Lee "LeeTramp" T.'s Profile

As of January, 2012, Green Papaya will no longer be vegetarian only. The sign in their window (see photos) reads:

"Dear Customers,

We apologize for the inconvenience, due to low volume of Vegan/Vegetarian consumers Green Papaya will not be able to stay open. After New Year of 2012 [2011 on sign, but I'm sure they mean 2012] we're renovating this place into a non-vegan restaurant. Although we're changing things up a bit here; we will still offer Vegetarians our selective menu and no worries our utilities such as pots, pans, and ingredients for Vegetarian will most definitely be separated from non-vegetarian. Hope to see you guys again once we re-open our new restaurant!!!

Sincerely, Green Papaya."

I found Green Papaya's food to be excellent, and assume it will remain so when they start selling a more "diverse" menu.

3.5 stars.

Very basic course with no moving obstacles, but a nice mix of greens. Three of us (ages 13-51) had lots of fun, $6 each seems like a decent price, and while the "greens" weren't spotless, they weren't ragged either.

PS: We didn't find beer cans and cigarette butts all over, but it was 9:00 on a Tuesday night :-)

Not good for vegans.

When I go to a "regular" restaurant, I'm pleased if they have a couple of vegetarian options that look like more than something they just left the meat off of. When I go to a vegetarian restaurant, I don't think it's too much to ask that they offfer reasonable vegan alternatives, again, something that they put as much effort into as their vegetarian menu. Sadly, Zinc does not provide such items. I looked over the menu and didn't see much that was vegan, so when I got to the counter to order I asked the server what was their most popular vegan breakfast. "Oh, the oatmeal is excellent." I ordered it, and it was good, but I would have wanted a more substantial option. My two breakfast partners had the huevos rancheros, which were delicious (I ate some of the beans, tortillas, and salsa). My question now is, Why not tofu rancheros? (They have a drink with tofu, so clearly they order it.)

So, the foood is good, I'm just truly disappointed that a vegetarian restaurant doesn't pay more attention to its vegan clients.

They seem to be remodeling section by section. Some reviews said they have flatscreen TVs, but mine was old school tube. It was a decent hotel room, no complaints (one minor, see below). Nice shuttle picked me up at the airport at 10:45 PM, then took me to Creighton U at 6:30 in the morning (no cab fares!). Breakfast had a big selection, including roasted potatoes that were good for my vegetarian diet. The wifi was free with no silly log-in screen.

A couple complaints: The electrical outlet at the desk in my room was lose and my plugs kept falling out. I had to charge all my electronics in the bathroom overnight :-) Also, the shower head was not low-flow. Perhaps it's my west coast living-in-constant-drought experience, but the Midwest could pay attention to water use as well (and it wasn't a super water massage shower head either, just a funky one--it worked fine, but I'd rather have them put in a low flow head.

I always feel bad about giving three starts, but Yelp says that three is A-OK and four is "I'm a fan," so while I'd not say I'm a fan, I'd also say I had no major complaints.

We stopped in here on our way from Lava Beds to Lassen, looking for ice cream, but stayed for dinner. We were two vegetarians and one fish eater--we were all able to eat a good dinner. Our fish eater was pleased with the clam chowder. Not the strongest vegan menu, but one could get by, but several vegetarian options.
We were the only people there when we arrived. We found Andrew a friendly and helpful proprietor, and clearly Jen can cook. While we were eating, a man and his daughter came in who clearly came by often. Mom showed up a bit later, and they sat around chatting with Andrew and Jen for a while. Seems like a good contribution to the neighborhood :-)
I'd say Ken K. and Laura F. wrote accurate reviews (although I can't write about the music since we were there at "dinner time" on a Sunday night, and I didn't get the sense you'd be looked down on for ordering a microbeer).
I always feel odd about giving four stars to "regular" restaurants--I would say that the Mayfly Pub is making no attempt to be a "five star" restaurant, but I'd also say they deserve five stars for doing what they do well.

I haven't been here in a couple years, and am surprised no one has reviewed them yet. I found them fully stocked, friendly, and knowledgeable. I'll try to stop by, get hours and other info, and update my review and their business information.

They are in the back of the large complex at Shattuck and Cedar. Not too hard to find, but you do have to go way to the back.

I'm writing my review as an out-of-towner. I'm at ASU for a three week science teacher class, and contemplated bringing my bike on the airplane (Southwest is very bike friendly). In the end I decided to try to live without my bike. Two days after I got to Tempe I stumbled on the Bicycle Cellar, and discovered I could rent a bike there. They were very helpful, including providing a helmet and lock (and loaning me a three-way allen wrench so I could make adjustments to the fit). The bike even came with a trunk bag that I keep the lock and other bits in.

After a week I got a flat and brought it in and they fixed the flat quickly. Then I asked if I could borrow a pump in case the flat happened when I wasn't near them, and they happily loaned me one (I did pay for a patch kit, figuring I can always use more patches at when I get home). I had also broken the front fender (a stick got jammed in it when I was on a gravel road ride), and they didn't hassle me about it.

When I first arrived at the Bicycle Cellar, I had been contemplating purchasing a cheap bike on Craigslist and selling or donating it when I left. While the bike I rented for 19 days cost me more than it would have to buy a one, I got a much better bike and the freedom it has provided me is priceless!

I'd be much happier to have my own bicycle, but the Bicycle Cellar gets me almost there.

Thanks, Bicycle Cellar!

PS. They also sell used bikes, repair bikes, sell lots of small add-ons for your bike, as well as nibblies and water supplements (electrolytes, etc.). They also are open to members for 4am-midnight for bicycle parking with lockers and showers (you are issued a membership "smart card" that lets you in when they are otherwise closed). They're right next to the light rail, so you can ride to the Cellar, take a quick shower, and jump on the light rail to work. How cool is that???

I haven't been here yet (although Google Streetview makes me feel like I have), but I have talked to them on the phone. I'm looking for a place to pitch a tent on a bicycle tour, and they were very helpful on the phone. The phone number listed gave me another number (I'm writing this review during the off-season, so I'm not surprised they aren't in), which was answered promptly when I called it.

I'm looking to camp in late June, and he suggested I call back in early June. I'm guessing that if you're looking for an RV site, you'll probably want to make reservations earlier.

I'll write a more detailed review after I stay there.

I've been going to these folks for probably 20+ years. They almost always have what I need, and if not they can order it and it arrives promptly. As others have said, they primarily serve repair folks who come in knowing what they need, so they don't necessarily have lots of time. Just write down the make and model number of your appliance, and the part you need, and they'll find it for you.

If you haven't been there in a while, make a note that they have moved around the corner from their San Pablo Avenue location. Park in the Orchard Parking lot (enter from Ashby or 9th near Berkeley Bowl), then walk through the hallway at the east side of Orchard (look for the sign). Their storefront faces on Ashby, but there's not parking out there (ah, longing for the days before Ashby was a freeway).

I hiked this in the winter, and as we started on the trail we were met with sunshine with a very light snowfall. It's a good trail, but has a bit of city/suburb feel to it at some places. We didn't make it all the way to the north end, but it seemed that most of the people we saw on the trail started there, and they said that end was much prettier and hillier than the southern end.

My friend didn't like the trail, but I thought it was pleasant. It's probably much nicer when there are leaves on the trees. I gave it four stars, but wouldn't say those who gave it five stars were wrong.

Both our recommendations: Start at the north end.

We found one porta-potty on the trail that was remarkably clean (maybe because it was winter and no one wanted to stop?). I heard there is another further north, and real bathrooms at the north end (for the soccer fields).

A FEW WORDS OF WARNING ABOUT THE SOUTH END OF THE TRAIL:

1. The "4 miles" ends almost a quarter mile north of the Clark Park Nature Center parking lot, so if you go all the way to that lot, it's more like 4.25 miles each way. (You'll see the 4 mile marker is at the 4 mile point, there are no markers at the parking lot saying 4.25 miles.)

2. The trail disappears onto Eastwood Avenue about 3/4 mile north of the parking lot. Here's how to follow the trail:

If you're coming from the north, make a right at the road and cross the railroad tracks (there's a sign saying the bike path is on the road, but when I was there, there was no sign for the trail). Go about 1,000 feet (the road will have veered left slightly) and you'll see a crosswalk on the street. The trail continues on the left side of the road at this crosswalk.

If you're coming from the south, make a right at the road (you'll be tempted to cross the road on the crosswalk, but it goes nowhere and we found the south side of the road slightly more pedestrian friendly). Walk about 1,000 feet until you cross the railroad tracks, then cross the street and you'll find the trail running parallel to the tracks (again, not so well signed).