Good for: Chinese food, groups
Bad for: strict vegetarians, lobsters-as-pet lovers
Cost for 2: $28 (including tax and tip)
This is a classic Chinese restaurant where you are greeted by a wall of tanks filled with your possible future entree, looking right at you.
We were seated immediately, although it was a Monday night. We were quickly brought menus and hot tea. Jason noticed that we were not supplemented with forks on account of being the only white people in the place. For us, this was a compliment rather than an oversight. (As a practiced chopstick user, I can be quite indignant when brought a fork)
We ordered the Walnut Shrimp and Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce (and steamed rice). The shrimp came out piping hot and perfectly crispy. They were sweet and the candied walnuts that came on the dish were addictive. We were both pleasantly surprised by the broccoli. Sometimes greens that come "in sauce" barely resemble greens when they arrive at the table. The broccoli we got was perfectly cooked. Not limp, not grey, not too crunchy. Perfect. The oyster sauce was drizzled over the top, adding just the right amount of flavor to complement the broccoli's natural goodness without drowning it. Seriously, we're going back for that broccoli.
That being said, the "vegetarian" options were not all vegetarian (crab, anyone?) and were clearly designed as side dishes. It would have been difficult to cobble together a satisfying vegetarian meal.
Side note: they have special menus designed for groups with a fixed per-person price for a pre-set selection of dishes. Not right for the two of us, but something to consider for the future.
We were happy, the other patrons were enjoying themselves and overall we will likely go back.
Single downside: no fortune cookies. In hindsight, should have just gone for those last few candied walnuts.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Mediterranean Grill House
Good for: lunch, falafel junkies
Bad for: shawarma fanatics, party poopers
Cost for 1: $10 will cover a wrap and a drink
Mediterranean Grill House is a place we discovered on a recommendation from Jason's Dad. The place is family run and it shows, in the best way. The person behind the register is always relaxed, friendly, and helpful and the place is always clean. This is not your typical dingy, greasy gyro joint.
You order at the counter and then they bring the food to your table. Service is quick, but when sitting at an outside table on a nice day, it doesn't matter.
The first time we came, Jas ordered shawarma. He said it was fine, but the falafel wraps are what keep us coming back. The falafel wraps come with a choice of a whole-wheat or spinach tortilla(?) and are filled with a few large, perfect falafels. I generally like small falafels (A la Falafel Drive In) but this place changed my mind. Their falafels are crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, unlike many large falafels. The wrap also has a perfect balance of falafel, pickled veggies, lettuce and tahini. They will also make it spicy on request. My nose ran the whole time I ate mine, but it was awesome.
This is one of our favorite lunch places on Castro. The prices are high compared to a PB & J from home, but comparable to food of similar quality in the area. Service is good, food is good, and there is nothing better than a perfect falafel wrap on a sunny day.
Oh for a sunny day.
Bad for: shawarma fanatics, party poopers
Cost for 1: $10 will cover a wrap and a drink
Mediterranean Grill House is a place we discovered on a recommendation from Jason's Dad. The place is family run and it shows, in the best way. The person behind the register is always relaxed, friendly, and helpful and the place is always clean. This is not your typical dingy, greasy gyro joint.
You order at the counter and then they bring the food to your table. Service is quick, but when sitting at an outside table on a nice day, it doesn't matter.
The first time we came, Jas ordered shawarma. He said it was fine, but the falafel wraps are what keep us coming back. The falafel wraps come with a choice of a whole-wheat or spinach tortilla(?) and are filled with a few large, perfect falafels. I generally like small falafels (A la Falafel Drive In) but this place changed my mind. Their falafels are crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, unlike many large falafels. The wrap also has a perfect balance of falafel, pickled veggies, lettuce and tahini. They will also make it spicy on request. My nose ran the whole time I ate mine, but it was awesome.
This is one of our favorite lunch places on Castro. The prices are high compared to a PB & J from home, but comparable to food of similar quality in the area. Service is good, food is good, and there is nothing better than a perfect falafel wrap on a sunny day.
Oh for a sunny day.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Savory: Contemporary Vietnamese Cuisine
Good for: an intimate date, non-adventurous palates looking to get into the pan-Asian cuisine along Castro
Bad for: an awkward first date (or third, fourth or fifth- break up already!), adventure eaters
Cost for 2: $43.00 with tax & tip (no beverages)
We finally tried this place tonight because we weren't in the mood for anything specific: exactly the situation that set us on this mission in the first place. This restaurant was perfect for that.
The ambiance is clean, elegant and intimate. It was also pretty quiet. It was a good date place for us because we are able to talk to each other; but, for a couple without much to talk about there is no people watching or other disasters for respite.
We shared the Fresh Rolls with peanut sauce as an appetizer. The rolls were beautiful. The fresh and clean taste of the mint was well-complemented by the savory fat of the peanut sauce (when you got enough of it). For dinner I had the Carmelized Basa Fish in Clay Pot. The fish was sweet and savory and well-cooked. I only wanted for some kind of green vegetable to add some variety. Jason had the Special Rice in Clay Pot (with mushrooms, ginger, Chinese sausage and BBQ chicken). It was warm and comforting but not very exciting.
The service was excellent. The staff was attentive and polite. They delivered the entrees in the clay pots and removed the lids tableside, releasing a thick, aromatic steam.
This would be great for someone not willing to venture into authentic dim-sum or spicy curry but who is interested in trying a new global cuisine.
Savory is a very appropriate name for this restaurant. Although the food wasn't groundbreaking in any way, it was solid and well-cooked. The things we ordered tonight would be especially good for a rainy day. We will likely go back and sample some of the other menu items.
Bonus: takes reservations on Open Table.
Bad for: an awkward first date (or third, fourth or fifth- break up already!), adventure eaters
Cost for 2: $43.00 with tax & tip (no beverages)
We finally tried this place tonight because we weren't in the mood for anything specific: exactly the situation that set us on this mission in the first place. This restaurant was perfect for that.
The ambiance is clean, elegant and intimate. It was also pretty quiet. It was a good date place for us because we are able to talk to each other; but, for a couple without much to talk about there is no people watching or other disasters for respite.
We shared the Fresh Rolls with peanut sauce as an appetizer. The rolls were beautiful. The fresh and clean taste of the mint was well-complemented by the savory fat of the peanut sauce (when you got enough of it). For dinner I had the Carmelized Basa Fish in Clay Pot. The fish was sweet and savory and well-cooked. I only wanted for some kind of green vegetable to add some variety. Jason had the Special Rice in Clay Pot (with mushrooms, ginger, Chinese sausage and BBQ chicken). It was warm and comforting but not very exciting.
The service was excellent. The staff was attentive and polite. They delivered the entrees in the clay pots and removed the lids tableside, releasing a thick, aromatic steam.
This would be great for someone not willing to venture into authentic dim-sum or spicy curry but who is interested in trying a new global cuisine.
Savory is a very appropriate name for this restaurant. Although the food wasn't groundbreaking in any way, it was solid and well-cooked. The things we ordered tonight would be especially good for a rainy day. We will likely go back and sample some of the other menu items.
Bonus: takes reservations on Open Table.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Amici's East Coast Pizzeria
Good for: People with money to burn and a preference for the mundane or people with eating restrictions (gluten free and vegan options).
Bad for: Pizza connoisseurs.
Cost for 2: $23.50 w/ tax&tip (no beverages)
First of all, we realize this is a chain. But since neither of us had ever been we figured we would check it out. Consider it a dry run.
A clean ambiance and good service made for a welcome start to our meal. Despite a complicated order rife with substitutions and improper fractions (hell we even threw an imaginary number at her for kicks) the waitress was accommodating and pleasant.
We feel the need to state that the food was not bad, just average. The food was so average I forgot what it tasted like before we made it to the car. This makes it challenging to blog about now. Luckily I have a great imagination. According to Meg the crust was nice and crispy at the end but structurally inadequate for the first 90% of each slice (I opted for the fork and knife approach as discretion is the better part of valor). Both Meg and I can appreciate a thick, greasy, topping-heavy slice or on the other side of the spectrum, a spare gourmet "flat bread"; but this was an unfortunate middle-of-the-road.
The house pizzas covered a variety of pizza archetypes (pizarchetypes?) and looked interesting in print. Sadly the ingredients were so average they prevented the pies from reaching their full potential. It did not live up to its pricetag.
All in all unremarkable food for a remarkable price.
Bad for: Pizza connoisseurs.
Cost for 2: $23.50 w/ tax&tip (no beverages)
First of all, we realize this is a chain. But since neither of us had ever been we figured we would check it out. Consider it a dry run.
A clean ambiance and good service made for a welcome start to our meal. Despite a complicated order rife with substitutions and improper fractions (hell we even threw an imaginary number at her for kicks) the waitress was accommodating and pleasant.
We feel the need to state that the food was not bad, just average. The food was so average I forgot what it tasted like before we made it to the car. This makes it challenging to blog about now. Luckily I have a great imagination. According to Meg the crust was nice and crispy at the end but structurally inadequate for the first 90% of each slice (I opted for the fork and knife approach as discretion is the better part of valor). Both Meg and I can appreciate a thick, greasy, topping-heavy slice or on the other side of the spectrum, a spare gourmet "flat bread"; but this was an unfortunate middle-of-the-road.
The house pizzas covered a variety of pizza archetypes (pizarchetypes?) and looked interesting in print. Sadly the ingredients were so average they prevented the pies from reaching their full potential. It did not live up to its pricetag.
All in all unremarkable food for a remarkable price.
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