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Review votes:
11376 Useful, 9748 Funny, and 11074 Cool
San Francisco, CA
Yelping SinceJuly 2006
Things I LoveLime Calippos, Barcelona, Red Velvet Cake, the Burt Bacharach songbook, Prosecco, Saimin
Find Me InSoMa
My HometownSan Francisco, CA
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I'm the S.F. Travel Examiner at http://www.examiner.co...
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI yelp...therefore I am
The Last Great Book I ReadThe Four Agreements; To Kill a Mockingbird; Moral Politics
My First ConcertHerb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass at the Cotton Bowl in 19-none-of-your-business
My Favorite MovieOn the Waterfront; Two for the Road; Tokyo Story
My Last Meal On EarthChef's Tasting Menu, French Laundry, Yountville
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 546-4999
Henry's Hunan Restaurant
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: SOMA
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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7/22/2007
OK, there's already Shanghai 1930 on Spear, but a few opium plants and concubines could turn this place into something more memorable than the bland suburban vibe generated here now. Atmosphere would be a good thing. After all, as Marlene Dietrich said..."It took more than one man to change my name to Shanghai Lily."
I do like me some Henry's now and then, though I get drawn here usually for dinner more than lunch. I have friends who actually want to go here of their own free will...really. You have to understand that Henry's and I go way back to the (gasp) early 1980's when I used to frequent the one on Sansome because I loved Diana's Special Meat Pie, the Kung Pao Chicken and the Hot and Sour Soup. A lunch of those dishes with my similarly budget-constrained colleagues, all assistant media planners wondering what we were going to do when we got real jobs, was a feast.
Flash forward a few waist-sizes later, and I still order those dishes from this location. But this past Friday, I went here determined to try something different. At 6:30PM, the place was empty. I'm used to it being abuzz with activity and apparently so does the staff because the service seemed particularly weak. Our waiter was so busy being enraptured by a pretty Chinese woman in pink stockings that he kept forgetting we were at the next table. OK, let's just call her "Shanghai Lily". We had the robust $6.95 Chicken Salad, which was covered in a nice tangy peanut sauce that had been watered down for consumption. But we gave mixed reviews to the spicy $7.50 Liling Chicken Wings, which were unexpectedly chopped up and made maneuvering around the bones a high-maintenance affair.
Ah well, the waiter eventually came back when Shanghai Lily finished showing her Bloomingdale's purchases to him. We were in belch mode afterward as I expected. But I have to admit I am as satisfied with this place as I was as a fresh-faced assistant media planner ready to take on the world. It's not the greatest Chinese food in the world, but for me, it is the most nostalgic.
FOOD - 3.5 stars...sure it's greasy...sure it's fattening...what's your point?
AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...darkly suburban with a few industrial touches, but it needs a more vibrant identity to match the food if you ask me.
SERVICE - 2.5 stars...hey, you can talk to Shanghai Lily later, buddy!
TOTAL - 3 stars... we got history...we'll survive this momentary lapse.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 835-1176
Oakland Grill
Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Jack London Square
It's three eggs scrambled mixed with ground beef, mushrooms, onions, spinach, garlic and cheddar cheese. Eggs were a tad rubbery, but the rest worked fine. The menu doesn't say it comes with potatoes, but they most surely do. Again, they tasted a tad old with a heavy coating of paprika to cover the chunks up. The sourdough toast was fine though. Have I become such a Yelp-crazed foodie that I can't quite appreciate a bargain meal in a warehouse anymore? Nah, I eat grub like this all the time. I just feel Oakland Grill has lost a bit of their original mojo.
I didn't have complaints about the service even if it felt like the waitress was on automatic pilot. The manager had the power vibe going though since he reprimanded another waitress in front of me at the counter. I just thought it wasn't very cool to do that since I'm not big on humiliating your staff in public. Abuse should be done passive-aggressively behind people's backs. It's called manners.
FOOD - 3 stars...ok grub but just doesn't have that mojo no mo'
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...still like the warehouse loft coolness factor...too much blond wood though
SERVICE - 2.5 stars...eye contact is not big here
TOTAL - 3 stars...barely...nostalgia ain't what it used to be
Jamie W. and I were on our way back from the Gilroy Discount Outlets when we stopped in and saw the streams of crowds. I was ready to turn right around, but I said to myself, "Dammit, stop being a wimp, and order up some ramen for you and your guy." I stared quite a long time at the plastic replicas of the ramen bowls in the display case before settling on two orders of the $10.45 Extra Pork Large Size bowls with soy sauce flavored broth and two smaller bowls of rice with slow-cooked pork, green onions and sesame seeds ($2.49 each) (see my photos). Squeezed in our little plastic chairs in a densely populated seating area, we waited a good half-hour before our ramen was ready.
It was very good but in a different way. The ramen noodles were cooked al dente with a slight chew to them, and the pork was sliced thinly over the top. The soy sauce flavor lent a creamier texture than I expected, but that may have something to do with the skin of grease on the broth, which I assume helped keep the ramen at a warm temperature when served. That's kind of the same logic used to justify freezer burn on a tub of ice cream, isn't it? Oh well, this type of ramen apparently comes from Hokkaido (the northern island of Japan, you plebeian) - so I'll give in to tradition as well as my penchant for grease.
The pork bowl was a nice complement since it was like bacon in a bucket. The nice thing is that you can dump it all into the leftover broth and continue enjoying the ramen. I'm not sure if I broke any dining etiquette rules there, but I noticed three people do the same after I did it. Such a trend setter I am, or a bad influence. I can't decide. But alas, I must leave Tokyo for now since we have an hour's drive ahead of us. Definitely worth a stop down here if Tampopo has let you down lately.
FOOD - 4 stars...snow country ramen is what I'd call it with al dente noodles and a creamy broth
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...like a food court in a suburban supermarket...in Yokohama!
SERVICE - 3 stars...just point and pay (just cash, no cards)...everything looked pretty good to me
TOTAL - 4 stars...the South Bay has ramen houses worth checking out...don't be a snob.
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 981-0189
TCHO
Category: Chocolatiers and Shops
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
Well, screw that. Like I'm really going to balance the chocolates on this flimsy card while I'm holding a glass of wine. I guess I inappropriately used my card like a scooper and just kept popping them by the handful in my mouth. I kept getting small-mouth from the company representative. Well, flash forward a few months later, and lo and behold, I came upon TCHO's little, lonely-looking store in the Pier 17 warehouse. I banged on the door an hour past its official opening hour, and out from the side door came the slightly miffed server. That's right. I got it again. Small-mouth.
Ah, there's that familiar color wheel again on the wall (see photo), but this time, they have little dishes with little tongs so you can take little bites of the chocolate (see photo). Fair enough. And there are other little bowls with chocolate-covered coffee beans (see photo). You can probably tell I'm not a cocoa bean connoisseur since my idea of a chocolate high is getting the free sample square at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Store when I feign unexpected surprise at the offer of one. But here, they have Blue Bottle coffee as a chaser, so it must be good stuff.
Tiburon, CA 94920
(415) 435-4527
Sam's Anchor Cafe
Categories: Bars, American (Traditional)
Anyway, we made it to Sam's, and it was jam-packed at 3:30PM. It's pretty much jam-packed anytime because the deck is admittedly an inviting place on a sunny day like it was last Saturday. But what does strike you after a while is how non-diverse the customers were. As Kathy Griffin described the biological fathers of Michael Jackson's children, it was "Whitey, Whitey McGee and Whitey McWhiterson". And not just Caucasian but the rich and overly entitled type, the kind that pooh-poohs the waiter by telling him that her margarita is not good enough unless it's Top Shelf.
When we were finally seated at our table, we were surrounded by mouthy people talking about their masseuses or their boats or their masseuses on their boats. And they were continually banging their white plastic chairs (...and they are white, I swear) against mine. However, I did like the $8 bowl of Boston-Style Clam Chowder with the little bags of oyster crackers. It's the creamy-lumpy variety that I prefer...and of course, white. And I naturally had the $13 Sam's Burger, which I always liked because of the sourdough bun. The fries weren't bad either. But it's all a bit ka-ching, ka-ching.
Regardless, I gotta tell ya...not that relaxing with the crowds which certainly obscured my marina view. Sam's is truly the land of milk and honey or at least Wonder bread and Best Foods mayonnaise.
FOOD - 3 stars...good bar-type food (and I also like the Hangtown Fry Omelette when I get there earlier in the day)...but certainly pricey, obviously to match the clientele
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars....nice on the deck on a sunny day but you still feel like you're in an elevator during rush hour
SERVICE - 3 stars...the servers are busy, and ours was a bit, shall we say, forgetful
TOTAL - 3 stars...the ultimate Tiburon experience, if there is such a thing
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 444-6955
Merritt Restaurant & Bakery
Categories: Bakeries, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: East Oakland
Don't go expecting culinary surprises here. Know what I'm sayin'? You ever notice how Whitney Houston said "Know what I'm sayin'?" after every three sentences during her Oprah interview. Annoying, wasn't it? Anyhow, I just wanted some comfort food between appointments in Oakland. Know what I'm sayin'? So I saw a Tuna Melt ($9.95) that had my name on it, and I needed a bowl of Chicken Soup ($4.75) to go with it (see photos). Know what I'm sayin'? BOB-BBEEE!
Well, it wasn't great except kudos on using real chicken in the soup. But who cares? It's a one-franchise Denny's without all that irritating Day-Glo orange. Merritt is there when you need it. Merritt will always be there when you need it. Merritt is strong. Merritt is invincible. Merritt is Oakland.
FOOD - 3 stars...you came here for cuisine?...what planet are you from?
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...like I said...Fingerhut deluxe
SERVICE - 3 stars...I'm sure she came and went with a pencil in her hairdo
TOTAL - 3 stars....Merritt is an institution...could someone sweep out the cobwebs?
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 371-1110
Céfiore
Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Restaurants
Neighborhood: SOMA
No spiky hair here, just a personable, responsible-looking woman who obviously uses conditioner. The tartness seems to be gone. Not her, the fro-yo...well, at least with what I had ...a $3.50 medium-sized swirl of Chocolate and Pumpkin with bits of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup on top (see photo). Really tasty, and it lasted all the way to Jessie Square in front of the Contemporary Jewish Museum where we parked our ample derrieres and licked to our heart's content. Life can be good that way. Know what I mean?
FRO-YO - 4 stars...the tartness was gone, and golly, it's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...a shoebox of a place but clean and well-kept
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...nice conditioner
TOTAL - 4 stars...fro-yo fo sho
San Francisco, CA 94101
Primavera
Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
Anyway, I never felt motivated to walk beyond the Rose Pistola kiosk to navigate the swarming crowds at the market until I saw the tamale plate Bourdain had on the show. Since Jamie W. and I had an hour before the book signing, we waited in line at the Primavera stand for one of their fabled Mexican breakfasts. There were four desirable selections on the framed menu, and I went with the $9.50 Chilaquiles "El Cardenal", which was a paper plate of chilaquiles with tomato and chipotle in adobe sauce accompanied by scrambled eggs, onions, crema, and refried beans (see photo).
It was a tad pricey for what you get, but the combination of flavors burst in my mouth with every bite, especially the spicy kick of the chipotle. You certainly can't beat the view of the Bay Bridge, and there was never a shortage of weather-worn wooden benches to sit on to be able to lap it all up. I'll definitely come back for the tamales and the enchiladas on some other Saturday, and perhaps I can also be cool and cynical like those bad-boy chefs.
FOOD - 4 stars...a solid four-star plate of food with Ferry Building prices
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...the Bay Bridge on a sunny day
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...efficient for sure
TOTAL - 4 stars...Bourdain is right again, dammit
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 401-7424
La Copa Loca
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Mission
It'll push your belly out, lickin' la copa loca!
Whatever happened to Ricky Martin anyway? Oh well, with Humphry Slocombe just down the block now and Bi-Rite, Bombay and Mitchell's not that much further away, I'm afraid La Copa Loca may just get lost in the lactose-intolerant shadows of the Mission. That would be a shame because there are pleasures here that involve the tongue and the palate and don't involve me taking off my clothes. See, I just gave you another reason to come here.
It's a compact place that you would pass by were it not for the glow-in-the-dark, giant ice cream cone (see photo). Enter and you're immediately struck by all the color in the glass case - a blinding combination of gelato, sorbets and sherbets, about thirty in all (see photos). I have to admit I was immediately drawn to the pumpkin sherbet and the pineapple sorbet since it felt like the appropriately lighter treat to have after a pan full of lobster paella at Esperpento.
Then I went truly decadent by asking for a peanut-encrusted, chocolate-dipped cone to house those tantalizing flavors. Somehow it all worked. It was refreshing, and I honestly didn't miss the creaminess of the gelato. I just may have to skip the Blue Bottle Vietnamese at Humphry Slocombe and go for something tropical at La Copa Loca on a hot summer night. Hey, it could happen.
SORBET/SHERBET - 4 stars...refreshing and then some
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...it's a small, comforting place...be prepared to take it outside
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...scoops with the best of them
TOTAL - 4 stars...if you get tired of Humphry, Mitchell's, Bi-Rite or Bombay, you probably need a tummy tuck...but do come to La Copa Loca for the sorbets and sherbets
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 922-1615
Souley Vegan
Categories: Vegan, Soul Food
Neighborhood: Jack London Square
Empty as the place was, I don't think many people know that they are open on Sundays and actually serve a limited brunch menu - $8 for three items and $10 for four. Sadly, they don't serve their house specialties like the BBQ and Crispy Tofu dishes on Sunday morning. Instead, it's purely breakfast fixings. Luckily, I had a cheery server to help me maneuver the chalkboard menu. I ended up ordering the Scrambled Tofu, Smothered Potatoes, and "Sausages" (see photo). You let her know at the counter and sit anywhere you like. Red stencils of jazz greats freckle the walls.
When the food arrived, I picked at it because I suddenly became fearful of eating something way too healthy for me. Let me start with the best selection. The Scrambled Tofu turned out to be surprisingly hearty with cubes of firm tofu mixed well with peppers and onions among whatever was the egg substitute. The net result was tastier than it had any right to be. The Smothered Potatoes were in the "pretty good" range, a big pile of smashed potatoes with plenty of texture and seasoning though a tad too oily for my taste. I assume it must have been vegetable oil.
The "Sausages" were the least of the three in flavor and looks - two links that were shaped more like finger potatoes, they were made of ground soy mixed with cilantro. The texture was more bready than meaty, so the masquerade was not successful. Still, it was hearty enough to complement the other items. There is definitely a sense of craftsmanship that I admired about the meticulously prepared food. I'm sure if I was a vegan, I'd be peeing for joy in my biodegradable underpants. As a carnivore, however, I have to admit I was thinking an Extra Giant Triple-Egger at Nation's might have hit the spot in a weaker moment.
FOOD - 3 stars...vegan craftsmanship, variable taste
AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...kinda empty in there
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...cheery server wanted to see me smile...I obliged
TOTAL - 3 stars...does Souley Vegan allow your inner soulful vegan to emerge?...I'm not sure 'cause I'll be next door having a Harvester
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Well, we already know the $6.95 Diana's Meat Pie is about as Chinese as Charlie Chan in an opium den. It's one of the best tostadas you could possibly have outside of the Mission, although I have to remember to pick up some salsa from Taco Del Mar across the street the next time. Between Henry, Howard and Marty having their namesake specials, I was starting to think this was the West Coast outpost for Katz's Delicatessen, but alas, I think they're mostly hotter-than-the-hinges-in-hell kung pao dishes.
Regardless, I just couldn't sleep tonight until I gave Henry's the extra star for their anything-for-a-buck sorta-Hunan dishes. Sure, it ain't David Chang. It ain't even Charlie Chan. Henry's Hunan is like the Kathy Griffin of Chinese restaurants.
FOOD - 4 stars...yes, Sophie didn't have a tougher choice than having the Polish Sausage over Diana's Tostada Greasepool...I mean, Meat Pie
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...well, it still needs a few more gongs
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...getting better, not sure why
TOTAL - 4 stars...this is not a Polish joke