Diana "the domestic goddess" L.'s Profile

3.5 stars for food, 5 stars for service. typically, these meld into one harmonious rating, but this time, one was a high C, and the other was a B flat.

the menu is wonderful in concept and there are definitely some major chords amongst the minor twangs. we were about half awkward interlude, half major chorus.

the major chords were the spicy edamame, the pulled pork appetizer, and the short rib entree.  well-seasoned, well-cooked, and just altogether comforting.

the minor chords were the tuna wontons and kobe beef skirt steak churrascaria (isn't that an oxymoron?). while fresh in flavors, they were not as well prepared. tough meat and stale tacos, do not a catchy song make. she-who-shall-not-be-named said, "the fries are BAD! they taste like they have been dried and sitting under the sun!" oops.

the catchy part of this song was by far, our server, who was delightfully polite, considerate, and efficient. while the appetizers are usually portioned for four, he happily added an extra two servings to make sure every person at our table could try a piece. he patiently took our drink orders when we indecisive, and checked in on us just enough. it wasn't superficial, nor overly tart. music to my ears!

it's a great place for groups and i would come back again with the work team for a nice meal. but next time, i'll go eclectic?

ps. i am not sure what is up with the musical metaphor this time. maybe it's b/c i am sitting in a silent hotel room and humming in my head.

whisknladle is AWESOME.

sustainable ingredients = uber fresh, uber healthy, nutritious, and support for local farms and friends. each food item is dissected on the menu or articulated by your server, so you know exactly what goes in it. (no hidden chems!)

servers who know their menu and their food = mondo friendly, intelligent, and speedy service. they are so personal - our server let me sample all my wines before i finally decided on a glass!

large variety of vegetarian, carb, and protein = concoctions with personality, layers of flavor, and balanced with vitamins and minerals!

some of our favorites (we loved it so much that we dined twice in one day, for a late lunch and then for dessert!)
:: fish tacos done right - lightly battered and sauteed, with homemade tortillas and a delicious yogurt-based aioli (read: healthy!)
:: the scone bar - stocked with crumbly scones and a delicious coffee cake that makes you go "what's in this?!"
:: apple and endive salad with walnuts and gruyere - sensually dressed with a light citrus dressing, yet with a fiesty crunch.
:: coffee granite - i mean it when i say, party in my mouth. valrhona chocolate pearls, with coffee granite, and then balanced off with lemon curd shortbread. it's LEGENDARY.

it's not rocket science, it's just GOOD FOOD - fresh and healthy ingredients, plus well-balanced service and trend equals winning infusion! of foodie goodies!

eeek! methinks not indeed.

it's NOT an Asian frozen yogurt place, don't be fooled! why would you label the "tart yogurt" baby food? that's not at all appetizing and altogether, confusing! not to mention, uh, dude, it wasn't tart.

texture is soft and saggy, two unflattering words when related to frozen yogurt.  bad taste, i can handle, but poor texture, ICK.

sorry if i sound like a fro-yo snob, but this will just not do. maybe your self-serve machines were having a bad day?

ps. thanks for letting me use your restroom and free wi-fi!

it suuuuure is dee-rishus. (i ate all of my baby back and chicken combo, tender and scrumptious. i like that they have the option for a dual protein and steamed vegetables on the side too!)

it suuuuuuure is satisfying. (it's a lot of food. i think i was full until 1pm the following day.)

and it suuuuure made me thirsty the next day! (water - i need water! meats are so saucy and so salty.)

but you know what?  it just wasn't *WOW* for me. (my pinnacle standard is Rudy's BBQ in Texas)

to supplement all of the other yelps, the wait at Phil's BBQ is super long, so don't go hungry! it's a wait to ORDER food, not a wait to get seated. it's kind of like a fancy mcdonald's, in that way.  go find your seat later.

we did learn a neat trick from a local though - they serve the full menu at the bar! so if you can snag a seat or two at the bar, you can order drinks AND dinner from the bartender. we opted for the take-out counter, which clocked in our dinner wait at only 10 minutes! we scarfed down our appetizers by the door and then took dinner to-go.

if you are craving some bbq and have a soft side for ribs (like me!), then you should definitely go!

there are few places that we venture out to the Richmond fog for.

Kappou Gomi is now one of them!

to complement all of the things that my fellow Yelpers have said, expect a simply set, traditional japanese ambiance - one of the perks being, it's nice and quiet! japanese servers who know the menu well help you assess if you've ordered enough food, and also help with dietary restrictions (thanks!). the menu is organized by protein ingredient, and each protein can be served in multiple ways, namely sashimi-style, grilled, deep fried, or in soup.

service was swift and extremely friendly, and i loved all of the authentic japanese ceramic plateware that was used. (note: we arrived at 6:45pm on a friday and to our surprise, there were tables available!)

i am now a HUGE fan of:
- grilled uni (gorgeously presented in a japanese apple and with "popover" style dough surrounding
- grilled gindara (simply grilled with miso and soy, to me, it's the fish equivalent of foie gras)
- steamed egg with vegetables (so light and tasty and airy and warm)
- tuna kama (a giant fish collar smack on your table, this was like the prime rib equivalent of fish!)

family-friendly and diet-friendly, a perfect place for delicious, light cuisine! all of us really enjoyed how much variety we got to eat, and even though portions were not large, we were impressed at how full we were at the end of it all!

worth the hype, worth the drive, worth the wallet!

cuddly warmth in the "i'm-too-cool-for-school" that is the Marina, A16 serves light, refreshing versions of italian favorites.

(note: i was on a no-carb or alcohol diet when i went, and still enjoyed yummies! rating subject to change when this madness is over)

A16's strikes a great balance between a chic bustly energy and affectionate ambiance. our hostess was quick to know we were coming, and with reservations, we were swooped into our cozy corner table in no time. walking through the restaurant, dark wood benches line the matching wall, and laissez-faire stools line the open kitchen bar. i loved the outdoor patio - note to self - great place for a larger party to dine under the stars!

service by our server and bus boys was to-the-point, but considerate. specials and wine favorites were quickly provided, and food was on our table very promptly, a pleasant surprise given how crowded the restaurant was.

the menu had a delicious spread of starters, pizza, pasta, and sides -- and plenty that were carb friendly! we ordered a zucchini crudo, which was bursting with the green life of shaved zucchini, mint, parsley, green olives, and a lemon olive dressing. we also had their chanterelle mushroom starter with kale, which may have been slightly overdressed with salt, but nonetheless delicious and pure.

we continued to indulge with the maccaronara with ricotta and a rock cod, mussels, and bay scallops stew. yes, i did sneak a bite of the maccaronara (how could i not!), and it was homemade al dente perfection. it's a common theme with this review - but it was warmly cool. haha! my seafood stew was flavorful and seasoned perfectly to let all of its ingredients shine.

dessert? next time, i'm afraid. (though they had so many mouth-watering options)

overall, a modern italian dining experience that is traditional enough that i will bring my pops and mom to try it!

it finally happened.

my hubby (or maybe for love of my hubby) and his golf addiction finally rubbed off on me and i have started this infuriating hitting-of-a-little-white ball-business.

so this review is for you ladies.

to very few people's knowledge, mariner's has a well-groomed, very friendly, and SHORT 9-hole par 3 course available for practice. it is super affordable, each hole is about 100 yards long, and if you are a uber beginner like me, it's a great way to just get out on a course and swinggggggg.  another great perk is that it stays open late and has flood lights, so you can play up to 10pm, even on weekdays! (last tee time is 8:30pm)

special thanks to the staff, who let us roll in a little late of our tee time, and is casual enough to let five of us tee off at once!

i will be back.

and i will hit a birdie. (not an actual bird)

yo mama so fat, she eats Wheat Thicks.
and i mean that in the best way possible!

Little Skillet so good, it makes Ritch Street seem poor! ho ho ho!

but seriously.

i could not stop smiling, as i indulged in my pulled pork bun-less sandwich (see, even Little Skillet can be carb friendly?), accompanying cole slaw, and handmade potato chips. juicy, delicious, and just so satisfying, the pulled pork bbq sauce was sweet and tangy, which complimented the tangy sourness of the cole slaw. i got a hearty serving, even without the bun!

the fried chicken and waffles made my hubby giddy. it's not kfc, but it's even more finger-lickin'-good. there is no trace of grease (even though you know it's in there), and dipped in the maple syrup, the chicken is moistly divine.

can't wait to try their other FAT goodies! mMm.

note to self and others: arrive before noon to beat the crowds; even with no line, it was about a 15 minute wait for food. cash only.

hearts for:

- friendly and very quick service
- eco-friendly and gorgeous bamboo plateware
- appetizing menu (hello, pulled pork. hello, beef brisket!)
- fine, fresh, and well presented food (and side of homemade pickled veggies!)
- good prices for FiDi!
- open seating at 101 2nd street!

mini-hearts for:

- lukewarm food. i never like lukewarm food!
- where are the hot lo-carb options! bring it, as i can't wait!

willlll be back! oink, oink!

Joe's got it right with dem grilled fish tacos.

it really is a lounge - for it's laid back service and quirky decor.

and it really is salsa - because everything in there is super festive, including their delish salsa! (i personally liked that their salsa was dry, instead of dripping with from-the-can tomato juice)

and most of all, joe knows his tacos - because everything else just wasn't as thoughtful or delicious. stick with the fish tacos and you can't go wrong. juicy. tender. oozing with special secret sauce. and above all, FRESH!!

beat the dinner crowd and show up before 7pm for a seat at the bar or snag a table for two outside.