Browsing Tag

Dinner

Yakitori Kokko, San Mateo

Posted on March 9, 2014

Japanese Izakaya is hot in the SF Bay Area right now.. Yakitori Kokko is a Japanese Izakaya or drinking oriented establishment (like Sumika in the South Bay, Ippuku in Berkeley or Izakaya Mai in San Mateo) that serves casual food focusing on skewers of meat and liquor. It is run by Japanese folks and feels pretty authentic. Yakitori means chicken grill, so the focus is on charcoal grilled meats. The place has gotten some good buzz, so we decided to give it a try. Our last visit was in the summer of 2015.

The Kitchen Dinner Restaurant Review, Millbrae

Posted on February 10, 2014

The Kitchen is part of a restaurant group that owns highly regarded Chinese Cantonese restaurants in California including Asian Pearl Peninsula. We’ve been to most of them and find them pretty good. This review concentrates on dinner. The food here is pretty authentic Chinese Cantonese food, so some may not like this type of more hardcore cuisine. Do not come here for General’s Chicken or Broccoli Beef. Another review covers The Kitchen dim sum lunch. Our last visit for dinner was in 2015, a meal where we found that their quality has improved. We’d consider this #2 behind Koi Palace. The Kitchen has recently remodeled the dining room, making it much more open, spacious, and modern.

Fentons Creamery, Oakland and Vacaville

Posted on January 13, 2014

Fenton’s Creamery has been around since 1922 in Oakland. They produce their own ice cream and toppings batch by batch on site. They serve breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, salads, but the main draw is of course, ice cream. Their creations are simply huge. Even the kid’s ice creams are huge. Our last visit was to the Nut Tree Vacaville location in the spring of 2015.

Donato Enoteca Restaurant Review, Redwood City

Posted on January 1, 2014

Donato Enoteca is an Italian Restaurant in downtown Redwood City, located right next to City Hall. They serve modern Italian focusing on fresh, simple ingredients, and focusing on the chef’s Donata Scotti (formerly of La Strada) Northern Italian roots. Our last visit for dinner outside in 2020 during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Yuzu Sushi and Grill Review, San Mateo

Posted on November 10, 2013

Yuzu Sushi and Grill is located in a sleepy shopping district in San Mateo across from the former location of Alhana foods. It is a sister restaurant to Burlingame’s well respected and Michelin Bib Gourmand Sakae Sushi. We decided to try it to see if it was a lower cost but similar quality version of Sakae Sushi. Sakae Sushi has lots of exotic seafood air freighted in from Japan. Our last visit was in April 2014.

Sushi Ran Restaurant Review, Sausalito

Posted on November 7, 2013

Sushi Ran is a popular Japanese restaurant in Sausalito run by chef Taka Toshi. They describe their food as “vibrant fusion of traditional Japanese and Pacific cuisine”. Since 1986 they have been serving up top notch Japanese food in Marin. They have the standard Japanese fare you would expect, including Omakase (Trust the chef) plus lots of dinner specials and cooked items. They have an extensive wine and sake collection. You can eat in the main dining room or in the sake and wine bar next door that has an outdoor patio. Our last visit was in the summer of 2014.

Bourbon Steak Restaurant review, San Francisco

Posted on May 30, 2013

Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak opened in October 2010 at the Westin Hotel Union square and is located in a very central San Francisco location. He also has Bourbon Steak locations in Scottsdale, Miami, Washington, DC and Detroit. Mina moved his flagship restaurant Michael Mina to the former Aqua location on California Street.
They are focusing on a upmarket modern American Steakhouse tailored to the San Francisco dining audience, offering contemporary fare focused on seasonal West Coast ingredients. Omri Aflalo is the executive chef. (Formerly of Citrus in LA) Our last visit was in the middle of 2013 when we noticed price inflation.

Shalizaar Restaurant Review, Belmont

Posted on May 30, 2013

Shalizaar is a Persian Cuisine restaurant in Belmont. It moved here from a smaller location in San Mateo, which is now home to another decent restaurant: Tannourine. They specialize in Persian Kabobs and become immensely popular, leading to an expansion of the restaurant. Shalizaar has a large wood fired oven at one end of the dining room constantly making flat bread. Our last visit was in June 2016.

Fifth Floor Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on May 27, 2013

Fifth floor is a restaurant in the SF Downtown Hotel Palomar, and has been around for ages and seen many a top chef come and move on. (George Morrone, Melissa Perrello, etc) We haven’t been back in many years, so it was time to refresh our memory. Our last visit was in April 2013.

Pizzetta 211 Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on April 5, 2013

Pizzetta 211 is a small but cozy 4 table, 4 seat counter restaurant in San Francisco’s Richmond district. We first dined there in 2008 and finally returned in April 2013.

Osha Thai Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on April 4, 2013

Osha Thai is a popular Thai restaurant in San Francisco that has grown to seven locations and was started in 1996 by sisters Wassana Korkhieola and Lalita Souksamlane. Osha means delicious in Thai. We visited the third Street location near Moscone Center. They focus on fresh, seasonal, local ingredients while serving both traditional Thai cuisine and modern interpretations. Our last visit was in April 2013 where we saw quality had fallen off. Be sure to try Kin Khao.

Foodnut.com’s Beginners Introduction to an Authentic Chinese Dinner

Posted on February 11, 2013

Introduction

Welcome to Foodnut.com’s Beginners Introduction to an Authentic Chinese dinner. This article follows our Beginner Introduction to Chinese dim sum. In this guide you will find a comprehensive introduction to Chinese Food that will help guide you in your new exploration into Chinese food. Authentic Chinese food is foreign to many people, so we thought it would be useful to write up a short tutorial on what to expect, and what to order.

We would like to help people expand beyond the usual potstickers, broccoli beef, sweet-and-sour pork, General Tso’s chicken, etc. No sharks fin dishes here. Many Chinese restaurants can be a loud and intimidating place with lots of different foods, faces, and languages being spoken. We are seeking to bridge the gap and get more folks into world of Chinese dining. No more looking around at other tables and pointing their dishes.

Inshou Restaurant Review, San Mateo

Posted on January 25, 2013

By Henry Kwan

Why did we dine here? – Inshou recently opened in the Marina Plaza shopping center, just off Highway 101’s Hillsdale exit. We were shopping at Marina supermarket and decided to give this new place a try.
San Mateo is home to a large Japanese and Asian population making it ground zero for some excellent Japanese restaurants including Hotaru, Yakitori Kokko, and Sushi Sam. Our last visit was in November 2013

Memphis Minnie’s Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on January 17, 2013

Memphis Minnie’s is one of the best barbecue places in San Francisco. It is located in the colorful lower Haight district. They specialize in slowly smoking meats from 4 to 18 hours over white oak logs. Memphis Minnie’s prides themselves in cooking items from scratch. They have BBQ plates, sandwiches, burgers, and even catfish. Our last visit was in April 2013.

Alexander’s Steakhouse Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on January 16, 2013

Alexander’s Steakhouse is a modern high end steak restaurant that opened Early September 2010 in the South of market (SOMA) area of San Francisco. Their other location in Cupertino, just off highway 280, has been serving top notch steaks since 2005. On our last visit during the pandemic, we ate outside at the Cupertino location. They feature 28-day aged Certified USDA prime Angus steaks while the Palo Alto location uses USDA Choice Grade meat. (Top 1% of beef)

Osteria Coppa, San Mateo

Posted on January 1, 2013

Unfortunately, Osteria Coppa Closed in June 2016.

Osteria Coppa is a new restaurant from the owners of Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay located in the former Pomaroma Cafe location. Osteria in Italian means a place where the owner “hosts” people or an Italian-style eating establishment. They are focusing on artisan pizza and pasta along with a variety of other authentic Italian dishes using local and seasonal ingredients. Seafood is sustainably-fished and the meats we use are antibiotic free. This mirrors places like Pizzaiolo in Oakland, Flour and Water in San Francisco. Founding Executive chef of Osteria Coppa is rising star Chanan Kamen, formerly of Quince, but he left a couple years ago for Mexico. His proteges continue turning out the menu. Our last visit was in 2016.

Left Bank Restaurant Review, Menlo Park, Santana Row

Posted on October 29, 2012

Left Bank is a Brasserie style French restaurant. They have 3 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area and got started in 1994. They serve seafood from the CleanFish Alliance of sustainable seafood products. Our last visit in September 2012, was to the Santana Row location in San Jose.

25 Lusk – Twenty Five Lusk Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on August 22, 2012

Twenty Five Lusk – 25 Lusk is a long-awaited and hot restaurant from an All-Star team that opened in the middle of October, 2010. Tucked away in an alley, this place will draw much walk-in traffic! They serve “sophisticated, contemporary, approachable fine dining specializing in neoclassical-influenced cuisine”, which probably means locally inspired California cuisine. Our last visit was in 2012.

A16 Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on August 21, 2012

Opened in 2004, A16 has since been present on many top Italian restaurant lists. It is a very popular restaurant in the Marina district, with prime time reservations needing to be booked a week or two in advance. This restaurant is serious about wine and pairing. Our last visit was in the summer of 2012.

Ad Hoc Restaurant Review, Yountville

Posted on August 15, 2012

Ad Hoc at Home – This book is full of Thomas Keller’s insights from Ad hoc.

Be sure to check out the French Laundry Cookbook

Gioia Pizzeria Review, Berkeley and San Francisco

Posted on May 18, 2012

Gioia is a top rated Pizza place in North Berkeley. It has been there since 2004. As they put it: “Gioia Pizzeria takes the best of pizza traditions from the old world and the new. Classic flavors and ingredients such as artisanally made sausage, fresh mozzarella cheese and arugula come together in inspired traditional ways, seasoned with the influence of Bay Area kitchens such as Zuni Café, Chez Panisse and Oliveto” Gioia is a small hole in the wall with minimal counter seating. The place specializes in thin crust pizza and is known for local, organic ingredients. It was rated as a top pizza place by Michael Bauer. Our last visit was in late 2011 and we noticed prices had gone up. Their San Francisco location opened in 2012, we dined here in May 2012. It is located right next door to burger heaven, Polkers.

Sushi Sam’s Edomata Restaurant Review, San Mateo

Posted on February 3, 2012

Sushi Sam’s is a popular Japanese restaurant in downtown San Mateo. We have considered them and Hotaru as the 2 best Japanese restaurants in this area that seems to have a Japanese restaurant on every block. There is a large Japanese and Asian population in this area. Our last visit was in January 2012.

Manzanita Lake Tahoe Restaurant Review, Lake Tahoe

Posted on January 11, 2012

Manzanita Lake Tahoe is the new restaurant by Traci Des Jardins in the posh Ritz Carlton Highlands at Northstar Lake Tahoe. It opened in Decemeber 2009. Rooms here start at $350 a night. She is best known for Jardinière and Mijita Cocina Mexicana in San Francisco. Manzanita serves French inspired California cuisine with a focus on organic, sustainable, seasonal ingredients. Free valet parking for dinner guests. Our last visit was in early 2012 where we found prices had increased significantly.

Poggio Restaurant Review, Sausalito

Posted on January 4, 2012

Poggio is an Italian trattoria Restaurant situated in the Casa Madrona Hotel, right on the main touristy street of Sausalito. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They focus on Northern Italian cuisine using local ingredients, sustainable products, and property-grown organic herbs and vegetables. The founder Larry Mindel has a long history with restaurants including Ciao, Prego, and Il Fornaio. Peter McNee is the executive chef. Our last visit was at the beginning of 2012.

Ristorante Capellini Restaurant Review, San Mateo

Posted on January 1, 2012

Ristorante Capellini is a popular Italian restaurant in downtown San Mateo, near the Caltrain station. Since 1990, this beautiful Pat Kuleto designed restaurant has been packing them in. It looks pretty unassuming on the outside, but once you open the door.. Our last visit was in the Summer of 2012.

Oenotri Restaurant Review, Napa

Posted on December 19, 2011

Terra Restaurant Review, St. Helena

Posted on November 23, 2011

Terra is a one Michelin star restaurant in the heart of the Napa wine country, St. Helena. The owners also run Ame in San Francisco. Earlier in 2011, they added Bar Terra next door which serves more informal items.

Tin Lung Heen Restaurant Review, Hong Kong

Posted on November 9, 2011

Why did we here? – This restaurant is located in the brand spanking new Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, making it a no-brainer for those seeking out beautiful new restaurants. They received a surprising 2 Michelin stars in 2013. Guess the food has improved since our visit in 2011.

Harbourside Buffet Restaurant Review, Hong Kong

Posted on August 28, 2011

Best buffet in Hong Kong? Best buffet in the world? Harbourside is a restaurant in the InterContinental Hong Kong hotel that specializes in Buffets for lunch, dinner, and Sunday Brunch. They serve Asian, American, and other international dishes. Our last visit was in the summer of 2011 for Sunday brunch.

Luce Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on August 1, 2011

Why did we dine here? – Luce is a one Michelin star restaurant in the Intercontinental San Francisco hotel. We’ve debated dining here for a while. The previous chef left to open Atelier Crenn, so we wondered how Luce would rate now. The reviews on yelp are decidedly mixed.
Daniel Corey (Pelican Bay resort) worked under chef Crenn, and is now the chef de cuisine and has put his stamp on the food.

Sunny Shanghai Restaurant Review, San Bruno

Posted on July 20, 2011

Sunny Shanghai is a small family owned restaurant located in southern San Bruno along busy El Camino Real, not far from Asian Pearl Peninsula. People have said that this owner started this restaurant because he was unhappy with family members at Little Shanghai in San Mateo. Our last visit was in April 2011 when we upgraded their food rating, finding this place a high quality cheap eats restaurants.

Fleur de lys Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on July 18, 2011

Fleur de lys is a long-standing French restaurant from Hubert Keller, who also owns Burger Bar and is featured on a PBS television show. They received one Michelin star in 2011. The last time we were here, perhaps 8 years ago, we were very impressed, so we had high expectations.

Chez Spencer Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on June 29, 2011

Why did we dine here? – Located almost under the Central Freeway, Chez Spencer was on Check Please, long-ago, and looked fairly promising. Being French food fans, we have no choice but to give it a whirl.

Madera Restaurant Review, Menlo Park

Posted on June 27, 2011

Madera Restaurant is located in the Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel, just across the way from venture capital central. This is a high-end hotel that opened up just a couple years ago. Chef Peter Rudolph used to work at Campton place in San Francisco. He uses a wood-burning grill and explores artfully-crafted, market-driven cuisine of bold flavors. Sustainably harvested and produced seafood and meats. Madera means wood in Spanish.

Commonwealth Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on June 20, 2011

Commonwealth is a contemporary American restaurant in the Mission district that focuses on local, sustainable and organic ingredients whenever possible. They also donate some dining proceeds to a local charity.

La Ciccia Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on June 13, 2011

Excellent food in Noe Valley. La Ciccia is an intimate restaurant located in San Francisco’s Noe Valley that focuses on food from Sardinia, especially seafood. The husband and wife team operate this popular and homey restaurant.
The restaurant was featured on Check please in 2008.

Shang Palace Restaurant Review, Guilin, China

Posted on May 27, 2011

Unlimited high quality dim sum lunch for $12? Wow!

Fook Lam Moon Restaurant Review, Hong Kong

Posted on May 25, 2011

Legendary crispy chicken wows us.

We recently visited Hong Kong and dined on excellent Cantonese Chinese food and more. Hong Kong is a modern city like New York, that is progressive, packed with energy, and filled with top-notch restaurants.

Piacere Restaurant Review, San Carlos

Posted on May 23, 2011

Piacere means Pleasure, to please, a source delight or joy in Italian. This restaurant is located in San Carlos in the Laurel Street shopping area right across the street from restaurant Town and near Spasso. Piacere focuses on modern California-Italian cuisine using local and organic ingredients. One last visit was in May of 2011, where we sensed food quality slipping.

Ming Court Restaurant Review, Hong Kong

Posted on May 14, 2011

The Chairman Restaurant Review, Hong Kong

Posted on May 8, 2011

Leopold’s Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on April 25, 2011

Why did we dine here? – Leopold’s is a hot new Austrian – German restaurant located on Russian Hill that has been getting a lot of positive press. Bauer liked it and Yelp fans are all over it. As the place opens at 530pm and the waiting starts around 6 PM. No reservations. A loud party every night! As they put it – “Casual, urban-rustic neighborhood gathering spot and bierhaus”. Are you ready for the 5 Liter beer?

Caprinos Restaurant Review, Belmont

Posted on April 22, 2011

Why did we dine here? – Caprinos is a long-standing Italian restaurant in Belmont that in March, 2011 became home to chef Gator Thompson. (Gators Neo Soul, several unsuccessful short stints after that) We were passing by and decided to see how his influence was taking shape. We focused on ordering items that he had added to the menu or reformulated. He is focusing on using fresh seasonal ingredients and healthy cooking.

Scratch Restaurant Review, Mountain View

Posted on April 20, 2011

Scratch is a new restaurant from Rob Fischer who runs Palo Alto Creamery, Reposado, and Gravity. This restaurant opened at the end of 2010. Fine Dining meets American Comfort Cuisine is their motto. We happen to be in the area and decided to give this place a try. The restaurant is modern, with clean lines, lots of wood, and large windows to the Street. Our last visit was at the end of 2011.

Taste In Restaurant Review, Burlingame

Posted on April 18, 2011

Taste In is a family owned Mediterranean deli and restaurant in Burlingame’s Broadway Street shopping district. They focus on Mediterranean cuisine including falafel’s, schawerma, kabobs and the like. This place opened in late 2009. Our last visit was in fall 2011.

Restaurant Mutsu Review, San Mateo

Posted on April 6, 2011

Mutsu is a long-standing family run Japanese restaurant about 2 blocks from the CalTrain station that has been here for a while and probably hasn’t changed much. We’ve been to most of the Japanese restaurants in this area, except for this one, so it was time to expand our horizons. San Mateo is home to a large Japanese community, so there are Japanese restaurants on practically every block.

Capannina Restaurant Review, San Francisco

Posted on March 25, 2011

Bargain of the century! Capannina is a small Italian restaurant is on Union Street that was featured on Check Please. The place looked attractive, so we decided to give it a try.
Sister restaurants include Cafe tiramisu, Belden Taverna, Brindisi Cucina, and Brio.

Spicy Empire Restaurant Review, San Mateo

Posted on March 11, 2011

Spicy Empire is a Chinese restaurant that recently opened in the former location of Shanghai East. They focus on Sichuan Chinese cuisine with an emphasis on spicy dishes.

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