Tried Fish Public tonight with a girlfriend. LOVED it.
Reviews on Yelp are mixed. Some say: delicious, great service!!!! Other say: not great service, food not delicious, and it's much too loud! So....
The inside is very loud/"hip". And if you didn't order the right things, you might say, what's the big deal? And maybe you didn't luck out with your waitstaff.
But we sat outside: wonderful atmosphere on the patio, could hear eacho ther fine.
We had an awesome waitress: extremely friendly and knowledgeable about menu.
And we had very delicious food and drinks, even if some dishes were stronger than others.
So maybe you don't like it if you're inside and order the wrong things; and you love it if you're on the patio or don't mind noise, and get the right things!! I'm on the L-O-V-E side, very firmly.
DRINK MENU: Crazy delicious looking choices. And the Cape Cod Redo was an absolute home run. FANTASTIC. Had to meet the mixologist, Dustin, and congratulate him. Lime-cranberry shrub, rose + vodka. A bit effervescent. Y-U-M x 3. I would have bought the bottles to take home if only they would let me. One of my favorite cocktails in SD, and now one of my favorite restaurants. My friend very much enjoyed the sangria. Fresh sangria cocktails are everywhere in SD right now, but this was an especially good example (had a taste). They also have a great mocktail menu, so I switched to a fresh blackberry soda after having a cocktail (drivers have to be restrained!). Otherwise I would have been dying to try something else on the menu, like the Frenemy.
APP: Salmon tartare: very delicious, with some yummy sourdough crostini (very thin and light)
SALAD: This was the least successful dish of the evening. Peach, blue cheese, almond, chicory. It wasn't terrible (I liked the dressing and the chicory), but the blue cheese was much too heavy for a summer salad, esp. with peach. Just did not come anywhere near the peach salad I had earlier this week at Davanti.
OCTOPUS APP: I didn't eat the octopus, but my friend said it was very good, and the portion was humongous, not an app size at all. I tasted the salad, the romesco sauce and the artichoke stems. DELECTABLE. We would both order the romesco sauce on its own and eat with bread. One of the best things at the restaurant. YUMMMMM.
FISH ENTREES: We split sole entree and salmon entree. Both fishes were perfectly cooked. Sole was tasty but less inventive: straight forward brown butter, almonds, green beans. Salmon was more inventive and very delicious. Served with fennel cut like sauerkraut (with yummy peppercorns or whatever they were), butter, and grapefruit (though I skipped the grapefruit).
We were too full to have dessert. Can't wait to try it again (I just need another friend not allergic to fish!)
Showing posts with label seafood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seafood. Show all posts
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Rimel's Review (Carmel Valley/Del Mar Highlands)
Nice choice for dining with CH and SuperBoy.
Drink: Enjoyed my skinny coconut mojito.
Salad: Surprisingly good - nice salad mix, good sesame dressing.
Fish sandwich: very fresh and tasty (wahoo), good sweet potato fries
CH enjoyed his ribeye. SB enjoyed his grilled cheese sandwich (nice sourdough bread).
Service: not exceptional, but fine.
Atmosphere: noisy (in fact, SB pronounced it "too loud" for a mellow kid like himself) - but it makes the place kid friendly - lots of kids among the couples out on dates
Some of the pricing is a little much ($8.95 for a side salad?), but otherwise it's a decent value for a family-friendly tasty place in the 92130. And Swirls is nearby for a post-dinner treat for a well-behaved B.
We enjoyed and will return. (not a must visit from other neighborhoods, necessarily)
Drink: Enjoyed my skinny coconut mojito.
Salad: Surprisingly good - nice salad mix, good sesame dressing.
Fish sandwich: very fresh and tasty (wahoo), good sweet potato fries
CH enjoyed his ribeye. SB enjoyed his grilled cheese sandwich (nice sourdough bread).
Service: not exceptional, but fine.
Atmosphere: noisy (in fact, SB pronounced it "too loud" for a mellow kid like himself) - but it makes the place kid friendly - lots of kids among the couples out on dates
Some of the pricing is a little much ($8.95 for a side salad?), but otherwise it's a decent value for a family-friendly tasty place in the 92130. And Swirls is nearby for a post-dinner treat for a well-behaved B.
We enjoyed and will return. (not a must visit from other neighborhoods, necessarily)
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Herringbone Review (La Jolla): Surprisingly good!
Brian Malarkey's Searsucker was my favorite restaurant when it opened. Never before in San Diego had we had such an exciting restaurant: glamorous buzzy atmosphere with cutting-edge food and drinks. I still like Searsucker, but as he has extended his empire it has seemed less special to me. And Burlap is just too overwhelming with inconsistent food. So I wasn't feeling called to try his new places ( Gingham, Gabardine, Herringbone), esp. since the last two have mixed reviews from Yelpers. And some of the fish entrees at Herringbone are in the $30 price range. Me no like, esp. if it's getting mixed reviews.
So....we were going on a double theater date and so needed to be in La Jolla before. Herringbone seemed a good option since it's "social dining."
Result: surprisingly yummy!
ATMOSPHERE: Everyone raves on Yelp about the 100-year old olive trees. The decor is very beautiful. CH thinks this is his favorite Malarkey/Brennan restaurant: elegant and exciting without being too enormous or overwhelming.
COCKTAILS: Our friends had never been to a Malarkey restaurant so I suggested Snake Oil's famed Peter Rabbit. I got a "vodka something." (carbonated water, vodka infused with seasonal berries). It seemed simpler than the others but was more what I was in the mood for. Result....fantabulous. So simple, but subtle and delectable. Love the Snake Oil guys.
SERVICE: Ha! I realized after a few mins. that our waiter Whitney had served us before at Searsucker when it first opened. Turns out he now splits his time between the two restaurants. He is a fantastically competent waiter, who is not afraid to offer frank opinions, and helps steer you to the best things (not just to steer you to the most expensive things). He was one of the reasons I loved Searsucker so much instantly. He helped us have a great and well-paced meal to get to the theater. This is certainly one of the best features of the Malarkey empire: finding, training and retaning great servers like him!
FOOD: Yelpers scared me away from pizza. Got the albacore dish (at $25, the cheapest fish entree). Was actually delectable. Also split the brussels, minus bacon vinaigrette ($7) and the beets ($7). Brussels were ridiculously tasty. Beets were good but wouldn't order again. CH thought his meat was ok, but that meat is not the speciality there. He prefers the meat dishes at Searsucker.
DESSERT: After confirming that Rachel King conceived the dishes (though doesn't work in this kitchen), I got the hazelnut bar. Was very tasty, but simpler than her Burlap dishes. I actually preferred it better when I deconstructed it and ate layers one at a time. They were more subtle that way.
VERDICT among the Malarkeys:
Best atmosphere: Herringbone (exciting but not overwhelming) or Searsucker (for people-watching)
Best savory food: Searsucker or Herringbone
Best cocktails: Herringbone
Best desserts: Burlap!!!!!!
Best to visit with a girlfriend on a Sunday night: Burlap Lounge!!
We probably won't go back to Herringbone anytime soon, since CH thinks the meat options are not that exciting, it's not cheap, and it's not right around the corner. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, and happily recommend it. It's a great place to try, and the dishes I got from the menu ranged from good to extraordinarily delicious!
(Oh, and chef Amanda Baumgarten from Top Chef was in the kitchen easily visible expediting - but we were too busy talking and enjoying the food and cocktails and atmosphere to even notice her til we were done!).
So....we were going on a double theater date and so needed to be in La Jolla before. Herringbone seemed a good option since it's "social dining."
Result: surprisingly yummy!
ATMOSPHERE: Everyone raves on Yelp about the 100-year old olive trees. The decor is very beautiful. CH thinks this is his favorite Malarkey/Brennan restaurant: elegant and exciting without being too enormous or overwhelming.
COCKTAILS: Our friends had never been to a Malarkey restaurant so I suggested Snake Oil's famed Peter Rabbit. I got a "vodka something." (carbonated water, vodka infused with seasonal berries). It seemed simpler than the others but was more what I was in the mood for. Result....fantabulous. So simple, but subtle and delectable. Love the Snake Oil guys.
SERVICE: Ha! I realized after a few mins. that our waiter Whitney had served us before at Searsucker when it first opened. Turns out he now splits his time between the two restaurants. He is a fantastically competent waiter, who is not afraid to offer frank opinions, and helps steer you to the best things (not just to steer you to the most expensive things). He was one of the reasons I loved Searsucker so much instantly. He helped us have a great and well-paced meal to get to the theater. This is certainly one of the best features of the Malarkey empire: finding, training and retaning great servers like him!
FOOD: Yelpers scared me away from pizza. Got the albacore dish (at $25, the cheapest fish entree). Was actually delectable. Also split the brussels, minus bacon vinaigrette ($7) and the beets ($7). Brussels were ridiculously tasty. Beets were good but wouldn't order again. CH thought his meat was ok, but that meat is not the speciality there. He prefers the meat dishes at Searsucker.
DESSERT: After confirming that Rachel King conceived the dishes (though doesn't work in this kitchen), I got the hazelnut bar. Was very tasty, but simpler than her Burlap dishes. I actually preferred it better when I deconstructed it and ate layers one at a time. They were more subtle that way.
VERDICT among the Malarkeys:
Best atmosphere: Herringbone (exciting but not overwhelming) or Searsucker (for people-watching)
Best savory food: Searsucker or Herringbone
Best cocktails: Herringbone
Best desserts: Burlap!!!!!!
Best to visit with a girlfriend on a Sunday night: Burlap Lounge!!
We probably won't go back to Herringbone anytime soon, since CH thinks the meat options are not that exciting, it's not cheap, and it's not right around the corner. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, and happily recommend it. It's a great place to try, and the dishes I got from the menu ranged from good to extraordinarily delicious!
(Oh, and chef Amanda Baumgarten from Top Chef was in the kitchen easily visible expediting - but we were too busy talking and enjoying the food and cocktails and atmosphere to even notice her til we were done!).
Friday, March 2, 2012
Harbor Fish and Chips (Oceanside)
SB and I recently met a friend visiting from LA in Oceanside. First we hit Red Velvet yogurt (lots of delicious choices, and a convenient location near the beach, the Amtrak station, and lots of parking make it a great place to hang out and wait). Then we hit the pier - the playground is gone for repair!! - but the swingset is still there. SB tired himself out running up and down the ramp.
Then our friend wanted seafood, so we headed over to Harbor Fish and Chips, a place recommended on Yelp. We're not in the 92130 anymore! This place had an authentic old school feel rather than a shiny new facade. I took one bite of my friend's fish - too deep-fried and gross for me. But my grilled fish was fine. Both portions were ridicuolously enormous for under $10, and they came with two sides (I picked sweet potato fries and salad). SB announced that it smelled like dead fish outside (it was a harbor) but he was ok inside -lots of cool murals on the wall, fake spiders hanging from the ceiling, lots of things to catch a preschooler's eye. Certainly a decent choice in the area - beautiful view outside of the harbor and sunset too!
Then our friend wanted seafood, so we headed over to Harbor Fish and Chips, a place recommended on Yelp. We're not in the 92130 anymore! This place had an authentic old school feel rather than a shiny new facade. I took one bite of my friend's fish - too deep-fried and gross for me. But my grilled fish was fine. Both portions were ridicuolously enormous for under $10, and they came with two sides (I picked sweet potato fries and salad). SB announced that it smelled like dead fish outside (it was a harbor) but he was ok inside -lots of cool murals on the wall, fake spiders hanging from the ceiling, lots of things to catch a preschooler's eye. Certainly a decent choice in the area - beautiful view outside of the harbor and sunset too!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Blue Point Coastal: Meh! (Gaslamp)
Now before I call Blue Point Coastal "meh," let me explain the standards by which I'm judging it.
Were I a tourist staying in the gaslamp, with an expense account, I probably would have found my meal and the atmosphere delightful. Atmosphere: buzzy yet elegant. Food: tasty.
And yet....I come already knowing the yummiest places around the county - AND knowing that the new chef, Daniel Barron, is a James Beard Award nominee for the Southwest, someone who got three stars at the restaurant he opened in NY, etc. So I'm going - and paying Blue Point Coastal prices ($30+ for entrees) - thinking this is going to elevate our local food standards and be super-exciting. I think he's known for molecular stuff too.
So in this context, when my food was merely tasty and normal, I say.... MEH!
Liked the atmosphere.
Liked the service.
Liked my St. Germain cocktail (had them custom-do something; cocktails on their signature menu seemed not up my alley for some reason).
Liked my spicy tuna wonton.
CH's salad: ok, boring.
Liked my thai basil crusted salmon with chevre polenta. Ate every morsel....and yet, it can't hold a candle to a Ricardo Heredia dish. Just plain "tasty" - not $32 tasty or James Beard nominee tasty or 3-star tasty.
My theory is that at this corporate Cohn restaurant in the Gaslamp, cooking for conventioneers, maybe he's had to dumb down his food. But as much as my meal and experience were perfectly fine, there's no need to go again - nor for my readers to try it!
If you want the fine dining experience in the gaslamp - go to Grant Grill! It's a whole lot more special - and quieter - and with more exciting food. If you want buzzy and great food - just go to Searsucker! It will still be cheaper, probably!
Were I a tourist staying in the gaslamp, with an expense account, I probably would have found my meal and the atmosphere delightful. Atmosphere: buzzy yet elegant. Food: tasty.
And yet....I come already knowing the yummiest places around the county - AND knowing that the new chef, Daniel Barron, is a James Beard Award nominee for the Southwest, someone who got three stars at the restaurant he opened in NY, etc. So I'm going - and paying Blue Point Coastal prices ($30+ for entrees) - thinking this is going to elevate our local food standards and be super-exciting. I think he's known for molecular stuff too.
So in this context, when my food was merely tasty and normal, I say.... MEH!
Liked the atmosphere.
Liked the service.
Liked my St. Germain cocktail (had them custom-do something; cocktails on their signature menu seemed not up my alley for some reason).
Liked my spicy tuna wonton.
CH's salad: ok, boring.
Liked my thai basil crusted salmon with chevre polenta. Ate every morsel....and yet, it can't hold a candle to a Ricardo Heredia dish. Just plain "tasty" - not $32 tasty or James Beard nominee tasty or 3-star tasty.
My theory is that at this corporate Cohn restaurant in the Gaslamp, cooking for conventioneers, maybe he's had to dumb down his food. But as much as my meal and experience were perfectly fine, there's no need to go again - nor for my readers to try it!
If you want the fine dining experience in the gaslamp - go to Grant Grill! It's a whole lot more special - and quieter - and with more exciting food. If you want buzzy and great food - just go to Searsucker! It will still be cheaper, probably!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Burlap Restaurant Review: Overwhelmed in the Strip Mall (Carmel Valley)
CH and I finally hit Burlap last night. I'm still deciding what I think. On the one hand, we both didn't like it nearly as much as its mother-ship Searsucker in the Gaslamp. However, I am still in shock about how enormous the restaurant is and how *packed* it was at 6 pm on a Sat. I've been talking about all day.
DECOR: Holy crap, this was the Wherehouse? I love Searsucker, cuz it's exciting and warehousy and feels like Grand Central Station. But Burlap is like Walmart in comparison, or even a fancy and ornately-decorated hangar - I found it very disorienting, not only because it makes Searsucker seem intimate, but because it is very weird to have this giant, buzzy, packed space - complete with patio, koi pond, etc. - on the edge of the strip mall in the midst of suburbia.
MENU: Again, overwhelming. How does this kitchen turn out that many different dishes - well and efficiently - to such a gigantic crowd? It is impressive. On the other hand, we didn't find the menu as exciting as Searsucker - the Asian cowboy theme is maybe not for us. There were also just too many choices. But there certainly is something for everyone. For vegetarians, for instance, there is not a veg entree, but lots of veg small plates: an heirloom tomato and tofu salad; enoki mushroom salad; oyster mushroom cured ceviche style, edamame; sweet potato fries; and a whole lot of "sides", like wild rice stir fry with cactus or garlic noodles or cauliflower with curried yogurt (I didn't try any of these yet, since I decided to choose from the overwhelming list of fish options).
Oh - and MALARKEY SIGHTINGS: There seem to be more of these at Burlap these days, as he and his hat circulated on the patio. Back to the food....
SAVORY FOOD: We got:
--truffle miso soup (CH): Some Yelpers said it was ordinary, not that different from regular miso; CH enjoyed it; I thought it was just ok til I hit the scrumptious mushrooms he left over at the bottom.
--green salad (with walnuts, strawberries, plum dressing) (me): Absolutely delightful. Great salad just like at searsucker.
--half-chicken with steamed buns (CH): this was from the "rotisserie" section of the menu and it was enormous for $10. CH liked it. Kept saying that it is not as good as Searsucker, though.
--snow peas and ham (CH): nice-sized veg side; he liked it, can't vouch for it myself. :)
CH was very sated with a soup + half-chicken + side dish (=only $23). He left most of the chicken over.
In addition to my salad, I got two of the "left-column of the menu choices" (they have categories too complicated to remember: raw? satay? there's no such thing as an "appetizer" here). The waitress said that would be plenty of food.
--salmon belly satay: tasty and well-cooked, but not that big.
--tuna two ways: The waitress really plugged this, but at $14, it was much smaller than I expected. It was essentially a tiny and less spiced scoop of Searsucker's tuna + screaming rooster dish, plus three little squares of cured tuna. I would have orderd a veg side dish instead of one of these fish appetizers and been a lot more satisfied. So at $7 + 7 + 14 = $28, I was still pretty hungry.
WINE: I love Searsucker because every glass I've ordered has been fabulous, even if $10+. At Burlap, I got a Rhone Blend for $12, which sounded like the most interesting of the white choices. It was ok - not bad, but not that exciting.
At this point of the meal, we both agreed that Burlap (despite the crowds who seem to be very happy there) was just not that exciting for us, and we'd be happy to stick with Searsucker.
HOWEVER, the Snake Oil COCKTAIL co. guys saved the day (Yay, Ian and the other guy!!) At first, the cocktails struck me as too weird: Asian-ginger themed cocktails are not my thing. But since all of the whites-by-the-glass seemed boring and I didn't want to switch to red with my fish, I decided to give their lime-basil-martini thing a try. HOLY YUMMY AND HOLY STRONG! I think the secret to a good time at a Malarkey joint is to start with a Snake Oil Cocktail. Everything seems fabulous and delicious after you drink it.
Which brings me to DESSERT....
Whether it was because the strong cocktail made me very drunk - or because Rachel the pastry chef (who has left Searsucker to be on-site at Burlap) is newly inspired - DESSERT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE MEAL. So wonderful, that in my drunk state, I kept declaring to my wonderful Cute Husband: I love Rachel, I want to marry Rachel. (I never met Rachel, and I was not that excited when I got her red velvet cake at Searsucker the only time I was ever not so full that I had room for dessert there). But at Burlap, I was ready to become a polygamist so she could make dessert for me every night.
--My carrot cake, recommended by the waitress: kind of boring. HOWEVER, the crunchy things on the plate around the carrot cake: RIDICULOUSLY TASTY. They were some kind of pineapple nut brittle. Again, RIDICULOUSLY TASTY.
--CH's bittersweet chocolate tart with chocolate ice cream and more chocolate crunchy things (peanut/caramel/chocolate?). CH thought his tart was "ok, good." He thought his chocolate ice cream was amazing. And me: I scooped up all the RIDICULOUSLY TASTY crunchy things, because evidently Rachel is the queen of all things sweet and crunchy.
The other things on the dessert menu (condensed milk cake with green tea mousse and carmelized puffed rice; almond panna cotta with tamarind caramel and almond crunch, lemongrass tapioca with a coconut sorbet) all sounded very delicious - more exciting than any dessert menu I've seen recently.
So here is my TEMPORARY VERDICT (I'm still processing the place). I am not sure whether I will go there again for dinner. Again, it's kind of overwhelming. But I'm ready to have a girls' night out on a *weeknight* after bedtime (more mellow, less crowded - they told me it's not as bad outside of Th/F/Sat) to have a snake oil cocktail + some more dessert from Rachel. For now, those are the two things about Burlap that excite me....though it's too bad that I live a little too far away to walk the cocktail off at the end of the night!
DECOR: Holy crap, this was the Wherehouse? I love Searsucker, cuz it's exciting and warehousy and feels like Grand Central Station. But Burlap is like Walmart in comparison, or even a fancy and ornately-decorated hangar - I found it very disorienting, not only because it makes Searsucker seem intimate, but because it is very weird to have this giant, buzzy, packed space - complete with patio, koi pond, etc. - on the edge of the strip mall in the midst of suburbia.
MENU: Again, overwhelming. How does this kitchen turn out that many different dishes - well and efficiently - to such a gigantic crowd? It is impressive. On the other hand, we didn't find the menu as exciting as Searsucker - the Asian cowboy theme is maybe not for us. There were also just too many choices. But there certainly is something for everyone. For vegetarians, for instance, there is not a veg entree, but lots of veg small plates: an heirloom tomato and tofu salad; enoki mushroom salad; oyster mushroom cured ceviche style, edamame; sweet potato fries; and a whole lot of "sides", like wild rice stir fry with cactus or garlic noodles or cauliflower with curried yogurt (I didn't try any of these yet, since I decided to choose from the overwhelming list of fish options).
Oh - and MALARKEY SIGHTINGS: There seem to be more of these at Burlap these days, as he and his hat circulated on the patio. Back to the food....
SAVORY FOOD: We got:
--truffle miso soup (CH): Some Yelpers said it was ordinary, not that different from regular miso; CH enjoyed it; I thought it was just ok til I hit the scrumptious mushrooms he left over at the bottom.
--green salad (with walnuts, strawberries, plum dressing) (me): Absolutely delightful. Great salad just like at searsucker.
--half-chicken with steamed buns (CH): this was from the "rotisserie" section of the menu and it was enormous for $10. CH liked it. Kept saying that it is not as good as Searsucker, though.
--snow peas and ham (CH): nice-sized veg side; he liked it, can't vouch for it myself. :)
CH was very sated with a soup + half-chicken + side dish (=only $23). He left most of the chicken over.
In addition to my salad, I got two of the "left-column of the menu choices" (they have categories too complicated to remember: raw? satay? there's no such thing as an "appetizer" here). The waitress said that would be plenty of food.
--salmon belly satay: tasty and well-cooked, but not that big.
--tuna two ways: The waitress really plugged this, but at $14, it was much smaller than I expected. It was essentially a tiny and less spiced scoop of Searsucker's tuna + screaming rooster dish, plus three little squares of cured tuna. I would have orderd a veg side dish instead of one of these fish appetizers and been a lot more satisfied. So at $7 + 7 + 14 = $28, I was still pretty hungry.
WINE: I love Searsucker because every glass I've ordered has been fabulous, even if $10+. At Burlap, I got a Rhone Blend for $12, which sounded like the most interesting of the white choices. It was ok - not bad, but not that exciting.
At this point of the meal, we both agreed that Burlap (despite the crowds who seem to be very happy there) was just not that exciting for us, and we'd be happy to stick with Searsucker.
HOWEVER, the Snake Oil COCKTAIL co. guys saved the day (Yay, Ian and the other guy!!) At first, the cocktails struck me as too weird: Asian-ginger themed cocktails are not my thing. But since all of the whites-by-the-glass seemed boring and I didn't want to switch to red with my fish, I decided to give their lime-basil-martini thing a try. HOLY YUMMY AND HOLY STRONG! I think the secret to a good time at a Malarkey joint is to start with a Snake Oil Cocktail. Everything seems fabulous and delicious after you drink it.
Which brings me to DESSERT....
Whether it was because the strong cocktail made me very drunk - or because Rachel the pastry chef (who has left Searsucker to be on-site at Burlap) is newly inspired - DESSERT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE MEAL. So wonderful, that in my drunk state, I kept declaring to my wonderful Cute Husband: I love Rachel, I want to marry Rachel. (I never met Rachel, and I was not that excited when I got her red velvet cake at Searsucker the only time I was ever not so full that I had room for dessert there). But at Burlap, I was ready to become a polygamist so she could make dessert for me every night.
--My carrot cake, recommended by the waitress: kind of boring. HOWEVER, the crunchy things on the plate around the carrot cake: RIDICULOUSLY TASTY. They were some kind of pineapple nut brittle. Again, RIDICULOUSLY TASTY.
--CH's bittersweet chocolate tart with chocolate ice cream and more chocolate crunchy things (peanut/caramel/chocolate?). CH thought his tart was "ok, good." He thought his chocolate ice cream was amazing. And me: I scooped up all the RIDICULOUSLY TASTY crunchy things, because evidently Rachel is the queen of all things sweet and crunchy.
The other things on the dessert menu (condensed milk cake with green tea mousse and carmelized puffed rice; almond panna cotta with tamarind caramel and almond crunch, lemongrass tapioca with a coconut sorbet) all sounded very delicious - more exciting than any dessert menu I've seen recently.
So here is my TEMPORARY VERDICT (I'm still processing the place). I am not sure whether I will go there again for dinner. Again, it's kind of overwhelming. But I'm ready to have a girls' night out on a *weeknight* after bedtime (more mellow, less crowded - they told me it's not as bad outside of Th/F/Sat) to have a snake oil cocktail + some more dessert from Rachel. For now, those are the two things about Burlap that excite me....though it's too bad that I live a little too far away to walk the cocktail off at the end of the night!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Another visit to Poseidon (Del Mar)
Another out-of-town guest: another fabulous meal with Super-Toddler in tow at Poseidon in Del Mar!
ST: Quesadilla + fruit cup + surfers and trains to watch + lemonade + chocolate gelato for dessert = one very happy and well-behaved Super-Toddler (though some of his silly faces and antics did provide lots of amusement for neighboring tables)
Me: Wild halibut + fennel + edamame + parsnip puree + kalamata olive sauce = one very happy high-protein, low-carb-eating me! (oh - and their house salad is also good, but I loved the sunset margarita I ordered too)
CH: Chicken stir-fry: he thought it was ok, not great.
Always happy to go to Poseidon!
ST: Quesadilla + fruit cup + surfers and trains to watch + lemonade + chocolate gelato for dessert = one very happy and well-behaved Super-Toddler (though some of his silly faces and antics did provide lots of amusement for neighboring tables)
Me: Wild halibut + fennel + edamame + parsnip puree + kalamata olive sauce = one very happy high-protein, low-carb-eating me! (oh - and their house salad is also good, but I loved the sunset margarita I ordered too)
CH: Chicken stir-fry: he thought it was ok, not great.
Always happy to go to Poseidon!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Three cheers for Poseidon (Del Mar)
We go to Poseidon a few times a year. The combo of the view/setting on the beach + the creative and well-executed food is very appealing, esp. (though not only with) out of town guests. Service isn't always great, though.
Three cheers for them last night. We took ST and his nanny out to dinner. Wonderful service and large selection of reasonably priced choices for him. They gave us a prime table on the patio. Excellent atmosphere for him to stay put (and bang on the concrete without disturbing anyone). One of the best kid-friendly fine-dining places in San Diego! (in fact I'm not sure I can think of a better place for dining out with a lively toddler boy).
Three cheers for them last night. We took ST and his nanny out to dinner. Wonderful service and large selection of reasonably priced choices for him. They gave us a prime table on the patio. Excellent atmosphere for him to stay put (and bang on the concrete without disturbing anyone). One of the best kid-friendly fine-dining places in San Diego! (in fact I'm not sure I can think of a better place for dining out with a lively toddler boy).
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Quick takes: Bo's Seafood (Hillcrest) and Habibi's Mediterranean (Escondido)
Found myself in Hillcrest the other day at lunch. Bo's is in a strip mall with lots of parking. DELISH grilled fish tacos (some kind of tangy marinade and sauce). Not cheap, but reasonably quick and yummy. Would be toddler friendly.
Habibi's: OH BOY! Real Middle Eastern food in Escondido - real find. Not far from the Children's Museum at all. ST was overtired so it was a little stressful, but we had:
--amazing vegetarian lentil soup (had fresh ground spices: did I taste a hint of cardamon?)
--Greek salad: just eh, but ST loves feta
--hummus: super-yum, very thick and fresh. CH prefers thinner hummus but I thought it was very authentic and delightful.
--Felafel: I think I can safely call it the BEST I'VE HAD IN SD. Even better than Sultan Schwarma's. Very fresh, with delicious pickles.
--Chicken kebabs: CH thought they were good, though he wasn't as wild about the place as me. However, I tasted his rice pilaf. WOWZA! Yummy sliced almonds, raisins and vermicelli on top. Loved it!
I think they're Iraqi - they have kibbeh and bourekas and lots of other dishes whose names were unfamiliar to me on the menu.
Service not super-duper, but food was great and at a great price. Very toddler (and baby-) friendly.
Am so going back, if only I can find a time!
Habibi's: OH BOY! Real Middle Eastern food in Escondido - real find. Not far from the Children's Museum at all. ST was overtired so it was a little stressful, but we had:
--amazing vegetarian lentil soup (had fresh ground spices: did I taste a hint of cardamon?)
--Greek salad: just eh, but ST loves feta
--hummus: super-yum, very thick and fresh. CH prefers thinner hummus but I thought it was very authentic and delightful.
--Felafel: I think I can safely call it the BEST I'VE HAD IN SD. Even better than Sultan Schwarma's. Very fresh, with delicious pickles.
--Chicken kebabs: CH thought they were good, though he wasn't as wild about the place as me. However, I tasted his rice pilaf. WOWZA! Yummy sliced almonds, raisins and vermicelli on top. Loved it!
I think they're Iraqi - they have kibbeh and bourekas and lots of other dishes whose names were unfamiliar to me on the menu.
Service not super-duper, but food was great and at a great price. Very toddler (and baby-) friendly.
Am so going back, if only I can find a time!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Another catchup post: Gaslamp/EV restaurants
Ok, here are my thoughts on some downtown spots:
NEIGHBORHOOD: Oh, how I love thee! Neighborhood is awesome. Very inexpensive, farm-to-table sandwiches and salads, awesome yummy beer, hip and casual, great happy hour too (local SD beers 2-1). Am always happy to have an excuse to go!
TIN FISH: Tried it once, lived up to the Yelp reviews. Yummy fish and chips, very nice location with trolley views.
SULTAN SHWARMA: SabraGirl told me about this place, said it's the best felafel in SD. She is so totally right. Very small and unpretentious - outrageously yummy. Would totally go again. Liked it better than Kebab Shop (though I only tried their Mira Mesa location. It was tasty but nowhere near as good as Sultan Shwarma). Would be very happy to go again when in the neighborhood! They also have nice (but limited sidewalk seating).
CURRANT BRASSERIE: I have only been twice: once when it first opened with the previous chef/French concept, and once recently now that it's an American brasserie. Love the room, love the happy hour, everything I've had there has been scrumptious. Dr. T. went and didn't love it, but he said his friends did, and I just sent a large party and they loved it too. (So maybe try again, Dr. T.!)
Ok, I'm more caught up now!
NEIGHBORHOOD: Oh, how I love thee! Neighborhood is awesome. Very inexpensive, farm-to-table sandwiches and salads, awesome yummy beer, hip and casual, great happy hour too (local SD beers 2-1). Am always happy to have an excuse to go!
TIN FISH: Tried it once, lived up to the Yelp reviews. Yummy fish and chips, very nice location with trolley views.
SULTAN SHWARMA: SabraGirl told me about this place, said it's the best felafel in SD. She is so totally right. Very small and unpretentious - outrageously yummy. Would totally go again. Liked it better than Kebab Shop (though I only tried their Mira Mesa location. It was tasty but nowhere near as good as Sultan Shwarma). Would be very happy to go again when in the neighborhood! They also have nice (but limited sidewalk seating).
CURRANT BRASSERIE: I have only been twice: once when it first opened with the previous chef/French concept, and once recently now that it's an American brasserie. Love the room, love the happy hour, everything I've had there has been scrumptious. Dr. T. went and didn't love it, but he said his friends did, and I just sent a large party and they loved it too. (So maybe try again, Dr. T.!)
Ok, I'm more caught up now!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Solana Beach Fish House (SB)
Yo, NYUGirl, this one's for you! (and you too, my other dear readers, but this is more in NYUGirl's neck of the woods).
Toddler and I successfully broke free from going to Coco's for our night out - woo-hoo! In honor of you all, we tried a new place ....Solana Beach Fish House (the Dad is at the NCAAs, so no prob that it's not his kind of place!). Verdict: yummy! Not a must-do, but definitely a nice option to have in SB, esp. so close to the beach and the Fletcher Cove playground.
It's right across from the train station on the north side of Lomas Santa Fe - little unpretentious place on the 2nd floor of a strip mall. Relatively inexpensive, super-fresh fish - grilled or fried into sandwiches, platters, tacos or salads. Coupon in get1free.com and other flyers that come to the house. Beer! (though I didn't let myself have any).
Mom had: grilled seabass sandwich (exceptionally fresh and delicious), with french fries for Boy, plus sides of salad (meh), black beans (delish) and veggies (carrots and zucchini sauteed in garlic: respectable). Grandma had: grilled salmon salad (salmon: 10, salad, 4). Boy enjoyed hot fresh dinner roll, salad, and french fries, but wasn't all that into his fish taco (is very picky about when he likes or doesn't like fish). Off-menu, turns out you can order grilled cheese or a quesadilla.
Ambiance: Boy did not like the restaurant inside - wanted out. However, there are tables on the sidewalk (with a view of parking lot, Lomas Santa Fe, and out toward ocean - may not sound scenic for you or I, but kept Boy very interested - he watched neighborhood kids on scooters, people coming in and out of restaurant, trucks delivering food [fresh fish even on a Sat. night], etc. etc. And when he wanted to get up - well, we were already outside! Staying power in his seat in this environment: a 7, definitely better than many alternatives.
Definitely worth at least one visit!
Toddler and I successfully broke free from going to Coco's for our night out - woo-hoo! In honor of you all, we tried a new place ....Solana Beach Fish House (the Dad is at the NCAAs, so no prob that it's not his kind of place!). Verdict: yummy! Not a must-do, but definitely a nice option to have in SB, esp. so close to the beach and the Fletcher Cove playground.
It's right across from the train station on the north side of Lomas Santa Fe - little unpretentious place on the 2nd floor of a strip mall. Relatively inexpensive, super-fresh fish - grilled or fried into sandwiches, platters, tacos or salads. Coupon in get1free.com and other flyers that come to the house. Beer! (though I didn't let myself have any).
Mom had: grilled seabass sandwich (exceptionally fresh and delicious), with french fries for Boy, plus sides of salad (meh), black beans (delish) and veggies (carrots and zucchini sauteed in garlic: respectable). Grandma had: grilled salmon salad (salmon: 10, salad, 4). Boy enjoyed hot fresh dinner roll, salad, and french fries, but wasn't all that into his fish taco (is very picky about when he likes or doesn't like fish). Off-menu, turns out you can order grilled cheese or a quesadilla.
Ambiance: Boy did not like the restaurant inside - wanted out. However, there are tables on the sidewalk (with a view of parking lot, Lomas Santa Fe, and out toward ocean - may not sound scenic for you or I, but kept Boy very interested - he watched neighborhood kids on scooters, people coming in and out of restaurant, trucks delivering food [fresh fish even on a Sat. night], etc. etc. And when he wanted to get up - well, we were already outside! Staying power in his seat in this environment: a 7, definitely better than many alternatives.
Definitely worth at least one visit!
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