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.