Chris "Corporate Slave" C.'s Profile

What a great place!! I really do not give out five stars lately for restaurants but this place really impressed me.

My partner had a gift certificate that he won in a raffle and my buddy and I along with my partner decided to give this place a try tonight.

The host station was a bit weird for the location because it was located UPSTAIRS rather than downstairs. After being seated quickly. Our server Nicole was totally fabulous. She was nice, attentive without being overbearing and very knowledgeable about the food. She gave us some fabulous recommendations on the food and none of us were disappointed with our choices.

Our starters were filet mignon tartare and the salmon carapaicco. The salmon carapaicco with its slivers of raw salmon with cucumber and English green peas was light and refreshing and all of us thoroughly enjoy eating the filet mignon tartare.

Our main course was equally delicious. My friend had the salmon with was cooked perfectly with a great medley of vegetables. And my partner and I had a fabulous and tender hanger steak cooked to the medium rare that we wanted. We also got the fries on the sides which was great as well although it was hard to share it with 3 people since the fries were so good. We also got the chickpea fries as well, which was crispy and different but it was good nevertheless.

The desserts were the stars in my opinion. Their buttermilk fritters with a trio of strawberry, chocolate and blackberry sauces were absolutely DIVINE!!! So light and airy, sort of like a beignet but a bit more like a cake, again it was hard to share with your table because they were so freaking good. The pot de creme with the caramel and sea salt were delicious as well.

The food and service were spot on for the entire evening. The water glasses were never empty and Nicole made sure that our needs were met promptly. She was never frazzle and always had a smile on her face.  Our dinner for 3 with drinks and coffee came out to 220.  So definately not a casual everyday dining place.  But definately a special occasion place.

I found my place for birthday dinner in September and hopefully we can stop back here again really soon.

I live very close to this Mollie Stone.

Upside: Very convenient great service, great selection of cheeses, fresh meat and veggies (my default location for those two items.) and lots of organic stuff. Great deli.

Downside: The prices. It is almost painful to see how much the stuff you buy rings up to.

So I only come here only if I am lazy with cooking and want to impress friends with the quality of food you want to make. Otherwise I make my trips to Mollie Stone's as sparse as possible.

My 200th review (after being MIA for like a year.) is my favorite ramen place in Japantown.  Having coming back from a recent trip to Tokyo and having my best bowl of ramen ever in my life in Ropponggi Hills area,  its safe to say that I know what good ramen taste like.   Suzu comes really close to the ramen I had in Tokyo,  nice aldente ramen noodle, just the right amount of broth flavor to each bowl and just right amount of meat and veggies to fill you up.  I eaten almost everything on the menu and to date my favorite has been the mabo ramen,  just the right amount of heat and great spicy broth.  The other thing I don't ever pass up here is their agedashi (fried tofu).  They are probably the best agedashi I had here in SF.    

Service can be spotty at times but for the most part it is nice enough but I mainly come here for the ramen and willing to deal with spotty service.  Too bad so many people have found out about this place and now the waits are worse now.  Bah!   Oh wells.  

So people can you guys  just stay away from here so I can get to my bowl of ramen quicker....pretty please?

When I use to lived in North Beach, I would to come here maybe twice a month to get my favorite Bleu Cheese Hamburger as a Friday night treat for a long week at work.  

Fast forward to 3 years later, I went here with my partner after he got his 2nd tattoo in North Beach and I was craving a burger.  So I suggest Mo's since I haven't taken him here for burgers here yet.   So we walk in and was immediately seated.   He and I ordered the same Bleu Cheese burger, medium rare and some shakes to complete our experience.   Our food  came quickly and I bit into my burger.  I was in burger heaven, the burger is still the same quality after all these years, great moistness, the pugent bleu cheese melting into the burger....so freaking good!  I still compare my burgers to this place.    It's also great to see them making the patties in front you. Nothing hidden from view.

The service is still top-notced here, I recognized the waitress there and was glad to see she is still there.  

If you never a decent flame grill hamburger yet in SF.  Come here.

I love love love their Napoletana pizza!! Nice light thin pizza crust, just the right amount of tomatoes, anchovies, and capers on the pizza.   The bursing of yummy pizza delicious melding together as you are eating it.  The just right amount of fullness.  Believe or not, I never been in their to eat at the restaurant because I live so close to it that I can order the pizza and bring it back to home in about 10 mins.  I never want to deal with the crowd over there, so if you live nearby, just order it and they will have it ready by the time they quoted you on.   (Although I might go dine in one of these days for their breadsticks.)

Chow is my reliable standby when I want to come to Castro to eat. The food has always been consistent with great portions and great flavors.   On my recent visit their braised short ribs that I ordered  was falling off the bones and the flavors are just great!   I also enjoy getting their burger when I am in the mood for it.    Service can good and quick....they keep your water and tea glasses refill often and you never need to ask for anything for the most part for all the visits I been there.

*glances on the calendar*

Hey it's Double Stamp Tuesday!

*IMs my fellow cohorts in my department on MSN*

"Hey it's Tuesday, Yogurt Run today at 3:30?"

"Yups!" "Yups!" "Yes!"

*Gathers 4-5 of us to the front door*

*Walks two blocks over*

*Yocup people recognizes our group*

"It's Tuesday isn't it?"

*Laughs*

5 stars for always remembering us and putting up with our antics and lamenting over the flavor changes.....and their 2 stamp Tuesday.  Their froyos are one of the best in the city, just the right amount of punch to their flavors and their super friendly staff.   BRING BACK THE GREEN TEA FLAVOR!! (Note: They finally change their Flavor of the Month to Flavor of the Week!!)

Came here with my partner here because he had a long week and wanted to so happy hour and decided to come here. The vibe for a happy hour was okay, it was great for us to just chill with each other and groups but most definitely not here for meeting new people. But I did like the bartender, he's a nice guy and boy he can move around doing everything. And the prices for the drinks are pretty good too. Might come back here again to check it out when it is more fuller in the evening.

Came here for my dear friend's birthday and the crowd here......well... I felt like like it is an upscale frat/sorority house. The fact that they also have Animal House on the screens pretty much did it for me...to get out of there as soon as feasibly possible. Drinks are way overprice here. The only thing redeeming was the bartenders. They were actually pretty nice.

No way I am coming back here ever again.

I haven't review a place in a while and this location deserves the write up and it five stars.

I went to this Samovar because Hiromi N and I wanted some time to just talk without yelling and a good casual location to just hang out and she chose out this place.

I felt immediately that this place was a great place to be and it did not disappoint.

I had the Moorish Platter with great and fresh things like their Veggie Kebabs, dolmas, and dates with goat cheese and walnuts. And she had the English Tea Set with the works which she thoroughly enjoyed as well. The tea came out first and I thoroughly enjoyed my mint tea. Which I loved. Probably the best mint tea I ever had.

We saved some room for the platter of tea sweet which had a little bit of most of their dessert they had on their menu. Their Fudge Matcha Brownie with the Green Tea Mousse is to die for. I will be going back to this place very soon.