The Raptor in Los Angeles...

I've been doing some traveling lately...

Just got back from NYC and went to LA to visit friends the week before and had a great time...

Which is cool, but more importantly, what did I EAT?

Friday night my good friend took me to Spago. Although I found the Service to be questionable for this type of fine dining restaurant, I thought The Food on the other hand was Great!

Wie Toll, Wolfgang! Vielen Dank', Es war sehr Lecker!

Und so ...

We arrived for our reservation and were seated in a side booth, which I thought was a great location overlooking the entire restaurant. The Decor was very kitschy in a 90's sort of way. After being seated, it took a good 10 minutes before our server brought us the Menus, which we had to ask for. Although our server was not snotty by any means, he was just not very available. Luckily, the bus staff redeemed him a little by their attentiveness.

Here's what we had:

We started with the Sweet Corn Bisque with Lobster & Chanterelle Mushrooms which was unbelievably good! My friend was still raving and salivating over it the next day. I had the Burratta wrapped in Organic Sauteed Pear with Prosciutto and Micro Greens and finished with a basil reduction. Delish! The Burratta was soft & creamy and it paired nicely with the sweetness of the Pear and the saltiness of the Prosciutto. Loved it!

For our Mains, M had the Pan-Roasted Chicken with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, Yellow Finnish Potato Puree (i.e. Mashed Potatoes, yet more refined) and Natural Juice. The Chicken was wonderful, and perfectly prepared, juicy on the inside and crispy skin on the outside. It was a Great Dish... I think Chicken gets overlooked a lot of times in finer restaurants, but I highly recommend this one. I had the Pan-Roasted Liberty Duck Breast which was prepared with Maitake Mushrooms, Cipollini Onions, Braised Pancetta, a Sweet Corn Flan and Natural Juice with Marjoram. The Duck Breast was also prepared perfectly, medium rare on the inside and Crispy Skin on the out. One other thing that happened service-wise was that when they took away my 1st course, they took my silverware and never replaced it until we had already both received our Mains, and we had to flag down someone to replace them. Not cool...Although the Service was a bit disappointing, the Food was Fantastic. It was a cheesy, quintessential LA restaurant experience, that I would recommend to any LA first-timers like myself...

Other places that I got taken to were Urth Cafe and Martha's in Redondo Beach. I'm not gonna get into the details of these places, but I went for Brunch and did the Raptor Eggs Benedict Test at both places and unfortunately, they did not pass... But whatever, my point is that my Friends are saying that I was difficult to please.

Who?... Me?... Really? You don't say...

I suppose one could say that this is true. But honestly, isn't it a good thing?

At least when you Eat, or should I say 'Dine' with the Raptor, you know that I will have researched every Restaurant in the Vicinity and perused every Menu before deciding where I am going to eat.

And really, it is not just about Great Food but Great Service is important as well...

It really is about the Dining Experience if you ask me. And them's my Two Cents...

Now.. Where am I gonna Eat next?...

Cheesesteaks... Mmmm...

Being that I am from Philly, born & raised, I thought it only appropriate that I dig deep within my inner Philly-Pina and dedicate a Raptor Post to My Beloved Philly Cheesesteaks. Now mind you, I have been living in San Francisco for the past 10 years, so I plan to jump back & forth between Philly and SF regaling my tale of the Philly 'Steak.

Traditionally, as with most Philly people, I have been raised on Pat's the Original 'King of Steaks' located at 9th & Wharton where it crosses Passyunk in the heart of South Philly, the Italian neighborhood. Pat's was our 'go to' place growing up, because it was open 24seven and was the place to grab a Steak after Proms and such, before walking over to Penn's Landing.
I know, right? What a dreamy schoolgirl's fantasy, huh? But I'm tellin' you, that's how it was...

Pat's was also the place for when you had the drunken munchies after the clubs. Two or Three AM on many a night, I had found myself at Pat's waiting in a long line, on hot summer nights, and even through rain or freezing cold. We didn't care, as long as we got our 'Cheesesteak on... y'know what I'm sayin'?'

I went to St. Joe's and when I lived at the dorms we used get our Steaks from Larry's Steaks Home of the Belly Filler on 54th, which is a 2 foot long of Steak, buh-lieve it or not! Yours truly, the Raptor, actually ate two, yes you heard me, two of these bad boys in one sitting one night. Ah, how I long for those days when we were young and metabolisms were high...

In '95, I left Philly and going back to visit family & friends, we were introduced to Steve's Prince of Steaks in the NorthEast with two locations off the Boulevard. They slice their Ribeye thick and keep 'em whole rather than chopped up like most other places and their Roll is incredible!
Now Steve's is our favorite place for Steaks, whenever we go back. Only prob is that their not open 24hours, so we sometimes still end up at Pat's.

Let me digress and go into what makes a Cheesesteak authentic...
Well, let me tell you...
It's all 'bout the Meat & Cheese of course, but first off it's got a lot to do with the Bread. It's typically a French Roll, and best if it's fresh and a little chewy. More importantly, you can't have too much Bread. If the Roll were too 'Bready' then one would hafta resort to "tunnel-ing" one's Roll. The preferred Cheeses would be Whiz, American or Provolone and you can get it "wit" or "witout" Onions. When it comes down to it, once you've combined the above, it then becomes all about the "Cheesy Goodness." Once you've thrown one down, you know it was good one if you end up wearin' some of that "Cheesy Goodness" with a spot on your shirt or some drippage on your shoes. It's no joke...

So where does the Raptor go when she's fixin' for a Cheesesteak in SF?
Well in all my 10 years here in the Bay Area,

The Cheesesteak Shop on Divisadero is the only place so far that comes the closest to home.
And other Philly transplants that I know would agree. This place ships Amoroso Rolls from back East and even has Tasty Kakes and Whiz. I suggest that you order extra Meat, because that's how I like it, plus it makes for a better 'ratio' as mentioned. Hey, I'm the Raptor, whaddya expect?

One place that'e been brought to my attention is Jake's Steaks on Buchanan off Lombard. I have yet to try it, but it's on my list. Will report back once I do...
Also, Amato's in San Jose is toted as one of the best cheesesteaks this side of the Mississippi. I gots to go! Can you say 'Road Trip'?

Good Filipino Restaurants in the City?

Good Filipino Restaurants in the City?

That is, besides my own cooking, of course...

But seriously, I have been here in SF for about 10 years now and have made my way through many a Filipino restaurant in and around the City. Typically, I would say that I go to a Filipino restaurant with family whenever they are in town visiting, because it's just easier to feed a huge clan of us and that way we can focus on one another and catch up.
Naturally and most times, it is better to have it home-made than anywhere else.
Luckily for my friends, they have me to provide that.
Although, there are times that I crave some Dishes that are easier to order in a restaurant than to make. My mom is a great cook, and growing up, she could make pretty much anything, like Kare Kare, Dinuguan, Lumpiang Shanghai & even my fave, Lechon Kawali, all of which I am still working to add to my repertoire.
Lechon Kawali, is one that I am not supposed to eat too much of, because, in effect it is Pork Belly, which has been boiled and then Deep-Fried. It's what you call a true 'heart attack special' and I Love it. Bad Raptor...
Aside: Funny thing about Lechon Kawali is that, as an adult (very recently... *smirk*) I was having dinner at Rubicon and ordered the Pork Belly appetizer, and I came to the realization that I was having an updated version of something very traditional in my culture. Cool, huh?

Anyhow, getting back to my point, until recently, one Filipino restaurant was just like all of the others and the bulk of them are all in Daly City (Little Manila) and beyond.

Let me break it down a bit...
Well, there's always good ol' Goldilock's Bakery & Restaurant for the 'beginners & newbies', with its various locations in Daly City, East Bay and one in the Outer Mission right down the street from me. Although, most Filipinos would scoff, it's good for people that have never tried Filipino food, because it's turo-turo style. Turo-turo is derived from the Tagalog verb turo which means "to point." Turo-turo is a slang expression for fast food restaurants where customers point at the dishes they want to order. I'd say this is a quick and easy way to taste your way through a variety of dishes and besides, you get to see what you're getting.

Recently, a number of new & perhaps one would even say trendier restaurants have popped up.
There's Patio FIlipino and Tribu Grill in San Bruno which we have been frequenting a lot lately.
They both have a Rice dish called Bagoong Fried Rice which is probably not for everyone, but Filipinos are liking this updated style of FIlipino Food.
Both are good, but still, they are a car ride away. There is also a new place in San Mateo called Bistro Luneta that I've been wanting to try, which has been toted by Michael Bauer of the SF Chronicle, as 'a modern take on traditional Filipino fare... offering modern interpretations of traditional flavors... that have broadened the appeal of the cuisine.' Nice.
And looking at the menu and preps, I would have to agree so far, but it has yet to pass the Raptor test... Upscale Filipino food? Interesting. Very interesting. I am definitely curious.
This place gets a 'We shall see..' I promise to report back, if and when I do go, no doubt.
And again, back to my point, it is still a trek like the other places. Otherwise, I would've tried it, like yesterday...

In the City...
For as long as I've lived here, there weren't very many places to speak of.
Let's see... There's Irma's Pampanga.... And.... Umm... Uhhh.... Did I mention Irmas's Pampanga? hahaha...
And by all means, if you are reading this and know of any that I may have missed, please let me know...
But lately, there have been a few places popping up in the City, and I can't tell you how excited that makes me! Mind you, I have yet to try these places, but this is a very exciting thing for me & my peoples.
To name the few, or should I say all, because 'a few' is all there is in reality:
There's a fast food/take out place in my Hood on Mission & 23rd-ish called Kababayan (meaning 'countrymen' or in slang 'Mah Peoples') and then there's Zebulon in the SOMA district which is said to be in an industrial, lounge-like atmosphere with DJs & live music. Their food is more Asian fusion with some Filipino dishes like Lumpia & Adobo mixed in...
The latest Filipino restaurant to open is Palencia in the Castro on 17th & Noe, and this is one that I am truly excited to try. My friend G called me from there recently and said that it was packed with non-Filipino folks and they, the token 'Filipinos' were seated by the window. Funny, very funny. No offense taken, really. She said the menu was very traditional with all Filipino dishes.
All I gotta say is 'Props' to Palencia for pulling that off. Now I gotta make my way over there real soon, so that I can be down too... Can't wait.

UPDATE 10/10/07: Went to Palencia last night and I have to tell you, this place is really impressive. The Decor is beautifully done in old colonial style with dark mahogany wood floors. Burnt orange accent walls, dark wood shutters and elegant basket weave lighting. I also have to mention the old school seashell or capiz chandeliers in the front window area, which are reminiscent of the 80's & 90's in most Filipino homes and maybe even now still. And the most nostalgic part of all for me is the wall-sized black & white family photo in the back.

The Food: Chef Danelle Lucero creates authentic Filipino Dishes with a healthier twist. Filipino Food is typically not known for its healthiness, what with all of the Pork and Deep-Fried Dishes, but Chef Danelle has somehow successfully pulled it off. Everything on the Menu is served Family-Style and all of the Dishes are traditional Filipino Fare and from what we had, it was all delicious.

The Breakdown: We started with the Fresh Lumpia with Prawns and a Garlicky Sauce, which was light and yummy. We then had the Pancit Bihon, also well-done. For our Entrees, we had the Guinitaang Kalabasa at Hipon (Kabocha Squash and Shrimp simmered in Coconut Milk) and the Sisig Na Bangus (Flaked Marinated Milkfish with Cherry Tomato, Jalapeno Pepper and Red Onion Salsa) which was to Die For! All I can say is, you have to try it, it was 'that' good...
For Dessert, we had the Turon (Philippine Saba Bananas layered with Jackfruit wrapped in a Crispy Crepe) and instead of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream we substituted Coconut. Awesome!

Mind you, this place is an upscale Filipino restaurant, and may not appeal to the older Filipino generation, but let me tell you, as a dining experience, it is 'Well Worth It'...

Trust me. As you have read above, San Francisco was seriously lacking in Filipino restaurants within the City limits, and Palencia is all that I could have hoped for and more.

All in all, the entire Dining Experience was Top-Rate and I Highly Recommend that you go...
The Raptor & Food Maven has spoken.

SF Gate's Bargain Bites 2007

Ok Peoples, for those of you that are into the ol' Bang for the Buck deal, SF Gate's 2007 Bargain Bites is out... They added 60 new places to their usual 100 or so, so there's a lil' somethin' somethin' for everyone, I am sure.
I, myself, have tried at least 10 of the ones in San Francisco. I know that doesn't sound like much, but I counted and there are only 48 in San Francisco, the rest are spread throughout the rest of the Bay Area. This just goes to show you that I really need to try to get out of the City some time as there is more Good Food to be found out there. For one thing, it's difficult as I do not have a car and secondly, there's just SO much here in the City that the rest of the Bay Area gets pushed down the list. Whatever the case, it's a pretty good dilemma to be in, wouldn't you say?

Some of the ones that I have tried and will mention because they are some of my faves are:

• Yummy Yummy - I used to go there pretty often and even got to know the owner, Wilson quite well. This place is probably my favorite mid-range Vietnamese place, for its friendly service and Great Vietnamese Food. They passed the Raptor Vietnamese Restaurant test because they have rice paper spring rolls versus ones made with the Chinese Egg Roll Wrapper. The Pho is good, but most memorable was that Wilson would break out fotos of new dishes and we always would try at least one of them. Two of my favorite apps were the Grilled Clams and the Beef Carpaccio. Two words. (as corny as it is) Yummy. Yummy.
• Burma Superstar - This place is great! Although it may be tough to get in for dinner at times, you can always put your name on the list, leave your cell# and then head down the street for a drink or a beer. Once you're in, you definitely should try their famed Tea Leaf Salad, different but seriously delicious. My one go-to dish is their Nan Pia Dok (Coconut Chicken Rice Noodle Curry). Seriously good.
• Good Luck Dim Sum - For cheap, out-the-door dim sum on Clement, you really can't beat this place.

I'd say there are about 8 or so that are on Raptor 'Must Try' List. Here are a few:

• Zebulon - I can't believe that I have yet to try this place. Bad Philly-Pina! I am sure I will be there soon. I am all about supporting my fellow Filipino restaurant owners & chefs that are friends as well. i.e. Chef Thomas at Les Amis, recently, Galvin at Deep Sushi.
• Jake's Steaks - Again bad Philly-Pina (emphasis on the Philly this time). Have yet to try this place although, I been called a traitor for loving the Cheesesteak Shop on Divis. Everywhere else that I've tried so far are a bunch of 'posers'. Word.
• Old Jerusalem - Always on the lookout for good Middle Eastern and this place is on my way home from BART, so it's sure to happen some time soon, right?
• Yamo - Hole in the wall Burmese in the Mission? Gonna hafta give that one a try.

So there you have it. The Raptor's favorite Bargain Bites. I am sure that I have a bunch more to add that probably aren't even on the SF Gate List and perhaps, I will try to update this post with them. *sigh* That will hafta come at a later date...

So much Food, so Little Time!

Les Amis Revisited...

Les Amis Revisited

Wow. Wow.. And WOW!

Went for my girlfriend, Alish's birthday and my god were our socks knocked off!

Every Dish was really Great and the Service was Fantastic...

Chef Thomas Weibull was on fire! He's made some new changes to the Menu and they are pretty spot on.

I mean, I knew the guy had skills, but he's proven to have 'mad skills'... For reals..

Above are photos of our Gastronomical Journey...

Allow me to Break it Down...

For Apps we started with a Sonoma Foie Gras Mousse Amuse that was paired with a Cherry Compote and a Buttery Crisp which added great Texture to the Sweetness of the Fruit and the Creamy Foie Mousse. A Delicious start..

We then had the Laura Chenel's Chevre Parfait which was absolute Heaven! I mean it was So Good that it made your eyes roll back kinda Good. The Creamy Chevre sat on a Medley of Beets, Tomato Gelee & was sprinkled with a Walnut Salt. You just have try it to really understand how Good it is...

Our final Apps Dishes were the Napoleon of Dungeness Crab, which paled in comparison to the Pan Seared Scallop Dish, which came prepared with a Carrot Puree and a Vanilla Creme Anglaise. Let me tell you, this Scallop Dish was Incredible...

All of these Dishes were beautifully presented and as far as the Combinations, it was Pure genius as far as we were concerned..

And these were just the Apps! No kidding..

Whew!

Now onto the Entrees...

There were five of us and these are the Dishes that we had and shared:

I had the Pan Roasted Cod on top of a Spanish Chorizo Raviolo, Sauteed Bloomsdale Spinach and finished with a Lobster Sauce. I lreally loved it, but I also loved what everyone else had as well, if it can be believed... Believe you me, there was a Whole Lotta Love goin' on!

The other Dishes were a Veal Loin topped with Crispy Veal Sweetbreads,

A Sauteed New Zealand Thai Snapper with Fried Basmati Rice Pilaf, Langoustine and a Citrus-Ginger Beurre Blanc and the Trio of Cloverdale Rabbit prepared as a Rabbit Tortolloni, Lapin aux Langoustine and a Marinated Rack. All very nice and executed well...

Bravo Chef Thomas! Bravo...

I gotta give props to a fellow Philly-Pino, no doubt. (Philly-Pino meaning he from Philly and he Filipino, like myself)

For Dessert, and what is slowly becoming known to me as your proverbial 'Happy Ending'...

We had my favorite Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee with the Mango Raviolis in a Raspberry Foam and the Panna Cotta, both of which fulfilled my 'Happy Ending' to the night.

I can't end this review without giving props to our Server, Jesus. Not only were his timing and teamwork with Chef Thomas exceptional, but he had the cutest ass dimples this side of the Mississippi!

In all seriousness though, Jesus really was on point with Service. We never at any time were wanting for anything, whether it be Water, more Bread & Butter and, of course, more Wine...

It was quite Impressive.

This place really is Special, and not in a short bus kinda way...

The Interiors in its Rustic Elegance that I love and the Atmosphere with its Warmth and Romance really draw you in in the evenings and these things, together with the Wonderful Service and the Great Food make for a truly Great and Memorable Experience...

So here it is...

Take people here for a quiet Business Lunch where you can talk or perhaps even make a deal...

As for Dinner, go here for a Date, Birthday or Special Occasion and you will not be disappointed.

Honestly, I would choose this restaurant over the likes of any other Contemporary French restaurant in the City any day...

Word.

Kabuto Sushi

Kabuto Sushi
Category: Sushi

Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

Price Range: $$$

This is probably one of my favorite Sushi Joints in the City. Reason being that they have one of the most unique & inventive Sushi Menus I have ever seen. Seriously, with such items as as Foie Gras Sushi served with a Balsamic Raspberry Sauce (can you say, Yum?), and Lamb Apple Nigiri, which is Grilled Lamb topped with Sliced Apple and a Cherry Balsamic Sauce. I mean, how do they come up with this stuff?

Other Faves are the Barbeque Duck Nigiri served with Japanese Spicy Mustard and
Hamachi Pear Nigiri which has Yellowtail topped with Sliced Pear and a Kabuto Fruity Mustard Sauce.

I mean, SO good!

I've barely touched the surface as far trying half their Menu. It's nuts...

The Sashimi is incredibly fresh and I just love Kabuto for its inventiveness. Did the ol' Toro Sashimi test and it passed with flying fish colors..

Really great place for inventive and unique Sushi which cannot be found elsewhere.

Only thing is that it is a tiny place and the wait can be incredibly long, but certainly well worth it...

Foreign Cinema

Foreign Cinema
Category: French, American (New), Brunch

Neighborhood: The Mission

Price Range: $$$

I've been here several times for Dinner, for an afternoon Wedding Reception, a 40th Birthday Soiree and now, once for Brunch. And I have to say that although the food is decent, nothing to write home about but decent nonetheless, I really like this place for the Concept and the execution of that Concept...

For me, this place is very special...

With candles burning on all of the tables, and although some do not like the close proximity of the tables, I kinda like the Coziness of it all... One thing that struck me with the candlelight, was that when you looked up at the canopy above, the candles reflected its lights, which really added to the ethereal Ambiance of the Place... When I lived in Germany, I used to go to the movies fairly often and I remember how some places had candles or little lights that emulated candles on a narrow tray-like table that encompassed the back of the seats in front of you. And believe it or not, they even served food!So back to my review of the FC.... I'm not going to go into this elaborate drawn out critique of the food, because to me, the star of this place is the wonderful Atmosphere and the Great Service....

Service was good the 1st time we went, but this last time, we had by far, THE BEST Server ever!!! Kiersten made our dining experience extremely fun & memorable! She was on top of everything and really made us feel special. Thanks Kiersten! If only all People rocked it like you... You knock that shit out of the park! For real...

3 Stars because I know I will be back, but Kiersten bumped it up a whole other notch...

So 4 Stars from the Raptor.

You go, Girl!

Brunch was good as well...

I tried the Two Poached Eggs with Grilled Duck Breast, Warm Salad Greens, Croutons, Currants, Shitakes & Sherry, which I thought was quite good. We ran into my Girl, Kiersten, who remembered me, gave me a big ol' hug and sent us complimentary Glasses of Campagne.

See? I told you she was good...

My Friend's Wedding Reception & Another Friend's 40th Bday Soiree:

My Friends, the Valdellers had their afternoon Wedding Reception here a few years ago and it was fabulous and Very Cool. We started with the Reception and Cocktails in the Main Dining Room area inside. The passed Hors d'oeuvres were really really good... Impressive.

We then were ushered to the Outdoor Courtyard for Lunch which was also quite good. The Dancing part of the Reception was held in the Modernism West Gallery, which was a perfect spot for the 1st Dance, Cake-Cutting & Dancing...

Also, my girlfriend hosted her 40th Bday Soiree in the Modernism West Gallery and it was Fantastic! Once again, the Passed Hors D'Ouevres were Delicious and Plentiful. It's a Brilliant Place to host a Party...

PERBACCO

Perbacco

Category: Italian (Ligurian/Piemonte Regions)

Neighborhood: Financial District

Price Range: $$$

Ah, Perbacco... What Can I Say?

Perbacco = For Bacchus translated. Brilliant.

One could say that I Live my Life Perbacco... Corny, but True.

I've been here three times already and I really like Perbacco a lot. Once for Happy Hour, another time for a Client Lunch and now Dinner.

I'm gonna break it down for the Dinner... Went last Friday night for my girlfriend, JZ's Bday Dinner and we were extremely impressed by the Service and the Food. When we sat down, there was a bday card from Perbacco as well as a bottle of MV Laurent-Perrier Rose Brut from Champagne, France waiting for us chilled. Highly Recommend. (Note: The Champagne was a call-ahead present from her boy in NJ. Take some notes Boys...)

After we were sat, the Restaurant Manager came to our table to greet her happy birthday and to thank us for choosing Perbacco for her celebration... Nice.

Perbacco has quite an extensive Wine List. We enlisted the help of the Sommelier to help us choose a good wine to go with our Dinner and he recommended us a fabulous Chardonnay called Karia by Stag's Leap Cellars. It was Lovely. Lovely that we had two bottles of it...

The Food:

We started off with the Tasting of Salumi and the Heirloom Tomato Salad prepared with Sea Salt, Olive Oil, Manodori Balsamico and Fresh Basil. It was a perfect combination and a great start to our Meal. FYI - Perbacco is known for their Salumi, which they cure themselves and for their Pastas which they also make themselves.

We were a party of 4 Lovely Ladies (E4) and we decided to Do the Dinner Family Style. So we shared 2 Pasta Entrees and 2 Meat Dishes.

For the Pasta, we had the Agnolloti filled with Roasted Veal and Savoy Cabbage. This was my Favorite, as well as an overall Ladies Pick. Our second Pasta Dish was the Pappardelle in a Braised Short Rib Ragu and we thought that was delicious as well.

For Our Mains, we had the King Salmon with Roasted Padrone Peppers, Artichoke Passato & Melted Cherry Tomatoes. Sounds pretty fancy, huh? Our other Entree was the Grilled Lamb Sirloin Tagliata with a Summer Bean Salad & MInt Salsa Verde. Both were good, but I think the Pastas were more of the Star.

For Dessert:

They brought us a Warm Pistachio Cake with a Cherry Compote and Vanilla-Thyme Syrup, which was Divine. It even had Happy Birthday written on it in Chocolate Sauce. We also had the Gelati Misti, which was a Trio of the following Flavors - Chocolate/Vanilla & Caramel with Sea Salt and a Vanilla Strawberry Twirl. All Delish...

Here's the Breakdown:

-Definitely Try - The Salumis & The Pastas. It's what their known for so don't sleep on 'em.

-Service is Exceptional.

Additional Info from My Prior Experiences:

-I tried their Burrata, which I thought did not touch the Burrata at A16.

-I read that their Breadsticks are the Best. Comes with a tasty Verde Sauce. YUM...

-Had the Salumi Misti which was the Chef's Selection, which I highly recommend. We do this sort of thing for Sushi, why not Salumi?

-Next time I want to try some of their Crudos. Sounds like a perfect little plan for Happy Hour, no?

Mangia, People... Mangia!

Spruce

Spruce
Category: New California
Neighborhood: Laurel Heights

Price Range: $$$

I usually wait until I've visited a restaurant at least 3 times before I hand out such a high score. Went opening night on August 3rd for my Girl, J's birthday and it was truly a great dining experience. And that's pretty amazing for an opening night. I mean, sure they need to work out some new restaurant kinks, but believe you me, these kinks were minute. Very Impressive.

We walked into this extraordinary, warm and beautifully defined space and were greeted warmly by the staff. We had to wait about 30 minutes until we were sat, but the Restaurant Manager and the Hostess checked in with us periodically to let us know how much time it would be. Until then, we enjoyed our Cocktails and were appeased.

Once we sat down, we found the Wine List to be extensive and a bit overwhelming, so we summoned for the Sommelier to help us choose a Bottle of Wine and ended up with a nice Viognier. Big Fan of Viogners lately. Light & Refreshing.
One odd thing about the experience was that the Sommelier asked if I wanted to go back with him to the Wine Cellar to choose a bottle of Vino. It wasn't in a downstairs dungeon or anything, but in the back of the restaurant in these beautiful glass-doored rooms. It was Huge! In retrospect, I would have gone, it was just unexpected as I've never been asked to do that before. I mean, is this something that I just am not aware of? Ah well...

For our Appetizers, we shared a Salad of Heirloom Watermelon & Sardines. I know, it sounds like a strange combination, but I am seeing this in many other restaurants of this calibre/genre. It was not a fave of the Ladies, but I liked it ok. We also had a Crudo of Arctic Char, which we all liked a lot.

For Our Mains, I had the the Pan-Roasted Duck Breast topped with Buttery Foie Gras. Loved it... Duck + Duck = How can you go wrong?JZ had the Short Ribs which were fantastic, although I like the one from Range a little bit more. J had the Ribeye, which was good, but she's a 'No Blood' kinda gal, so I can't really give it my true opinion as I like my Meat medium rare...Unfortunately, I cannot remember what Mills had. I think she had a Chicken Dish...

For Dessert, we had the Semolina Cake which was a hit with the Girls and no, not 'my Girls', I meant My Ladies... (see our Photos above)

I think I am learning that I am of the Light & Refreshing Dessert category. I thought Service was pretty good for Opening Night.

I am sure that I will be back to do it again...

Gary Danko

Gary Danko
Category: French, American (New)
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf
Price Range: $$$$

Coming Soon...

I've been to Gary Danko about 4 years ago and am in need of a Raptor Revisit before I blog it...

Quince

Quince Restaurant

Category: Italian/French
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

Price Range: $$$$

Also in need of a Raptor Revisit...

Although from what I remember, this Place was pretty Special.

It had the Rustic, yet Elegant Interior that I love... And they, too, are known for their Pasta Dishes. I remember having an Agnolotti Pasta Dish which had Rabbit in it, which I thought was Divine..

Another thing that I recall is the Service and a Dessert that I had paired with a fantastic Sauternes.

I remember our Server even writing down the name of this Sauternes, but somehow, I lost the card he wrote it on... Ah well, a Revisit is definitely in order...

More Coming Soon... I hope.

Farina

Farina Focaccia & Cucina Italiana
Category: Italian (Genovese/Ligurian)
Neighborhood: The Mission
Price Range: $$$

Wow! People are really gettin' their panties up in a bunch about this place! For those of you that do not reside in San Francisco, there has been a lot of controversy over this new kid on the block in the Mission District of SF. There have been folks that live in the neighborhood, that are unhappy because Farina has outdoor seating and a rooftop deck. There a number of other reasons, but personally, I like the idea of having this type of place in the Mission, rather than having to trek across town to North Beach. And if the Sidewalk and Rooftop thing is such a neighborhood problem for some, then maybe they should consider moving to the 'Burbs'. Isn't this part of what living in the City is all about?

Anyhow, I thought the Service was great and the Food was damn good.

Here's the Breakdown...
We started with the Scallop with the Arugula Pesto Appetizer which was good. We then, on a recommendation by our server, shared the Pasta Rags with the Pesto Sauce, which was amazing Not too grainy or oily... the flavor was just right. I loved it... Oh & re: the peeps who say that the dishes are so 'oily', I would have to disagree. Aren't a lot of Italian Dishes drizzled with Olive Oil? Whatever the case, the Olive Oil that they do use is Delicious... So 'Mangia'! I say...

Another great thing about this place is that they make their own Pasta, so the Pasta is not too heavy, which I Love. We then had the Tuna Steak which had great Flavor, but we both agreed that it could have used more Fresh Mozzarella and Roasted Tomatoes. C'mon now, Chef. Don't be chintzy...

The kicker was the Dessert. We had the Blackberry Panna Cotta, which was so light and delicate, it was absolutely Divine! Not a Dessert person usually, but lately I've been really feelin' some of it and this is one of the desserts that is converting me... Yet another Happy Ending.

All in all, I know this Restaurant is in its growing stages, but I had a Great Meal and will definitely be back....

UPDATE 8/2/07:
OK... I went back on a Thursday nite with Good Friends, because I just could not wait to go back and needless to say, it was AWESOME!
There were 3 of us and the place was hoppin', so we opted to sit at the Bar. Molly was our bartendress & server and she was great.

The Food:
We started with the Fig & Prosciutto app and the Gem Lettuce Salad. The Figs were so fresh and the Prosciutto so damn BUTTERY, the whole thing melted in our mouths...
As far as the Entrees, we all shared 3 different Dishes and had one phenomenal Food Orgy...
Yeah you heard me right, a straight up Food Orgy...
Nipples were hard, Eyes were rolling back and a lot of Moaning and Drooling...
Yes, it was that ridiculously good.
Let me break it down:
MC had the Filet Mignon which had a Layer of Parmesan Cheese incorporated into it and was topped with Fresh Truffles... Like Buttah...it just Melted...
I had the Tortelloni filled with Spinach & Ricotta in a Walnut Cream Sauce... YUM...
RAZ had the ULTIMATE Dish - a Veal Chop that was the Fattest & Thickest & Straight Juiciest Veal Chop that we had EVER seen! I mean it was nuts, I tell ya, and obscenely Delicious!
Yes, the nips are hard just thinkin about it... That nite I had to hold them down for fear of poking an eye out. For Real, that’s no joke.

The VIBE in that place is Great - Lively & Bright, Filled with Lots of Natural Light...
White tile on the walls, white marble bartops. I just Love it...
And because the Menu changes often, I feel the need to keep going back for fear of missing out...
Definitely a new addition to my Top Faves and absolutely cannot wait to go back again!

Les Amis

Les Amis
Category: French
Neighborhood: Financial District

Price Range: $$$

Let's See...
I give it 1 star because I know the Chef...
And another star because he's from Philly... LOL

No seriously, in all honesty, I really do think this is a fabulous place... I've eaten here a few times now and all of the Meals have been Solid. For those that may be skeptical of my being unbiased due to the fact of the above, you need only read my reviews on Yelp to see that I am a bit of a tough critic when it comes to Food.
And being that I am from Philly, I'm all about keepin' it Real...

With that said, before I delve into the Details of the food, I really must give props to the Chef & Staff. As soon as I walked in the enormous red doors, I was immediately greeted by the Maitre D & Sommelier, Pascal Fosse. He is not only charming, but he was very accommodating and extremely knowledgeable when it came to the wines. Kudos Pascal and many thanks for a great dining experience!

And just as many have said before me, the decor is as said, intimate and cozy, especially in the evening for dinner, where one would say that it was rather romantic...

Moving onto the Food...
We started off with Soup & Appetizers - my companion had a Puree of Parsley Soup with a Sweet Garlic Flan, which we both thought was divine... I chose the Spiced Squab and Sonoma Foie Gras Mousse, which I thought was lovely. Next we shared the Crisp Veal Sweetbreads, which I thought were quite good as well. Admittedly, Sweetbreads were a first for me, so I am no expert by any means.
For my Entree, I had the Citrus Marinated Liberty Farm Duck Breast, which was well-prepared. This was accompanied by a Duck Confit Caillete Red Beet Jus which was really delicious...

For Dessert, I had the Creme Brulee which came with these heavenly Mango Raviolis, floating upon a Raspberry Foam...
Can you say 'Divine'?!!!
Talk about your Happy Ending, People, I certainly got mine that night...

All in all, I highly recommend this place, and not because I know the Chef, but because Chef Thomas Weibull has mad Skills, the Service is impeccable and to quote a fellow Yelper, the Restaurant is 'wonderfully intimate'...
A great spot in the FiDi that is great for Business Lunches and Romantic Dinners.

I say, Give Les Amis a try...

Universal Cafe

Universal Cafe
Category: New American/Brunch/Organic
Neighborhood: The Mission

Price Range: $$

WOW! This place is Fantastic! Went there for Lunch and boy were my socks knocked off! Not to mention that the service was super friendly, and the moment we walked in were greeted and felt right at home.
And then came the Food...
I mean, I literally had a 'Moment' with my Food and for those that know me, that does not happen very often with me, but when it does, it's huge. I could barely contain myself! My dining companion told me he was getting turned on by my excitement alone... uh huh... yeah, it was just that Good...

So what did we have?
Mind you, I can barely do the Food justice with mere words, you will just have to go and try it....really.
I had a perfectly Grilled Wild King Salmon on Foccacia with Early Girl Heirloom Tomatoes, Arugula and a delicious Basil Aioli, which essentially made the dish for me. Don't know what it was, but that dish just had me at 'Hello'... *sigh*
My companion had the Grilled Flatbread with Summer Squash, Sun Gold Tomatoes, Fresh Oregano and Goat Cheese, which was really delicious.

And then came time for Dessert...
Yes, Dessert is generally not my thang usually, 'cause I'm more a Savory Girl rather than Sweet, but we went all out and had the Heirloom Plum-Apricot Crisp with Vanilla Gelato... Wow!... SO F-in' Good!

Overall, I had a great Food Experience there and I absolutely cannot wait to go back!
People, I think I have a new Favorite...

Update: 6/30/07 the next day...
Couldn't stop thinkin' about how good the Food was at Universal Cafe, so when friends that were heading into the city the following morning, asked me where to go for Brunch, I instantly suggested Universal Cafe. Needless to say, they were extremely impressed.

Overall, all of the Dishes were really great and truly knocked it out of the park...
The two dishes that stood out the most were the Grilled Flatbread with Wild Mushrooms, Spinach, Spicy Pepper Feta and Fresh Oregano (Fantastic!) and the Charcoal-Grilled Niman Ranch Lamb Burger on Brioche with Radicchio, Carmelized Onions, Goat Cheese & Aioli. My friend said that the Lamb Burger was The Best Lamb Burger that he has ever had in his life! Had a taste myself and I had to agree.

Props to the great Staff as well. Cathy & Adam are friendly & very personable. Kudos!
Tip: There can be quite a wait for this place, but trust me, it's well worth it...

The Slanted Door

The Slanted Door
Category: Vietnamese/Asian Fusion

Neighborhood: Embarcadero/Ferry Building

Price Range: $$$

I've been to the Slanted 3 times now and the 1st time, I went for a special occasion Dinner. We thought that the food was pretty good for Vietnamese, because of its use of high quality Meats and the Like, but it was a little hard to justify spending so much for a Vietnamese Dinner (not that hard really, but you get my drift right?). Although I love Vietnamese Food, the Hole-in-the wall Family-style Establishments like, Yummy Yummy in the Inner Sunset & Vietnam on Broadway, have always been my preference..

For my 2nd time there, I hosted a work Luncheon there, where there was a Prix Fixe Family Style Menu. We were sat in the glass-enclosed private room in the back. I have to say that the Service was on point and the servers waited for me to eye-signal whatever was needed, whether it was the timing of the Courses or if I noticed that someone needed a Drink. They were really great and made me look really good in front of my bosses & associates, which is cool...
The Food was the perfect amount for 14 people and everyone was very impressed...

My 3rd time there was when my coworker & I decided to just meet there for Lunch without a res. It was really busy, so we opted to share a Series of Small Plates at the Bar...
We started with Yummy Oysters & Wonton Soup, which were Quite Good... We also had the Shrimp & Pork Spring Rolls, which were noticably better as far as Quality of Meats and Freshness of the Veggies, besides which the Sauce really made it...
Next we had the Hamachi Sashimi which was my favorite part, because it consisted of big Buttery slices of Hamachi Sashimi which were topped with Crispy Garlic Bits, a Fine Chiffonade of Basil and a Yuzu Vinaigrette.. WOW! That was Seriously Delish... A Must-Try whenever I go there...
Our Main was the Shaking Beef with White Rice which I have had all 3 times and it was consistently well-prepared with the Niman Ranch Filet of Beef and the Tangy Pepper Sauce it comes with... Order it.

All in all, this Place is really great. And hey, if anything, although it can be loud, it's a beautiful space in the Ferry Building looking out at the Bay. If you haven't been, you should go.

Delfina

Delfina
Category: Italian (Tuscan)
Neighborhood: The Mission

Price Range: $$$

I've been here several times now and the Food has been extremely good.
This place is considered one of those must-try SF institutions in the City and sadly, it took me a long time to actually try it... But now that I live in the Mission, it has become a great go-to place for bringing guests for a quintessential San Francisco Meal.

For my most Memorable Meal there thus far, I had the Alaskan Halibut Roasted with Artichokes and Potatoes Sott'olio and Black Olive Tapenade and it was absolutely Delicious!
Simply & perfectly prepared and a really great combination of flavors. I truly enjoyed it!

This place is Solid.
Solid as a Rock... Peaches & Herb-Style.

I will definitely be back and will be sure to give you more Delicious updates...