Ellen "Always Thinking about Eating" H.'s Profile

Come here only if you like spicy food.

Recommendations:
Manchurian Chicken (Chongqing Chicken)
Lamb with Cumin
Boiled Beef Filet

These guys get sloppy string beans and use some older ones.

Food is dismal here.  Wasn't dressed for Flemings, so had to dine here.

Only thing reasonable: Chicken lettuce wraps, Salt & pepper calamari.
The cocktails were even dismal. Chinese 88 Martini was sour beyond belief, Asian Pear Mojito wasn't shaken long enough.

Yes, the decor is nice. Americanized Chinese food is almost insulted by this.

If you want real chinese food, try Taipan on Waverly.  Koi Palace in Daly City remains the best around here.

If you want hipster cutting edge Americanized chinese, goto Mission Chinese in San Francisco.

One of the better Korean Restaurants around.  Wide ranging menu including lots of grill options. Not very fancy, but solid Koread food. Service was ok.

Average place, burger was decent but not exceptional. Pastrami sandwich wasn't particularly great or big. Server was friendly.

Decent but average Korean restaurant. About the same level as nearby I am Myung tofu house. Not as good as the places in Oakland like Sura or Tobang in Santa Clara.

Just ok. Better than in n out. Burger joint down the street is better.

Full post with pictures:

http://www.foodnut.com...

Vault 164 recently opened in downtown San Mateo. This restaurant is one of a few high end American eateries in this area. This welcome addition has very nice, modern decor, making one feel like they were in San Francisco, not the suburbs.

Vault 164 had very good service with a friendly waitress who helped us navigate the menu as well as kept our experience positive.

Vault 164 surprised us with very good food and service in a beautiful and historic building. If you are in the area, give it a try. Across the street is top notch Italian resteraunt Osteria Coppa.

Picks:
BLACKBERRY MOJITO ($10) CRUZAN CITRUS RUM, FRESH MINT, BLACKBERRIES, LIME, SUGAR, SODA was tall, strong and balanced.

SAMBA CAIPIRINHA ($10) CABANA CACHACA, ORANGE, LIME, & SUGAR was very potent but not very fruity.

BACON WRAPPED DATES APPLEWOOD SMOKED, GOAT CHEESE, BALSAMIC GLAZE ($9) had a sweet and savory taste to every bite. Soft and crunchy textures also.

FIGS, PROSCIUTTO, AND ARUGULA MANCHEGO AND BALSAMIC GLAZE flatbread ($13) was a soft and warm flatbread with lots of sweet and salty contrast.

HEARTS OF ROMAINE CAESAR PARMESAN, WHITE ANCHOVIES, CROUTONS, KALAMATA OLIVES, SHAVED MANCHEGO ($7,$5 kids) looked beautiful and proved to be a decent salad.

VERMONT MAPLE GLAZED BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP ($22) BLACK SHALLOT MASHED SWEET POTATOES, CRISPY LEEKS was surprisingly excellent. Large, juicy, and very tender.

BRAISED LAMB SHANK ON LEMON TOMATO SAUCE ($25) FAVA BEANS, CHANTRELLE, SHITAKE, AND CRIMINI MUSHROOMS. SOUR CREAM AND CHIVE MASHED POTATOES was a huge dish with lots of tender lamb and a stellar gravy.

JB'S CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING SOUFFLE ($8) CREME ANGLAISE, - ALLOW 20 MINUTES - is there signature dessert that came hot out of the oven. More of a bread pudding than a souffle.

Why did we dine here? - Parallel 37 is the new restaurant from Chef Ron Siegel in the Ritz Carlton San Francisco. This restaurant replaces the fine dining establishment known as the "Dining Room". This new more casual eatery should attract a more mainstream audience.
We were fans of the chef and came for a visit shortly after they opened. Parallel 37 focuses on contemporary American cuisine utilizing the freshest, local ingredients available.
This is a hotel restaurant, so you'll see families in addition to the regular fine-dining crowd.

Insider Tip - Give them time to work on their service.

Cuisine - New American
Location - San Francisco Nob Hill
Opened - December, 2011
Service - Parallel 37's service is still a work in progress.
Verdict - Parallel 37 served up very good food in a relaxed modern atmosphere. We were surprised by the food. Give them some time to work out the kinks and make a reservation. Valet parking is $10 for restaurant patrons.

Signature Dishes - Slow cooked pork, cod.

Parallel 37's Menu features a variety of starters along with a handful of entrees.

Picks:
Mojito ($15) was extremely expensive, but well made.

BAY SCALLOPS green tea, herbacious green ($9) Consisted of 4 tater tot looking tender local scallops with a nice crust on them.

KAMPACHI SASHIMI orange ginger marinade, crisp rice ($15) Looked beautiful and proved to be a very light dish with some interesting flavors when combined with the pomegranite. Good for a one-time order, but we might not order it next time.

DUNGENESS CRAB SALAD winter citrus, avocado ($16) fulfilled our desires for some fresh crab, right after season had started. No shells to contend with here.

Local Black Cod daikon radish, matsutake mushroom, local squid ($26) was a tiny portion, but extremely tender and well cooked. We could have used a piece twice as big!

SLOW COOKED PORK braised greens, flageolet beans, madeira sauce ($27) was highly recommended by the waiter and proved to be excellent. Tender meat with a nice crust and a slightly sweet sauce. The beans were cooked perfectly and rounded out the dish.

BEEF RIBEYE potatoes, chanterelle mushroom, red onion jam, pinot noir reduction ($29) was the largest of our entrees. Cooked to a perfect medium rare, tender, juicy, a dish many will enjoy.

BROCOLI RABE bacon, garlic, shallots ($7) was a tiny portion of brocolini.

ASSORTED MUSHROOMS meyer lemon ($7) included several different types of tiny mushrooms. This continues the Asian-esque minimalist dish theme.

Chocolate Decadence Cake dentelle, cinnamon passionfruit ice cream ($8) was tiny but very dense and went well with the ice cream accompaniment.

Chocolate Ice Cream ($6) Homemade was a solid version, but no match for Bi-rite.

Full review with pictures
http://www.foodnut.com...

A Shabuway clone but with inferior meat.
All-you-can-eat option all the Burlingame Shabu place.

Finally had a chance to try Val's famous burger and found it decidedly average.
Good size, but not much flavor and under salted. The bun is pretty average too.

Steak Sandwich is also huge. Bun was way too small for the steak.

French Fries are thick but under salted.