I recently had an early dinner here with a group of friends. What I realized after we left was that we all had a great time and the setting is beautiful, but the food and service definitely fell short (which in this case, did not translate into an unpleasant overall experience despite the pitfalls).

As is usually the case, the appetizers were all far more exciting than the entrees. I think the problem is obvious: when creating an entree, a chef feels like he needs to have a protein, a veg and probably a starch. Where as with appetizer, the freedom and creativity isn't hampered by some unspoken rule about what should be in an entree.

That being said, we started with the famous mozzarella al minuto (which by the way, is rightfully famous). A big, gooey ball of cheese covered in some slightly green olive oil and served with some garlicky toasted. Simple and perfect. And when everything was said and done, it was the one dish we were all still talking about (I actually wish I would have ordered it for dessert as well).

Other apps included the fritto misto (I loved the fried lemons, very refreshing and anytime a shrimp head is left on I'm happy) and the pizza with white sauce, broccili rabe, ricotta and chili oil, which was good, but could have been exponentially better if they actually put the chili oil on the pizza. It would have helped cut through the richness. Still, both apps were a good starting point.

When I asked our waiter what her favorite pasta was, she stated that the rabbit pasta is the one they are most famous. I immediately said yes please. Any opportunity to dine on a bouncy, furry critter is to tempting to pass up. That being said, I wished I would have passed.

The rabbit ragu with sage pasta was a very one note dish, overly salty and the homemade sage pasta didn't taste like sage at all. And regarding the bouncy critters in the dish- they could have braised short ribs and spared the furry guys and the flavor would be almost identical (plus a lot more practical, economic, etc). The mushrooms, rabbit and sauce was incredibly rich and earthy, which is fine, but I thought it needed some contrast (maybe some of that chili oil they forgot on my pizza would have helped).

The other entree I tried was the spicy wood oven crab. On that crustacean they definitely remembered the chilis. It was too spicy for two of the diners at the table, which worked out well because I could steal a leg or two. The crab overall was nicely done, but the heat might have been a bit over powering for some.

For desserts: bread pudding and chocolate cake. I am a sucker for bread pudding and when I saw the menu, the decision was made instantly. What I didn't read was that it was made with Pantenone bread, which is a very close cousin to fruit cake (which I loathe). Still the ice cream was good, I just couldn't get past the chewy fruits and bits of nuts that were hiding out in the pudding, waiting to assault my taste buds and jaw muscles. The chocolate cake was more like a mousse was also unimpressive and didn't get finished (again a one note dish with the saving grace being the 4 little raspberries on top).

When it came to our server, she was friendly enough, but failed to take care of the details. We brought a few bottles of our own wine- each time the server would open one, pour and that was it. Never followed up on the empty glasses. Easy to fix, we simply passed the bottles around ourselves and poured, but it was a slightly annoying detail. That being said, the guy filling our waters and clearing our plates was spot on. I drink like a camel and that water glass never got below half full so props to him.

Overall, the evening was nice, but the little things started to add up and anything above a 3 star rating wouldn't be deserved. I'm definitely willing to go back and give Tra Vigne another try... if for nothing else, that gorgeously gooey mozzarella.

It's so nice being able to blow by The Tides and Lucas Wharf, knowing that good food awaits you just around the bend.

On a sleepy Sunday, my wife, dog and I took a drive up the coast. Before we left, a quick Yelp search on the iPhone turned up the the Terrapin Cafe. After missing the turn off for the cafe from the main highway twice, I finally found this hidden treasure tucked away next to a few art galleries and a bait shop.

Having a small dog with you and eating out isn't always the easiest thing, but I opened the front door and was greeted by the friendly owners and a quaint warm interior. It was a beautiful day and we sat outside on the weathered patio. The service was spot on, with my coffee never getting below the 1/3 mark (and it was good Taylor Maid coffee as well).


The food was a refreshing detour from the typical "Coastal chow" of clam chowder and fried fish. We shared the crab cake salad and seafood stew, along with some bread and good olive oil. The crab cakes were all crab, no filler and the salad was light and fresh tasting and not overdressed. Our seafood stew was filled with salmon and shellfish and a broth flavored with garlic, fennel and braised tomatoes. We used every last piece of bread to clean that bowl. This is what "Coastal chow" should taste like.

For dessert, we settled on the carrot cake. It was light, yet had a crispy texture to the top. The cream cheese was almost like a whipped cream cheese and was airy and fluffy and not over powering.


The owners were incredibly attentive, even bringing water for our dog. And even though we were there late for lunch, they didn't rush us out (they close at 2:30pm, we didn't finish until about 3pm). I'd almost considering making the hour drive out to the coast if for nothing else, to try dinner here. The menu might be small, but the fresh, quality ingredients are expertly prepared and the warm, friendly setting make this a place worth visiting. I'll definitely be back.

If you're in the Fisherman's Wharf area and want to avoid the tourist traps and overpriced "seafood", then Crab Station #2 might be the perfect stop. Nestled in between a few other food stalls, down the street from the Boudin Bakery and parking lot, this gem serves up some tasty clam chowder (which I think is served in a Boudin bread bowl) for only $5.50, which is almost half the price of the other restaurants around.

It doesn't stop with the chowder though. Order up a whole crab (I got two last time for $12 & $13 each) and watch the master cracker break down your freshly steamed crab, then assemble it all on a plate for you with some lemons, a zesty, horseradish laden cocktail sauce and a crapload of napkins.


The crabs tasted amazing and if you have any bread left from the bread bowl, use it to mop up the tasty roe that's left pooled up in your crab shell.

For me, this is what SF seafood on the wharf is all about. Another great thing about this place is that you might be lucky enough to find a table or some chairs inside their restaurant (which is pretty cozy).



The best seat in the house is the counter on the window facing out towards the street and the stalls. From there you can pig out on crab, listen to the constant cracking sound of crab shells being artfully broken and watch the pigeons greedily eyeballing the tourists food.

Service here was speedy, even though it was packed and more importantly, everyone seemed to be enjoying their food.

Well worth a visit if you're near the wharf.

Tucked away behind a green and white door lies a cozy, little Italian place- Tomasso. The restaurant consists of 4-5 wooden booths on each side of the restaurants and some tightly packed tables running up the middle. This place was overflowing with people trying to get a table and while the "wait area" felt more like a cattle call, it almost added to the anticipation of the meal. It was obvious that people are excited about this place.

Dinner started off with some simple dinner salads, which were surprisingly good. After devouring those, along with some of the excellent bread left at the table, the mains began arriving...

Raviolis with Meat Balls- I don't how to describe these, other than they taste seriously old-fashion, in a good way. Imagine Grandma in the kitchen making raviolis and you'll have the idea.

Lasagna-it was good... but... didn't knock my socks off, simply tasted like a decent, classic lasagna.

Seafood pasta w/ linguine- hands down the favorite at the table. Normally, I never order seafood pasta because the seafood is consistently over cooked at other restaurants, not the case here. The seafood was perfectly cooked, the sauce was spicy and not overpowering and the pasta was perfectly al dente. One of the best dishes I had all weekend (and I ate a lot that weekend).

Pizza w/ rosemary ham and leeks- unfortunately, no one at the table was that impressed with it. The crust was crisp like I normally like and it seemed as if there was too much cheese, which weighed down the pizza. Definitely not the best pie I've had.

On the flip side, the service, atmosphere and energy of this place was spot on. If you're looking for some solid Italian eats in the seedy part of SF, it's well worth a visit.

Vegans Beware- Salted, Cured and Really Friggin Tasty Pig Parts is the name of the game in this meat factory. Tucked away in the SF Ferry Building lies a piece carnivore heaven- Boccalone. This artisan salume shop is a perfect fit for the Ferry Building, where good cheese and bread is a stones throw away. All the salami I tried was fatty, distinctly flavored and delicious. Plus, the dude who came up with idea of a piggy filled meat cone should be given a Nobel Peace Prize. I'd take that over an ice cream cone any day (unless maybe it was bacon ice cream)... Service here was friendly and fast and for $3.50 you can try 3 different salamis. If only I lived closer...

First off, if you haven't seen the movie Once a Upon a Time in Mexico, watch it. The star of the movie isn't Johnny Depp or Antonio Banderas. It's a tasty dish called Puerco Pibil (or cochinita pibil). Ever since watching that movie I've been doing two things- 1. Making it regularly. 2. Trying to find somewhere locally that makes it so I don't have too, cause truthfully, it's kind of a pain in the ass (and if you're still wondering what this meaty delight is... watch the movie).

On a lazy Saturday while my wife did some shopping in Coddingtown, I found the perfect excuse to slip away for 20 minutes and check out Taco Max, owned by an incredibly friendly Arturo, who previously owned a Miami restaurant (check out his cubano torta). I was on a mission for some slow roasted pibil and he delivered. Three beautiful tacos topped with pickled red onions and cilantro, served with rice and beans. In my opinion, hands down the best mall food you're going to find. Normally, I avoid malls at all costs, especially the dismal crap that they try and pass off as food in the typical food court.

But this isn't typical mall food and it beats the 4 hours of prep and cook time to make cochinita pibil... the only thing I'll miss is the amazing way my house smells after hours of roasting achiote coated pork. The one thing I won't miss- the burning sensation when I pull my contact lenses out at night, forgetting the fact that I had handled habaneros early in the day. Not so cool. If you're a fan of tender, tasty pork bits, make a trip to the mall and hit up Taco Max (a generic name, not so generic food).

For one reason or another I've waited over a month to write this review. Maybe it's taken me that long to find the words that appropriately define the amazing experience there. Maybe it's taken me that long to remember the copious amount of food that I ate. Maybe it's because I'm afraid that whatever the hell I write here won't do this place justice. And trust me, it won't.

After a week long cruise to Alaska, stuffing myself with mediocre cruise food and watery drinks I was looking forward to spending my last night in Seattle at Crush. Having spent hours reading reviews on various Seattle restaurants, we decided on Crush (it was also one of the few restaurants open on Sunday, July 5th).

We arrived at what appeared to be an unassuming house. Upon entering, we were wowed by the minimalistic white interior and a beautiful bar that overlooks an open kitchen. It was a beautiful Seattle night, so we opted to sit outside on their patio. After perusing the menu, we opted to put ourselves in the capable hands of the kitchen staff. They had a 4 course tasting menu that we went for. And since I'm not a sweet person, I was able to sub my dessert for another savory dish (the servers were great all night).

We both started with a signature cocktail. I had a cucumber vodka concoction and the missus had a strawberry brandy something or other (it's been almost a month so I don't remember the drink details). Both were refreshing and there was an element of finesse to them.

A small bowl of "bread" started the food avalanche. It was actually more like an amuse bouche of cheese puff pastry. Incredibly light and tasty. Then a spoonful of tartare topped with caviar and foam was brought out. At this point, I knew that if this continued we were in for a good night.

What followed was plate after plate of O face inducing food-

1st courses- Japanese Hamachi Crudo Spiced Asian Pear- fresh, clean tasting fish, Ginger & Carrot; Asparagus Soup with Jumbo Crab- very nice soup with a pile of beautiful crab.

2nd courses- Maine Lobster Gnocchi Lobster Coral Butter, Tahitian Vanilla & Tangerine- buttery, soft pillows of potatoes, the flavor combination's for the sauce was also interesting; Grilled Calamari on a Bed of Chorizo and Onion- amazing! Sous vide calamari that was quickly seared. Incredibly tender. And the spicy chorizo and onions was the perfect condiment. The herbaceous green sauce that everything was sitting on rounded out the dish.

3rd courses- Handcut Tagliatelle Pasta & Caviar Sauce Sea Urchin Roe & Quail Egg- one of my favorite dishes that night. Sea urchin, a runny quail egg and caviar... seriously?! I'm so glad I replaced dessert with this dish. Amazing ocean flavor from the sea urchin, then a textural pop from the caviar and that silky yoke from the egg. This might be the perfect pasta dish. Very inspiring.; Sea Scallop on Caramelized Onion Risotto- nicely seared scallop, although slightly to brown on top and a little overcooked. Risotto was nice.

4th course- Glazed Painted Hills Short Rib Potato Gratin, White Corn Grits & Truffle Pistou- I had to continually whack my wife's fork away from my plate... like a pesky fly, she couldn't get enough of these short ribs and rightfully so. Fork tender, sous vide for 24 hours and painted with a dark, rich glaze and dotted with truffle oil... Simple, yet perfect. ; Wild Sockeye with English Peas- nicely cooked and I loved that they kept the skin on. A very light dish in contrast to the short ribs. And it's like a movie opening the same weekend as Titanic... it was hard to pay attention to the fish with those short ribs sitting next to them.

Dessert- Strawberry Tiramasu (I think... I was in a certifiable food coma at this point). I remember the bite I had being pretty good... for a dessert.

The night ended on a perfect note with us sitting inside at the bar, sipping another amazing cocktail, from the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable bartender, and watching the chefs diligently performing their craft. I wish we had another day in Seattle, if for nothing else, to simply eat here again.

That dinner at Crush embodies everything that a good dining experience should be. Perfect, friendly service that is neither pretentious or pushy. Beautiful ambiance in a setting that closely mimics the food. And a kitchen staff that knows how to deliver course after course of memorable, simple, yet delicious food. Having lived in "Wine Country" my whole life, I've ate at some impressive restaurants , but the culmination of the food, service and setting at Crush eclipse them all. One of the best meals of my life.

And knowing that I can hop on a Horizon flight out of Santa Rosa and be sitting on that beautiful patio in a matter of 90 minutes... An awfully tempting proposition. And a trip well worth it. Check out the video below for some pics.