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.
Friday, October 17, 2008
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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