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5004 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 450-0522

Restaurante Doña Tomas  

Category: Mexican
Neighborhoods: Temescal, Rockridge, North Oakland

5.0 star rating
2/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Mexican cullinary mastery. The dishes are subtle blends of flavors that surprise me every time. The desserts... are unbeatable.

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349 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-6000

Troya  

Category: Turkish
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond

4.0 star rating
9/15/2010 2 Check-ins Here
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.

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3415 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 879-7294

Phat Matt's BBQ  

Category: Barbeque

4.0 star rating
9/8/2010 3 Check-ins Here
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!

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1335 Solano Ave
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 525-2285

China Village Restaurant  

Category: Chinese

4.0 star rating
9/3/2010 3 Check-ins Here
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!

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222 Second St
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 706-9733

Creperie Saint Germain  

Categories: Creperies, Food Stands
Neighborhood: SOMA

4.0 star rating
9/3/2010 4 Check-ins Here
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!

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2911 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 314-4855

Library Alehouse  

Categories: American (New), Breweries
Neighborhood: Santa Monica

4.0 star rating
9/2/2010
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.

Listed in: Best Beers in Los Angeles

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7929 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 650-4628

The Surly Goat  

Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: West Hollywood

4.0 star rating
9/2/2010
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.

Listed in: Best Beers in Los Angeles

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3173 College Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 655-5014

Tara's Organic Ice Cream  

Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhoods: Rockridge, Claremont

5.0 star rating
9/1/2010
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.

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4721 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 652-2900

Burma Superstar  

Category: Burmese
Neighborhoods: Temescal, North Oakland

5.0 star rating
9/1/2010 15 Check-ins Here
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!

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685 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 512-7610

La Boulange de Market  

Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: SOMA

3.0 star rating
9/1/2010
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.

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3 Lists

Best Beers in Los Angeles

From gastropubs to bars to warehouse-based…
1.  The Surly Goat
This place has a…
2.  The Golden State
With incredible quality…
3.  Library Alehouse
Another establishment…
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Decadence in the Bay

These are my favorite places for indulging my…
1.  Cask
I've only browsed here so…
2.  The Humidor
This place has a fine…
3.  Burma SuperStar
Sometimes a restaurant…
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