Eating Frenzy

Less than two weeks left in San Francisco for me. With so many restaurants left to try, I’ve worked myself into a eating frenzy. Fortunately, my friends have been very helpful. Every time someone wants to meet up, it happens over lunch or dinner. In the last seven days I’ve been to the following places:

1. Menara Moroccan Food - No, this place isn’t in the city. It’s in the one of the most sterile parts of San Jose. If it weren’t for some recent development along the light rail line, this area would just scream 1970’s. (Sadly the current development hasn’t really helped much yet.) Fortunately, the restaurant ably transports you out of blandsville while you are there. They live up to their Moroccan theme with a decorated restaurant, cushioned seating on the floor, and utensils available only on request. Oh did I mention there’s belly dancers during dinners too?

Since I’ve never had Moroccan Food before, I can’t really say how genuine the food is. For all I know, it could be equivalent to PF Changs. But from a foodie’s point of view, I’d have to say the dishes are decent. My favorites are the fish and the potatoes. But eating flaky fish with my hands just seems weird. Another dish with ground chicken was so crumbly I felt like I was dropping half the food on the floor as I brought it to my mouth.

I do think Menara has its place. It’s a good “party place” for large groups (even though everyone has to order the same “meal package.”) But I wouldn’t drop in for lunch.

2. Zen Peninsula - Yes, it’s a Chinese restaurant. And yes, the name is absolutely scary. Makes it seem like a “fake” Chinese restaurant filled with costumed waiters and faux Asian art decor. Thankfully it’s none of that. Rather, I think this may be the best dim sum place on the Peninsula (and one the best ones in the Bay Area). They have a wonderful collection of traditional favorites and some “new items” that still come across as real Chinese food. Of the new items, I think the Golden Kabocha Fries are the best. My only complaint about this place is the small parking lot.

3. Delfina Pizzeria - I thought it was such a wonderful thing that I could skip past the 8 groups in line by ordering take out. But by the time I made it home, the pizza wasn’t so hot anymore. (If only I had one of those Domino’s heat wave bags.) The thin crust pizzas I got weren’t bad, but I wouldn’t say they’re incredible. I got to try two different pizzas and the Napoletana is better the Margherita; those capers were nice. Beware of ordering from the menu on the website as the appetizer they were serving on that night seemed to be totally different.

4. Gochi Japanese Fusion Tapas (in Cupertino) - Once again, another restaurant with an awful name but great food. I can understand that they’re trying to expand their reach. If they just named themselves Gochi Izakaya, I think the vast majority of people would have no idea what it is. Though I wonder what type of crowd they’re get for “fusion tapas” anyway…

But enough with the name. Yes, I have been to Gochi before, but this was the first time for dinner. While their lunches are quite nice, the tapas for dinner are extraordinary. My friends and I ordered nine different items and all but one were amazing. Though nine items may seem like a lot, it feels like we barely scratched the surface of the menu. As much as I like Japanese food, I have admit the usual teriyaki, tonkatsu, and sushi gets a bit tiresome. Thank goodness for the incredible variety at a izakaya.

The only bad thing about izakaya dining is the price. However, Gochi is a wonderful occasional treat. And there’s still so many other items to try on a return visit.

5. M & L Market - I’ve walked past this place several without thinking much about it. The storefront does look a bit unusual, but it seems like any old independent sandwich shop in the city. So I was looking for a quick bite before heading to Berkeley, I decide to give this place a shot. The sign on the wall says their specialty is pastrami sandwich; that was enough to sell me.

Once in line, I had an idea something was up because of the strange t-shirt with ordering instructions just before you reach the ordering counter. Bread first, sandwich next, then fixings, and finally the cheese. Sure, I’ll play along with this game. So I ordered and without incident received my sandwich with got two almond cookies as a bonus. Decent sandwich, but nothing mindblowing.

Later I would read the Yelp review and I would get some idea of what happened. Shocking to think the little old lady at the cash register would have verbally torn you a new one if you didn’t follow the instructions. No way.

6. Sushi Zone - My friend was feeling like sushi and looked up this place on Yelp. With 4.5 stars over 200+ reviews, it seems like it should be a good choice. Finding the place was a small challenge; not only is it really small, but I think the address is incorrect. It really feels like it’s on Pearl (rather than Market).

Even though we arrived before 6pm, the place was already packed with a wait list. But since the place only has two tables and a bar that seats around ten, it’s not too difficult. Even though it took a while to get things going (there is only one chef and one waitress) once the sushi arrived any annoyances with the wait disappear. I wish I had a different description other than “high quality, tasty sushi.” This sounds so simple that it makes it seem like I didn’t really like it. But that’s what it is. The environment is barebones, the menu is short (maybe too short), and the price is reasonable.

7. Osha Thai (on 2nd St.) - It’s rather shocking that at 9pm on a Thursday night that Osha Thai would be only place open in SOMA and still serving food. I was really hoping to do something else since the place looks a bit too overdecorated to be a real Thai restaurant. Okay fine… I shouldn’t disparage the food based on the decor. Rather, I feared it would be once of those places where the money you pay goes more into the facilities than the food.

So the Spring Rolls were decent, even though they strike me as more of a Vietnamese dish than a Thai one. The Pad Thai I ordered was okay, but I’ve definitely had better ones. So just as I’m about to write off the place, I decide to try one of their desserts. (A very unusual situation.) As it turns out, their mango sorbet was amazing.

So what the secret of the sorbet? A scoop of sweet sticky rice a the bottom. I never would have guess that worked so well together. I wonder if I could just order that alone next time…

8. Mr. Fongs (in Foster City) - The draw to this place is their deep fried crab. They use a batter very similar to Golden Kabocha Fries from Zen Peninsula. I think the batter at Zen’s is better, but I can see a crab fan liking this dish a lot.

It’s good to get to all these places before I leave. But it really feels like two months of eating compressed into a week. Thank goodness I can go to the gym everyday while I’m not working. However, I’m pretty sure I’d fail a cholesterol test right now.

~ by esleavings on August 18, 2007.