December 30, 2008 - Oola!, SOMA

Folsom Street(between 4th St & 5th St)

San Francisco, CA 94107

(415) 995-2061

www.oola-sf.com

This restaurant is a very magical space. The ambiance is hip and has the appearance that anything can go, ... but it's very elegant at the same time. We started with Oysters (Kumomoto and Marin) at a very good price of $2.75 each. We had a Cheese plate, $16, that was strangely wonderful as a tasting dish though truely lacking in cheese (only two pieces). And, a fantastic Oven Dried Tomato Tart with onion jam, aged balsamic, goat cheese and fresh thyme, $12. It doesn't seem like much food, but it was so satifying with a glass of Kin Crawford 07 Pinot Noir, $10/glass, which is from New Zealand.

December 23, 2008 - Beretta, Italian

1199 Valencia St(between 22nd St & 23rd St) - Mission District

San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 695-1199

http://www.berettasf.com/

Oooooh, comfort food at it's San Francisco finest... A perfect place to go on a cold rain night!! It is so warm an cozy in Beretta, that a half an hour wait standing up near the bar is fine. We had Zucchini Pamigiana with scamorza and basil, $6, which is filled with the perfect italian flavors. It couldn't be any better. Also a stand out dish: Cauliflower with pangratatto, capers and sage, $6. As always, we ordered the Monterey Sardines en saor, $6, which are so tastey.

December 16, 2008 - Lingba Lounge, Thai

1469 18th St(between Connecticut St & Missouri St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 355-0001

www.lingba.com

I have driven by Lingba Lounge almost every day for the past 4 years, and have never gone before. After learning that all of of my neighbors LOVE the food I decided to meet some girlfriends at the Lounge. It have a wonderful atmosphere and terrific food. Sitting in the lounge we had the Seafood Appetizer Sampler, $26 for two. featuring grilled king prawns, fried calamari, thai spring rolls,and fresh spring rolls... yummmmeeeeeeeeee!! The fresh yellow Corn Cake, $8, is pretty fabulous too.

August 14, 2008 - Foreign Cinema

Foreign Cinema

2534 Mission St (between 21st St & 22nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-7600
www.foreigncinema.com

Yes, we are now repeating venues. But, some are so delicious we have to go back... soon! We had the Baked fromage d'affinois: summer truffle, roasted potatoes, toasts, and sauteed greens $12.50: I believe we had this last time... but, who's counting. Again, it's cheese - will we pass this up? We also got the Bombay style smoked trout, fresee and walnut toasts, $10 (by accident) but we loved it!! And we can't pass on the House cured sardines, meshweya, Moroccan olives, with fried almonds, $10. This is one of the best dishes I have ever had (oh, maybe that's why we had it last time too).

Bacar - September 2, 2008

448 Brannan St (between 4th St & Ritch St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 904-4100
www.bacarsf.com

This is my second or third time at Bacar. This restaurant is always extremely busy and full, and previously we have only been able to have dinner in the lounge. This time they had a table available in the dining area, however, I would recommend the lounge instead. It's a little cold feeling in the dining area on the main floor. However it may be different upstairs. I saw Oysters on the menu and had to have one of each: Buckley Bay-British Columbia, Marin Miyagi-California, and Rocky Pass-Alaska, $3 each. I didn't have a favorite yet they were all different and great! We had the Borrata Cheese Ravioli which had toasted walnuts, heirloom tomatoes and escarole $13. They were wonderful, and the serving size was just perfect for such a rich dish. We also got the Salad of Summer Squash containing fennel, baby artichoke with ricotta salata, mint and a creamy peppercorn vinaigrette, $11. Excellent!! Perfect combonations of flavors. And, we finished with a pizza, which we couldn't finish. The Mushroom Pizza, $15, was very tasty. I wish I had more room to finish it.

Limon Rotisserie - August 26, 2008

1001 S Van Ness Ave (between 21st St & 22nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 821-2134

limonrotisserie.com

This restaurant just openned this week! We have been to the sister restaurant, Limon, on Valencia many times so we were very excited to try the Rotisserie. We could tell that all of wait staff were honored to let us in on experience of their new place. We were given many wine and food suggestions. We had the Ensalada Rusa, a classic Limean salad with red beets, potatoes, carrots, green beans tossed in a mustard aioli dressing and served with avacado, $6.25. This was a super salad, though the dressing was a little too creamy. Limon specializes in ceviche. We had the Ceviche Mixta, flounder fillet, marinated with lime juice, rocoto, garlic, served with choclo-on-th-cob, camote and cancha, $5.75. Oooooo!!! The flavors are indescribable - fantastic! I am not a huge fan of the choclo-on-the-cob, which is a peruvian corn. The Calamar Frito, $7.25 were very good. And, lastly, as recommended by our waiter, we got the Tacu-tacu, $2.25 which was a bean and rice fritter. Very good, and will get again!!

Maya - Autgust 18, 2008

Maya -Mexican, SOMA district

303 2nd Street San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 543-2928

www.mayasf.com

This is one of my favorite places because every dish is SPECIAL. This is not your ordinary Mexican/Latin food, it's very "over the top". The chef has the most amazing imagination and creates combinations you would never dream of. They have a FREE appetizer combo at the bar before 7pm. I alway go early enough to get this. It comes with the most delicious black bean dip I have ever had. A chicken tamal and and a veggie taquito is served with it in addition to plenty of chips. We also ordered the veggie tacos which this time were made with beans and corn topped with an amazing sauce. Often they are made with rajas (sliced grilled peppers), which I love. We ordered a citrus ceviche which was unique and fantastic. Oh, and don't forget to order a margarita or two, I beleive they have over 80 kinds of tequila. Overall, this is a very classy and elegant place to dine. A great place to take out of town guests.

Chez Papa Resto - August 12, 2008

Chez Papa Resto - French, SOMA

414 Jessie St (between 5th St & Mint St)

San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 546-4134

http://chezpapasf.com/resto/01_home.html


We frequent Chez Papa on Potrero Hill but this is my first time to this location at the new Mint Plaza. Like many of the SOMA restaurants this place looks like a very elegant loft. It's very warm and inviting, as are the staff. We had the Squash blossoms lightly fried with mozzarella, goat cheese, pistou and tomato coulis $12, the Heirloom tomatoes with yellow watermelon salad and fetta, lemon, pine nuts and opal basil $11, the Black mssion fi and rosemary tart with Sonoma goat cheese and fisee salad $11, and the Steamed PEI mussels with cherry tomatoes, piment d'espelette, and pastis-saffron broth $16 with a side of Pommes Freites and Aioli 6$. This was one the best meals I have had.

Esperpento, July 29, 2008

Esperpento - Mission, Spanish tapas
3295 22nd St (between Bartlett St & Valencia St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-8867

This is one of our favorites for Tuesday nights. There is so many interesting Tapas to try at this place that it's fine to go again and again and again... as we have. It's very affordable as well, so you don't feel guilty. We always get the Alcachofas (Artichokes). We also ordered the Tortilla patatas, the Grilled salmon strips, and an order of the Manchego cheese. Other items that are delicious are the asparagus, the spicy potatoes and the garlic shrimp. Can't wait for next time!!

Chaya - July 22, 2008

Went to Chaya for my birthday. No blog entry for this visit... but, GO THERE!!

http://www.thechaya.com/

Orson July 15, 2008

Orson - American, SOMA

508 4th St (between Bryant St & Brannan St)

San Francisco, CA 94107

(415) 777-1508

www.orsonsf.com

Chef Elizabeth Faulkner (of Citizen Cake) is brilliant!! Orson is a super special place, with it's beautiful decor that is casual yet elegant and the food is just awesome. We started with the Cheese & Accoutrement ~ cow, goat, sheep $16, and the Little gem salad, peas, mint and basil vinaigrette $10. We followed this with Sardines, with butterbeans, maitake mushrooms, Kohlrabi $12 and Charred hamachi tartare, avocado, radis, citrus $12.

Beretta July 8, 2008

Beretta
Neighborhood: Mission
1199 Valencia St (between 22nd St & 23rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 695-1199

One of our favorites closed down, The Last Supper Club. But, Beretta took it's place. In the same space, Beretta is much more sleek and contemporary. Of course, I like it better and mom thought it was more charming before. With a very different approach to italian than the Supper Club, I find the menu of Beretta more approachable. It's all very fancy, but familiar. We had the Warm Marinated Cerignola olives with Citrus, $6. I am a big olive fan, and these might have been the best I have ever had. We had the fish antipasti: Monterey Sardines en Saor, $7, which were sooooo good! We also had a small Pizza which was perfect! Funghi misti, tomato, fontina and thyme, $14. Great food, great ambiance, ... this one should last awhile!!

Andalu July 1, 2008

Andalu- Mission
3198 16th St (at Albion St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 621-2211

Oh boy, we were bad tonight. We ordered every fried appetizer they had.... we couldn't help ourselves. We started with Ahi Tartare Tacos with Chili and lime, mango salsa at $1 each; well, that's not so bad... just wait. Then we had Crispy Mac & Cheese with herb tomato vinegrette, $7. Heavenly!!! An order of the Curly Polenta Fries with spicy tomato vinegrette, $7, was a most unusual treat and very delicious. And, then if that wasn't enought fried crispiness, we ordered the Crab Rangoon (an egg roll) with sweet and sour dipping sauce, $8. Andalu offers tons of wonderful healthy small plates... but we felt like being BAD!!

Foreign Cinema, June 17, 2008

Foreign Cinema - French American, Mission

2534 Mission St (between 21st St & 22nd St)

San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 648-7600

http://www.foreigncinema.com/

This restaurant is very elegant yet comfortable. They have a great courtyard where the project foreign films on the wall, just for ambiance. They have a number of appetizers they catagorize as an "Urban Picnic" which I think is so fun! The restaurant was full and had quite a wait so mom and I ate in the bar, called the László Bar. It's very industrial yet warm feeling. The bartender who also waited on us was the BEST!!

We had the House Cured Sardines with white bean and roasted pepper salad, queso fresco, and pine nuts - YUM! It was one of the best dishes I have ever tasted. We had the Tuna Tartar with ginger-lime vinagrette, wasabi tobiko, chili oil, and waffle potato chips. The picture is so unappetizing I couldn't post it, but the tartar was one of the best I have ever had. The Urban Picnic we chose was the Baked Fromage d'Affinois with crudité, olivada and potatoes. I will just say .... Melted cheese makes me happy!!!!

Grand Pubah, June 10, 2008

Grand PuBah Restaurant - Thai , Potrero

88 Division Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 255-8188

http://www.grandpubahrestaurant.com/

This is a BEAUTIFUL restaurant. It is very high end food and is loosely yet elegantly Thai, like Beetlenut (Union Street) is with Chinese food.

We had the Coconut Crusted Soft Shell Crab served with roasted corn salsa $1o. Now I know what coconut is for - to encrust soft shell crab!!! Fabulous corn salsa too!! Sizzling Spicy Prawns with cilantro, lemongrass, lime, Thai chili $10. Very tasty; they were the best shrimp I have had in a long time. Papaya Salad with tomato, green bean, lettuce, and Spanish anchovies $8. This lovely plate of Kumamoto oysters from Fanny Bay $2.75 each did not need the accoutrements - served with fried onions, traditional Thai style sauce, Sriracha sorbet and Hangar one kaffir lime granita. As tasty as they may sound added nothing to the oysters. But, boy were the oysters yummy!

I drive by this restaurant every day and can't wait to return!!

Paréa, June 3rd, 2008

PARÉA Wine Bar and Cafe - Greek/Mediterranean : Mission District

795 Valencia St.San Francisco, CA 94110

415 255 2102

Mon. through Sat. 5-12

Closed Sundays

http://www.pareawinebar.com/

A terrific casual environment to have fun with friends!! We had the bruschetta with tomatoes, olives, roasted garlic and monouri cheese. Also, we indulged in a pizzetta with tomato, arugula and mozzarella. A Veggie plate with roasted potatoes, greens hummus, tzatziki, carrots, cucumbers, celery, and roasted peppers... YUM, all of my favorite things!!