River.. slide

Ok, sorry for the cheesy title. But I know we haven't added anything for awhile (I'm blaming it on the economy--Jen that's 5 points!) and I'm trying to draw you back.

Jen and I went to Riverside last night after a long and exhausting (and boring, sorry JJ) night at Elk Grove Toyota. We couldn't decide where to go, and it seemed fitting.

Fitting for what, I'm not sure. The food is yummy. Jen swears by the sirloin dip, and my salmon risotto was pretty good. The risotto didn't compare to homemade, but it was satisfying. And the salmon was excellent.

But as you faithful readers know, just food doesn't cut it. We want service! Service is something you don't get when you sit at the bar. It's sad but true. The bartender (and we've had the fortune of dealing with him at least twice) likes to ignore us. He also likes to blame his inattentive service on the busy bar. Which is fine, but we look around the bar and hear... crickets. It's dead. I've been at Round Corner and seen the bartender balancing more drink and food orders than this guy.

I hate to be a kill-joy. I know the Riverside is cool. And I will always go there, if for no other reason then it's around the corner from a good friend's house. But I will always pull out my cell phone and calculate a 12% tip for the bartender. And that's just sad.

Pizza Pizza!

It's no secret that I love pizza! I love it! I could eat probably it every day. It's been that way since I was little. I was the pizza kid and my sister liked fried chicken. We've always been different that way.

I've also found that people are passionate about their pizza. You've got your New York style, your deep dish, your fancy schmancy gourmet, your take and bake. I could go on and on. And although I'm partial to New Haven style, I will eat pretty much all of them.

Last week, Nancy and I sat down at Masullo Pizza on Riverside Drive. There's not much signage - or light at night - so it can be hard to see from the street. The restaurant is an open space with tables for two and larger family-style tables. We each ordered a small salad and split a pizza. Mine was a mixed green salad with prosciutto, tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette and served with two generous wedges of flat bread. Our pizza (the name escapes me and it's not on their online menu) was toped with tomato, spinach, green olives, red onion, feta and capers. This pizza is in the Neapolitan style, which has a thin crust prepared by hand (not with a rolling pin). I'd say it was crispy and tender at the same time.

The toppings were excellent, with the right balance between the salty ingredients and the sweetness of the tomatoes. The toppings compliment the crust, rather than the crust serving as merely a vessel for them. If you prefer a pizza that's piled high with toppings, this might not be the pie for you. However, I really enjoyed it and even had a slice leftover for lunch the next day!

There were lots of yummy sounding options to choose from in both vegetarian and meaty options. Their menu changes seasonally based on available ingredients so I'll definitely go back to try another variety.

As for value, our salads were about $6 each and the pizza was $12. Not a bad price for a dinner for two! The restaurant isn't open for lunch.

Blue Cue Happy Hour

I used to go to the Blue Cue quite a bit when I was about 21. For some reason I thought it was the "cool" downtown bar. (Ok, before you make fun of me, remember that I grew up in the 'burbs and was living in the Bay Area at the time. I thought all Sac bars were like that.) Anyway, I hadn't been for years, even though now I live a few blocks away and frequent other bars on the street. I've been twice in the past month, and I have to say, the recent renovations were a definite improvement. The bar looks sleeker, less cheesy, and the clientele is a little less cheesy as well. Other than the abnormally small chandeliers around the perimeter and the television set to "Deal or No Deal" it was a pretty cool place to grab a drink and chat with friends. They also have a pretty cool happy hour:
$2 Shoestring Potatoes
$2.5 Draft Beer
$3 Grilled chicken and pineapple skewers, Hot wings w/bleu cheese dip, import draft beer and well cocktails
$4 BBQ Spare Ribs with hoisin-honey glaze, Red Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon, Sterling Chardonnay
$5 Pepperoni Pizza

Speaking of Lunch Deals...

A few years back there was a sushi restaurant on the corner of S and 18th. I don't remember what it was called (I am sure somebody out there does). I remember it being good, but then it was gone and now it's Ju Hachi by Taka (was Taka the name of the place??).

Stacy and I hit Ju Hachi for lunch today and I wanted to pass on their lunch specials. I was originally going for sushi, but their menu was too good to pass up. For $8 you can choose one of the following items, along with soup, salad and rice, and for $11.50 you can choose two items.

• Tempura (shrimp and vegetables)
  
• Chicken Teriyaki
• Sesame Chicken
• Spicy Chicken Teriyaki
• Chicken Katsu
• Beef Teriyaki
• Sushi (five pieces, chef's choice)
• Sashimi (five pieces, chef's choice)
• BBQ Albacore
• BBQ Salmon

I had the BBQ albacore and the sesame chicken while Stacy had the same BBQ and the tempura. The portions were huge -- I really was shocked by the size of my albacore portion! Both my items were great and Stacy liked hers too. We were both stuffed for $12 each!

The dinner menu looks good too and I definitely want to go back and try some sushi!

$10 Lunch Specials

I just got an email from Spataro announcing new $10 daily lunch specials (all of which are served with a cup of soup):

Monday
Spaghetti and Meatballs - San Marzano tomato sauce, Parmesan

Tuesday
Chicken Parmigiana - Fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, sauteed spinach

Wednesday
House Made Ravioli - Stuffed with ricotta, herbs, fresh tomato-basil sauce

Thursday
Pork Milanese - Lemon, arugula, roasted potatoes

Friday
Lasagna - House Made Italian sausage, spinach, mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce

Updates!

Our crack R & D team (Sheri Madsen) has been hitting some new happy hours and her research has led to some updates on the Happy Hour Quick List. Check it out!

http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html

Meal of the Week

I've had some good food this week. Marla took me out for my birthday on Tuesday and I took advantage of a free meal and went to 58 Degrees, where I can never afford the food. This is what we ordered and DAMN it was good:

Chicken Misto al Tartufo with prosciutto, white truffle pan sauce, and a warm Lebanese cous cous salad.

I can't even describe it, it was so good. If you're feeling flush, this is the meal to get. Perfect with a glass of Ken Forrester “Petit” Chenin Blanc.

Thanks, Marla!

Boon Boon Cafe

It's early and I haven't finished my coffee, so sorry for the unoriginal title.

Anyway, it doesn't need anything fancy because this place is GOOD. Jen and I couldn't come up with any remotely interesting dinner ideas the other night when neither of us felt like cooking after too many vodka sodas at the Tallac Lounge, so we decided to try the Boon Boon. I drive by it every day on my to and from work and it's also super close to Jen's house in TP.

What a great, pleasant surprise! The food was so incredibly good and the service was fantastic. Our server/owner (we're not sure, but making an assumption because she kept calling the restaurant "hers" so she either owns it or takes incredible ownership of it, both of which are a good thing) was incredibly knowledgeable about the food. She gave us the picture menu, which I always think is a funny thing about Asian restaurants, but also incredibly appreciated when you can't decide. Jen and I ordered the Chicken Satay appetizer, Chicken Green Curry and Spicy Shrimp. The Chicken Satay was perfectly grilled, the peanut sauce tasting homemade and not at all like peanut butter, the green curry perfectly light and just the right amount of heat, and the spicy shrimp perfectly cooked with all the vegetables. Our ginger tea was delicious and the perfect accompaniment.

I went back for lunch last week when I couldn't think of anything better to eat. I had the Tom Kha Gai (coconut milk soup) and the Yakitori appetizer. I wasn't as impressed by the Yakitori as the Chicken Satay. The chicken tasted a bit like it was on the grill for too long, but the teriyaki sauce was excellent. I usually stay away from teriyaki because I don't like the sticky sweetness of it, but this was a perfect balance of everything. The soup, however, was FABULOUS. I think I've talked about it every day since. It was a perfect balance of spicy and sweet, creamy without being heavy, with perfect little mushrooms, tender strips of chicken, and crunchy onion strips. YUM. I could eat this every day of my life.

The ambiance could use some warming up, but I think that's more because it's been relatively empty every time I've eaten here. The music is always interesting (when I was there for lunch it was some rockin' random jazz that was pretty cool). They're applying for a liquor license, which will probably help with the crowd, but honestly (and I can't believe I'm going to say this) they don't need it. They also have free delivery within 4 miles--hurray for those of us in TP, LP and Midtown!

One thing--there's a lot of talk on the Yelp reviews about it being in the "heart" of Oak Park. Anybody from the center city neighborhoods knows Stockton and Broadway is NOT the heart of Oak Park. It's not the greatest neighborhood, but hardly the worst ghetto either. And the location should not keep you away from the Boon Boon, the food is way too good for that.

Oh--and I almost forgot--it's cheap!! Jen and I spent $25 on dinner and I spent $10 on lunch with tip.

You can find Boon Boon on the south west corner of the Stockton and Broadway intersection, behind the Subway, or on the web at www.boonbooncafe.com. I highly recommend you try it.

More Updates!

Sofia on 11th has some pretty stellar happy hour specials Marla would like me to share:

"Madness Mondays" - $2 draft, wells and sliders
"Two Dollar Tuesdays" - $2 draft hefeweizen
"Wine Wednesdays" - $4 wine & $4 cheese plates
"Three Dollar Thursdays" - $3 martinis
"Fat-Ass Fridays" - 1/2 off all appetizers (begs the question, do they call it that because you eat twice as much?)

I haven't been, but Marla said it's great and the bruschetta is delish!

Bottoms Up!

Bargains from the Bee

This morning's Sacramento Bee had an interesting story about where to find "meal deals" in the Sacramento area, including $1 handrolls, $1 tacos and free filet mignon!

http://www.sacbee.com/172/story/1208617.html

A Few Happy Hour Updates

In these tough economic times, happy hour specials are more important than ever!

The 4th Street Grille has happy hour from 11:00am to 7:00pm, Monday through Friday and from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Saturdays. There are a bunch of appetizers for $5.95: potstickers, calamari, seared ahi, grilled artichokes, shrimp quesadilla, pulled pork quesadilla, garlic fries and boneless buffalo wings. Macaroni & cheese, ribs and sliders are $7.95. As for the drinks, there's quite a variety to choose from:

• $3 draft beer
• $5 house wine
• $4 well drinks
• $5 cal drinks
• $4 kamikaze shots
• $5 Tuaca shots

Earlier this month when I was singing the praises of small plates, I mentioned Lucca has added a happy hour. Here's the scoop. It runs from 2:00 to 6:00 EVERY DAY. There are a variety of small plates in the $3 to $5 range, including zucchini chips, bruschetta, grilled artichokes, fries and flatbread. The alcohol specials include:

• $3 house wine
• $3.15 draft beers
• $3.30 Grid Gulch Sour Squishy
• $3.45 Mojito
• $4 Cosmo
• $4.15 Cherry Surprise
• $4.30 Blue Goose
• $4.45 Martinis

I Love Small Plates

For some reason it makes me really happy when restaurants offer small plates. I love the change to try a couple of things and share with friends. Maybe it's my Mediterranean blood.

There's always been Tapa the World - the very definition of small plates. It's nice to see that they're catching on at other restaurants.

Earlier this week, Carmen and I stopped into Lucca for a glass of wine. We were both pleased to see that they have Happy Hour every day (yes, that means weekends!) and a small plate menu at the bar. There were lots of yummy sounding options -- beef carpaccio, flatbread with hummus, bruschetta, etc. We opted to split the spicy Greek style shrimp with feta and fresh basil. It was served with grilled olive bread. There was just enough spice to make it exciting, but not hot, and the fresh basil made my tastebuds very happy! The best thing was, it was just the right amount of food -- not too big, not too small. Carmen promises to blog more about the happy hour specials in a future post.

Last week, I went to see Sweeney Todd at the Music Circus. I'd had a rather large, late lunch so when we sat down at Michelangelo for dinner I was worried I'd be too full for one of their delicious dinners. Imagine my glee when the waitress set down their new small plate menu! There were several dishes that sounded great. I had the fresh spinach and ricotta ravioli with sage butter. Carmen had tiger prawns with capers and something else (note to self: take notes). My ravioli were light pillows that oozed freshness. The spinach wasn't wilted and the pasta wasn't the least bit heavy. Paired with a baked goat cheese salad and a glass of wine, this was the perfect light meal for a summer night.

This morning, I was flipping through Sactown's latest issue and came across an ad for Mason's. They're introducing a new small plate menu, which will be served daily from 5:00 to 9:00. Menu items include brushetta, vegetable frito misto, swordfish brochettes, spicy fish tcos, BBQ ribs, crab wontons and mini mac & cheese. I'm definitely going to check this out... especially during their half-price introductory week from August 18 to 24.

Wine Wednesday

Brew it Up has a new special that might be worth a mention. They call it Wine Wednesday and from 4:00 to 6:00 you can get up to 60% off selected wines.

Also, their happy hour is every day from 4:00 to 6:00 and from 10:00 to close, Thursday to Saturday. Specials include $1 off drafts, house wine, classic cocktails and well drinks. Selected appetizers are $3.

'Aura'ble Service

Apparently there isn't a bad pun I won't try!

Anyway... there once was the Black Pearl and then there was Gianni's. Now there's a brown suede restaurant and bar called Aura that has opened up between Centro and GV Hurley's on that coveted strip on J Street. According to the sign out front their grand opening was to be July 19th, but my friend and I wandered in on July 18th to check it out.

We're not going back.

When I arrived 10 minutes late, Nancy was sitting at a table in the bar. She had already ordered a glass of Pinot Noir that hadn't arrived. They couldn't find the bottle so the waitress offered her a big apology and a Pinot Grigio instead. Nancy said she'd wait and see if they found the bottle.

Finally we have our wines and are deep in chit chat. They bring over a basket lightly toasted white bread -- French perhaps -- and some dipping sauce. We'd each had a slice when the busser asked if he could take it out of our way. Since there were four slices left we said we were still working on it.

We talked for a while and decided to order. I tried to ignore the misspellings on the menu. There are a couple of appetizers, a couple of salads, a few entrees and two desserts. None of the items had descriptions, just names, so we asked the waitress what was on the Chopped Salad. She had to go check with the kitchen. Nancy liked the sound of it and ordered it with grilled chicken. I opted for the seared ahi brushetta with humus (sic). Our order took a really long time. I don't know how long because Nancy is a great conversationalist -- but mine was virtually raw and she had salad -- so the holdup didn't make sense. When it did come out, I am shocked at the size of Nancy's salad. I know I'm not at Buca de Beppo and I know we Americans' portions are too big but if there was a cup of salad in the enormous bowl I would be surprised. Plus, her $2 chicken add-on was three slices off a grilled chicken breast. The salad was more than $12 so I expected more. Oh... and it was the wrong salad. After all that, they brought her the California Salad (roughly three slices of avocado and three slices of tomato). The waitress came back with more genuine apologies and fixed the order. It was another 10 minutes or more till the right salad came back. It didn't get any bigger though.

My ahi was OK -- not great. It was that same white bread from the basket with hummus and a fairly generous portion of tuna. It just didn't have much flavor.

Midway through our meal -- we both have food on our plates -- the busser came back and asked if he could clear them. When we said that we were still eating, he asked if he could take the wine glasses. Both had several sips left in them. I wonder if all their plates and glassware wasn't making it's debut till the grand opening.

At this point the place, which was almost empty when we arrived at 8:30, was packed and loud in the bar area. the restaurant side still seemed sparsely populated. A annoying addition to the crowd was a trio of Don Julio tequila girls trying to tempt us with shots. We passed.

After what seemed like forever, the waitress brought our check. She was thoughtful enough to comp the salad, but still charged us for the chicken. We were also charged the wrong prices for our wines. It had taken so long to get the check and frankly we just wanted to leave so I didn't haggle and decided to eat the few dollars. We each gave a credit card and asked her to split the $50 check down the middle. Many minutes later she comes back with our cards -- both charged with $44.07. Now I'm no math whiz but $44.07 times 2 does not equal $50. It took another lifetime to get that corrected. The manager came over with more apologies and our revised credit card slips. She asked if everything else was OK during the meal and we gave an unenthusiastic "sort of" as a reply. She bounded off with a "that's great! we'll see you soon!"

No, she won't. I would say don't go at all unless you like a lot of apologies with your lettuce.

No Paradise Here

I found myself in Placer County last night. And while most know my distaste of all things Roseville, when I go to visit friends and family in the 'burbs, Roseville is usually the only place to go for food. I've had some good experiences (Blue Nami) and some really bad ones. Unfortunately, last night was a really bad one.

I've heard of Paradise Grill before, but never been. I like Paradise, I like grills, and we were looking for something fairly inexpensive. Should have been perfect. Paradise, even. No such luck.

We sat in the bar and waited for well over 15 minutes before anyone talked to us. But there were lots of servers around, but the two female bartenders (one in training) were too busy flirting with the table full of men behind us. When we were actually helped, it was strange service. Sort of on the uncomfortable side--I'm all for friendly service, but please don't call me "babe" or wink at me. That's just strange. (Although explains why the table of men were so happy.) It then took ten more minutes for us to get our drinks. My glass of wine was fine, but Mandy's pina colada was way more pina than colada. Whatever, we weren't expecting island perfection, it's Roseville after all. I did order a glass of water which took an additional ten minutes. Great.

Ten more minutes and they took our order. I ordered the tuna salad... Ok, I should have asked questions about it, but I really didn't want to engage in conversation with my winking bartender and her sidekick. I was expecting something really good when the bartender says, "Oh that's my FAVORITE salad! It's really good!" When it came out it was literally tuna salad, like the kind you make at home with mayo and all that, and I was expecting sliced tuna steak like the tuna in their appetizers. I actually make better salads at home. This was the lettuce mix from the bag (you know what I mean, the American variety), sliced black olives, peppercinis, shredded cheddar cheese, and half of an avocado. The tuna salad was in a mound in the middle (looked like from an ice-cream scoop) and when I took a scoop found half a tomato underneath it. Ok, whatever. I was more excited about the avocado than anything else, but when I turned it over so the inside was up, it was totally brown. Gross. I still ate it (I was starving) but couldn't believe they were charging nearly ten dollars for it. Mandy had the hibachi chicken sandwich with fries. The fries were nearly cold (though they tasted ok) and the sandwich was so big she could barely fit it in her mouth. But it was all fried onions, not the chicken or bacon.

It took another ten minutes after we were clearly done eating for them to clear our plates and get us our bill. The only time the service was quick was when they ran my credit card--probably in an attempt to get us out of there because we were clearly not pleased. Mandy commented that the bathroom was the best part--but when the bathroom is the highlight of the evening, you know it's bad.

I'll never go back again. The food was mediocre, but the service was slow, and weird. I also have never seen so many men in baseball hats in one restaurant at a time. I was so happy to get back to midtown!!

Throwin' em back

I was never frequented Hangar 17 before, but now that I know their happy hour specials, I can pretty much guarantee that I'll be back more.

They used to only have specials on food, but I guess they were encouraged by the mass amounts of happy hours in the Midtown region (and perhaps by this blog??) to expand their cheap eats and drinks. And they certainly are cheap!

I went on a Thursday night and was pleased to find they they have "Throwback Thursdays" where old timer drinks such as Manhattans, Harvey Wallbangers (what is that, anyway?) and other old school drinks are only $3! That includes martinis, and my current fav, the gimlet. I suggest getting the gimlet over ice, however, because it goes down really well...

They also have beer specials on Tuesdays, and 2-for-1's on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 to 11pm. Check out their website for all their specials at http://www.hangar17bar.biz/specials.html.

New Obsession

Those of you who know me at all know that I love PBS. Especially during the summer, when network television only produces such quality television as "Nashville Star" and "Man's Best Friend," I turn to PBS for quality shows like "Masterpiece Theatre" and "Nova."

But my real obsession is cooking shows. I loved Food Network when I had expanded cable, but, alas, they don't provide that station with basic cable. So I have PBS. And pretty much all day on Saturday it's nothing but cooking shows. (Well, at 9:30am it's Burt Wolf's Travels and Traditions, but really, who can argue with that?)

My favorite, and my reason for telling all of you about this, is Gourmet Magazine's "Diary of a Foodie." For those of us who love food, drink, and travel, it's the perfect television show. They manage to make food and drink both exotic and accesible, fun and informative. And they share great recipies, like today's coconut crusted marshmellows. Yum.

"Diary of a Foodie" is on Saturday mornings on KVIE at 10:30am. You can also check it out online at www.gourmet.com/diaryofafoodie. Check it out!

Bistro Taste on a Fast Food Budget

I love a cheap happy hour. I love it even more when it's posed in a setting that appears to be up-scale, where you can sit next to people in expensive suits and pretend like you're there for the scene, not the cheap drinks.

Bistro 33 in Midtown in that kind of place. As a whole, any of the ever expanding restaurants in the 33rd Street Bistro franchise (They now not only have their Bistro 33 in Midtown and the original on 33rd and Folsom, but one in El Dorado Hills, Davis, Riverside Clubhouse, Suzie Burger in Midtown and the new Tre which I have no information on. Ok, I need to take a breath...) offers good food and drinks at a fairly decent price, but it's certainly not the place you think of when you need a cheap drink. The other night my friend Yelena and I stopped for a couple of drinks and managed to only spend about $30 with tip between the two of us. For a place that describes itself as "hip, sexy and stylish" (according to the website) that's pretty damn good. Especially when you find out what we had... so here we go: 2 lemon drops, 2 dirty martinis, 1 vodka tonic, 1 dungeness crab and artichoke dip and 1 shrimp "cone" (baby shrimp in a paper cone). We were full and drunk, and I think that should be the goal of any good happy hour.

If you've been there you know the service can be a bit sketchy. Lucky for us we had good service, good drinks, and good food. Selected drinks are no more than $3.50 and selected apps are only $3. Go for the crab dip. Bistro 33 also makes a bitchin' breakfast.

Awful Good

It's not Sacramento and it's not Happy Hour, but it's awful good!

Saturday night in Reno is a lot of fun - at least the parts I can remember were! Any night of drinking should be capped off with a burger as yummy as the Awful Awful from the Little Nugget.

You have to go down an alley to get there but at 3:00a.m. there is a huge crowd so it's nothing to be afraid of. The Awful Awful is made right in front of you -- it's a 1/2 pound burger topped with a special sauce, cheese and veggies. The (generous basket of) fries are amazing! They're seasoned just right with salt, garlic and parsley (I think?). I'm not 100% sure but I think it was about $5 (see paragraph two).

So if you're in Reno looking for the perfect late-night drunk food -- the Awful Awful is hitting the jackpot! Or a Royal Flush! Or 21! You get the picture!

So, Sacramentans... what's your favorite burger?

Happy Hour Updates

The happy hour list is constantly being updated but we can't do it alone! If you know about a happy hour that isn't on the list or see that parts of our list are outdated, please send us a comment so we can have the best list possible!

Cheers!

http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html

New Bar in Town!

You've probably driven by the 3 Fires Lounge and didn't even notice it. Inside the new Marriott hotel, across the street from the Park and kitty corner from the Capital, there's a lot going on in that neighborhood. Jen and I stopped by for a quick drink the other night. They have a literal happy hour--from 5 to 6. But while it's short, the drinks are well priced. Selected red and white wine by the glass for $5, Herradura margies for $4.50 and Infusions (whatever the heck that is--but probably worth a try!) for $3. They also have some tasty looking snacks for around $5. They have other small plates and a full bar if you don't make it there during happy Hour (I feel like it should be capitalized). The bar itself is very beautiful, great ambiance and the bartenders and waiters are very friendly. The clientele looks like they're mostly out-of-towners staying at the hotel, but it's worth a try, especially if you don't want to hit up the Park across the street.

A Cause to drive over the Causeway

My company decided to ship me out to our Davis office for the past two days (thanks, Yelena), and while I was pretty annoyed about the fact that I'd have a drive considerably longer than my usual jaunt down J Street, it actually turned out to be a culinary adventure. Too bad I'm actually supposed to be working most of the time I'm here.

My only previous experiences with Davis cuisine were slices of Woodstock pizza over beer bongs and shots at my best friend's house prior to hitting up a frat party. No surprise, I don't really remember too much about it, except that the pizza was DAMN good. But let's face it, any pizza is good when beer and cheap vodka are involved.

I decided to venture out a little bit, since I'm a little bit older, a little wiser, and a tad bit more sober (I did say "tad"). Also, I'm here during the day, and have to drive back. So no drinking. (Although I will admit, the G Street Pub was calling my name...)

Yelena suggested I try the Farmer's Kitchen Cafe for lunch because they have yummy sandwiches. Also, they specialize in gluten-free products. I'm not going to go into it, but I've recently discovered that I have an intolerance to wheat. (Freaking awesome for a good little Italian girl who loves her pasta, let me tell you!) It's a cute little cafe with a brief menu and has a lot of organic and local items on it. I had a tuna sandwich on gluten free bread. The tuna was really good, while a little messy (apparently whatever they used instead of mayo isn't as sticky). It had great flavor though, and tasted a lot fresher than the kind that you normally get. If you never had gluten free bread, it's a little strange. A little wetter and denser than normal bread. It had good flavor though, and while it was an overall wet meal, was satisfying. The service was a little odd. Yelena had told me about the Jane Goodall type that runs the place (She even has a book on Jane Goodall for customers to read. I almost laughed out loud.) and that she's a little spacey. I waited for my check for over 10 minutes. They seemed to forget about me. Also, they serve you luke-warm water, although they do put a lemon in it. I want to go back and try some of their other gluten free products some time.

Today I wanted Thai Food. After walking around downtown Davis and getting a little lost (only I could get lost in a town that's about 5 square blocks) I found Thai Bistro. They had a great lunch menu and I opted for the Drunken Noodles (I forget the Thai name, but it's number 20). Bright, crisp green beans, yummy onions, tomato and red bell peppers. The chicken was just right--not too tough as it sometimes can be. The sauce was the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. Delish! Could have fed me twice, but I was starving and ate 3/4 of it and just ate the rest... what can I say, it was THAT good!

Jennifer always recommends Sophia for Thai, as does my sales manager who lives in Davis. And there is always Woodstock's. It was amazing to me--there are so many choices for food here! Got to love a college town. I also noticed that Aioli has a restaurant here, as does Bistro 33. But if you're going to come here to eat, I would go for the more adventurous and ethnic choices. There's even a Bohemian restaurant (I'm not sure what they would serve). If you're interested in more food choices for Davis, check out this great website: www.daviswiki.org. They have great reviews, price ranges and recommendations. They'll also tell you where these restaurants are because I can't remember. I got lost in Davis, remember.

A Second Opinion

I'll admit I wasn't wild about GV Hurley's the first time I went. (http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2008/04/gv-hurleys.html) The waiter asked if I wanted a lime twist in my gin and tonic which threw me off from the start. I've been back twice since -- once for drinks and once for dinner -- and my opinion is starting to evolve.

I met friends for a drink on a very busy Second Saturday. Fortunately, there was room at the bar so I had a comfy vantage point from which to enjoy the place. One thing I noticed (granted we sat out front the first time) is that I love the layout. The large circular bar provides the perfect centerpiece to what's happening all around you. It's perfect for a quiet conversation or for a larger group just to hang out and drink. The crowd seemed to be a lot more balanced than on those earlier visits and it wasn't uncommon for barflies to strike up conversations with nearby diners (and vice versa).

On my third trip back I came for dinner. Our server was really attentive and helpful, especially since we were the slowest orderers ever. I hadn't seen my friends in a while and we spent a lot of time talking and not much time looking at the menu. We settled on the calamari and salmon chips for appetizers. The calamari was some of the tenderest I'd ever tasted -- very impressive. The salmon chips were just OK. The dish is basically fish and chips with salmon instead of cod. It's batter is lighter than the traditional dish, which made the aioli that was served with it seem too heavy. The entrees were meatloaf, shrimp & pasta, tri-tip and a chopped salad and everyone seemed pleased. I had already had quite a bit of Pinot Grigio so I didn't take proper mental notes on the meals.

Anyway, it was a major improvement for me. The bar is fun, the crowd is lively and the back patio is pretty cool.

I'll forgive the lime twist.

Shout Out from San Francisco!

Cowtown no more? The San Francisco Chronicle says Midtown Sacramento is "hot, hip... and stylish!"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/18/TRIJ10JUPH.DTL&hw=sacramento&sn=001&sc=1000

Hip, artsy heart beats in Sacramento's midtown
'Grid' turning into the place to hang out
Spud Hilton, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, May 18, 2008

It used to be the most you could say about Sacramento's midtown was that it has pleasant, tree-canopied streets and row after row of Victorian-era homes, most remarkably well-preserved.

Yawn.

What used to be a cultural dead zone and excitement black hole between downtown and the burbs, however, quite suddenly has a hot, hip, walkable neighborhood at its heart, with dozens of stylish white-linen restaurants, of-the-moment boutique shops and galleries, and a sophisticated bohemian vibe not typically associated with, well, Sacramento.

It still has the trees and Victorians, but hardly anyone notices those anymore.

The midtown - officially called "the Grid" by locals and some savvy marketing firm - is still a work in progress, but it easily offers enough new diversions for a Sacramento weekend that have nothing to do with Gold Rush history or gargantuan shopping malls. The whole of the Grid is about 2 square miles, but at its center are about 24 square blocks (from 16th to 24th and from J Street to Capitol Avenue) that offer an accessible concentration of hip bistros and shops, including one intersection from which a well-thrown baseball could hit two funky coffeehouses, a wine-tasting shop and adjacent bar, three eclectic boutiques and four restaurants that would rate well by San Francisco standards.

Among the newer businesses is Newsbeat, a magazine, candy and smoke shop on 20th Street that carries a mind-boggling array of titles (usually a positive sign about neighborhood sophistication). Owners Janis and Terence Lott had a downtown store, but closed it to move into the MARRS (Midtown Art Retail Restaurant Scene) building, a bunkerlike retail development built into a 1940s warehouse. Now it has umbrellas and a wooden deck that provides bistro dining and sipping for Peet's Coffee, Luigi's Pizza Parlor, Mexican restaurant Azul and, eventually, a chic lounge and restaurant to anchor it.
"We're very excited about it all," said Janis Lott. "We feel like we're right at the heartbeat of everything."

Why go now: This latest incarnation of this neighborhood is barely old enough for preschool, which means it's growing - in size and sophistication - without yet succumbing to the pretentious crowds and the insufferable trendiness typically associated with an "arts district."
Backstory: Much of the renaissance can be attributed to new mixed-use loft housing that has sprouted in the past year or two (including two projects that filled what had been longtime vacant lots), as well as to savvy retail developers making sure that the young professionals who move in have a sophisticated selection of restaurants and shops.

Checking in: Lodging is relatively sparse, save for the cookie-cutter chains nearby that cater to conventioneers. Amber House Bed and Breakfast was highly recommended, but was booked for my weekend. I stayed instead at the Residence Inn Capitol Park (Marriott) near the east end of the park. A little pricy, but includes full breakfast, free wireless access and a full kitchen - which comes in handy with refrigerating and reheating leftovers from the previous night's bistro-hopping.

Spend your day: Start off at Plum Blossom Chinese Stir-Fried and Bakery Express (slogan: "Authentic yet progressive") for coffee and all manner of buns, from cheese to spicy beef to pineapple. Stroll over to Capitol Avenue and turn toward the state Capitol, making sure to notice the wealth of vintage homes - Queen Anns, California-style bungalows, Arts and Crafts cottages - including an impressive number converted to businesses, including law firms, yoga studios, salons and tattoo parlors. After spending a little time in Capitol Park (technically not in the Grid, but worth the brief detour), head to Capitol and 18th Street for outdoor lunch at Crepeville or Paesanos, taking time to admire outdoor seating at five restaurants at the intersection. Survey the snacking and shopping options at the MARRS building over at 20th and J streets, but return to get an afternoon java at the funky Old Soul Co. coffeehouse, a former warehouse where the baking is a spectator event (no walls separating kitchen from lounge). Browse the shelves at Zanzibar Trading Company (Buddhas and candles) and the French-themed Le Petit Paris (French stuff), and do a little wine-tasting at 58 Degrees on 18th Street before dinner at Zócalo.

Dining: Zócalo is a gorgeous, upscale eating place built into a 1930s car dealership that prides itself on its decor (all artwork and design by Guadalajara, Mexico, artist Ernesto Cruz), its authentic and modern dishes and a truly impressive margarita menu. During the day and on warm nights, the staff opens the giant windows, making even the interior feel like outdoor seating. (Guides labeled Eat the Grid and Shop the Grid are available at most businesses, although quite a few good restaurants are not listed in Eat the Grid, so don't rely solely on its recommendations.)

Don't miss: The Second Saturday Art Walk, a rollicking gallery and boutique event that started small but now requires closed-off streets and crowd control.

Don't bother: Skip Old Town Sacramento on this trip. Relax, stroll and dine with the locals instead.

Word to the wise: Parking is strictly monitored and can be a mess around lunchtime. Leave the car at the hotel (if possible) and walk everywhere.

Cinco de Mayo on Folsom Blvd.

This won't be my longest post or my best post, but I just wanted to make mention of my Cinco de Mayo at El Patron. After a fun party on Tres de Mayo which included multiple tequila shots, a pinata and some painful dancing, I didn't think I'd be going out on Monday night. Sheri and I mutally twisted each others' arms to go out for one drink and some chips and salsa.

We both are former midtowners with homes in Tahoe Park so we decided to stay close to the neighborhood and go to El Patron on Folsom Blvd. The place was packed for the holiday. I literally parked three or four blocks away. They had a special on double margaritas for $9 - and you get to keep the shaker. We each had once of those, which were pretty darn good. The bar also has a impressive selection of tequilas from the plain old Jose Cuervo to some $100 a shot bottles that are on shelves high above the TVs. One we sampled, Clase Azul, tasted like melted caramel -- delicious ($25 a shot). So much for one-drink-and-go-home.

The real attraction was our bartender, Anita, who really made the night fun. She had personality to spare and was great at suggesting things to try. We'll be back, just to hang out with her again.

Our evening at El Patron was a contrast to the big midtown party at Centro's, which I hear had $10 cover and a $20 bar minimum on the back patio. Here, the crowd was friendly, the sun drenched patio was inviting and the drinks were reasonable. Plus, it's always good to try someplace new!

El Patron is located at 6601 Folsom Blvd.

Another reason to start early on Fridays...

Sometimes having nothing to do at work has it's good points (ok, stop laughing). While checking out the Concert in the Park schedule for this summer I discovered that if you show your wristband at participating bars and restaurants downtown you can get extended happy hour specials. That's reason enough to stay on the other side of 16th street. Here's the list... and see you all on Friday!

AMOURATH @ THE HYATT
$1 off Bud & Bud Light, $1 off Appetizers
1209 L Street / 321.3600

FANNY ANN'S SALOON
Free Cover Charge w/ wristband, $1 off Bud & Bud Light Bottles
1023 2nd Street / 441.0505

HARD ROCK CAFE
$1 off Budwesier, Sam Adams drafts
545 Downtown Plaza / 441.5591

LA TERRAZA
2 for 1 Bud & Bud Light, $1 off Appetizers
1027 2nd Street / 440.0874

MARILYN'S ON K
$350 Microbrew Pints
908 K Street / 446.4361

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S
$1.95 Happy Hour Menu (9:30 pm - Close)
1111 J Street / 442.8200

PYRAMID
$3 pints of Curveball
1029 K Street / 498.8900

SAKURA SUSHI & TEPPAN GRILL
$2 Bud & Bud Light, $1 off Appetizers
980 9th Street / 444.1030

THREE MONKEYS
$2 Bud Pints, $2 Coors Light Pints Draft, $5 Kamikazee Shots, $4.50 House Wine by the Glass
723 K Street / 441.4860

TOPPINGZ ON K
Free fountain drink w/ the purchase of a slice of pizza or a hot dog.
Or 15% off any whole pizza pie
716 K Street / 442.9998

TORCH CLUB
$2 off cover
904 15th Street / 443.2797

VEGA'S
$2 Bud Drafts, $3 Premium Drafts
910 2nd Street / 448.1793

ZOKKU
$2 off All Drafts, $2 off Bud & Bud Light
419 J Street | 498.9384

Offers valid only with Friday Night Concert in the Park
wristband at participating locations.

Thai One On

Mmmm... Thai Basil is yummy... But they don't have much of a bar in the restaurant. Problem solved: take the bar out of the restaurant and put it upstairs.

Level Up is one flight of stairs away from Thai Basil but has an energy all its own. The brightly colored furniture is offset by the alternating neon strip that wraps around the window seats overlooking J Street. The walls are adorned with a changing array of local art. I hear a DJ spins at night, but I've never been there that late to witness it myself.

I think I'm burying the lead here, but happy hour, they call it Mingle Hour, goes until 8:00! That's a lot of happy hours!! As noted in the happy hour quick list (http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html), Level Up offers $2.25 & $3 beer, call $4.50, wine $5.50, signature cocktails $6.50 and $6 appetizers. You really have to have the lychee mojito. It's seriously out of this world. The appetizers, ranging from coconut and satay chicken to lettuce wraps and tempura vegetables are great for sharing. It's fun to have happy hour appetizers that vary from calamari, nachos and spinach dip. They also have a full menu available with favorites like Pad Thai, Korean short ribs and lamb chops. Another intriguing element... they start serving breakfast at midnight.

I mentioned the DJ later in the evening. Maybe that's when the crowd comes because during the handful of times I've been there, I've been one of the only people in the place. It may not be the place for a raucous after work party, however, if you're just in the mood to try something new, it's a good bet!

Level Up is located at 2431 J Street (http://www.leveluplounge.com/). It is closed on Mondays.

"I Love Sausages," says Carmen

On a warm summer evening there isn't much that's better than a baseball game (OK, there are some things, but work with me here). This past Friday, Carmen and I spread a giant lime green blanket on the lawn of Home Run Hill at Raley Field. Our trip was two-fold, to enjoy our first Rivercats game of the season and to celebrate my friend Nancy's accomplishments as Teacher of the Year in her district (Yay Nancy!!).

We spent $7 for our tickets and $7 for our beer -- a Miller Lite, no less. However, it was $1 hot dog night so $8 for both isn't too bad! It was $1 for ice cream too, but I was too full of beer, hot dogs and garlic fries to partake. Hot dogs never taste as good as they do at a ball park -- even when they're the wimpy $1 kind. Carmen was hoping for sausage, but after the beer broke the bank she stuck to the cheap version.

Anyway, there are lots of promotions throughout the summer:

• Tecate Fiesta Tuesdays: $3.50 Tecate from 6:00 - 7:00 (pre-game)
• Miller Lite 'Que & Brew Thursdays: $2 beer and BBQ specials
• Family Feast Fridays: $1 Drumsticks and hot dogs
• Fireworks Saturday: No beer specials, but fireworks are cool

Oh yeah... and there's a game or something going on too.

GV Hurley's

Jennifer and I decided to check out the new restaurant on J Street last week. GV Hurley's doesn't even have a sign up, but it's easily recognized by the enormous crowd inside. The block on J where GV Hurley's has set up shop has really become one of the happening places in Midtown. By the time a new pizza place opens up in the space that used to occupy the coffee shop the Grind (which is really sad that it closed, it was great for a post-yoga lunch) there will be 7 restaurants, bars, or clubs in that one block.
More on that in a sec. Our first trip to GV Hurley's was spent on their lovely front patio. The restaurant itself is truly beautiful, although clearly is needed a little more organization. The hostess basically ignored us, then forgot to bring us menus. Our server was very nice, but somehow got stuck looking for the cucumbers for my drink himself, and as a result it took us nearly 20 minutes to get our drinks. (This was after a lengthy wait to order them in the first place.) The free bread was tasty though, our view was lovely, and the drinks were delish, even if we had to practically take out a loan to pay for them. I highly recommend the "Cool As a Cucumber", lack of cucumbers conveniently on hand or not.
I returned with Mindy the next Friday, thinking it would be a good place to start our night. I really wanted to see the back patio, which I had missed completely the other night I was there. The patio is beautiful, and on a really chilly night, they had heat lamps and a fire going. It was pretty nice.
"Pretty nice" is really the only way I can describe it. While beautiful, the restaurant's clientele is older, and male. And while this may be a good thing for some ladies out there, it wasn't the friendly crowd that welcomes people and allows them to meet each other. It's also pretty expensive--even for this block. If somebody else was paying, I might go back for dinner.
I think part of the reason the crowd is so subdued is that the restaurant itself wants to project this type of image--not necessarily for the type of clientele that they are pursuing, but the keep their liquor license. I did a little research on the opening of the restaurant, and found that the city has placed some pretty tight restrictions on their hours and the amount of people they can have outside. This is all because of the neighbors who have complained about the noise level on this block. I empathise to an extent--I live only 7 blocks away and my street can get pretty noisy even without bars nearby. But I also understand that I live in Midtown, in a developing urban community. It's silly to think there wouldn't be noise. Do people live in San Francisco and expect there to be no noise? Move to East Sac, or Land Park, and stop complaining, or standing in the way of those who want to grow our community and turn it into the world-class city that we all imagine. I hate to say it, but that just can't happen unless us "youngsters" have a place to hang out.
And I can pretty much guarantee you it won't be at GV Hurley's, although I'll keep going to Harlow's, cranky neighbors or not.

Tikka Trip to India in Sacramento

I've already raved about Dine Downtown week, but another plus to that annual event is that the Sacramento Downtown Partnership ran a contest for a $50 gift certificate to one of the participating restaurants. I was lucky enough to win a certificate for Gaylord India Restaurant. I like Indian food, but I rarely crave Indian food, so the free meal really got me in the door.

The first Gaylord opened in New Delhi, India in 1946 and today there are locations in Chicago, San Francisco, Sausalito, Menlo Park, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and our little Sacramento.

The menu is really extensive and Carolyn and I were a little overwhelmed by all the choices. With our servers help, we decided on one of their "Tasting Menus," which gives you a sample of about five items, plus soup, naan and dessert. The one we chose, a combination of curries and tandoori, was $25 for both of us. It's hard to describe the flavors of Indian food -- they use lots of different spices, but spicy really isn't accurate. Pungent? Aromatic? Yummy works.

We started with some garlic naan and then a cup of Mulligatawny soup, which is a lemony lentil soup. Then our server brought out a sizzling plate of tandoori chicken and lamb kabobs on a pile of roasted onions. The chicken was delicious and despite being on the bone (a major hang up for me) I ate the whole piece. The lamb was flavorful and tender. That dish was followed by a plate of scented basmati rice, chicken tikka masala (chicken simmered in saffron, fennel tomato sauce) and sag paneer (Indian farmer's cheese in a spinach and garlic puree). Our server said the tikka masala was their most popular dish and I understand why. We both loved it and ended up using the remaining sauce for dipping naan and smothering rice.

Dessert was included and the choices included cheesecake with mango sauce, kulfi (a saffron infused ice cream in both pistachio and mango flavor), rice pudding and two cheese-centric options. Since we didn't love the farmer's cheese in the sag paneer, we opted for the rice pudding or kheer. It was more of a rice soup -- a thin "broth" with rice and pistachios. It wasn't at all what I expected for rice pudding, but it was very tasty. At this point we were both too full anyway so we had more of a taste of dessert than a full course.

Overall, the meal was great -- we cleaned most of the plates! -- and at the risk of sounding cheesy, kind of an adventure for the palate. These aren't tastes you find everyday and it was fun to explore them.

Gaylord also has a full bar. I started with a pomegranite gimlet and Carolyn had a mojito. Once we started on the spicy stuff, Taj Mahal (an Indian beer, natch) was a great compliment to the meal.

Check out the menu for yourself: http://www.gaylords.com/dinner_menu.html. The chicken tikka masala alone is worth a return visit. Plus, Gaylord has a lunch menu too and it's location makes it perfect for the downtown worker.

Gaylord is located at 1501 14th Street in Sacramento. (916) 441-6700

It's funny 'cause it's true

Normally I wouldn't advertise somebody else's rundown of the Sac scene, but since I know you've already read this week's SNR, I thought I'd include the link, especially since Jen & I are rather unlikely to be hitting any karoake joints anytime soon (although I'm up for a Thursday night trek to the Cove... just call me!).

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=634680

The address for Cap Garage is wrong, however. I'm not sure how to tell them that.

I still think ours is better... but they're pretty funny too. (Just check out what they say about the Round Corner).

Cheers!

Dinner, European Style

I've blogged about 58 Degrees before. I love the place. I love the wine selection. I love a couple of the servers, some of whom are extremely knowledgeable. I've never really eaten there besides sampling some appetizers -- which are excellent -- but last night four friends and I sat down for their Prix Fixe menu. It's a four course meal for $25, add $10 for a 3oz wine pairing with each course.

We started with bleu cheese and roasted garlic crostini with green onion oil. The bread was crispy and the combination of the pungent cheese and tangy garlic, paired with the slight sweetness of the oil was fabulous. It was served with Bucci Verdicchio, a nice white Italian wine with hints of honey and apples.

The second course was a salad of roasted red peppers, shaved fennel over mixed greens with a basil dressing. This small salad was served with a cauliflower panna cotta. I'm used to panna cotta as an Italian dessert with a custard-like consistancy. This was a really interesting way to serve my not-so-favorite vegetable. The consensus around the table was that it was pretty tasty -- though no one would have probably ordered it if they saw it on a menu. The wine this time around was a Walden Cotes du Roussillon Rouge from France. It was a yummy blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.

Course Three was a four cheese and arugula cannelloni with lemon cream sauce, caper bread crumbs and gremulata (a fancy way of saying finely chopped parsley, garlic and grated lemon zest). This dish got raves from everyone. The pasta was tender and cheesy; the sauce was creamy without being overbearing, We went back to white wine with a Domaine Reverdy-Ducroux "Beau Roy" Sancerre from France. It's a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that I found neither too sweet or too flowery that cut the richness of the sauce.

And lastly, we had chocolate praline bread pudding with pecans and chocolate cream sauce. Bread pudding is never one of my favorite desserts but I'm always willing to try. I don't think it was a universal hit at our table, but it wasn't bad. However, the Maquis Lien Syrah Red Blend from Chile, was a universal hit. The bold blend of Syrah, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and a touch of Petit Verdot was absolutely delicious! Fortunately for us our desserts took a long time to come out of the kitchen so our wonderful server Kara brought us a few extra pours. It was rich and fruity -- and for me a much better dessert than the bread pudding.

58 Degrees offers their Prix Fixe menu on Monday and Tuesday nights. The menu changes monthly.

You should also take advantage of No Corkage Sundays at the wine bar. You save $15 per bottle. Plus, once the weather gets nicer I can't think of many ways to enjoy a Sunday evening outside at such a great people-watching location in midtown.

Yay for Wednesdays!

Apparently my last Wednesday was so fun, it's taken me nearly a week to write about it.

Work Jen and I went to Capital Garage to start our "path of drunkenness" (explanation will come in a later entry) last Wednesday, and made 3 excellent discoveries.

1. Happy Hour is all night on Wednesdays at Cap Garage! Reason enough to go when Absolut cocktails are $4 in addition to their normal specials.

2. The food here is really, really good. Honestly, I was a little worried, but my hamburger was awesome, and Jen's sandwich looked really tasty as well. Their brunch menu looks excellent as well (I always love a chef who's fond of hollandaise sauce). And unlimited mimosas for $4.95--hello! Works for me!

3. Jose, one of the coolest bartenders in Midtown.

When you're looking for an unpretentious, fun, tasty place, I highly recommend Capital Garage!

Económico!

Originally planned as a piano bar, at first glance Azucar doesn't really look like a Mexican restaurant. The big, black music notes on the facade are a little misleading. The interior fits a little better.

I met Stacy for happy hour earlier this week and was so excited to see the extent of their $3 menu. In terms of drinks you can get $3 margies, mojitos. martinis and beer. We ordered two margaritas which were big and tangy. The $3 food menu looks great too, with offerings like quesadillas, empanadas, nachos and not-so-Mexican fare like garlic fries. When a few other friends joined us we ordered a few. It's a great deal and the food is tasty - especially the carnita plate - but the apps are small. They really are $3-sized. The quesadilla seemed particularly tiny. But for the price, you could order two!

The other nice thing is that happy hour extends till 7:00 so even Carolyn was there in time to take advantage of the deal! Apparently Azucar turns into a club on weekend nights, so come early if that's not your cup of tequila.

Azucar is at 1616 J Street.

We'll always have Casablanca

Several times in our lives, we are given the opportunity to try amazing and wonderful food. Often, these meals stick in the back of heads. Latter meals are compared to these. It's like that long lost love--you know how wonderful it is, and you just wish you could go back for more.

Lucky for me, my long lost love of food can be found on the corner of Watt and Fair Oaks, in this little tiny strip mall next to the Shell station. Casablanca looks like it's nothing--next to a liquor store and what is now an empty store front, you would never know that one of the hidden gems of Sacramento is right there.

There are many things great about Casablanca. One highlight is the lack of liquor license. Ok, I know what you're thinking. But just because they can't serve it doesn't mean you can't bring it in. Beer and wine are welcome here without a corkage fee. It's like a huge BYOB party. With belly-dancers. I don't remember any frat parties quite like this! Another great thing is the belly dancer herself. She creates quite a scene, often with the women of the tiny restaurant dancing alongside her (I'm sure encouraged by their rather large liquor intake). While she starts dancing to the traditional Moroccan music, often it turns into a dance party with Abba's "Dancing Queen" playing loudly in the background. And while this could be disconcerting and unappetizing in other places, it just fits here. The host of the restaurant is also quite a draw. Hilarious and irreverant, yet he always makes sure you are well taken care of, that you have everything you need (even if it's just another hit of the orange blossom water). Yes, he can give you a 20 minutes explanation of the Family Guy marathon and always starts his sentences with "Dooood". But you can't help but love him, especially since he calls himself the "Conehead" due to his traditional hat. Truly though, the highlight is the food. A few rules of thumb: don't go to this restaurant with ANYONE who has food issues or who can't get over them. You eat with your hands, and often the food just needs to be eaten, no matter how or what or why. Just eat it. I promise you won't be disappointed. I recommend just going for the Sultan's feast, a huge meal that provides you with all the best the restaurant has to offer. We had hummus, carrots, beets, some small game hen that we could literally pull apart with our spoons, beef, couscous, rice, something else, and the highlight of the evening, a lovely lamb dish that one of my dinner partners called quite simply "Ecstasy" and another commented that it was like losing his virginity for the seventh time. (I'm not sure what this means, but I know it was good.) We ended with baklava and tea that I just couldn't get enough of.

The orange blossom water doused on your hands is the final, lovely step. You come home with your hands smelling so exotic, so wonderful, that you can't help but remember your experience. A few things to keep in mind--this is not the place to go for a romantic night out. It's crazy and nuts, perfect for a celebration. You will drink a lot, or at least want to. Bring plenty and have a cab number handy, or have a designated driver (who I will feel for, being the DD last night). Don't bring any friends likely to freak strangers on the dance floor. And most of all, bring your adventurous spirit and your appetite! I promise this will become a favorite place. (And get there before 9--everybody's hammered by then.)

If only I could yell it like Marlon Brando...

I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I was lucky enough to be invited to the new restaurant Ella twice last week. And not have to pay either time. I never turn down a free meal (it could have been at Chili's and I probably would have gone) but a free meal and the new hot restaurant? I'm there!

Both times Ella proved that it deserved the hype it's received. My first meal there was on a rainy Thursday night. I went with some friends from work, and the two of us that went together were struck by how low-profile the restaurant is. If you don't know where to look, you can't even find the front door. Once inside, you are treated to fantastic service. A free coat check (always appreciated in our crazy winter weather) and lovely hosts greet you at the door. We sat in the bar and waited for our friends and the cocktails were delicious. They make their own tonic at Ella, which is interesting and has a totally different taste than the bottled kind.

I sat on opposite sides of the restaurant for both visits, although I had the same waiter. Noel was kind and attentive, and very helpful with the wine list. Sometimes at very nice restaurants the wait staff can seem pretentious and snobby, but she was very relaxed and rather funny. We ate family style for both visits. The first trip our table ordered the Ella cured salmon on flatbread, grilled calamari, wood oven meatballs, giant fried rock shrimp, gnocchi, and mushroom ravioli. All was delicious. I was especially impressed by the calamari--it wasn't fried, but had the texture of fried calamari, while being lighter and airer than you usually find it. The rock shrimp was also delicious, slightly spicy, and not at all heavy. The second trip we got a plate of oysters (heavenly), wood grilled prawns (a little spicy and smoky), the meatballs again (while I rave about everything else, I think these are my favorite. They manage to be both light and full of flavor), the beets (I'm passing judgement on them, since I'm not a fan, but they were apparently delish), and the crispy skin duck breast (sooo good, although the breast itself was a little salty, but with the risotto it was perfect).

While both times there was a slight mixup in our order (the first time our gnocchi came with the prosciutto, and we had ordered it without, and the second time our hot food showed up prior to our oysters) the wait staff was quick with pulling away the incorrect items and immediatly fixing the problem. They were also very kind about it, never making us feel bad for ordering what we wanted, when we wanted it.

The restaurant itself can be a little uncomfortable. The first time I was there we sat by the long row of windows and froze the entire meal. The second time we were much warmer, but we sat right next to a curtain partition. While it was nice to have the privacy the curtain offered, I think it caused a problem for those sitting on the other side. Somebody fell off their chair and managed to hit our table and chair. I was more worried about them hurting themselves, but it was a little disconcerting to have the entire partition moving about. But it's nothing that would prevent you from going back.

My second visit was with friends from the Bay Area, and Catherine told me I could quote her as saying that Ella is just as good as any four star restaurant in San Francisco. I highly recommend it for any special occasion. Or even just for meatballs and a cocktail.

Oh, and the title? That's what I'd yell if the restaurant ever closed. "Elllaaaa!!!" Get it?

The Pho One One

If you've been awake in the last few days, you know it's been dreary, rainy and cold. So, what's the best remedy for the chills? I'd say a hot, humongous bowl of pho from Tamarind will cure what ails you.

The little restaurant on J Street offers eleven different kinds of pho, Vietnamese noodle soup. The bathtub-sized serving that I ordered consisted of shrimp, chicken, rice noodles and a rich, savory beef broth. Other pho choices have beef, other meat combinations and a vegetarian option. The broth was so incredibly flavorful that it was simply lovely to just sip and savor each spoonful. Plus, before the soups came to the table, the server delivered a heaping plate of basil, lime, bean sprouts and jalepenos so we could garnish our own bowls. Also on the table was a selection of other condiments - plum, chili and bean sauces, etc. so every time you order, your soup has unlimited possibilies.

I should've saved half the bowl for the next day's lunch but it was too good to stop eating. More good news, my meal was $7.

In addition to the pho, Tamarind offers a selection of egg noodle soups, vermicelli and meat dishes. I think most menu items are under $10. Tamarind, at 2502 J St., is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Dine Downtown Week - Brilliant!

This Dine Downtown week is a good idea. No, it's a great idea! A bunch of wonderful restaurants let you sample their wares for just $30. That $30 gets you three courses and that's a good, delicious deal.

My epicurean friend Nancy and I decided to try Mason's. I had been there once several years ago and remembered it being good, but expensive, so this was a great chance to go back. I think one of the reasons that it's expensive is that the service is fantastic. My napkin was placed on my lap, the water in my glass never dipped a half inch below the lip. The server was knowledgable and attentive. The other half of the equation is the food. A different server brought us a "gift from the kitchen" -- salmon tartar on a homemade sweet potato chip. Yum! A great way to jump start the palate. As for the Dine Downtown menu, there were two choices for appetizer, two for entree and one for dessert. Nancy chose the winter citrus and organic chicories with fresh goat cheese flan. I think she liked it, but I was busy devouring my Jerusalem artichoke, toasted cashew and wild mushroom soup with cashew cream. This is going to sound weird, but it had a light flavor of BBQ potato chips. That's a compliment though! The soup had a really rich, smoky flavor and could really have been a meal on it's own. For the main course, my friend opted for the sauteed Atlantic salmon filet with roasted garlic smashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli rabe. I chose the grilled hangar steak with house cut garlic fries and soft herb chimichurri. I will admit that after the soup I was half-full and wasn't able to eat my entire dinner. I loved the steak, but I have to say that the garlic fries were unbelievable. Big chunks of garlic and herbs with just the right amount of salt. At this point we're both stuffed. I'm not really a dessert person (and of all the desserts, bread pudding is pretty low on the list) so I figured I'd have a bite and call it a night. Instead, I found myself in love with roasted pear and candied walnut bread pudding with bourbon anglaise. It was served warm with fresh whipped cream that was absolutely divine. I ate the whole damn thing and by the time I got home my jeans were a size too tight.

I'm not sure what our meal would have cost on the regular menu, but I was quite satisfied for $30. Mason's is never going to be a weekly - or even monthly dining spot, at least not until this blog becomes a money-maker - but when Dine Downtown week rolls around next year I'd definitely consider coming back.

Quick Link

If you're looking for Happy Hour information, there's a "quick link" to the constantly updated list in the right hand column of this home page. Cheers!

Important Happy Hour Update!

A couple of important updates for all you happy hour goers...

Lucca has a happy hour until 6. I accidentally threw away my little scrap of a napkin that had the details, but they have both drink and food specials. If anyone goes and gets the specifics, please let us know so we can update the list. And tell Patrick I say hello.

Also, The Grand Wine Bar has a great happy hour until 6:30. A limited selection of their wine is 2 for 1--an awesome deal when they can push $10. They've also increased their menu and now have food. I only had the cheese, but it was spectacular.

Drink up!

Minor change: as of 1/15/08, the Grand's special went from 2-for-1 to Buy One, Get One at Half Price.

Tuli Bistro

Ok, I really was trying to think of something cute to go with Tuli, but it just wasn't happening.

I've been to Tuli twice now, once for dinner and once for lunch. There's something that is really understated but lovely about this restaraunt. It's vey small, with only a few 2 tops and bar area available inside, and several tables available outside. In our world now where everything needs to be super sized and larger is always better, I actually think this is a benefit for Tuli. You're in a friendly, neighborhood place. It's kind of like eating at one of your friends' houses, only with perhaps a better wine list and a menu with more options. One of the chefs remembered me the second time I was there, and it was several weeks later. That's fantastic.

My first night there, I had a fantastic risotto with bacon and bleu cheese. It was tasty and delicious, and perfect for a cold winter night. Jen had their Humboldt pizza with pesto and oven roasted tomatoes. Equally delicious, the pizza crust and the toppings fun and interesting. The second time I was there, I saw them roasting the tomatoes. They go right into the same oven as the pizzas, and while this sounds rather uninteresting or special, it was proof that this restaurant does not cut corners on anything. You can also see them cooking everything--so you know exactly what goes into your food and how it's prepared.

My second trip, for lunch, I had a cup of their soup of the day and the albacore tuna melt. Everything was fabulous and tasty. But while the food is great, and the I don't think you can find a better value anywhere in Midtown (if you're into value), I think the true beauty of Tuli lies in its ambience. Everytime I go in, even my first time, I feel like I'm entering a long-lost friend's kitchen. They are very open and friendly, the food is incredible, and the wine list is interesting. I really can't think of a negative about Tuli, except maybe that I can't go there every day.

You can find Tuli on the corner of 21st and S, and their website (with menus!) at www.tulibistro.com.

Cheers!