No steak-frites today. I've been accumulating some Bay Area fish taco information, and though I would sketch it out here.
Papalote (3409 24th St @ Valencia) - sauteed cubes of fish, dripping wet from a wine based sauce. Tacos are way overstuffed, and they use romaine lettuce. Very, extremely messy to eat.
Weird Fish (2193 Mission St @ 18th) - Way too much going on. A mango salsa AND and adobo-type sauce AND melted cheese. Fish is not fried.
Salsalito Taco Shop (1115 Bridgeway, Sausalito) - Kind of uninspired. Only fish and cabbage. Salsa and sauce are provided separately, and are quite good, but they leave the choice up to you.
Pacific Catch (1200 9th Ave @ Lincoln Way) - Sauce is a bit heavy.
Flying Fish Grill (99 San Mateo Rd, Half Moon Bay) - Best I've found. Light and flaky fish, delicate sauce, crispy cabbage, wedge of lime. It's as close to SoCal as I've found.
Woodhouse Fish Company (2073 Market St @ 14th) - Yummy. Batter maybe a bit much though.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Medjool
Certainly not a classical French restaurant by any stretch of the imagination. Rather a fabulous establishment with the famous rooftop deck with a lot of Moroccan and French-Moroccan inspired dishes and cocktails. Among the dishes, I spied the classical Steak-Frites, so decided to see how this place would interpret the classic bistro fare.
The steak was a traditional hanger steak, which I asked cooked rare and which they successfully delivered. The sauce, however, was overwhelming. I could barely taste the meat because the sauce was nearly as thick as a barbecue sauce with a strong yet difficult to place flavor. Not very subtle. The menu said there was a harissa marinade involved, which I don't think came through at all. The frites were a bit lifeless, dutifully shoestrung and fried, but not terribly inspired. The best thing on the table was the fried brussels sprouts appetizer, tossed with capers and garlic, which truly brought these frequently misunderstood mini-cabbages to life. The rest of the menu didn't really inspire. As for the rest, this is Medjool after all, so the ambiance was one-of-a-kind and the cocktails out of this world.
So Steak gets 3 points, Sauce gets 1 point, Frites get 2 points, Other menu items get 3 points and Ambiance gets 5 points.
Total 14 points.
2522 Mission Street (near 21st Street) in the Mission District.
The steak was a traditional hanger steak, which I asked cooked rare and which they successfully delivered. The sauce, however, was overwhelming. I could barely taste the meat because the sauce was nearly as thick as a barbecue sauce with a strong yet difficult to place flavor. Not very subtle. The menu said there was a harissa marinade involved, which I don't think came through at all. The frites were a bit lifeless, dutifully shoestrung and fried, but not terribly inspired. The best thing on the table was the fried brussels sprouts appetizer, tossed with capers and garlic, which truly brought these frequently misunderstood mini-cabbages to life. The rest of the menu didn't really inspire. As for the rest, this is Medjool after all, so the ambiance was one-of-a-kind and the cocktails out of this world.
So Steak gets 3 points, Sauce gets 1 point, Frites get 2 points, Other menu items get 3 points and Ambiance gets 5 points.
Total 14 points.
2522 Mission Street (near 21st Street) in the Mission District.
Friday, June 20, 2008
L'Ardoise
Brand new bistro in the Duboce Triangle area of the Castro. On a quiet corner where a Thai restuarant used to be. Wine only, no cocktails. All the wait staff, including the Asian hostess, have French accents, and the place was packed on a Thursday night. Cozy yet plain decor. The best restaurant baguettes I've had - a little thing that can go a long way. Butter lettuce salad appetizer was fantastic, with flavorful anchovies and a yummy dijon dressing. The steak was a hanger steak (qualifies for up to 5 points). I asked for it rare and it was closer to medium rare. Sauch was a dark, thick St. Emillion reduction and I sopped it up with the baguettes. The frites are cut with the skin on and a bit on the thin side, and even though they offered a tasty aioli to accompany the frites, I didn't need it.
So the points: Steak gets a 4, Sauce gets a 5, Frites get a 3, Other menu items get a 5 and Ambience gets a 4.
Total 21 points.
151 Noe Street (at Henry) in Duboce Triangle
So the points: Steak gets a 4, Sauce gets a 5, Frites get a 3, Other menu items get a 5 and Ambience gets a 4.
Total 21 points.
151 Noe Street (at Henry) in Duboce Triangle
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Le P'tit Laurent
A newish French bistrot in the Glen Park neighborhood. A small but cozy place with a bar stacked with French goodies. Walked in without a reservation and didn't have to wait too long for a table.
The steak was a hefty piece of NY Strip (max 4 points) which I had cooked medium rare. It came out perfect, but overall it was probably a bit too substantial. So 3 points. The sauce was a delicious herb-based concoction that accorded well with the frites. 5 points. The frites themselves were crispy-yet-tender shoestring fries and lightly salted. 4 points. The BF had a salmon-based dish that was unremarkable and a decent lentil soup, but my crab salad with golden beets was fantastic. They have a bar stocked with French riviera favorites, but the wine selections available by the glass is disappointing. 3 points. Service was fairly prompt and very friendly, and the place is the right size to maintain a lively yet not overcrowded feel. 4 points.
Overall: 19 points
699 Chenery St (at Diamond) in downtown Glen Park
The steak was a hefty piece of NY Strip (max 4 points) which I had cooked medium rare. It came out perfect, but overall it was probably a bit too substantial. So 3 points. The sauce was a delicious herb-based concoction that accorded well with the frites. 5 points. The frites themselves were crispy-yet-tender shoestring fries and lightly salted. 4 points. The BF had a salmon-based dish that was unremarkable and a decent lentil soup, but my crab salad with golden beets was fantastic. They have a bar stocked with French riviera favorites, but the wine selections available by the glass is disappointing. 3 points. Service was fairly prompt and very friendly, and the place is the right size to maintain a lively yet not overcrowded feel. 4 points.
Overall: 19 points
699 Chenery St (at Diamond) in downtown Glen Park
The Rules
There will be 5 categories, with a maximum of 5 points in each category.
1. Steak. The maximum of 5 points can only be achieved if the restaurant uses a hanger steak, flank or skirt steak, or entrecote. Most other cuts of meat can only receive a maximum of 4 points. A filet mignon can only receive a maximum of 3 points.
2. Sauce. This is the sauce that accompanies the steak. Must be served on the steak.
3. Frites. Flavor, freshness, crispiness, etc.
4. Other menu items. Appetizers, other entrees, cocktails, wine, etc.
5. Miscellaneous. Ambience, service, etc.
1. Steak. The maximum of 5 points can only be achieved if the restaurant uses a hanger steak, flank or skirt steak, or entrecote. Most other cuts of meat can only receive a maximum of 4 points. A filet mignon can only receive a maximum of 3 points.
2. Sauce. This is the sauce that accompanies the steak. Must be served on the steak.
3. Frites. Flavor, freshness, crispiness, etc.
4. Other menu items. Appetizers, other entrees, cocktails, wine, etc.
5. Miscellaneous. Ambience, service, etc.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)