Mildred "Master Shake" A.'s Profile
DateSan Bruno, CA 94066
(650) 589-1163
Don Pico's Original Mexican Bistro
Category:
Mexican
1 Previous Review:
-
9/29/2007
Don Pico's is Mexican food the way it should be done.
Some reviewers have a concept of Mexican food only encompassing burritos and tacos but I know it entails so much more. Having traveled around Mexico quite a bit, I can tell you that the food served here is top gourmet Mexican.
I'm also Hispanic and dine here on a weekly basis (have done so for 3 years) as well as many of the other Hispanic regular customers (this is for the other reviewer who said no Hispanics ever come here-don't judge a book by its cover ;-)).
OK now for the food. It is excellent, flavorful, and exquisite. Yes it is pricey, but if you prefer eating organic food and meats from humanely and sustainably raised animals, and supporting local farms then this place is priceless. One bite of anything in the menu, and trust me I've tried everything here, and let your tastebuds give the final verdict.
They have live entertainment several nights of the week. The staff here is tops. They remember my husband and I by name. We order take-out regularly. Without fail, every time we get home, we find a little on-the-house item that the servers put there for us like a yummy dessert (their flans are the best!) or appetizer.
So do yourself a favor and don't knock it until you've tried it. You won't be dissapointed.
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 224-6600
BarBersQ
Categories:
American (Traditional),
Barbeque
In spite of not having any reservations, we were promptly seated by the owner and well taken care of by a gracious server. I've always been a fan of their food but this time they completely crossed the line. The line to my heart that is.
Started with the hush puppies. I want bags of these to snack on forever more. Delicious crunchy little things with an awesome dipping sauce on the side.
My Dungeness crab cakes were the greatest thing since sliced bread. Probably the best I've ever had. Plump, moist, brimming with big lumps of crab meat, a delicious citrus-and-cream background flavor...orgasmic I tell you. My companion had the filet mignon and boy-oh-boy, suffice to say it should be illegal. Nobody does meat better than Barbersq.
But what about dessert? you ask. There's nothing else that compares to their key lime pie. To test the theory we ordered it plus some chocolate cake with ice cream plate that while delicious (listen it's against my genetic makeup to turn down edibles made out of dark chocolate) couldn't compete with the tarty pastry.
$80 and we ate like royalty. Very fitting end to that god awful year called 2011.
2 Previous Reviews:
-
10/19/2009
The most unbelievable spiny lobster ever. Ditto for the freakishly amazing key lime pie with filling perfect balance between tart and sweet and one of the best cookie crusts I'ever had.
So yum yum. -
6/29/2009
This place rocks barbecue style food.
I think I've had everything on their menu: fried chicken, fish every which way, corn bread with honey butter (insanely good!), ribs, collard greens, cole slaw, roasted vinegar chicken, rib eye steak, shrimp, wedge salad (OMG delicious!), mashed potatoes, mini lamb/beef burgers (perfect for breakfast!), wings and on and on. They just bat it out of the park with every dish.
Add to that a super cool staff with the owner who's always around to pick up the slack if she has to and you have a darling place perfect to recuperate from all the wine tasting.
Get to it!
I came in looking for a suit and left empty handed. What they call a suits section is really a corner with about half for petites and the rest for normal people. Most baffling of all were the patterns. Not a single navy blue or black suit in sight but plenty of ill looking herringbone and checkered patterns.
As for sizes, they mostly had petites, a couple 2's and everything else was 14+. Apparently they mostly cater to the opposite ends of the spectrum. Discuss.
Entire swaths of floor were empty, not even racks. This is great if you go to Macy's to do cartwheels, otherwise it just feels off-putting.
Loooooooove all their dipping sauces but especially the pickled vegetables ones, the heaping piles of meat, the tacos dorados, and watching MMA on the screens (or the crazy Crossfitters across the street doing 100# deadlifts with rounded backs).
So anyway, brush up on your EPG (Español Para Gringos) and you'll be king at Mi Familia. The queen spot is already taken.
2 Previous Reviews:
-
10/23/2011
I come here for cheap but delicious tacos/quesadillas.
Not for the service, which is, THE ABSOLUTE WORST. McDonald's has better service (minus that guy who beats complaining customers up).
Behind the counter are a combination of three employees whose eyes are fixated on either the TV (playing the eternal soccer game) or on each other.
While you are telling Idiot #1 your order, he/she will interrupt to carry on a conversation with the other 2 characters. You can try and steer the conversation back to your order but there's no swaying these folks; they will converse until they feel like it. Then he/she will repeat the order back to you all wrong (of course) and you will proceed to re-order. You need to go over this cycle a few times in order to move to the next level, I mean, your table.
If you don't mind rudeness and have oodles of patience, saddle up cowboy. Otherwise, steer clear. -
10/10/2011
Three out of three ain't bad: good, plentiful and cheap!
$1.90 to $2.50 for tacos is awesome by any standard but especially in Marin where things are never cheap. The pork ones are better than the beef ones so order Al Pastor and Carnitas if you want happiness. They also have a Fried Pork one that I must try next time. I was used to eating 6 tacos at a time but couldn't do that here. These tacos are not puny, they are big and piled high with meat, tasty sauce and oniony heaven.
Now let me tell you about the quesadilla...picture a Mexican calzone and there you have it. It is enormous and is stuffed with everything you can possibly imagine including guacamole. Tasty and a half and it will only set you back $5.
All this goodness accompanied by bottomless chips from the chip bar?!
Wait, are we in still in Marin?
San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 454-6562
Taco Jane's
Categories:
Mexican,
Latin American
High points for service, low points for high-ish prices, medium points for okay fare. Interesting way of making the plantains but hey, any place that makes the effort to serve plantains has my respect. Personally, I like them when they are riper for that rich sweet flavor.
The most vaunted Black Gold Salsa looks like it packs a punch, what with its dark hue promising flavor and high heat, but falls short on both counts. It didn't even taste like a vegetable. What's in it? Mystery of the universe.
This may sound sacrilegious but I rather have a couple of "al pastor tacos" at Mi Familia. Flavor, not to mention heat, is guaranteed and my wallet will only be $5 lighter. Plus, I get to pick what show to watch: MMA on the screens inside or the hilarity of the Crossfit classes across the street.
Does it qualify as thin crust pizza? Is it good? Yes, on both counts. Then quit your moaning. Jesus.
While I'll be the first to tell you that these pies are on the you-need-a-sugar-daddy side of expensive, I can also offer that they are worth every penny you spend on them. Cooked in brick ovens, the pies come out a bit crisp and dark in places. Don't like this? Then say so.
Instead of going with their favorite pizzas, I usually start with the New York one (mozarella and tomato sauce) and add a smattering of toppings (you can pick any out of 35). Count on fresh ingredients, a burnt palate (every single time, can't help it), and impeccable service.
What a disaster Sears has turned into. The tool store, Sears' pride and joy, and the most fun department in the store to explore is no more. Congratulations on the saddest display of screwdrivers I've ever seen. On top of that, the store doesn't look well stocked at all. A couple sad barbecues and four half broken treadmills completed the look.
This is like Sears after the apocalypse. :-(
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 457-8698
Gamescape North
Categories:
Hobby Shops,
Venues & Event Spaces
Aside from that, I spent close to an hour checking out every game they have. Beautiful puzzles, tons of books and strategy guides for whichever game you are thinking of, cards, die, chess boards, board games, figurines, phew! I was overwhelmed in a very good way.
In the back there's a section with tables and chairs to plunk down and play to your heart's content. No pressure or weirdo sales people. And they are open during the weekend, unlike the collective of San Rafael stores.
Score.
Their burgers are pretty good and so are the fries. Now for $6 milkshake...this is probably wishful thinking but a chocolate milkshake should at the very least entail some chocolate ice cream in there; vanilla ice cream plus some cloying chocolate syrup just doesn't cut it for me.
The fried calamari and the ahi tuna pot stickers are every bit as good as they sound. Overall, pretty expensive for diner food...I rather drive to Pearl's in Mill Valley (cheaper and organic-er); as much as it pains me to deal with that insufferable town, their burgers are THE bomb!
I had a few ideas of what I wanted, namely an asymmetric bob (picture Charlize Theron's in Aeon Flux...my dreams were lofty). Lori, all business and know-how, told me there was one small problem "your hair won't do that." I looked forlorn. She countered with what she could do so that she could approximate my wants with real life.
And so THE haircut came forth.
One month later and I still get away with not having to style my hair but bounce out of bed, nonetheless, with a perfectly coiffed head. Two quick brushings and it looks like I blow dried it all morning. Score.
The salon is darling, modern but cozy and intimate at the same time. Plus she will work around your schedule to squeeze you in at the last minute.
Lori is one of Marin's best kept secrets.
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Review votes:
849 Useful, 666 Funny, and 525 Cool
Bay Area
Yelping SinceMay 2007
Things I LoveHorses, Movies, Shoes, Oly Lifts, Guaguanco, Frasier, Tattoos, Concerts, Comedians, Cheese & Wine & Bread, MMA, Crossfit
My HometownSan Francisco, CA
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm plotting
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI can actually put a sentence together
The Last Great Book I ReadRick Geary's graphic novels, Newsflesh Trilogy (zombies!!!!)
My First ConcertTom Petty and the Heartbreakers
My Favorite MovieAll the Alien movies, Kill Bill I & II, Bad Santa, Dexter
My Last Meal On EarthCamarones empanizados, guava anything, Blue Bottle mocha, Vosges PB choc. bar
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I'm my mom's favorite
Most Recent DiscoveryWendler's 5/3/1
Current CrushATHF, Eddie Izzard, Vin Diesel, Alec Baldwin, GSP, anyone with a deep voice
A tad expensive, yes. But the portions are huge, the ingredients are fresh and tasty and the plates are well executed. Ask what the specials are: they come with extra rapid service and there are usually a couple great surprises in there. Like my crab stuffed seabass and my companion Kobe beef tacos of last week. AND proper plantains. Would you marry me Don Pico's?
For dessert we had a new addition to the menu. Tres leches cake. I scope it out upon sitting down (as a proper girl) and had to hyperventilate into my napkin from the excitement. For the uninitiated, tres leches is a cake that is soaked in a "sauce" made out of different types of milk (regular, condensed and evaporated). The result is a party in your mouth. I threw caution to the wind, swore to myself I'd walk in lunges for the rest of the week, and battled my friend for control of this thing.
Service as usual was great. Prompt, always with a smile and/or joke, and bending over backwards to customize plates to our liking. Un millón de gracias!