Lily "The Angry Asian" S.'s Profile

If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, THIS is the place to go.
Also, if you've been drinking and you want good food, this is the place to go.
And lastly, if you just want a burrito as big as a 2 month old baby, this is the place to go.

Seriously.

Go.
NOW.

2.5 stars, not 2.  I'm trying to be nice here, people.

So.  The Elbo Room.

Um.  Yeah.

So.

I obviously don't have that much to say about it - except for it was hot, sweaty, dark, and really crowded & my drink tasted like rubbing alcohol.

Saving grace:  pinball machines!

But that's about it.

I'm a bit behind on my SF reviews...sorry.  Here's another random one!

So Savanna Jazz...our group wandered in here after walking the streets of SF trying to find a bar that wasn't super crowded or full of douchebags.  This was no easy feat at 10pm-ish on a Saturday nite, lemme tell ya.

But we walked in, and they didn't make us pay the cover charge and there was a lovely little jazz trio rockin' out on the stage.

We sat down at a booth and ordered a round of drinks...b/c...well, we were in an old jazz club and everyone else seemed wasted, so why not try to catch up?  
That didn't last long - we wound up having one cocktail each and marveling at the fellow across the room from us who had passed out at his table.  The bouncer couldn't even rouse him - and the guy he was with finally had to help lift him out of his seat.  They dragged him (literally) outside, where I'm hoping he got into a cab or magically found his way home.

But anyway...we found Savanna Jazz quite charming, with a friendly wait staff and good drinks and music.
And that's that.

Copious amounts of Belgian beers - check
Way too many beers, not enough descriptions of what you're drinking - check
Lively conversation going on throughout the bar - check
Surprisingly good food (ooh the vegetarian pasta dish is AWESOME), for a pub - check
Somewhat rude servers that don't care about whether or not your glass is empty and then roll their eyes when you ask them for another drink - check

I'm trying to love Brouwers, but inevitably something always stands in my way and I just can't.  While they have a LARGE FRIGGIN BEER LIST, and the space itself is quite lovely, I have a hard time with a staff that just doesn't give a shit about customer service...and then complains later that they didn't get tipped enough.  OH REEEAAAALLLLLY?  That's not gonna solve anything, darlings.
I'm hoping they get it together at some point and figure out that it's not about THEM, but about the customer.

That's all.

Vegan everything?
Coconut milk lattes?
Superfoods galore?
Walking distance for us?

OH HELL YES.  HAAAYYYUL YES.

I think I might be in love with Healeo and will be spending more time there - as they have a friendly staff, and a faboo menu to boot.

Healeo might be my new happy place!

Next up - to try the soup there...stay tuned!

Open til 3am...WHAT???

Ok then.  I will make it a point to come back to Meza after a long night for sure!

We ordered the corncakes - one with cheese and one with chicken and I gotta tell ya - the chicken there is RIDONKULOUS.  So ridiculous that we ordered just a plate of it to eat.  Not kidding either.

Our server was v friendly & prompt - even though the place was full with people streaming in and out.

My only suggestion would be to add a little bit more flavour to the corncakes - while they were good, they'd be even better with a wee bit of spice in them.  Otherwise, YUM!

It's not everyday I give 5 stars, so you guys better take this one and relish it.

Salmon - excellent
Burger - excellent (no, I did not eat both)
Dark & stormy - excellent
Service - excellent

Being able to watch the flurry of activity in the kitchen - excellent

Thanks again, Palace Kitchen.  You saved my appetite last nite.

Oh ridiculousness.

We were starving when we arrived in SF, and our friend had dropped us off downtown so we could find sustenance.

And that sustenance came in the form of Cesario's.  Yes yes yes, Italian goodness!
We ordered the eggplant parmesan (not the crappy fried breaded shit, but the real stuff) & the pollo alla piccatta.  My friend Wendy ordered the truffle gnocchi and HOLY SHIT - everything was so.  freaking.  good.

And then we wandered over to Cantina afterwards (see review below).
YAY!

Good beer.
Good cocktails.
Funky space.
Very nice bartenders.
Funny servers.

Err...but no snacks.  Isn't it a law that you have to serve something to go with your alcohol?
Just wondering.

Otherwise, a must for everyone who goes to SF - you won't reget it!

2 1/2 stars, not 3, ok?
Cute space.

Good menu, except a little pricey, which I thought was completely unnecessary, considering what they offer... $15 for an herb omelette w/ gruyere that was really salty?  REALLY?

No soy for those of us that don't drink dairy...and server was super bitchy when I asked for it "um no, we don't DO soy" and then turned and walked away.

"Um ok, eat it, bitch" - is what I wanted to say back, but instead I gave her my best smile and refrained from choking her out.

I understand that this is the new and trendy restaurant of the moment in Ballard, but if you want people, who review restaurants on a REGULAR basis to return, then you might want to consider giving your servers the "BE NICE TO THE CUSTOMERS B/C THEY CAN FUCK US UP IN THE END" type of talk.

That being said, there's a possibility that I will go to test out the drink/dinner hour and see how the servers and food is then b/c brunch was...marginal.