I would have liked the pulled pork on a roll instead. $10.95

- Lobster Bisque – The soup was a brilliant orange/coral color that matched the décor and served in a big bowl. A light green oil is lightly drizzled on top of the soup. Once upon a time, I had some lovely lobster bisque on a cruise ship, and it was really good, with small chunks of lobster in the soup. This didn’t quite compare. There weren’t any lobster chunks in this soup. The taste of wine or sherry was very strong – too strong. It overpowered the soup to the point that I couldn’t taste the lobster flavor anymore. Portions vary – some people at our table got a large helping. Mine was noticeably smaller. I wasn’t particularly pleased with this bisque. Maybe I should have gotten potatoes instead.

We sat on the covered patio which is heated during winter. The chairs were not the most comfortable, but as long as you don’t shift your weight much, you’re fine. The table has tea light candleholders that have these metal leaves wrapped around the glass. The service was attentive. I liked the water glasses – they use the thin kind. The meal was not the best I’ve had, nor the worst.

Katy's Place - Breakfast, Carmel

Mission St, between 5th and 6th, Carmel-by-the-Sea
(831) 624-0199
Parking: street parking
Hours: 7am - 2pm
http://www.katysplacecarmel.com/

Last Visited: 2009

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

Katy's was already getting packed and it was only about 8am when we arrived. There are a lot of locals amongst the tourists present at the restaurant. The board above the kitchen listed their daily specials. Regular menu items include omelettes, pancakes french toast, oatmeal, and of course, eggs benedict. Katy's features 16 versions of eggs benedict for your enjoyment.

I had looked up Katy's prior to the trip to Carmel and was looking forward to a great breakfast based on all of the positive feedback I saw on the web. While Katy's serves both lunch and breakfast, most people were praising their breakfast items. In terms of the atmosphere, the tables and chairs are typical of what you might find at any other restaurant. The ceiling and chandeliers along with the wall with all of the windows make nice natural lighting.

While we were promptly seated, it took some time before someone came to take our order. The wait time for food was also longer than anticipated.

- Crab Cakes Benedict - The crab cakes benedict was okay. The photo shows that we split the dish (one each), and if you aren't feeling super hungry, this is a good way to enjoy some other items. They are happy to split it for you so you don't have to worry about the hollandaise sauce getting all over the place. The potatoes that accompanied the eggs benedict were also okay - browned and seasoned, but not wow. $16.95

If you prefer one egg benedict - subtract a dollar; for split orders, add $2.50.

- Bacon - The bacon is hickory smoked and sliced extra thick. Four slices to a side order. While the bacon was also good, although I don't remember the price I paid, I do remember thinking it was high.

With tax and tip and no drinks, breakfast was about $30. My overall food experience was just okay. I still enjoyed my visit despite the lack of service. The reason - we sat next to some cool elderly gentleman whom were locals. One formerly worked for the school district and talked about how he used to golf at Pebble Beach for a super low price before it became such a popular destination. When the price got higher, he had a chance to golf there with Clint Eastwood, former mayor of Carmel. Personalities and stories like that made Katy's a worthwhile stop. Hopefully, you'll be as lucky as we were and bump into some fun people to chat with if you decide to check out Katy's.

Another important item to note - this place is cash only, so be prepared.

Happy Dog - American/Burgers, Sonoma

18762 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 935-6211
Parking: small parking lot on the side, minimal street parking

Last Visited: 2009

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

Happy Dog has been an institution in Sonoma for many years. As you enter the valley, you’ll be welcomed by that yellow dog with black spots as you pass by their establishment. This dog is painted on the outside and inside of the buildings.

Since my last visit, there have been a number of upgrades. Although the tables and arcade games remain the same, the floor is now tiled and the countertop has been replaced with slab granite.

- Hamburger – A charbroiled patty (and it is charbroiled when you order it and done right behind the counter) is served between a toasted sesame bun lightly slathered with mayonnaise. Lettuce, a slice of tomato, onion slices, and pickle slices are the only other ingredients. You add your own additional condiments. It’s juicy and delicious and sure to fill your stomach. If you prefer larger portions, a double cheeseburger is also available. Each is wrapped in paper and ready to go. The cheeseburger is fantastic too. One thing that makes these burgers so great - the buns are delivered fresh daily. Regular Hamburger $3.35 / Cheeseburger available for $3.75

- French Fries – A tray of thick cut fries are served fresh. Just a little crunchy on the outside, it’s sure to hit the spot. Great. I only wish there were more. :) $1.85

- Onion Rings – There are about eight onion rings. They are lightly battered and fried until crispy. They’re not the huge rings, but they’re not overly battered either. Good. $1.45

- Fish Burger – Although I didn’t eat this one myself, I saw that the fresh was very fresh and didn’t taste fishy at all $4.65

- Chocolate shake - Ever so delicious and creamy, it will be a superb treat that accompanies any of the burgers, or just enjoyed alone. Decadent and rich, it tastes ever so good.

Fried chicken patty burgers, grilled chicken burgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, and corn dogs are other available options.

It’s a classic place with fresh tasting hamburgers. They’re juicy and delicious and certainly will warm your belly.

Places to Go - Pike Place Market, Seattle

Shops and their specialties at Pike Place Market, Seattle that I didn't get to, but were on my list:

Cafe Yarmaka
DeLaurentis - cheese
Dozen Doughnuts
Etta’s Seafood
Falafel King
Frank’s Quality Market - apples
Le Panier - baguette
Market Grill - salmon sandwich
MarketSpice - iced tea and smelled salt
Maximillion Bistro
Pike Place Fish - smoked fish
Sosios - OMG peach, cherries
The Crumpet Shop
Three Girls Bakery
Turkish Delight - baklava

Also try:
Anthony's Pier 66 and Bell Street Diner, 2201 Alaskan Way, Seattle WA 98121, (206) 448-6688

Sonoma County Restaurant Week - Feb 21 - 27, 2011

Just when you were feeling sad that SF Dine About Town is over - no worries! Sonoma County Restaurant Week has come to the rescue. From February 21 to February 27, you can enjoy Sonoma County prix fixe menus for $19, $29, and $39.

Participating restaurants include Dry Creek Kitchen, Healdsburg; Sante, Sonoma; and Syrah, Santa Rosa. There are a lot of great options to check out. I've made my reservations - have you?

Harvest Moon Cafe - Californian/Mediterranean, Sonoma

487 First St West, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 933-8160
Parking: street parking in the plaza
Hours: Dinner Sun - Thurs 5:30 to 9pm, Fri - Sat 5:30 to 9:30pm
http://harvestmooncafesonoma.com/

Last Visited: March 12, 2006

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

Harvest Moon Café recently opened in January of 2006. Thanks to the P family for bringing us here. The décor is earthy and warm with sunset orange paint and some rustic teal or green depending on the lighting. Olive branches surround the light fixtures and a general olive theme is seen on the menu and in other locations. There’s a bar in the rear and some bar seating facing the kitchen area as well. It’s a cozy atmosphere with tables somewhat close together. The music playing on the stereo reminded me of some Italian style music and some jazz-like tunes.

Chef Nick Demarest, formerly of Eccolo and Chez Panisse in Berkeley, opened this restaurant with his wife Jen, a pastry chef. The cuisine is reminiscent of that of La Haye just off the square. The style of cooking brings a delicate quality to the dishes, with light richness (which although seemingly contradictory, you’ll know what I mean when you taste the flavorful sauces).

Upon our arrival, we were asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. After ordering, we were provided with rustic bread. What was strange is that although we had four people, we were only given two pats of butter, and thin pats at that. I felt like they were restricting us a bit, but we asked for more and were given more.

Most appetizers are between $7 and $12. There’s an emphasis on local ingredients and the menu changes daily to reflect that.

Beet salad with frisee – Sweet yellow, red, and purple beets are coined and plated with frisee in the center. I don’t know my lettuces well enough, but I think arugula accompanied the frisee. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful and presented simply. Two crostini spread with gorgonzola accompanied the salad. Very good.

Other appetizers available this evening included artichokes with prosciutto and chopped egg, sardines with salad, and baby lettuces. There were about six or seven choices available for dinner entrees this evening. All ranged between $17 and $24. Most listed below had fancier names, but I didn’t take home a menu this evening, so these descriptions will be fairly general.

- Pasta with ahi tuna and olives – A hint of garlic and onions are the base for a pasta mixed with green olives, cubes of ahi tuna, and spinach. The presentation is colorful. The pasta is similar to spaghetti, but with larger diameter and very al dente. The olives add flavor to the light mix of tender tuna and spinach. I liked the concept of this dish, but being a fan of sushi, I would have liked it even more if the ahi had been rare inside, but this was still tender and delicious. Good.

- Pork scallopine with fava bean stew – Two pieces of tender pork are pan fried with lots of pepper and a light sauce. Fava beans are stewed with diced pork pieces – perhaps a bacon or ham that give the beans lots of flavor. Spinach is sautéed with garlic and accompanies the pork and fava beans. The overall flavor is rich, yet not too heavy. The pork is juicy and is probably one of the best pork dishes I’ve had in a while. If you like thin pork chops, this is one to try. Very good.

- Swordfish with Sicilian salsa verde and rapini – Swordfish is served over brocolini/rapini sautéed in olive oil. The swordfish is topped with a salsa made of green olives, onions, and fresh herbs. Also accompanying the fish are Yukon gold potatoes that are slightly browned until crispy on the outside. The fish is delicate and the flavorful salsa gives it a lot of additional texture. I didn’t get to try the rapini, but it had great color and looked very fresh. The potato is yummy. Good.

- Brisket with chicken and homemade sausage in a light broth – This dish had an interesting name that I had never heard before. The meat was sitting amidst light caramel colored broth along with tender carrots and vegetables. The sausage round is wrapped in kale that creates an interesting presentation. The brisket and chicken were both very tender and flavorful. The chicken was boneless and moist. The sausage had nice flavor and is on the denser side; the presentation of the sausage certainly made it interesting and added color to the presentation. Good.

A selection of desserts are also available along with after dinner drinks. Desserts on the menu included a meyer lemon cheesecake with blood orange sauce, Scharffenberger bittersweet chocolate pots de crème, and a sweet tart with vanilla bean ice cream. Although they sounded delightful, I was still full from the entree.

Harvest Moon has fine fare with a hint of the Mediterranean. Service is non-invasive and professional, although it somehow didn’t sparkle as much as it could have. Fresh local ingredients and great flavor all around make this restaurant a place to which I would like to return. Check out this local treat.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gung Hay Fat Choy! 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac, and February 3 marks the first day of Chinese New Year.

Like many other cultures, the traditions linked with Chinese New Year are filled with family, food, and festivities. Chinese New Year is also known as the spring festival in Chinese culture. While the saying ‘Gung Hay Fat Choy’ is equivalent to wishing one a Happy New Year, the literal translation is congratulations prosperity. The phrase connotes the welcoming of luck and good fortune. Coupled with greetings of good health and improvement (for students in school or growth in business), every phrase in one’s greeting bears positive wishes.

This fifteen day celebration is taken very seriously in Chinese culture, and in places such as Hong Kong and China, the corporate world recognizes Chinese New Year as having greater importance than Christmas. For example, the last time I went to Hong Kong during Chinese New Year, one of the restaurants that I love, which is typically open every day of the year including Christmas, took a week long day shutdown. I barely stayed in town past their closure and nearly missed my beloved steamed milk dessert. Fortunately, my schedule gave me one day to enjoy it upon their opening.

Back to Chinese New Year food traditions – the celebration begins on New Year’s eve. Families will get together for a large feast which includes all types of dishes from chicken to duck and more. The food will be abundant because the celebration ends the previous year and welcomes in the new year. Additionally, the household is cleaned prior to the entering of the New Year to sweep away bad luck.

On New Year’s Day, the elders and thus, the most respected in the family, are visited. On this day, families also get together and traditionally enjoy a vegetarian meal. Meat is not served because that would require an animal to be killed for the meal, and nobody wants to talk about death of course. Also, the vegetarian meal is a sign of longevity. There is a primary vegetarian dish that mixes anywhere from 8 to 12 or more ingredients that is cooked together. This dish frequently includes Chinese shiitake mushrooms, dried tofu sheets or reeds, gingko, golden needles, black fungus, white fungus, lotus, and other dried and fresh vegetables. A red colored bean curd based sauce blends the flavors together well.

On the day after New Year’s, it’s another big feast, this time with meat served. It’s important to have fish on this day because the word for fish sounds similar to extra or more. One desires to have leftovers and extra in their life – a symbol of wealth that there is more than one needs.

Popular dishes for these meals include lettuce with black mushrooms and black sea moss, fat choy, which is similar sounding to ‘prosperity’ as mentioned earlier. When served with dried oysters, which sounds like ‘good events,’ one is preparing for the future year and in the hopes of many good events to come. Lettuce sounds like ‘growing prosperity’ (or as friend Kayan calls it, ‘sprout wealth’) and who wouldn’t want that? Noodles, because of their length, symbolize longevity. The list of foods and their related meaning goes on and on.

Expect to find most good Chinese restaurants in areas with high populations of Chinese people packed over the next few weeks. The same is true for Chinese grocery stores as families prepare these feasts at home. Enjoy the feasting – if you don’t get ‘fat choy’ this year, with all the eating, you might still get fat in the English sense of the word :p