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. 

Tastebuds - Filipino, San Bruno

582 San Bruno Ave West, San Bruno CA 94066
650-583-0899
Parking: small parking lot and street parking
http://tastebudscuisine.com/

Last Visited: February 11, 2017

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

Heidi recommended Tastebuds as a good place to try.  Since she's from the Philippines, I figured she would know what she's talking about, and since I drive by this place regularly, that was enough of an endorsement that I didn't think twice.

Since I came for Sunday lunch, I just missed the brunch buffet located along the wall in nice chafing dishes, but what caught my eye was all of the twinkling ceiling lights when it wasn't even Christmas time which resulted in a bright restaurant.  White tablecloths are covered by a glass tabletop and the inside looks a little nicer than the outside. 

- Pancit Miki-Bihon - Heidi recommended this dish.  Similar to other Cantonese style noodles, this dish had a variety of vegetables like celery, cabbage, and green onion.  It also had shrimp which was quite nicely done - not overcooked at all.  Unique to Filipino cuisine, it's a mix of rice noodles and egg noodles giving an interesting texture difference.  The flavors were comforting and authentic, but there was too much sauce making the rice noodles fall apart as soon as we scooped servings onto our plates.  Good flavor, but too much moisture.   $12.75

- Lechon Kawali - Tastebuds claims that it's the best lechon in the Bay Area, so of course that's a dish I had to try.  The roasted pork is cut and then deep fried resulting in a crunchy texture.  Fat has rendered from the multi-step process so each bite was very moist and tender. It can get dry if there's no fat in the cut, but overall, it was good. In case you need to purchase lechon by itself, Tastebuds also offers it in bulk up to 70 pounds.  $13.25

- Pinakbet - I had never tried this dish, but it's essentially mixed vegetables cooked with a sauce.  The vegetables included green beans, tomatoes, eggplant, okra, and bitter melon.  Good.  What I liked most aside from the variety was that the temperature is right - piping hot.  $13

- Steamed Rice - $1.95

Service was friendly, but it was hard to get their attention at times.  We had to ask for them to take our order as well as request more water mid-meal, but the actual interactions were always friendly and they also checked on us after the dishes were served.  Serving sizes are ok - not large, but not small.  While it was a good tasting meal, I still see room for improvement with the noodles.  Good flavors overall.

Marugame Udon - Japanese, San Francisco

3521 20th Ave, Space 184 (Stonestown Galleria)
San Francisco A 94132
(415) 680-1280
Parking: shopping center parking lot
Hours: Daily 11am-10pm
http://www.marugameudon.com

Last Visited: February 17, 2018

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

This hot spot had a soft opening late 2017 and grand opening in mid-January 2018.  The lines are pretty long as San Francisco flocks towards another trendy chain opening up.  Their other location is in Los Angeles.

If you've been to Marukame Udon in Waikiki, you'll recognize the setup at Marugame - cafeteria style ordering with a tray and watch your udon be assembled. Behind the assembly line, you can see someone preparing the dough and cutting noodles.  In the assembly line, you can see noodles being cooked, rinsed, and plated.  One can order from about ten varieties - some with and some without meat.  Choices include hot and cold noodles, spicy or curry or their house Kake sauce, and chicken or beef.

Then proceed to the tempura section where you can select vegetable tempura (zucchini, sweet potato, eggplant, potato, asparagus, veggie kakiage) or meat tempura (shrimp, fish, fish cake, chicken, squid). Lastly, there are few flavors of musubi to choose from.  Once your purchase is made, there is a side station for adding green onions, chopped cilantro, ground sesame, tempura flakes, and additional spices.  At this station, you'll also find more dashi, sweet tempura sauce, and regular tempura sauce.

Pro Tip - There are actually two sections of the line separated by a space to created a walkway for shopping center visitors.  The line starts as early as 10:20am.  If you come by 10:30 am, you'll likely be in the first seating.

- Nikutama Udon - Sweet flavored beef (a mixture of thinly sliced beef and caramelized onions) as well as a soft-boiled egg top the udon.  Kake sauce is poured on top.  What worked: the udon - it's chewy and fresh.  The beef also tastes really juicy, but don't be surprised that it's due to the quantity of fat.  What didn't work - the broth.  When you watch them assemble the udon, you'll notice that only half of the bowl is dipped in the hot water, so it's not uniformly hot.  The kake sauce is not quite hot enough and it doesn't even top the noodles, so the whole bowl turns room temperature pretty fast.  The broth makes the dish, and since it was lacking, it made it pretty disappointing - hence the two stars.  $8.50 Regular, $9.50 Large

- Tempura Shrimp - Pretty standard.  No complaints. $1.90

- Tempura Fish - This isn't showing on their menu, but is available.  Good. $2

- Tempura Fishcake - Not my favorite as it just seems to be filling and more chewy than tender.  Part of my fishcake was also not thoroughly cooked through as the batter was too thick and the flour was still present in its powdery form.  Avoid. $1.70

- Potato Croquette - This is essentially a mashed potato patty.  If you love potatoes, go for it.  Otherwise, it's more filler.  At least the outside has a good texture.  $2.20

- Salmon Flake Musubi - Not a whole lot of salmon, the price is reflective of what you can expect - more for show, the salmon is well salted, but you might be better off going to an onigiri shop. $1.60

It's easy to order too many pieces of tempura because it's so accessible - just take the tongs and go, but I would suggest two to three pieces maximum unless you've got a huge appetite.  It's quite filling.

I was hoping for a nostalgic experience that would remind me of Hawaii's Marukame and how amazing that experience was, but instead, I left disappointed wanting a hot bowl of soup that would warm me up.  If they don't fix this soon, their reviews on well-known apps will continue to have a mix of praise and those describing people getting sick from the food.  So much potential, and yet they have a ways to go to fulfill it.