The first VT SF Dine about Town gathering and other San Francisco, CA Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Cafe Jacqueline

Geisha_Girl comes up with yet another fun activity to bring together members of the San Francisco Bay Area VT gang: The Dine About Town gathering!

To see more pictures of this innaugural gathering, go here: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/33764/#TL

Favorite Dish: To keep up on Dine About Town activities, follow this link:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/56c6c/

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Cafe Jacqueline

Scrumptious souffles made by Jacqueline alone. A tiny little restaurant that you'll miss if you're not looking for it carefully. Jacqueline is the only chef and makes every souffle to order. Walk through the kitchen to see just how supremely tiny it is, and to see the largest bowl of eggs you've ever imagined.

For a first course you can choose from a variety of salads, soups and escargot. Onion soup is always on the menu, and the night we were there, a choice of sweet pepper soup was also available. Salads include butter lettuce, tomato and herb, two spinach salad choices, watercress and, of course, endive.

For an entree you can choose between a variety of savory souffles, including: gruyere (of course), prosciutto and mushroom, brie and broccoli, spinach, white corn and ginger, and more. Entree souffles are advertised to serve two. However on the night we were there we had 11 people and 4 entree souffle were enough for the group of us.

For a dessert you have a choice of a variety of sweet souffles. Choices include (and we tried nearly all) grand marnier, chocolate, white chocolate and fruit souffles from in season fruits. The night we were there we had 5 dessert souffles to share between the 11 of us. Oh my goodness, but it's difficult to pick a favorite between them all.

Favorite Dish: I just can't pick a favorite. Everything was absolutely delicious. Perfect souffle.

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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 981-5565
Address: 1454 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
Directions: North Beach
Website: http://bayarea.citysearch.com/profile/917687/

Restaurant Name: Cafe Jacqueline

Wow, what a hit! We had two grand marnier souffles for the table and they were devoured. Exactly how one should taste. Mmmm.

Favorite Dish: I think my favorite was the ham and cheese souffle. Mmmm.

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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Directions: North Beach

Restaurant Name: Cafe Jacqueline

Like a warm chocolate river. Mmmm. You know this one didn't last very long.


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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Directions: North Beach

Restaurant Name: Momo's

This is the bar to visit before and after a Giants game at Pac Bell Park. Before the game they've got bars set up on the patio, out front, and the place is PACKED. Mark and Jackie got me to drink a beer (not my choice), but when I nursed it too long, they got me a double shot of tequila. Okayyyyyy then!!

Favorite Dish: Cocktails! I mean, I smelled food, and I'm sure they serve it... but... that wasn't on our agenda on this visit. The lure of garlic fries upon entry to Pac Bell Park was too strong. We couldn't ruin our appetites with anything so mundane as a sandwich. ;-)

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average

Phone: (415) 227-8660
Address: 760 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Directions: Across the street from Pac Bell Park
Website: http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/880054
Other Contact: Fax: (415) 227-8693

Restaurant Name: Vicolo

The first time I came here, a friend brought me after a San Francisco Symphony Performance. It's a short walk from Davies Symphony Hall, and if you don't have to worry about parking, it's perfect for a quick bite before or after a performance.

Deepdish, cornbread crust, filled with all kinds of tasty things. They use only the freshest ingredients, for instance, sweet corn from that morning's farmer's market.

Prices: $3.75-$4.25/slice; $18.50-$22/pie

Favorite Dish: This is definitely not your standard, run of the mill pizza place. I don't know if you can even get a pepperoni pizza. It's more California Cuisine pizza... but very delicious.

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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 863-2382
Address: 201 Ivy Street, San Francisco
Directions: On a tiny alley (Ivy), just a couple blocks South West of Davies Symphony Hall.
Website: http://shorterlink.com/?DYN1U0

Restaurant Name: Nirvana Restaurant

All kinds of Asian flavors with lots of noodle dishes. With the noodle dishes, you can choose whether you want ramen, udon or vermicelli. All the food is GREAT, but do NOT overlook their specialty cocktails. Expensive (~$8.50 each), but DELICIOUS.

Favorite Dish: While my Malaysian chicken and veggie curry over udon noodles was lip smacking good, I have to rave about the Nirvana Flurry cocktail. Stoli vanilla, banana and chocolate liquers, blended with vanilla ice cream and served in a chocolate syrup streaked martini glass. A delicious banana chocolate shake that packs a punch. Yum!

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 861-2226
Address: 544 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA
Directions: The heart of the Castro
Website: http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/review/899051/?cslink=cs_profile_tabs_user_review
Other Contact: Fax: (415) 863-2221

Restaurant Name: Cha-Cha-Cha

Delicious cuisine from the Caribbean, Cuba and South America. Check out the roasted potatoes and the calimari! Food is ordered tapas style, to be shared with everyone at the table. Thus, the more people you bring, the more tasty tidbits you get to try.

And hey -- go for the sangria as well -- deeeelicious. They don't take reservations and it seems there's always a wait. If you can wait inside, you can forget about waiting while you down a pitcher or two of the sangria. Mmmm


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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 386-5758
Address: 1801 Haight St, San Francisco, CA
Directions: In the Haight, closer towards Golden Gate Park.
Website: http://chachacha.citysearch.com/

Restaurant Name: Ton Kiang

This is simply the best Chinese restaurant I know, bar none. The first time I visited, our family was the only group of caucasians there, which is always a good sign... They serve dim sum anytime, but at night you simply order from the menu. It's so much more fun to be there during the day, when the waitresses and waiters are circulating all kinds of delicacies.

If you're looking for something more substantial than dim sum, never fear -- their menu is extensive. The only thing I've ever had there that was simply "fine," was chicken chow mein, and honestly, who really cares about chicken chow mein?

If you're feeling adventerous and up for a huge meal with friends, order one of their banquets. Because of them, I now know what jellyfish salad (yum) and sea cucumbers (ick) taste like. I once had my choice of turtle soup or tapioca & coconut soup as the banquet dessert, and opted for the tapioca... which was delicious... I wasn't ready to eat turtle soup.

Favorite Dish: It's never on the menu, but if the waiter recommends the fresh steamed prawns, DO IT. I don't even know what they cost, but oh my GOD are they amazing tasting. Sweet, hot, fresh and delicious. My favorite veggie dish is pea tips sauteed with garlic. A meal isn't complete without their mango pudding with condensed milk.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415)752-4440
Address: 5821 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94121
Directions: Geary @ 22nd Avenue, South side of the street.
Website: http://tonkiang.com/

Restaurant Name: Thirsty Bear

Tasty cocktails, beer and tapas in a large, well laid out and comfy restaurant and bar. This bar/restaurant played host to a going away party for VT member scuba_girl, the night before she moved to Boston... People seemed happy with the Spanish cheese and port reduction with grilled grapes, paella, meat balls with two tasty dipping sauces, and most of all, the beer.

Favorite Dish: I especially enjoyed the meatballs. While they sounded good, the almonds fried with sea salt and paprika tasted overcooked and not all that good. The squid in the paella was tender and perfectly cooked, but the one clam I ate tasted a bit like chlorine. Ick.

But everyone liked the beer!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 974-0905
Address: 661 Howard Street
Directions: Between 3rd Street and Hawthorne Lane, on the South side of Howard Street.
Website: http://www.thirstybear.com/