Tony "Rookie of the Year" L.'s Profile

This was my second time here. And to my surprise the food was actually...really good.

What turned me off the first time was the fact that we came with a huge party, maybe 20 something people or so, half of which wanted the all you can eat. Unfortunately, their policy was that if somebody at the table wanted all you can eat, everybody at the table had to get all you can eat. I can't explain to you what a nightmare of meat and broth this turned into. By the end we were sweeping piles of raw meat into the soup, which had congealed to an almost pudding consistency, just cause we could. We weren't even hungry anymore. We just wanted to see what would happen.

Flash forward a year, and here we are again. This time it's a birthday celebration. We're in the backside upstairs room. You wouldn't know it exists, but it's around the corner. The section of our table seated four, and we all ordered medium-sized plates. Initially it looked like a lot of food, but as dinner wound down, we finished everything. it wasn't too much, wasn't too little. The meat was sliced thin, so light, tender and juicy sinking your teeth into. The veggies, the udon, everything was just right. What's more, I was out of cash. And there was an ATM right in the bank under the restaurant. Talk about convenient.

I don't know why people like to have big parties here, it's not exactly a big party type restaurant. But I do think it's a great place to eat at with a small group, say 4-8 people. Have a few beers and a few plates--you won't regret it.

I gets 3 stars for convenience.

And I'm not so sure that's a good thing. The way I rationalize it, 1) it takes me 15 minutes out of the morning to get rid of the munchies. This McDonald's drive-thru in particular, with two ordering kiosks and two windows, one for taking your money, and other for giving you fat, is exceptionally efficient.  Even during rush hour, there's almost no waiting. Also, 2) having a heartier (or junkier) breakfast isn't as bad as having one for dinner, since you have the entire day to metabolize it out.

But the simple truth is this: I love Sausage McMuffins.  Always have, always will.

I have no idea what the big deal is with this place.  I passed through here the last time I was in town looking for a quick something to keep me warm and decided to brave the cold instead.  The fit wasn't right, the materials felt cheap, and the prices were ridiculous.  Sure, American Apparel is made in America.  Great.  But I don't think that moniker should necessarily be synonymous with compromise.

It was one of those bizarre weather days that starts out hot and muggy and gets cold really quick, and it soon became clear that a t-shirt wasn't going to cut it.  So during our three hour wait for brunch at Clinton St. Baking Company, we decided to forage for some clothing.

First stop was American Apparel up the street.  My one-star review is pending.

Then on the way back, we stumbled into SkunkFunk.  You never know with a lot of these SoHo boutiques, sometimes things look cool but they costs an arm and a leg.  Unique styles.  A focus on details.  Interesting color choices.  And the price wasn't too bad.  I picked up a hoodie and couldn't be happier.

Turns out SkunkFunk also has a location in San Francisco, so I hope to check that out the next time I'm in the mood for threads.  If you're looking for something unique to add to your collection without breaking the bank, this is the place for you.

I think if there are two senses that Clinton Street Baking Company satisfy, it's sight and texture.  The food looks so hearty, so rustic, so grand.  And the way each bite fills your mouth, whether it's fluffy pancakes, crunchy sugar-cured bacon, or crumbling buttermilk biscuits, it's simply a joy the way the food feels.  Even the orange juice was thick with chunks of orange.  Completely refreshing.

According to my sister, we came here on an off day, but the food was still pretty good. Tried a few things here, including a stack of the infamous blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and the crab cakes Benedict. But was it really worth the almost three hour wait? I have to say no.

I'd recommend coming on a weekday when it's less crowded, when you can avoid being packed in the dining area like a can of sardines, and enjoy your decadent  brunch.  I'm sure there are other restaurants that serve similar fare without the wait.  That said, Clinton St. Baking Company is still a great place to eat.

What better way to cool off on a warm afternoon with a large cup of frozen yogurt?

You could be cooling off in a warm shade with a beer.
You could be cruising with the top down along the Pacific.
You could be walking your dog in the park picking up on chicks.
You could be relaxing on the beach soaking rays.
You could be out shopping for a fresh  pair of kicks.
You could be sleeping in cause it's the weekend and you could use a few extra sweet hours of pillowtime.
You could be watching the game.
You could be watching a movie.  You could be reading that book that's been sitting on your shelf collecting dust.
You could be having a cup of coffee with a friend you haven't seen in a while.
You could be donating your clothes to the salvation army.
You could be disposing your batteries properly.
You could be washing your car.
You could be getting a hair cut.
You could be writing more  Yelp reviews.
You could be doing a ton of other things than going to another yogurt shop.

I could go on and on about better ways to cool off on a warm afternoon.  And you know what?  They might actually be worth doing.

This place gives you a good case of table envy.  You know, when you're waiting for your dish to come out, and you start scoping out the tables around you, and you go, "Ooh, what's that? Damn that looks pretty good. Maybe I'll order that next time."  And just a few minutes later you're drowning your curiosity with deliciously grilled Mexican food, juicy chunks of meat, char-grilled excellence and freshly prepared salsa.

I've been here a couple of times, and went for virtually the same dish, once for the steak and prawn burrito and another for the steak and prawn quesedilla.  Surf and turf, you can never go wrong.  One second you're sinking your teeth into a hearty bite of carne asada, the next you feel the pop of succulent, seasoned shrimp.  Awesome.  On top of that, you get free tortilla chips with every dish.  Even more awesome.

Despite it's spacious interior, Pancho Villa can be a little noisy, which is totally OK for a casual bite with friends.  Definitely a place worth checking out if you're in the area.  And if you're not as I am to sample steak and prawns, there's a ton of other great looking food on the menu.  Just take a look around at what people are eating at the tables beside you, and you'll know what I mean.

This restaurant is pretty good.  I was introduced to Town when a friend invited me down for lunch.  It's a neat trick how you go from the outside small-town feel of San Carlos, and once you step inside, you're transported to the kind of fancy restaurant you'd find in a big city with a full-sized bar serving steaks and chops.

Maybe that's what it is that puts me in a burger mood every time I'm here.  It just seems like the right thing to order here.  And at $10.75, my wallet, my wallet agrees.  I don't really have to go that far in describing it to you, it's simply a good burger--no frills, better than a chain burger but not mindblowing, either.

Whether you've got a little reason to celebrate, want to impress somebody or simply have some time to kill for a longer lunch, Town is definitely a place I would recommend.

Man, I dunno about this place.  I mean, it's not bad, but it's not great either.

I stumbled across Olives on my way to Subway and thought, "Hmm, why am I getting a Subway sub when I can be getting a gyro for the same price?"  I decided to investigate.

There's a bit of a wait.  You order, you sit around, you can walk out back and enjoy the gorgeous patio view of the lagoon out back.  And then the food comes out.  And it's just alright.  I don't know what it is that turned me off to this joint.  Maybe it was the doughy, uninspired flat bread, or the lukewarm lamb (the older I get, the more I appreciate food prepared at an appetizing temperature).  Perhaps it was the feeling of getting down to the last bite and finishing it with a lack of followthrough--I put it in my mouth, chewed and swallowed cause I didn't want it to go to waste.  Either way, there was something about Olives that just made me feel that I could live the rest of my life without ever coming back.  And that's too bad, because I loved most of the Greek restaurants I've been to.

This Subway gets the job done.  Unlike the Subways on El Camino that I've frequented in the past, you don't have to deal with the speedy traffic on El Camino, which can be especially treacherous when puling out of a parking space.  Plus, there's Citibank across the parking lot, so I can kill two birds with one stone here.  There isn't a lot of room here to eat.  But aside from that, who dines at Subway for ambiance?