Critics Choice: Specialty Cocktails
Tamarine
546 University Ave. (at Tasso), Palo Alto
(650) 325-8500
Rating: THREE STAR
Price: $$$
Noise: THREE BELLS
Lunch weekdays, dinner daily
Vietnamese food with California twist. Special cocktails,
like Gingermint with rum, ginger, mint, lime. - M.B..
Bambuddha Lounge
601 Eddy St. (near Polk Street), S.F.
(415) 885-5088
Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS
Price: $$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Dinner Tues.-Sat.
Sexy environment serves vibrant food from Asia. Creative
cocktails, such as the ginger or lychee martinis. - M.B..
Bix
56 Gold St. (near Jackson Street), S.F.
(415) 433-6300
Rating: THREE STAR
Price: $$$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Lunch Fri., dinner daily
Supper club offers some excellent food. Also known for
classic cocktails. - M.B.
Eastside West
3154 Fillmore St. , S.F.
(415) 885-4000
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun.
Great oysters, minty mojitos, live jazz and an all-around
good time. Try the Ketel One vodka-oyster martini. - M.B..
Habana
2080 Van Ness Avenue (at Pacific), S.F.
(415) 441-2822
Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS
Price: $$$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Dinner daily
Interesting and exotic food with a Cuban twist; fantastical
tropical atmosphere and renowned mojitos. - M.B..
Mecca
2029 Market St., S.F.
(415) 621-7000
Rating: THREE STAR
Price: $$$
Noise: BOMB
Dinner Tues.-Sun.
Castro supper club features eclectic American-style menu
and good list of cocktails. - M.B..
Olive Bar
743 Larkin St., S.F.
(415) 776-9814
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$
Noise: BOMB
Dinner Mon.-Sat.
Fun, stylish place offers good small plates and interesting
variations on martinis. Excellent thin-crust pizzas. - M.M..
Street
2141 Polk St. (near Broadway), S.F.
(415) 775-1055
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Dinner Tues.-Sun.
Sturdy comfort fare, honest cocktails and lively atmosphere
make this a popular place on Polk Street. - B.D..
The Public
1489 Folsom St. (at 11th Street), S.F.
(415) 552-3065
Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS
Price: $$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Dinner Mon.-Sat.
Top dishes include bread soup and pasta with sugo. Wash it
down with a Kaffir squeeze or Kentucky sidecar. - M.B.
Restaurant Round-up: San Francisco
Cafe de Paris-L'Entrecote
2032 Union St. (near Buchanan Street)
(415) 931-5006
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Lunch, dinner daily
Good brasserie fare like steak tartare, mussels, onion
soup. Decor could use updating. Service needs work. - M.B..
Dragon River
5045 Geary Blvd. (near 14th Avenue)
(415) 387-6698
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $
Noise: TWO BELLS
Lunch, dinner daily
Delicious Hakka-style dishes like salt-baked chicken and
steamed bacon with dry mustard greens. .
Iluna Basque
701 Union St. (at Powell Street)
(415) 402-0011
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$
Noise: BOMB
Dinner Mon.-Sat.
Food can be inconsistent at small-plates restaurant. Best
bets include shaved potatoes, prawn brochettes. - M.B.
East Bay
Hidden City Cafe
109 Park Place, Point Richmond
(510) 232-9738
Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS
Price: $$
Noise: TWO BELLS
Brk, l. Tues.-Fri., brunch Sat.-Sun.
Interesting, ever-changing menu of seasonal dishes.
Creative brunch, especially pancakes. Cozy setting..
Memo's Cocina Mexicana
2118 Mt. Diablo St. (at Pacheco), Concord
(925) 691-6200
Rating: ONE AND A HALF STAR
Price: $$
Noise: TWO BELLS
Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily
Good Mexican standards like chicken pipian and gorditas.
Cheery atmosphere. Service needs work. - S.H..
Santa Fe Bistro
2142 Center St. (at Oxford Street), Berkeley
(510) 841-4047
Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS
Price: $$
Noise: TWO BELLS
Lunch weekdays, dinner Mon.-Sat.
Exceptional value at lunch for California cuisine, some
good wine selections. Dinner unremarkable for the price. -
K.S.
Marin-Napa-Sonoma
Avance Tapas Bar Restaurante
200 Merrydale Road, San Rafael
(415) 472-7101
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Lunch Tues.-Fri., dinner daily
Good Spanish offerings: stuffed piquillo peppers, prawns,
flan Barcelona. Congenial service, atmosphere. - T.K.H..
Central Market
42 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma
(707) 778-9900
Rating: TWO AND A HALF STARS
Price: $$$
Noise: THREE BELLS
Lunch Tues.-Fri., dinner Tues.-Sun.
Tony Najiola creates top-notch rustic fare, like crispy
pork confit, Zinfandel-braised calamari, creme brulee. - M.B..
Lucy's Cafe
6948 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol
(707) 829-9713
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$
Noise: TWO BELLS
Dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun.
Homey, inviting cafe in downtown Sebastopol with a
wood-fired oven and great house-made bread. Uneven service.
Peninsula-South Bay
Cafe Fino
544 Emerson St. (near Hamilton), Palo Alto
(650) 326-6082
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$$$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Lunch Tues.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat.
Italian-inspired menu succeeds with bruschetta, grilled
prawns, Caesar salad. Piano bar atmosphere. - T.H..
Faultline Brewing Co.
1235 Oakmead Pkwy., Sunnyvale
(408) 736-2739
Rating: TWO STARS
Price: $$$
Noise: FOUR BELLS
Lunch, dinner weekdays
Brew pub has improved its menu. Try the chicken drumettes,
crab cakes and chicken breast. - T.H..
Maltby's
101 Plaza North (near Fourth), Los Altos
(650) 917-8777
Rating: ONE STAR
Price: $$$
Noise: THREE BELLS
Lunch, dinner daily
Food has taken turn for the worse. Standouts are English
bangers and house salad. Service needs attention. - T.H.
