Overworked. Underfed.

Delfina

Delfina 3621 18th St. San Francisco, CA 94110 Yelp I think Triple F mentioned Delfina to me a long time ago, so it’s not really the new kid on the block per se. The place is known for their simple Italian fare, namely pastas and pizzas. Sometimes, great restaurants can lose their luster just by…

Zuni Cafe

Zuni Cafe 1658 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102 Yelp Besides Tartine, Zuni Cafe is another one of those must-try San Francisco places, that have been on my bucket list for some time now. It’s most well know for its roasted chicken. How can roasted chicken be that good? I don’t know, so I’ve always…

Alexander’s Steakhouse

Alexander’s Steakhouse 448 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA 94107 Yelp I’m not a huge steak lover, but Alexander’s Steakhouse has been on my radar for a long time. When a location popped up in Pasadena, I was pretty excited. However, the reviews weren’t very strong and I didn’t want to pay a lot of money…

Tartine Bakery

Tartine Bakery 600 Guerrero St. San Francisco, CA 94110 Yelp When visitors come to LA, sometimes I roll my eyes at the list of places they plan to dine at. Pink’s Hot Dog, Langer’s, The Original Pantry, The Stinking Rose, and the list goes on and on. There’s something to be said about knowing a city…

Zushi Puzzle

Zushi Puzzle 1910 Lombard St. San Franciscos, CA 94123 Yelp Triple F has raved about Zushi Puzzle for years now. She loved the place so much, she became a regular. We were seated at the bar and chef/owner Roger was getting chummy with Triple F, like they’re just the best of old friends. I exaggerate, but…

Side Street Inn

Side Street Inn 1225 Hopaka St Honolulu, HI 96814 Yelp Triple F really wanted to check out Side Street Inn. I did my research and the food did not look all that interesting. Large quantities of greasy fried stuff is not really my thing. Smooth Obturator gave this place a strong endorsement so I put…

Marukame Udon

Marukame Udon 1104 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, HI 96813 Yelp After many days cooped up at the Disney Aulani, Mama H.o.P. was getting cabin fever. We had a rental car for one day, so drove into Honolulu to see the sights, find pleasures that could not be had in the same damn lazy river and…

Roy’s Ko Olina

Roy’s Ko Olina 92-1220 Ali’inui Dr Kapolei, HI 96707 Yelp I’ve been to Roy’s a few times and have never been terribly impressed by the fancified Hawaiian Asian fusion cuisine. The food is good, but it’s never been worthy of a strong recommendation or repeat visits. The Roy’s in Kapolei, which is conveniently located within…

Mix Mix Kitchen Bar

Mix Mix Kitchen Bar 300 N. Main St. Santa Ana, CA 92701 Yelp I almost make it a point NOT to go to a restaurant’s soft opening. I don’t want or need to be anyone’s guinea pig, especially if its on my dime. Free food for my invaluable feedback? Now we’re talking! I can’t say I…

Old Vine Cafe

Old Vine Cafe 2937 Bristol St. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Yelp Old Vine Cafe is probably best known for its weekend brunch. The wait can be horrendously long, but the promise of their biscuits & gravy and bread pudding like french toast seems to motivate people to endure the hunger. I, for one, was not that…

North Italia

North Italia 2957 Michelson Drive Irvine, CA 92612 Yelp I don’t frequently blog about restaurant chains. Sure some restaurants are popular and have a few locations driven by an entrepreneurial and business savvy chef/owner. But the food at these restaurants never has that taste of “mass production” a la Cheesecake Factory and the like. North…

Ngự Bình

Ngự Bình 14092 Magnolia Ave. Westminster, CA 92683 Yelp For many people, spring rolls, bánh mì, and phở are all they know when it comes to Vietnamese food. If you have those 3 dishes down, pat yourself on the back because you’ve covered just a small fraction of Vietnamese cuisine. I am, by far, no expert on…