2801 W. Ball Road, Anaheim CA 92804
(714) 527-6848
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: open until 2am
Last Visited: January 25, 2006
Food: 2 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: N/A
Price: $ to $$
Our family friends received the menu to Choy’s as they were entering Disneyland. The colorful menu shows a variety of offerings with color photos of beautifully displayed entrees. Although the small map on the menu says that it’s not to scale, you have no idea how not to scale it really is. There are two streets shown between Disneyland and Choy’s. In reality, there are many many more. It was about a ten to fifteen minute drive from Disneyland to the restaurant.
For this visit, we ordered take out.
- Beef Chow Fun – The beef chow fun contained chow fun that had been sautéed with slices of beef, onions, and green onions. Although the color is similar to that of typical chow fun, this was just not close enough. The flavor was a bit on the sweet side, and not quite the right combination of flavors. However, the rice fun was nicely separated. Fair. $6.50
- Wonton Noodle Soup – The menu states that it’s Hong Kong Style Noodles, but it’s not. It’s some other kind of noodles. The wontons are more wrapper than meat and the broth contains carrots and other vegetables that aren’t typical of wonton noodle soup. The broth looked more like the base for hot and sour soup. If this dish had been called chicken broth with wontons and noodles (non-Chinese style), it would have been satisfactory. However, as is, it doesn’t meet typical wonton noodle standards. Fair. $5.50
Fortune cookies came with the food.
If you’re looking for authentic Cantonese style food, Choy’s is not the right place for you. If you want an adapted version of Chinese food and don’t require authentic flavor, it will probably be fine.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Gilwood's Cafe - American, St. Helena/Napa
1313 Main Street, St. Helena CA 94574(707) 963-1788
Hours: Daily 7am-3pm
Parking: street parking
1320 Napa Town Center, Napa CA 94559
(707) 253-0409
Hours: Daily 7am-2:30pm
http://www.gillwoodscafe.com/
Last Visited: August 9, 2009
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$$
Gilwood's, open since 1991 in St. Helena, was recommended to me by the former City Manager of Napa for its good food and quaint atmosphere.
When I arrived at Gilwoods, it was about 11:30am and the waitlist had already begun to grow. I was probably the fourth or fifth on the list and there isn't much of a waiting area within the restaurant. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day outside and their colorful menu was posted in the window, so I had plenty of time to figure out what I wanted to order.
Enter the restaurant and see the specials and pie listed on the white board behind the counter. It's brightly lit and the wood tables and chairs give the restaurant a traditional cafe feeling. Service was friendly throughout our visit.
- Club Sandwich - Chicken, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado are sandwiched on toast and served with a choice of soup, salad, french fries or fresh fruit for an extra 75 cents. With this dish, we ordered soup. A typical club sandwich -everything was fresh, toast was . Good. $12.60- French Dip - Roast beef is sliced and placed on a roll with melted cheese and served with au jus. I can't remember the exact price - somewhere over $10. I ordered a green salad with this. The
sandwich was okay. The salad was fresh made of mostly lettuce and some chopped tomatoes. I appreciated that it was served on a separate plate - great especially for people that don't want their food to touch.Gilwoods offers homemade bread for sale, and for sandwiches, you have a choice of country wheat, sourdough, or rye. Their cheese selection includes cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, and swiss.
- French Fries - I've been ordering fries as a side more frequently
when I can't decide on whether or not I want to be healthy (i.e. ordering salad) or enjoy crispy fries. I found the color of the fries to be nice and golden, but they weren't as crispy on the outside as I wanted. I would probably skip fries next time. $3.75Overall, I found the food to be good, but the prices are a bit higher than I would like to see. For example, burgers are $9.40 and the least expensive items seem to be the desserts for around $4 for a slice of pie or cake. Considering the wait on a weekend morning and good, but not exceptionally generous portions, I would say Gilwood's is a good stop if you are already in the area or if you are with guests in the Napa or St. Helena region. For me, having to drive more than half an hour to this destination, I would say there are many other options to consider.
Uncle Frank's BBQ - Mountain View
Uncle Frank's has since moved to:
1214 Apollo Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 (inside the Quarter Note Bar & Grill)
Hours: Fri-Sat 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 11:00 pm, Sun 1pm - 10pm and Brisket & Blues 7pm - 12am
Catering is still available, so contact them for details.
This review was for their old location: 2135 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043, (650) 964-4476
http://www.unclefranksbbq.com/
Last Visited: December 2007
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$
Uncle Frank’s BBQ was located in the rear of Francesca’s bar, but they have since moved to Sunnyvale and Atlanta.
At Francesca's - It doesn’t look like much from the outside, and it doesn’t look that much better once inside. Immediately past the door, the bar will be to your right and the pool tables are on your left. Keep going into the back like you know what you’re doing and you’ll turn left into Uncle Frank’s BBQ.
The setting is dated. Along the wall are semi-circular booths that surround tables. Some of the cushions on the booths are worn or have holes. In the middle of the room are tables, some with regular chairs and others with folding chairs. There’s also a stage, but there weren’t any advertisements for entertainment nights.
The kitchen is located on one side and you can see the folks preparing the dishes. A server’s station is immediately in front of the kitchen. Each table contains a paper towel holder, silverware holder, and condiments.
Upon our arrival, we were promptly given menus and water. The menu offers lunch specials as well as full meals and a la carte items. Offerings include beef brisket, smoked chicken, pork ribs, and today’s special was pulled pork. Sides include Cajun corn, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and there’s even sweet potato pie.
Today’s visit was for lunch. All lunch specials come with a side of coleslaw or potato salad. A slice of bread, not toasted, is cut into two triangles and served alongside the meat which is placed on wax paper lining a plastic basket. Today’s bread was wheat and considering the amount of food you get, I could have gone without the bread. Mild or Hot BBQ sauce are available. I chose mild for my selections. You can tell it’s a homemade sauce, and one of my friends thought it was much better than that of some of the nearby chain restaurants. You can taste both sweet and tangy ingredients.
- Beef Brisket – Slices of warm brisket are topped with warm BBQ sauce. You get succulent beef that is cooked until tender (rumor has it that it’s cooked 30 hours) and a whole lot of sauce. Very delicious, flavorful, and filling. The amount of meat is incredible for the price. I only wish it was hotter in temperature. $9.50
- Pork Ribs – Three room temperature ribs are topped with warm BBQ sauce. The meat retained its shape but came off the bone
with ease. Tender and juicy, with a pleasant smoky flavor, these were flavorful and good. Only one of the ribs seemed a bit fattier than the others, but I was pleased with the dish. Another large quantity of meat for the price. Again, hotter temperature would have been better. $9.50
- Coleslaw – Each person received their choice of coleslaw or potato salad before the meat arrived. The serving was placed in a small styrofoam cup. The coleslaw nothing to rave about, but was okay.
Although I didn’t try it, the smoked chicken also comes in ample quantity. The only improvement on service would be to have all of the main dishes arrive at the same time. The pork ribs came out first, and after about ten minutes, the brisket followed, and a few minutes after that, the chicken came. Aside from that, the service was very pleasant. I appreciated that although we sat at our table for a while after we were finished, the server came to check on us once and let us enjoy our time chatting.
The only thing I might do differently next time is ask for sauce on the side so I can taste the flavor of the meat in its original state.
If you’re looking for some good grub and enjoy the dive bar atmosphere, this is the perfect place for you. I had terrific company, so that made the experience that much more enjoyable, but nevertheless, if you’re after good BBQ, this is a great place to check out.
1214 Apollo Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 (inside the Quarter Note Bar & Grill)
Hours: Fri-Sat 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 11:00 pm, Sun 1pm - 10pm and Brisket & Blues 7pm - 12am
Catering is still available, so contact them for details.
This review was for their old location: 2135 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043, (650) 964-4476
http://www.unclefranksbbq.com/
Last Visited: December 2007
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$
Uncle Frank’s BBQ was located in the rear of Francesca’s bar, but they have since moved to Sunnyvale and Atlanta.
At Francesca's - It doesn’t look like much from the outside, and it doesn’t look that much better once inside. Immediately past the door, the bar will be to your right and the pool tables are on your left. Keep going into the back like you know what you’re doing and you’ll turn left into Uncle Frank’s BBQ.
The setting is dated. Along the wall are semi-circular booths that surround tables. Some of the cushions on the booths are worn or have holes. In the middle of the room are tables, some with regular chairs and others with folding chairs. There’s also a stage, but there weren’t any advertisements for entertainment nights.
The kitchen is located on one side and you can see the folks preparing the dishes. A server’s station is immediately in front of the kitchen. Each table contains a paper towel holder, silverware holder, and condiments.
Upon our arrival, we were promptly given menus and water. The menu offers lunch specials as well as full meals and a la carte items. Offerings include beef brisket, smoked chicken, pork ribs, and today’s special was pulled pork. Sides include Cajun corn, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and there’s even sweet potato pie.
Today’s visit was for lunch. All lunch specials come with a side of coleslaw or potato salad. A slice of bread, not toasted, is cut into two triangles and served alongside the meat which is placed on wax paper lining a plastic basket. Today’s bread was wheat and considering the amount of food you get, I could have gone without the bread. Mild or Hot BBQ sauce are available. I chose mild for my selections. You can tell it’s a homemade sauce, and one of my friends thought it was much better than that of some of the nearby chain restaurants. You can taste both sweet and tangy ingredients.
- Beef Brisket – Slices of warm brisket are topped with warm BBQ sauce. You get succulent beef that is cooked until tender (rumor has it that it’s cooked 30 hours) and a whole lot of sauce. Very delicious, flavorful, and filling. The amount of meat is incredible for the price. I only wish it was hotter in temperature. $9.50
- Pork Ribs – Three room temperature ribs are topped with warm BBQ sauce. The meat retained its shape but came off the bone
with ease. Tender and juicy, with a pleasant smoky flavor, these were flavorful and good. Only one of the ribs seemed a bit fattier than the others, but I was pleased with the dish. Another large quantity of meat for the price. Again, hotter temperature would have been better. $9.50- Coleslaw – Each person received their choice of coleslaw or potato salad before the meat arrived. The serving was placed in a small styrofoam cup. The coleslaw nothing to rave about, but was okay.
Although I didn’t try it, the smoked chicken also comes in ample quantity. The only improvement on service would be to have all of the main dishes arrive at the same time. The pork ribs came out first, and after about ten minutes, the brisket followed, and a few minutes after that, the chicken came. Aside from that, the service was very pleasant. I appreciated that although we sat at our table for a while after we were finished, the server came to check on us once and let us enjoy our time chatting.
The only thing I might do differently next time is ask for sauce on the side so I can taste the flavor of the meat in its original state.
If you’re looking for some good grub and enjoy the dive bar atmosphere, this is the perfect place for you. I had terrific company, so that made the experience that much more enjoyable, but nevertheless, if you’re after good BBQ, this is a great place to check out.
Sweet Dynasty - Hong Kong
100 Canton Road, Tsim Sha TsuiHong Kong
852 2199 7799
Last Visited: June 2008
Food (dessert rating only): 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
Sweet Dynasty is located across from one of the three Marco Polo hotels in Hong Kong. Just ask the locals - they'll help you find the place. If you're a tourist, it's a great spot to ease your way into Hong Kong culture. Why you might ask? It's more like the Chinese restaurants you find in the United States.
Compared to its counterparts, Sweet Dynasty has more spacious seating, menus with both Chinese characters and English, and is brightly lit. It's usually bustling with the noise from other patrons, and the desserts certainly remind you that you're in Hong Kong. While I haven't tried the entrees or small plates here, they always look appetizing.
This is the place to go for some White Fungus Soup with Rock Sugar or Grass Jelly dessert. Most traditional desserts are available either hot and cold. Cold desserts are plated in a bowl that is within a larger bowl containing dry ice. I had to wait for the vapors to dissipate before taking this photo.
Chinese food is all about balance. Chinese desserts follow this theme by often being served hot as to cleanse and balance your system after eating stir-fried or spicy foods. Soup, both savory and sweet, have a legacy of being both healthy and depending on the area of China you're from, it may be served as an after dinner course. Often, they're medicinal in nature. Take Red Bean Soup for example. Paired with lotus seed, the texture of the soup has more body because of the beans and seeds. However, I can remember my grandma telling me to make sure I eat those lotus seeds - apparently they're good for the spleen, heart, and kidneys.
Classic desserts are Almond Soup, Sago in Coconut Cream with Mango, Red Bean Soup with Lotus Seeds, Black Sesame Soup, and Peanut Soup. You might find that you actually enjoy them as dessert despite the 'soup' in the title. Think of it as chilled fruit soup - sweet and refreshing to the palate. You might even try Red Beans and Ice Cream over Crushed Ice - it's pretty good.
At prices that are about $4 to $5 an order, the desserts are very reasonable. Be adventurous - you just might like some of those things you've never heard before. And another bonus, they're open late!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Amici's East Coast Pizzeria - Bay Area
1242 Fourth St, San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 455-9777
Parking: ample street parking
Hours: Mon – Thurs 11am to 10pm, Fri 11am to 11pm, Sat 11:30 am to 11pm, Sun 11:30am to 10pm
http://www.amicis.com/
Last Visited: July 16, 2006
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Although it’s been a while since I’ve visited an Amici’s, I had to make sure to include this post from a few years back. Also, since eating here, I met Pete, the co-owner of the chain. Wow! Pete is such a down to earth guy whom learned the business from the ground up, foregoing the dreams of being a super smart ivy-leaguer; despite the degree and much to the chagrin of his mother, he took a job as the pizza boy, delivery boy, and so on until he was ready to start the business. Of course, he had a good business partner in Mike that balanced out his weaknesses, and usually, that’s the best kind.
Amici’s is a very clean cut establishment with bright lights, earth tones, forest green. The classic black and white photos of famous sports figures or famous people give the place a bit of the New York feel. Their pizza has been described by quite a few as being more authentic New York style pizza. Mr. and Mrs. G as well as my friend Nimish, an authentic New Yorker, give Amici’s high marks.
At their San Rafael location, they are right in the middle of the downtown area and the large windows in the front allow you to watch the downtown scene. In the summer, they open the windows and though there are some pesky flies, the general atmosphere is quite comfortable and friendly. Enter the restaurant, and all of the tables are up front with a counter in the rear, and the kitchen in the rear right. It can seem a little odd having so many servers standing around when the place isn’t busy, but they tend to hover by the rear counter. My server was one of the best I have encountered in recent months.
Amici’s offers thin crust pizza with several combos that are available or you can design your own. They also offer pastas, sandwiches, and salads. They offer soy mozzarella and reduced carb pizzas for those who are diet conscious. Choose from the following sizes: Mini (7"), Small (10''), Medium (13''), and Large (15'').
- Antipasto Salad - Italian Salami, pepperoncini, kalamata olives, and mozzarella is added to their Garden Salad which is comprised of romaine lettuce, red onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. They’re right about this salad serving two people if you order the half size. If you don’t eat many vegetables, I would even say it serves three. A healthy salad with your choice of dressing. Very fresh vegetables – delicious. Half (serves 1-2) $6.95/ Full (serves 3-4) $11.95
- Amici's Combo Pizza - Pepperoni, meatball, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and black olives top this thin crust pizza. The first bite was a little bland, but as I started taking additional bites, the flavors married in my mouth and the bacon really started to distinguish itself. Some may find it a little on the greasy side, but I would only say it’s average compared to its competitors in terms of amount of grease on the pizza. The flavors are great, but next time, I might try one of their other many combos or design my own. Good. ($9.55/$14.55/$19.35/$22.95)
Iced Tea – It’s a bottomless iced tea which is actually brewed – it doesn’t taste watered down at all.
Some of the other combo pizzas that caught my eye include the Greek Isle pizza and the Calabria which contains pancetta (yum!). They also offer pesto pizza and clam pizza too.
One of the best points about our waitress was her service. She came back to check on us with the salad, the pizza, and was constantly refilling water and iced tea. When you contrast this visit with others in terms of service, you definitely notice the professionalism of Amici’s staff, or at least, of my server. When you leave, satisfied by the meal and the service, you also get a mint. Great pizza and care for patrons. I brought home a few slices of pizza, and even my pizza was layered with parchment in between so as not to get the bottom layer soggy. That’s a sign of a restaurant who gives attention to detail. Good authentic East Coast pizza. Excellent.
If you ever get a chance to meet Pete, he’s a really really nice guy. Super humble – it’s no wonder his business has thrived!
Anokha - Indian, Novato
Best: Indian lunch buffet, Novato
811 Grant Ave, Novato CA 94945
(415) 892-3440
Parking: street parking
Hours: Buffet Lunch Mon - Sat 11:30am -2:30pm, Sunday lunch Noon - 3pm
Dinner Mon-Sat 5pm-9:30pm, Sun 5pm - 9pm
http://www.anokharestaurant.com/
Last Visited: January 28, 2011
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$
A member of the group of Indian restaurants owned in San Rafael, Lotus, and Fairfax, Lotus Cafe, Anokha is a welcome addition to the restaurants on Grant Avenue with a name that means unique or different. The same owner also owns Old Town Bistro next door to Anokha.
A sign in the window advertises their $8.95 lunch buffet available Monday through Saturday starting at 11:30am. Enter Anokha and you may feel like you've stepped into a different world. From the Indian music on the sound system to the mustard colored tablecloths, there is a certain warmth about the restaurant. I also really appreciated the spacious seating. A bench topped with long seat cushions line the window and one wall of the restaurant. While this somewhat affects the height of those seated compared to the table, it's only initially uncomfortable and certainly bearable throughout the meal. The Indian art on the wall features ladies in their saris.
So far, I've tried the lunch buffet a handful of times and each time, I've walked away stuffed with good food. Upon arriving, the staff immediately greeted and seated us. After settling down with drinks, we received some Naan cut into quarters and lightly oiled, served in a basket. The buffet corner is at first impression, quite small, but there are enough choices for both vegetarians and meat eaters. The plates are placed next to the hot food and then the adjacent wall contains cold items, sauces, and dessert. The best thing about the lunch buffet - if you arrive before noon, it doesn't take long to get food, and even with a crowd, it moves fairly quickly.
For those whom are unfamiliar with Indian fare, each of the items are clearly labeled. However, they are often labeled with their Indian name which may mean some translation after you've had a chance to look at the menu.
Here is a sampling of what I've tried so far:
- Vegetable Pakora - Cauliflower and an assortment of a few other vegetables are lightly breaded and fried. While some of my dining partners enjoyed this a lot, as a fan of tempura battering, I found it to be just okay.
- Vegetable Samosas – Fried pastry is stuffed with potatoes and peas. It looks like a little pyramid with its triangular shape. The dough was fried until deep brown. I prefer my samosas to have more stuffed inside them (meatier in texture). This one was only slightly filled. I liked the texture of the dough - crispy on the outside, but would have preferred more potatoes and peas.
- Bhindi Masala (Okra Curry) – Sliced okra is cooked with onion, tomatoes, ginger, and spices to create a warm curry. This dish was new to me. I think I would have enjoyed it a little chunkier, but good.
- Chicken Tikka Masala - Chicken breast chunks is cooked in a creamy red orange sauce. Great flavor. Good.
- Tandoori Chicken - During every visit, they have had tandoori chicken available. Drumsticks to drummettes are available along with onions and bell peppers cooked with the chicken. The meat is tender, and sometimes it's a little more salty than I prefer, but paired with rice, it's fine.
- Dal Makhni – Lentils are always one of the dishes available. The only drawback of the buffet is that you can't ask for it to come extra dry.
- Saag (Spinach) - Most times, Saag Paneer is available, so if you like paneer cheese, it's just what you would want. However, during this last visit, the paneer was absent. If you've never had it before, think creamed spinanch with Indian spices.
- Basmati Rice is always a buffet staple, present each time I have visited. On most occasions, they've also had brown rice as an option, but not during my most recent visit.
- Kheer – Cold rice pudding with nuts (I think they were almonds this time), cardamom, and saffron is one of the desserts always available. I love the flavor of this dessert.
- Gulab Jamun – Small round pastries made with milk are fried and served with hot honey syrup. Think of a donut hole, but denser, floating in a light sweet syrup. This is a great way to cleanse your palate after eating all of those wonderfully spicy dishes. Arriving for lunch earlier means a denser pastry while a later arrival usually means that the ball has expanded as the dough absorbs more of the liquid. Good thing I don't have regular access to this.
Fresh green salad, fresh fruit (watermelon and honeydew), raita (cold yogurt with vegetables), and a variety of sauces were also available between the hot dishes and dessert.
811 Grant Ave, Novato CA 94945
(415) 892-3440
Parking: street parking
Hours: Buffet Lunch Mon - Sat 11:30am -2:30pm, Sunday lunch Noon - 3pm
Dinner Mon-Sat 5pm-9:30pm, Sun 5pm - 9pm
http://www.anokharestaurant.com/
Last Visited: January 28, 2011
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$
A member of the group of Indian restaurants owned in San Rafael, Lotus, and Fairfax, Lotus Cafe, Anokha is a welcome addition to the restaurants on Grant Avenue with a name that means unique or different. The same owner also owns Old Town Bistro next door to Anokha.
A sign in the window advertises their $8.95 lunch buffet available Monday through Saturday starting at 11:30am. Enter Anokha and you may feel like you've stepped into a different world. From the Indian music on the sound system to the mustard colored tablecloths, there is a certain warmth about the restaurant. I also really appreciated the spacious seating. A bench topped with long seat cushions line the window and one wall of the restaurant. While this somewhat affects the height of those seated compared to the table, it's only initially uncomfortable and certainly bearable throughout the meal. The Indian art on the wall features ladies in their saris.
So far, I've tried the lunch buffet a handful of times and each time, I've walked away stuffed with good food. Upon arriving, the staff immediately greeted and seated us. After settling down with drinks, we received some Naan cut into quarters and lightly oiled, served in a basket. The buffet corner is at first impression, quite small, but there are enough choices for both vegetarians and meat eaters. The plates are placed next to the hot food and then the adjacent wall contains cold items, sauces, and dessert. The best thing about the lunch buffet - if you arrive before noon, it doesn't take long to get food, and even with a crowd, it moves fairly quickly.
For those whom are unfamiliar with Indian fare, each of the items are clearly labeled. However, they are often labeled with their Indian name which may mean some translation after you've had a chance to look at the menu.
Here is a sampling of what I've tried so far:
- Vegetable Pakora - Cauliflower and an assortment of a few other vegetables are lightly breaded and fried. While some of my dining partners enjoyed this a lot, as a fan of tempura battering, I found it to be just okay.
- Vegetable Samosas – Fried pastry is stuffed with potatoes and peas. It looks like a little pyramid with its triangular shape. The dough was fried until deep brown. I prefer my samosas to have more stuffed inside them (meatier in texture). This one was only slightly filled. I liked the texture of the dough - crispy on the outside, but would have preferred more potatoes and peas.
- Bhindi Masala (Okra Curry) – Sliced okra is cooked with onion, tomatoes, ginger, and spices to create a warm curry. This dish was new to me. I think I would have enjoyed it a little chunkier, but good.
- Chicken Tikka Masala - Chicken breast chunks is cooked in a creamy red orange sauce. Great flavor. Good.
- Tandoori Chicken - During every visit, they have had tandoori chicken available. Drumsticks to drummettes are available along with onions and bell peppers cooked with the chicken. The meat is tender, and sometimes it's a little more salty than I prefer, but paired with rice, it's fine.
- Dal Makhni – Lentils are always one of the dishes available. The only drawback of the buffet is that you can't ask for it to come extra dry.
- Saag (Spinach) - Most times, Saag Paneer is available, so if you like paneer cheese, it's just what you would want. However, during this last visit, the paneer was absent. If you've never had it before, think creamed spinanch with Indian spices.
- Basmati Rice is always a buffet staple, present each time I have visited. On most occasions, they've also had brown rice as an option, but not during my most recent visit.
- Kheer – Cold rice pudding with nuts (I think they were almonds this time), cardamom, and saffron is one of the desserts always available. I love the flavor of this dessert.
- Gulab Jamun – Small round pastries made with milk are fried and served with hot honey syrup. Think of a donut hole, but denser, floating in a light sweet syrup. This is a great way to cleanse your palate after eating all of those wonderfully spicy dishes. Arriving for lunch earlier means a denser pastry while a later arrival usually means that the ball has expanded as the dough absorbs more of the liquid. Good thing I don't have regular access to this.
Fresh green salad, fresh fruit (watermelon and honeydew), raita (cold yogurt with vegetables), and a variety of sauces were also available between the hot dishes and dessert.
This is a great place for a quick and reasonable lunch. I also like that they vary some of their offerings so you don't grow bored and are able to try new dishes in a low risk situation. There is always more available. The staff is friendly and frequently come by to clear plates, refill drinks and water, and the like. I enjoy the great flavors and the adventure the buffet offers. Definitely one of my favorites for lunch in Novato - fast, easy, and pleasant setting.
Mi Pueblo - Mexican, Petaluma & Novato
800 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 762-8192
905 Grant Ave., Novato, CA
(415) 878-0122
Parking: Lot adjacent to restaurant
Last Visited: December 13, 2010 (Prices below listed for December 23, 2004)
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
2010 Comments: The food is just as good as I remember it. I got a chicken enchilada combo which came with rice and beans for $7.15. It's still a wonderful place to get chicken enchiladas...mmm mmm good.
After the visit in November, I enjoyed it so much that I went back one more time. I ordered a combination of (of course) a chicken enchilada and added a carnitas tostada to it.
What came to my table was huge. This plate has the diameter of a party platter!
For less than $9, I got this huge dish of goodness and I was certainly full for lunch. The tostada ingredients were super fresh, and everything else just as delicious as always.
---------
This restaurant is definitely family style. It’s got booths on one side (at least in Petaluma) with tables on the other side of the divider along with an open salsa bar. The walls are a bright yellow with hints of orange swirls on the wall adjacent to the booths. Plates with different Mexican themes decorate the walls. The floor is white/gray tile.
The coolers are filled with lemonade, horchata, and Jamaica, a hibiscus drink (I like the hibiscus one the best). The owner is friendly and the waitresses give you menus and let you find your own seat. Very casual. The food is excellent. My mom says that there are more ‘relatives’ than there are locals. What does that mean? There are more Mexican people than there are any other people, and that’s a good thing. It means the food is good and good enough for even the most distinguished of Mexican food connoisseurs.
Tortilla chips arrive at the table with medium salsa. If the owner notices it’s too spicy for you, he’ll come by your table and ask if you want him to whip up a batch of mild salsa. He’s service-oriented, observant, and a great host.
- Enchilada – The shredded chicken ones are perfect. They are piping hot out of the oven, melt in your mouth, and are oh-so-delicious. I couldn’t ask for more – shredded chicken wrapped in a tortilla and made to perfection with a delicious enchilada sauce and melted cheese on top. If you get nothing else, get a chicken enchilada. You can choose from any type of meat; the shredded beef ones are good, but the chicken ones can’t be missed. $3.25
- Mojarra Frita/Deep-fried Whole Fish – Tilapia (with head and all) is fried in a lightly seasoned batter. Served with rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas. The flavor is good – not overwhelming the fish. I’ve had a similar fish dishes, baked, for triple the price, and they don’t even compare. This is worth getting even if you’re not a big fish fan, but note that the fish comes whole – bones and all. $10.95
- Taquitos – Again, choice of meat. We tried them with pork. These were served on a bed of lettuce. A little on the dry side, but they come with homemade guacamole that’s delicious. Plenty of meat – Mi Pueblo doesn’t skimp, but we got them once and haven’t tried to get this dish again.
- Carne Asada Steak – served with rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas. The steak is flavorful and tender. This dish is also a winner. Simply put – tastes great. What more do you need to know? $10.95
- Super Nachos – Lots of chips with the works – sour cream, guacamole, melted cheese, refried beans. Also available with choice of meat for $1-2 more. They’re good, but they’re not like the enchiladas.
- Albondigas Soup/ Meatball Soup – Six large meatballs served in a broth-like soup. The meatballs are delicious and the bowl of soup is huge. The soup also has tomatoes and potatoes. It’s flavorful and enough for two people, possibly three people.
- Tortilla Soup – Much the same base as the albondigas soup (tomatoes, potatoes, carrots), large strips of crisp tortilla are placed in the soup. Chunks of avocado are placed on top for added garnish and flavor. Very good. The tortilla strips add a lot of texture to the soup. Very flavorful and again, a large portion that could easily serve two people.
- Tacos – Comes with choice of meat and choice of soft or hard shell. We got steak soft tacos the first time and carnitas another time. Served with fresh lime - when added to the taco, the lime juice really brings out the flavor of the spices. These are good, but again, not like the enchiladas. Better tacos can be found elsewhere, but they are hot, so that’s a plus point.
- Menudo Soup/Tripe Soup – Same soup base as the Albondigas Soup, but the main ingredient is tender tripe. I’m not a big fan of tripe served this way, but if you like tripe, you might enjoy this soup more than the Albondigas one. $6.95
- Quesadilla – Choice of meat. A large tortilla is grilled with jack cheese and in this case, chicken. The quesadilla is served with guacamole on the side. Another healthy portion and as usual, very good. $4.50
- Taco Salad - It's similar ingredients to the other items you find on the menu. It's a great mix of freshness and flavor. The tostada shell is light and crisp. Great portions as usual. $6
- Agua frescas: Jamaica and Horchata available. Good sized glass and great flavor. Sometimes you’ll even get lime agua frescas which are very refreshing.$1.25
Note: Our only bad experience was an overcooked Mojarra Frita – that’s happened once out of the three times we’ve gotten it, so the record is still pretty good. Tortillas may cost extra – we’re never quite sure since the price is so reasonable, we haven’t paid that much attention. Most items are available a la carte or as full entrees. Their Novato operation is reminiscent of a Taco Bell setting in atmosphere, but the food is still high quality. They also have televisions at this location, usually broadcasting soccer. I like the atmosphere of the Petaluma branch more for its friendliness giving it a warm and familiar feel. The owner really does a great job of keeping an eye on everything and everyone and his attitude is excellent. All the food at both locations is also available for take out.
(707) 762-8192
905 Grant Ave., Novato, CA
(415) 878-0122
Parking: Lot adjacent to restaurant
Last Visited: December 13, 2010 (Prices below listed for December 23, 2004)
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
2010 Comments: The food is just as good as I remember it. I got a chicken enchilada combo which came with rice and beans for $7.15. It's still a wonderful place to get chicken enchiladas...mmm mmm good.After the visit in November, I enjoyed it so much that I went back one more time. I ordered a combination of (of course) a chicken enchilada and added a carnitas tostada to it.
What came to my table was huge. This plate has the diameter of a party platter!For less than $9, I got this huge dish of goodness and I was certainly full for lunch. The tostada ingredients were super fresh, and everything else just as delicious as always.
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This restaurant is definitely family style. It’s got booths on one side (at least in Petaluma) with tables on the other side of the divider along with an open salsa bar. The walls are a bright yellow with hints of orange swirls on the wall adjacent to the booths. Plates with different Mexican themes decorate the walls. The floor is white/gray tile.
The coolers are filled with lemonade, horchata, and Jamaica, a hibiscus drink (I like the hibiscus one the best). The owner is friendly and the waitresses give you menus and let you find your own seat. Very casual. The food is excellent. My mom says that there are more ‘relatives’ than there are locals. What does that mean? There are more Mexican people than there are any other people, and that’s a good thing. It means the food is good and good enough for even the most distinguished of Mexican food connoisseurs.
Tortilla chips arrive at the table with medium salsa. If the owner notices it’s too spicy for you, he’ll come by your table and ask if you want him to whip up a batch of mild salsa. He’s service-oriented, observant, and a great host.
- Enchilada – The shredded chicken ones are perfect. They are piping hot out of the oven, melt in your mouth, and are oh-so-delicious. I couldn’t ask for more – shredded chicken wrapped in a tortilla and made to perfection with a delicious enchilada sauce and melted cheese on top. If you get nothing else, get a chicken enchilada. You can choose from any type of meat; the shredded beef ones are good, but the chicken ones can’t be missed. $3.25
- Mojarra Frita/Deep-fried Whole Fish – Tilapia (with head and all) is fried in a lightly seasoned batter. Served with rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas. The flavor is good – not overwhelming the fish. I’ve had a similar fish dishes, baked, for triple the price, and they don’t even compare. This is worth getting even if you’re not a big fish fan, but note that the fish comes whole – bones and all. $10.95
- Taquitos – Again, choice of meat. We tried them with pork. These were served on a bed of lettuce. A little on the dry side, but they come with homemade guacamole that’s delicious. Plenty of meat – Mi Pueblo doesn’t skimp, but we got them once and haven’t tried to get this dish again.
- Carne Asada Steak – served with rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas. The steak is flavorful and tender. This dish is also a winner. Simply put – tastes great. What more do you need to know? $10.95
- Super Nachos – Lots of chips with the works – sour cream, guacamole, melted cheese, refried beans. Also available with choice of meat for $1-2 more. They’re good, but they’re not like the enchiladas.
- Albondigas Soup/ Meatball Soup – Six large meatballs served in a broth-like soup. The meatballs are delicious and the bowl of soup is huge. The soup also has tomatoes and potatoes. It’s flavorful and enough for two people, possibly three people.
- Tortilla Soup – Much the same base as the albondigas soup (tomatoes, potatoes, carrots), large strips of crisp tortilla are placed in the soup. Chunks of avocado are placed on top for added garnish and flavor. Very good. The tortilla strips add a lot of texture to the soup. Very flavorful and again, a large portion that could easily serve two people.
- Tacos – Comes with choice of meat and choice of soft or hard shell. We got steak soft tacos the first time and carnitas another time. Served with fresh lime - when added to the taco, the lime juice really brings out the flavor of the spices. These are good, but again, not like the enchiladas. Better tacos can be found elsewhere, but they are hot, so that’s a plus point.
- Menudo Soup/Tripe Soup – Same soup base as the Albondigas Soup, but the main ingredient is tender tripe. I’m not a big fan of tripe served this way, but if you like tripe, you might enjoy this soup more than the Albondigas one. $6.95
- Quesadilla – Choice of meat. A large tortilla is grilled with jack cheese and in this case, chicken. The quesadilla is served with guacamole on the side. Another healthy portion and as usual, very good. $4.50
- Taco Salad - It's similar ingredients to the other items you find on the menu. It's a great mix of freshness and flavor. The tostada shell is light and crisp. Great portions as usual. $6
- Agua frescas: Jamaica and Horchata available. Good sized glass and great flavor. Sometimes you’ll even get lime agua frescas which are very refreshing.$1.25
Note: Our only bad experience was an overcooked Mojarra Frita – that’s happened once out of the three times we’ve gotten it, so the record is still pretty good. Tortillas may cost extra – we’re never quite sure since the price is so reasonable, we haven’t paid that much attention. Most items are available a la carte or as full entrees. Their Novato operation is reminiscent of a Taco Bell setting in atmosphere, but the food is still high quality. They also have televisions at this location, usually broadcasting soccer. I like the atmosphere of the Petaluma branch more for its friendliness giving it a warm and familiar feel. The owner really does a great job of keeping an eye on everything and everyone and his attitude is excellent. All the food at both locations is also available for take out.
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