On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.

kathyjohnson.yelp.com

Kathy J.'s Profile

Photo of Kathy J.

Photo of Kathy J.
Photo of Kathy J.
Photo of Kathy J.

"Mo' hotta, mo'betta"

profile votes icon Review votes:
103 Useful, 25 Funny, and 50 Cool

Compliments Cute Pic (2) Thank You (3) Good Writer (6) Just a Note (2) Hot Stuff (5) You're Cool (5) Write More (1)
Location

Ross, CA

Yelping Since

April 2006

Things I Love

Running, Painting, Welsh Corgis

Find Me In

Ross, CA

My Hometown

Tacoma, WA

My Blog Or Website

http://www.consortpart...

When I'm Not Yelping...

Run a PR company

Why You Should Read My Reviews

I like to eat food and drink wine

My First Concert

Earth, Wind and Fire

My Last Meal On Earth

Burger from Marche Aux Fleur in Ross, CA, along with their rosemary & sage fries

Current Crush

Peanut Butter

Recent Reviews

52 Reviews

Filter by: Location   Category
Duhig Road at Hwy 121
Healdsburg, CA

Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon  

Category: Active Life

5 star rating
 11/3/2009 6 photos  
OMG - this was so fun!  Since it was Halloween, lots of runners ran in costume (including me... I was Wonder Woman).  We started in the dark, under a spotlight, but then the sun began to rise over the vineyards as we set off for our 13.1 miles.  I got lots of encouragement through the entire race from Wonder Woman fans, which I really needed to keep my energies going.

For those intrepid wine tasters, one of the wineries on the route was offering a tasting at mile six.  Lots of runners were lining up, otherwise, I would have been in there too!

At the end of the race, you get lots of whooping and yelling as spectators give you their love as you cross the finish line (I finished in 1 hour 56 minutes).

The best part of all is going to the wine expo after the race.  You're exhausted, sweaty, and floating on an endorphin high, proudly wearing your flashy medal on your neck.   You then get an engraved keepsake wine glass and start sipping tastings from around 30 wineries.  Who needs Gatorade!  By 9:30am, I had run 13.1 miles, gotten rave reviews for my Wonder Woman costume, was wearing a freaking cool medal, and had a wine buzz.  A nice way to start Halloween.  I'll be doing this again next year!

Was this review …?

 

227 3rd St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 455-9797

Rumi  

Category: Persian/Iranian

4 star rating
 11/3/2009 1 photo  
Back from my second time at Rumi and I'm still as satisfied and impressed as the first time.

You might not think of getting quality, delicious food in a strip mall but don't be dismayed.  The ambiance is alright.  The service is superb.  The food incredibly yummy, layered, surprising and exotic.

You get a free starter of fresh, hot pitta bread served with herbs including mint, coriander, parsley, scallions and red onion, with briny feta to mix and match to your mouth's delight.

We had the barbecued chicken and a concoction of walnuts, pomegranates, molasses, spices and chicken, plus we got a side of the minced beef kabob.  Just these plates were more than enough to feed a couple, plus another meal to take home.

Portions are generous, flavors are crisp, clean and inventive, and the service is great.  Only reason I didn't give five stars is because of the strip mall location.

Was this review …?

 

201 Corte Madera Town Center
Corte Madera, CA 94925
(415) 924-7000

The Counter  

Categories: Burgers, American (Traditional)

4 star rating
 10/21/2009 2 photos  
Like an ancient smoke signal, I was lured by the smoke emanating from the chimney of The Counter. But it wasn't just the smoke but the scent of grilled meats beckoning me closer. I saddled up to one of the tall tables, grabbed a pencil and started contemplating all the fixins' to choose from on the build-your-own burger menu. Ended up deciding on lean ground beef cooked medium rare, Tilamook cheddar, tomatoes, pickle, lettuce, and the garlic aoili mayo.

A side of half sweet potato fries and half onion strings with dipping sauces provided a sweet, crispy, salty diversion.  All washed down with a nice hearty red (reservatols are good for the heart... right...).

Great value, excellent food, nice wines. Chair was a bit hard on the butt, but then again, after this meal, I think I had a bit more built-in cushioning anyway.

Was this review …?

 

601 Murray Circle
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 339-4750

Murray Circle  

Categories: American (New), French

5 star rating
 Update - 10/2/2009 4 photos  
I haven't been back to Murray Circle in Sausalito since it opened and subsequently received a Michelin-star, so I was curious to see how it had changed in the interim.  The service had solidified, with the team of wait staff all well-versed on the menu, and discretely omnipresent.  The food this time around was flawless.  We started with an oyster bisque with a fluffy foamy dollop of a dijon mustard "floating island" that had a definite kick that wasn't overpowering.

Next we had a squab and lobster salad served with a reduction of the juices from both of the meats ladled tableside over the salad.  Both of the meats were succulent - the squab had a slight smokiness that added an earthly flavor which was balanced by the sweetness of the lobster.

For our mains, we had local rabbit stuffed with foie gras which was one of the best dishes I've had in a long time.  The rabbit was tender and subtle, while the gems of foie gras added a hearty, savory element.  We also had the baby red abalone with suckling pig confit.  The abalone was cut in thin slices and definitely benefited from the salty, confident flavors of the pork.

Finally, we enjoyed a cheese plate to finish our meal.  So many restaurants don't offer a cheese plate for dessert, which I think is a mistake, because sometimes I'd rather have something savory and salty to accompany my last glass of wine.

All in all, a great experience made even more magical by the spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and sparkling San Francisco on the other side of the bay.  Murray Circle has come full circle since launch and I applaud their efforts.

Was this review …?

 

2 Previous Reviews: Hide »

  • 3 star rating
    5/25/2009

    I've still been meaning to return to Murray Circle, and I definitely will.  But in the meantime, I wanted to share with you that I've been contacted by a person from Murray Circle to follow up on my Yelp review twice to encourage me to come back.  Simply because of the attention to customers in the restaurant - and out!! - I've upped my admiration of Murray Circle's customer service.  Now I'm looking forward to seeing if the food has improved this much as well.

    Was this review …?

     

  • 2 star rating
    5/24/2008

    Potential - not fulfilled (yet?).  

    The service was certainly friendly but maybe a bit too friendly - he'd arrive right when we were in the middle of an intense conversation and interrupt us, but then disappear and never return when needed.  For example, he forgot to bring a spoon for our soup, forgot my glass of wine despite two reminders, then tried to take my food away when I wasn't finished.

    We were advised to order several dishes because they were small.  For lunch, our waiter told us some people order two appetizer and two entrees -- EACH?!  No way!  Especially not at those prices.

    The food was okay.  My friend ordered the lunch box with steak.  It was more like beef jerky - smoky but something you could chew on for hours.

    The dessert was the largest portion of all and very delicious.  But all in all, I wouldn't recommend this place nor go back for another month or so.  Hopefully by then, they'll have found their groove.

    Was this review …?

     

72-73 St. James's Street
London SW1A 1PH
UK
+44 20 7408 1440

Luciano  

Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Green Park

5 star rating
 9/30/2009   First to Review
The first time I went to Luciano's, I ended up meeting with owner, celebrity-chef Marco Pierre White (known as the youngest recipient of 3 Michelin-stars in the world; he trained Gordon Ramsay and Mario Batali as well).  Marco is a larger-than-life character, charming, witty, effervescent and unpredictable.  He open and endearing and we ended up becoming friends over time.  While he's no longer in the kitchen (unless on the UK's Hell's Kitchen), the food at Luciano is still impressive.

My absolute favorite sole muniere in the entire world is from Luciano.  I've tried this dish at J. Sheekey's as well, which is also wonderful, but the savory, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture of Luciano's sets it worlds apart.

Whether you're in London as a local (as I was when I dined at Luciano) or are visiting (as I do now, as I live in California), do make sure you stop by Luciano for lunch, dinner or a drink.  You'll probably end up being befriended by Marco as well.

Was this review …?

 

23 Ross Common
Ross, CA 94957
(415) 925-9200

Marche Aux Fleurs  

Categories: French, Italian

5 star rating
 9/29/2009  
Bucolic little Ross is probably best known for its gated mansions housing billionaires and aging rock stars, but this town of 2,000 also has a treasure in Marche Aux Fleurs.  

Run by husband-and-wife team, Dan and Holly Baker, Marche features fresh, local ingredients prepared in unique and innovative ways that highlights natural flavors.  I can testify the ingredients are local, as my hubbie and I have often spotted the pair at the Marin Farmers Market seeking out what's ripe, seasonal and fresh.

The ambiance at Marche is relaxed yet sophisticated, with excellent service.  I can tell you on a recent visit that a woman at a nearby table sported the most gargantuan diamond I have ever seen - it must have been the size of an acorn and worth a gazillion dollars!  But then, I digress...

Back to the food - the house-made pastas are especially nice and cooked to an al-dente perfection.  The wild king salmon wrapped in grape leaves is succulent and sweet, and I also loved the Alaskan halibut with green garbanzos and an eggplant caponata.

Thursday night is burger night at Marche - famous all through Marin and beyond for the freshly ground natural beef, grilled to your liking and topped with rich Carmody cheese, smokey bacon, grilled caramelized onions, and a housemade pickle, capped off by a soft Brickmaiden roll to soak up any errant juices.  Oh, and the accompanying fries.  These are the BEST FRIES IN THE WORLD!  The house-cut potatoes are fried with rosemary and sage and sprinkled with sea salt for a savory, herbed-up, soul-satisfying, side dish that I could eat everyday for a main (then again, that might not make my arteries happy..).  Just thinking about the burger and fries at Marche is making me hungry again.

Is it Thursday yet?

Was this review …?

 

298 Bon Air Shopping Ctr
Greenbrae, CA 94904
(415) 461-0761

Bon Air Health  

Category: Health Markets

4 star rating
 9/28/2009   First to Review
Although I've been to the Bon Air Shopping Center many times, I've never been to Bon Air Health, as I thought I'd get all my vitamin and supplement needs fulfilled at the neighoring Mollie Stone's grocery store.  However, this past weekend I stopped in as I wanted to buy some calcium pills that weren't the size of walnuts.  I asked the proprietor for his thoughts and got an enlightening description of what calcium supplements are made of (some of them have ground up horse hooves that provide the key ingredient).  He was supremely knowledgeable but was never salesly, which I really appreciated.  I ended up feeling good about the vitamins I purchased - knowing exactly what was in them, how they would be absorbed by my body and what to expect.  It's worth taking the time to stop in and talk to him about your thoughts and needs.  You'll probably end up feeling good, not just from the products, but also from the knowledge you've gained.

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the store is a bit small so it doesn't carry as many products as larger stores.

Was this review …?

 

90 Main St
Tiburon, CA 94920
(415) 435-0111

Christopher Salon  

Category: Hair Salons

5 star rating
 9/28/2009  
I LOVE Christopher!  He's charming, friendly, has a great sense of style and design, and most importantly, will honestly tell you what will look best on you.  

The first time I went to him, I thought the cut was great, but then I didn't go back as I was too lazy to make the drive out to Tiburon again.  After getting my hair cut at other establishments, I appreciated Christopher even more as I remembered how my style grew out effortlessly, even with my short hair.  I've since decided to become a loyal Christopher follower as the drive is absolutely worth it.  I feel better knowing I'm in good hands and I constantly get complements about my cut.  In fact, I was invited to be on NBC's new show, "Trauma", and the hair-and-makeup stylist even asked me who cut my hair (even though it had been weeks since my last cut and I was about to see Christopher again the next day).  

Sonia is also a great colorist.  The products they use are pricey, so do be sure to check the cost on the website so you aren't unpleasantly surprised.  However, you won't end up smelling like ammonia and your hair won't suffer from harsh chemicals with the line they use.  

Highly recommended.

Was this review …?

 

1330 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 655-5600

Yoshi's Jazz Club & Japanese Restaurant  

Categories: Jazz & Blues, Japanese
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA

5 star rating
 9/28/2009  
The only complaint I have about Yoshi's is that it requires a U-turn when heading over from JapanTown/Fillmore area (don't let the cops catch you!).

Beautiful decor, great food (especially the pop-in-your-mouth ikura), good service, and great jazz in the separate music room.

Was this review …?

 

881 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 454-4492

Vin Antico  

Category: Italian

5 star rating
 9/18/2009 1 photo  
The vibe is hip, romantic and lively.  Exposed brick walls, warm amber-hued lighting, an open kitchen featuring a brick oven.  You'd almost feel like you were in San Francisco, but alas, Vin Antico resides in the heart of San Rafael.

The food is fantastic - exceptional thin, blistered-crust pizzas topped with speck, truffle oil, raw egg and other intriguing combinations.  The service is great too - when we went recently, Richard the General Manager greeted us at the door and helped us find a nice wine to get the evening on the right track.

They are currently featuring a 5 at 5 which is $5 for select food and drinks at 5pm.  I've taken a photo of the menu and uploaded it so you can check it out.

Highly recommended.

Was this review …?

 


More

32 Friends

 

Eric B. photo

1214

1236

Eric B.

 

Ron M. photo

1708

161

Ron M.

 

jessica t. photo

3882

834

jessica t.

 

Michael F. photo

2

14

Michael F.

more

24 Compliments

  • You're Cool

    Michelin star, eh? Sounds like a winner! Thanks for the tip, Kathy.

  • Good Writer

    Oscar Wilde once said, "Anybody can make history. Only a great man can… More »

  • Just a Note

    A belated Congrats on your ROTD...  GREAT review.  I can't believe I… More »

More

1 List

Photo of AVA

Some of my faves in Marin

We might not have as many restaurants per capita…
1.  AVA
I'm a huge fan of AVA!…
2.  The Tavern at Lark Creek
Why I love this place:  *…
3.  Bistro 330
I truly adore this place.…
See Full List »

See all lists