Jenn "Technically Gen Y" X.'s Profile

Seana and I came here to see our friend's band play. At first I was excited: obviously, it was androgynous 19-year old pantsless hipster night. The headlining band ("Schwule") was going to be some riot grrl group. Fist pump! I was also really excited about the place itself, kind of this dimly-lit dive saloon (the name "Stud" makes me think of ball-gags, so I had the wrong idea about the decor before walking in).

Eventually, a very pissed-off Seana asked me if girls and boys alike had been going out of their way to SHOVE ME all night. Yes, they had. Seana asked me if I could SMELL THAT. Yes, I could.

I was so tired of Le Tigre/Gossip/Leslie and the Lys/Team Dresch rejects shoving me. GUESS WHAT YOUR HAIRCUT DOES NOT MAKE YOU AN ACTIVIST.

Seana came out of the bathroom with visible PTSD.

There were, apparently, only two staff members. The bartender was amazing and knew what she was doing, and the endlessly put-upon sweetheart at the door spent all night trying to keep children from bringing their booze in. Would have liked to try again on a different night, but then I moved. Goodbye forever.

Great Thai food. Definitely begin with the "Curry Puffs" (those are Thai-style samosas) and the vegetarian egg rolls (even my mom will eat them) or chicken satay. The pan-fried noodle dishes--especially the Pad See Ewe and Pad Kee Mao--are really good, but the curry dishes are the best around. Choose from red, green, yellow, gaeng kua (that's red curry with pineapple), and Panang. The curry dishes are perfect with a beer or a Thai Iced Tea. The food is subtle--but again, just bold enough for my mom to love--made with fresh ingredients. Nothing is super-greasy, either, so that's a major plus.

The atmosphere is warm, friendly, and inviting. The service is always great, always bustling. Thai Cottage stands where Gallagher's and some old German restaurant used to be, so I totally used to think the building was cursed. But Thai Cottage has made the most of its location and has happily succeeded where all others have failed. Best of all, it's yummy and ridiculously cheap.

My tiny pet rat was my best friend. There, I said it.

He was five years old when he finally died. It was sudden, but not particularly unexpected. I decided to investigate my burial and cremation options. And when I checked Pet's Rest out on Yelp, you can imagine my horror. Still, cremation options are extremely limited; I phoned to ask about prices and arrangements.

I liked the lady on the phone, and I really do believe her when she explains they really only cremate pets one at a time (mass cremations are available for people who, well, need them). We had an extremely surreal conversation about types of urns; she said the "marble-like" ones are best for homes with "contemporary decor." (Ha!) I said I'd probably stick with the pine freebie, as it is more size-appropriate. I didn't mind the price -- it's about $130 for even the very tiniest companions, which is neither cheap nor unreasonable.

I scheduled a pick-up for the following Monday morning, and I gave them my number. That Monday (which is, at the time of writing, THIS Monday), Javier from Pet's Rest phoned ahead to set a pick-up time. We agreed to 10am, and voila, he was at my door before 10:15. I handed over a small box and filled out an information sheet. Short and sweet.

I feel a little hollow about not doing a witnessed cremation. On the other hand, it seems like it might be traumatizing, like something I'd prefer to not know about. So in the end, while it's nice to have the whole funereal option, I'm glad I elected to go about my pet's death as if it were fast food delivery. Javier said he would return the remains by Thursday -- I guess I'd prefer to be handed a small pine box in my own home, rather than draw my grief over a pet rat out in public. I think I did this the right way, especially since the unhappiest reviews came from people who visited the cemetery.

Despite my deliberate distancing from the cremation process, I thought the gal on the phone and the gentleman who picked up the remains both had an excellent "bedside manner."  (Incidentally, Javier is the only person who has ever pronounced my pet's name correctly, which he did, on the phone, on his first attempt. On this count, Pet's Rest outshines my mother.) Both were friendly, professional, and only as upbeat as circumstances could allow. I can't imagine what it is like to deal with pet remains and their grief-stricken humans with that frequency.

If I am all paid up, ashes in hand, by the end of the week, this review will be ratcheted up to five stars. edit: Done. Thanks, Javier! If I ever need to do this again (!!), I'm coming to you guys.

In the end, I think you can have a positive experience if you are able to divorce yourself from the process as much as you can. Recommended.

Found Little Nepal on GrubHub -- it was listed as a restaurant that delivers to my neighborhood. I decided to order from them, thanks to the favorable reviews on Yelp. I already knew I'd be spending a little more money than usual for delivery, but it was surprisingly expensive for two people. The delivery took well beyond the estimated 45 minutes to get our food, which had, in the meantime, gone cold. Worse, the samosas had been forgotten from my order. I phoned the restaurant; the man who had taken my order remembered me. He said he would cancel the charge to my credit card and reprocess for a lesser amount. He even phoned back after he'd done so.

So now you know everything that went wrong. I wasn't especially angry or inconvenienced, and honestly, the gentleman at Little Nepal was courteous and helpful.

It was easy to see how the samosas had been forgotten; we'd ordered combination meals, and that made for several containers of food. Each combination dinner comes with sides of rice, naan, chutney, vegetables, and soupy lentils. Wow! I'm tough to please when it comes to rice and naan, and this was perfect.

The vegetables were wonderful, and the lentils were out of this world. We split orders of Kukhurako Ledo (that's Tandoori chicken) and Bhanta Tarkari (that's a spicy eggplant dish). The Kukhurako was, for the price, a little on the dry side, but it was delicious. The eggplant dish was stellar. Eggplant, of course, has a naturally spicy, slightly nutty flavor which, in this dish, was enhanced and complemented by subtle spices. Mmm! I'm a believer.

While I'm not opposed to having food delivered again, I think next time I'll make the trip out and visit the restaurant proper. Really wonderful food; highly recommended.

At the last possible instant, Seana made a phone call to tack me onto the reservation. I was in the office bathroom. When I came out of the bathroom, she got me by the wrist and let me know I was coming with. I grew up in south South Texas, where the Tex/Mex is really fantastic, so usually when I'm told I'm going to a 'cantina' I am annoyed and unenthused.

Seana and I arrived and hovered near the front door, peering in through the windows. We were waiting for her boyfriend, two of our coworkers, and three of their roommates. These are incredibly punctual, reliable people; they arrived only a minute before our reservation.

Lord God Almighty. Matt said the restaurant was good, and he and Ryan pointed us to the delicious. The menu is tight and succinct, making it difficult to pick one thing. The chips and salsa are homemade; the pineapple margarita pitcher is heaven on earth. Soon enough, the conversation and laughter were flowing. We were cramped in a corner, and we did not mind. I am in love with the man who waited our table who, due to a mishap, comp'd us an entire pitcher. I was just full enough; my vegetarian cactus enchilada whatever had clearly been touched by God Himself. Keywords: jalapeno Jack cream sauce. Everyone looked pretty happy with their steak tacos, too.

I can't stop using religious language because this meal was revelatory. This is the happiest dining experience I've ever had.

I dropped into Spec's for a birthday party, for this guy I didn't know, exactly, but he invited me so I showed up. That was last month.

I've come back like four times. You can't get me out of this bar! But why is everyone calling it a dive? It's no dive; it's a sea shanty with walls.

I guess I'd blown a substantial chunk of my paycheck when the bartender said, "Four dollars, dear -- I'm buying your drink." What I'm saying is, you can cultivate your 'regular' status in two seconds flat.

I've already watched several couples on dates here. What a good idea! This is my new favorite bar.

My friends and I agree that this bar/restaurant is a great litmus test of whether you're likable.

Yes, yes, you've heard it all. There's an owner and his cat and delicious Irish coffee and really hot bar staff (male and female) and Damocles cycles overhead. You already know if you'll like Eddie Rickenbacker's or if you won't. And if you won't, go next door, where there are Doritos and sports.

Norman, the owner (a real catch in his heyday, if you can believe it) sits in a chair near the always-blaring television set, frequently champing at a cigar in spite of the whole oxygen tank thing. His exasperated staff, at his whim, frequently plays old Christmas tunes, even in summertime. They say pets resemble their owners and Higgins, the enormous tabby cat lazing on the bar, is further testament.

The bar itself is cluttered and gorgeous, with celebrity motorcycles dangling from the ceiling and a gun rack on the back wall. Another Yelp review alluded to the fortitude of the bar in case of zombie attack; this has been a conversation I, too, have had in Rickenbacker's. Everything is smoky and wooden, and the bar itself is bright, not dank. Everything is ancient and grand. Angela, the coy blond girl rattling complicated drinks behind the counter, has described Rickenbacker's as "someone's living room." She's right, and it basically is. They don't make 'em like they used to.

The food is fine. My mom swore by their minestrone, but they've struck it from the menu; the Best-Of now includes a fantastic Reuben, stellar quesadillas, a chicken salad with walnuts, apple, and bleu cheese that cannot be beat, and steamed vegetables from heaven. (Everything else ranges from Mmm to So-So, but nothing's really bad.) At night, for drunk workaholics -- this is the financial district, homeslizzle -- there's a new Late Nite Drunk Person Menu, which encompasses hot dogs and french fries.

Also after hours, when you see the bar workers light up their ciggies, you're welcome to do the same.

In the end, a bar is not the stuff on the walls or its cantankerous owner or the looming dread of mortality and the human condition: it's people. And you'll find that this bar, as defined by its customers and staff, is really good people.

I can't tell you how happy I am. I moved here a year and a half ago from Chicago, and I have *finally* found my favorite Thai (delivery!!) in San Francisco.

My companion and I enjoyed the "Golden Bags," which, with their -- no, no, I'll quote now -- "minced shrimp and chicken, potatoes, onions, carrots, and curry powder," taste like the perfectest golden triangles crossed with the deliciousest samosas in the world. They advertise that their Golden Bags come with a cucumber salad; rather, the "salad" tastes like a chutney. That means it is delicious with the potato without overpowering its delicate flavor.

We placed orders for the corn fritters (over the internet!), but Chai-Yo phoned back with their apologies to let us know they were out. We decided to substitute with the prawn rolls instead. Mmm, very good.

For my entree, I ordered the Thai Pasta in Green Curry Sauce. It was hotter than hell! I all but guzzled my almond milk tea to get rid of the curry's heat. My upper lip went numb. It was incredible, absolutely delicious fast food that I could not forget for several minutes. My companion ordered the Squash Curry. His curry had the perfect heat, and it soaked into the rice just right. The kabocha squash was a little dry, but I've had drier. The squash and basil both lent his dish a welcome sweetness.

Speaking of sweetness, we didn't think to look at the dessert menu, and now we are regretting it. Perhaps next time we will try the red sticky rice or the fried banana with honey.

I have wanted to tell you about this place for forever.

Since having moved to the Bay Area, I have long sought THE take-out/delivery experience. A million trips to http://GrubHub.com later, and I think I have finally found it. So here it is: Hai Sun.

(Please note that I have never set foot into Hai Sun, as that would defy everything I believe about delivery service and me not leaving my sofa.)

Hai Sun advertises on the front of the menu that they are "None Fat / Low Fat Chinese Cuisine."  When they cook, they steam rather than fry, and they avoid using oil. The vegetables taste really fresh. It's a little bit like the crappy Chinese delivery you know you already love, but healthier, tastier, quality-er, and at cheap-o delivery prices.

There's something for everyone on Hai Sun's menu. My friend always gets the Happy Family. I want to have babies with their Mango Chicken, although I recently learned that the Mu Shu there is what is truly, completely unstoppable. It's the tastiest Mu Shu I've ever had, and if the pancakes didn't fall apart so much, it would be so, so perfect. The steamed Gyoza are pitch-perfect. Sometimes the potstickers from other restaurants turn out too limp, or too brown, but Hai Sun's are just right. They are masterful! The foil-wrapped chicken appetizer must be tasted to be believed. The Crab Puffs, Hai Sun's take on rangoon, are also really delicious (although, one night, it was very much a "miss").

Ordering from Hai Sun is fast and easy, and when you do, you should request that all your chicken dishes come with white meat--I read that once in another review, and he was right, because it'll improve the quality of your food substantially. You can also order beer, because Hai Sun is full-service and awesome.

Here's what not to do: NEVER ask for something "less spicy." I did that when I ordered the Hunan General Chicken, and what I ended up with was perfectly inedible. It was the worst food experience I've ever had, and to tell you the truth, I blame myself. I should never have offered direction when none was needed. Hai Sun! Forgive me!

Hai Sun is friendly and fast, and for me, my food always comes in thirty-five minutes or less. It comes in these really cool, sturdy, Chinese take-out boxes that are microwave-safe. I always thinking about rinsing a box out and keeping it, because they're so cute, but I guess that would be silly.

In the end, and especially if you have guests who want to eat family-style from a bunch of boxes all over your living room, Hai Sun makes tummies happy. My mom visited me and we ordered Hai Sun delivery, and she couldn't believe how delicious. There's always enough food for me to get two meals out of a single serving. Mmm! Hai Sun, I love you.

Hemlock's my favorite joint in town, easy. It looks like a dive, but it's a full-fledged bar experience. There's constantly live music way in back (you have to push through the plastic meat-locker curtains), a very active pool table by the ATM, and for the dying, there's a smokers' atrium just through the glass doors. As an added bonus, the walls are decked with pastoral paintings and elk horns. I really, really like the Hemlock because it reminds me of a nice homesick Chicago beer.

As the bar fills up, though, the crowd gets kind of tough. One time I came in with coworkers and some jerk was a total ass to my boss. And one of the bartenders smirked at my friend cruelly when she asked for a Hefeweizen--I shoved in and I was like, "She meant an Anchor Steam." Whatever. There's Pabst BR in bottles, and plenty of Malibu, so either way I'm good to go. I've made more friends than enemies in Hemlock, and everyone I've ever dragged in with me has left happily.

It's also worth noting that the Hemlock is next door to Space Gallery, and located conveniently along the Polk Drag, so if the bar doesn't suit you, the night's no loss.