Brian L.'s Profile

As Josh B. mentioned, the service was terrible and some of our party ended up with some truly disappointing food. The first inconvenience was being told to share menus due to a shortage-- this would be fine if the restaurant were packed, but we were the only people occupying our half of the restaurant. To make it worse, our server informed us of this shortage in a very strange manner, leading to some confusion over whether this was supposed to be a family-style dining experience.

After ordering, our party's meals came out in a inexcusably stupid sequence: those who had only ordered salads were served first, along with Josh's pork chop. After waiting 15 minutes, everyone else received their entrees, and by this time the pork chop was cold and the main salads were almost eaten. The timing couldn't have been poorer, and the apology on the restaurant's behalf was meager.

I ordered the jambalaya fettuccine thinking it would be a jambalaya made with pasta instead of rice (obviously). What I received was basically fettuccine alfredo with a couple shrimp and some sausage. To call this jambalaya is a complete mistake, as it clearly wasn't made in a manner even remotely similar to jambalaya. It was instead an overwhelming and disgusting mess of cream and cheese. (Side note: another person who ordered the same dish didn't even get fettuccine in his. He got linguine. So, "fettuccine jambalaya"? No, and no.)

Finally, a friend who had ordered thai curry chicken noodle suspected that something had gone bad in his meal-- perhaps the coconut milk. I tried a bite and an unnatural sourness made me agree. We had to go somewhere else to get him a more edible dinner afterward.

Suffice to say, my experience here was completely bad. Others in our party, however, really enjoyed their meals. And, in the restaurant's defense, our server offered discount coupons to my friend and I for our next visit (which won't happen). So, if you insist on visiting Bistro 1491 I implore you to at least steer clear of the pasta dishes. Or, better yet, walk 50 feet up the street and eat at Fonda.

You would think that eating a meal this pricey involves an implicit trust in the chef to prepare a memorable meal: technique and flavor and creativity should be evident and, hopefully, refined. Which is (part of) the reason I found Cafe Gratitude so disappointing. Stretching my brain to its limits, I still can't understand how raw vegetables on a bed of rice could possibly cost so much. People seem to mistake the extensive menu for creativity when, really, it's just combinatorics. Choose your vegetables, choose rice or quinoa, choose to add avocado for four dollars, whatever. Sauces and pretend cheese won't make up for any of these dishes' lacking.

Add to this an astoundingly incompetent and too-loud-to-be-sincere server, and you'll end up waiting a long time for about half of what you had ordered, which again doesn't make sense given the nature of the cuisine (I'm pretty sure you didn't scorch the kale, so what's the hold up?). All the while a well-placed note on the table encourages you to donate seven dollars along with your bill to give somebody a bowl of food. Which is doubly insulting: not only is such a gesture way tacky, but it shows that your bowl of greens should only cost seven dollars.

By the time the check arrives, clothespinned to an identical note, your disappointment turns to sadness. This place thrives off patrons and staff buying into a total gimmick (to say nothing of the semi-scandal outlined in the East Bay Express), and to see them take to it with such smugness is nearly nauseating.

Behrooz, the proprietor, was incredibly helpful, honest, and gracious throughout my experience buying a tuxedo at Uniformal. I got a good price on a well-made tux, but what struck me as outstanding was the treatment I received in regard to the rest of my ensemble. It took me a while to make up my mind about the type of waistcoat, shirt, tie, and shoes I wanted; by the time I had decided it was too late for a standard order to go through. He overnighted the pieces he could, and by the time the event came I had everything I wanted (and a few gifts!).

I would certainly recommend coming to Uniformal and talking to Behrooz over the astoundingly unhelpful service I received shopping at the department stores-- he's more knowledgeable and far less pressuring.

It's gone now. Mexican Coke just got a little harder to find.

The folks at the Annex are nice and, so far, have done good work on my bike. Recently I had them build up a complete bike-- normally, I would do it myself, but relied on professional expertise this time; it's by far the nicest bike I've owned. They did a great job and the service was cheap. I recently took it in for a pedal swap and tuneup; both were free, and it was done with no wait. A truly valuable local shop.

I came here on my lunch break, handed over my DMV paperwork and keys, and took a seat in the waiting room. Some others were there, too, and while I didn't get a computer terminal I still got soda and crackers and magazines I actually wanted to read. Two GQs later my truck was ready, I got my $20 web/Yelp discount and left. Sure, my lunch break ended up a little longer than I'd hoped, but with that kind of service I'm not complaining.

Also, I noticed on my way out that there is a weight room. Strange, but I guess not everybody wants junk food and the Internet.

Gregoire's my neighbor now. It's good, but the constant crowd of hipsters awkwardly waiting around kinda makes one rethink the hype surrounding this place. First: those potato puffs? Good. Not great. All I recall is a strange, almost vinegary taste, though they were crisped perfectly on the outside and creamy within.

Their lunch menu is a little more appropriately priced than the dinner one and features some truly tasty and interesting choices. A simple chicken patty sandwich was remarkably good-- far better than its name implied-- and a lamb curry sandwich also held its own. From the dinner menu, the bavette with poached scallions was cooked perfectly; along with some fries (only OK, and ordered separately) the total was upwards of $20. It's hard to justify paying so much, even when the food is good, for essentially no service and so little in the way of accoutrements (maybe you've got a really nice home to bring it back to?). But, like I said, they're neighbors and I'll continue to support them. For lunch.

First and most importantly, Virginia gave me an awesome haircut. From the head massage to the last detailed trim she was attentive and adept-- a natural talent. I haven't been more than satisfied with a haircut in a while, and to think that this one cost so little only makes it more remarkable.

Also, she spared no effort in accommodating me, from squeezing me in after hours to letting me keep my bike inside her already-small space. There is actually nothing more that could have been done to make it better. Nothing. So, everyone: get your hair cut early and often and here, because Vika really deserves it.

The first thing you'll notice is a 1/2 Off deal advertised on a sandwich board outside the door-- sounds good, but it's not quite a 'deal' when its prices are printed permanently on the menu. It's still a fair price to pay for decent fish, though, and mine seemed fresh and clean. The miso soup and edamame were both too salty for my taste, but a good Rainbow Roll makes those complaints minor. The service was fast, which I appreciated, but the atmosphere was bland, similar to the other quick and student-oriented places on the block.

La Val's is a totally unremarkable take on thin-crust pizza, but it's not without its saving graces. They've got an inexpensive lunch special, a selection of beer, and a pinball machine. There's also a lot of space and the game's always on, which is unique on the Northside.

So don't worry that the pizza's lacking; there are other reasons to come here.