Chili House - Chinese, San Francisco

726 Clement St, San Francisco CA 94118
(415) 387-2658
Parking: street parking
http://www.chilihousesf.com

Last Visited: September 2, 2018

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

Chili House in San Francisco is owned by the same person as that owning Z&Y in Chinatown.   I first heard about it from the advertisements on the local Chinese news station.   While one may think that everything is spicy based on the restaurant's name, some of their best known dishes are quite mild in flavor.

The restaurant is rarely as empty these days as what you see in this photo.  Over the last year, its become more popular with locals and tourists and you'll find long lines.  If you want to order a duck, I strongly suggest making a reservation for the duck ahead of time.

Prices shown below are from my May 2017 visit and have jumped up quite a bit since then.

- Beef Roll Pancakes - One of the most popular dishes of this type of cuisine is a pancake that has been rolled with cucumber and thin beef slices.  Personally, I always find this dish to be more dry than I prefer no matter where I eat it.  This dish is okay.  $7.95

- Dumplings with Pork & Shrimp - See below. $8.95
- Dumpling with Chives and Flounder - From the outside, the dumplings look a lot alike.  I prefer the chives and flounder one more than the pork & shrimp because of how tender the flounder is - while fish dumplings are getting more popular, this was one of the first places I tried it.  The dumpling skin is just the right texture - not too thick, not too soft.  The fish inside is fresh with the chives, it's quite flavorful.  I highly recommend this one.  $8.95

- Hot and Sour Tofu Soup - Classic hot and sour soup with the typical ingredients - egg drop, green onions, wood ear fungus, tofu, bamboo shoots, and more.  Good consistency and flavor.  No extremes.  I appreciated that you can get this in multiple sizes. $6.95 small

- House Special Chow Mein - Another standard as far as noodle dishes go.  Good wok air (hot temperature) and a variety of meat - chicken, beef, and a little bit of seafood. Noodles have a good bite to them.  Nothing particularly impressive, but no issues either.  Good. $9.95

- Cumin Lamb - The cumin offsets any game flavor that you might dislike from the lamb and with the sweet onions and the spicy chili sauce, the thinly sliced lamb takes on these flavors very well.  Good. $13.95

- Beijing Dalu Noodle - If you're not familiar with the effects of Szechuan peppercorns, let me warn you now.  It can be completely numbing to some folks as it was with me. While I've had many versions of this noodle soup, because of the peppercorn oil, I ate this dish and couldn't feel my lips for most of the evening, not to mention the heat.  It's very deceiving with the fresh cucumber strips on top and the noodles in a thick, almost soup-like sauce of minced meats and egg below, but watch out.  This dish is not for everyone. $7.95

- Peking Duck - What Chili House is known for is the Peking Duck carved table-side (great for Instagram or other social media posts).  You can see the duck steaming as it's cut hot.  While presentation is lovely, and the server will help you make your first couple of duck-stuffed pancakes (see photo of accompanying condiments - hoisin sauce, green onion strips, and cucumber strips), the flavor of the duck is just ok.  I've had more flavorful ducks at other places.  They will also give you the option of using the carcass to make soup or to make salt and pepper duck.  We opted for the soup and while there isn't a ton of meat left over, it makes for a flavorful broth. $39.95



- Sweet and Sour Fish special - A rather large tilapia is cut so that the body looks like spikes, and deep-fried.  The entire fish is served whole and gently covered in a gooey sweet and sour sauce.  The presentation is impressive and each bite has a great blend of crispy, sweet, and tender juicy fish.  I would definitely recommend trying out this dish for its unique presentation (I haven't seen any other local restaurant that serves it this way) and great flavor.  $39.95

While it's hardly a year later, the prices of all of these dishes, except the fish special, are now higher.  Portion sizes are about the same, and if you're a tourist or in a large party, the service is quite different.  They will offer to pick out the entire menu for you - I watched this happen during one of my meals, so if you're on a budget, be sure to tell them that if you let them design a menu for you.  I saw a few tourists shocked by the outcome when they gave them leeway.

Also, during my first few visits, I was with one other person and the service was pretty dreadful.  During my most recent visit, we went with a larger party and service was very good.  Perhaps it has something to do with what we ordered (we got slightly better service when the two of us ordered a duck).

Try Chili House for the fun presentation of duck cut table-side,  flounder dumplings, fried fish, or to numb your mouth with some peppercorn/chili oil.

Rasa - South Indian, Burlingame

209 Park Rd, Burlingame CA 94010
(650) 340-7272
Parking: street parking and pay parking lot
http://rasaindian.com/

Last Visited: February 15, 2018

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

Ben suggested Rasa because of its Michelin rating.  I didn't realize there was a Michelin rated South Indian restaurant in the area and after the experience, I can understand why.  This is probably the best service I've experienced at an Indian restaurant - from waiters explaining the details of the menu and specials to their courteous nature, Rasa is a great place for a business dinner, date night, or those unfamiliar with South Indian cuisine. 

From the lighting to the decor, Rasa has a very modern design with red-orange accent walls, gray tile, and classic dark brown finishes.  The bar in the rear of the restaurant is also a nice focal point.  From its logo, I initially mistook it for a dance club or bar, but behind the glass windows are the table settings.

- Bombay Sliders - This is a good starter for someone who is interested in a fusion experience.  The bamboo skewered sliders are comprised of a spiced potato patty fritter and served on toasted pav bread with a tangy tamarind chutney, and cilantro chutney.  A side salad that is lightly dressed, ghee (at least I think it was ghee), and a spice powder mixture they called gunpowder dust accompanies the sliders.  The sliders are a flavorful bite and well balanced, but I still miss the meat from a texture standpoint.  The salad was very fresh and I like how they are thoughtful in using colorful vegetables to make the plate beautiful. Okay to try, but not a dish I would likely get again. $13


- White Elephant Butter Paper thin Dosa - Dosa is a crepe made of fermented rice and lentil batter. The size of Rasa's white elephant dosa is impressive, spanning the width of a two person table (about 2 feet). The crepe is touted for being brushed with house churned butter and sprinkled with gun powder dust, but what I enjoyed was its crispy and light texture.  It's also fun to eat because of the sides: a well seasoned and colorful potato mash, coconut chutney, sambar (a lentil stew), and another chutney.  The heat of the sambar, both temperature and flavor, makes it a delicious dipping sauce.  Definitely worth a try and excellent for sharing.  Also good for Instagram photos.  $18

- Butter Chicken - This dish comes with an option of rice or parantha and the waiter talked us into the kerala parantha which is a layered dough that is pan fried.  Given the choice, after having the dosa, I would opt for rice for a less oily and lighter texture/flavor.  Dark meat is marinated in yogurt, ginger, and garlic and then cooked in a tomato and fenugreek curry making this a very rich sauce that would be excellent for topping rice.  For me, the parantha, though tasty, is heavy.   Very good.  $28

It was a delight for the eyes to see the various dosas go to each table as each one appeared so distinct in shape and filling.

Service throughout the meal was attentive and water glasses were frequently filled.  The staff was ready to remove any empty plates and check in on our table.  I also saw that neighboring large parties received the same level of attentiveness and with a bar featuring unique cocktails, Rasa would be good for a business meal.  Great food, beautiful presentation, and nice ambiance makes this a good fine dining experience which is also reflected by the prices.

Tu Lan - Vietnamese, San Francisco

8 6th St, San Francisco CA 94103
(415) 626-0927
Parking: street parking
Hours: Tues-Sun 11am - 9:30pm
http://tulan-vn-restaurant.com/about.html

Last Visited: July 14, 2018

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

Tu Lan has been around since 1977.  This hole in the wall located next to the Tenderloin is known for its ginger fish and rice plates; pho is not their specialty according to friends, but the food is hot and relatively speaking, very reasonably priced.  From the outside, you wouldn't know it, but the restaurant is fairly deep and also has an upstairs dining area.  It's nothing fancy (the picture actually looks better than the actual decor); the tables are a bit tightly configured and they move everything around to accommodate the party as needed.

Rachel suggested we try it for some good eats.  We were quickly seated upstairs and food arrived pretty quickly without any particular order - it just comes as it's cooked.  Service is efficient, but you won't find any particularly attentive people.

- Imperial Rolls - These imperial rolls are filled with very flavorful beef (at least, I think it was beef).  Using rice paper rolls makes the texture different from that of Chinese-style egg rolls.  Not really a traditional filling, but they were juicy and tasty for something different.  Served with a fish sauce based dipping sauce and a few slices of cucumber over a bed of shredded lettuce.  Okay. $6.45

- Fried Fish and Ginger Sauce - This dish was the hidden gem.  Three rather large fillets are lightly battered and fried.  They're served with a chopped ginger sauce that also contains fish sauce.  The fillets are hot and the fish is served with chopped green onions and a wedge of lemon.  This was by far my favorite dish of the night and on its own, it would be four stars. $12

- Vegetarian Fried Rice - This vegetarian fried rice is curry-based in flavor.  There is an ample amount of broccoli, cabbage, tofu, carrots, and green onions.  There's also a good amount of pepper in the dish, but it's not overwhelming.  It's a good supplement to your main entrees and with it being so hot in temperature, it's great on a cold night. $10

- Pork Shish Kebab - While the name seems less than Vietnamese, it's essentially barbecued pork.  It comes with a lot of rice, so you'll definitely be full, but I thought the pork was just ok.  I've had better.  The pork is served with more fish sauce based dipping sauce and a few slices of cucumber. $9.70

The kitchen is pretty fast at whipping out dishes - more can be seen downstairs if you want to see their operations.  Our hungry bunch was very happy with their speed after our long day.

If you are in the neighborhood, Tu Lan is worth checking out for a quick bite to eat for very reasonable prices, although you will have to walk past or through a lot of street people and their wares.  If I have a chance to go again, I would definitely try out their fried noodles which looked like a sizable portion that came out steaming hot.

Atlas Pizza Parlor - San Bruno

637 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno CA 94066
(650) 553-5005
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10a-12a, Fri-Sun 10a-1a

Last Visited: July 22, 2018

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

Atlas Pizza opened on San Bruno Avenue a few months ago and since there aren't too many Indian pies in the area, I wanted to give it a try.  Newly remodeled, the big space has been divided into four sections - the dining area, the kitchen, and private two areas which seem to be primarily used for storage and a ping pong table in the back that isn't open for public use.

The front seating is ample, facing the three large screen televisions mounted on the wall and a side wall with various sports figures. On the television today were Olympics archery and a soccer game.

A large menu is printed above the counter and features Italian pizzas, Atlas Fusion Pie, subs, appetizers, salad, chicken wings, and pasta.  Although their printed menu says they serve BBQ, their only bbq offering is chicken wings.  You won't find other typical bbq items.  From the sign above the counter, there is no way to tell that they have a wide variety of juice and smoothie offerings, but a whole page is dedicated to this in their printed takeout menu.  All items are halal.

I decided to split my pie so that it was half Italian and half fusion to try out both.

- Medium Half Mighty Meaty (Red sauce, pepperoni, ham, ground beef, sausage, red onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese) and Half Atlas Tandoori Chicken Pie (creamy garlic sauce, mozzarella cheese, bell peppers, red onions, diced tomatoes, tandoori chicken, green onions, and fresh cilantro) - First, the crust was very fresh tasting and the edges stayed crispy.  The menu specifically notes the fresh hand made dough.  The tandoori chicken pie was really good - smooth and creamy with a mild taste compared to the Italian half, but very flavorful.  The only improvement would have been to add more chicken.  On the Italian side, the toppings were more moist and had gone through to the bottom of the crust so that the pan showed juices flowing through.  This side was also significantly saltier than the tandoori side.  Overall, I would recommend the tandoori chicken pie since the Italian didn't stand out in comparison.  Medium 12' whole pie - Fusion $12.99, Italian $12.99

From a service standpoint, there is a lot of room for improvement.  There were some challenges understanding each other as I asked for water and there were a few exchanges before it was clear on their end that I wasn't ordering coconut water.  Also, when completing your order, you'll get a number on a stand.  All that number does is remind you of your number when it's called so that you can go retrieve your order - nobody brings you any food.  There's no point to having a number on a stand.  In some cases, I saw people go up for their pizza and about ten minutes later, go retrieve their chicken wings.  They weren't given a number at all.  Instead, the person behind the counter just yelled out 'hello' in their general direction.  For dine in, you get those super thin paper plates, and only one per person.  One of mine was dirtied by pizza sauce smudges.  When you enter or exit, there is no greeting for anyone, so don't expect a hello or thank you.

In summary, try a fusion pie and lower your service expectations.

LaSalette - Portuguese, Sonoma

452 First St E, Suite H, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 938-1927
Parking: street parking, parking lot
https://www.lasaletterestaurant.com/

Last Visited: June 27, 2018

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

LaSalette first opened up 20 years ago at a location on Highway 12 and since moved here to the Sonoma Plaza.  Known for its New Portuguese cuisine, a combination of classic Portuguese with local ingredients, this upscale restaurant which might seem less approachable offers reasonably-priced lunch specials as well as dinner.  Seating is available indoors and in its outdoor patio.

I arrived on time for my reservation at 11:30a and found that the 'Closed' sign was still posted in the patio. Since I was waiting for friends, I opted to enjoy the sun outside, but nobody seemed to notice my arrival on the patio.  Instead, they were cleaning the windows and interior.  At 11:40a, the sign finally came down.

- Tomato Water - While we were still perusing the menu, we were each given a shot of tomato water which contained very tiny cubes of ham, basil, cucumber, and bell pepper.  A drop of oil floated on the top.  This refreshing sip, compliments of the chef, had a lot of tomato flavor despite its clear color.  Too bad you can't order this as an appetizer.

After ordering, each person is given a warm Portuguese bun with butter on the side.  You won't find a bread plate - instead, the little slat of wood which I mistook for a coaster is for the warm bread.  Slightly sweet, you'll find the bread crusty on the outside and airy on the inside.

Lunch special offerings this week included fish and chips, a paella-like seafood rice, piri piri chicken salad, and a pulled pork sandwich.  Typical entrees, such as bacalhau, sea bass fillets, and fisherman's stew, are also available during lunch.

- "Fish and Chips" - Cassava floured fillets of local cod that is pan fried, piri piri fries, greens.  Served with tartar sauce and ketchup.   - Three small filets are lightly coated in cassava flour and pan fried. All of them were uniformly fried and the flaky cod was moist.  The tartar sauce was mild in flavor, but a good and necessary addition.  The greens were primarily made of frisee and arugula and lightly tossed in a vinaigrette.  The slight bitter taste was a good complement to the fish and piri piri dusted fries.  The chili base for the piri piri was very light - not spicy at all, but you could notice the flavor was present.  Good.  Well balanced in flavor and quantity. $14

From what I could tell, the paella-like rice was also good.  Our dining companions seemed to enjoy the dish which was presented in a bowl with yellow rice and seafood in their shells.

- White chocolate sprinkle covered passion fruit, cashew - Another complimentary bite, each person received this sweet treat at the end of the meal.  It wasn't profound, but it was nice and light both in flavor and texture.

Service was efficient and prompt, but could be a bit warmer.  Overall, it was a good experience and you feel pampered with these complimentary dishes, but they need to be better about opening on time, especially when there is a reservation right at the opening time.

Chef Gator's Rustic Burger & His Creole Friends

5 Petaluma Blvd South, Petaluma CA 94952
(707) 658-1845
Parking: in parking lot
https://www.gatorscreolefriends.com/

Last Visited: June 7, 2018

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

Cousin Jimmy, a local Petaluma food enthusiast, suggested that I try out this new joint. It's been open for a few months now.

Chef Gator was a contestant on Guy Fieri's grocery games and recently had a food truck with similar fare in Petaluma.  Photos from his Food Network episodes are on display in one wall.  The room has a casual feel with bright colors, seating at the bar, regular tables, and high top tables.  Order at the counter and get a number, then wait for food to be delivered to you.

- Gator's Chicken and Waffles - 2 piece leg & thigh, southern fried, served with peach cobbler butter and maple syrup.  It's as good as it sounds.  The waffle is crispy on the outside and soft in the center.  The chicken is well seasoned, crispy, and golden brown - the portion is hearty and the balance of crunchy with sweet is perfect.  The peach cobbler butter is a pleasant surprise.  Very good.  This dish would get four stars. $12.99

- Smoked Chicken & Cajun Sausage Jambalaya - While there's no photo here, the half order is quite large and sufficient for a small eater.  The jambalaya is thick and well-seasoned.  Tasty and a good deal.  Half order $6.99, Full order $12.99

- Rustic Cheese Burger with Fries - Grass fed beef patty on shredded lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, creole mustard aioli, and choice of cheese.  Chef Gator informed us that the buns are made daily and seemed particularly proud of their rosemary flavoring.  The bun could hold up slightly better - near the last few bites, it seemed slightly soft.  The fries were crispy and also lightly seasoned.  My burger patty seemed to be denser in one section than another, but this didn't seem to be the case with the other burgers.  Otherwise, it was pretty good.  $7.75 a la carte, $10.75 with regular fries

Chef Gator came and chatted with us and shared that he'll soon be battling Bobby Flay on Beat Bobby Flay and is also working on other tv appearances.  I appreciated his friendly demeanor and down to earth spirit.  The staff was friendly, but when it comes to service, there is still room for improvement.  Their computer system seemed to have glitches - one of our three burgers didn't arrive with the rest of the meal and I had to remind them that I had ordered it.  Also, while they were good to inform us that the chicken and waffles may take more time and that they were holding on to all the dishes so that everything would arrive together, when it did come, one of the servers slid a burger across the table (and past three people) in order to get it to the right person. The other server walked her items around to the appropriate person.

Generally speaking, the menu looks good, but I would recommend the chicken and waffles for a real treat.

Yuanbao Jiaozi - Chinese dumplings, San Francisco

2110 Irving St, San Francisco CA 94122
(415) 702-6506
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: June 10, 2018

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

Yuanbao Jiaozi is pretty unassuming from the outside.  Before the line starts to form outside, you might easily walk past it without a second thought.  The restaurant has been open for a few months, and focuses primarily on dumplings, one noodle dish, and a few side dishes.  While it's not very friendly for those whom require gluten-free diets, they do offer a few veggie side dishes.

Inside, the decorations are minimal.  One wall has a mural and the other is shown in the photo.  You'll be able to see the three ladies hand making dumplings and working the dough.   Overall, the food was very good, but service could use some improvements. 

- Marinated beef - The beef texture is right and the light brushing of chili oil paired nicely with the meat.  The meat is flavorful without being overpowering.  14 slices.  Good. $6.99

- House Special Beef Noodles (Spicy/Non-Spicy) - I ordered the non-spicy noodle soup this evening.  The noodles were excellent - al dente and cooked just right.  The noodles soaked up the broth without becoming soggy even as I got to the end of the bowl.  Marinated beef slices, beef stew cubes, and baby bok choy are served over the noodles in a flavorful broth that is just touch sweet.  It's a filling and delightful bowl.  Must try. $10.99

All dumpling dishes (14 dumplings) are available as Dumpling Soup (12 dumplings).

- Shiitake Mushroom & Fish Dumpling - 14 dumplings are served plain with dipping sauces (soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce) available on the table. The fish takes on the mushroom flavor more than anything else, so if you like mushroom, the delicate texture of the fish takes on this flavor well.  The skins are made on site, so they're thin and tender without falling apart.  Very good. $8.99

- Pork & Three Delicacies Dumpling - The photo would have looked the same as that for the mushroom and fish dumpling.  Inside the pork dumpling mix, there is also shrimp, green chives, and a little bamboo shoot. The chives stand out in this dumpling and the texture is more dense than the fish dumpling.  Very good.  With this dish, we were told that one dumpling unraveled during cooking, so they owed us one and to enjoy the others for now.  About ten minutes later, a whole plate came, so there was clearly some miscommunication occurred.  Another ten minutes later, when we were nearly done eating, the final one arrived with an apology. $8.99

- Tea - Each cup comes with a tea bag.  It appears that aside from tea, there aren't other drink options.   ~$1/cup

While the food is quite good, there is a lot of room for improving service.  The two ladies serving are friendly and polite, but some changes are simple - bring a serving spoon when you're serving up the dumplings as almost everyone is sharing the plate.  When you bring the cold water pitcher, bring a hot water pitcher to refill tea cups too.  Improve communication behind the scenes so that the dumpling incident above gets resolved seamlessly.  If you say you're bringing bowls for the noodle soup, then do it.  When you bring the check, use a glass or some kind of holder; include the prices for each item (that's part of the reason I don't know how much tea cost because it's not listed on the menu or on the check), and bring a copy of the credit card receipt for the customer.  Don't make customers wait for the check - 20 minutes of waiting is pretty slow.   Get these kinks worked out and tables will turn faster and patrons will be happier.  The food will keep people coming back for sure.