David "Dahveed" G.'s Profile

You know, for those of us that are convinced and self-affirmed omnivores, the whole concept of vegan food is not the best sell to our core need for a diverse, satisfying meal... But once on a while, the charm of a simple, honest, wholesome, plainly well-done arrangement of ingredients (independent of their origin) is all we need to switch our mind and become a devotee of not of a philosophy, but of a place that extols it. So is the case for Manzanita Restaurant, in the middle of nowhere in Oakland, California. And I say "nowhere" because it is near nothing in special... You would have to make it a destination, and a well worth it at that. And this is precisely part of its charm: An oasis of good, hearty (and they tell me healthy) nourishment. So simple an affair, you don't even have to choose your food, as there is no "choice "but the dish of the day (weekends is buffet) which I found pretty liberating as they always have a delicious mix of grains, veggies and sauces, and I don't even have to make the effort to learn their names! The place is charming in its clean plainness, the folks are pleasant (say hi to Charles from me) and the food is downright tasty. The whole experience makes for a great alternative to your routine fast-food habits... and your health would probably will benefit from as well, but I wouldn't know anything about that :-)

As a newbie to "raw food" It is quite amazing to me how creative the Cafe Gratitude people can be with all the self-imposed constraints... and still make something appetizing and actually remarkable.

The salads were fun and exciting, the drinks unique and refreshing, and the desserts some of the best I have had, anywhere, any cuisine. The place is cozy and homey. The tables are huge, the napkins are rags, and the waitresses a bit on the hard side. The whole underlying philosophy of "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it...people like me." is a bit overdone (gotta read the menu and posters all around you and try not to smirk) but heck, this is California and it is encouraging to have such an awesome alternative to the usual fare.

That summarizes my advice: Go visit Café Gratitude for a truly unique experience, and be surprised by the quality and creativity. Unless your palette is already ruined by processed foods, you will enjoy the (not inexpensive) results: Satisfied with no regrets.

San Francisco is awash in Peruvian restaurants (don't ask me why) and some of them, such as Lemon in the Mission, are widely known and respected. But I have to say that none matches the offerings of Piqueo's in Bernal Heights. Due to it's "remote" location in otherwise picturesque Cortland Avenue, this little gem may have escaped your  
radar until now, but please, do correct this mistake and visit them for a real treat to your senses. From the moment the friendly staff brings you a free aperitif, to the moment you went through several courses (tapas style) and all the way to dessert, their menu of light, honest and surprising combinations will leave you wanting for more. I have been there numerous times (visiting Bernal Heights is equal to making a stop at Piqueo's), and all my experiences have been flawless, unlike other places where you go to get stuffed and feel regretful afterward, at Piqueo's you go to feeling good about yourself and leave with a "wanting more" aftertaste. I cannot recommend any single dish as I have tried most and all of them are my favorite, you just can't go wrong. No doubt, one of my  top-three favorite restaurants in San Francisco (And no, nobody is paying me to give them five stars, and I don't know any of their owners... Just their food and that is enough).

Looking for a different Mexican cuisine experience to that of Taco Bell or the burrito van parked outside the office? Well, you won't get much farther than that as noh-pah-lee-toe's new offerings. Everything feels like a better version of whatever Mexican you may have tasted before. I recently had the privilege of eating an amazing Barbacoa de Borrego, its simple and honest presentation already advertising its delicate flavors. My wife went for dual appetizers (tapas' style) of Gorditas de Picadillo and Ceviche Verde de Pescado... Despite their familiar names and ingredients, they were all surprisingly delicious.

The portions are prudent enough to leave you with a satisfied yet un-regretful finish. I also went for Michelada, which for any self-considered lover of beer is a road that must be taken: I will push your preconceptions of what a beer goes well with. It is served chilled, with salt, lemon and a generous dash of Tabasco sauce (They skipped the traditional ice cubes no doubt to push the limits of propriety).

We ate in the patio, and despite San Francisco's chilly night of winter, we were comfortable enough with the overhead heaters. The service was prompt and friendly. The unisex bathroom was impeccable (although it takes a walk around the block!) and the parking plentiful. They had interesting touches like napkins resembling traditional rags. Unfortunately they have no desserts... something I hope they correct as no doubt they are bound to be spectacular.

The pricing was fairly affordable and even generous to the quality given, so the only caveat I can say is that they take no reservations and seem to be in high demand almost any evening. It takes a good 30 minutes wait in the cold (they will serve you drinks while you wait though). You actually sign your name and leave a phone number, so you can take off, and for example, buy yourself that post-dinner treat in the wonderful Delessio Market & Bakery next door. Tip: Befriend the cashier once there (or at the nearby Peet's Coffee& Tea) so next time you could call them ahead and politely ask to write your name on the list :-)

I highly recommend Nopalito. You won't get more refined Mexican food this side of the Bay (Oakland has the highly polished Tamarindo Antojeria, but that will take another review altogether).

We gave it a second chance... with no success, and redoubled disappointment. Herbivore may be an oasis of vegetarian choice at the edge of industrial Divisadero Street, it may be even a decent joint, with a cute tiny sidewalk terrace and OK modern decor. The staff is also OK friendly (on the grunge side of things, with is not bad by itself). But the food is definitely not worth the money.

As I mentioned, my wife and I tried once and we were quite let-down with the actual food preparation, but taken the aforementioned redeeming qualities, we thought  it to give it another chance. Months later though, our second dinner there evoked the same blandness as before. My gnocchi were no better than lumps of dough in a soup of ketchup, my wife's salad was thrown together with absolutely no love. I mean: You will think that a vegetarian place will put some spectacular devotion on the selection, preparation and presentation of their veggies. Well, not at Herbivore. The lettuce was cut willy-nilly, a good 15% of was downright wilted. The dressing was unevenly distributed... Like I said: No love. No sense for the drama and flair of fine dining. Nothing better than the side dish you would get at a burger road stop. Granted, I would not complain if said salad was less than 9 dollars. But the ratio of paid expectations to delivered quality is not there.

Sorry Herbivore, we really gave you a chance, but we doubt there will be a third.

With these two well-deserved stars, I am fulfilling a promise.

I have gone past Hukilau enough times to build an appetite fueled by curiosity. I missed the Hawaiian cooking from a past visit to the islands and I wanted to see if they will prepare it as authentic as I remembered.

Right from the start, the restaurant felt more like a "dive"... A pub where they happen to serve food. We settled in any case, as that in itself is not a bad thing: Three pages full of drink choices proved it so.

Hawaiian fare is clustered in easy to understand formats (Sandwiches, noodles, etc) but the menu felt more "themed" than regional (The pseudo-Hawaiian comedic lingo was not helping).

Just when we started enjoying our meals... I started noticing how LOUD the table next to us trully was. I gathered they were just having fun, so I let them be. It is only when their mantric singing got scatological and full of swearing, random gross-out adjectives and verbal sexual violence. There was a table full of kids just ahead I was concerned about, and the obnoxious loudness was just getting on my way to enjoying our meal.

Not wanting to create a discussion with an offensive table full of inebriated youth... I kindly asked the waiter to notify the manager and somehow advise the party of the restaurant nature of this business. (As if I needed to point out the problem! You could hear them all the way inside the restrooms).

"Right away!" was the cheerful answer... But a full meal went its course with no action by the owners whatsoever. The drunken folks owned the place, got their tension released with much swearing and singing, left in loud manner, stole several of the locale's glasses on their way out and broke a few in front of the door, just for the heck of it.

Hukilau's management made not a move... I would have understood if these were a burly bike gang with face scars and chains in hand. But we are talking just about a few obnoxious kids with no regard for proper behavior on a public place.

So... As I left the restaurant with no joy about the meal (nothing special to write about anyway) I made a promise to the Hukilau's staff: "You did not take upon my voiced request. Because of it: I did not enjoy my meal. I will not be back. You will not get a tip but you will get a bad review at Yelp. You have made a choice of the clientle you want to foster: Loud kids that drink alcohol, break your glassware and steel your stuff... versus folks that buy three-course meals and tell their friends in satisfaction". I guess that is what they are after all: A Hawaiian-themed Tavern. Go there when you want to get completely trashed.

You know, any fancy restaurant that has the gall of featuring the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" on a big screen while you eat, it scores very high on my book of Delightful Whimsy You Must Experience...

Before you are put off but that scenario, I would like to point-out that the projection is mostly for effect. It is impossible to pay attention to anything else once their great food offerings are placed in front of you. Their menu is small and very selective (although they offer one of widest selection of Oysters in San Francisco). My choice of Moroccan duck breast did not disappoint one bit (deliciously delicate)... Others in my table mentioned something about their Bacalao spread being too salty (How else can it be?), but I was personally thoroughly impressed with their fare and presentation. One of our fellow table companions was an expert in wines and quite pleased to discover their in-house sommelier could easily keep-up with his passion.

Beyond the food, the restaurant is a unique experience from the moment you walk-in from the street: Stark, industrial/urban decor on their largest hall as it really is a glass-roof covered wedge between old buildings. Yes, indeed! Outdoors city dining that feels like indoors thanks to their invisible heaters... In the backdrop is another large wall where the aforementioned projection occurs. ("Urban Picnic" is how they label their hors d' oeuvres, and I find it quite befitting to the rest of the place).

Foreign Cinema is now one of my favorite spots in Bay Area, and the number one destination for any of my guests' "welcome-to-the-city" dinners... I am eager to try next their famous Sunday brunches!

Final warnings of departure: Inevitable reservations (on any weekend) are "committed" with a credit card transaction and a $120 non-refundable fee in case of no-show.

Family-like treatment and spacious confy rooms (We stayed on the "San Juan" suite) with a somewhat off-taste decor, but quaint nevertheless. The bathroom fixtures a tad outdated... But nothing feels more luxurious than your own jacuzzi on an island that claims its water to be scarce. No breathtaking views from the balcony... But Friday Harbor is so quite that even the street feels like a beach. We liked the convoluted architecture of its three floors connected by narrow stairways and the little details like refrigerators with free food at all times and the VHS (quaint!) free collection of movies to watch on the room VCRs. The rooms felt quiet and clean.

Nice selection of rare, classic, foreign, and non-commercial movies (I highly praise that effort)... But the projection feels like coming from a DVD, the EXIT lights are way too bright and distracting for their small viewing halls, and the seats are small and quite uncomfortable. Pity, for there is no substitute for their offering in town.

A big screen in a big hall... just like the good old days before mini-theaters. The whole building is dedicated to one show... And sometimes it can go on for weeks and weeks before they change their offerings. Spectacular viewing experience... BUT:

Warning: The seats are low and you cannot comfortably slouch-in

Tip: Do not sit too far in the back... the projection room window right behind you actually sheds quite a bunch of light haze though its opening, and diminishes your perception of contrast. The projector's rumble can be noticed as well.