Stefan Didak's Rambling » Restaurants

Central Perk in El Cerrito

Stefan Didak — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:16:54 +0000

OK, this is not really a restaurant review but it’s a place worth visiting if you’re ever in El Cerrito, California. What do you do for coffee in California? Go to Peets, of course. Unless you don’t care about coffee and how it should taste, in which case, people like that go to Starbucks. However, a rather interesting coffee place in El Cerrito, called Central Perk, is definitely worth a visit. The entire shop is filled with all sorts of toys, fun stuff, decorations, everything including a kitchen sink, basically. And everything you see in the store is for sale. Care to get one of those huge Sully characters from Monsters, Inc., well, at Central Perk you can.

Restaurant – Cafe Maddalena (Dunsmuir)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:16:55 +0000

Cafe Maddalena, located in Dunsmuir’s historic district, was a very pleasant surprise while we were staying in Dunsmuir. We arrived early in the evening and went hunting for a place to eat and just by sheer chance ended up in front of where one of the locals passed by us and said the place was “always very good”. Personally I consider that an understatement because it was more than good. It was GREAT! The food was excellent and the staff was extremely kind and helpful. I’m not surprised that some food critics have said that Cafe Maddalena was one of the best restaurants in Northern California. I would definitely agree with that and that’s why they get the #2 spot on my personal favorites list. The presentation of the food had a lot going for it but the deserts were real works of art that tasted even better than they looked and I can tell you, they look amazing! I’m not a big fan of fish but the way that Cafe Maddalena did their grilled swordfish almost turned me into a fish lover, instantly.

Restaurant – David’s Kitchen (San Francisco)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:38:54 +0000

This place was a surprising discovery that turned into a very pleasant one. While driving in the city we decided to just look for a place for dinner by doing a spot-check of “hey that looks good, let’s try it”. After driving around and feeling hungry while looking for a place to park we ended up at David’s Kitchen, a hole-in-the-wall place that didn’t have any clear ambiance or characteristics… other than the menu that looked to be interesting. Well, those are famous last words because the food was simply great and the ambiance is created mostly in part by it being a small place with a small kitchen with one cook (David) who works his butt off to create very tasty fresh food. According to David a lot of the locals know of the place and those make up the bulk of his customers and that he has some help from his sister and his mother when things get busy (you will have to be patient but it will be well worth it). I started off with the Half Moon Wraps which were Enoki mushrooms wrapped in thinly sliced beef in a black pepper sauce. Very very tasty!

The Beef Somehow was simple but very tasty (and since I wanted it Medium Well David automatically made sure the beef of the Half Moon Wraps were also done Medium Well). For desert I ordered the Taro Root Cake which were pie slices of Taro Root with coconut milk and vanilla, which came with a salsa that, in combination with the coconut and vanilla flavors, really made me feel very full and happy. I never had anything even remotely like it, nor encountered it anywhere, but I can recommend it to everyone. I think David has a really good thing going in the midst of many other restaurants. I hope the place will continue to thrive… if only so I can return to it again. If David finds this listing online; In the midst of various posh big restaurants on my recommended and favorites list you have made it straight into it… and it isn’t easy to get on my recommended list so whatever you did with the food, keep doing it! You can find Davids Kitchen at 1713 Taraval Street in San Francisco.

Restaurant – Tonno Rosso (San Francisco)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:37:11 +0000

By now you may figure out that I like Italian food a lot. And lots of it! Tonno Rosso was this incidental find we ended up for dinner at while being at the Embarcadero because we had planned to go to the Slanted Door (which unfortunately had a 5-week waiting list for reservations!!!). The food was very good and the service was prompt and quick. The place uses waiters and runners so when you ask for a another glass of wine the runner will tell the waiter who then comes over to the table again. This process may work out well, logistically, for the restaurant but does seem a little odd when the restaurant isn’t completely full. The food was good and the service was decent and effective. Not a place I will go out of my way for but definitely a place that should be on my recommended list… and so it is. You can find Tonno Rosso in San Francisco, 155 Steuart St. (Mission St.)

Restaurant – Roy’s (San Francisco)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:37:08 +0000

Roy’s is a Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. A very innovative, surprising, and excellent place to go for food that is quite different. All food comes as a presentation of a work of art where a lot of effort is put into the balance between looks and taste. Lots of good medium priced wines and really interesting and tasty food if you want to try something you may not have had before. The ambiance lacks the romantic feel but the overall feel fits in perfectly with the food.

Restaurant – Brookdale Lodge (Brookdale)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:33:53 +0000

The Brookdale Lodge, good food but with an even better ambiance. The restaurant (Brookroom) has a real live brook running through it which is lit with colored lights at night and provides an atmosphere that is very good for both casual and romantic dining. The food, as I already said, is good. It’s not spectacular but the fruit salad I had was almost unique and really worked well for me. It may be a bit out of the way but if you ever pass through Brookdale, or come near it, going to the Brookroom would not be a mistake you’d regret.

Restaurant – Fior d’Italia (San Francisco)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:31:09 +0000

Well, what can I say about this place that hasn’t already been said. Not much I suspect. “If you haven’t eaten at Fior d’Italia you haven’t been to San Francisco!” is what they say and I can agree with that. The place is up there with the best of all time and while it’s not inexpensive it’s definitely worth it for their authentic cuisine and their excellent wine selection. This place always pops up in the top-100’s that are published and for one I can’t disagree with that. It’s one of those places where it’s good to dress up and make sure you make it worth your time by going the whole route from appetizers to desert (so you can experience the full range).

Restaurant – Beauregard’s California Bistro (Berkeley)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:28:36 +0000

Fresh preparations with a Californian/Mediterranean touch which you can find on 1373 Solano Ave. at Beauregard’s California Bistro. Excellent fish. Efficient, friendly service with a smile. I am not a big fan of fish unless it’s Swordfish, Salmon, or… SHARK. The shark as provided by Beauregard’s was to die for. And it was the first time I had shark so I was naturally cautious and suspicious. The selection of, mostly, Californian wines of moderate prices seem to provide a good balance with the quality of the food and the overall ambiance of the place (which can be a little noisy but has great lighting at night for that almost-perfect romantic dinner). Good food with good service and a place that I will be returning to, no doubt about that.

Restaurant – Barney’s (Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:26:53 +0000

Dining out extensively is something I really love to do and I appreciate the better restaurants that one can find on this planet so it may come as a surprise that a BURGER place would be listed this high on my personal recommended list. However, Barney’s burgers aren’t just burgers, they are just the BEST burgers you can ever hope to get in the Bay Area. I return to Barney’s very regularly, sometimes once a week, just because they make the best burgers in town. I usually go for the Barney’s Salad and a Californian Burger of a Maui Waui Burger, or I take a half order of spicy curly fries with their home made ranch dressing instead of the salad. Don’t do the house wines, though… they’re a bit under par. Then again, with burgers like these you should go with beer anyway (unless you don’t drink alcohol in which case they have a huge list of non-alcoholic beverages as well).

Restaurant – Trattoria La Siciliana (Berkeley)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:20:39 +0000

As far as Italian food goes, Trattoria La Siciliana is about as good as you will ever get it. Unfortunately the place lacks the ambiance I so like at Frantoio, which is why this place doesn’t rank at my #1 position. However, the food is so good that on food alone this place should be highly recommended. The arrangements are a bit cramped and noisy but that is often the case in a small family-run restaurant like this. Be prepared to wait a while before your food is served because the staff is small and the cook really takes his food seriously and it will require its time to prepare when you want to have it done RIGHT. This place does it RIGHT but not in any hurry. A great selection of Italian wines to go along with the food, as can be expected, is always a huge plus for me. If you are willing to part with a little ambiance and if you can be patient enough then by the food quality alone you will come to love this place (unless you can’t stand Italian food, then this place isn’t for you). You can find Trattoria La Siciliana in Berkeley, 2993 College Ave, 94705-2215.

Restaurant – Signature Thai (San Rafael)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:16:58 +0000

On 810 B St, in San Rafael, you will find the best Thai restaurant in the Bay Area as far as I’m concerned (compared to the various other Thai places we have done in the past years). The food is really nice (well, needless to say it has to be or you won’t get on my list other than at the bottom of it!) but the peanut sauce is certainly the best I have ever had (and that spans any place on the planet I’ve had Thai food). The staff is kind and friendly and the presentation of the food is great. A week after first having been there I walked past the restaurant again and the waiter, while putting menus on a table, saw me pass by and immediately nodded kindly. Clearly a staff that remembers their customers instead of just serving food to nameless faces.

Restaurant – Frantoio (Mill Valley)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:39:09 +0000

The best Italian food in Mill Valley. Hell, the best Italian food in the whole Bay Area as far as I’m concerned. Frantoio is my current number one highest scoring restaurant on my personal favorites list. The quality of the food is superb, the selection of wines is excellent. The presentation of the food is always a work of art made by a kitchen that clearly puts its effort into the ‘art’ and the staff is quick, helpful, and very attentive. The restaurant looks and feels upscale and posh but it’s not so exclusive that it would leave you standing outside if you wear the wrong outfit. In fact the dress code is anything you wish, whether you want to dress up or dress down. For me, Frantoio has been my favorite restaurant for the past 3 years and I can recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in Mill Valley (though I believe driving to Mill Valley just because of Frantoio would be well worth it as well). This place also has the best Tiramisu in the whole area!

Restaurant Reviews

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:39:07 +0000

You’ll have seen the top-10, top-20, 25, or top-100’s of restaurants published in various books, magazines, newspapers, etc. but what you haven’t seen yet is my personal list of restaurants which may differ a little bit from the official foodie reviewers that are syndicated or published. Since I eat out a lot and like going to new places as well as revisiting many of my favorites restaurants I figured it was time I present my own list with short reviews. Sallie has been joking that we may just have enough material to publish a real reviews book on it. Most restaurants will be in the Bay Area and the wider California area seeing as that’s where I tend to focus my consumption of good food and fine wines.

Restaurant – Hydro Grill (Calistoga)

Stefan Didak — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:41:51 +0000

The Hydro Grill is a Bar and Grill place that doesn’t fuss and serves good food and decent wine in a simple but efficient location. There isn’t anything particularly memorable about the place but the food is good enough that you’d want to go back there regularly (at least when in the area of Calistoga). Their burgers will easily contend for the “best burgers ever” spot with Barney’s (and THAT is saying something!). For dinner on Sunday’s and Wednesdays they have live music as well to provide a more memorable ambiance. You can find the Hydro Grill at 1403 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, CA.

Restaurant – Massawa (San Francisco, 1538 Haight St)

Stefan Didak — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:45:28 +0000

Very inexpensive. Plenty of food. And quite strange if you haven’t had African food (Eritrea/Ethiopian to be more exact) before. Eating with your hands by wrapping parts of your Injera (a pancake like bread) over the food and scooping it up certainly ends up being a strange experience for the first time but after you get the hang of it and after you appreciate the food that they serve you will be coming back to this place regularly if you are in San Francisco. The location in the Haight district makes it a good lunch or dinner place if you are in the area. A great simple place that’s just a little bigger than a hole in the wall but has that hole in the wall type feeling to it. Good food with no fuss (unless you consider the lack of utensils a fuss, that is). You can find Massawa in San Francisco, 1538 Haight St.

Restaurant – Hot Gossip (Lake Tahoe)

Stefan Didak — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:44:09 +0000

This isn’t really a restaurant but rather an espresso bar. The two ladies running the place, however, serve a really mean Breakfast Burrito that has consistently been the best I’ve had anywhere. The place has a really warm and cozy feeling and is setup in a way that invites you to sit down and stay around for a good long time. Various interesting artifacts and devices can be found in this place along with artwork (for sale) on the walls. If you need breakfast in South Lake Tahoe you should definitely consider going to Hot Gossip. You can find Hot Gossip in Lake Tahoe, 1007 Ski Run Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Restaurant – Yummy Chinese Restaurant (El Cerrito)

Stefan Didak — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:42:50 +0000

This is another place that’s not a big posh restaurant but hey, we’re regulars at Yummy and we happen to really like their food. The staff is always friendly and efficient and will accommodate all your wishes without any fuss. It is also a very inexpensive place, which compared to most other places on my recommended personal list makes it stand out (most are not inexpensive). I love their spring rolls and just about everything else they have though I have to say the portions that are served are always way too much for me (I could have two or three whole dinners out the total volume if I were to save it, which I never do by default). It’s a simple no-fuss place with good food where lots of locals and Chinese folks also go to eat. I sure understand why and I hope the place will continue to thrive. You can find Yummy at 10264 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA.