3288 Pierce St, Richmond CA 94804
Parking: shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: October 19, 2005

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $

Located in the Ranch 99 shopping center, Ay Chung (or VH) just opened up in place of Goldilocks bakery. The menus that they were handing out were labeled as Ay Chung. The phonebook is showing it as VH. I don’t know which one is correct. It’s a Taiwanese style restaurant with an Asian trendiness. Large photos of what looks like a sister location are blown up and act as wall paper. It’s a very casual setting with items ranging from fried crispy squid to few stew soup. They also offer cold dishes that are Taiwanese specialties like pork ear, beef stomach, and flavored seaweed. I couldn’t tell you what the seaweed is flavored with, but most cold dishes tend to be spicy, at least at other places.

Above the main counter when you enter is the menu, and after selecting, you are given a number. When your order is ready, they come find you.

- Meat Stew Bean Noodle Soup – I tried out the noodle soup this evening since it’s a noodle house. The broth is incredibly thick, and it must be somewhat oily too, though you can’t see the oil, since the soup remained hot through the entire meal. The noodles tasted okay, and for the price, it was a good size, but I definitely could have eaten more. I’m not accustomed to the thick broth, so it wasn’t my favorite, but I would definitely be willing to try it again. If I remember correctly, it had a bit of chili spices in it. Okay. $3.95

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers

1591 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 526-8185
(with multiple locations in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco)

Last Visited: July 20, 2003

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Barney’s is a local institution. If you want a restaurant burger, this is the place to go. The burgers are large and come in just about any form you can think of – with mushrooms, guacamole, onions, etc. Their selection is sure to please.

The décor is simple. You’re mostly there for the burgers. Barney’s also has great milkshakes. The only caveat is that fries must be ordered separately. It’s a great place to go for a hearty burger anytime. Barney’s also has an excellent basket of fried vegetables – these are fried with a light batter until golden brown and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Yum! The basket is a meal in itself. Salads are large and big enough to be shared. Check out Barney’s.

Best Taste - Hong Kong Style BBQ

814 Franklin St, Oakland CA 94607
(510) 444-4983
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: September 4, 2004

Food: 2 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Best Taste is located in Oakland Chinatown. The window displays the roasted duck and other dishes offered. Upon entering the place, you’ll see the counter to your immediate right with the roast pig hanging on the far side of the counter. Tables adorn the left side of the wall and more tables are spread throughout the back of the restaurant. It’s not a big place, but the tables are spaciously set apart. The dark red/burgundy linoleum floor is kept clean.

The operation is definitely family owned. I visited on a Saturday and found the kids running in and out of the restaurant. The husband and wife team work the counter while the parents help wrap dumplings and handle the large party orders. During my visit, I noticed three party trays of fried chicken which looked quite appetizing.

- Wonton noodles in soup – Six wontons are served with noodles and iceberg lettuce in broth. The wontons weren’t the best I’ve tried, nor were they the worst. The ingredients were fresh, but not stunning in flavor. $3.25

- Three bbq combination over rice – Choice of three bbq meats are served over rice with a small helping of cooked vegetables. We selected bbq pork, roast duck, and roast pig. The duck flavor was okay, but the color wasn’t as dark as typically found. The roast pig skin wasn’t crispy, and the meat wasn’t juicy. The bbq pork was probably the worst of the three since the meat was also dry. The duck and roast pork were fair and fall in the two star range, while the bbq pork was about one star. $5.95

Overall, I didn’t find the restaurant to live up to its name. The price is extremely reasonable, but the food quality is fair and didn’t meet expectations. It’s a decent value and good to fill up on if you know what you’re getting into. Perhaps their party trays would be a better thing to try – they certainly looked appetizing.

Bette's Oceanview Diner - American

1807 4th St, Berkeley CA 94710
(510) 644-3230
Parking: street parking, paid parking lots nearby
Hours: Mon - Thu: 6:30am - 2:30pm, Fri - Sun: 6:30am - 4:00pm

Last Visited: July 24, 2004

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Price: $ to $$$

Bette’s Diner is located in Berkeley amongst the trendy shops of 4th Street. The restaurant is decorated like a 40s or 50s diner down to the checkerboard patterns around the restaurant, the counter and swivel stools on the right side of the restaurant, and the mini-jukeboxes sitting on top of the counter. There is chrome galore, but it fits the atmosphere just perfectly. Above your head when you enter the restaurant is a huge slice of pie hanging from the ceiling.

The restaurant is extremely busy. A typical wait on a Saturday mid morning is anywhere from half an hour to an hour. It’s first come first serve. You may want to bring a good book or just hang around talking to friends while you wait.

Norman recommended Bette’s with great reviews about their strawberry soufflé pancake.

- Blueberry Pancakes – Available in a stack of two or three, pancakes filled with large blueberries are served with maple syrup on the side. In a bite, you may find hot blueberry bursting its juices in your mouth. These pancakes were fluffy and light. Nice.

- Waffle – A waffle is cooked until golden brown and topped with fresh seasonal fruit. Maple syrup is served on the side. Today’s waffle was topped with sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, and blueberries. The fruit is indeed fresh, and the waffle is nicely done. I prefer slightly thicker waffles, but there was a bit of crunch on the outside of these, but not overly crunchy. The inside was soft, but not soggy. Very good. There are also other waffle specials available. This was the perfect portion for me. Not too much, not too little.

- French Toast – Four pieces of French toast are served with maple syrup on the side. This hearty portion is quite filling. The French toast is softer than I prefer, but not undercooked or soggy. It was still nicely soaked with egg and cooked through, but not quite to my preference developed at home. Good.

- Home Fries – We ordered a side of home fries and received a heaping dish of potatoes and onions topped with a dollop of sour cream. Fresh parsley is sprinkled on top. The potatoes and onions weren’t oily, but just right in terms of not being too dry or too oily. Some of the potatoes had been cooked until the sides were golden and crusted for those who like home fries a little crispy. Some of the potatoes were soft and just the right mushy. Texture was very good. The only thing missing was additional salt. A slight addition of salt would have made them just right. Good.

There are so many tables, and so much going on, that you’re sure to be entertained. However, you may also feel neglected by the staff. They are very kind and apologetic about the wait, but it often seemed that it was very difficult to get the staff’s attention.

As for the food, you can’t go wrong at Bette’s. The food quality is good. You may need to season your dish a little, and it may not be exactly to how expect (in my mind, this happens because sometimes you have a preference for how your mom used to make it), but overall, it’s still quite good. Fruit is extremely fresh. There are so many patrons, that the turnover for the food is excellent. It’s bound to be fresh. The portions are very good. Try out Bette’s.

2448 Sacramento St, Berkeley CA 94702
(510) 848-7684
Parking: street parking
Hours: Lunch: 11:30am to 2:30pm daily, Dinner: 5:30 to 9:30pm daily

Last Visited: May 15, 2005

Food: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Enter Breads of India and the aromas blast you with savory sensations.  It’s a dark little place with not much ambiance, but the food is great (although that has no relation to authenticity).  The restaurant is square shaped with lots of tables packed next to each other.  If you’re looking for a spacious and comfortable setting, this isn’t the right place for you.  The main counter is in the back, and you’ll find benches out front should you need to wait for a table – likely to occur if you go on a weekend evening. 

The difficult part of writing about Indian food for me is my lack of familiarity with the cuisine.  This is definitely an area I would like to work on and increase my food vocabulary.  For example, the spices have this familiarity about them, but I haven’t gotten to the point of identifying them by name yet.

- Samosas – Two large samosas filled with potatoes and spices.  There may have been other vegetables in the stuffing, but it was hard for me to tell.  These triangular pastries are stuffed to the gills.  The outer shell is crispy/crusty in a good way, and the spices are evenly mixed throughout the filling.  Upon their arrival, be careful as the contents are hot.  The samosas are served with a side of tamarind dipping sauce that adds a light sweetness to the flavorful mixture.  Good in taste and portion, but a little darker brown than I expected.  $3.95

- Chicken Tikka Masala – All entrees are served with basmati rice, salad, and chutney.  The chicken tikka masala comes in a small metal bowl.  The chicken is served in large chunks with a lot of creamy curry sauce.  Only white meat was served, so for lovers of white meat, it’s a great thing.  For me, the meat was just okay.  I found the meat a little dry once broken apart, but the sauce can compensate.  The flavor is great though – the sauce is very good for accompanying naan or rice.  The vegetables in the salad – carrots, mint, and lettuce are fresh.  The helping of rice is hearty and the chutney is just a bit tangy.  A folded piece of papadam accompanies the dish.  The value of this is great.  Many other places only offer the meat a la carte, so getting the sides with the meat makes Breads of India a winner for value.  $10.95

- Naan – The naan is excellent.  Baked in a tandoori oven and offered in many varieties, they’re  fluffy on the outside with just the right texture and consistency.  I selected one containing parsley and tarragon.  There might have been some other spices too.  The size of the naan is huge – about the length of a football.  Hot, soft, and scrumptious, they’re a must try.  5 stars.  ~$3

- Sweet Lassi – Lassi is offered in sweet and mango flavors.  The lassi definitely has a yogurt flavor about it, with a sweetness that reminds me of sweetened soy milk.  Good (although my disclaimer is that I don’t know enough about lassi to truly claim it to be good). ~$2.50

Each entrée comes with a suggestion for the type of naan to accompany the dish.  Although I didn’t listen to the suggestion, I was still extremely satisfied by the naan.   Their menu changes daily, but the basic staples are always served – samosas, chicken, and lamb.  You can also count on a variety of curries. 

The service leaves something to be desired.  They don’t check on you and I felt a bit hurried during the meal.  Due to the line outside, don’t expect to be able to sit around the table and chat once you’ve finished your meal.  The bathroom could use some upgrades, and you’re sure to see the kitchen if you make your way back there.  Think of it as a hole in the wall with great food and you won’t be disappointed (see note below).

After talking about my visit to Breads with some Indian folks, I found that the food here may be more to the liking of non-Indians or those unfamiliar with Indian food.  Apparently, they use mostly dried herbs that reduce the amount of flavor.  It’s a good place to try if you’re unfamiliar and want to stretch out of your usual realm, but if you’re truly an Indian food connoisseur, it may be one to skip.  Check it out and decide for yourself.

 

Cheese Board Pizza

1512 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 549-3055
Parking: street parking
Hours: Closed Mondays

Last Visited: July 24, 2004

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Cheese Board is located in the Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley. It’s a co-op that sells a variety of cheese, and right next door you’ll find Cheese Board Pizza. Though it isn’t open daily, it’s definitely worth going there to try their excellent pizza. Cheese Board only makes one type of pizza daily, but it’s always fresh and scrumptious. The pizza available is listed on the chalkboard near the counter. It’s always vegetarian, but don’t let this deter you. It’s absolutely delightful. You can buy the pie as a whole or by the slice.

It’s a small place, so don’t expect to take a big crowd and be able to fit everyone. The locals and college students go there for the amazing flavor – you can even smell its wondrous aroma when you enter. Their pizza is simple but creative. It’s not always going to have tomato sauce. Just try it – you’ll like it. They also bake fresh bread, so be sure to try that if you get the chance. If you are there before they close, they even offer starving college students the bread for free – isn’t that nice?

More about the co-op: The co-op offers a wide selection of cheeses and even allows tasting. It’s wholly owned by its members. The beginning of the cheese onion curry bread came about when they had to decide what to do with leftover cheese scraps. The original Cheese Board collective began and soon expanded to grow a Cheese Board Pizza Collective as well. More history can be found on their website.

From the cheese board side:

- Corn Cherry Scones – These scones are light in texture and large in size. Large cherries are baked into a corn scone. Topped with a little bit of sugar, they’re not too sweet and are quite good. $1.50

- Sourdough Cheese Rolls – The cheese is baked on top of these rolls, and the flavor is very good. They don’t keep for long, but are still worth a try if you eat them right away. $1.50

Cheese Board Pizza – you won’t be disappointed. It’s one of the best.

Chef Lau's - Chinese

301 8th Street, Oakland CA 94607
(510) 835-3288
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 21, 2004

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Price: $ to $$

So the redeeming thing about Chef Lau’s is that it is clean. The restaurant floors and the restroom are old in décor, but actually very clean. It’s a crowded place, with little if any ambiance and the food is littered with MSG, but it is unexpectedly clean considering its counterparts in the same area. I can’t emphasize the cleanliness factor especially when talking about the restroom. Chef Lau’s has a four to five star clean restroom which sets it apart from other Chinese restaurants in the area.

Onto the food – I had a variety of dishes, and as mentioned above, you’ll find that the price is more than reasonable considering the quality that you get. It’s certainly not the best food, but it’s also not the worst. If you’re dining on a budget, and don’t mind feeling a bit thirsty (due to the MSG) after dinner, then consider Chef Lau’s. If you’re not an MSG fan, then try another restaurant. All of the dishes below are $5.95 which is very reasonable. If you read Chinese, then you’ll be able to select dishes from this special menu. If you’re unable to read Chinese, it’s doubtful you’ll find anyone willing to translate for you, in which case the pricing of dishes on the regular menu are usually less than ten dollars, but more than $5.95.

The Good – These dishes were fresh and nicely presented with clean, distinct flavor and good texture. They are typical and of average or better quality. These dishes fall in the three star grouping.
- Salty spicy fish – Pieces of white fish are lightly battered in a salty spicy flour mixture and deep fried until golden brown.

- Eggplant – Large pieces of Asian eggplant are sautéed in a sauce with bamboo shoots and other vegetables.

- Pea Sprouts – Pea sprouts are sautéed with oil and garlic to create a brilliant mound of green pea sprouts. The vegetables are still tender and great in color, not overcooked.

The Others – These dishes fall in the two star category. They lack one or more aspects of what similar dishes at other establishments have and may include faults in texture, flavor, or content.
- Complimentary vegetable soup – Soup is made with dried vegetables and fresh vegetables such as carrots. The MSG is noticeable despite the slow cooking that would infuse a lot of flavor into the broth.

- Roasted chicken - A half of a chicken is served with a roasted skin and is quite simple in flavor. The color of the skin is a nice golden brown, but I found the texture dry.

- Bitter Melon with black bean sauce – Bitter melon is sliced into thin pieces and sautéed with garlic and black bean sauce. MSG content is bordering being too much so it falls to two stars.

- Shrimp cooked with egg – It’s a cross between an omelet and scrambled eggs. Shrimp is cooked with eggs but aren’t inside an omelet. The texture was a little too moist and could have been slightly drier. Quantity of shrimp is plentiful for the price.

- Sweet and sour pork with onions – This isn’t your typical sweet and sour pork. Pork chop like pieces (without the bones) are sautéed in a sweet and sour sauce with onions. The onions could be cooked more and the flavor seemed a bit diluted. Texture of the sauce could be improved.

- Vegetarian dish, Chinese style - Typically during Chinese New Year’s, there is a vegetarian dish with a multitude of dried vegetables, fungus, and noodles that are cooked together with preserved tofu. This one was lacking flavor and the color was not as appetizing as it could be. Presentation was also lacking.

- Curry chicken with vegetables – Another one lacking sauce consistency. Since the sauce seemed diluted, the flavor was not as intense as it should be, leaving the dish colorful but flavorless.

- Soup with chicken and seafood – This dish was piping hot which is great, but the broth had a lot of MSG and the bulk of the dish was made with large chunks of tofu. The tofu pieces were large and should have been cut into smaller chunks.

- Red bean dessert – Red beans cooked with sugar in water to create a sweet soup dessert. The red beans had not cooked down to the write consistency and seemed more like kidney beans in soup. It didn’t work quite right.

Chef Lau’s is perfect for people on a budget who aren’t picky about MSG. If, however, you are willing to pay a few dollars more, you can find better dishes elsewhere.

D&A Cafe - Chinese American

407 Clement St, San Francisco CA 94118
(415) 668-7882
702 Webster St, Oakland CA 94607
(510) 839-6223
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: August 1, 2004

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 1 to 2 stars
Price: $ to $$

D&A Café is a busy place, no matter the time of day. The main attraction at D&A is good food at even better prices. It’s an excellent value that really can’t be beat. D&A specializes in Chinese food and Chinese food American style. Examples of food that is Chinese, but prepared American style include deep fried French toast, macaroni with ham in broth, and Russian borscht. Think American food made to Asian tastes.

The most excellent bargain is food offered between 3pm to 6pm. At already incredible prices, the food is a bargain, but between 3pm and 6pm, D&A has Happy Hour prices where certain dishes are discounted. You can get a bowl of soup noodles for only $2, a dish of gai-lan for $3.50 and other similar items. There are even a selection of drinks available for only $1 each.

There are so many dishes, it’s difficult to highlight them. There are noodle dishes – both in soup or pan fried, seafood, and so much more. It’s virtually impossible to list everything I have tried. They have great oysters in a clay pot, excellent deep fried food (from chicken to calamari to bananas), and lots of drink selections (tapioca, red bean ice, milk tea etc). On my most recent visit, I did find that the gai lan was not as tender as it could be, but for the most part, since there are so many customers, their food turnover rate is very high, so the majority of the food is typically very fresh.

- Field snails – This is a seasonal item. I was lucky enough to find them available. A bowl is filled with snails in their shell served in a rich spicy sauce. The flavor is very good, especially if after you remove the snails from the shell, you dip the meat into the sauce – that’s the best way to eat them. The dish is served with a lot of toothpicks (for removing the meat from the shells) and a lot of napkins. $5.50 (Happy Hour price: $2.80 - incredible!)

- Fried Chicken Wings – Five chicken wings are lightly coated in a seasoned batter and deep fried. The wings are then accompanied by a scoop of potato salad. The chicken wings taste great. The quality of the potato salad varies. The first time I tried this dish, the potato salad wasn’t very good, but the second time, it was creamy and average. The focus really is on the wings themselves. Good.

- Iced Honey Lemon Tea – This is one of my favorite drinks. Iced Tea is served with about 5 slices of lemon with honey as a sweetener. The lemon flavor is very strong, but not overly acidic. Great. If you’ve never tried one, it’s very refreshing, and different from American style iced tea.

- Boil Chicken Lai-Fun Soup – Lai-Fun is a rice noodle that is much like spaghetti in shape, but with different consistency. It’s softer and served less al dente than spaghetti. This noodle also tends to be shorter in length. The lai-fun is served in chicken broth with a seasonal vegetable, (in today’s case, it was lettuce). A dish of chicken accompanies the lai-fun. Finely chopped ginger and green onions are blended with oil and salt to create a dipping sauce. It’s an incredible bargain, and if you like breast meat, the chicken served will suit you perfectly. I prefer dark meat, and there are few pieces of dark meat. Good. $4.75

Another incredible bargain is the menu that allows you to select three items for $15.99. Individually, these dishes are $5.50 each, still an incredible bargain. Here’s an example of what you might find.

- Deep Fried Flounder – An entire flounder is breaded and deep fried and served with sweetened light soy sauce and chopped green onions. It’s incredibly fresh. The breading is light and though the fish is not particularly thick, it’s still quite meaty. With minimal bones, it’s easy to eat.

I have visited D&A multiple times. Some words of warning. The atmosphere is far from one of ambiance. In fact, if you’re lucky, it will be that of a fast food restaurant. The hustle and bustle atmosphere fills the room. At the San Francisco location, you’ll find more small tables and booths, and televisions show the latest Chinese pop star. In the Oakland location, you’ll find several more large tables available, but still limited seating. Also, if you can help it, don’t look in the kitchen and don’t go to the bathroom. The San Francisco bathrooms are slightly more hygienic (though not much more) than the Oakland bathrooms, but don’t go if you don’t have to; it might spoil your meal. As for the kitchen, be grateful that everything is cooked under high heat or deep fried.

Service is typically not very attentive. It’s not always the most polite, but typically it’s bearable. They give you your food, and if you need something, flag someone down. These people are overworked, but they’re fast and efficient.

Great food for excellent prices – D&A is the place to go for both.

3288A Pierce St, Richmond CA 94804
(510) 527-3888
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: Open Daily 9am to 3pm

Last Visited: October 14, 2007

Food: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$$

Enter Daimo and you’ll see lots of people and lots of tables.  The room is bright with light earth tones and dark wood.  There is a bar in the rear which is mostly used as a cash register and the bar near the front is a service station.  The hostess station is never manned and the service seems sometimes haphazard.  The side kitchen allows you to see the barbecued items such as the duck and pork in the window. 

Most of the items were in the two star range due to their quality (or lack thereof) and presentation.  Some of the food deserves three stars for the large portions.  All of the portions, with the exception of the soup, were incredibly large.  The soup gets the three stars. 

- Assorted seafood with tofu soup – Of all the dishes, this was probably the best one.  There’s a little bit of shrimp, some tofu, some egg whites, and other goodies.  The soup was topped with some fine powder that was orange – perhaps some seafood essence or something of the like, but it had a very pungent seafood fragrance.  Not the best soup, but probably the best part of the meal.  $10

- Beef with tomato over fried noodle – This dish wasn’t what I expected.  Most beef with tomato over fried noodles are salty with just a touch of sweetness.  This dish was more like sweet and sour beef (minus pineapple and peppers) over noodles.  The noodles were made Hong Kong style, but the sauce on the tomato beef was too sweet.  The tomato beef also contained some onions which would have been fine, but it just wasn’t what I thought it would be.  If you like sweet and sour beef, you’ll probably like these noodles.  If you like the salty version, this one isn’t for you.  $9.50

- Braised spinach with preserved duck eggs – A lot of spinach is cooked with sliced preserved duck eggs and preserved salted eggs.  The amount of spinach is great, but the quality of the spinach is medium to fair.  There presentation is also fair.  Some restaurants place the egg mixture on top of the spinach, but Daimo just mixes the whole thing together.  This makes the appearance a bit messy and less appetizing.  $11

- Braised tofu with Chinese mushrooms and greens – Baby bok choy is cooked with braised tofu.  The tofu was regular tofu, not the soft kind.  Several tofu pieces had begun to come apart.  The presentation of this dish was also not impressive, and the quality of the dish was fair.  The tofu blocks were soggy and too dark in color.  Since the tofu was broken, it didn’t hold its natural juices.  The flavor was okay, but the tofu texture was a bit dry.  $10

- Won Ton Noodles with Soup – In recent months, I have found myself eating at Daimo more than usual.  For the most part, I’ve been eating lots of won ton noodles with soup.  Five large wontons are served with noodles.  Although the shrimp is abundant, one thing I don’t enjoy about these wontons is the texture.  The pork and shrimp are fine, but something included in the mix results in a powdery consistency.  It may be the egg, or something else they are mixing in as a binding ingredient, but when you bite into the won ton, you’ll see some yellow powdery like substance.  The dish originally would have gotten a 3 to 4 star range, but is downgraded to 2 to 3 because of the powdery content which interferes with proper texture.  If you don’t know what a won ton should taste like, you’ll be okay ordering this dish.  $5.50

- Deep Fried Tofu with Salt and Pepper – Cubed firm tofu is deep fried with a mixture of jalapeno peppers, garlic, green onion, and chili peppers until golden.  Then the tofu is sprinkled with seasoning salt.  Note that this dish includes MSG, but it tastes oh so good.  Crispy texture on the outside and soft on the inside, the flavorful fried garlic and peppers only add to the great tasting treat.  The only point of improvement would be to cut the tofu into uniform pieces.  Good. $5.50

- Sliced Beef with Peppercorns and Rice Noodles – Like many other dishes, you get a huge plate of rice noodles with sliced beef and seasonal greens – today’s vegetable was bok choy.  It comes with a brown sauce made with lots of black pepper.  Although the menu says peppercorns, you don’t actually see any whole peppercorns.  The flavor was okay, but the noodles clumped together a lot and the presentation in a glass dish could look nicer.  Okay. $8

- Rice Porridge – If you like porridge, Daimo is a good stop.  Porridge is pretty easy to make at home and there are lots of variations.  You get a lot of congee so you’re sure to be stuffed with just one bowl.  So far, I’ve tried sliced beef congee, preserved duck egg and salted pork congee, and sliced fish congee.  I would describe their porridge as having good consistency and flavored well. $5.25

I have found that the closer I sit to the kitchen, the better service I get, simply because they pass by your table often.  Otherwise, if you’re on the far side of the restaurant, you can feel neglected.  A major area of improvement would be the order in which food is brought out.  Unless you order from a set menu, you’ll find that appetizers come after main dishes and so forth.  This can be quite disruptive in the sense that you feel bombarded with food instead of one course coming after another. 

Their service rating would have been better, but they committed the major faux pas at the end of dinner.  They took our teacups when clearing the table for dessert.  By the way, dessert is complimentary – usually sweet red bean soup or something of that nature.  However, one should never remove the teacups before the patron leaves.  We asked a staff member for the check, and she seemed to have forgotten about it completely.  It’s a busy place, but that seems all the more reason to be on top of things.  Service varies a lot depending on your server and your location within the restaurant.  We’ve had anything from excellent service to really bad service, so I’ve upgraded their service rating from two stars to two to three stars.

The restrooms weren’t very impressive either.  The area leading to the restroom appears disorganized.  It offers an unnecessary peek into the chaotic kitchen.  Considering Daimo prints the names of local magazines that feature them on their menu, they just seemed a bit overhyped.  Portions are large, but I prefer quality to quantity. 

 

El Burro - Mexican

3100 New Park Mall, Newark CA 94560
(510) 797-3030
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
1875 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell CA 95008
(408) 371-5800

Last Visited: October 22, 2005

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

This lunch visit to the New Park Mall El Burro restaurant was pleasant.  This critique does not apply to the Campbell location.  From the outside, it’s noticeable that the establishment is very large.  Enter El Burro and notice the little niche rooms and different seating areas.  The dining area is quite dark and since we sat in a space lower than the rest of the room (not quite a downstairs area, but we did have to go down some stairs), there wasn’t much that could be seen.  The patio area would be a great place to enjoy a meal on a warm summer evening. 

The wood table has paper placemats and when you arrive, salsa and chips are served.  They also bring glasses of ice water.

El Burro offers two menus – one for lunch and one for dinner.  Although they have a lunch menu, any items from the dinner menu will be served at your request.  However, there are no substitutions or checks accepted.

Los Chicos #1 – One Beef, chicken or cheese enchilada.  These plates are designed for small appetites.  I selected a chicken enchilada.  This dish was served with Spanish rice and refried beans.  I’m not sure how this dish compares in size to an Especialidades Enchiladas which offered the same dish, but for a dime more.  The enchilada was comprised of chicken, and covered with enchilada sauce.  My dining companion ordered a burrito with meat, and the burrito seemed to be a giant enchilada.  There weren’t any additional items in the burrito.  The only difference was size.  All of the items are served on a hot large white oval plate.  The rice is loose and well flavored.  The beans are topped with a lot of melted cheddar cheese.  Overall, it had good flavor, but seemed a little greasier than expected. 

The service was fine – not too intrusive, and not neglecting.  Overall, the experience was good, but not fantastic.  The setting is great for large parties, but the food quality is not something to get ecstatic about. 

 

Juan's Place - Mexican

941 Carleton St., Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 845-6904
Parking: ample street parking

Last Visited: September 25, 2003

Food: 2 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

There are bars on the windows and the windows in the ceiling. I suggest locating the exits in case of emergency; I don’t know if the bars can be opened. Parking is easy to find.

rve two kinds of chips. One is a very light and flaky chip, kind of tostada-like. It may be a bit oily for some tastes. The other is a regular hard tortilla chip. The salsa is good – one red, one green. The green one is a little bit hotter.

- Chicken Enchilada – This enchilada is filled with breast meat. This might be great for some tastes, but it wasn’t shredded very well, more like chunks. Enchilada sauce was okay in flavor.

- Chicken Mole – I’m not a big fan of mole in the first place. Again, this dish was made with breast meat. Seemed to be okay, but nothing too special.

- Guacamole – They have good guacamole. I’m not raving about it, but I like how they have three sizes available – The smallest size works fine as a dip or side for two people.

- Flan - The flan is straight from the refrigerator, so it’s still has a chill to it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m not a big fan of flan, and this dish didn’t make me become a fan of it either.

Overall, I would go back for the chips, and maybe the guacamole. Rumor had it that this is the best Mexican food in Berkeley. I would suggest looking elsewhere for a new place to bestow this title.

Le Cheval - French/Vietnamese

1007 Clay Street, Oakland CA 94607
(510) 763-8495
Parking: street parking and pay parking in nearby lot
Hours: M-Sat 11am to 9:30pm, Sun 5pm to 9:30pm

Last Visited: January 29, 2005

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$

Open since 1985, Le Cheval is a bright and open restaurant with high ceilings and large windows.  Enter Le Cheval and you see the large dining room with the wood bar in the rear.  The windows bring in a lot of light into the room during the day.  The walls are a creamy pink color with more dark colors on the light background.  There are pictures of horses, plants hanging from the walls, paintings, and Asian panel art throughout the restaurant walls and columns.  Light fixtures and large fans hang from the ceiling.  More light fixtures are also placed throughout the room.   The rear of the restaurant contains several wood bars.  One is for the cash register.  Another is dedicated to the full bar.  The ceiling is painted black.  Greenish-yellow foam rectangles are placed on the ceiling in a checkerboard pattern, most likely to absorb sound.

The tables contain short glasses flipped over, a napkin with a fork and spoon.  Chopsticks arrive later with a pitcher of water.  The chairs are dark wood with green cushions.

For lunch today, we were also given a complimentary soup as soon as we arrived.  The soup was yellow with carrots and onions, with the main ingredient being potato.  The soup was very filling.  It would have been better if they had give us soup after ordering (this wasn’t consistently practiced with all tables – some received it before ordering while others received it after) so that people wouldn’t be deterred from ordering the soup available on the menu.

- Le Cheval combo – This combo comes with a pork kebab, prawn kebab, fried chicken drummets, an imperial roll, and French rice.  French rice is rice cooked with butter and tomato sauce so that it has a reddish texture.  The flavor of French rice is light, and tastes okay, but I think I prefer white rice.  The pork kebab from the grill is great.  The slight amount of fat on the pork gives it a softer texture and the flavor is sweet and salty.  Very good.  I would order pork kebabs on their own in the future.  The prawn kebab contains three prawns.  I found the shell to have been slightly tough, making it harder to remove from the shrimp, but the meat is still juicy and tender.  I still preferred the pork kebab more.  The imperial roll is deep fried until crisp and golden brown.  Inside is roll is ground chicken, bean threads, mushrooms, and carrots.  The roll is crispy and has a meaty texture, but is in a form that is unexpected.  A side of cucumber slices, pickled carrot and turnip strips, shredded lettuce, and nuoc mam (sweet dipping sauce) accompany the meat and roll.  This is a great way to sample multiple items in small quantities and try out the excellent flavor.  $8.25

- Steamed fine rice vermicelli with beef kebab.  This dish is really fun.  You receive a platter containing fresh carrot strips, bean sprouts, cucumber slices, green lettuce leaves, two beef kebabs, rice vermicelli topped with a mixture of stir fried shallots, green onions, and peanuts, and a stack of rice paper wrappers.  Nuoc mam is served on the side, and you receive a large soup bowl which they fill with hot water.  You dip the rice paper wrapper in the water and when the wrapper is hydrated, it’s ready for you to fill with the different vegetables and as much meat as you like.  You can continue wrapping as long as you want, or just eat the items on the dish by themselves.  It’s a lot of fun playing with the various combinations.  The beef is grilled until just right and has a great grilled flavor.  Excellent. $10.95

The service as a whole is fair.  There was one server who was very pleasant to us when we asked for extra napkins, otherwise the service rating would have been 2 to 3 stars.  It’s very rough service from the moment you come in to the moment you leave, but this may be a cultural thing.  Our check came midway through the meal before we had even touched the second dish.  This unnecessary rush interrupts the meal.  If we had wanted dessert, it would feel like we had missed our chance.  Even though one of the hosts was sitting near the exit, she seemed to stare off into space as she sat staring at the dining room when she could have been giving a goodbye greeting to the patrons leaving the restaurant.  These simple touches don’t go unnoticed.  Unfortunately, she was not interested and in her own world.

The four star atmosphere was downgraded due to the noise level.  The lunch hour had reached beyond its halfway point and the dishwasher must have just finished a load since there was a lot of noise related to organizing the silverware.  There was a lot of shaking of chopsticks and preparation for the next shift.  Since its presence was more than noticeable, the atmosphere rating was reduced.

The food is very good, and if you want some good quality food, try out Le Cheval for a nice atmosphere and wide selection.

Legendary Palace - Chinese

708 Franklin Street, Oakland CA 94607
(510) 663-9188
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 17, 2004

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

During my visit, Legendary Palace was having a special with a 20% discount on dim sum when dining Monday through Friday and a 10% discount for dining on Saturdays. Also, they had a special of no tea charge.

Outside, Legendary Palace is quite grand looking. It’s highly decorated, with fancy colors like a royal Chinese palace and well, you just need to step back a moment and take a look. It’s a two story building that occupies the entire corner at the intersection of Franklin and 7th Street. Upon entering, you first notice the large size of the room with its high ceilings and sparkle from the numerous chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. They also have a dining area on the second floor.

We sat near the far wall with the large blanket of red velvet with a gold Chinese character on it symbolizing double happiness. Despite the fancy appearance, it’s a very casual place, from the patrons to the wait staff demeanor.

The good:
- Deep Fried Turnover with Minced Meat – Pork and dried mushrooms are placed in a sweet rice dumpling and deep fried. The consistency of the dumpling was good, and the filling tasted as it should. Still a bit crunchy on the outside, this was one of the better dishes. Three turnovers per dish.

- Deep Fried Sesame Balls - Red bean paste is stuffed inside dough rolled into a ball and deep fried. The sesame balls were still warm, and the texture was good – crispy on the outside and soft inside. This was also one of the better dishes. Three sesame balls per dish.

- Shrimp Wrapped in Tofu Skin and Deep Fried – Shrimp, bamboo shoots, and other vegetables are folded into tofu skins, braised, then steamed. They were steaming hot and flavorful. Good. Three rolls per plate.

- Steamed Spare ribs – Spare ribs are steamed in a garlic sauce. The consistency of the spare ribs was good – soft in texture and the sauce is not overpowering. The sauce could be a bit more flavorful by adding black beans or jalapenos. Also, this is the first place I have seen put taro root underneath the spare ribs. The good thing is that the taro was good, and it absorbs the flavor of the sauce, but the bad thing is that the taro occupies more plate space meaning less spare ribs.

- Har gao – Shrimp dumpling – The presentation of the steamed shrimp dumpling in a rice wrapper was good, and there was multiple shrimp inside each dumpling. The flavor was good. Four har gao to a plate.

The average:
- Shrimp Noodle Roll – Shrimp is placed in a rice noodle roll and steamed. This dish was average. It was on the bottom of a stack which means that it had been out of the steamer a while. It was cold making the dish lose a lot of its appeal.

- Pork dumpling – The presentation of the pork dumpling is typical with the orange shrimp roe on top, but the wrapper is more yellow than typical. The flavor of the dumpling was good, so that makes up for the presentation. Four dumplings per plate.

Now, onto the noodle dishes.

- Seafood Combination Pan Fried Noodles, Hong Kong Style – Scallops, fish, and squid along with seasonal greens are cooked in a sauce served over pan fried noodles made Hong Kong Style (which means pan fried, so the outer edges of the noodle which is a bit like a fluffy pancake are crunchy). The flavor of the sauce is good, and the texture of the seafood and vegetables are tender, but there is a bit too much sauce which make the noodles a little too soggy. A little less sauce would have made this dish perfect.

- Beef Chow Fun (Dry Style) – Chow Fun is pan fried with bean sprouts, beef, and yellow chives. The chow fun was very good with the fun being loose from other fun and the texture was good. Each fun was thin and had absorbed the color of the soy sauce used to cook it. The beef chow fun was good – hard to make it better except perhaps a little bit hotter in temperature.

One thing I was disappointed about was the restroom. On the first floor, there’s only one woman’s restroom. I hear there are at least two stalls in the restroom upstairs, but downstairs, the men’s restroom has multiple stalls, but the ladies’ does not. The line is impeccable. Seating a multitude of tables, the facilities should have more restrooms. The restroom is actually pretty nice, but the lack of maintenance turns it into a pig sty, completely unappealing to patrons. The men’s room was not much better. Another disappointment was the wait staff. Since they are serving dim sum during the lunch hour, there are a number of carts being pushed through the facility. However, when you get up to go use the restroom, the wait staff doesn’t let you walk through the narrow aisles first. They pretty much plunge through without a thought. Some training would definitely benefit this establishment and raise the level of service to the same level equal that of the décor. Overall, food is average, service could use improvement, but the atmosphere is nice minus the restroom.

Marica - Seafood

5301 College Ave, Oakland CA 94618
(510) 985-8388
Hours: 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm daily
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: December 30, 2003

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$

The company you dine with can affect your meal so much, making any bad experience almost humorous, or a good experience even better. I enjoyed great company at this restaurant. That may have made the evening slightly better. Hank had mentioned his great evening at Marica, so I thought it would be a good place to try.

First, the atmosphere. Marica is located in the Rockridge district. It’s smaller than I anticipated, but very quaint. The wood bar takes up quite a bit of the restaurant and behind it is a brick wall Mirrors make the place feel a little bigger than actual size. Upon entering, the bar is on the left, and a small cove that houses two tables is on the right. Funky green lamps hang from the ceiling above, and there are blue draperies to soften the edges of the room. There are also fluorescent lights above. The bar has tall Illuminations type lamps with vintage style burgundy lampshades. In front of the kitchen entrance in the back of the room was a tall rectangular blue light structure with an M in the top center. It’s a trendy place with jazzy music in the background. Quiet in the early part of the evening, and by the end of the night, the room was full of patrons and the noise level also had elevated. The tables and chairs are all light wood finish, and the tables have tealight candles placed in small glasses filled with colored plastic rocks.

Upon arrival, our water glasses were filled and crusty country style French bread had arrived at the table with a cube of butter. The bread is room temperature, but soft and chewy on the inside, crusty on the outside.

The menu is one page with specials that are not listed. Chef Christopher Cheung is well known for his seafood selections. The food is best described as four stars with three star accents. It was tough determining the food rating for Marica. Portions of the dishes were excellent and between the four and five star range. The accompaniments to these same dishes seemed to pull them in the direction of a three, so I gave it between a three and four. Presentation of all the food was very nice.

- Fried oysters with chipotle dipping sauce - The fried oysters were large and breaded with seasoned breadcrumbs. They were fried and accompanied with chipotle sauce and a lightly dressed green salad with chopped beets on the side. The oysters were excellent – hot in temperature and very flavorful. The oysters are a good example of the five star quality that can be achieved at Marica. However, the accompanying salad had a few wilted leaves, beyond the point of wilting. Granted, the majority of the salad was very good, but seeing more than one leaf that had deteriorated spoiled the overall impression of the dish. $9

- Petrale Sole Meuniere - The sole is served with gruyere gratin potatoes. Here is another example of a four to five star dish with three star accompaniments. The petrale sole is floured and sautéed in brown butter with white wine; it was fresh and tender. Served with a wedge of lemon, it tasted great. It’s topped with celery, carrots, mushrooms, and other sautéed vegetables, which alone, tasted a bit bland - or overpowering if you bit into a piece of ginger - and detracted from the flavor of the fish. The dish is also accompanied with green beans and roasted red peppers. The potatoes are thinly sliced, and piled densely together with the gruyere cheese. It was served in a cube, or as someone at the table put it, a potato brownie. A bit too densely packed, preventing the cheese flavors from mingling with the potatoes. Overall, the fish and the green beans were good, but the remainder of the dish detracted from it. $17

- Banana Foster – A cube of butter is melted and sliced bananas are caramelized in it; then rum is added and flambé all of it. The foster was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The flavor of rum was very strong, a bit too strong. Otherwise, it was very good – by the third bite, the vanilla ice cream had started to melt into the sauce and all the flavors were combined together. However, as one person at the table put it, you just paid 6 bucks for a banana. Not for the weak of wallet. $6

Portions of all the dishes were large. Below is a list of other dishes that were ordered at the table that I did not taste, but provides an idea of the menu. The cream of mushroom soup looked hearty and well blended with a creamy texture. Filet mignon ($23) on top of a mound of mashed potatoes is served with a demiglace and green beans, the vegetable of the evening. Poached New Zealand Blue Nose Sea Bass ($18.50) is served with crabmeat and chanterelles in a saffron cream sauce. The strands of saffron top the sea bass. Nicely presented but people were looking for a spoon to enjoy the sauce. The same situation occurred with the Seafood Stew ($19.50) – scallops, halibut, and shrimp - that came with a cognac lobster sauce. The stew is also accompanied by a gruyere cheese soufflé. Twice cooked Maine lobster ($25) is sauteed in Asian spices and served with a noodle cake. Bread pudding is served in a round tower and topped with ice cream, although this one toppled, but our server was quite apologetic about this. Crème brulee was served in a custard cup. Both desserts looked appetizing and again, a healthy serving.

Service is pleasant with two servers for the entire room. They were quite accommodating, friendly, and ready to answer any questions our party had. The only thing to improve upon was keeping a better eye on filling the water glasses. The restrooms were clean, but as the night wore on, it seemed some patrons had showered the toilet seats, so the only other bit of improvement is keeping an eye on the restrooms and their level of cleanliness throughout the evening. The same wood and drapery style of the dining area is carried through to the décor of the restroom.

Mario's La Fiesta - Mexican

2444 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 540-9123
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: September 1, 2007

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Jay first introduced me to Mario’s La Fiesta. I was stuck in a confusing place of being frustrated since I never knew what to order when going to a Mexican restaurant, and when I ordered at random, disaster often occurred. Jay opened the door to Mexican food again, and ever since, I’ve been more brave about trying out new dishes. This was around 2001.  Read to the end to get a more recent review.

This restaurant is located right on Telegraph, in the heart of the university area, so it is constantly populated by college students, but you’ll find a variety of patrons. The long room has one table running down the center of the restaurant with other tables and booths adjacent to both walls. From the ceiling hangs a multitude of colorful decorations. You just have to go in and see it.

It’s been a long time since I have been back, but it’s definitely a restaurant I would return to. The best items there are the Super Burrito, the Super Nachos, Chicken Flautas (this was the first place I had ever tried a flauta). Note that I’ve been so happy with these dishes that I haven’t really gotten around to trying the other stuff, but thus far, I haven’t been disappointed. Their agua frescas are also excellent! Thanks Jay!

I finally had the opportunity to return in 2007, but even though the menu had all of the familiar dishes, La Fiesta lacked the things I missed about it most.  The tables still had the pitcher of water and the small containers of salsa with a large spoon in it.  The familiarity of the atmosphere swept across me as I entered.  However, the overall experience was lacking in terms of the food and service.

- Super Burrito - Although the price remains reasonable, the quality has changed.  There could be several reasons.  The quality could be just the same, but my standards and expectations have gone up.  Or, the quality of the flavor and texture has gone down.  Whatever the case may be, I found the burrito, though containing fresh tomatoes, rice, beans, chicken, peas, sour cream, and guacamole, to lack flavor.  The tortilla was soft, but I’ve had much better burritos.  Under $6

As for service, we were quickly seated and the menus came quickly, but since it was a game day, and there were some people waiting at the door, we were asked for our table with barely even an hour of sitting.  Although the situation is understandable, again, it’s a matter of expectations.  I remember being able to sit at La Fiesta for a leisurely lunch or dinner despite the line forming outside.  Alas, I’ve grown out of La Fiesta – there is so much good Mexican food around now that the competition has gotten stiffer.  The prices and portions are a better value at other locations.  At least the interesting conversation with my fellow tablemates made up for the lackluster experience.

Orchid Bowl Cafe - Chinese/Portuguese

3288 Pierce St #C-136, Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 559-7888
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Open Daily: 11am to 10pm

Last Visited: May 21, 2005

Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Formerly part of Sheng Kee Bakery, the location now has been separated to house the Orchid Bowl Cafe.  Adjacent to the counter near the entry is cushioned seating on one side facing the dining area and chairs on the other side of these tables.  On the far side of the restaurant is booth sitting.  Next to the windows are tables for four, and in the center are large circular tables.  The room has a fresh look to it.  The rear has a bar containing bright lamps with colorful shades. 

All along the windows are menus posted for those outside to see.  It's a fast pace type of place offering a variety of dishes, from shark fin soup to toast.  They have many Portuguese items as well as American food cooked Chinese style and traditional Chinese dishes as well.  Orchid Bowl  offers a taste of Chinese café food with multiple drink offerings (red bean ice with ice cream, almond mix, and fruit ice for example) and some unique desserts (steamed egg custard, guling gao, and the like).

During the Happy Hour (mid afternoon), they offer discounted prices for dishes and lots of things under $5.

- Seafood Pan Fried Noodle – Scallops, shrimp, squid, and bok choy in a light colored but thick sauce are served over Hong Kong pan fried noodles.  The noodles had a great golden color to them and excellent crunch.  The seafood was fresh, but the scallops had definitely been frozen previously and the texture of the scallops was odd (a bit powdery).  The color of scallops was also unusual, and left a bad impression in my mind.  Good dish except for the scallops.   $6

- Beef Chow Fun – Slices of beef are stir fried with yellow onion and chow fun.  The chow fun took on a nice color from the soy sauce and was separated well.  The ‘wok air’ was very good.  The dish had good flavor.  Great. $5.50

There are definitely a few points that Orchid Bowl needs to improve upon.  The tea doesn’t have much flavor.  It’s got color, but lacks taste.  The dishware also needs to be cleaned more thoroughly.  Some of the dishes and chopsticks I saw could use an additional rinse.  The service was fair – a bit rushed and they don’t come back to check on you, particularly as the place gets filled.

Orchid Bowl would have gotten a three star food rating, but the scallops left me with a bad impression.  I would definitely try Orchid Bowl again though.  I want to try their Portuguese dishes next.

Restaurant Peony - Chinese

388 9th St # 288, Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 286-8866
Parking: in parking structure

Last Visited: 2001

Food: 0 stars (was 3 stars)
Atmosphere: not rated
Service: 0 stars (was 2 to 3 stars)
Price: $$ to $$$

I have been boycotting Restaurant Peony for the past couple of years due to the most recent experience I had there.

Restaurant Peony has a reputation for being one of the nicer Chinese restaurants in Oakland. We had ordered a very nice Westlake Beef soup to start our meal and were ready to enjoy an array of dishes. After the first bowl of soup, the manager of the restaurant came to refill our bowls. As he ladled the first refill, a clothespin appeared in the soup. First, for those who are unfamiliar with clothespins in the kitchen, they are often used to identify which table a dish should be served to by attaching the clothespin to the plate. What was most unfortunate was that this clothespin was filthy and black. Even worse, the manager took the clothespin out of the soup with his fingers. Even more shocking, he just took it out of the soup without comment, pretending that we couldn’t see him as he did this. There was no apology by the manager or any other personnel, and needless to say, our appetites were completely ruined.

It was shocking and amazing that something so blatantly wrong wasn’t acknowledged in the slightest. No more soup for us. As the other dishes came, we did a thorough inspection. When the bill came for the meal, we were still charged for the soup! Unbelievable but true! After complaining about the bill, the manager was still fairly reluctant. We had to tell him we saw the clothespin before he deducted the cost of the soup. Incredible!

I wholeheartedly recommend you go elsewhere!

 

Ray's Sushi - Japanese

888 West A St, Hayward CA 94541
(510) 887-0701
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: Lunch – M to F 11:30am to 2:30pm, Sat 12 to 2:30pm; Dinner – M-Th 5:30 to 9:30pm, Fri-Sat – 5 to 10pm, Sun – 5 to 9:30pm

Last Visited: March 4, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Enter Ray’s and find a sculpture with water running down it. There is a hallway leading to private rooms on the left side, and the main dining room is to the right. At the entrance, there is a view of the kitchen. The walls are a light cream color.

On one of the walls are windows that have white Japanese screens with black grids covering them. This gives the room a more authentic feel. Large prints of Asian modern are displayed on the walls from calligraphy on gold print to multicolored designs. The prints are available for sale.

The room has an open feel. From the ceiling hangs track lighting and in the middle of the room are lights that remind me of flying saucers, except you can see the wiring that holds them mid-air. These lights have a light green glass and rigid thin black poles hold them in place.

The tables are maple in color with the grain running along the length of the tabletop, and the cushioned chairs match the tables. Two menus are available. One menu contains all the sushi along with color pictures of all the rolls. The other menu contains the combos available and the dinner entrees.

Upon our arrival came very hot tea. The tea was so hot that I couldn’t hold the teacup for very long. This gives them bonus points. The Japanese restaurants I have been patronizing lately seem to have lukewarm tea, and that’s just not a good sign. The cups are brown and tan in design, and the plates are colorful in blue/green rectangles for some, black for others, and more.

Since we had such a large party, we tried a number of rolls. Ray’s Sushi has an impressive menu of rolls that you may not find elsewhere, but they have the standard items too. Some unusual rolls include Crazy Monkey Roll, Golden Gate Roll, and Lion King Roll. Fortunately, since their menu shows the picture, and they’re pretty true to the photo, you’ll know what you’re about to receive.

Since there were so many in our party, and I didn’t do the ordering, these descriptions are more on the vague side. We ordered so many rolls that I lost track of what we were having, though all tasted good and looked lovely.

- 30 pieces Assorted Sashimi – A variety of sashimi tops a stack of thinly shredded turnip and is served on an enormous plate. The presentation is quite nice on the colorful plate. The slices of sashimi are generous – almost an inch thick. Unlike other places which slice the meat very thin, you’ll find that each piece packs a big bite, and in some cases, multiple bite. It’s chef’s choice, but you’ll find some items fairly standard. We got three pieces of each type of fish – katsuo, maguro, and tai to name a few. $35.95 (Sashimi is also available in 10 pieces $15.95/$20 pieces $27.95)

- Shrimp Tempura – The tempura is served with miso soup, green salad, and steamed rice for entrees. I think we got ours a la carte because I don’t remember seeing these other items. The tempura is served in a straw basket/hammock with dipping sauce. Again, presentation is nice. The shrimp tempura is accompanied by vegetable tempura – carrots, mushrooms, yam, and possibly other items. I tried a carrot slice, and it tasted fresh and crisp. $10.95

- Miso Shiro – Hot miso soup with tofu, seaweed, and fresh scallions.  Great. $1.50

Here are the rolls that stood out for me. All the other rolls are pretty much a blur.

- 49er’s Roll – Avocado, cucumber, and tobiko are placed in a roll. The roll is then topped with salmon sashimi style and a very thin slice of lemon (including the lemon rind). The roll has a fresh look and the lemon accents the salmon very well. A very refreshing roll. $7.50

- Dynamite Roll – Avocado and daikon sprouts are placed in a roll and topped with spicy tuna and scallion. The combination tasted good, but I have little memory of what it looked like, and unfortunately, the take out menus don’t show any of the pictures. $6.50

- Chris Roll – Real crab, avocado, and unagi are placed inside a roll. It’s a great combination – not much to say except - Yum. $6.95

- Super California Roll – A California roll is topped with unagi and avocado. Inside the roll part is crab. The super California roll looks a lot like the Chris Roll except with the unagi on top instead of inside the roll. $6.95

- Two Balls No Strike – This is one of the most memorable specials. Two avocado halves are sliced thinly and fanned out. Underneath the avocado is spicy salmon chunks mixed with tobiko. The avocadoes are huge. A great tasting combination, but not the best value, although a great one to indulge upon.  The price hasn’t changed since the last visit (fortunately), but it’s still not a bargain.  Also, the avocado was riper last time.  This time, it was a bit hard which means the avocado doesn’t have the creamy texture that melts in your mouth.  Worth trying once, but not more than that.  $11.50

- Lion King Roll – This is one of the hot rolls. A California roll is topped with salmon filet and baked. It’s sides are wrapped in foil creating a wonderful boat-like appearance.  The only thing that could make this roll better is to leave the salmon slightly undercooked. Otherwise while it’s resting, the salmon can get overdone, so remember to eat this one fast.  It’s rich in flavor and quite filling.  Very good. $9.50

- Ray’s Roll – Yam tempura is wrapped inside a roll and topped with fried unagi. Just a little crunchy with sweetness from the unagi.  The sauce accompanying this roll is very sweet, so know that in advance.  The price of this one went up by more than 10%, but it’s still a bargain considering the portion. $6.75

- Dragon Roll – The dragon roll is comprised of shrimp tempura rolled in rice and topped with unagi, avocado, and crab.  The portion is again large, but the tempura wasn’t very crispy.  The tails of the shrimp were poking out of both ends, and although it looked impressive, the final flavor wasn’t as good as the looks.  Okay. $9.50

All the rolls were fresh and fairly large in size. It felt like a mix and match of similar ingredients, but they’re quite creative with each item’s presentation. You’ll find all of your favorites. The avocado is especially fresh, and anything with avocado seems to taste just that much better.

What I didn’t like about Ray’s is that they were pushy. About 15 minutes past our reservation, they wanted us to order despite the fact that more than half of our party hadn’t arrived yet. They shared with us that they had allotted an hour and a half for us to eat and that they would be needing the table. Although I understand the need to do business, I think it’s rude to allot that timeframe to the table. Even before all of our dishes had arrived, they had already given us the bill. Aside from that, service was okay, but not wonderful.

Another issue was that some of the dishes had rice on them. The cups had rice stuck to them, and the dishes seemed to have a twig on them here and there. This downgraded their otherwise higher atmosphere score by one star. Their staff also seemed like they could be a bit more knowledgeable in describing some of the items. We asked about one of the sashimi since nobody knew what it was, but had to talk to three staff members before someone could explain what it was.

The fish quality is fresh, and the rolls are original. Portions are above average. Keep in mind that you may be on a time budget, and keep an eye on your dishware. You’re sure to enjoy the great food. Try out the rolls.

Service was very bizarre during my second visit.  The level of service was highly dependent on the server.  Some would announce the dish they were bringing as they placed it on the table.  Others didn’t.  Of course, since we were still new to the establishment, I found the announcement helpful, and the lack thereof disappointing.  The main reason for reducing the service rating was the refilling of tea.  Upon our arrival, fresh tea was poured and given to us in teacups.  However, we asked one waiter near the end of our meal to refill the tea.  The lack of people checking on tea levels wasn’t good for starters.  What was worse was that the waiter forgot to bring the tea.  We had to ask another staff member for tea.  This second person almost forgot, but was quite apologetic as he took a chair from our table for another table he was setting up and soon brought us an entire pot of tea.  The tea this round was weak, but I was happy that he left the pot with us.  The waiter we had asked for tea from originally then proceeded to come to our table, pick up the pot, pour tea into our cups, and take the pot away!  I was alarmed.  This just isn’t something you should do if you’ve brought it to the table.  It’s a serious Asian faux pas.  For this reason, I dropped the rating to two stars.

Since my last visit in 2004, prices have gone up, and service has gone down.  I’ve adjusted the Food rating from four stars to 3 to 4 stars and service has dropped from three stars to 2 stars.  Portions remain very good.  Updates have been made to several descriptions above both in price and comments.  Ray’s is not meant for the sushi purist, but more for the type who enjoys creative concoctions.

   

Saigon Seafood Harbor - Chinese - CLOSED

3150 Pierce St, Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 559-9388
Parking: in parking lot

Last Visited: March 4, 2006

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Saigon has now taken over the restaurant formerly known as Banana Garden. With the takeover, they have increased the quantity of parking lot spaces available and opened up both dining rooms to accommodate more patrons.

Although the restaurant is informal in style, they attempt to go for a more professional look by having their bus boys dress in bright royal blue Asian style shirts and other like uniforms. The restaurant is wallpapered with light yellow paper and large colorful fish. When I say large, I’m referring to the fish that are about 3/4 the height of the wallpaper itself. In addition to colorful fish, you’ll see lobster and other seafood displayed on the wallpaper. Near the kitchen, much seafood is displayed and you can see the fresh quality of ingredients. The service is definitely not high caliber, but they try. On my second visit, I found the service to be better than my first visit. The staff came by our table frequently to fill our teapot and refill each of our teacups. The dining room feels very open with windows along the front wall of the restaurant. The presentation of their dishes lies in the plates and bowls being used. They have jade green teacups, and other trendy Asian style dishware.

During lunch, there is a tea charge of $1 per person. Our tea came in a metal pot, and it seemed that the flavor of the tea took quite a long time to get infused into the water, but as time wore on, the flavor did penetrate through becoming quite flavorful. Also, the metal pot surprisingly kept the water quite hot to the end of the meal.

During the lunch hour, they also offer dim sum. Some of the dishes are less typical of Cantonese dim sum while others are quite traditional. Dim sum prices increment from $2 to $2.50 to $3.50 and up depending on the dish.

- Won ton noodles – Five large wontons containing several shrimp and pork in each wonton are served with Hong Kong style noodles in broth in a jade green or brown bowl. The wontons had good flavor and the noodles were al dente as they should be. The overall portion of the noodles was on the smaller side, but the wontons make up for that. The broth was flavorful and clean. Four stars. The only improvement would be more noodles. On my second visit, I found the quantity of noodles to be more sufficient. This bumps it up to five stars. $4.25

- Beef chow fun – Chow fun is pan fried dry style and served with slices of beef, onions, and green onions. This dish is also often accompanied with bean sprouts. The fun is presented on a black square plate which makes them look very appetizing. The flavor of this dish was a little bland for me, and the color could be a bit more golden brown. There were also too many onions for my taste. Pricing for this dish is slightly on the expensive side for this type of restaurant but not outrageous. $7

- Sesame balls – Three deep fried sesame balls are filled with lotus paste. This dish falls under the small dim sum plate category. The dessert was fried to perfection – golden brown, light and crispy in texture, and slightly sticky inside. The lotus paste was sweet and creamy. Very good. The only improvement would be increasing the amount of lotus paste inside the ball. $2

- Beef balls – Beef is ground and cilantro is added to the meat along with other spices to create beef balls which are placed on top of tofu skin is then steamed. The three beef balls in each dish are then dressed in Worcestershire sauce. The beef balls were tender and the flavor of the sauce was not diluted as it can be at some restaurants. Very good. $2

- Shrimp and chive dumpling – Three dumplings filled with small pieces of shrimp and Chinese chives are served in a sticky rice wrapper. The chives have a strong pungent flavor and are nicely paired with the shrimp. Good. $2.50

- Shrimp dumpling (har gao) – Four dumplings are filled with a large piece of shrimp flavored with spices. The dumpling tasted as it should and had a clean flavor. It remained intact when picked up with chopsticks so it passed the test. Very good. $2.50

- Shrimp in fried tofu skin – Shrimp is placed in tofu skin and folded into rectangles then fried. This produces a flaky skin around tender shrimp. It is accompanied with a soy sauce based dipping sauce. This dish was a little on the oily side for me. The tofu skin should be lighter and flakier with the shrimp inside being hot in temperature. This one could use a little improvement, but is at least average. $3.50

- Frog and rice in Bamboo Case - Frog, Chinese sausage, and Chinese preserved pork along with ginger and garlic are placed over rice. All of this is placed in a bamboo case lined with a lotus leaf and steamed. The end result is tender frog and a flavorful sauce that blends with the rice. Excellent. It’s worth trying for the presentation alone. This dish also comes with the soup of the day which on this day was a light broth with a melon flavor. $7.50

- Steamed Spare ribs - These spare ribs are steamed with a little bit of spice. The spare ribs were tender and had excellent flavor. Temperature was also very hot making them just that much better. Very good.

- Fried taro dumplings - Taro paste is stuffed with meat and deep fried to with crunchy outer wisps that create a shell. These three dumplings had been sitting a while, so though they were still warm, but the oil had started to come out of the dumpling making them slightly soggy. Fair.

- Pork dumplings - Four petite pork dumplings are wrapped in a thin skin and steamed. Orange shrimp roe is placed on top of the dumplings. The flavor was good and presentation was nice. The dish would be even better if served hotter in temperature. Good.

- Shrimp noodle roll - shrimp is wrapped in rice noodle rolls and served with sweet soy sauce. Another dish that would be better hotter, but the flavor was good. Good.

- Braised Chicken Feet – Large chicken feet are braised until plump and tender.  With just the right spices and seasoning, the chicken feet have a delicious and satisfying flavor.  Very good.

During my dinner experience, despite a smaller crowd, I found the service to be lacking yet again. The attitude of the servers are fine, but you just get a general sense of neglect after your food has arrived at your table. Waiting for your bill can feel like it takes hours and even though the staff stares at your table to check on you as they pass by, nobody seems to want to do anything about it. The only attentive part was checking that the teapot was full.

The dinner menu is fairly simple. There are regular dishes available year round. The seafood is listed to give all the offerings and how each type of seafood can be served (e.g. curry, ginger and scallions, etc). All the prices are listed as seasonal on the menu. The prices are listed above the seafood holding tanks, but note that they are all in Chinese. If you can’t read Chinese, you’ll want to ask your server before ordering, and don’t forget to ask about how many pounds you’ll be getting because price is by the pound.

- Cod fillet with tender greens – The cod fillet pieces were very nicely done, soft and not overcooked or mushy. The freshness gave the fish a succulent flavor. Snow peas, celery, and yellow chives were the tender greens of the evening served with the dish and the color contrast made the dish even more inviting. The snow peas were bright green and crispy, not overcooked. The fish and vegetables were sautéed with very small pieces of garlic and lightly salted to enhance the flavor further. $8.50

- Braised bean curd with tender greens and black mushrooms – Bean curd is braised to a lovely golden brown. The tender greens in this dish was baby bok choy. The shitake mushrooms are large and cooked until soft. The sauce helps the dish to come together in flavor nicely. The one thing that would make this dish better is for the tofu to be cooked at a higher temperature to give it an even better texture. $8.50

Overall, the food is good. Service could be refined, and atmosphere could be improved, but the restaurant is worthy of another visit for the food alone. Atmosphere is highly dependent on where you are seated. On my first visit, I was seated near the restrooms and bus station, so it wasn’t nearly as good as the second time. My second visit was near the main walkway, but overall, it was better. You’ll like the food if you don’t mind the hustle and bustle atmosphere of the restaurant.

 

Shan Dong - Chinese

328 20th St, Oakland CA 94607
(510) 839-2299
Hours: Closed Mondays, Sun – Thurs: 10am to 9:30pm, Fri – Sat: 10am to 10pm
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: July 3, 2004

Food: 3 stars
Service: 1 star
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Shan Dong serves Mandarin style food. If you don’t know what that means, Mandarin/Shanghai style food usually has some hot and spicy dishes and typically includes handmade dumplings and noodles.

Shan Dong has a simple setup. There is a counter and open kitchen on the front left and the dining area is wide open with round tables in the center and rectangular tables on the side of the restaurant. There are short