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!!