Restaurants

Spicy Vegan Pad Thai @ Loving Hut in San Francisco

Though my dislike of vegetables evaporated decades ago, I cannot really say that I search for vegetarian restaurants for my meals when I’m hungry.  However today I was with a girlfriend looking of a nice clean spot offering noodle dishes for a good bargain.  Not only did I walk into a delicious restaurant, but now I have a great recommendation for my vegan friends and family!

The Loving Hut is a relatively new addition to Chinatown in San Francisco.  This corner restaurant has a 100% vegan menu.  They cleverly disguise their meat or seafood with soy shaped substitutes.  I had Pad Thai for $7 that was out of this world. Spicy but not hot, and a huge portion!  The “shrimp” included was actually soy though it totally looked like medium size ocean shrimp. Read More »

Curlys Coffee Chop in North Beach

Say what you will about this place but Curly’s Coffee Shop in North Beach holds a special place in my heart. First of all, I have always loved their classic American breakfasts with a Japanese twist. I used to walk over from Sunday services at Sts. Peter and Paul Church at Washington Square Park, often getting their french toast almost every week.

Secondly, I appreciate any cafe that can stick around this long in San Francisco without going under financially or being closed by the Health Department. And thirdly, I think they also kind of kick *ss for being such a long time North Beach “non-pasta related” merchant in a sea of excellent Italian cafes and restaurants. I mean, I think I have followed them around to at least three different addresses in a two-block radius of Columbus Avenue.

Today was a nice reminder that though I can’t walk here for breakfast anymore, I can still drive over and enjoy classic menu items like the french toast or one of their delicious omelettes!

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Have you ever dined at a restaurant that was so good you wanted to go back everyday and try every thing on the menu?

I have and that restaurant is Jaks Grill. Oh my goodness, it’s one of those places that makes your mouth water when you walk by. The aroma that wafts out and around the restaurant it’s just heavenly.

Jaks has 3 locations around the Seattle area. There is one in Issaquah, Laurelhurst and West Seattle. I live near the Issaquah location and I walk by it everyday, much to my dismay.
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Ah, Malibu! It’s one of the most upscale, yet completely mellow and casual beach towns in Southern California. One restaurant that perfectly encapsulates the dual nature of Malibu is Geoffrey’s, right off Pacific Coast Highway. A meal here is accompanied by some of the best views a restaurant can have.

Pull into the driveway and parking lot of Geoffrey’s Malibu, and you know you’re getting a special meal. A valet will quickly take care of you, parking your car carefully amid a sea of shining BMWs, Mercedes, Audis and even a Bentley or two. These mega-deluxe autos belie what awaits inside: Jeans, t-shirts, and California casual attire along with a relaxed, happy atmosphere. Geoffrey’s reflects Malibu in other ways, as well. Subtle mirrors panel the rear wall, bringing the ocean views from the front to everyone (reflects Malibu, get it? Well, I like it anyway). There isn’t a “bad table” in the restaurant. Read More »

Shabby Chic Interior

This was a last minute dinner decision that turned out to be just perfect. My husband and I were in Calistoga for an overnight mid-week respite.

Being iPhone users, like many other Uptake travelers, we used the free OpenTable app to quickly (seriously, it had to be really fast because I was starving!) find a dinner place within walking distance and reasonably priced.

The Calistoga Inn Restaurant and Brewery turned out to be a perfect choice. We had been to the pub next door on previous trips to Calistoga but had never been to the restaurant. During the hot summer months the restaurant is usually very busy with lots of people opting for outdoor tables.

We arrived early and they gave a cozy and intimate table off to the side, away from the other two occupied tables. The decor is very rustic French countryside meets Shabby Chic with lots of ceramic platters along the wall, distressed farm tables and starched dish cloths hanging near the ceiling.

They serve you immediately a bowl of soft and crusty rosemary bread which we gobbled up. We both then had yummy salads with lots of greens and mine had a nice dry-aged Sonoma cheese sliced into it. Deelish.

Fresh Salads

With Easter here, I chose their lamb shank with mashed potatoes and braised greens. It was savory and very delicious. My husband had their country paella that they offered mild or spicy, he went for the heat and was in heaven.

Spicy Paella

Our Wednesday dinner had a relaxing mid-week local vibe to it, very casual and probably more quiet than the weekends. A very nice evening and a great way to end the day – and our overnight getaway – in this relaxing hot springs town.

1250 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-4101

Photos taken by Sharon’s iPhone.

Not your typical soup kitchen..

Hayes Valley is an area in San Francisco that offers some of the best choices for great dinners whether casual or fine dining. It is a hip neighborhood that caters to those looking for delicious but reasonably priced dining options.

When I want to indulge in some hearty food, Suppenküche is one of my favorite places to go. I love the vibe and having been to both Germany and Austria, the place and food taste very authentic to me.

And given that Suppenküche means soup kitchen in German, yes they indeed serve delicious soups everyday.

It can be a bit noisy and not the best place to bring kids but its lively atmosphere goes well with the first-rate draft German beers available in two-liter boots!

They serve excellent Wiener schnitzel (giving you two large pieces), savory wild boar and Spätzle that goes with any of your dinner choices. The Spätzle I have tried is always mouth watering – a sort of German comfort food, with lots of flavorful gravy or sauce. These were some of my favorite foods in Vienna and Suppenküche doesn’t disappoint.

The service is amazing considering how busy they get and it can be pretty noisy, but a great spot to unwind after a long day.

I’m definitely going to return for brunch next time.  If you are looking for a lively atmosphere and casual crowd with authentic German food and an amazing selection of beers – Suppenküche is the place to go! Ja! Ja!

525 Laguna St
(between Fell St & Hayes St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-9289

Mon-Sun. 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino is one of the nicer big hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The Bellagio is more deluxe, but Circus Circus can’t hold a candle to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and its equivalents (such as the Luxor).

(Photo courtesy of MandalayBay.com)

There are a few high-end restaurants in Mandalay Bay, and of course a ubiquitous Starbucks, but I prefer the casual, reasonably priced restaurants there like the Border Grill and Giorgio Ristorante. Stretching our travel dollars is more important these days than ever, so a relatively cheap lunch at Giorgio saves more money for other activities. You know, like the museums and culture. What, is there anything else to do in Las Vegas?

Giorgio Ristorante is a classically Italian spot, with an open style for easy people-watching. The location is right in the shopping area of Mandalay Bay, so the din of the casino is thankfully absent. There is something formal about the white table clothes and dimmed atmosphere in the back dining room, but during lunch the front area is brisk, bright, and relaxed.  The Caesar salad appetizer was fresh and crisp, with garlicky croutons and shaved Parmesan cheese. A waiter hovered, waiting to see if I wanted more cheese, or pepper, on the salad – but it was very nice as it was. My dining companion had minestrone soup as an appetizer (I think it was the soup of the day), and she said that it was “good, but not great.” The lasagna was just what I wanted it to be; cheesy, a little gooey, with tender pasta and a zesty sauce. Comfort food, Italian-style, can really hit the spot.

(Photo courtesy of Gary England)

Now, the Italian food here isn’t going to challenge your tastebuds, but it won’t offend them either. Since we’re talking lunch, I noticed that the table next to me had gorgeous, mile-high sandwiches. Naturally I didn’t taste them (can you imagine?) but they looked great, with clearly fresh cheeses and Italian cold cuts. The lasagna was a little heavy for lunch. Next time, I’ll probably go with one of the sandwiches instead.

Since the restaurant wasn’t crowded, the waitstaff were able to be attentive without rushing us. However, I noticed that Giorgio Ristorante was around half full when I walked by at dinnertime as well. Perhaps Las Vegas tourists tend to save their more expensive meals for dinner, or this may indicate a problem with the evening menu; I can’t say. But it’s nice to have a relaxed, traditional Italian meal right in the heart of the Mandalay Resort & Casino, without a wait or a reservation. If this is what you seek while in Las Vegas, then Giorgio Ristorante is right for you.

Giorgio Ristorante at Mandalay Resort & Casino
3930 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 920-2700

Pacific Palisades is a tony, leafy suburb of Los Angeles CA – the type of town where children play outside until dark, small shops line a couple of main thoroughfares, and neighbors are friendly to each other. It’s no surprise that one of the most popular restaurants in town is called Mayberry. After all, despite the hip and urban feel of most of Los Angeles, this town that abuts the Pacific Ocean can feel like a throwback to the eponymous ’50s show.

This restaurant used to be Terri’s Cafe, a longtime fixture on Swarthmore Avenue. A few years ago, the waitresses bought out the owner, and now co-operate it under this new name. Mayberry is a success in this town, bustling on the weekends. The child-friendly, casual restaurant has crayons at each table, photographs and paintings by local artists on the walls, and menu items that range from healthy to decadent. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served 7 days a week.

Full disclosure: There’s a farmers’ market every Sunday in Pacific Palisades, and one of my favorite lazy Sunday activities is to peruse the market, and then have brunch at Mayberry. My family does this often enough that the cadre of waitress-owners know us and – unless we shake things up – know what we’re going to order before we sit down.  The barbeque chicken salad used to be my standard Mayberry brunch order, but lately I’m liking the island curry chicken salad.

There are always daily specials written on the chalkboard, and one recent special called an Angel Omelette was really great. Egg whites, goat cheese, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes may sound a little pedestrian, but the ingredients are always as fresh as it gets, and the egg dishes have the right balance to be flavorful and savory, without ever becoming overwhelming.  The kiddie items include standards like chicken strips and macaroni and cheese, and that theme of American comfort food runs through the regular menu as well.  The sandwiches are filling and fresh. The eggs Benedict is reliably fantastic for brunch, and the granola with fruit and yoghurt is a guilt-free way to start the day. I recommend this granola – it’s a little chunky, just the way I like it. If brunch is more of an indulgent meal, then go for the lemon chiffon French toast. It’s light, superbly tasty, and barely needs syrup.

There’s usually a wait on Sundays, but as the Palisadians can tell you (since they come to Mayberry again and again), this restaurant is worth it. In the meantime, enjoy the farmers’ market.

Mayberry
1028 Swarthmore Ave
Pacific Palisades, CA
(310) 454-3123

There are some seriously high-end restaurants in San Diego, and some seriously…not. One great aspect of a city the size and demographic diversity of San Diego, is the equal diversity of restaurants as well. We can’t eat all our meals out in upscale restaurants without breaking the bank, but aren’t always ready to roll with the atmosphere of the low-end ones. For those mid-range lunches and dinners, one fun restaurant is the Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill. Yes, they have an on-site microbrewery, easily viewed right behind the bar.

Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill (KarlStrauss.com)

This Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill is in downtown San Diego, a few blocks from the more hip Gaslamp Quarter. The beer is on tap here, and comes in sizes ranging from 5 oz samplers to pints and even “schooners.” A basic wine list is available too, but come on – it’s a microbrewery! If you’re up for it, sample a few different brews instead. Downtown After Dark Ale was my favorite, and the bright flagship brew is called Karl Strauss Amber Lager. Our dining party also really liked the Pin Tail Pale Ale, which is only seasonally available.

Karl Strauss Microbrews (C.L.L. via Flickr.com)

As for the food – ya gotta eat, after all – the food here is far better than standard “bar food,” though it still tends towards the greasier, saltier range. Our table split spinach artichoke dip and ahi poke appetizers that both disappeared before I got to my second round; a testament to their tastiness (the ahi poke here is very spicy! You’ve been warned). The sirloin burger and fries were pleasing, and the chicken Caesar salad – with a wedge of Romaine – was surprisingly zesty. What seemed to be the popular favorite with our group, though, were the Drunken Shrimp (cooked with the Woodie Gold pilsener), grilled fish tacos, and the messily satisfying barbeque ribs. The restaurant wasn’t too dark, as can happen with brewpubs, and it was basically family-friendly for lunch and an early dinner. It probably gets too rowdy for kids after 8:00 PM or so.

Karl Strauss San Diego (KarlStrauss.com)

This is the original restaurant location. There are also Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill restaurants in Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Sorrento Mesa, and nearby La Jolla, as well as one on Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles. I can’t vouch for all of those, but the Karl Strauss in downtown San Diego California was a casual, relaxed place to grab a tasty bite and try a few samples of unique brews.

Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill
1157 Columbia St.
San Diego, CA
(619) 234-2739

Tomkats Grille in Old Koloa Town, Kauai (Jennifer Miner)

One of my favorite things to do in the Hawaiian islands (besides the snorkeling, the hiking, the soaking up of the sun and mai tais) is finding relatively unknown restaurants and trying them out. You know it’s probably a good bet, for example, when you see a crowd of locals waiting to get in a restaurant that the concierge at your fancy resort never thought to recommend. I had just such a happy experience at Tomkats Grille, in the Poipu resort area’s Old Koloa Town, Kauai.

Old Koloa Town was Hawaii’s first real (read: successful) sugar mill. Today, however, it’s a humble Hawaiian village, dwarfed in popularity by the shopping area of Poipu Beach. There are only two real restaurants here; a pizzeria, and Tomkats Grille. Now, pizza’s fine any time of the year as far as I’m concerned, but if you’re on vacation in Hawaii, why not eat at a real Hawaiian joint? Tomkats fits the bill nicely.

This is NOT a health food restaurant by any stretch. The big plates of burgers, fish sandwiches and fries are

Mahi Mahi Sandwich at Tomkats Grille in Kauai, Hawaii (Jennifer Miner)

all very satisfying, and not for dieters. I made the mistake of ordering a Caesar salad appetizer, which frankly was subpar. The specialties here definitely run towards the greasy and satisfying. The size and selection of beer here surprised me; stouts, lagers, local and Maui micro brews…a beer goes down great after a morning in the sun, and we enjoyed ours immensely.

Old Koloa Town is a handy pitstop on the way back to Poipu from, say, a hike in Waimea Canyon. Hungry children will be very, very happy with Tomkats Grille, and their paper and crayon creations often end up hanging on the wall. Daily specials vary, of course, but when I was there the macadamia nut-crusted ahi and the fresh caught mahi mahi sandwich were both really great, and generously proportioned. One of my kids gobbled up every last bit of her fish and chips – made with locally caught ono – and said they were “better than the fish sticks at home.” I should hope so! The relaxed, casual atmosphere at Tomkats Grille perfectly epitomizes small-town Hawaiian restaurants, and we all enjoyed our midday meal there.

Tomkats Grill

5404 Koloa Rd,

Old Koloa Town, Kauai