Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's Eve Celebrations

It is amazing how fast this year has gone by. It is December 31st and 2009 is here and now. What to do on New Year's Eve? If you have the time, money and patience, venturing into San Francisco to celebrate the New Year is a great experience. The streets are blocked off and there are thousands of people walking around, celebrating, having fun and meeting people. It is a lively, upbeat atmosphere where everyone is seeking to have a good time.


If San Francisco is not your style and would rather stay in Alameda, there are few options for you. Of course all the bars in Alameda will be open beyond the midnight hour serving drinks. However if you are looking for organized, black tie galas with live bands and food, than that activity would be a tall order to fill. The party aboard the USS Hornet is your best option. This event offers food, drink, live music, dancing and an upbeat atmosphere throughout the night. The only caution to point out is when the party is over, do not drink and drive. There will be policemen waiting in patrol cars to pull over drunk drivers.

If black tie is not your gig and bars are too casual, than a handful of restaurants will be open to celebrate the festivities. Pier 29 will be hosting food and drinks for diners, and for customers who are looking for a party atmosphere with a DJ and karaoke machine. Food will be served beyond the midnight hour to sober up customers.

Happy New Year! Have a wonderful and safe New Year's Day.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Late Nite

I am always searching for late nite spots around San Francisco. One never knows when a 2 AM hunger kicks in and Sparky's (on Church Street) is not a solution. The bay area needs more late nite establishments to be in operation, and I think there would be plenty of clientele just as long the food is decent and priced accordingly. Denny's and other diner establishments who stay open 24 hours are desperate options. Customers want better food choices. If you think San Francisco shuts down early, Alameda is worse. Most eating establishments around Alameda close around 9 PM on weekday nights and 10 PM (if you are lucky) on Friday and Saturday nights. Who is catering to the club and after hours crowd? There are only three places who stay open late, and I am not talking about fast food drive thrus. Those restaurants are: Juanita's, La Pinata 3 and King of Thai Noodle.

My favorite late nite spot is King of Thai Noodle. This place was a former Mexican Taqueria, and the interiors have not changed much since it was a German bakery even before the burrito joint. The menu was long and extensive with noodles, curries, rolls and stir fry dishes. I tasted the spring rolls which were deep fried with vegetables inside. The sauce was tangy and fruity with an apricot color to it. The sauce was slightly sweet and complimented the roll. The chicken satay was tender and flavorful. The peanut sauce was great and not too sweet. The small cucumber salad on the side had been pickled with vinegar and was a great palate cleanser and gave a nice texture. I then ordered a green curry with chicken and vegetables. Green is the hottest curry of the restaurant. (Yellow is the mildest and red is medium heat.) The curry was amazing and not mouth scorching because the coconut milk canceled the heat of the dish. The dish was aromatic and full of flavor. The other entree was a pork and eggplant stir fry dish with thai chillies and basil. The sauce was smokey in flavor and all of the components of the ingredients came out. The dish was great. The Thai beer, Singha is a light lager beer. I highly recommend this restaurant. Another positive of this place is that it stays open until one AM in the morning. Look out La Pinata since this place serves great food and is a competitor with you for the late night crowd.

La Pinata 3 is the party place. The wait may be long for a table, but the food and atmosphere is worth it. Come on a weekend night and the restaurant is a party. Every dining room is full, the tequila bar is always packed and everyone appears to have a good time. Once you are seated, the wait staff is quick and works through the labyrinth of tables. The tortilla chips are warm and the salsa is mild and fresh. The quality and taste of the food is similar to Otaez. The deep fried fish is good, but it's the sauces that make the difference. The garlic and butter sauce is really tasty. The red sauce is also good with a kick of peppers and spices. The fajitas are decent, but the kitchen has a tendency to over cook the vegetables. The end result is that the vegetables are limp and soggy. Portions at this place are quite large and two entrees could serve four people. The combination plates are decent, but nothing really stands out from the menu. The chile rellenos taste good and one is not left with a bloating sensation afterwards. (This actually has happened to me a few times at a certain Mexican restaurant.) What I have noticed is that people who don't want to wait for a table here, walk down the street to Juanita's.

Juanita's Mexican Restaurant is definitely not as popular as La Pinata 3. The food is good and fairly predictable, but not memorable. The menu is basically identical to La Pinata and Otaez. It is food that one would expect at a casual, Mexican restaurant in America. There is little ambiance at this establishment which could be the reason why La Pinata is always busy and they are not.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Bakeries

I absolutely love baked products. I will try everything when it comes to tasting baked goods. I don't know how this fascination began, but I enjoy browsing bakery windows and smelling the aromas of bread, cakes and cookies.

For the most part, Alameda has few bakeries considering the population of the city. I believe a good number of cafes around town buy from major bakeries around the bay area: Sugar Bowl, Semifreddi's, Grace, Acme and Parisian. And of course, a large portion of baked goods are from Starbuck's and Peet's Coffee House.



Jay's Coffee Shop makes a good brownie. Their brownies have rich, intense chocolate flavors that I am looking for. Their cookies and pastries are good, but not as satisfying as the brownie. The atmosphere is a wonderful space with cute decorations.

Boniere Bakery has been around for quite a long time. Their major products are bread, butter cookies and fruit tarts. I have to say their bread loaves are not appealing and I usually pass over them. The butter cookies are tasty, but lack the impact of an exciting cookie. The fruit tarts are good. The fruit is fresh and the pastry is flaky. It is a good, simple dessert without the pizazz. Overall, the bakery is good for simple items, but if you are looking for more exciting baked products, than this isn't the place for you.

Feel Good Bakery makes a decent baguette, but the loaf dries out quickly after one day. The cookies look delicious, but once you taste them, it falls short compared to their appearance. The chocolate chip cookie is their best cookie product. Their brownie is a bit sweet and did not have the strong chocolate flavor that I am always searching for. Their chocolate tart is good and intense in flavor and has the most flavor of all their items. Their claim to fame is making the Obama sourdough bread.

Blue Dot Cafe creates better baked products compared to their hot breakfast foods. The scones look amazing and it's a great winning product for the bakery. The cookies and lemon squares are also strong contenders. It is wonderful to have such delicious options to choose from. One does not get as many awesome choices to select from within the same bakery in Alameda. Hallelujah!


Muffins, Muffins, Cookies & Buns bakes their own croissants, muffins, cookies and buns. I've visited this cafe a few times and my experiences just kept on getting worse the more times I went. The breakfast croissant sandwich which consisted of a fresh croissant with scrambled eggs and bacon strips in the middle, was terrible. It's not difficult to make scramble eggs, but they got it wrong, the cook overcooked them. Plus, grease oozed out of the sandwich. This was not a pleasurable experience because I had to use a napkin to wipe away the fat down my arm. Another time, I came for the fresh baked muffins. The muffins I chose were unfortunately over baked and they were hard and dried out. The cookies were decent in flavor and texture, but they were not a strong enough incentive for me to return. I hope the business owner understands how important it is to taste test food, especially in this weak economy. My suggestion for people is to go somewhere else for baked products.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Hamburgers

Hamburgers convey American cooking. Who doesn't enjoy a good hamburger now and then? With all of the different ingredients for fixings, cheese and meats, there are ample ways to never get bored with a patty of meat between two pieces of bread. Even the vegetarians have tofu burgers to eat. The hamburger places listed below are not fast food chains; you cannot drive up to the window and order food and never get out of the car. These establishments have food to go, but also accommodate tables and chairs for customers to seat while eating.

Nation's Giant Hamburgers are messy, juicy and big in flavor and portion size. These hamburgers are more of a gourmet burger compared to Tillie's down the street as well as other fast food chains in the area. The best burger is the Ole Hamburger since the special ingredient is a pepper. The pepper is not hot or spicy, but gives an interesting texture and added dimension to the taste. The milk shakes are also good here since they use real ice cream. The fruit pies are simple and refreshing during the summer months. The pudding pies can be a bit dull to the taste buds with the layer of whipped cream on top. Nation's is a great spot for a big burger for lunch or a late afternoon meal.

Alameda Grill on Park Street is a hamburger joint. The burgers are grilled to order, so it does take time to cook the meat. Hamburgers taste good and fresh. The meat is juicy and flavorful. The french fries are decent, but not the best. Tables and chairs are located outside in the parking lot of the bicycle store next door. This place is great on a warm, sunny day. On rainy days, one would have to pick up the food and go. The hamburgers are simple and not as varied compared to Nation's, but the service is intimate since it is a small, locally owned business.

McGee's Bar and Grill is a popular spot on game days. The place is packed with customers cheering for their favorite teams. It's definitely fun and festive, watching a game with a room full of total strangers all screaming and rooting at the same time. The food while watching a good game does not disappoint. Hamburgers are made fresh and grilled to order. There are about ten different burgers to choose from. The meat taste fresh and the ingredients are in peak condition. When I tried the Philly Cheese steak sandwich, the meat was supposed to be thinly sliced beef, it turned out to be loose ground beef. The meat combined with the cheese, grilled onions and green bell peppers tasted good, but the meat should have been sliced beef. I should have returned the sandwich, but I didn't.

Burgermeister on Central Avenue is the fairly new gourmet burger joint. Their menu has a good selection of 1/4, 1/2 or 1 pound burgers. I would recommend a 1/4 or 1/2 pound burger, anything bigger would be too excessive. Their California Burger with guacamole and swiss cheese was good, but not great. There wasn't enough flavor when I bit into the burger. Sometimes when the meat is too lean, there is not enough fat in the meat to really taste it. The meat the restaurant uses is Niman Ranch organic beef which is a great company for meat products. A better tasting burger was the Western Burger. It had fried onion rings, bacon strips, cheese and BBQ sauce all inside the burger. The flavors were tangy and sweet with the saltiness of the onion rings. The result was a better tasting product compared to the California Burger. My recommendation would be to ask the wait staff for suggestions on the menu.

Tillie's, Jim's Place and Ole's Waffle House all serve hamburgers. Their burgers are a step above a hamburger from a McDonald's or Burger King, but below in taste and quality from Nation's, McGee's and Alameda Grill.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Italian

When I think of Italian food, pasta and meat dishes come to mind, not pizza joints. There are more pizza places in Alameda than true Italian restaurants. Pizza is Italian, but it is not Italian cuisine. Therefore, I did not include pizza places even though they may serve pasta and meat. My personal opinion is that the real Italian establishments are C'era Una Volta and Acquacotta.

Acquacotta is the new restaurant in the neighborhood. The owner is the only chef on the block with pedigree training who has worked at famous and popular bay area restaurants. The space is somewhat dark with caramel and rustic color schemes. Salads were typical and predictable in flavor profiles. There is an appetizer that I tried twice and was disappointed each time. It was the Arancini, saffron risotto balls filled with fontina cheese in the middle. When you see the item on the menu, it sounds absolutely delicious. When the appetizer comes to the table, you see these deep fried balls and think it will be tasty and it's not. The taste of the rice balls are a little bland with the essence of saffron. The fontina cheese in the middle is hot and gooey, but it doesn't help in the taste of the dish. I thought it was a miss each time. Soups were hearty with fresh vegetable ingredients. The pasta dishes were delicious and bold in flavors. The pasta was surprisingly a dry pasta and not made fresh on the premises. The sauces were flavorful and complimented the pasta type. My only comment about this restaurant is the cost of the wine. The first time I had a meal here, the alcohol amount was more than the food cost. The restaurant is still working on improving the dessert menu and in the future wants to produce fresh pasta in the kitchen. I highly recommend coming here for a rustic Italian dinner. We just have to wait until they hire a dessert chef. You may want to call ahead and ask if you are allowed to bring your own bottle of wine.


C'era Una Volta has come around for me. When the restaurant first opened, I was not a fan. The food lacked taste. Over the years, the flavor combinations have greatly improved. One of my favorites is the pappardelle with the meat sauce. The eggplant parmesan is also good. The cannelloni is delicious for a few bites and then it becomes too rich due to the ricotta cheese. The gnocchi is a tasty dish, but it depends upon the sauce. Truffles are awesome with gnocchi. The meat sauce with gnocchi was a miss. The desserts still need help. I have not been able to have a wonderful dessert here. I will keep on waiting. This restaurant probably has the best Italian wine selection of the entire island. The staff is highly knowledgeable and know the tasting notes of each wine. The space is bright on the main floor with interesting art pieces on the walls. The second floor has a completely different atmosphere. The second floor can be a little dim with insufficient lighting to read the menu. Upstairs is not as decorated compared to the main floor, and the view to watch the action below is nonexistent. You get a great view of the ceiling and art work. This place is worth coming back to. The staff is more than happy to assist in any food cravings the customer is looking for.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Mediterranean & Greek

There seems to be an interest in Greek food all of a sudden in Alameda. It started with Zeytini's at the mall in Alameda Towne Centre, and another one recently opened 300 feet away by the name of Daphne's. And by chance, I found a third Greek place in the old Quickly Tea space, right next to Pappo Restaurant. The new place is called Troy. So what gives on the new intrigue with Greek or Mediterranean food?

Daphne's is located in the new east wing of the mall, its neighbors are Borders, Chipolte and Jamba Juice. The interiors are simple and clean with large pictures of food plates at the cashier area. The menu is limited, but there are ample choices of meat, vegetable dishes and rice plates. The pita sandwiches are great for lunch. They are decent in portion size and the meat is full of flavor. The tzatziki sauce is great and enhances the flavors of the sandwich. The complete lunch or dinner plates are better meal deals than the ala carte pita sandwiches because you get a drink, salad and rice pilaf with your meal. The Greek salad is fresh and the vegetables are crisp. I just wish there were more calamata olives and feta cheese, but I guess they are expensive ingredients and so they are being frugal with the distribution. The only dessert is baklava. It looked enticing and fresh which is important for the crunch of the philo dough. I would recommend this restaurant more so than Zeytini's. The food is far more outstanding than its competitor, even though the interiors are much nicer at the other establishment.

Zeytini's is a beautifully designed, rustic and Tuscan feeling restaurant. The interiors of this establishment is quite nice. Big over sized benches and back rests with a beautiful Italian color scheme. They serve Greek food along with pizzas and salads. Food wise, the kitchen staff is very green and still needs help in creating quality products. The spanokopita was generously filled with spinach. The feta cheese, pine nuts and flaky puffed pastry, made the appetizer a pleasure to eat. The babaganoush, however was not as successful. There was too much garlic in the dish and overwhelmed the eggplant which was almost non-existent in flavor. The Greek Salad had a great presentation, but fell short on taste. The salad lacked the robust flavors of a typical Greek Salad. I think the salad dressing was the cause of the lack of flavor along with not serving good quality calamata olives. The Italian Pizza had the most problems of the entire meal. First of all, the pizza appeared as if it was made by an elementary school kid. The quantity of the sausage was scant, there was too much cheese on the pizza and the other ingredients were missing. The pizza had a lot of grease coming off of the crust and the oil separated from the cheese. The best bet is to have a drink in the outdoor dining area and wait a few months when the kitchen has worked out the kinks.

Gold Coast Grill specializes in grilled meats and Mediterranean food. The eggplant parmesan is my favorite on the menu. The eggplant is tender with a tasty breading. The cheese binds the layers of eggplant together and gives the dish added texture. The flavors are pure comfort food. They also grill a decent steak too. This is a good place for a casual family outing. One issue about this place is that it lacks ambiance. The interiors of the restaurant appear tired and outdated.

Asena Restaurant markets their food as Mediterranean and California Cuisine. The food is always good here and the prices are very reasonable. The bread that comes to your table is fluffy and at times dry. It looks very similar to fochaccia bread. The olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixture gives the bread moisture and added dimension and enhances the spices in the bread. The house salad is a simple green salad with a Mediterranean dressing. The salad and plate are both cold when it comes out of the kitchen and keeps the lettuce crisp. The olives, feta cheese and spiced nuts are great components of the dish. There aren't any bad choices at this restaurant. Meat dishes of steaks, lamb, pork and chicken entrees all have been well prepared and cooked precisely. Homemade pasta dishes of ravioli are wonderful. You can taste the freshness of the pasta and the sauces compliment the vegetable and/or meat fillings. The vegetarian dishes are also tasty. I really enjoy their version of eggplant parmesan. It is not traditional in the sense of fried eggplant patties, but layers of eggplant baked with a sauce. Desserts are decent, but they are not the restaurant's strong point. The chocolate cake is palatable and moist. The creme brulee is smooth and creamy. The tiramisu is light and fluffy and not strong in espresso flavor. I have been coming to this establishment for years and I highly recommend this restaurant. The food is consistent and delicious.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Diners

I truly believe that Diners are the only profitable food business on the island. Everyone enjoys going to a diner on the weekends and the long lines reflect that attitude. I think the casual atmosphere and affordable prices is what attracts so many people to eat out. And Alameda has its fair share of diners located all around the island.

Marti's Place is known for their Swedish pancakes and ligonberry jelly. This diner is a popular spot and before they enlarged the diner and took over the vacant space next door to them, the wait was long. Now that the diner has two seating areas, there is plenty of space to eat and enjoy the meal. The best meal deal is the Hungry Swede which consists of two Swedish pancakes, choice of two eggs and choice of two bacon strips or sausage links. If you are unfamiliar with Swedish pancakes, they are flat and thin pancakes very similar to the taste and consistency of crepes. The interiors of the place is very Grandma-esque with floral patterned cups, drapes and decorative cows all around the room. You would come to this place for the food and not the design. It is worth coming here for a meal.

If you are seeking out a diner that has a 1970s feel combined with Little House on the Prairie furnishings than you do not want to miss South Shore Cafe. The cafe is not in the Alameda Towne Centre per se, but is located on the north western portion of the parking lot (across from Office Max.) Once you go inside, it is a bit of a trip going back in time. The decorum is outdated and there are a lot of frilly hand made looking window dressings and homely knick knacks everywhere. The clientele are seniors. The energy is very low and there is not a lot of noise in the room. The food was okay, not great, but the prices were inexpensive. You would come here for the low prices and not necessarily for the ambiance or food quality.

Ole's Waffle House is the anchor of Park Street. It has been around since the 1920s. The best food coming out of the kitchen are their breakfasts. One cannot go wrong in ordering waffles, french toast, pancakes or eggs. Their portion sizes are big and your stomach will be happy. Ordering food for lunch or dinner, however is questionable. Their hamburgers are good and predictable, there is nothing fancy about them. Their turkey pot pie was not a good choice. The pastry was very heavy and thick. The filling was minimal and the pie was too dry. Plus, there was not enough turkey meat. Deep fried fish dishes are over cooked. The fish was tough. The best selections are the breakfast food, meatloaf or hamburgers. Patty melts are a safe bet too.

Jim's Place is another great diner for breakfast. Good food, large portions. Anything on the breakfast menu is a home run. Their hamburgers and patty melts are also a safe choice. Their milk shakes are very delicious. They are thick and tasty, made with real ice cream. One will have to wait on the weekends. Lines form out the door.

Tillie's is great diner food. There is nothing elegant or fancy about this place. It looks like a real 1950s diner because it is a real American diner. Breakfasts are large portioned and tasty. The best item for breakfast if you are really hungry is the Steak Bits. You get a lot of food and the steak is tender and full of flavor. The menu for lunch and dinner are basically the same with the exception of the daily specials. The hamburgers, patty melts and omelettes are always delicious. If you are looking to eat casual, diner food with the family or by yourself, this place is recommended.

Albert's Cafe is more of a people watching place than an eating establishment. The last two times I have eaten here, there was a community of employees and customers who were either strung out or had a hang over. The food was palatable and decent, but the atmosphere around me was more exciting than the food. The menu was predictable for a diner and the cook knew how to make eggs, bacon and pancakes. The prices were reasonable and the food portions were big, but not huge. I am wondering how the business is doing since the Medicinal Pot Club is upstairs and next door?

The best kept secret for breakfast comes from La Pinata3 during the week. From Monday through Friday, an American Breakfast costs only $2.99. For that price you get two pancakes, two eggs, choice of four bacon strips or sausage links and choice of toast. What a deal! Each time I have ordered this meal, I've been full. Another good breakfast at this place is the Heuvos Rancheros for $4.99. This is a Mexican breakfast which consists of two tortillas on the bottom of two eggs with salsa on top with rice and beans on the side. The meal comes with extra tortillas on the side. Either one of these dishes is a safe choice and a good buy. I would definitely recommend this place for breakfast during the week. Tell all your friends.

Blue Dot Cafe and Coffee House is a cafe, coffee house and diner all in one. There is an open kitchen on one side of the room and small tables and chairs surrounding the space. There is no menu, but two large chalkboards cluttered with food and drink items. They serve breakfasts of eggs, toast and bacon. The bacon for some reason is an additional side item and does not come as a complete meal. Other breakfast items were oatmeal, french toast, bagels and scones. I tasted the french toast strata with a hot cocoa. The hot cocoa was not hot when I got my drink. The temperature was warm and drinkable, but cooled down quickly. I love the strong taste of chocolate and unfortunately the cocoa flavor was weak where I noticed a bottle of Hershey's Chocolate Sauce was placed on the counter. The french toast had a great presentation and looked like a giant slice of a challah loaf with powered sugar sprinkled all over the food and plate. The french toast was crunchy and dry at the top and soggy and cold in the middle at the bottom third of the loaf. I couldn't really tell if the loaf was soaked in an egg batter because the flavors were too weak to taste it. The warm maple syrup brought moisture to the dry top, but only added flavor to the wet bottom. I did not finish the plate which is rare for me. I would not order the french toast again. As I looked around the room, the panini sandwiches looked appealing. Because the owner is a baker, I would come and try the baked goods that he personally makes on the premise as safer purchases. The atmosphere is warm, calm and peaceful.

Friday, November 21, 2008

German

German food has slowly gained in popularity in the bay area. A long time establishment is Schroeder's in the Financial District of San Francisco. This restaurant claims to have opened its doors in 1893. About a century later in the late 1990s, Suppenkuche came onto the food scene in Hayes Valley. German food became fashionable and for quite a long time, Suppenkuche was popular and it was difficult to get a table. Their sister property, Speisekammer is in Alameda and has been in business for a few years. Zagat is now rating Speisekammer higher than Suppenkuche.

Speisekammer is the only German restaurant in Alameda. The food at times can be inconsistent, but it maybe more dependent upon what food is being ordered. I have been there a few times when the schnitzel was cooked perfectly and one time it was over done and tough. I have never been a fan of spatzle and found their version to be bland. At one occasion, the bratwurst, mash potatoes and sauerkraut dinner was disappointing. The bratwurst tasted like a grocery store bratwurst grilled at home. The mash potatoes were runny and the sauerkraut lacked flavor. The braised beef tri tip (Sauerbraten mit Preiselbeerkonfitür) was a good choice, the beef was tender and the sauce was a red wine reduction. Fish dishes were delicately sauteed with subtle flavors. Desserts were more challenging. The desserts are brought in by a third party baker and do not utilize authentic German ingredients. The strudel was made out of puff pastry which was unexpected. Unfortunately, the pastry lacked flavor due to an insufficient amount of butter. The best part of the establishment is their vast assortment of beers. If you are really thirsty, order the boot. This is best place to be at on a warm, sunny day having a drink at the outdoor bier garden. I would recommend this place if you are looking for meat and potatoes and not necessarily a salad.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Chinese

One type of food that Alameda has an abundance of, is Chinese food. Chinese food is quite popular and there seems to be a big demand for it. Even though some people in Alameda do not want another Chinese restaurant in the city, a new one opens for business.

The only Chinese restaurant on Bay Farm is Harbor View Chinese Restaurant. This place is clean and pleasant. It serves typical Chinese dishes known to Americans. The food is good and it's quick service. I would recommend this restaurant if you live at Bay Farm or are in the neighborhood.

Hong Kong City Restaurant on Park Street is unpredictable. I've dined here more than a few times over the years and found the food to be quite good a few years back. The food now, lacks flavor. I wonder if they changed cooks? I would pass over this place since there are many restaurants to choose from along Park.

Hong Kong East Ocean Restaurant is great for dim sum. The dim sum menus are easy to read and you select which items you want. The ladies who drive the carts around the room may not speak English clearly, but they are eager to show you what they are serving. The crepes, dumplings, fried fish, stuffed tofu and eggplant are always good dishes. The sticky rice, chicken feet and the fried sesame balls are an acquired taste. The restaurant recently remodeled the interiors, so the room looks fresh with an Asian flare of golden dragons and red velvet walls. The restaurant can accommodate parties of any size.

Chef's Wok is a Chinese restaurant that is close in proximity to Hong Kong East Ocean. They also serve dim sum during lunch and is probably in direct competition with them. The menu is long and varied. There are so many selections that at times it is overwhelming on what to choose. In order to get a wide selection of food, I have ordered their Fixed Dinner Plans. The food lacked flavor at times and appeared the chefs prepared the food to appease non-Asian palates. The portions were huge and that is where the savings come in. One could eat the leftovers in two additional meals. If you looking for predictable Chinese food with large portions than this restaurant is the place to eat at.

Kapok has a new owner and supposedly a new chef. If you are in a hurry, the food comes out quick from the kitchen. The portions are huge and the cost is low compared to Chef's Wok and Hong Kong East Ocean. The menu is varied and they do not offer dim sum. The food is good and simple. It's not high end gourmet Chinese food. Be sure to taste the fresh seafood since they have live fish tanks inside the dining area. I would recommend this place if you are on a budget and looking for decent and predictable Chinese food.

The New Bamboo Kitchen Restaurant on Lincoln Avenue had a fire. The restaurant is currently closed for business.

There are plenty of Chinese restaurants that are not listed on this blog. Some of the places that I see while driving don't appear clean or appealing and I have no desire to taste their food. The last thing I need is food poisoning. Please post your comments if you've experienced a restaurant not mentioned or had a completely different opinion on any of the restaurants listed in this posting.






Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Spanish & Cuban

Due to the lack of Spanish and Cuban food on the island, I decided to combine them as one posting. Spanish and Cuban food is very different with the sauce components and flavor profiles, but the main ingredients remain the same of fresh fish, potatoes and vegetables. The one and only Spanish restaurant in Alameda is Barceluna. Within a three minute walk you can go over to the only Cuban restaurant in town called Havana.

Barceluna is both old and new to Alameda. The previous location was at the old Alameda Theatre before the the movie house was in operation. The restaurant was forced to close and now it has relocated to Santa Clara Avenue at the old Luciano's space. The food is geared towards Spanish tapas, or small plates. Pizza was also on the menu. I really wanted to come to this restaurant for the pizzas, but when I looked over at the next table and looked at their pizza, it did not look very appealing. The ingredients were fresh, but the middle appeared soggy. Plus, the neighbor stated the tapas were better in taste than the pizza which then prompted me to order a pizza another time. The Tuna Luna tapa was fresh ahi tuna with tofu, cucumber and avocado chunks mixed in a spicy sauce. The presentation was nice in a martini glass and with a giant tortilla chip. The flavors, however were a miss. There wasn't enough tuna for my liking and the dish was mainly filling. The tofu did not add any flavor and at times looked like avocado to me. The ahi was over cooked and other ingredients masked the natural taste of the tuna. The mushrooms tapa was decent. The dish was cooked mushrooms with a nice smokey flavor. The skirt steak on top of a crostini tapa sounded great on the menu, but it was a bit difficult to eat. The steak was a bit chewy and slightly tough and did not tear easily once you bit into the meat. The flavor of the beef was good, but I wish the meat was more tender. The pomme frites was yummy. The garlic fries was large in portion with a good texture. They were crunchy and hot served with a mayonnaise and ketchup dipping sauce. The dessert menu is very minimal. The only dessert worth tasting is their deep fried dessert.


By the way, I have returned to Barceluna for the pizza. I ordered pepperoni pizza. The pizza was good, not great, but I would not order pizza again from this place. Stick to the tapas!

Havana is the new Cuban restaurant on the block. The space is brightly colored with great, large pictures of the actual city throughout the restaurant. The food has a lot of tropical flavors in the sauces. The plantains were prepared a few different ways and I had some issues with the texture. The first time I ate the deep fried plantains, the texture was fibrous and difficult to eat. When they shred it like french fries than the plantain tasted really good. The seafood dishes were wonderful and full of flavor. Their version of paella was too mushy and wet and needed more crunch from the rice. The shredded beef was too large of a portion for just one person and the meat was a bit dry. The crab cakes were small and tasty with a mango sauce. The flan was a great dessert to end the meal. Be sure to order a mojito since their selection is huge. I would come back for drinks and appetizers. Dining in this restaurant is comfortable and pleasant plus, the Cuban music is great because it makes you want to dance in your seat.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Donuts

Donuts are a favorite of mine. I enjoying eating all types of donuts: cake, bars, old fashioned and glazed. I remember walking around New York City at 3 AM looking for fresh, hot donuts from Krispy Kreme. Most of Alameda's donut joints are located on the west side of the island, perhaps left overs from when the Navy base was in operation.


Hometown Donuts is located across the street from the former Navy base. This place was very popular when the base was in operation. Now, the donut store looks a little old and tired. Their donut production is low and the shelves are not full. The taste however, is good. The cake and bars are satisfying along with the donut holes. The frosting on the donuts are just the right amount. This is not a place you want to seat down at and have a cup of coffee, the atmosphere is too depressing. If you are feeling lucky, buy a scratch off ticket.


Lee's Donuts is more upbeat compared to Hometown Donuts. If you don't come early in the morning, the donuts are gone. I have come here a few times in the late morning and early afternoon and found the shelves to be bare. And so I had to go in the early morning just to see if the shelves were full, and they were. The local favorite here is the bagel sandwich. For me personally, bagel sandwiches are too many calories and too heavy with the cream cheese and meat. The donuts here are fluffy and light weight. I am not sure how they do it, but you can taste the difference. The frostings come in a large variety of sprinkles, coconut shavings, glaze, chocolate, maple and nuts. Maples bars and chocolate cake donuts are my favorite.


Star Light Donuts always have their regular customers on a daily basis. A bunch of old, retired men hang out in front everyday chatting and eating donuts. Noticing that I would see this same group of men in front of the place every morning before work, I became curious. I wondered what brought these men here every day. Was it the taste, coffee or companionship? I had to check it out for myself. The first time I came here, I missed the morning crowd and the shelves were somewhat bare. The selection was so little that I bought a glazed donut. Glazed donuts are simple and uncomplicated, it was light and airy. Another time, I arrived earlier in the morning and saw the usual group of men. The shelves were much more in abundance compared to my first visit. I ordered a chocolate cake donut and found them to be rich in flavor. The cake was a little more dense that what I am use to for a cake donut, but the strong flavor of chocolate was unexpected and satisfying. I see why these men come here every morning. The donut store is really quite small and holds one table and the front window area with chairs in front of it. The store is a little bland in color and dim in lighting. It's a good thing the owners can make a tasty donut, otherwise there wouldn't be a reason to be here.


Golden Pin Donuts is always closed when I want to buy donuts from them. Perhaps, I go too late in the day? However, the times I have stopped by was during business hours. I should call them to make sure they are still in operation.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Seafood

Even though Alameda is surrounded by water, there is not a lot of seafood establishments in the city. There are more seafood counters around the island than restaurants. However, it depends upon how one is identifying what seafood is. Some may say seafood is sushi, and others would say seafood is grilled or pan fried fish or boiled shellfish. The only traditional seafood restaurant located in Alameda is Pier 29.


Pier 29 is where all the East Bay Senior Citizens come out for an Early Bird Special. The prices are very reasonable during the Early Bird Special duration and the portions are good sized. The restaurant is known for its seafood dishes. The clam chowder soup is good and thick. The best dishes of the house are grilled or pan fried fish plates. The fish and chips are a disappointment. The stews are not appetizing and the beef dishes are also not favored. The vegetables are always plain and simply boiled in water with some butter. This is the only restaurant in Alameda that has water views in the front and back of the building. The service is always friendly. I would recommend this restaurant only for the Early Bird Specials.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Thai Food

Thai food is actually quite popular in the bay area, but only three Thai restaurants exist in Alameda. Pad thai and curries with coconut milk is what Americans usually know about thai food. Curry comes in different colors of green, yellow and red and varies in degrees of heat.

I recently went to the Thai Place on Webster Street. This restaurant has a new owner and management and not to be confused with the previous owner and chef that held the same name. The shrimp and tofu pad thai was decent and lite of flavor. I only wished for more tofu in the dish as well as a stronger taste in the sauce. The dish also needed more fresh lime wedges to give it a tartness on your taste buds. The other dish I tasted was the green curry with bamboo shoots, chicken and red bell peppers. Green curry was the mild curry which was cooled with the coconut milk. The vegetables were fresh with the exception of the bamboo shoots, I think the shoots came out of a can. The dish was palatable and was better than the pad thai. I would come back to this restaurant and order other food than the pad thai.

My favorite Thai restaurant on the island is Amarin Thai Cuisine on Park Street. The menu has more variety as well as better quality food. The flavor profiles are not watered down compared to their competitors and it also has a more authentic flare to it. Their curries are very good with varied heat, spice levels to choose from. The vegetables selections in their curry dishes make sense and compliment the seafood or meats. Their pad thai was great with lots of peanuts on top. There is not a bad dish at this restaurant. I believe the chef has put a lot of thought into the menu with the ingredients and flavor combinations.

Toomie's Thai Restaurant is a popular spot. I was surprised to see the number of customers one day when I had lunch there. Their pad thai was very good and full of flavors. Their varieties of curries were amazing with different heat, spice levels. Red is the hottest, green was second and yellow was the most mild. I had a green curry dish. The meat in the curry dish was over cooked and the chicken was tough and chewy. The sauce had coconut milk which lightened some of the heat of the dish, but the bamboo shoots were limp and did not add any value to the flavors. Their hot and sour soup had a wonderful broth of lemongrass. The soup was not too spicy with fresh vegetables, and the seafood was perfectly cooked. I would come back for the soup.

The new spot on Park Street is King of Thai Noodle. The place was a former Mexican Taqueria and the interiors have not changed much since it was a German bakery even before the burrito joint. The menu was long and extensive with noodles, curries, rolls and stir fry dishes. I tasted the spring rolls which were deep fried with vegetables inside. The sauce was tangy and fruity with an apricot color to it. The sauce was slightly sweet and complimented the roll. I then ordered a green curry with chicken and vegetables. Green is the hottest curry of the restaurant. (Yellow is the mildest and red is medium heat.) The curry was amazing and not mouth scorching because the coconut milk canceled the heat of the dish. The dish was aromatic and full of flavor. The other entree was a pork and eggplant stir fry dish with thai chillies and basil. The sauce was smokey in flavor and all of the components of the ingredients came out. The dish was great. The Thai beer, Singha is a light lager beer. I highly recommend this restaurant. Another positive of this place is that it stays open until one AM in the morning. Look out La Pinata since this place serves great food and is a competitor with you for the late night crowd.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Mexican

Hola amigos! Taquerias, taco wagons and Mexican restaurants have sprouted around the bay area. Dependent upon what you are looking for, Alameda offers a good variety of Mexican food establishments. If you are looking for great tacos, I recommend Taqueria Calafia on Webster Street. If you are in the mood for a burrito, the best place is Alameda Taqueria on Park Street. If you don't know what you want, but you are hungry for Mexican than there are only three places that serve a wide variety of food La Pinata 3, Acapulco and Otaez.

Taqueria Calafia serves awesome tacos. I don't order tacos anywhere else because I have been disappointed too many times at other establishments. This is the place to be. The fish tacos are the best, deep fried with a special creamy cheese sauce. The carne asada is also good. They use good quality beef and don't give you the grizzle like most places do. The pork (carnitas) tacos with the verde sauce is tender and full of flavor. The chicken tacos are shredded and tasty, but this is the least ordered taco for me. The space can be busy during lunch time, especially when the Farmer's Market is going on.

Alameda Taqueria has tasty burritos. The burritos are huge and is large enough for two people. You get a lot of options for the tortilla which is nice. My favorite burrito is the carne asada. The meat sauce is flavorful with unique spices that say Mexican, but it's not overwhelming. The other ingredients are fresh which is the reason why I keep on coming back. Even though a burrito is multi-layered, you can taste each unique ingredient and feel good about eating it. The food is extremely satisfying. The taqueria is a little on the small side and a bit dark unless you eat by the front door. I have a tendency to get my food to go and eat it at home or at an A's game.

If you are on the West Side of Alameda than Otaez is a great place to eat. They offer a large selection of food. The portions are big and you get your money's worth. The salsas are fresh and at times can be spicy. My favorite appetizer is the empanadas, dough on the outside with vegetables, meat and cheese in the inside. Great entrees are the fish dishes since they are fresh and less heavy compared to the chile rellenos and tamales. The combination plates are good too, but you have to be hungry to enjoy them. When the restaurant is really busy, than service can be a bit slow.

La Pinata 3 is the party place. The wait may be long for a table, but the food and atmosphere is worth it. Come on a weekend night and the restaurant is a party. Every dining room is full, the tequila bar is always packed and everyone appears to have a good time. Once you are seated, the wait staff is quick and works through the labyrinth of tables. The tortilla chips are warm and the salsa is mild and fresh. The quality and taste of the food is similar to Otaez. The deep fried fish is good, but it's the sauces that make the difference. The garlic and butter sauce is really tasty. The red sauce is also good with a kick of peppers and spices. The fajitas are decent, but the kitchen has a tendency to over cook the vegetables. The end result is that the vegetables are limp and soggy. Portions at this place are quite large and two entrees could serve four people. The combination plates are decent, but nothing really stands out from the menu. The chile rellenos taste good and one is not left with a bloating sensation afterwards. (This actually has happened to me a few times at a certain Mexican restaurant.) What I have noticed is that people who don't want to wait for a table here, walk down the street to Juanita's. The menu at Juanita's is the same as in La Pinata and Otaez, but with food is made with less authenticity.

Acapulco is probably the least favorite of mine of the three major Mexican restaurants. The main dining room is dark, there are no windows and the bench seats are old and torn apart. The food is palatable, but there isn't a lot of taste difference between this place and La Pinata and Otaez. However, this restaurant markets itself as a family run and operated establishment. The margaritas are good, but not as special compared to La Pinata.

I have eaten at other Mexican restaurants not mentioned and found them to be non memorable. Please check the older postings of Park Street and West End for other Mexican places.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Sushi

Remember when sushi was red hot in the 1980's from the movie Valley Girl with Nicholas Cage. Sushi during that time was hip, cool and expensive. Over twenty years later, sushi has not lost its cache. Sushi is still popular and it has matured a long way since the typical futomaki. I think a lot of people started to eat sushi because it was trendy and wanted to find out what all the fuss was. And I also think some people were completely turned off by the idea of eating raw fish and were more prone to eating teriyaki instead. Sushi is an art form of precise knife skills and showcasing talent that most people don't appreciate or even know about. Cutting a piece of fish the right way can make a huge difference between melt in your mouth or chewy. Alameda has a few sushi restaurants (much less than the number of Chinese restaurants in town), but I can only recommend three.


Yume on Park Street. The reason why I enjoy Yume and continue to go back is their small space with intimate customer service and details. The sushi chef Hideaki is a master of the knife. He was superb skills and the texture of the fish is tender and flavorful. The assortment of fish and shell fish is always fresh and at times he has rare shell fish that the other restaurants don't have. Their tonkatsu is great to eat if the wife is cooking the dish that day. ( I have been there when there was no frying allowed.) This restaurant doesn't serve teriyaki or tempura and mainly focuses on fresh fish and their natural flavors. A bit more expensive than other Japanese restaurants, but the attention to detail and quality make up for the increase in price.


Angel Fish on Bay Farm. The most important item for me is their tuna salad. This salad is awesome with fresh ahi tuna, along with fresh lettuce, fish roe and an amazing Japanese salad dressing with sesame and soy sauce flavors. The crispy chips that come with the salad also brings texture and salt to the dish that compliments the flavors. Angel Fish also has good sushi and they are inventive with a wide selection of rolls. Their teriyaki is good, but when I come here I usually focus on the sushi and rolls. The tempura tastes good. One can never go wrong with deep fried vegetables. Their eggplant dish with miso on top is too sweet to devour. The dish tastes good for a few bites and then the sugary taste becomes overwhelming and less enticing. Another good dish is their lamb chops. The meat is tender, full of flavor and is comforting. The lamb chops does not have the flavor combinations of Japanese food per se, but it is satisfying. This is a good place to take the family out for a good dinner.


Kamakura has a more welcoming touch compared to Angel Fish. You will see Faith moving from table to table and greeting customers as well as informing them about the sake and food products. The menu is quite extensive and has a wide arrangement from sukiyaki, donburi, karaage, udon, soba and the regular fair of teriyaki, sushi, tempura and rolls. The fish here is fresh and tastes good, but it feels the food comes out more of a production line from the sushi chefs. The teriyaki is decent and the flavors predictable, but the salmon teriyaki is over cooked and dry. The food overall is good and it's a great spot for large parties.


The reason why I did not recommend the other sushi restaurants is because the establishments lacked flavor, taste profiles, quality or personality. I have eaten several times at other venues of Kobe Ya, Yokohama and Katsu Sushi and found them to be palatable, but lackluster. I was pleasantly surprised to read the comment from a reader about Sushi House. Who ever you are, I have to agree with your comment about the food and restaurant. Sushi House has a great location, with water views of the beach and bay, but the food took second place.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Pizza

Everyone enjoys eating pizza. Pizza is a complete meal. You have dairy products (cheese), meat, vegetable toppings, bread and fruit (tomatoes.) What more could you ask, they even make dessert pizzas of chocolate and marshmallows. Over the years, pizzas have become more personalized due to options of soy cheese, weight watcher's and a variety of crusts. Fortunately for Alamedans, there are a lot of options for pizza.

For some reason, a fair number of pizza establishments are located on or around Park Street, here is the list: A-Town Pizza, New York Pizza, Bowser's Pizza, Linguini's Cafe, Barceluna, Tomatina and Village Cafe. I cannot say that I have tasted pizza at every single restaurant that is listed. However, I will say that the pizza joints that I continue to return to are: Mountain Mike's, Round Table and Little Caesar's (if I am really tight on money and hungry for a pepperoni pizza.)

I was excited to taste the pizza at Barceluna because I was curious to see if they would put a Spanish spin on it. They didn't. The pizza I ordered was pepperoni and vegetables. The flavor of the pizza was minimal and the crust was very thin which I do like, but there was something missing. The flavor, texture and ingredients lacked satisfaction. I would not recommend ordering a pizza here until they figure out a better solution for taste or get help in cooking with the wood oven.

Pizza at Zeytini's was a fiasco. First of all, the pizza appeared as if it was made by an elementary school kid. The quantity of the sausage was scant, there was too much cheese on the pizza and the other ingredients were missing. The pizza had a lot of grease coming off of the crust and the oil separated from the cheese. I know the restaurant is fairly new and it needs time to work out the kitchen staff. I will wait a while and return to see if they worked on their execution.

Tomatina did not have palatable pizza when I went there. The menu made the pizza sound awesome, but I was disappointed by the flavors and texture. The pizza was soggy in the middle and the cheese slipped away from the crust. Salads and pasta dishes are recommended instead.

The pizza at New York Pizza was palatable. I ordered a combination pizza and it was full of vegetables and meat. The crust was good and chewy, but not soggy. It was a decent pizza, but not memorable.

The sole pizza place on Bay Farm Island is La Val's. I heard from the teenage grapevine that is where all the high school kids hang out on the weekends. This age group appears to enjoy their food.

In all honesty, after Luciano's closed down, the pizza selection for me has been bleak. After all, Luciano had the best wood oven, thin crusted pizza in terms of quality and taste. Lucien (the owner) only used fresh and high quality ingredients. The other places do the same, but the flavor combinations and crust, aren't the same. I am hoping I can find a great, consistent pizza!

Monday, September 29, 2008

BBQ

Barbecue food is pure comfort to the soul. There is something about eating with your fingers and tearing meat apart that brings on great satisfaction. Furthermore, the side dishes that come with barbecue food also stimulate another level of happiness to one's stomach. Alameda currently has two BBQ joints, Great American BBQ and Everett and Jones.

Great American BBQ was supposed to have moved to Park Street about a year ago, but they are still running their restaurant at the base of the High Street Bridge. The ribs are juicy and tender and full of flavor. You can tell that a lot of love went into the creation of the slow cooking process. I also appreciate that the staff will ask if you want hot, mild or medium sauce on the meat. The brisket is tender when you bite into a sandwich. The BBQ chicken was a miss for me, since it lacked flavor and it was somewhat dry. Their macaroni and cheese is good (much better than KFC), but it had some processed cheese in the mix. The baked beans had a smokey aroma and taste to it without noticing a lot of sugar in the beans. The space is somewhat dark and uninviting to patrons. I suggest ordering food to go and enjoying a pleasurable meal at home.

Everett and Jones lacks ambiance at the foot of the old Navy Station. Luckily for them, they have a name and reputation that equates to good BBQ food. I have eaten at several different locations of Everett and Jones. The food is good and is fairly consistent at the different restaurants. The Alameda location, however, still has some bumps to smooth out. The ribs were a bit tough and dry, the beans were too sweet, the corn bread was too crumbly and the BBQ chicken was decent, but not great. I thought they were having an off night, but that didn't appear to be the case. Another attempt came to the same conclusion as the first visit. Perhaps when they move to Webster Street, everything will calm down and get back to normal. I just don't know when that will happen since the space is already set up for the restaurant, but they have not opened yet. This is a wait and see restaurant. I know Everett and Jones can produce great tasting and quality products, it may just take time when they move into a larger kitchen on Webster Street.

On a side note, Barceluna is offering a pulled pork mini slider on their appetizer menu served with cole slaw. The mini slider was adorable when presented to the table. They looked like two mini hamburgers. The pulled pork was flavorful with a smokey essence to it. The taste was there, but the meat was a bit dry for me. I wish there was more sauce on the meat in the sandwich. The cole slaw was fresh and could taste the crunch in the cabbage. I am not a fan of dry cole slaw, but I also dislike mushy too much mayonnaise cole slaw as well. This cole slaw was more on the dry side. I had a few bites and left it alone.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Desserts...where are you?

Finding a gourmet dessert in Alameda is almost impossible. There are your standard ice cream parlors of Tucker's, Loard's, Lappert's and Double Rainbow. These establishments however, serve only ice cream and not much else. Where can I order a chocolate souffle?

In my quest in searching for a gourmet dessert late one night, I went to Park Street. I was not in the mood for ice cream, so I bypassed Tuckers and Fudgelato. I went to Pappo's to look at their dessert menu and was not impressed. I then walked inside Burgermeister hoping for something, but they do not serve desserts. My last hope was Alameda Wine Co. To my surprise, they have desserts. The desserts are made local and come from The Feel Good Bakery. I tasted the Chocolate Tart. The portion size was generous and the presentation spectacular. The tart had chocolate shavings on top, with fresh raspberries on the side. The tart was dense and decadently rich. I am a believer that Chocolate desserts should be rich and not wimpy in flavor. I highly recommend this spot for late night desserts with a great glass of wine to pair it with.

The ice cream parlors of Double Rainbow and Loard's are not sit down places where one can enjoy the ice cream as well as the ambiance. The ice cream at Loard's never appealed to me each time I have gone there. The flavor of the ice cream was bland. Double Rainbow is inside Subway Sandwich. The smell of meat and bread while having ice cream is not a good combination. I use to eat at Double Rainbow all the time in San Francisco and the ice cream was always creamy and tasty. I would enjoy Double Rainbow ice cream more if the place was an ice cream parlor and not inside a sandwich business.

Fudgelato sells candy and gelato. The gelato is thick in consistency. I had gelato here a few times and found their gelatos lacked full flavor. The gelato was decent, but I recommend a sample before ordering. The best local gelato that I tasted recently was the gelato place in the Ferry Building in San Francisco. The flavors are rich and full and it comes from Italy.

Tucker's Ice Cream is a legendary Alameda hang out. The ice cream is decent and is really the only sit down establishment on the island. The banana splits taste better than regular scoops of ice cream. The fresh fruit toppings and chocolate sauce is what makes the dessert. I also enjoy their chocolate bananas. For the past four times, I got the chocolate banana instead of ice cream. The chocolate coating tastes good and the banana is a good combination. Tucker's is a great place for family fun and late night ice cream in a pleasant atmosphere.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Indian Food

Alameda use to have two Indian restaurants, now there is only one, India Palace on Buena Vista Avenue. There are however, two vendors who sell Indian food at the Farmer's Market in the West End, but the options are limited.

India Palace provides a clean and pleasant atmosphere. The food selection is large and the staff is quite knowledgeable with the menu. The appetizers that are deep fried are always good. I was happy to see that the samosas come in two varieties, vegetarian and meat. And the pappadum is not too oily when consumed, but a large pepper corn can be a mouthful. The entrees of curries and kebabs are full of flavor and are satisfying. I have tasted all the different meat curries (lamb, chicken, beef and pork) and they are all good. The saffron rice is also flavorful from the spice and the chicken broth essence. All the dishes are tasty, but if you are unsure about your palate and spice level, ask the wait staff for suggestions. You should also inquire if oily foods may upset your digestion since some of the dishes may have more oil than others. The popular "all you can eat" lunch buffet is a big hit. Be sure to check it out.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Shopping Mall Restaurants

Lots of restaurants in Alameda are located in shopping malls. The four major shopping areas are Marina Village in the West End, Bridgeport Center in Fernside, Alameda Towne Centre by the beach and Harbor Bay Landing on Bay Farm Island. Shopping malls are a smart strategy for restaurant owners since people tend to gather at these locations. The similarities of all these malls is that grocery stores are the anchors of these developments.

Marina Village has a lot of fast food restaurants. Very few fast food chains wow me in regards to taste and quality. Unfortunately, none of the fast food establishments in this mall are really worth eating unless you are on a tight budget, need something quick and have low expectations. The best dining establishment at this development is Angela's. Angela's serves a wide range of food with a Mediterranean flare. The dipping sauce is robust in flavor with strong food compositions of garlic and cilantro. If one is on a date, I do not recommend trying the sauce unless both parties consume it. One of my favorite dishes here is their osso bucco. The meat is tender and falls off the bone. The meat is flavorful and the red wine reduction sauce compliments the meat without over powering the natural taste. The ravioli and other pasta dishes are always solid choices. The ingredients are consistently fresh. The dessert at times feels limited to me, but you cannot go wrong with the chocolate cake. The cake is moist with a rich chocolate taste. One restaurant that I have not figured out yet is Sushi & Smoothie. First of all, the combination of sushi with a smoothie does not sound appetizing. If the smoothie has milk products as its base, milk and raw fish may not digest well in your stomach. The occasions that I have ordered sushi here, I have bought the prepackaged sushi. Another time, the sushi was made to order. Regardless if the food was made fresh when ordered or prepackaged, I found the flavors of the sushi to be dull. The flavors of the ingredients were not distinct and everything was bland. Perhaps, the sushi was too cold from the refrigerator when I tasted it? Maybe I should try the smoothie by itself. When L & L Hawaiian BBQ came into the mall, I was excited because I wanted to taste their version of kahlua pig. The food is palatable, but a lot of their meals lack flavor. The kahlua pig was tender, but it was no where near the flavor combinations of kahlua pig I tasted in Hawaii. Furthermore, I am not a fan of eating hot macaroni salad that should be served cold. Even the Japanese inspired food that is on their menu does not taste like Japanese food. The food is bland and it feels like there was not a lot of thought put into the dishes.

For some reason, a majority of the food establishments at the Bridgeport Center are fast food chains. Why? The main attraction to the development is Nob Hill Foods which is more of an upscale grocery store compared to Lucky's and Safeway. One has to wonder why the developer selected fast food instead of decent, casual dining in the complex (especially when the view of the Estuary is gorgeous?) Nonetheless, one place that is intriguing me is the Cheese Steak Shop, Inc. I reviewed their menu and the food sounds very tempting. I have not had an opportunity to taste their food. The prices seem very reasonable, but the decorum is a bit stark.

Harbor Bay Landing on Bay Farm Island is a combination of restaurants, offices and a Safeway. The most popular restaurant is Angelfish. Angelfish serves fresh sushi and has the best Ahi Tuna Salad in Alameda. The lettuce is fresh and crisp, the ahi is the right color and texture and the dressing is light with Asian fusion components. The food is always consistently good. The service however, can be a miss. The service staff at times do not know the menu and food products, and other times they are not knowledgeable about the sake selections and tasting notes. When you come here, you come for the food and not for the service. For a water view, Cafe Enrico is right on the lagoon. The food here is casual and predictable. There is nothing special about the food and the if you seat inside, the space is dark. Best to get a sandwich or hamburger. The food at El Caballo Mexican Restaurant serves large portions. The ingredients are fresh and the menu is fairly predictable at a Mexican Restaurant. The food is decent. Harbor View Chinese Restaurant serves typical Chinese dishes known to Americans. The food is good and its quick service.

Alameda Towne Centre has a new name that goes along with the new facade of the development. I still call the mall South Shore and will probably continue to call it the same name until I move out of the area. Currently, the mall is going through major changes right now. The old places of the Velvet Grill and Creamery and Taco Bell are out. New restaurants are slowing coming into the mall. Applebee's has been here for a while and it does not appear to be slowing down. The place is always busy regardless of what time it is. The difficult part about Applebee's is ordering healthy food. Lots of food on the menu is deep fried. I have tasted a few of their salads and they do not taste good. That is probably the reason most of the customers order food that tastes good which is probably bad for them. The saving grace is that Applebee's decreased their food portions when they slightly dropped menu prices. A safe bet is ordering a grilled steak. Luckily, the cooks know how to properly grill a steak. If you are seeking out a diner that has a 1970s feel combined with Little House on the Prairie furnishings than you do not want to miss South Shore Cafe. The cafe is not in the mall per se, but is located on the north western portion of the parking lot (across from Office Max.) Once you go inside, it is a bit of a trip going back in time. The decorum is outdated and there are a lot of frilly hand made looking window dressings and homely knick knacks everywhere. The clientele are seniors. The energy is very low and there is not a lot of noise in the room. The food was okay, not great, but the prices were inexpensive. You would come here for the low prices and not necessarily for the ambiance or food quality. The newest restaurant in the mall is Zeytini's. They serve Greek food with pizzas and salads. The interiors of this establishment is quite nice. Big over sized benches and back rests with a beautiful Italian color scheme. Food wise, the kitchen staff is very green and still needs help in creating quality products. The spanokopita was generously filled with spinach. The feta cheese, pine nuts and flaky puffed pastry, made the appetizer a pleasure to eat. The babaganoush, however was not as successful. There was too much garlic in the dish and overwhelmed the eggplant which was almost non-existent in flavor. The Greek Salad had a great presentation, but fell short on taste. The salad lacked the robust flavors of a typical Greek Salad. I think the salad dressing was the cause of the lack of flavor along with not serving good quality calamata olives. The Italian Pizza had the most problems of the entire meal. First of all, the pizza appeared as if it was made by an elementary school kid. The quantity of the sausage was scant, there was too much cheese on the pizza and the other ingredients were missing. The pizza had a lot of grease coming off of the crust and the oil separated from the cheese. The best bet is to have a drink in the outdoor dining area and wait a few months when the kitchen has worked out the kinks.

Since there will be many more attractions still to come at Alameda Towne Centre, an update will be necessary in the near future.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Park Street...AKA Downtown Alameda

Park Street had a face lift. It has transformed into a more modern version of itself in the past few years. Mom and Pop stores are still in abundance along the avenue with a few chain coffee shops. The old institutions of Ole's Waffle Shop and Jim's Place are still going strong. However, the food palates of local Alamedans are changing. Restaurants along Park Street are more upscale and diverse.

Gold Coast Grill specializes in grilled meats and mediterrean food. The eggplant parmesan is my favorite on the menu. The eggplant is tender with a tasty breading. The cheese binds the layers of eggplant together and gives the dish added texture. The flavors are pure comfort food. They also grill a decent steak too. This is a good place for a casual family outing. One issue about this place is that it lacks ambiance. The interiors of the restaurant appear tired and outdated.

Havana is the new Cuban restaurant on the block. The space is brightly colored with great, large pictures of the actual city throughout the restaurant. The food has a lot of tropical flavors in the sauces. The plantains which are prepared a few different ways has some issues with the texture. The seafood dishes are wonderful and full of flavor. Their version of paella is too mushy and wet and should have more crunch. The shredded beef was too large of a portion for just one person and the meat was a bit dry. The crab cakes were small and tasty with a mango sauce. The flan was a great dessert to end the meal. Be sure to order a mojito.

Ole's Waffle House is the anchor of Park Street. It has been around since the 1920s. The best food coming out of the kitchen are their breakfasts. One cannot go wrong in ordering waffles, french toast, pancakes or eggs. Their portion sizes are big and your stomach will be happy. Ordering food for lunch or dinner, however is questionable. Their hamburgers are good and predictable, there is nothing fancy about them. Their turkey pot pie was not a good choice. The pastry was very heavy and thick. The filling was minimal and the pie was too dry. Plus, there was not enough turkey meat. Deep fried fish dishes are over cooked. The fish was tough. The best selections are the breakfast food, meatloaf or hamburgers. Patty melts are a safe bet too.

Yume is a very small Japanese restaurant on the second floor. The sushi is fresh with a wide selection. The husband and wife owned restaurant are a tag team serving customers. The husband has awesome knife skills and the food has a great presentation. The wife is very friendly and is happy to serve the food. If you are looking for teriyaki or donburi, they do not serve those types of food. Their specialties are the sushi, sashimi and nigiri. The amount of cooked food is minimal. Their tonkatsu is delicious with a tangy, slightly sweet sauce. If you enjoy sushi than this is a wonderful place to experience.

Toomie's Thai Restaurant is a popular spot. I was surprised to see the number of customers one day when I had lunch there. Their pad thai was very good and full of flavors. Their varieties of curries were amazing with different heat, spice levels. Red is the hottest, green was second and yellow was the most mild. I had a green curry dish. The meat in the curry dish was over cooked and the chicken was tough and chewy. The sauce had coconut milk which lightened some of the heat of the dish, but the bamboo shoots were limp and did not add any value to the flavors. Their hot and sour soup had a wonderful broth of lemongrass. The soup was not too spicy with fresh vegetables, and the seafood was perfectly cooked.

La Pinata 3 is crowded morning, noon and night. Their best deal of the house only occurs Monday through Friday during late mornings and lunch hours. They have a $2.99 American Breakfast. It is served with 2 pancakes, sausage links (4) or bacon strips (4), potatoes and toast. I know this is not Mexican food, but for the price, I had to try it. The meal was good. I would order the selection again. Their huevos rancheros is also good for breakfast. The tortillas were fried and were a little difficult cutting them with a knife. The food is over all pretty good at this place. The menu is large and the portion sizes are worth sharing with another person. The deep fried fish is a safe selection along with fajitas and chimichangas. Their combination plates have a good selection and their enchiladas, tamales and tacos are predictable. The beans and rice are staples and tastes good with tortillas. If the waiting line does not stop you from going inside, it is worth the wait. Otherwise, walk over to the tequila bar and have a drink.

Barceluna is both old and new to Alameda. The previous location was at the old Alameda Theatre before the the movie house was in operation. The restaurant was forced to close and now it has relocated to Santa Clara Avenue at the old Luciano's space. The food is geared towards Spanish tapas, or small plates. Pizza was also on the menu. I really wanted to come to this restaurant for the pizzas, but when I looked over at the next table and looked at their pizza, it did not look very appealing. The ingredients were fresh, but the middle appeared soggy. Plus, the neighbor stated the tapas were better in taste than the pizza which then prompted me to order a pizza another time. The Tuna Luna tapa was fresh ahi tuna with tofu, cucumber and avocado chunks mixed in a spicy sauce. The presentation was nice in a martini glass and with a giant tortilla chip. The flavors, however were a miss. There was not enough tuna for my liking and the dish was mainly filling. The tofu did not add any flavor and at times looked like avocado to me. The ahi was over cooked and other ingredients masked the natural taste of the tuna. The mushrooms tapa was decent. The dish was cooked mushrooms with a nice smokey flavor. The skirt steak on top of a crostini tapa sounded great on the menu, but it was a bit difficult to eat. The steak was a bit chewy and slightly tough and did not tear easily once you bit into the meat. The flavor of the beef was good, but I wish the meat was more tender. The pomme frites was yummy. The garlic fries was large in portion with a good texture. They were crunchy and hot served with a mayonnaise and ketchup dipping sauce. The dessert menu is very minimal. I will have to come back to try out a pizza and their deep fried dessert.

Hong Kong City Restaurant is unpredictable. I have eaten there more than a few times over the years and found the food quite good a few years ago. The food now lacks flavor. I wonder if they changed cooks over the years? I would pass over this place since there are many restaurant places to choose from along Park.

Pappo has a more mature approach to its menu. The food is more upscale which is a blessing for the island. The flavor combinations are more sophisticated and the end result is good tasting dishes. I cannot say what my favorite dish is because they change the menu frequently. The salads are salads that I make at home, so I was not amazed when I ate them on a few different occasions. The desserts need some help. I was not impressed by their selections or after I had eaten them. The safest bet is the chocolate cake. Food prices are a bit too expensive for the portion sizes of the dishes. I have left the restaurant at least twice with having a three course meal and still be hungry. Wine selections are great considering other establishments on the island. This restaurant is a wonderful dining experience for finer dining on the island, just remember to bring your wallet.

Tomatina did not have palatable pizza when I went there. The menu made the pizza sound awesome, but I was disappointed by the flavors and texture. The pizza was soggy in the middle and the cheese slipped away from the crust. The salads are better tasting than the pizzas. Instead of the pizzas, pasta dishes are recommended.

C'era Una Volta has come around for me. When the restaurant first opened, I was not a fan. The food lacked taste. Over the years, the flavor combinations have greatly improved. One of my favorites is the pappardelle with the meat sauce. The eggplant parmesan is also good. The cannelloni is delicious for a few bites and then it becomes too rich due to the ricotta cheese. The gnocchi is a tasty dish, but it depends upon the sauce. Truffles are awesome with gnocchi. The meat sauce with gnocchi was a miss. The desserts still need help. I have not been able to have a wonderful dessert here. I will keep on waiting. This restaurant probably has the best Italian wine selection of the entire island. The staff is highly knowledgeable and know the tasting notes of each wine.

Juanita's Mexican Restaurant is definitely not as popular as La Pinata 3 down the street. The food is good and fairly predictable. I cannot say anything negative about this restaurant. The food is not memorable. It is food that one would expect at a casual, Mexican restaurant in America. There is no ambiance at this establishment.

Amarin Thai Restaurant is the usual place I go to for Thai food on the island. Their curries are very good with varied heat, spice levels to choose from. The vegetables selections in their curry dishes make sense and compliment the seafood or meats. Their pad thai was great with lots of peanuts on top. There is not a bad dish at this restaurant. I believe the chef has put a lot of thought into the menu with the ingredients and flavor combinations.

Jim's Place is another great diner for breakfast. Good food, large portions. Anything on the breakfast menu is a home run. Their hamburgers and patty melts are also a safe choice. Their milk shakes are very delicious. They are thick and tasty, made with real ice cream. One will have to wait on the weekends. Lines form out the door.

Speisekammer is the only German restaurant in Alameda. The food at times can be inconsistent, but it maybe more dependent upon what food is being ordered. I have been there a few times when the schnitzel was cooked perfectly and one time it was over done and tough. I have never been a fan of spatzle and found their version to be bland. At one occasion, the bratwurst, mash potatoes and sauerkraut dinner was disappointing. The bratwurst tasted like a grocery store bratwurst grilled at home. The mash potatoes were runny and the sauerkraut lacked flavor. The braised beef tri tip (Sauerbraten mit Preiselbeerkonfitür) is a good choice, the beef is tender and the sauce is a red wine reduction. Fish dishes are delicately sauteed with subtle flavors. Desserts are more challenging. The desserts are brought in by a third party baker and do not utilize authentic German ingredients. The strudel was made out of puff pastry which was unexpected. Unfortunately, the pastry lacked flavor due to an insufficient amount of butter. The best part of the establishment is their vast assortment of beers. If you are really thirsty, order the boot. This is best place to be at on a warm, sunny day having a drink at the outdoor bier garden.

Burgermeister opened for business around the same time as the Alameda Theatre. The restaurant is mainly known for its hamburgers, but it also serves fish and chips, chicken dishes and salads. The hamburgers are decent in taste and flavor and huge in size. Most hamburgers are 1/2 pound. There is a meal deal going on right now for a 1/4 pound burger, fries and a drink for $7.50, served Monday through Thursday. My only suggestion in choosing a hamburger is to ask the wait staff for their recommendations. One time I chose a hamburger that I thought would taste good, but it ended up lacking in flavor when I ate it. The Western Burger is a great choice since it is tangy, sweet and salty from the ingredients. The burger has lots of components comprised of fried onion rings, bacon strips, cheese and BBQ sauce. This burger is full of flavor, this meal does not disappoint. I would recommend this place for a casual burger and the great outdoor patio.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

West End

The West End of Alameda was notorious for bars serving drinks to the Navy and civilians when Alameda Point was in operation. Now that the Navy yard is decommissioned, a renaissance of new restaurants has emerged on Webster Street.

The New Zealander Restaurant is most known for their meat pies. They are tasty in flavor and with a flaky crust. I just wished the pies were slightly larger or that the crust was thinner. The volume of filling never seemed to be enough inside the crust. I always came out of the restaurant feeling hungry after eating one pie. The staff are consistently friendly and it is a great place to get a beer. The complimentary garlic fries are also delicious at happy hour. The restaurant definitely has a great historical space with an outdoor patio area. This place is a casual, clean hang out for the locals.

Yokohama is a traditional Japanese sushi and food establishment. The sushi is always fresh, but their menu is limited. There is no fancy sushi or rolls here. The flavor of the teriyaki is good and predictable as one would buy from a grocery store in the ethnic aisle. However, the salmon teriyaki always comes out over cooked. The Japanese interiors are peaceful and calming. The fish tank is a nice touch once you enter the front door. If you are looking for consistently decent and traditional Japanese food, this is the place to eat.

Tillie's is great diner food. There is nothing elegant or fancy about this place. It looks like a real 1950s diner because it is a real American diner. Breakfasts are large portioned and tasty. The best item for breakfast if you are really hungry is the Steak Bits. You get a lot of food and the steak is tender and full of flavor. The menu for lunch and dinner are basically the same with the exception of the daily specials. The hamburgers, patty melts and omelettes are always delicious. If you are looking to eat casual, diner food with the family or by yourself, this place is recommended.

Otaez has wonderful Mexican decorum inside and out. There is an inviting waterfall by the front door and great statues once you enter the space. The menu is vast with a lot of options. A great appetizer is the empanada. The restaurant prepares three different types. The dough is thin and flaky and the inside is hot and yummy with meat or fish and vegetables. At times, the chips that come to the table can taste slightly oily. The salsas are always fresh with a mild and medium heat varieties. The lightest fare on the menu are the fish dishes. The fish are quickly deep fried. The fish are fresh and you can taste it. The other foods like the hard shelled tacos, chile rellenos and enchiladas can be at times a little heavy along with the beans and rice and one may experience a bloated feeling afterwards. This restaurant is a great establishment for a fun, family atmosphere. Also good for large sized groups.


Nation's Giant Hamburgers are messy, juicy and big in flavor and portion size. These hamburgers are more of a gourmet burger compared to Tillie's down the street as well as other fast food chains in the area. The best burger is the Ole Hamburger since the special ingredient is a pepper. The pepper is not hot or spicy, but gives an interesting texture and added dimension to the taste. The milk shakes are also good here since they use real ice cream. The fruit pies are simple and refreshing during the summer months. The pudding pies can be a bit dull to the taste buds with the layer of whipped cream on top. Nation's is a great spot for a big burger for lunch or a late afternoon meal.


Hong Kong East Ocean Restaurant is great for dim sum. The dim sum menus are easy to read and you select which items you want. The ladies who drive the carts around the room may not speak English clearly, but they are eager to show you what they are serving. The crepes, dumplings, fried fish, stuffed tofu and eggplant are always good dishes. The sticky rice, chicken feet and the fried sesame balls are an acquired taste. The restaurant recently remodeled the interiors, so the room looks fresh with an Asian flare of golden dragons and red velvet walls. The restaurant can accommodate parties of any size.


Chef's Wok is a Chinese restaurant that is close in proximity to Hong Kong East Ocean. They also serve dim sum during lunch and is probably in direct competition with them. The menu is long and varied. There are so many selections that at times it is overwhelming on what to choose. In order to get a wide selection of food, I have ordered their Fixed Dinner Plans. The food lacked flavor at times and appeared the chefs prepared the food to appease non-Asian palates. The portions were huge and that is where the savings come in. One could eat the leftovers in two additional meals. If you looking for predictable Chinese food with large portions than this restaurant is the place to eat at.

AcquaCotta is the new restaurant in the neighborhood. The owner is the only chef on the block with pedigree training who has worked at famous and popular bay area restaurants. The space is somewhat dark with caramel and rustic color schemes. Salads were typical and predictable in flavor profiles. The pasta dishes were delicious and bold in flavors. The pasta was surprisingly a dry pasta and not made fresh on the premises. My only comment about this restaurant is the cost of the wine. The first time I had a meal here, the alcohol amount was more than the food cost. The restaurant is still working on improving the dessert menu and in the future wants to produce fresh pasta in the kitchen. I highly recommend coming here for a rustic Italian dinner. We just have to wait until they hire a dessert chef. You may want to call ahead and ask if you are allowed to bring your own bottle of wine.

Pier 29 is where all the East Bay Senior Citizens come out for an Early Bird Special. The prices are very reasonable during the Early Bird Special duration and the portions are good sized. The restaurant is known for its seafood dishes. The clam chowder soup is good and thick. The best dishes of the house are grilled or pan fried fish plates. The fish and chips are a disappointment. The stews are not appetizing and the beef dishes are also not favored. The vegetables are always plain and simply boiled in water with some butter. This is the only restaurant in Alameda that has water views in the front and back of the building. The service is always friendly. I would recommend this restaurant only for the Early Bird Specials.