Ben "Tinker, tailor, poet, spy" K.'s Profile

Ah, robots. Is there anything you do not make better? I'm so happy my first Sacramento Yelp party was fabulous. Fun people. Fun music. Fun space. Free beer. What more can you ask for? Thanks to Olivia, of course, for organizing such a great event (or, perhaps, domo arigato, Ms. Roboto).

You have to go into Save Mart with open eyes. You get pretty much everything you need to know right from the title. Yes, it's cheap(ish). Yes, it's low quality. Unfortunately, without bottom-of-the-barrel pricing, the savings usually don't make up for the quality hit. You're not going to find anything that phenomenally better than sale prices at Nugget or Safeway, and squishy cucumbers and a general sense of bare-bones sterility makes the shopping experience particularly unpleasant. Honestly, you can probably afford the $0.50 price bump to buy your cereal somewhere else.

This review of Sushi Unlimited is really going to come down to three points:

1. It's not unlimited
2. It's a little pricey
3. It's a little classy.

Those are the differences I see between this and every other sushi place in town. Your decision is going to come down to this question: Are you looking for a bunch of cheap sushi with your cash-strapped friends, or are you trying to impress a date? With maybe the corollary: Are you willing to make the trek up to Covell? (Or the inverse, down to downtown).

I'm not a sushi connoisseur, so price and quantity will usually win me over quality, but I believe people when they tell me the sushi here is a step above. The seaweed salad we got as an appetizer was superb, and more generous than what I usually expect when I order seaweed salad. I opted for a dinner bento box rather than sushi, myself, and was actually very happy with the quanity -- and not all you can eat has the upside of being able to bring home leftovers.

Would I go there again? If I were in the area with a date and had a coupon (which are not rare), sure. I probably wouldn't make the trip, though.

Finally, a grocery store right around the corner. I'm afraid this review is going to irrevocably biased by my new-found ability to not bike two miles in the rain because I'm out of eggs. Eighteen thumbs way up.

Bias aside, though, IGA is a fine little supermarket. It's not as big as Nugget or Safeway, and can't really compete with them on price, but if you stick to the sales and have a handy 5% student discount, you're not paying too bad a premium either. Again, size dictates selection, but for a little store, produce is surprisingly good, as are Deli selections (and sushi, at a surprisingly reasonable price, from the sushi chef I recognize from the Co-op).

Where the IGA really starts falling short is in dry goods, which just can't hold up to the wide variety at either of the majors, but probably gives a better selection than the Co-op, cutting out some of the higher end hippie organic products for a bigger middle-shelf range. Probably about the same number of products, but perhaps better distributed across price. Although it won't give you that same warm feeling inside.

Liquor is another particular downfall. Wine selection probably rivals Safeway, but really pales in comparison to either Nugget or the Co-op, and beer and liquor are just kind of sad. Oh well. I guess I'll still be trekking out for some things, but it's nice to know that there's a place I can pop over for missing ingredients and day-to-day shopping, even if staples will require a longer trip.

Oh, Coho. There is nothing you have to recommend yourself. Sandwiches are resoundingly uninspired. Breakfast sandwiches have always run out before I can get to them. Coffee is fine, but not great. The environment is sterile. Service is slow and waits are long.

Why is it you're my #1 go-to stop for coffee? Three reasons: Convenience, convenience, and buy-10-get-one-free coffee cards. If you weren't on my way back from class, would I have ever even known that you existed? Would I be missing anything in my life if I hadn't?

Some rumor that pizza was better back in the day. And perhaps with upcoming renovations, things will improve (or are these the fruits of the renovations I'm seeing now? My short tenure here leaves me bereft of some wisdom).

But go back to you, I will. I need my caffeine fix, and you're right there, with the right price. And you've got my back, even if I resent you for it. Half price coffee during finals period is like a high-five from God. Or maybe a "go get 'em" pat on the ass. Either way, I'm sure I'll continue pouring Coho coffee down my throat and reluctantly munching Coho sandwiches for as long as I live in Davis.

So, yeah. Stones has some issues. I won't deny it. Food is a bit pricey. Menu is a bit limited. Burgers are nothing to write home about. Coffee isn't unlimited. Hours (apparently) aren't great. And, as far as I can tell, they don't seem to have a bathroom (I could be wrong. I haven't asked).

But hold up, people. This is still a great little shop to grab a bite, and honestly, there's little competition in the area, so in the end, you're probably going to have to suck it up and go. Truth be told, you'll probably enjoy yourself. Huge windows keep the small space from feeling claustrophobic, the service *is* super friendly, even if they do seem chronically understaffed for lunch rushes (the only time I've been there.) It's a great place to feel like a regular at, even if your wallet won't really appreciate the regular $7 sandwiches. But whatever. Unlike many a sandwich shop, I've never been disappointed by an order, so maybe the $1 or so price premium is worth the quality bump. If the mugs were endless, and I had a place to get rid of the coffee after it's done its thing, I could definitely see spending a day here.

Even with its faults, Stones remains a solid place to get some work done or meet a friend/colleague for lunch. Definitely pay attention to daily specials, because they're often the most interesting thing on the menu. And order with a smile; you'll be rewarded with one back.

I can't even remember the number of times I tried to come here for drinks and turned around at the door because it was packed. This had been on my to-try list for a long time, and I'm glad I stuck to it. Everything about it was just stellar. I'm actually devastated that I moved from stumbling-distance, so this can't make it to my list of regular destinations.

The atmosphere is what will hit you right away. It's cozy without feeling cramped -- more like it's a local joint that has been around long enough for patrons to wear the corners on the tables smooth (has it? Who knows. Who cares?). Music, whether live or jukebox is a step up from the usual restaurant/bar fare. No pop or easy-listening classic rock here. Soul. Americana. Excellent. Live music is fabulous too. The restaurant is the perfect size to eat a meal while taking in some blues. Not so small that it's obnoxious, not so large that it's barely an addition to the ambiance. I love it.

Food is also top notch. I had a Cuban sandwich, and it was to die for. My date got a black bean burger and also had nothing but good things to say about it. Mmm. Wash it down with surprisingly good cocktail list and a not-shabby beer menu. All in all, just a fabulous restaurant experience. And I hear they have spelling bees. Done.

These are some surprisingly great burgers. The meat (from a local ranch) is higher quality than what I buy myself, and it's always cooked through perfectly. Juicy, Maillard-delicious, stacked on a solid bun with fresh ingredients. Fabulous. On the other side of the fence, their tap list is one of the best in town (the best I think I've seen outside of a bar), and reasonably priced. As long as what you're looking for is a burger and brew, you're set. And if you're not, well, maybe you should have paid some attention to the name of the restaurant.

My one complaint is that the menu could show a little bit more variety. Rotating specials are usually scrumptious, and they're usually what I go for, but if it doesn't pique my interest, I always find myself a little bit disappointed by the less-than-exotic choices on the regular menu. Oh well. Even if I end up with a straight-up cheeseburger, it always satisfies, especially washed down by a nice microbrew.

A word to the wise, though -- the vast majority of their seating is outside, so on chilly nights, it's not the most pleasant dining experience. They plastic off the patio, and have heaters going, so that might help things, but we opted for sitting inside, and found ourselves right by a door that was open more often than not with waitstaff constantly coming in and out to serve the patio-eaters. Brr. Luckily, this being Davis, the weather is only really a problem a few weeks of the year, but maybe try somewhere with an inside on those days.

In the end, the restaurant doesn't redefine my concept of burger joints, or awaken my taste buds to the light of God every time I bite down, but it's the kind of always-dependable "I really need a burger and a beer" kind of place that every town needs, and is often seriously lacking.

In the words of the esteemed orator, Flava Flav, "Yeeeaaahhh Boyyyy."
In another word: Lunchboxes.

I might let my review stand at that, but I'd be remiss if I didn't include the thanks to Leighann, who once again has shown her incomparable ability to throw a kick-ass party. And to Teatro, whose arancini were delicious beyond words. And to Christiania who... got me drunk.

Coming to things like this makes me wish I still lived in Boston, and wasn't just visiting for the holidays. Heart that dirty water. Heart Yelp.

Pinocchio's is good no matter when you go, but it's best under two conditions:

1) You're balls-out drunk, tripping home from the clurb, and really need something to sop up that last rum and coke. You're in luck. Fumble in your pocket for $2 and change, and slap down for a thick, chewy, perfectly cooked, well-topped slice of tomato and basil (or artichoke.. mmm.. or pepperoni... mmmmm...). Try to land your inelegant fall into one of  the chairs, and dig in.

2) You've got friends in town! They want to see Hahvahd squa (where they can pahk their cahs), and after leading them through getting a Charlie Ticket  ("why 'Charlie'?" "Well, there's this song.."), and tromping around the pit, The Garage, and Urban Outfitters, you're a bit peckish. You're in luck! Being a Cambridge native, you know this great hole-in-the-wall place, off the main street, been there forever, real Italians running it, delicious pizza. A local's secret. Convince them that they want slices and not a full pie, fumble around in your pocket for $2 and change, and slap down for a thick, chewy, perfectly cooked, well-topped slice of mushroom and olive (or sausage.. mmmm.. or spinach... mmm....).

I'm suprised at the lackluster reviews here. Haters gonna hate, I guess, but I've been coming here for more than half my life at this point, and I've yet to come away not glad I went.