David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
 | | 10/14/2003 4:03 AM |
| skwid,
It costs plenty to live in paradise.
I consider myself very lucky here in CA especially for the weather and food. We've got the best! | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 10/15/2003 1:27 PM |
| | I have begun writing a number of dining reviews again. Some will be short notes and some longer but they will make a reappearance soon. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 01/29/2004 2:29 AM |
| This looks like it might be a pretty good book about restaurants for anyone lining in or coming to the SF Bay Area. Only $14.
Quote:
San Francisco Cuisine 2004, the Bay Area's ultimate restaurant, recipe, and winery resource for foodies, travelers and industry insiders, is available now in local bookstores, news stands and selected restaurants. This incredible resource includes not only restaurant listings and maps to get you there, but also current menus and favorite recipes from some of the nation's top chefs. San Francisco Cuisine's chefs have consistently been part of Food & Wine's Top 100 Chefs in America-among many other awards garnered by these culinary geniuses.
San Francisco Cuisine
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 01/29/2004 3:54 AM |
| | Good call. Patricia Unterman's Guide also makes for good reading. | | | |
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GATC
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2420
| | 01/30/2004 12:52 AM |
| | I also like getting the latest Zagat with the map. We often find ourselves in a part of the Bay Area that we are not familiar with and use that as a guide. We also tend to agree more with their ratings. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 01/30/2004 3:55 AM |
| | I haven't seen this book yet but I understand it has sample menus. I like that. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 04/29/2004 6:53 PM |
| How about a tour of the new Ferry Building Marketplace with lunch at the Slanted Door with Sally Bernstein?
Look here | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13698
| | 04/23/2005 3:36 AM |
| Went to GAry Danko -- good but left a little disappointed
Fleur de Lys -- GREAT. Minor downside was a larger private room gathering spilled over in to the main dining room briefly but this place blew GD away totally
Sear Fine Foods -- reopened and still serving the same breakfasts it was fun if different
Molinari's Deli in North Beach -- great meatball sub
Cafe Trieste was OK for an espresso, but much preferred Peet's, esp in Berkely
Farmer's Market was kewl to visit on Saturday | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
| | 04/23/2005 9:45 AM |
| TJ,
Thanks for the update. I've been debating between going to GD or going back to FdL (which is currently my favorite restaurant in SF) and you made my choice very easy.
a | |
I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13698
| | 04/23/2005 8:44 PM |
| I hope to get to some writeups this weekend, but Danko was a bit too lloud for me, a bit too 'chic' and 'in' for me and a bit too traffic-crazy inside the room. We had a very good wait-tron, but even she could not salvage the experience for me.
Fleur de Lys was just outstanding. Every time I get to SF, I am sure I will dine there at least once. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 04/23/2005 11:16 PM |
| | TJ, while Fleur de Lys is a great restaurant given how infrequently you and Mrs. TJ visit San Francisco I'd try and visit one of the other fantastic restaurants which make up the restaurant scene here. Fifth Floor, Michael Mina, Slanted Door are just a few of the restaurants you might want to try that could provide a dinning experience on the order of FdL (Slanted door for the food, the service isn't quite up to the FdL level). In Berkeley there is Chez Pannise which I think you and Mrs TJ would really enjoy. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13698
| | 04/24/2005 2:02 AM |
| skwid-- Michael Mina is on deck for the next trip. We usually like to stay in SF for a few days each time we come out there, too many good eats to pas sup and the city has a way of, a way...of recharging you. Plus lots of stairway walks to try to work off those mighty fine dinners. heh heh heh
Maybe next time we'll do a small offline with some of youse in town (instead of up in the valley).  | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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DJ Hombre
Napa Valley, California
Barrel Filler
Posts:1366
| | 04/24/2005 8:33 PM |
| Quote:
TJ, while Fleur de Lys is a great restaurant given how infrequently you and Mrs. TJ visit San Francisco I'd try and visit one of the other fantastic restaurants which make up the restaurant scene here. Fifth Floor, Michael Mina, Slanted Door are just a few of the restaurants you might want to try that could provide a dinning experience on the order of FdL (Slanted door for the food, the service isn't quite up to the FdL level). In Berkeley there is Chez Pannise which I think you and Mrs TJ would really enjoy.
The Fifth Floor isn't the Fifth Floor anymore. Every report I've heard back from Perello's tenure so far is "huge dropoff". | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 04/25/2005 1:26 PM |
| | Fifth Floor is still a great dining experience. I was there last Friday. Perello cooks different cuisine then Gras so if you go expecting Gras you will be disappointed. Ever since Perello took over at Charles as a female and at a young age she has taken way more than her fair share of slings and arrows imo. | | | |
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saut
Grape Fermenter
Posts:522
| | 09/30/2007 1:26 AM |
| Thought I would revive this and brag a bit...I live in sleepy Glen Park, and we just had a French Bistro open up (P'tit Laurent) and it is authentic, tasty food (the chef/owner had other successful restaurants in SF but retired for a year with a newborn...). Packed every night, sweetbread appetizers and rabbit main courses...just wonderful. The chef has a way with sauces, too. But the incredible thing (besides the food which is definitely 3 stars) is the wine list. Most of the bottles are $30. I was floored. We went with an expensive one and had a 2003 Savigny les Beaune for $49 that would blow away any other pinot at that price on a wine list. Here is a chef that matches wine with the food...so that you can enjoy a bottle with dinner and not leave broke. I'm eager to try out the other selections...if they are as well chosen as this burgundy was, we are in for a real treat!
And yes, I would think it would make a great offline location as it is a half block from BART, but the restaurant only seats about 30. :-(
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rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts:1124
| | 10/03/2007 2:21 PM |
| This is just in time! We are going to SF from 10/12 through 10/18, then Vegas from 10/18 to 10/21. Roll us onto the plane home! Looking for opinions - did I book the right reservations? Is there anything you would change? I've never been to SF or Napa, so I want to do it right. We're going with another foodie/wine couple. Thanks to DavidN for some preliminary information. We're staying at the Ritz Carlton on Nob Hill. 10/12 - Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton
10/13 - Michael Mina
10/14 - waiting list at Quince; would you eat at Acqua or Boulevard, or where else would you suggest? Fleur de Lys? La Fiole is closed Sun.
10/15 - spending the day in Napa; lunch is at L'Auberge du Soleil; we have
reservations at Slanted Door for dinner in case we actually feel like eating dinner
Still working on which wineries to visit - David, you gave me too many choices!!!!
10/16 - Gary Danko's
10/17 - THE FRENCH LAUNDRY!!!!!!
Staying at Bellagio in Vegas
10/18 - Vegas; Alex
10/19 - Vegas; Okada
10/20 - Vegas; Le Cirque
Thoughts, anyone? Â | | | |
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Winegeek
San Francisco
Grape Puncher
Posts:777
| | 10/03/2007 8:18 PM |
| Thoughts, anyone?  Yes. Bring money.ÂLots of money. And a pair of expandable trousers.
Richard
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4852
| | 10/03/2007 10:00 PM |
| | The Somm at TFL (Gregory Castells) is very good at Wine/Food pairings - get his suggestions. | | | |
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tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts:3164
| | 10/03/2007 10:25 PM |
| I'm with Winegeek: bring your Platinum Card.
For 10/14 - I've never had a bad meal at Blvd and I think Aqua is over rated and over priced. Can't comment on the others. | |
TN posted on Cellartracker
"I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais
www.tanglenet.com | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 10/04/2007 11:24 AM |
| My complaint with both Danko and FdL is the fact that the tables are pratically on top of each other. That's one reason I do like 5th Floor. You can have your own space plus you can talk to each other without yelling.
There are some pretty good restaurants south of SF too. TJ, I'd bet you two would love the Woodside Pub. It is an old roadhouse turned into a very nice room with great food. It doesn't look like you didn't get much roadhouse time on your last trip.
If you've been to Napa or Sonoma a half dozen times (I'm talking to people visiting from the east) you should go south at least one time in your life for a little change. The Monterey/Carmel area is something that one should see; great food, great hotels, and great golf (not to mention a few very nice wines). | | | |
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