Lotus - Indian, San Rafael

704 Fourth St, San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 465-5808
Parking: street parking
Hours: Buffet Lunch – Mon to Sat 11:30am to 2:30 pm, Dinner – Mon to Sat 5pm to 9:30pm, Sun 5pm to 9pm
http://www.lotusrestaurant.com/

Last Visited: June 11, 2006

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

Lotus is located in the heart of downtown San Rafael. After coming off the freeway and onto Fourth Street, it’s one of the first restaurants you’ll see. The beautiful decorative door is eye catching as you walk up to the restaurant. You might also pass by the Lotus home furnishings store just a few doors down. Gautum recommended this place, so it’s officially Indian approved for authenticity and flavor.

Walk into Lotus through the waiting area and you’ll see the bar. We were promptly greeted and brought to our table which was alongside the bench seating against one wall. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with colorful and brilliant Indian wall hangings and statues including gold elephants, gold vases, and large statues of women in a prayer position. On the right side of the restaurant is the buffet table (which is not in use during dinner). The tables are spaciously placed and covered with pink tablecloths. The dishes are all printed with a pink and green flower pattern. The light yellow columns softly stand out amidst the white and pink in the room. A peek at their very professional website will show you what they’re all about. The best part of the atmosphere was the skylight, which they opened up so that the blue sky could be seen and if you desired, you could watch the clouds float by. It was perfect for our summer evening visit.

As we were seated, we were brought menus and our tealight candle was lit using a match. Our server promptly filled our glasses with ice water.

- Vegetable Samosas – Two samosas, triangular shaped pastry, are stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas and served with two sauces – one tamarind and one mint. The pastry is deep fried until golden brown and crispy. This is a healthy serving. One person per samosa is perfect for an appetizer, or one person can eat both samosas for a hearty meal. The spices are strong, but can be tempered with the sweet red tamarind sauce or by the cool mint sauce. Very good. $4.50

- Chicken Biriyani – The chicken biriyani is comprised of Basmati rice cooked with zucchini, carrots, green beans, green peas, cashews, golden raisins, and spices. The menu states that cauliflower is in the mix, but today, it was broccoli. The ingredients are combined for a strongly flavored combination of spices and vegetables. All of the meat is dark meat, which is perfect for me. It was served with raita, a homemade yogurt with spices and fresh cucumber shreds. The raita cools down the spices for a nice balance. I would liken it to chicken fried rice, but in a smaller portion and more intense flavors. Good. $13.95

- Rogan Josh – I wanted to select a lamb dish and asked the waiter for a suggestion. Rogan Josh is lamb cooked until tender in a spicy curry sauce. The dish itself is small, but it’s packed with flavor. The lamb was perfectly done until fork tender and infused with the flavor of the curry packed into each bite. Very good. $13.45

- Naan – This flatbread is available stuffed, but we selected it plain. Warm and served in a bread basket, it’s a nice accompaniment to the dishes above or any full flavored dish. $2.50

The environment is nice and the level of service and professionalism is superb. The only area of improvement for service is to have the general waitstaff smile – in general, they all looked very serious. When we left, the staff thanked us – a nice touch, as the farewell greeting at restaurant seems to have disappeared with so many other things. Lotus is a great place for authentic and delicious cuisine, and even better when you can watch the sky as you dine under the stars.

Boca Pizzeria - Novato

454 Ignacio Blvd, Novato CA 94949
(415) 883-2302
Parking: in shopping center
http://bocapizzeria.com/

Last Visited: September 22, 2010

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

Boca Pizzeria is opened up by the same owners as Boca (the steakhouse) in Novato.  While their pizzas are done Neapolitan style and certified by “Verace Pizza Napolitana, ” I found the pizza to be just okay.  According to their webiste, each pizza is cooked for no more than two minutes in a 900 degree Italian wood burning oven.  Also, the flour is double milled 00 Caputo flour; the sauce is made from San Marzano tomatoes imported from Italy, and the mozzarella cheese is house made daily.

Maybe I didn't order something simple enough, but since I've been going to a number of pizzerias in San Francisco and around the Bay Area, in comparison to those, I found Boca's to be good, but not wow enough that I've started taking people there.  That's probably my best gage on food at a restaurant - if I start telling my friends and coworkers and inviting them to go with me, that's how you know they're spectactular places.

The dining area is open with lots of light from the large windows.  The kitchen is open too and you can watch the hustle and bustle, or on a nice day, you can enjoy outdoor seating on the patio.

So far, I've been to Boca Pizzeria twice.  While I don't avoid going there, I haven't found it stellar enough to make more visits.  The open kitchen and high ceilings create a comfortable and open atmosphere.  Outside seating also provides options for those whom enjoy the sun.

- Anson Mills Soft Organic Polenta - Mushroom, Thyme, Balsamic Reduction - The polenta was okay with a creamy texture and nice balsamic reduction. Since it's presented on a plate without anything to really eat it with, it's kind of like sharing a pudding.  It's difficult to share and would be better as a side dish rather than starter - interestingly, the location on the menu actually seemed to make a difference in this case.  I also thought it was a little pricier than it should have been considering the portion.  $7.95

- Prosciutto de Parma Pizza - Prosciutto, arugula, San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella top a thin crust pizza.  The flavors were fresh and very Californian in flavor, but not your authentic Italian style pizza.  While that wasn't a bad thing, the combination of ingredients didn't have a wow factor.  Just okay. $14.50

- Farmers Pizza - Pancetta, Yukon gold potatoes, burrata cheese, and egg top a pizza.  I expected the egg to be cooked on the pizza, but instead, it appeared to be an egg that was fried and placed on top of a pizza.  It didn't seem incorporated until I broke the yolk.  The pizza seemed slightly overcooked as some of the cheese had dried a bit or had been sliced too thin.  Another just okay pizza.  $13.95

I found service to be just alright as well.  During my first visit, while she was polite, the server paid more attention to my dining companion and pretty much spoke with him throughout the meal.  During my second visit, the server was more even in speaking with each of us, but I didn't have a particularly memorable experience either way, so I've given them three stars for now.

Boca Pizzeria serves up decent pizza and is good for a change of pace compared to local Novato fare, offering California style pizza creations.  They're also opening a new location in Corte Madera at The Village.

Ristorante La Toscana - Italian, San Rafael

3751 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael CA 94903
(415) 492-9100
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 10pm, Sun 11am to 9:30pm
http://www.ristorantelatoscana.com/

Last Visited: August 13, 2006

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

Enter Ristorante La Toscana and you’ll find the bar to your immediate left and the dining room to your right. It’s a bit dark inside the foyer, but it reminds me of classic Italian restaurants. The restaurant is known for its classic Tuscan style dinners and has been around since 1985. For many years, I heard that they serve good food, but I hadn’t actually had the chance to try it until now.

The main dining area is separated by a wood wait station. The walls are sponged in light orange and cream and the floors are carpeted with a dark flowered carpet. The ceiling is high and there is a skylight. The chandeliers are rather old in style, but I suppose it adds to the feeling of classic Italian dining – you could say it takes you back about a decade or two ago. The tables are covered with white tablecloths and large white paper sits under each place setting. You can tell that the place is a bit on the older side. There are large plants placed around the edges of the room. The chairs are somewhat old looking with the rose colored plastic seat and wood back. However, it still has a charm about it.

The staff primarily consisted of the owner who hosted this evening, a middle aged male server, and many young women, all appropriately dressed in black with the exception of the young lady hostess.

The menu consists of very classic Italian dishes – pasta, veal, prime rib, rack of lamb. The dishes are fairly priced, and quite a bargain when you see the portions. Looking around, I noticed that during this dinner service, most of the patrons were fairly senior. There were few tables of younger people – whether adults or children.

- Minestrone Soup – The minestrone contained vegetables in a tomato based soup, but the soup had an almost creamy color. There were pieces of zucchini, kidney beans, bacon, and much more. It was a hearty and rich bowl of soup that is sure to fill your stomach. Very good. Cup $4, Bowl $5.50

- Gnocchi della Casa with choice of sauce – These house made gnocchi were delicious. Fluffy pillows indeed. I selected Bolognese sauce - the meat was tender and the tomatoes had cooked down until thick. They use lots of herbs in this sauce, so I did find myself picking some larger pieces of herbs out, but overall, it was delicious. The portion is quite generous, or perhaps it’s just very filling. Other sauces available include tomato and basil, pesto, and panna. Parmesan cheese was served on the side and available for me to add. See additional comments below. $12

- Rack of Lamb – Four bones worth of lamb are served in a creamy brown sauce with Swiss chard on the side and also a side of potato wedges that were baked. The potato wedges, skin still on them, were delicious – crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Very yummy. The Swiss chard was cooked until tender and lightly seasoned. The cream sauce for the lamb was flavored just right, and the lamb was truly cooked to medium – pink in the middle. I was quite impressed. Very good. They also offer this dish for two at double the price. I don’t know why that’s offered, but maybe that would be a good question to ask next time. $22

The only thing about my food that was surprising was the gnocchi leftovers. Although they made for a terrific meal the following day, I was disappointed to find a piece of metal from the scrubber used to clean pans and pots. Fortunately, I had detected it in my mouth since I was on alert detecting those large herb pieces. I called Ristorante La Toscana and told them of my finding, and they assured me they would change out all of the scrubbers. He mentioned that I could tell the maitre d’ the next time I came in and they would treat me to dinner. However, he didn’t take down my name or anything like that.
Overall, I had a good dining experience. I would say the service was a little odd though. With the results of my calling to alert them of the scrubber, as well as the actual service received, I dropped the four star service rating down to three. During my actual visit, the service was good right until we had finished the meal. Then it seemed as though we waited for ten minutes before the bus person came to clear our table. Another ten minutes floated by as we waited for our server to come back with the check. This pretty much put a damper to the service part of the experience, but by watching what was happening at the tables around me, I leave their service at three stars. One table was unhappy about something and was given a free cup of soup. Another table had received their check when one of the guests decided to have coffee, and the server was kind enough to take the check back and redo it. Both of these responses led to holding their service rating to three stars. Unfortunately, the thing that also dropped the rating was the lack of being genuine when it comes to sincerity. l just didn’t feel that our server was being real. The falseness behind her general style of service was so high that you could feel it – and that just isn’t good.

Try out La Toscana for good classic Italian food. Keep an eye on the food itself and look forward to large quantities.

Battle: Puerto Rican, North Bay

Sol Food, San Rafael vs. El Coqui, Santa Rosa

While there is no affiliation and no known rivalry between the two restaurants, those of us in the North Bay have noticed that the patrons are the ones that have started to compare these two Puerto Rican restaurants and size them up against one another.  Here's the rub.

Address	732 4th St, San Rafael	400 Mendocino Street, Santa Rosa
Phone	(415) 451-4765	(707) 542-8868
Website	http://www.solfoodrestaurant.com/	http://www.elcoqui2eat.com/
Food	Puerto Rican	Puerto Rican
Atmosphere	Brightly colored walls and menus, communal tables, Puerto Rican music, order as you enter the restaurant and place your order number on the table. Great for take-out	Bar with televisions, Puerto Rican music, table service, spacious, good for bringing guests and  leisurely meals.  Also good for soccer games.
Service	Good. Friendly. Efficient.	Good. Friendly.  Table-side. Relaxed.
Price	$ to $$$	$$ - $$$ (slightly higher than the competition)

Both places offer really authentic and fun Puerto Rican food.  Staff are friendly.  If I could combine the best of both restaurants, I would take the bread and salad from Sol Food and incorporate it with the juicy bisteca (steak) and salsa from El Coqui. 

Rustic Bakery - Cafe, Novato

1407 Grant Ave, Novato CA

(415) 878-4952

Parking: street parking
Hours: Daily 7 am - 5pm
http://www.rusticbakery.com/ 

Last Visited: April 8, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 2 to 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

A local bakery with great pastries and great bread.  Isn't that what everyone longs for near their house?  Drop by for a snack or leisurely, but simple, weekend breakfast?  That's what I was looking for here.  When you walk into Rustic, you'll see the counter on the left with a case featuring lots of pastries, seating on your right and adjacent to the window in front of the counter, and the kitchen in the rear has a window so you can see what is being done in the back (the photo above shows the window to the kitchen). Some fresh flowers are in vases throughout the room.

Two young ladies were behind the counter and while they were not rude, they weren't particularly warm either.  After ordering at the counter, I sat at one of the tables on the right.  Although my friend had ordered first, my sandwich and soup came first.  These are some of the pet peeves that I have - unless they tell you ahead of time that your order will take a long time, it should come in a reasonable amount of time - I don't know why my panini took 15 minutes to make since they weren't that busy.  The second pet peeve is that the food should be served in the order that it was ordered in.  In this case, my friend had a grilled cheese, but mine still came first.  For these reasons, service falls from three stars down to two to three stars.

- Ham and Cheese Sandwich with Soup - Today's soup was minestrone.  I was pleased with the heartiness of the soup.  There was a lot of carrots, onions, some tomato, and small macaroni.  The croutons were very good (but you do expect that at a bakery) and the soup temperature was hot.  The grilled cheese and ham sandwich was very good - probably because the bread was outstanding and the thin slices of ham gave it all a wonderful texture. Good flavors and good quality ingredients.  $8.95

When my plate came, they forgot to give me a spoon for the sopu, and while it's unclear whether or not silverware is self-serve here, they had run out of spoons and I had to wait for them to wash some spoons before getting one.  That only added to the wait time.  After another three to five minutes, my dining companion got her food too. 

While the sandwich and soup were good, the service has a lot of room for improvement.  Hopefully they have worked through the kinks since my visit - they were still fairly new at the time.  Otherwise, their dine-in orders will probably drop a bit.

Sol Food - Puerto Rican, San Rafael

Best: Flat-pressed sandwich - Veggie especially

732 4th St, San Rafael CA 94901

(415) 451-4765

901 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 256-8900
Parking: street parking

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10pm

http://www.solfoodrestaurant.com/

Last Visited: March 12, 2011

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

So the story on Sol Food is that it started out as a stand at the San Rafael farmer’s market. Sol Hernandez then took over the little gas station on Fourth Street and once that became packed, they opened yet another location (that’s right, they didn’t close the first, but opened another one) in the now lime-green building that you can see from the freeway on Lincoln Avenue. During my last visit in March 2011, they had taken over the building kitty-corner from their Lincoln location so that they could have an eating area during the remodeling of the green building. The changes being made are quite enormous. Next to the green building is now a storefront that lets you order and has a small amount of seating. Known as the Bodega, it’s quite reminiscent of the gas station location, but larger. In any case, they’re expanding and Sol Food looks like it’s going to be here to stay in the area for some time.

From the green plantains that hold down the napkins to the brightly colored half sheet menus and walls to the old pictures of family in Puerto Rico which doubles as the order numbers for locating customers, there is nothing normal about Sol Food. Everything they do has their twist on it, including their amazing food. Now that they’ve been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, they’re even busier than they were before. The menu has a lot of familiar items – pork chops, chicken, salads, and beans, but the flavor combinations have hints of Africa, Spain, and Puerto Rico of course, that bring these common ingredients to life. Something about it is addicting and wonderful.

Fred, a chef, suggested I try Sol Food for one of the best veggie sandwiches he has ever had.  With that kind of recommendation, of course, I had to go try it. That was back in 2006.  Since then, I have enjoyed a number of their dishes and keep going back for more.

- Bistec Encebollado Combination Plate– Two thin slices of steak are sautéed with onions and placed on top of a plate containing salad on the side and your choice of black or pink beans on top of rice. It also comes with two pieces of tostones (garlic fried plantains) or maduros (sweet fried plantains) – your choice. I selected the maduros because I find the tostones a bit too dry for my tastes. This is a huge platter of food. The salad of mixed greens is lightly dressed with their lemon garlic dressing giving very tangy flavor that brightens up the salad and prepares your appetite for more. The onions are sautéed until they are super sweet and the beef, though thin, is very juicy. The beans are cooked with Spanish olives giving them a nice saltiness and they are placed on top of the rice. It’s a hearty meal. On top of that, the maduros are a great sweet treat after or during the meal. Delicious and worth the price. Small $8.95/ Large $11.95

- Veggie Deluxe – This is the sandwich that Fred suggested, and I would agree that it’s quite a treat. The sandwich contains sweet roasted red peppers, sautéed onions, organic greens (dressed in that yummy lemon garlic dressing), tomato, avocado, and swiss cheese. All are placed in a French roll that is slathered with cilantro-lime mayonnaise. Since the sandwich is flat pressed, you get a warm sandwich with a crispy outside and tender insides. It will make your tastebuds twirl. Very good. $8.50

- Bistec Sandwich – Somewhat of a combination of the two items of above, this is a flat-pressed sandwich containing thin slices of steak with sautéed onions, avocado, swiss cheese, and garlic mayonnaise. This is super delicious and one of the most popular items on the menu. Another very good item. $8.95

- Chuletas Fritas Combination Plate – All natural pork (wheat free) are cut thin and pan fried until golden and a little crispy. Served with rice, pink or black beans, organic salad, fried plantains, and pickled pink onions. Like the bistec combination, you get a lot of food. A small is one pork chop on the bone or you can get the large which is two pork chops. The pickled onions balance the pork chops really well and in combination with the other items, you don’t find the meat to be dry. This is another favorite amongst the items I regularly order. Small $8.95/Large $11.95

A small organic salad is available with the sandwiches for $1.50 more and you can have a small rice and beans for $2.50 more. Prices have gone up about two dollars per item since they first opened, but you can still pick up lunch for under $10 without a drink.

So what could be improved? My dining companion asked for some hot water, and they must have made it especially for her. So what’s wrong with that? It came in a cup with many chips on the cup. Not just one, but this coral colored cup was littered with chips all along the rim. The cups definitely need to be changed out. Sometimes they are so incredibly busy, that you may feel rushed, but come prepared knowing that there is a lot of hustle and bustle and you'll be fine.

They have great eats with hearty portions and excellent flavor. Breakfast is also served all day and delivery is available in San Rafael. Communal tables can sometimes get a little cramped, and depending on how busy the place is, the noise level can abe a bit high, but I have enjoyed my food experiences here a lot and will definitely be back for their unique flavors.

Southern Pacific Smokehouse – BBQ, Novato

224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945

(415) 899-9600
Parking: shopping center parking lot
http://thesouthernpacific.com/

Last Visited: May 5, 2011

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 4 to 5 stars

Service: 2 to 3 stars

Price: $$ to $$$$

Located in the Vintage Oaks shopping center, Southern Pacific Smokehouse is the result of a partnership between Philip Claypool, country western singer, and former Plumpjack Group CEO, Rick Riess. The place had been open about a week when I visited and you could still see some of the kinks being worked out. The restaurant’s style is reminiscent of a lounge, but it doesn’t have a pretentious feel. The remodeled jewelry store is now filled with dark wood, mirrors, a comfortable bar, an open kitchen including a pizza oven from Italy, and a dedicated lounge for musical acts. One can appreciate the expense spent to give the place a whole new look. A few of my dining companions said it was easily one of the best looking places in Novato.

While it’s only been open a short time, Southern Pacific is already getting involved in local activities including hosting a fundraiser for Novato Youth. They have also scheduled a number of bands, both local and more famous musical acts. Their vision is ‘to provide guests with an approachable dining experience.’ I can definitely attest to the friendliness of the owner – Philip came up to our table to introduce himself and thank us for coming in to enjoy his new place. However, I found the hosting staff to be a little less friendly, more stuffy – perhaps it’s their all black outfits or just their demeanor, but they could be warmer and it wouldn’t hurt a bit.

The menu (same for lunch and dinner) is fairly simple. There are a variety of sandwiches, salads, and pizzas as well as wood-fired and smoked options including tri-tip and ribs. All of the sides are a little expensive at $5 each, but I don’t know what kind of quantity they might give you. Upon our arrival, we were given the choice of still water or complimentary sparkling water. The water comes in a clear bottle and the glasses are small mason jars – an interesting way to set themselves apart from the typical Novato restaurant.

They had made an extra pizza, so they gave it to us to sample for free. That was a nice way to start off our visit. Another interesting item of note was that all of their order-taking was done on an electronic device.

- Smoked Chicken, Bacon, and Brie Pizza – Breast meat is pulled apart into small chunks and along with bacon and brie, it tops a thin crust pizza. I thought I tasted some sweet onions too, but it wasn’t listed as one of the ingredients on the menu. The pizza crust is cooked through well, but not overly crispy. The amount of toppings are reasonable and the crust is able to hold up to them well. $12

- Dry Baby Back Ribs – Since it’s a smokehouse, I had to order something from the barbecue. This half rack had about six or seven ribs. It’s served with cornbread, coleslaw, and beans. Unfortunately, the cornbread didn’t come until I asked near the end of the meal and by that time, I was pretty stuffed. Two pieces of jalapeno cornbread came with sweetened butter. The cornbread was sweet and good, but if you prefer to see and enjoy the texture of corn in your bread, you won’t find that here. The coleslaw was lightly dressed and still very crunchy. The beans were hot and sweet – I liked this side the best of all of three offered. Now to the ribs – the ribs are crusted with a dry rub giving a blend of spicy and smoky. The meat was very tender and I loved how the smoky flavor rang through each bite. What I didn’t like about this dish was that the flavorful and spicy sauce that came with it was cold as though it had just come out of the refrigerator. I prefer the sauce to be warmed through or hot in temperature. Overall, the ribs were good, but a little on the expensive side for lunch. $17 half rack, $25 full rack

My other dining companions ordered more pizza – they found the bbq pulled pork pizza to be too heavy and the mushroom pizza and tomato/basil/mozzarella pizza to both be very good. Another person ordered the risotto and enjoyed that a lot. While we were eating, we overheard our waitress sharing the specials that weren’t shared with us, so you can tell that they’re still learning the ropes. She was also still familiarizing herself with the desserts which we asked for a list of despite knowing we were too stuffed to enjoy them. While the staff descends upon you when it’s time to serve with at least three or four members serving our plates so that all of the food would arrive together, missing the cornbread shows room for opportunity. Midway through our meal, we also heard the kitchen staff yelling out orders that needed to be fired off. While this may be normal in other settings, it doesn’t seem to fit in well here and caught our group a bit off guard.

  

The food is good, but the prices are too high for Novato, at least for lunch. For dinner, the prices are okay. To survive in this town, Southern Pacific needs to offer a few menu items that will allow patrons to get in and out for lunch for under $12 including tax and tip in order to continue to attract a good lunch crowd once their newness has worn off.  Sandwiches at $14 are just too high to sustain regular weekday clientele. They also need to work on their attention to detail in terms of service. They have a promising future, and we’ll be watching how they execute their approachable dining experience vision.

Pizzeria Picco - Larkspur

316 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur CA
(415) 945-8900
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5pm-9:30pm, Fri 5pm - 10:30pm, Sat 12pm - 10:30pm, Sun 12pm - 9:30pm

http://www.pizzeriapicco.com/

Last Visited: January 8, 2011

It was a drizzly day and we were making a day trip to Larkspur since the Gammals have frequently talked about how they have enjoyed dining there. While a number of their recommendations were for heavier meals, that would be more appropriate for dinner, considering we wanted something light, we decided to go to a place they hadn’t mentioned at all – Pizzeria Picco.

Picco is a restaurant next door that is not open for lunch. However, Picco Pizzeria was bustling with their heat lamps on while people were sheltered from the mist and wind by curtains amidst their outdoor dining shelter. The inside bar seats between eight and ten people. Fortunately, we managed to get a spot inside just before the place filled up completely and a line began to form.

Picco boasts a variety of thin crust Neapolitan style pizzas baked in their wood burning oven. You can watch the guys make your pizza (if you happen to be sitting at the right angle) and rotate the pizza to get it cooked just perfectly. Many of the pizzas come out with a little of burned edges or burned bubbles since the control over the burning is more challenging with the wood oven. Organic salads like apple and fennel salad, salad on pizzas, and house cured salumi are included on their menu. On a warmer day, I would have definitely tried the Straus soft serve that they offer. And if you’re craving Picco, you can also purchase frozen pizzas to go.

Today, we had a salad and a pizza. The menu is posted above the bar area with bright colored chalk and great descriptions. A regular menu is also given to each patron too.

- Picco Caesar - Romaine hearts with farm egg, anchovy, lemon, and parmesan. The Caesar salad was very fresh and we loved the flavor of the dressing. Very classic.  The croutons were super light and crunchy - lots of olive oil in them.   little on the pricy side, but no complaints about the quality. $9.95

- Son of Yeti - Hen of the woods mushrooms, leeks, fontina, mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino, garlic, and thyme. I feel like I’m constantly in search of a good mushroom pizza. Long ago, I had access to an excellent mushroom pizza from Mucca in Glen Ellen, but after they burned down, I have been on a quest. The hen of the woods mushrooms are so flavorful and the blend of cheeses is just perfect with no cheese overwhelming the pizza. Very good. The only downside was the slight burning of the edges and bubbles as mentioned earlier. $15.95

Another thing that caught my eye was the pizza of the day - a fried egg on a pizza with pancetta and nettles. If it weren’t for my mushroom pizza quest, I probably would have tried this one. The person at the bar next to me got it and told me it was like eating breakfast. Classic pizzas are available too like margherita and marinara.

Picco focuses on local produce and fresh food. They pull their own mozzarella made with curds from Formaggi Di Forrente.

Service was okay – the gals are friendly, but food can take a long time to be served – we waited quite a while since they made it after we had ordered.

If I was in the area again, I wouldn’t hesitate to try some of their other pizzas and salads, but note that the prices tend to be on the higher end.

California Grill - American,Novato

1531 S. Novato Blvd, Novato, CA 94947
(415) 893-1540
Parking: shopping center parking lot
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm

Last Visited: January 20, 2011

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

Owned and operated by the Steffen family, the California Grill is a nice local restaurant with an enclosed outdoor patio. Along with burgers and sandwiches, California Grill also serves an Asian chicken salad, Chinese chicken salad (lettuce and cabbage), iceberg wedge salad, hot turkey sandwich, chicken and rib combos, tri-tip steak, and a surf and turf combo. They also offer smaller portions for kids.

I've been to California Grill twice now. During hot weather, the enclosed patio area can become very warm and there isn't air-conditioning. Aside from that, it's a pleasant experience. It feels almost like you're at a friend's backyard barbecue in the patio area because of the plastic tables and chairs. The restroom is also accessed from the patio and there is a hand sink and water station outside too.

Upon entering the restaurant, you'll see the menus next to the entrance above the counter. The kitchen is open and you can hear the grilling and sizzling. After ordering and paying at the counter, you are given a buzzer that will go off when your order is ready. When the staff isn't busy, they'll bring the food to you.

- 1/3 lb Burger - A choice of ground chuck, turkey or a garden burger is offered. The patty is served on a toasted bun with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and red onion. You then have a choice of sides which I have listed below. I selected a ground chuck burger with french fries. The lighting in the photo is a little strange because of the plastic sheeting used to create the patio windows, but you can still see that the french fries are golden and they were crispy. In fact, I think the fries were even better than the juicy burger. Great! $7.95

- Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich - Tri-tip sliced thin is served with grilled onions, bell peppers and Mozzarella. All are served on a toasted roll and I selected sweet potato fries for the side dish. While the flavor of the sandwich was good, the bread was a little more thick than I would prefer. If I were to make this at home, I would have removed more of the inside of the bread and probably added mayonnaise so that it would be more moist. The sweet potato fries were okay, but I prefer their french fries. I would have liked a dipping sauce for the sweet potato fries since they're cut somewhat thin and therefore are more crispy and less meaty. Okay. $9.45

The choice of sides is pretty extensive. You can select from french fries, roasted red potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, garlic fries, potato salad, sweet potato fries, corn on the cob, coleslaw, side salad, baked beans, rice, fruit medley, and grilled veggies. I appreciated these options because you have a lot of options.

California Grill is a taste of good down home food that is reminiscent of your neighbor's barbecue. It's one of the places in my regular lunch rotation and I can count it to provide a good burger, fresh food, and decent portions.

Battle: Indian - Novato

Two Indian Restaurants - Anokha and Batika - Both on Grant Avenue in Novato - Can they both survive? There are a number of restaurants on Grant Avenue already - is there enough business to go around? Sesame Tea Eats does a quick comparison of Anokha and Batika for you to help you decide.

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Address	811 Grant Avenue, Novato	868 Grant Avenue, Novato
Phone	(415) 892-3440	(415)895-5797
Website	http://www.anokharestaurant.com/	http://www.batikaindia.com/
Food	North Indian Buffet lunch offers two meat dishes, multiple sides, and two desserts	North Indian Buffet lunch offers three meat dishes, multiple sides, and one dessert
Atmosphere	Lighter colors, spacious setting between tables, cushioned banks of seats, L-shaped buffet area which makes self-service slightly awkward.	Darker colors, close proximity between tables, single file line buffet area allowing easy self-service, outdoor patio dining available.
Service	Good. Naan comes quickly. Plates are removed quickly.	Good. Naan comes quickly. Plates are removed quickly. I liked how they asked how they are doing (but maybe they only did this because they’re new.
Price	Buffet Lunch $8.95	Buffet Lunch $8.95, Champagne offered on weekends.

They both have good stuff - which is why I approve both for the lunch buffet. Depending on how many are in your party, it may be difficult to try a variety of items for dinner unless you want to take home leftovers, so the buffet is a great way to try out a greater variety. We'll see how things go in the weeks and months ahead. I hope they both can draw enough Novatoans to stay in business. Good healthy competition usually means better food for all.

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.

Rickey's - American/Californian, Novato

250 Entrada Drive
Novato, CA 94949-5574
(415) 883-9477

Last Visited: December 16, 2010

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: N/A
Price: $$ to $$$

This review is limited to a catered lunch and not for a regular meal.

Rickey’s once was open during lunch time, but in recent years, their schedule changed and they are only open for dinner. For the last three years, we have gone to Rickey’s for our annual Christmas lunch at work. Lora, the event coordinator for the Inn at Marin, has been extremely helpful in past years for making our arrangements. Each year, they transform the room into a U-shaped setup. Poinsettias are placed on each table and we bring the remainder of the decorations. The oak tables and chairs, fireplace, and Christmas lights make a warm setting for our annual event.

The regular dining room is ours for lunch, and each person gets a choice of entrée (chicken, salmon, or vegetable napoleon) along with cornbread, tea or coffee, and cookies for dessert for a set price. Using the other banquet room requires an additional fee.

I’ve ordered their pan-seared crispy salmon for the last three years and you can see that the presentation is nice. The salmon is always perfectly cooked and the bed of garlic mashed potatoes are made from real potatoes. Asparagus or bok choy that is also cooked just right is also plated. The quantity isn’t particularly large, but good enough for lunch.

While I’ve never been to Rickey’s for dinner, I noticed that they are now offering a new happy hour. Tuesdays through Thursdays, between 4pm and 6pm, there are menu items available for $5 or less including prawns crostini, crab cake, quesadilla, and tostadas. Since this is only available at the bar, I’m not sure what they would do if you aren’t interested in ordering a drink, but it might be worth checking out some time. Also, Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays from 5pm to 9pm, they offer a 3-course menu for $22.50 that seems to be a good deal as well. Most of the entrees were 5 ounces, so it might be a good choice for lighter eaters.

The quality of food has been consistently good for the last three visits, so I would recommend trying out some of Rickey’s offerings. On occasion, they also have live jazz and other events. It’s a nice place for those whom don’t mind a restaurant that is a little out of the way.

Tommy Salsa - Mexican, Novato

553 South Novato Blvd # F, Novato, CA 94947
(415) 898-1351
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: December 5, 2010

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

I have been to Tommy Salsa twice, once on a weekday and once on a Sunday. Martha recommended it since she often comes for lunch. After doing some yelping, I found out that the fish tacos are the thing to get, so of course, that's what I ordered the first time.

Next to the salsa bar and soda fountain is the main counter. The menu is posted on large boards with printing on top of a background featuring a giant chili pepper. Combinations, quesadillas, burritos, and tacos are the main features. Just behind the counter, you can see the window to the kitchen and the folks at work back there.

The place has a lot of windows and has more of a coffee shop atmosphere versus a restaurant atmosphere. The color scheme is forest green and brown. It's kept very clean with not much decoration. There were fresh flowers, the kind you get at Trader Joe's, in pots on the window sills and two televisions are on in the dining area. Mexican music plays quite loudly over the speakers.

After ordering, you are given a number to place at your table. Once your dish is ready, the server brings it by and collects the number.

- Two Fish Tacos Combination - People seem to really like the fish tacos, so I went for one traditional one with a soft tortilla and one in a hard shell. The fish is fried and served with lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, and a piece of lime. While both were good, I like the one in the crunchy shell better - maybe it was because of the mouth feel. The beans were good - fairly standard, but I really had an aversion to the rice. It seemed that there was an intense garlic flavor that was overpowering the rice, and I didn't want to eat any more of it. While some rave about the fish tacos, I would say they're okay. $7.95

- Quesadilla and Taco Combination - As with all of the combos, you get your choice of meat - carnitas, al pastor, and beef just to name a few. The quesadilla comes out very hot and crispy on the outside. It's pretty standard - not wow, not bad. With the taco, we again chose fish. See comements above that apply here also.

- Enchilada Combination - The enchilada tortilla was not as soft as at some of the other places I have had enchiladas and not as soft as the ones I make at home. The flavor of the sauce was also just okay.

Most combinations run around $8 to $10. While the quantity of the food is abundant, I just don't walk away raving about any particular dish. If I were to go back, I would probably stick with the fish tacos or just order a burrito.

As for service, the first time I visited on a weekday, the service was fine - nothing outstanding in a good or bad way. The reason I gave a lower service rating is primariy related to my second visit. We didn't know that they opened at noon and when we tried to open the door at 11:50am, even though it was raining outside, the staff member inside wouldn't open the door for us. While I can understand how one may not want to open, I think when it's raining outside, you can either pleasantly tell people you'll be open in a few minutes or just let them in and have them wait in the dining area.

While I understand the draw for the high school students whom go to school nearby, I think the food here is just okay.

Creekside Bakery & Cafe - American, Novato

1719 Grant Ave, Novato CA 94945
(415) 892-7655
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: June 21, 2010

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

If it weren't for Martha, I probably wouldn't have even known about Creekside Bakery. You could drive by the shopping center a million times and never even know it's there. Tucked away in the Downtown Novato Shopping Center on Grant and 7th Street, you'll find Creekside Bakery.

Martha likes to come here for quiche. Enter the bakery and it's almost like entering a time warp. You could be in the 1980s with the wood furniture; the decor is very traditional and homey. I could see elderly ladies coming here for an afternoon tea. It seemed that a number of moms brought their kids for lunch during my visit today. I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that the library is just across the street.

The staff is friendly and you get the feeling that Creekside has been around a long long time and hasn't changed much - the pace just feels slower in terms of how things are done here even though the staff isn't slow. The display case doesn't show fondant over cakes - instead it's more traditional items and a few more modern looking pastries.

We came for a leisurely lunch and although the quiche and soup sounded appetizing, I opted for a sandwich today.

- Reuben Sandwich - Served with a choice of green salad or soup, the reuben is served on toasted rye (which they make themselves) and stacked with sliced corned beef. The sauerkraut looked like it was homemade. I prefer my sauerkraut to be very warm and tart; this was room temperature and not particularly sour so it was just okay. The mixed greens salad on the side was somewhat small and dressed in a vinaigrette. Nothing to write home about.

- Croissant - Flaky on the outside and soft on the inside just as it should be.

- Apple Turnover - Good. Meets the standards that you would have for a turnover.

Prices are fairly standard for the pastries compared to other bakeries. The whole bill came out to just under $15 for these three items with the sandwich about $8.

I was also given a graduation cake from here - the cake was done in whipped cream and was a yellow fruit basket cake. The fruit was fresh and the writing done nicely. While it's not a gourmet bakery and I can't say that any certain item is wow, it's a good old-fashioned hometown bakery for your everyday needs.

Arun Thai - Novato

385 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato CA 94949
(415) 883-8017
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Lunch Mon - Fri 11am to 3pm, Dinner Mon - Sun 5pm - 10pm

Last Visited: July 31, 2010

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

I was reading the Novato Advance and saw the nice write up on Arun Thai. Their description of the pumpkin curry prawns sounded so delicious that I knew exactly what I was going to get when I went for lunch.

Arun Thai is located in a small strip mall if you could call it that. It's a stand alone building that has warehouse spaces in the back. The front has a sign showing the restaurant name clearly, so you won't miss it if you look past the lawn area.

The less impressive exterior is quickly forgotten when you get a glimpse of the modern interior. A combination of dark wood, eggplant and chartreuse walls, colorful napkins, and Thai paintings transport you to an inviting place. I was quite impressed at what they had done so simply and smartly. The large flower bouquet also adds to the ambiance and the windows both in the front and side of the restaurant stream in a lot of natural light. Two entrances, one on the side and one in the front, bring you into the dining area which contains a booths against one wall, regular tables in the middle, and a bank of tables against a cushioned seating area along the other wall.

Owned by a husband and wife team, Arun Thai is named after the husband. The servers are friendly and happy to explain items to you if you have questions. Upon our arrival for lunch, we were given ice water and menus. It seemed to take them a while to come back since it was pretty busy during this lunch time, but the food still came out quickly.

The lunch menu is fairly simple offering a reduced set of items from the main menu, but still providing enough variety that you'll be able go back again and again to try new things.

- Lunch items are accompanied by salad or soup of the day and a choice of jasmine or brown rice. While the menu stated that soup was available as a choice, the server just brought salad to us without asking and since it was our first time, we really didn't pay much attention to this. The fresh salad greens (mixed greens with more lettuce and a wedge of tomato) was dressed in a light vinaigrette with fresh herbs.

- Pumpkin Curry Prawn - Prawns are simmered in a creamy red curry sauce, with seasonal vegetables and Kabucha pumpkin. As you can see from the picture, I ordered this both for lunch and dinner. The lunch plate came with a huge serving of rice - more than I could finish. The dinner curry was nicely presented with fresh Thai basil leaves on top. The seasonal vegetables included red and green bell peppers, carrots, green beans, and zucchini. I really like the balance of sweet and savory in this dish. Another thing that is done well is that they don't let the pumpkin stew too long - it's soft without being mushy and it hasn't broken down to the point of changing the texture of the sauce. It's about as perfect as a pumpkin curry gets. Lunch $8.50, Dinner $12.50

While the lunch visit was a bit slow in terms of ordering and having our check brough to us, the food was very good and well-flavored and we still managed to leave within an hour which is perfect for the business crowd. I was impressed enough to come back for a second visit not long after the first.

For dinner, I opted to try out an appetizer as well as some of their noodle offerings.

- Tod Mun - Ground fish is mixed with Thai curry paste and green beans, then deep fried until brown. The four cakes are served with a sweet and sour cucumber salad. The salad contains red onion and chopped cilantro too. I liked the flavor of the cakes - not too salty which is often the fault found at other locations. The cucumber salad was also very fresh with the cucumbers being super crunchy and marinated just right so that the onion and cucumbers with the dressing was refreshing and paired well with the tod mun. Great. $6.50

- Pad Thai - Rice noodles are fried in a wok with tofu, egg, bean sprouts, and shrimp. While the photo here was taken after we had already started to dig into the dish, you'll notice that for all of the other dishes shown, presentation is attended to and very nice. The pad thai noodles were al dente and the tamarind sauce was a little more sweet than I prefer, but still good. Lunch $7.95, Dinner $9.50

- Drunken Noodle with Beef - Wide flat rice noodles are fried in a wok with a garlic basil sauce, beef, American broccoli, and Chinese broccoli. I liked how there were more noodles in this dish than you find at other restaurants. You can really taste the basil in this dish. Good. $7.95

My overall experience at Arun has been very positive. Go early for dinner for more one-on-one service if you think you'll have a lot of questions. While lunch service could use some refinement, it's a great addition to Novato's lunch and dinner scene; I will definitely visit again.

I've also heard that their BBQ Thai Islamic lamb ($16) which is only listed on the dinner menu is awesome. Several people I know have raved about that quite a bit. I'll have to give it a try next time.

Taki Sushi - Japanese, Novato

452 Ignacio Blvd, Novato CA 94949
(415) 883-2423
Parking: shopping center parking lot
Hours: Lunch Tues - Sat 11:30 am to 2:30 p.m; Dinner Tues - Sun 5:30pm to 9:30 pm

Last Visited: March 19, 2010

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

Friends wanted to try out Taki Sushi, but when we met there, they were closed. So after talking to some coworkers whom live nearby Taki Sushi, and doing some additional web searches to verify that it indeed was worth trying, I made a second attempt to try out Taki and was successful. At least one review said that Taki Sushi was the best sushi restaurant in Marin and a number of other reviews gave it four or five stars, which of course increased my expectations.

When you walk into Taki Sushi, you notice koi pond in the front. Behind that, the room is divided in half - on the left side is the sushi bar and tables; a divider separates the bar from the right side of the room which contains only dining tables. We were immediately seated on the right side of the room and given menus. Since the shopping center itself was going through a remodel, they featured a special - a California roll for every table ordering over $20 in food - good marketing from my perspective as well as good timing for our visit. Of course, they must expect you to see the sign explaining this promotion on the outside because they don't tell you about it when you order and it was nowhere to be seen in the restaurant itself.

When it's my first visit to a Japanese restaurant, I like to order a combination of a few raw sushi items, a few cooked sushi items, and an entree. It gives me a feel for what to get for future visits since I'll be able to experience all areas of their offerings.

As you can tell from the prices below, they are not what you would call expensive, but the quality is probably what I would deem medium. The pieces of fish are large and fresh, but there wasn't a wow factor. The rice was just okay. Interestingly, while I don't normally order California rolls, I would say of the items shown on this plate, the California rolls were the best and what I would recommend ordering. After my visit, I learned that they are known for their California rolls.

- Maguro (Tuna) $4.75

- Salmon (Fresh) $4.85

- Salmon (Smoked) $4.85

- California Roll - Good!

- Unagi - The unagi was good - a generous portion and cooked to a nice temperature. I've had better, and I've had worse. $4.85

- Baked Scallop - The scallop was fresh, but I would skip this one. It wasn't to my tastes in any case. I think the scallop loses its flavor in this preparation. $6.25

- Tonkatsu - The tonkatsu, fried pork cutlets, is served with a lot of teriyaki sauce, an abundant helping of cabbage slaw topped with a mayonnaise dressing, and a bowl of rice. Miso soup and a small pickled cabbage salad are served ahead of the main dish. While there is a lot of food, it was this dish that made them receive a lower service rating. More on that below. The miso soup was fine; nothing special. The pickled cabbage salad had a nice balance of sweet and vinegar flavor, but it wasn't pickled enough - it could be more crunchy (think good kimchee). The two pieces of tonkatsu is are large, but I would prefer the sauce on the side. There is a little too much breading, and the sauce makes it soggy pretty fast. Choose this if you want quantity, not quality. The cabbage slaw has some shredded carrots in it, but that's all it is - raw vegetables with a drizzle of dressing on top. It's bland and blah - why would you heap such a large amount of raw vegetable onto a plate? $13.50

The problem with the service was that they essentially created a trip hazard. The gal serving the tonkatsu dropped a bit of the heaping cabbage slaw onto the ground. Then she left it there after seeing it had fall to the ground. Let's assume she didn't see it - even if we give her the benefit of the doubt, other servers saw it. This action, or lack thereof, dropped their service rating from three stars to two stars.

My final thoughts on Taki Sushi - if you intend to go, get the California roll. The sushi is just okay. If you want a lot of food, consider the entrees, but make sure you like raw, undressed (or mix it yourself) cabbage slaw.

Om - South Indian, Novato

1518 Fourth Street, San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 458-1779
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm
http://www.omcuisine.net/

Last Visited: August 19, 2009
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Nimish first suggested that I try Om to get a sampling of south Indian cuisine which he explained differs quite a lot from north Indian food which is what we typically find here in Northern California. With his hearty suggestion, I went to try Om's lunch buffet for $8.99 which offered a variety of dishes and included a choice of masala dosa or chapathi.

What I really loved about Om was their website. It was so informative and educational, but since my visit, they have changed the site. I even called at the beginning of 2010 to ask about their webpage and was told that it was being worked on, but the best part is gone.

Driving by, it might be easy to miss the restaurant entirely unless you know that it's there. The signs are inconspicuous. If you like dosas and uthappam, you'll like their selection - they offer more than ten dosas and at least seven uthappam. If you're unfamiliar with dosas, they are made with a batter fermented overnight and cooked like a crepe. An uthappam is like a dosa, but thicker and softer. Both are served with sambar and chutneys.

Their buffet offers about eight to ten hot dishes as well as some other items. Today's visit included chicken drummettes, rice, a dosa and some other good finds. Enter the restaurant and find that the raised dining area on the right and a floor level dining area in front of the entranceway. The buffet is set up in the rear of the restaurant. Each table is covered with a tablecloth and glass is placed on top. During lunch, paper napkins and paper placemats were presented on the table. In large chafing dishes, unlike traditional steam tables that you would find at neighboring Indian buffets, you'll see a variety of well-labeled offerings.

While Nimish got a plain dosa, he recommended a masala dosa to me which meant this thin cylindrical golden brown crepe that was crunchy on the edges and softer within contained a filling with mashed potato like consistency. The potato mixture contained onions and was mildly spiced with masala.

I also had a chance to try some chicken that had been cooked in a thick curry sauce; rassam, a soup that was sour in taste; dal; my first coconut chutney and more. Without their website, I'm at a loss for identifying what I ate, but I can tell you the flavors were great, and the lunch offerings were more than sufficient for a buffet.
Service received a rating of two to three stars because I had ordered a drink upon arrival, but even after returning from the buffet to the table and eating a portion of my dish, the drink failed to arrive. I had to ask for it again in the middle of my meal.

If Om were only a little closer to my workplace, I would probably visit more frequently. However, I would certainly be willing to try them again for their buffet lunch or dinner entrees. Good stuff and a great chance to learn what South Indian cuisine is all about.