Matt "Joe Cool" G.'s Profile

Katana-ya has been my intended target forever. And every time I passed by here, there is a ton of people waiting to be seated. The long wait with all those people deters me from dining here.

Until a few days ago, I finally made it here for my early dinner before my trip to Oracle Arena. When I see the size of the tiny restaurant, I can tell why the long wait. I don't think this place can hold more than thirty occupants.

On my long-awaited debut, I ordered the Katana-ya's Noodle combo. Ranging from $11.00-15.00, I get a noodle soup with a side dish. I chose the Soba Noodle soup with a side of Spicy Tuna sushi. The thick buckwheat noodle and seaweed in a milky broth was the best way to warm me up. Soup: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

The spicy tuna sushi was really good with fresh ingredients. Sushi: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

As I was enjoying my meal, more people arriving for dinner and the wait was on for others later on. I also like the Sapporo beer on tap with the cool silver Sapporo can knob for the beer. 'Will a $14.00 pitcher of Sapporo beer mess you up?" Beer: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

Many of my followers know I'm not a Japanese food expert. But I wanted to try something different. Mission accomplished on my part to finally eat here.

Will I eat here again?

Only I come around the same time and lesser people.

Rubio's is offering $1.50 Fish Taco every Tuesday at 2:30pm til 8pm (closing time). And that is what I ate last night (on Tuesday) for din-din.

I got three of the renowned tacos with a $4.00 bottle of Corona beer. The taco had breaded fish meat with shredded cabbage in a flour or corn tortilla. For the special price, the fish taco wasn't bad. But honestly, I would not pay more than $1.50 for each of their tacos.

You can get frozen battered fish from the frozen food section and your choice of packaged tortillas at your local supermarket and make that taco yourself. The taco is not too difficult to make.

But I do love the clean salsa bar there with a choice of eight different kinds to choose.

This place is nothing too special. But I had to try and review.

The DMV handbook recommend, if you do a lot of driving and begin to feel drowsy and sleepy, take a break and do whatever it takes to wake your ass up before getting behind the wheel again.

This applied to me every time I drive as far as Petaluma from San Francisco. "I'm aware I'm getting old. I'm sure the similar occurrence applies to you too. So we're on the same boat as well!"

Of course, there is a Starbucks and Peet's in Downtown Petaluma. I mean, unless the city is poor, which downtown city(s) does not have Starbucks?

As sleepy as I was, I have enough energy to find an independent coffee house to hopefully find a better (quality-wise and stronger) cup of coffee. And Acre Coffee bar is where I landed.

The coffee house uses Flying Goat Coffee Company; based out of Healdsburg, which is up north from Petaluma. For $2.50, I get that same coffee company in my cup of coffee in the afternoon. The café's coffee is made drip-style for a better tasting cup of Joe.  "Oh yeah, I feel a lot better with a strong cup of coffee."

I also like the café's offering of Agave nectar sweetener for your beverage. "Makes my coffee even better".

Briefly, the café is a cool hangout for people with laptops to do what they gotta do. The staff was very friendly as well. I would definitely make my second-home here.

Another gem I found in Petaluma!

If you like a taqueria with a diner-like feel and good Mexican food, go up to the city of Petaluma.

A large majority of my visits and dining at taquerias have been dumps and total shit-holes.

But in the city of Petaluma, you won't get many of those up there. All you will get are great and authentic Mexican food with a diner-like feel at a family-like atmosphere.

This is my second visit to the chain taqueria. I like this location much better than the Kentucky Street location in Downtown Petaluma. This location is bigger with friendly and cute waitresses. This location is also within minutes away from the Petaluma outlet shops too. "I also smell cow turd too!"

This location also has the huge Padre Macho Burrito for $12.00; just like the one I had in the Downtown location from my last visit two years ago. But I can't eat that ginormous burrito again!

For lunch, I went smaller and had the Grilled pork super burrito for $6.75. I usually get my "silver bullet" wrapped in a foil & shove it in my mouth. But mine was naked and covered in a spicy red sauce. Thus, I need to use a fork and knife to eat the burrito. All the key ingredients were really fresh. The grilled pork was lean with a few crunchy end pieces. Combine, the burrito is just as good as any of the taquerias in San Francisco's Mission Street. My burrito: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

I also got a bowl of warm tortilla chips and salsa. For $2.00, I also got a tall glass of Horchata to quench my thirst after the spicy burrito.

This place is a favorite of many sources including Yelp and Team Mexico soccer team (with the team's autograph jersey posted on the wall).

The taqueria was also voted: "Best taqueria in Sonoma County" for the last five years.

You definitely get my vote too.

*yawn* 1,500th review...what business did I choose to yelp about?

This is a very tough call!

I chose this cool Karaoke/Bar/ lounge in Berkeley. I was in Downtown Berkeley earlier in the rainy day and I came here to see East Bay Community Manager: Nique and ten other Yelpers get together and hopefully try their luck to hopefully get clowned by Steven Tyler on American Idol.

The bar's drink specials are Absolut Vodka Greyhound for $5.00 and a bottle of Bud Light for $2.00. I had two bottles of the light beer. As I was enjoying my watered-down brew, I was watching Yelpers and other patrons breaking their legs and performed  classic hits on stage. I was also browsing through the catalog of available songs. They have Lady Gaga too.

And if you are not much into karaoke like myself, there is also a pair of television to watch LeBron and Kobe (Yay...to the Heat beating the Lakers).

More importantly, I finally was able to talk to the new East Bay Community Manager. Nique is a native of the East Bay and know the Bay Area. She also knows how to pick venues for fun East Bay events.

Like this cool Karaoke bar!

My cherry just got popped when I finally ate at the new Five Guys Burger in Burlingame.

And being located a block away from busy Burlingame Ave. and located near Burlingame High (located not far & on the other side of the Cal Train Station), the newest burger joint is another popular hangout for the younger crowd.

There was a long line. While waiting in line, we can snack on the free shelled-peanut. It is a kind of bad idea to offer the free nuts to the young kids. These young kids crack the shells and toss the shells everywhere except in the garbage can. I even see the empty shells thrown back in the same bin. I would hate to imagine how the kids live at home.

From the menu, there are no combo meals and every item is sold separately. And for $7.29, I get the Bacon Double Cheeseburger. You can also request any or all toppings available in your burger. I chose the customary lettuce, tomato, mayo and grilled onions. The burger patties were arid and unbearable to eat. The strip of bacon was not too crispy.

I also get a cup of seasoned fries and an endless cup of coke. The side of fries was soggy and too salty. My Meal: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

But I do like the cool Coke machine with at least 30 kinds of Coke flavors to choose from including Mr. Pibb and HI-C! Coke Machine: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

Again as I was eating my below-par meal, I was hearing the Peninsula kids talking about... kid's BS.

As I was leaving I see kids in their BMWs, Mustangs and SUVs-while I was in my low-life & work-issued Crown Victoria.

I didn't find Five Guys' burgers all too stunning at all. Don't expect me to come back to the burger joint anytime soon. But the same plaza is having more businesses soon. I'll be back when those new businesses open, but not Five Guys.

Lets go to In & Out instead!

I was accepted to attend the final day of this five-day holiday elite event. And for that I'm called, "The Closer"! (I end this elite event with my entertaining time).

Right off the bat, my first elite event of 2012 and I was rudely introduced by a couple demanding yelpers who wants to challenge me in drinking the free and endless bottles of Trumer Pilsner German Beer..."BOTTOMS UP!"

Well, I guzzled seven beers by myself in fifteen minutes and the two yelpers combine could not finish a bottle in the same amount of time.

"DON'T COMPETE WITH THIS OLD MAN!"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR, MOTHER-F***ERS!"

Little Ike- I still love your sandwiches!

The Suchada Thai massage- "Hurt so good" with your massage..."Oh yeah!"

Rye on Road- killer cocktails!

Mission Minis cupcakes- you never saw me took your tray of mini Red Velvet Cupcakes!

Nico's Tacos- the tasty tacos helpful enough to absorb the alcohol out of my system!

The dancing acrobats on the rafters remind me of the shows in Circus Circus!

The deejay spinning mysterious gothic tunes.  

Free bottles of Fiji waters-the dehydration-stopper!

Having portable toilets parked in front of the warehouse.

Ruggy, Jessica, Nique, Abby, Alex & Christina- a great way to start 2012 by getting this "Big Daddy" "DRUNK!"

(I'm also drunk typing this review).

In the Castro, it was a cold and a deserted Wednesday night.

No men, boys, or beast anywhere, in sight.

Hot Cookie is where I, roam the street.

A $6.25 chocolate covered penis macaroon was my treat.

Taking the Muni Metro & imbibing my treat with, an insensible self-pride.

Many passengers on the Metro looking at me, "shockingly stupefied".

Penis: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

For some strange reason, 2012 is off to a positive start.

Usually I would find a taco truck in one of many "Off the Grid" food events. But the mobile taco truck is parked a block away from my house and is located in front of the Chameleon Café on Thursday nights. Truck: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

I came here while my laundry is in the process. And I came here and enjoyed 4 tacos at $2.00 each. The grilled steak and grilled pork meats were really good in the warm corn tortilla. (I had outside seating, thus the picture of my evening meal is too dark. My apologies). My treat: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

I also got a Stone IPA beer from the Café. The local beer in a glass is $4.00. Beer tastes great with tacos.

I also got a couple of tacos for my daughter's dinner after her homework is completed. A treat she can enjoy while watching San Jose Shark's hockey. Her treat: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

Kudos to the taco truck and owner of the Café: Melody for bringing the taco truck to my neck of the woods. Melody is also trying to negotiate in acquiring other food trucks to park in front of her café. But the taco truck is a great choice.

Can somebody "holla at your boy"- why are there "THREE" (3) Teaway shops within the two blocks of Asian-friendly Irving Street?

The three reminds me of three Walgreen's on Market Street. Is it really necessary to have three Teaway locations so close to each other?

Honestly it is indeed a great idea. Because all three locations are really busy. The three are also great hangouts for the teeny -boppers from the Sunset District. "Damn, I feel old!"

As many of you know, I am a "slutty milkshake whore"(and damn proud of it too). And Teaway makes Milkshake the "Asian" way. This location has that Asian-style milkshake as one of many special promotions. I chose the Taro flavor milkshake for the special price of $2.99. As I placed my order to the cute cashier, from the topping bar, I also get a choice of any of the topping with my drink. Among the toppings are Tapioca pearls, mixed jellys, assorted puddings and boba balls. And of course, I wanted more taro pudding for my thick shake.

After I got my drink and one sip from the fat straw, I love the nutty flavor taste of the thick shake. This unique milkshake is not your classic diner shakes. The barista did a great job in making the exceptional drink. My drink: http://www.yelp.com/bi...

Other than the blended beverages, the drink shop also offers waffles, crepes and other sweet and savory appetizers. I will be coming here and get more of the Asian style milkshakes.

Get the shop's stamped card and get the ninth drink for free or $2.99 off that ninth visit.

As much as I enjoyed the Taro Milkshake, that free drink might come hastily quick.