kay "subtle like a hammer" v.'s Profile

A bit of a wait on a Saturday morning, but the food was well worth it. The (free) coffee in the small outside pattio enveloped by gorgeous grape vines was better than the coffee served inside. By the way, if you ask for a "large coffee", you'll actually get a larger coffee cup. I had the "Eggy Weggy", a sandwichy type thing with thick slices of buttery grilled toast with cheddar cheese, tomato and bacon with fried eggs. As far as breakfast food goes, that's about as solid as you can get. Great dish. Good place to have breakfast/lunch when you're in Glen Ellen.

I'm happy that I finally have a place close to home where I can get fresh, deliiiiicious tortilla soup. And now they're open later into the evening, so what's not to love? Everything is really fresh and the wait time is surprisingly short. I'm into the baby super burrito with carnitas, which is basically the perfect amount of food, or a soup with a chicken chile verde taco. So many options!

6/24 edit: I keep coming back here. Several times a week, in fact. It's a hit every time, not even remotely disappointing in any way. The plantain burrito is to die for, although it took me forever to finish it. The chipotle salsa is so good. Just superb.

Went here last night, reviving my habit of not being an old lady and staying at home on Thursdays. Beretta reminds me of NOPA's smart-ass and provocative little sister, and since I love NOPA, this is a great thing. Communal dining, check. Fresh ingredients, check. A superior bar staff with a wide array of signature drinks (try the improved whiskey cocktails - trust me) and extensive knowledge of the craft, definite check, check, and check. Great first experience, looking forward to many more to come.

Oh, I highly recommend the pizza margharita with burrata, which is made out of dreams and Faberge eggs. So good. Perfectly thin and crispy, light on toppings, and doesn't weigh you down afterwards.

My only complaint is that a place that serves a "poor man's plate" should definitely serve sweetbreads, but apparently they only do that once in a blue moon for some uber-special occasion. What did I say in Chicago? SF, CATCH UP PLEASE!

The "poor man's plate" last night consisted of amazingly tender pork cuts in a barely-spicy onion gravy and a-bed mashed red potatoes. I really want to know what made the potatoes so sticky, because I seriously couldn't stop eating them even way past my fullness limit. One friend had a very ample portion of the boneless short ribs which were smothered in a deliciously tangy bbq sauce.

Two things. First, the entrees are definitely large enough to share around the table, which is the best way to taste a little bit of everything. Second, ask for things extra spicy or ask for hot sauce... because although some dishes are described as being spicy, they aren't.

Oh the divinely rich chocolate velvet, oh the moist carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, oh the buttery vanilla! If only they weren't all the way out in the Marina. I'm a big fan of occasionally indulging my sweet tooth and subsequently melting into a decadent sugary coma. This is a good source of that.

I really wanted to like this place since novelty bars are kind of my thing sometimes and it's in the neighborhood. Let me reiterate: I *really* *tried*, but no amount of trying on my part can make-up for the short-falls of this place.

First of all, the 200-watt lighting. Not exactly what I look for in a bar whose aim is to be a relaxing, loungy atmosphere. The seating is just terrible. So uncomfortable and not loungy at all. The staff is obviously not having it because of the early-close license they have - they can't make as much money as they aim to, and this is exactly the attitude the staff projects. I sympathize, but I hear enough about civic issues in my daytime life. I don't want to hear about it when I'm relaxing on a Friday night.

The food falls drastically short of my expectations as well. Small portions, inconsistent flavor themes... they would definitely be in the bottom 2 of my quickfire challenge. The beverages are priced for a much more comfortable atmosphere - you know what I mean? I'd be a much better sport about paying those prices if I could at least consume my drink comfortably. And I echo the yelper who said something about their mark-up which goes above and beyond anything expected at a trendy bar.

Anyway, with a license that makes them close your doors at midnight on the weekend, they would be much better off if they were more restaurant-oriented.

You'll find me here every Sunday night, sitting at the bar, sipping whatever the wonderful bartender pours for me, having a late night dinner that inevitably includes bacon: the burger with gruyere and bacon, the bacon chicory salad, the duck breast with crumbles of bacon, the baked pasta with chopped bacon slices. As a neighbor, I took a long time to write this review because I want it to be a good one. And the best thing I can say about NOPA is that it's consistently fantastic when it comes to food, beverage, and staff.

Edit 5/15: Warm Wednesday night, 10pm, packed house. People having cocktails and eating bacon-dressed dishes. I had the marinaded squid with spiced oranges, and I am still dreaming about it.

Bring your cars here. They won't overcharge or do any unnecessary repairs and you'll get your car back fast. I've done business with Ngai's Auto exclusively for years and I'm a happy camper each time.

Not. Worth. The. Hype.

Okay, the lamb is good. The meat, in general, is good, although misadvertised. When they say "short ribs", they really mean "pot roast", and to be honest pot roast can be a lot more juicy. Everything else is significantly sub-par, considering the prices. A small dish of pasta in thin cheese sauce (how they advertise mac'n'cheese) is $8, and I could've gotten a better tasting dish at Sparky's.

Oh, and at Sparky's my date and I wouldn't have paid $50 each for barely anything at all. I'm totally down to lay down my hard earned cash  for a good meal any day, but when I honestly wish I'd gone to Grubsteak or another diner? Commmme on.

One star for having good oysters for only $2 a pop if you order a dozen. But it's not like they made the oysters. Good judgment on carrying miyagis, I suppose.

If you're hungry after midnight, don't bother. Go get yourself a handful of tacos in the Mission, sushi at Tsunami, tikka masala at Naan 'n Curry, or Grubsteak.

The only way I can describe my relationship with Tsunami is "need-based". It's like a bad relationship where you share a bank account and a house full of property, and the only reason you haven't gotten out of it is because the hassle isn't worth it. Tsunami kind of traps you in its clutches by being one of the only local restaurants that serve food as late as they do. And sometimes I just want to go to a sake bar. I mean, thank god they're open, otherwise I'd be cranky with store-bought wine and a caprese sandwich from the Foreman grill, but really? Are they seriously the only option? I guess as long as they are, I'll keep going there, because 11pm sushi and 12am sake is right up my alley. And the food is really not so bad - in fact, I'll even go so far as to say it's damn good sushi and really fresh poke - but given their prices, I'd never go if it wasn't the only option.

The staff is hit or miss. Some servers/hosts are really great and can talk about their products, while others have perpetual bad days and don't offer much in the way of opinion.