Rand F.'s Profile
Date
5004 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 450-0522
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 450-0522
Restaurante Doña Tomas
Category:
Mexican
Neighborhoods: Temescal, Rockridge, North Oakland
Mexican cullinary mastery. The dishes are subtle blends of flavors that surprise me every time. The desserts... are unbeatable.
349 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-6000
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-6000
Troya
Category:
Turkish
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
We discovered this place on accident, wandering down Clement after being stymied by the long wait time at Burma SuperStar... but that was perhaps a stroke of major gastronomic fortune!
Troya presents an incredibly balanced selection of meze and entrees, coupled with a strong selection of wine. A handful of meze, and maybe a few skewers of lamb to split... and you have the perfect baseline for a dinner with friends.
While it might be tempting, don't over do it on the meze! The dessert is good enough that you'll REALLY want to save room for it. Trust me.
Troya presents an incredibly balanced selection of meze and entrees, coupled with a strong selection of wine. A handful of meze, and maybe a few skewers of lamb to split... and you have the perfect baseline for a dinner with friends.
While it might be tempting, don't over do it on the meze! The dessert is good enough that you'll REALLY want to save room for it. Trust me.
What a find! This place has rockin' meat and killer BBQ sauce!
A full range of spice (mild to HOT), with all the excellent sides you might dream of (get the mac and cheese!), and some truly decadent desserts (bacon chocolate pecan pie!?) make this a shrine to indulgence in one of the best possible ways.
The owners are incredibly fun and outgoing, too! From the moment we walked in, they guided us through the menu, gave us samples of the sauces (and the peach cobbler - nom!), and were generally great hosts. It's rare and refreshing to find this kind of establishment!
A full range of spice (mild to HOT), with all the excellent sides you might dream of (get the mac and cheese!), and some truly decadent desserts (bacon chocolate pecan pie!?) make this a shrine to indulgence in one of the best possible ways.
The owners are incredibly fun and outgoing, too! From the moment we walked in, they guided us through the menu, gave us samples of the sauces (and the peach cobbler - nom!), and were generally great hosts. It's rare and refreshing to find this kind of establishment!
I've tried Chinese food of all types and regions, across large swaths of California. This place really stands out as being a shining example of Schezwan cuisine!
Everything is delicious, though the portions were MUCH larger than expected. The slow-cooked pork shoulder in spicy black bean sauce was so tender that it fell off the bone and melted in the mouth. The Schezwan-style boiled beer (with TONS of chili and garlic) was so savory and flavorful that I kept going back to it.
The staff is super friendly and fun, and the interior reminds me of the old school Chinese restaurant I worked in as a kid.
Overall, a real winner!
Everything is delicious, though the portions were MUCH larger than expected. The slow-cooked pork shoulder in spicy black bean sauce was so tender that it fell off the bone and melted in the mouth. The Schezwan-style boiled beer (with TONS of chili and garlic) was so savory and flavorful that I kept going back to it.
The staff is super friendly and fun, and the interior reminds me of the old school Chinese restaurant I worked in as a kid.
Overall, a real winner!
222 Second St
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 706-9733
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 706-9733
Creperie Saint Germain
Categories:
Creperies,
Food Stands
Neighborhood: SOMA
The goat cheese, spinach and jalapeno crepe that I picked up for lunch was excellent. The crepe is made of a slightly fluffy buckwheat batter, and the rest of the ingredients are really fresh. Everything is made to order, you can customize things, and the staff is really friendly. I love places like this!
2911 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 314-4855
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 314-4855
Library Alehouse
Categories:
American (New),
Breweries
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Another establishment that is dedicated to the art and craft of beer. The proprietors make sure that they keep the best and most interesting beers available rotating through the selection, and often bring brewers in-house to show off their most recent creations.
The food here is also excellent, and there are not many better ways to spend a hot summer afternoon in LA than out on the back patio with some friends and a pint of excellent beer.
The food here is also excellent, and there are not many better ways to spend a hot summer afternoon in LA than out on the back patio with some friends and a pint of excellent beer.
Listed in: Best Beers in Los Angeles
7929 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 650-4628
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 650-4628
The Surly Goat
Category:
Pubs
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
This place has a wonderful selection of microbrews, both local and global in origin. They change up the list weekly, too, so you can have quite the range of experiences there over time.
The feel of the bar is laid back, hip and fun. I've never seen it very crowded, and the people at the bar (on both sides) tend toward the cool and beer-savvy.
There's a smoking patio with some nice communal picnic tables, and there are a few games (more air hockey than billiards) inside.
The feel of the bar is laid back, hip and fun. I've never seen it very crowded, and the people at the bar (on both sides) tend toward the cool and beer-savvy.
There's a smoking patio with some nice communal picnic tables, and there are a few games (more air hockey than billiards) inside.
Listed in: Best Beers in Los Angeles
3173 College Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 655-5014
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 655-5014
Tara's Organic Ice Cream
Category:
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhoods: Rockridge, Claremont
Ginger ice cream with olive oil and pink sea salt toppings? In a freshly made cone? Right after a super spicy lunch next door at Burma SuperStar?
Yes.
One thousand times, yes.
Yes.
One thousand times, yes.
4721 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 652-2900
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 652-2900
Burma Superstar
Category:
Burmese
Neighborhoods: Temescal, North Oakland
This would get a 4.8 star rating, if possible. The food is just as good as it is at the SF location, but the portions are a bit smaller, and the overall tempo of the place more low-key. Why come here instead of hitting up the flagship on Clement? Little to no wait here, versus the frequent hour+ line you'll find in the city.
Recommendations: Chili Lamb (extra spicy), Sauteed Pork Belly, Tea Leaf Salad (yes, it's everyone's favorite for a reason), and some platha to round it out. The burma cooler is a great way to cool a hot East Bay evening, too!
Recommendations: Chili Lamb (extra spicy), Sauteed Pork Belly, Tea Leaf Salad (yes, it's everyone's favorite for a reason), and some platha to round it out. The burma cooler is a great way to cool a hot East Bay evening, too!
685 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 512-7610
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 512-7610
La Boulange de Market
Categories:
Bakeries,
Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: SOMA
Delicious sandwiches in a hurry! This place is not nearly as nice as its Cole Valley cousin, but the sandwiches are still delicious, and ready to grab and go. A work-time favorite.
3 Lists
1. The Surly Goat
This place has a…
2. The Golden State
With incredible quality…
3. Library Alehouse
See Full List »
Another establishment…
1. Cask
I've only browsed here so…
2. The Humidor
This place has a fine…
3. Burma SuperStar
See Full List »
Sometimes a restaurant…
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Review votes:
12 Useful, 6 Funny, and 7 Cool
Location
San Francisco, CA
Yelping SinceSeptember 2007
Find Me InSan Francisco, CA
My HometownLos Angeles, CA
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...learn * design * implement
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI will try anything at least once, and if it's noteworthy, I'll let you know!
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