Taiwan Restaurant - Chinese, San Francisco

445 Clement St, San Francisco 94118
(415) 387-1789
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 2, 2011 (Most prices listed below are from November 2007)

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

Taiwan Restaurant has been around for a number of years. They also have a branch in Berkeley, but of the two, I like the one in San Francisco better. I’ve been going to this restaurant for a number of years. Their signature rich pink painted façade outside makes it easy to find. The décor inside is a little worn. They have light finished wood chairs and the walls could use a fresh coat of paint, but the interesting thing is the front of the restaurant. The front window and waiting area allows you to watch the master chefs at work making steam buns, dumplings, pot stickers, and whatever else. In the background, you’ll see them deep frying Chinese donuts and other goodies.

- Fried Chinese Doughnut – Chinese doughnuts come in both sweet and salty flavor. The salty doughnut (yau tiao) is a long bar that is split partway lengthwise so it can easily be separated into two pieces. The doughnut at the Taiwan Restaurant is good, but not as light as the restaurants in Hong Kong make it. This doughnut is typically eaten for breakfast or lunchtime, and is accompanied with soybean milk (see below). $1

- Soybean Milk – Soybean milk is available in both sweet and savory. At $1.00 a bowl, it’s a steal. It’s hard to go wrong with sweet soybean milk. Good.

- Hot and Sour soup – The hot and sour soup was excellent, especially on a cold, overcast day. It had just the right amount of hot and sour and the soup is filled with ingredients – bamboo shoots, black fungus, egg, chicken strips, and so much more, but none of the stuff that shouldn’t be there (at some restaurants, vegetables that aren’t typical of hot and sour soup are found, but here, it’s authentically made). A few pieces of cilantro add color to the reddish soup. With the temperature also very hot, it was delicious. It’s also helpful if you need to clear your sinuses – it cleared mine quite well. If you’re a fan of hot and sour soup, this one was a treat. Unfortunately, I had to update this review so that everything was in past tense since during a recent visit, I found that the chef had changed and that the soup no longer had the same qualities - something was lacking, but it's hard to place my finger on it. It just didn't have the same balance in flavors as it once did. $4.95

- Pot Stickers – Pot stickers are a great lunch item. It can be a little risky for dinner. During lunch, they make large quantities, so you know they will be fresh. Six pot stickers are served upside down with their golden brown bottom facing up. It’s a presentation that some people aren’t used to, but it’s the golden brown that shows the freshness of the pot sticker wrapper and the technique of the chef. The pot stickers are filled with a pork and cabbage filling. It’s a great balance of dry (though not overly dry) wrapper with a little crispness on the outside, and when you bite into the pot sticker, you find juicy filling in the center. It’s best if the filling inside is hot in temperature. Sometimes, they have been sitting for a bit, but most of the time, it’s quite good. Check out this photo taken in 2011. The wrapper is browned until crispy and the price is extraordinary - what a bargain! Still great quality. $3.95 (price is the same in 2011)

- Steamed Dumplings – Six dumplings are served in a metal or bamboo steamer. Each dumpling contains a pork and cabbage filling. It’s served with a small dish of sliced ginger strips - the thinner the ginger strips, the better. Typically, you add red wine vinegar to the ginger and let the ginger soak in the vinegar. Then, the dumplings are dipped in the ginger vinegar. When the steamed dumplings are cooked right, the wrapper swells from the liquid steamed out from the filling and the dumplings are served so hot that they typically burn your mouth. If they’re not made well, the wrapper has a hole which has caused the flavorful juices to leak out. The steamed dumplings at Taiwan Restaurant are typically good, but aren’t the best of the Bay Area. During my most recent visit, the ginger was not cut well and some of the dumplings had holes in them, but the flavor was still okay. $3.95

- Chinese Pan Cake (Green Onion Pancake) – Two pancakes are deep fried and cut into quarters. Inside the pancake are pieces of green onion which give a savory flavor to the dough. The outside is crisp and crunchy while the inside is al dente and soft. Today’s pancakes were perfectly golden brown, hot and delicious. Excellent. $1.95

- Dumplings with chives and shrimp – Shrimp, pork, and chives fill a dumpling that is boiled in hot water. The texture of the wrapper is thin and the meat is juicy and flavorful. It’s a great dish to try and it’s frequently one of the dumplings that you can see being made in the front kitchen. $4.50

- Fried rice cake with pork – Rice cake is made by creating a roll and cutting the roll into thin slices. The texture is best described as very al dente – it should never be tough, but always somewhat chewy while being soft. It’s typically cooked with pork and chopped snow cabbage along with some napa cabbage. During this last visit, there was a lot of large pieces of green onion too. Very good. $5.25

- Beef stew noodle soup – Noodles are served with cubes of beef in a five spice seasoned soup. The beef has been infused with the five spice flavor and the noodles are al dente. A few spinach leaves and a sprinkling of green onions typically also come in the soup. Very good. This photo taken in 2011 had two small servings of noodles already removed from it, so it actually comes larger than what is shown. Still as good as I remember it. $6.95 in 2011 (was $4.95)

- Beef tendon noodle soup – Like the Beef stew noodle soup, the bowl includes lots of noodles and some spinach leaves. However, in place of stew is tender beef tendon that has been stewed until smooth and soft. It breaks apart with ease. The texture is an acquired taste though. It’s a little less spicy and less flavorful than the noodle soup. $4.95

- Szechuan Hot Sauce Noodles – Room temperature noodles are topped with Szechuan hot sauce. This sauce is comprised of chopped everything – ground pork, waterchestnuts, bamboo shoots, chili flakes, green onion, preserved mustard green, and more. There’s a touch of peanut butter and sesame paste in the mix. You combine the noodles at the table yourself, and the marriage of flavors is perfect with just a little bit of spiciness. Very good. $4.50

The thing that might make you flinch at is the ceiling. When you’re in the waiting area, don’t stare too closely at the walls lest you be frightened by what you see. Same is true of the restroom. If you don’t have to go, then don’t. Since my last visit, it looks like Taiwan Restaurant has gotten a fresh coat of paint inside, so it’s much cleaner now. You can once again look at the ceiling and walls.

All of the food is reasonably priced. I’ve tried a lot of different dishes. Most of the time, they’re quite good. You just need to be a little daring. One of the best things about Taiwan Restaurant is their tea. By the end of the meal, the tea flavor has gotten stronger and it’s a nice way to end your meal. Taiwan Restaurant has a lot of typical Taiwan/Shanghai style cooking, so give it a try sometime. It’s an excellent value (and prices have remained stable over the last few years too)!

Mister McGoo's - Italian, Petaluma

Best: French fries

1375 Petaluma Blvd North
Petaluma CA 94952
(707) 763-4346
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Open Wednesday through Saturday after 5pm. Open Sunday for brunch 10am to 1pm and after 5pm.

Last Visited: August 4, 2004

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

My uncle recommended Mister McGoo’s which has been owned and operated by the McGaughey Family since 1965. From what I hear, they serve a fantastic Sunday Champagne Buffet Brunch.

The atmosphere is definitely that of a classic Italian restaurant. You enter into a circular shaped lobby with two openings. Immediately facing you upon your entry is a picture of the family. To your right, the doorway opens toward the bar. To your left is the dining area.

The tables are covered with brown and white checkered table cloths. The floors are light brown and the walls are wood paneled with some brick between panels. There are three main dining areas. The ceilings are high, and the chairs are cushioned and comfortable. The restaurant definitely had a family owned feeling about it, and it was neat and clean. Silk flowers line the back counter.

Dinners include soup (minestrone or clam chowder), salad, garlic bread, vegetables, and a choice of ravioli, spaghetti, French fries, polenta, or a baked potato (baked potato only available Friday through Sunday). Pasta dinners include soup, salad, or garlic bread. The chef’s specials and daily specials are served with a choice of soup or salad and in some cases, French fries (check the menu to see what sides are served with which dish). Dinner prices range from $12 to $23.

- Garlic Bread – Garlic bread is served warm in a basket lined with a coffee filter (clever idea!). The garlic bread is crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and crisp on top. Very nicely done. When one basket is finished, another arrives at your table. Three to four stars.

- Clam Chowder – The clam chowder was excellent. It’s creamy and rich with potatoes and meaty clams. Very nicely done and not watered down. It’s served in a cup with oyster crackers on the side. Great. Four stars.

- Salad – A small dinner salad comprised of iceberg lettuce, carrots, and red cabbage is topped with croutons and a slice of salami. Choice of dressing. The salad was fresh, but perhaps too much dressing making it slightly soggy.

- Sirloin Steak – Grilled sirloin steak is served with French fries and vegetables. The steak was large, but one side was more well done than the other even though the steak was ordered medium. There was a separation in the meat caused by a ligament, and the side with excess fat came out a perfect medium while the other side was overcooked. See a review of the French fries below. The side of vegetables were disappointing. The vegetables included green beans, carrots, broccoli, and peppers, so variety was good. The vegetables were lightly flavored by the peppers, but the disappointing part was that the broccoli had become especially soggy making it unpleasant to my tastes, though this style may be just right for somebody else.

- Breaded Veal – Two large pieces of veal are breaded and topped with brown gravy. See the review of vegetables above and the ravioli review below. The flavor is good, and the breading of the veal is crispy, but slightly it’s a bit too thick. I prefer the breading to be lighter. Veal parmigiana is virtually the same dish, but instead of brown gravy, the two pieces are topped with parmesan and tomato meat sauce.

- Raviolis – The raviolis have a meat filling and are topped with a tomato meat sauce and grated parmesan cheese. The ravioli wrappers were on the thick side, an indication of store bought raviolis. Average.

- French Fries – The French fries are cut thick and are the best fries I’ve had in a long time. It’s worth it just to come for the fries. They’re so hot that they might even burn your fingers. Fresh and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Excellent! Five star fries!
The food is okay, but the I found the sides (soup, garlic bread, and fries) were better than the main dish during my visit this evening. Portions are large and filling. Service is attentive, but not overbearing. Mister McGoo’s certainly serves homestyle Italian cooking. The French fries reign supreme here!

Bluebird Cafe - Hopland

13340 S Highway 101
Hopland, CA 95449
(707) 744-1633
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: Food sampled January 27, 2010

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: N/A (see below)

Service: N/A (see below)

Price: N/A (see below)

It's an unusual story. I've never been to the Bluebird Cafe, though I'm sure I've driven past it many times. It all started with my coworker Michael driving up north to visit his friend and stopping here for breakfast. He ended up bringing a blackberry pie back to work which many people raved about, and through that process, we started to discuss what makes a good pie.

Sharon, the woman who makes the pies for the cafe and also serves as a member of its waitstaff, makes over 50 pies a week. Michael, who is quite a conversationalist, shared that his coworker loves food tastings, and after a phone call from Michael, Sharon kindly came in to work on her day off to make some more pies. Four pies were sampled: apple pie, dutch apple pie, chocolate cream pie, and banana cream pie. Thanks to Michael, many coworkers were stuffed with pie.

- Apple Pie- The apple pie had a beautiful lattice and golden brown crust. This is apparent from the photo. I enjoyed how the crust had just the right texture. It was firm when cut and flaky, but not too flaky. It doesn’t fall apart and had the right amount of salt. The juicy filling contained sliced Granvenstein apples that remained intact and had a good mouth feel without being mushy.
The flavor is sweet, but not too sweet and there is a good amount of cinnamon without overwhelming the filling. Great!
$15.50

- Dutch Apple Pie – This pie is similar to the apple pie in flavor. Essentially, the filling appeared to be the same, but there were more apple pieces than the previous pie. The topping is made with a crumb topping containing oatmeal and it is golden brown in the center with less topping on the sides. Juice from the filling peeks through the edges near the outer crust. I prefer the regular apple pie, but this was also good. $15.50

- Chocolate Cream pie – From the looks of it, it is already very appetizing. Cutting into and tasting it, I found the texture to be smooth and silky. The chocolate cookie crust was thicker than I expected it to be, but it wasn't soggy. The crust and filling combination was good (not too much crust despite its thicker appearance. The filling was light in texture and rich in taste. It was also easy to get out of the pie pan. The only thing I would do different is pack a little less crust in the bottom edge of the pie pan, but overall, a good pie. $15.50

- Banana Cream Pie – The presentation of this pie was also very appetizing. A slice of banana at the top lets you know what to expect. There are small pieces of banana chopped into the banana cream filling which was nice for texture and for a uniform banana flavor throughout the filling. Unlike traditional banana cream pie, I didn't find slices of banana on the bottom and a graham cracker crust was used rather than a regular baked crust. The flavor of the crust and filling together are great. However, the graham cracker pie crust was a little too moist and dense, making it hard to get out of the pan. When my other coworkers had finished eating the pie, quite a bit of crust remained in the pan. I could probably just eat the filling on this one and still be a happy camper. $15.50

If you're in the mood for one, I hear Sharon also makes a coconut cream pie.

Bluebird Cafe makes great pies and from overheard conversations, they have a breakfast worth looking into as well. I'll probably stop in the next time I'm in Hopland.

Small Shed Flatbreads - Mill Valley

http://www.smallshed.com/

17 Madrona St, Mill Valley CA

(415) 383-4200

Last Visited: November 22, 2009

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $$$
Parking: street parking
Hours: Sun-Wed 11am-9pm, Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm

Alison tried Small Shed Flatbreads about five years ago and recommended it to me. It's taken me some time to get to Mill Valley since I normally don't go to that area. At last, I've tried Small Shed Flatbreads, but don't have plans to go back soon.

I was heading north on Highway 101 and had tried to find my way there in the dark, but even after calling the restaurant with my location, it was at least four trips up and down the main drag in Mill Valley to find it. Mill Valley street signs are hard to see at night because they're small, but I was determined to complete my mission.

Their website and Alison's experience made the place sound quaint and charming. Small Shed serves organic vegetables and grains. Enter the building and it's rustic with a bar and stools adjacent to the kitchen.

Upon our arrival, we were seated at a table that turned out to be quite wobbly and annoying and despite the waitstaff noticing the issue, they seemed to ignore the problem.

We chose to start with some mac and cheese. Ever since going to Beecher's at Seattle's Pike's Market, I've been craving good mac and cheese.

- Mac & Gru - Penne and gruyere cheese is served in a small dish and the cheese on top is cooked until a golden brown. This dish alone would get four stars for flavor and texture - the cheese was rich and creamy and if you like a little crunch on the top of your mac and cheese, you'll love the edges. It's a bit pricey for the portion, but worth trying. This dish alone rescured the food rating. $6.50

- Shed Med Salad - Star Route Farms mixed greens and cherry tomatoes are served with aged balsamic vinaigrette. The portion of this salad was not worth the price considering the atmosphere. Although the salad was fresh and the flavors were nice (the photo makes it look larger than it was due to the zoom), there wasn't much of it and the two tomatoes you see were all the tomatoes present. It should have been a $5 salad. $7

- Slamb - This flatbread is made with a house made Moroccan style spicy lamb sausage with roasted eggplant, caramelized onion, feta, mozzarella, tomato sauce and herbs. It sounds delicious, and they delivered on the flavors, but the flatbread could have come a little hotter. It seemed to have lost a little flavor with its temperature between the time it came out of the oven and its arrival at our table. $13.50

Service was a bit lacking throughout the evening. It took a long time for us to place our order and to receive the salad. When our salad arrived, we were given warm plates (yes, warm). And the mac and cheese followed soon after. New plates were not given to us for the pizza while other tables did receive plates (perhaps this was server-dependent). Friends of the three gals serving that night visited during their shift and that only seemed to make service even more lacking.

While I think a restaurant should make profit, considering the portion size, Small Shed charges more than what I feel is reasonable. They make a great mac and gru and have inventive flatbread flavors, but overall, there are other places that I would recommend first.

Angelo's Wine Country Deli - Deli/Smokehouse, Sonoma

23400 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 933-3688
2700 Adobe Road, Petaluma CA 94954
(707) 763-9586
Parking: in parking lot
http://www.angelossmokehouse.com/

Last Visited: December 8, 2010

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$

In Sonoma, it’s a building with some picnic tables out front available for patrons to enjoy a sandwich. This place houses so many goodies that you won’t know what to choose.

Angelo’s has been around for a while with both Petaluma and Sonoma locations. The sign is simple pointing out that meats are available along with sandwiches. The Sonoma location is a good-sized shop with lots of meats available in the deli along with other deli fare including chips and snacks. The refrigerator also features meats like beef bacon, sausages, and more. However, the fresh beef jerky is available for sampling, and ooh – what a treat. My loot from the 2010 trip is shown.

- Beef Jerky – The beef jerky runs for $25 a pound, but it’s super fresh. There are tons of choices for flavorings from teriyaki to pepper to hot pepper to garlic and more. Plain is available too. Each bite is delicious. Once you’ve had Angelo’s beef jerky, you’ll never go back to the packaged stuff you find in stores. You can buy it fresh out of the bag or pre-packaged.

- Beef Bacon – Raw beef bacon is available in the refrigerator. We cooked this up and enjoyed it for it’s meaty texture and excellent flavor. Very good.

- Steak – I heard that Angelo’s had good steaks, so I visited their Petaluma location and bought a rib eye. It was absolutely delicious – great flavor, well-marbled and I met Angelo himself – nice guy. Great steak – I will definitely be back for more. In 2010, I went to their Sonoma branch for steak and was offered a different cut (can't remember which, but it was tender and delicious). This one was available in thin cut or thick cut and they also offered me some bbq spice if I wanted it. I selected a thin cut steak and pan-fried it. $15/pound in 2007

- Sausage - I purchased one of many varieties offered. I found the casing to be tougher than I liked (I sliced it up and cooked it in a frying pan), but the flavor was still good.

Look for other specialty items that Angelo’s offers including BBQ sauce, salsa, olives, pickled garlic, and the like. You can also mail order from the website. I definitely need to go back one of these days to check out their sandwiches.

Cafe Citti - Italian, Kenwood

Best: Lasagna

9049 Sonoma Highway
Sonoma CA 95452
(707) 833-2690
Open daily: Lunch 11am to 3:30pm, Dinner: 5pm to 9pm
Parking: in front and adjacent lot
http://www.cafecitti.com/

Last Visited: February 8, 2009

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

Café Citti has become an institution in Kenwood for tourists and locals. Always open when you want a good pasta or rotisserie chicken, it’s a great place to enjoy some great food in beautiful wine country.

Located on Highway 12, you’ll find Café Citti in the heart of Kenwood. When you walk in, you might find that you’re not greeted right away, but what you need to know is you walk in, look at the menu above the counter located in the rear, and order. Selections include an array of salads, pastas, soups, salads, and specials, including dessert. The glass case features some of the salads with marinated olives and the like. Of course, their chicken is an extremely popular item on any night.

Before 2008, it had been more than five years since I had visited Café Citti. Back then, they served some breadsticks while you wait. I don’t know where the breadsticks have gone.
Nowadays, you order at the front counter, and if a table isn’t available, you sit in the chairs by the fireside until one becomes available. Upon being seated, you are brought water and drinks. The waitress will bring bread; sometimes the bread is warm, and other times, it’s not. Then you order is brought to the table. The check comes after dinner.

Tables are covered with white tablecloths and white paper. A tealight candle sits in the middle of
the table and the salt, pepper, and parmesan bottles are also familiar items. Your fork and knife sit on a paper napkin awaiting you. The fireplace is typically going during the water and the atmosphere is cozy.

- Garlicky Caesar Salad – The romaine lettuce leaves were fresh and the dressing is super garlicky. If you enjoy garlic, this is an excellent salad for you. Even the salad for one is rather large and for petite eaters, two people could probably enjoy the salad for one. Excellent. In fact, this probably ranks in the top for the Caesar’s I’ve had. Upon having this the third time, I noticed a couple of pieces of lettuce rusting, but consistently garlicky and good otherwise. $6.50 for one, $12.50 for two

- Marinated Calamari Salad – A large quantity of calamari, both rings and tentacles, is poached until tender and mixed with celery, herbs, peppers, and other vegetables. The bowl is filled to the brim and tastes flavorful and delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by the combination of flavors and textures. Very nicely done. $4.50

- Marinated Green Olive Salad – Even the small salad has a lot of olives and is enough for two to share. Very good. Small $4.50, Large Available

- Smoked Salmon Antipasto – Three slices of smoked salmon are drizzled with a lemon saffron aioli and topped with deep fried onion rings. Fresh chopped parsley is sprinkled on top to accent the dish. The onion rings are cut very thin and lightly breaded – light and crispy. The salmon is fresh and the aioli adds smoothness to each bite. Good. $9.95

- Lasagne – Layers of lasagna noodles are filled with Bolognese and béchamel sauce and topped with Parmigiano Reggiano. The noodles are so tender and delicious and thoroughly flavored with the two sauces. The Bolognese with its tomato, beef, and pork sausage mix is rich and scrumptious. This is one of my favorite dishes here. Four and a half stars. The only thing that could make it better is to have the top cheese crust be slightly less browned. Lovely. $13.50

- Gnocchi – A generous amount of gnocchi is served in your choice of sauce. The potato dumplings have a great consistency and are absolutely delicious in the Bolognese sauce. Very good. $12.50

- Pizza Al Fungi – The pizza is standard with a red sauce and about three types of mushrooms. Despite the freshness of the pizza dough and sauce, I was disappointed that the mushrooms were fairly standard and paired with cheese that didn’t emphasize the mushroom flavor. I found the pizza to be just okay and wouldn’t likely order it again. $16.50

- Arrosto di Aguello all’Agilo - Leg of Lamb Special – The leg of lamb was cooked just right and only makes you want more. The lamb is tender and every bite has wonderful flavor. It’s been a while since I had it, so I don’t remember the exact flavoring, but it was good enough that I would order it again. Garlic mashed potatoes and a seasonal vegetable are served with the lamb. Very good. $17.75

- Petrale Sole – Two lightly breaded fillets of petrale sole are cooked in a lemon, olive oil, white wine, and caper sauce. These are served with carrots and garlic mashed potatoes. The sole is almost boneless (I found one bone), and cooked just right. The sauce is great for caper lovers and the amount of lemon is just right so the sauce is not too heavy and almost velvety in consistency – just coating the sole. The carrots are a little underdone, but the mashed potatoes are great for garlic lovers. Four star fish. $16.50

- Raspberry Lemonade – Refreshing and delicious. $2.25

Service was good during my last three visits, though not perfect. The staff is professional, but on occasion, you’ll see that attention to detail could be improved. Overall, the restaurant is unpretentious and the food is very good. This is a terrific stop when you’re visiting wine country.

Caffe Giostra - Italian, Petaluma

Best: Lasagna

1390 N McDowell Blvd. #L
Petaluma CA 94954
(707) 664-9441
Parking: in shopping center

Last Visited: September 18, 2010

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

Caffe Giostra is located in the same shopping center as the OSH Hardware store. It’s a small place, but the food is excellent. In particular, I enjoy their lasagna of the day. You can’t go wrong, especially if it’s one that has meat in it.

The restaurant is small. Upon entering, to your right is a raised seating area. Further back are additional tables, and on the left is the open kitchen. Reservations are recommended since there is limited seating.

I was coming here a lot around 2003, and recently decided to make a trip back to see if Caffe Giostra was as good as I remember it. For things I had recently, you'll see a detailed account, otherwise, for the other items, I’ll write generally. In 2003, I found them to have four star food, and service and atmosphere were both between three and four stars. Since then though, I've had to downgrade their service. Repeated trips and my most recent visit revealed things I didn't like seeing. Too bad - I always am on the lookout for places with the best combination of food and service.

White tablecloths cover red and white checkered table coverings. Each table also has one of those olive oil/vinegar glass containers shaped like a cylinder where there is another container shaped like grapes within. I don't want to think too much about how these things are cleaned, but aesthically, the balsamic in the grape cylinder and the olive oil outside with small corks to top off the spout for both is a cute addition to the table setting.

Upon our arrival, we were brought a nice basket of both loaf bread and focaccia (soft and with olive oil drizzled on it) along with a small ramekin filled with marinated olives.

- Carpaccio di Manzo - Thin slices of raw beef are topped with a drizzle of mustard, drizzle of olive oil, capers, shavings of parmesan, and served with a wedge of lemon. I really wanted to like this, but it lacked flavor. If it weren't for the toppings, I probably wouldn't have eaten it at all. While the beef is tender, it tastes like it's been frozen or refrigerated too long. The meat flavor is missing and it tasted a bit watered down (like when you have ham pumped with too much saltwater). I wouldn't get this again. Ever. $9.50

- Pasta dishes – Pasta is freshly made and sure to please. I have tried a number of dishes and am always impressed by the sauce and the quality of pasta. If you’re looking for lighter fare, you may consider splitting dishes (I split a seafood pasta) which is allowed for an additional charge.

- Lasagna of the day – Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll see a specials board. Each day is a new lasagna. I have separated the lasagna from the pasta dishes because their lasagna is exquisite. Knowing that it’s so good, I always have a difficult time deciding whether to get the lasagna, or take the chance to try another item. The lasagna is hand rolled, making the layers so thin that the sauce is wonderfully absorbed in each layer. Excellent. Today's special (September 2010 visit) was Chicken Lasagna. While the sauce is still just a touch sweet (oh so good), the chicken reminded me a bit of eating an enchilada, so it wasn't as authentic as I hoped. It wasn't my favorite, but certainly not bad. The noodles are just as tender as I remember them to be though. $13.95

- Profiteroles – These pastry puffs were filled with vanilla ice cream decorated with chocolate sauce. The presentation is great, but I didn’t find the profiteroles outstanding, though they were good.

- Osso Bucco - Osso bucco, in Italian, means bone with a hole (which refers to the marrow inside). Traditionally, it's made with veal. I was therefore expecting this dish to be made with veal, but instead, found out that it was pork after ordering (why the server didn't clarify with us that it was pork, I don't understand). Served on a bed of polenta, this large piece of meat was juicy initially, but began to dry out as the evening wore on. The polenta was standard as well. Okay. $18.75

Service at Caffe Giostra varies depending on the server and the time you arrive at the restaurant. During peak hours, though the staff does a good job of checking on you, I did feel neglected several times. My most recent visit though was pretty pathetic in terms of service so I had to downgrade their rating. It started from the moment I was brought to a table - first we were brought to the rear, and then moved back to the center (not a big deal). Then, as we were waiting for the server to come and take our order, the manager came over to say our server was on her way. He then proceeded to take our order and then when the server came, he interrupted us abruptly and the server's tone then became a bit rude as she asked us 'are you going to drink anything?' I was a bit surprised that a seemingly seasoned server would ask this in a somewhat irritated tone and use that wording in this environment. Things didn't get a whole lot better after that. However, Caffe Giostra still makes a great lasagna which is certainly worth a try (maybe takeout is the way to go though).