Serena "Style" W.'s Profile

How does a fully contrived night turn into such a pleasant surprise? In short, my boyfriend booked a reservation at Gary Danko nearly two months beforehand... for his OWN birthday, which HE planned for me to take him to. It was simply added to our shared Google calendar.

Knowing that it would (of course) be my treat, he went with the five-course, then decided to up my four-course to a five, so he could have a six-course meal fit for a king. "Ryan" does after all, translate to "little king", as we found out later through the internet.

Well, where to start? This place is by no means overrated, like many places and things San Franciscans tell me to "eat before I die". At Gary Danko, I sure tasted a bit of heaven without dying.

Here are a few reasons why I fully enjoyed the night and felt no Asian-guilt taking care of the tab: the menu is 100% flexible (order five desserts if you wish), the wait staff is courteous and unpretentious (unlike those at Acquerello or Ame...freaking Type A's), and well, the bathroom decor is just...exquisite. Be sure to check it out before you leave.

Considering that the birthday boy did have six-courses to look forward to (actually, more like eight, if you count the complimentary birthday cake AND tray of sweets), he split his ahi tuna appetizer with me, which was plated as individual butterflies on two plates -- cute. Unfortunately, that was the only thing he split with me, as he later finished his salmon, maine lobster AND stuffed quail with approving nods in between each bite.

With a glass of Duckhorn sauvignon blanc in hand, I fully enjoyed my seafood and duck. The scallops had a beautiful, golden sear and juicy, translucent center, while the striped bass had this very nice crispy exterior yet such a tender flake. The duck was delightfully complex, well-seasoned and paired with a sweeter sauce.

As for dessert, I got the cheesecake (B+), Ryan got the chocolate souffle (A+), and we shared a selection of cheeses chosen based on their cool names. (There was a blue and a brie in there, for what I remember.) As if three desserts weren't enough, our waiter thoughtfully brought out a birthday cake with an extra long candle as well as a tray of assorted tea-time sweets. Could the night have gotten any sweeter?! Why yes, I got a little [sweet] present to take home! Gary Danko sweet talks forreal.

"Would you like sparkling, distilled, or tap water tonight?"

"I think we're really classy so we'll go with...tap."

And then we had the kitchen prepare something special for our table: four cuts of wagyu paired with three bottles of wine. Now we classy.

As the clock struck six Friday night, we watched our friend tremble with anxiety as he crouched in front of his desktop and entered in an ID number. We had shots lined up for either likelihoods... and for that night, it was to celebrate our new engineer-turned-lawyer friend, who had just passed the Bar exam. Happily inebriated, we somehow managed to make a last-minute phone reservation at Alexander's, and in we walked in rain-gear and Asian glow -- straight towards the bar. "Give us a round of your best shot!"

*Fortaleza Anejo - At $19 a shot, it was definitely silky smooth and not too sweet (and in fact, a bit oaky).

On top of our friend passing the Bar, our pet side-project had reached significant recognition in the iTunes App Store last week, so we were ecstatic. Dinner would be on the company. "We need more shots!"

*Hamachi shooters - Delectable. I only have 5A5's to compare to, and these came in taller shot glasses with a bigger burst of flavor: spicy and tangy balanced out by the avocado.

*Kumamoto oysters - Kumamoto's are small, but these were full of flavor and the celery added a surprising crunch.

*Edamame - You'd expect salt and pepper, but no, truffle oil. I tasted it.

*Complimentary butternut squash gelee - More gelatinous than soupy, and being savory rather than sweet, it was...interesting. There was also a bite-sized raspberry gelee and I don't remember which one came first, but both had the consistency of jello and were meant for "palette cleansing".

*Bread - Go for the green olive kind.

"We're thinking of trying all the wagyu tonight. What wines do you recommend?"

*Dunn Vineyards, Howell Mountain Cabernet, 1998 - Definitely the oldest and most peculiar wine I've tasted. The boys loved it and I hated it, but describing it as "earthy, oaky, peppery" would be inaccurate. It tasted like cigars and black licorice with a hint of charcoal, or something bizarrely masculine like that. Perhaps it should have been decanted for much longer.

*Palazzo Cabernet Franc - We just wanted to try a Thomas Keller. It tasted a bit floral with hints of dark berries -- a palette I'm much more familiar with. I loved it!

*Franciscan Cab - We ran out of the other two before dinner ended, and this is our dependable go-to bottle of red.

"I'll see if the kitchen can prepare something special for your table to share so that all of you get to try the different types of wagyu."

Out came four pre-sliced cuts cooked to the chefs' liking, presented simply on a metal pan. There was a Cabassi ribeye, Lone Mountain ribeye, Tajima new york strip, and Cabassi filet, and all I can say is that these were the best pieces of steak I've ever tried in my life. If I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be the filet: tender, juicy, marbled-beautifully, and seasoned to perfection.

"As for the sides, we'll go with four of your most popular."

*Truffle fries - thin-cut, crispy, addicting, as always.
*Mashed potatoes - light and fluffy and not too buttery.
*Brussels sprouts - a little burnt on some parts, but delicious nonetheless.
*Mushrooms - moist and flavorful, definitely my favorite side that night.

After numerous glass clinks and slurred cheers, "Can our friend here get some cotton candy please?"

*Cotton candy - It was gone in an instant.

*Complimentary chocolate cake - "Congratulations" was thoughtfully written on the plate, and you'll have to ask the man of the hour about this one.

Considering that no one left could read a menu and overcome decision paralysis, "Just bring us your best desserts, enough for us to share."

The waitress probably overhead me whisper, "I hope there's chocolate!" because there was definitely chocolate. By then, one friend had left early to catch a flight to New York, so for four full friends (say that four times), there was...

*Chocolate cake - flourless and mousse-based. not too rich though not devoured completely either.

*Chocolate souffle - accompanied by three macaroons, too cute for consumption. server poked a hole through the meringue top and poured in a decadent creme. good mixture of light and airy vs. rich and creamy. definitely the most popular dessert that night.

*Ice-cream trio of chocolate, vanilla, and mint-chocolate chip - because who doesn't love the simplest pleasures in life?

In comparison with all the other steakhouses we've been to, Alexander's is more modern and less pretentious than Harris's upholstered booths, more innovative than chainy Ruth's Chris' hot plates, and much more entertaining than Morton's live lobster introduction. 5A5 may have better happy hour and truffle fries, but Alexander's has by far the best wagyu steak in all of San Francisco.

Well done.

There is something fundamentally hipster about serving exceptional yet affordable food in a modest space embellished with an industrial aesthetic. It is trendy places like this one -- filled with young professionals on a Friday night -- that remind me why my boyfriend chose to move to the Mission in the first place.

Having arrived half an hour early for our reservation, we sat at the bar to try some of their signature cocktails (~$10), albeit misleadingly named ones. The Middle Man was surprisingly floral while the Pink Panther threw me off with the tawny port and pepper -- nothing near my idea of a girly drink. I had to nurse away the aftertaste with a Third Rail, which offered a more familiar aroma of bourbon and citrus.

Thanks to a no-show, we were seated earlier than expected in the front room, and dinner started off with a flavorful bang. The sweet potato pasta ($14) had a refreshing lemon kick to it (an unexpected compliment to gruyere cheese), while the clams ($13) were bathing in a spicy jalapeno broth instead of the typical garlic butter -- innovative and delightful combinations that set the stage for higher expectations.

Forty minutes later (not my idea of speedy), our dishes arrived hot and plated simply. The crushed hazelnuts added a nice flavorful texture to my swordfish ($26), but the thick butter could have been lighter as it drenched the potatoes and greens. In fact, the steak ($28) tasted more refreshing with the horseradish sauce and generous portions of brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and pearl onions atop a bed of barley.

Though tasty, the single-portioned desserts ($9) weren't memorable like Bar Tartine's. The apple-blackberry cobbler came drizzled in cream and sprinkled with almonds, while the chocolate-raspberry souffle was accompanied with tiny scoops of lemon ice-cream -- cute.

Overall, I had a pleasant experience, and as the ambiance hinted, the meal was hip but not haute.

Despite waiting nearly thirty minutes with a reservation, I really wanted to love this place. The Michelin Star gave it prestige, the decor exuded class, the dimly lit atmosphere invited romance in. The fragmented wooden wall pieced together by undulating strips even brought back memories of my architectural days, a small tug on the heartstrings. How could the palate have gone so wrong when the place begged for appreciation?

It wasn't the Taste of Ame sashimi bar entree (chosen on our part as an appetizer) that initiated the disappointment, it was the service. The sashimi sampler (which served well as an appetizer portion-wise) was delightful -- the service, disastrous.

In short, our waiter tried to up-sell us, and as a result of our hesitation, he looked down upon us. We asked for the German Riesling flight, only to be discouraged with, "We might be sold out of that one because the table [of four] over that just order two." (Note: these are half-bottle flights.) When our bottles came and I politely declined a glass, the waiter asked me snidely, "Why, are you not of drinking age?" If I weren't Asian in my mid-twenties and l actually looked significantly older for the remark to be a compliment, I would've laughed and winked, but of course, I stuttered a defense then sulked in my chair, declining a taste of the chawan-mushi, which my peers seemed to enjoy. Later, I snickered silently when our waiter tried to describe our Kabinett Riesling as a "Cabernet".

Having picked the signature dish of black cod and shrimp dumplings ("which our chef has prepared the same way for 17 years and guests come back for seconds of..."), I had extremely high expectations on top of anticipation for redemption on Ame's behalf.

Redemption never came.

Obviously the piece of fish served to Michael Bauer back in 2006 was much different than the one on my plate -- an exhaustive (and probably repetitive) chore thrown together in haste at 10pm on a Saturday night. The fish flaked nicely on my plate but mushed in my mouth like overcooked sea bass (but this was black cod), and the shiso broth tasted strongly of soy sauce, nothing aromatic about it. Should I attribute flattened dumplings to frugality or tradition lost in translation and presented as "new fusion"? (I uploaded a photo that you might not drool over.)

The flourless chocolate cake was nothing special, but I suppose my mint tea served in a French press was unusual and the only thing worthy of a surprising star.

Note: I've been boycotting Yelp ever since they decided not to renew my elite badge (meaning this is my first Yelp review of the year), despite dining at Chapeau once, Michael Mina twice, and Park Chow way more than thrice.

mmm I love the Bay. Korean kimchi, Japanese ramen, and Chinese dumplings.

and by dumplings, I mean the shrimp "gyoza" -- steamed.

like always, I go for the miso base since I prefer less-salty broths, and this one was perfect. ramen is super chewy (this is a horrible description, but like "rubber bands" ya know?!), not mushy like overcooked ramen that you can break with your tongue. bowl: huge. rest to-go.

uhhh where do I even begin? This place is FANTASTIC and forever emblazoned in my memory. We came here for a company dinner last week and I experienced one of THE BEST meals of my life. Not only was the food superb but the service was immaculate; waiters explain every dish before you begin, fold your napkins each time you leave, and come by constantly to offer more pistachio or olive bread (which, btw, are both amazing).

Now the food.
Appetizer: symphony - tiny foie gras burger, watermelon cubes topped with caviar, small salad, chickpea fries... basically a platter of really cute amusements which made me feel 100% giddy and happy like a child discovering miniature toys for the first time

Fish: swordfish - drizzled in this really thick sauce (online menu says pinot but it almost tasted a tinge like coffee) with a side of an even thicker soup (consomme? puree? which tasted like lobster bisque to me. online menu says saffron soup, which makes me believe that they switch up the menu or I have faulty taste buds...)

Meat: lamb - could not tell what sauce complimented the lamb loin, just knew it was sooo delicious. lamb shank was so soft it fell apart in my mouth; came with really big pearls of couscous, which I've never seen before. (by this dish, I was so full I was sharing my portion with everyone else, so don't be afraid that small, pretty portions don't fill you -- they add up!)

Dessert: asked the waiter for his personal recommendations, which were the fleur burger and raspberry something (tart? some sort of pastry...), and since everyone else went for the fleur burger, I went for the raspberry dessert. I made a good choice because it also came with a chocolate mousse mouse and a tiny ice-cream cone with vanilla!! bonus points for cute presentation!!

wish there were more than 5 stars to give. j'adore this place!

I spent the entire thanksgiving week in my mom's newport coast timeshare, so food choices were incredibly limited to super yuppie (and empty) places, like Mayur.

In the entire restaurant, there was only another couple, so it felt like eating at home in a giant, empty living room with bollywood music playing in the background.

For the price of the food (like $20+ for for chicken tikka masala?!), the portions were really small. Split among three people:
-papadam
-garlic naan
-chicken tikka masala
-lamb biryani
-aloo gobi

...and we pretty much finished everything.

food was subpar, like what any non-vegetarian indian mom would cook at home throw on small plates.

litmus test for determining whether a place is really that good: going there nearly every day for a month... until you'd rather walk the distance to mixt greens.

reasons for liking this place less and less:
-TOO MUCH DRESSING. even when I ask for light dressing mixed in, my salad is drenched in dressing, so I just get the dressing on the side and mix it in myself.

-limited choices when compared to mixt, and sometimes when you arrive later in the afternoon, they're out of grilled chicken.

other than that, I'm still eating here nearly everyday since it's right behind our office building.

Soooo before I get to the food, let me just mention that our party of 4 got there around 8pm on a Thursday and waited ONE ENTIRE HOUR before being seated. We really should've split up into two tables of 2... or arrived after 9 when the place started to clear up.

Regardless, the food was well worth the wait.

Hamachi carpaccio 5/5 -- very thin slices, but full of flavor and topped perfectly with jalapenos

Chicken thigh yakitori 3/5 -- nothing special, but considering that we were starving after an hour, even these skewers tasted pretty good.

Sake steamed clams 4/5 -- generous bowl of clams drenched in this warm, buttery, garlicy... butter

Tonkotsu ramen + pork belly  5+/5! -- if you like your ramen super chewy (not soggy), this is it. and if you like your broth super miso-y and not soy-saucy, this is perfect. PERFECT. and the pork belly is so soft (and not disgustingly rubbery) that you'd enjoy it despite that diet you've been trying to stick to.

Oi-shii, gochisou-sama!!!!

Man, what was I thinking trying to create my own salad?! The Maui with seared ahi tuna is AMAZING. Why? Well for one, there was avocado and anything tastes infinitely better with avocados; for another, it was covered with crushed MACADAMIA NUTS. (Yes, I don't want to know how many calories was in this thing, so go light on the mango citrus vinaigrette.)

Next time, I might be more daring (like I was at Focaccia) and attempt to create my own (after I create a cheat-sheet to bring along and read off of like a straight-up nerd).

-1 star for having less mass than Focaccia :(... my box was literally 1/3 empty. So I'm Asian.