Stewart "Ventureman" A.'s Profile

I would have written this review when I had the meal, but Yelp's super-dumb policy of only letting you post from the web means I'm writing it a week later. I loved this restaurant, which is about a 15-minute detour (near Fairfield) from Route 80 on your way to Tahoe.

I had the Shrimp A La Diabla, which has to be the richest, hottest diabla sauce I've had. It was wonderful and turned my mouth on completely. Love the decor, the style and the food.

I've had Zenbelly cater two events for me, as well as to make some frozen soup for me to warm up and to clean out my pantry of stuff that doesn't contribute to my healthy living. I give a hearty endorsement for Simone (chef and owner of Zenbelly) as a caterer and as a nutritional chef who can help you live a healthy but tasty life.

I started this review three weeks ago, but Yelp's stupid policy on using your mobile app to write reviews means I'm finishing it three weeks later, unable to remember any of the details besides what I wrote on the mobile phone at the time. We ate the following: iwana (Arctic char), seared Spanish mackerel (sawara), aji, iwashi (sardine, out), uni, albacore tataki, tuna tataki salad, double-double roll, golden state roll. I remember generally that all of it was outstanding as sushi and sashimi: fresh, tasty, etc. Tataki also has the policy of only using sustainable fish, either wild caught or farmed. So you feel good and it tastes good!

Poor service. Great she-crab soup. Terrible steamed mussels. Wouldn't go back.

Best pizza-by-the-slice on Broadway. Management has changed so give it another try!

Double noms for Stallion. Vacho talked me into a new eco toilet, installed it the same afternoon, and showed me how to apply for a "Toilet Rebate" from the city. Now I love flushing my new toilet, particularly after I've provided a particular big load for it to deal with!

Overshot my destination (Fedex to pick up slide decks that I'd prepared on the airplane from SFO to FLL). Noticed on Google maps that there is a Japanese restaurant. Went to Yelp and found two five-star reviews of the place with specific recommendations for dishes.

Here's what I had:
Gyoza: lite and tasty
Yukke: raw beef and onions mixed with a "secret" spicy sauce, which is really good
Squid Shoyu (butter soy): The menu lists Scallops Shoyu, but the chef took pity on me and made it for me with squid instead. You know that grilled taste with butter. Wow!
Salmon grilled with touch of salt: Good but not amazing.
Sweet potato tempura: Likewise
I had a bottle of cold sake (on a hot and stormy night) but the chef came out and gave me a glass of Otokayama sake at the end, which was much better!
This place made me think of Japanese tapas, which is probably normal in Japan (but I haven't lived there for 10 years, just visited 10+ times). And it was real treat to find it in this odd location (near the Doral Golf Resort and Spa where I was headed for a conference event).

Sat at the chef's counter and had a fine meal by myself. Started with the Chipotle Shrimp, which were five flayed shrimp in a butter chipotle sauce. Nice flavor, not too hot and complimented the shrimp well. Then had the chicken saltimbocca, which was a special and not on the regular menu (which appears to be printed daily). Chicken was a tad dry but the saltimbocca was good: good quality prosciutto with a tasty sauce and orzo hidden underneath. I ordered one of five wines by the glass and chose the Milagro #9 Corrales Red, just because it's from New Mexico. Pretty tasty wine, sort of between a merlot (which it contains) and a pinot noir (which it doesn't). What I really liked is that the chef/owner Robert Chickering stands out front, greets the guests and seats and talks to them. Very old world and a friendly, sociable kind of guy. I recommend this place for singles and couples, maybe two couples.

Agree that it's fallen from former heights of dim sum glory. Almost no variety in choices (on a Thursday, but...), big gaps in time between carts. Only reason to go here is to meet before taking off at SFO, which is what I did. For that, it's good enough and great location. But I wouldn't go here for dim sum otherwise, since there are such great other choices.

This place is amazing. Bread I've never seen anywhere baked really well. We picked up a fougasse and goat cheese flat bread the first time we went, plus I had a fine expresso. Then we came back on our way to Osmosis and I had a double chocolate pear scone that blew my mind. I'll go out of my way (required, since Freestone isn't on the way to anything) to go this bakery again.