Dragon Well, 2142 Chestnut Street, The Marina (EOPB)

 

Well, Rosalie and I are "hard-back-at-it" in the world of food blogging.  We just enjoyed a really good Chinese feast at "Dragon Well" on our latest "blog lunch" in San Francisco.



"Dragon Well" is a small modern-style restaurant located in the heart of the Marina on Chestnut Street.  This small eatery has a very interesting menu that will allow you to enjoy your American-Chinese favorites while introducing you to some "authentic" Hong Kong dishes.


All recipes include light sauces and light, refreshing dressings that titivate the salads. Every dish that includes vegetables is made from fresh produce that clearly gives each dish a lighter, healthier taste, while still enhancing the many flavors of  soy, garlic and ginger.

The menu entices you to step outside-the-box and try things like "Mrs Luo's Jook", a rice porridge served with shredded chicken, crispy noodles, scallions, cilantro & ginger, served with a soy sesame sauce.  OMG!
The Hong Kong noodles with prawns, flank steak, chicken and fresh veggies served over pan fried noodles sounded delicious, as well. (even "good eaters", as confirmed in our titles on our business cards, can only eat so much!)

"Dragon Well" is well known for it's Mongolian beef and, of course, it's Chinese chicken & tofu salads, but believe us, they have plenty more to offer that will expand your "Chinese" palate, and it is all delish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The service is outstanding and they have an excellent wine list to choose from, as well.

Rosalie and I were sated and happy when we finished our meal and the Chinese chicken salad was the best either of us ever had.










The fresh "Dragon Well tea" was brewed at our table and provided the perfect finish to our meal at this delightful "Chinese restaurant find"!


The most fabdelish thing was yet to come!  After we finished our meal we were handed a large bowl of chocolate and vanilla fortune cookies!!!!!!!!!  To Die For!!!

Our staff photographer found the following fortune in the first chocolate fortune cookie she enjoyed.

 "Something on four wheels will soon be a fun investment for you!"

My fortune was also found in my first chocolate fortune cookie.

"You will soon receive pleasant news of a personal nature."

 

2  15  17  19 30  36

12  15  16  23  26  41

 

 

Rosalie and I are back in "Charlie Chan PI (private investigator ) mode" tracking down the source of those chocolate fortune cookies!!

 

Try this great Chinese gem in the heart of the Marina and we promise you'll receive all the good fortune you can have in a dining experience.  You're welcome to play our lucky numbers.........Rosalie and I appear to be "on a roll"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 



The Tipsy Pig, 2231 Chestnut, The Marina (EOPB)

                                                                                                              
Rosalie and I blogged our first American Gastro Pub!   Located in the heart of The Marina, this Pub has not been a secret to food experts like Michael Bauer, who sings it's praises.


The "Tipsy Pig" is a real bar and a full restaurant.  It has an additional seating area in the back of the pub, which provides a more quiet "library" atmosphere and there's a large outdoor patio.  What a great spot to enjoy this pub fare, especially when the sun shines in San Francisco.

This place is famous for it's mac & cheese (the secret here is that the sauce is tossed at the end with the pasta, not baked .... oh ....... and of course a little bacon is tossed in as well).  The Pot Pies and Pulled Pork Sliders are among their claim-to-fame, but Rosalie and I went off the beaten path and were not disappointed with our choices.


Our staff Photographer ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich with BBQ sauce and Sweet Potato Fries. I ordered the Fried Chicken sandwich topped with creamy slaw and BBQ sauce and Tater Tots on the side.  I also tried one of the waiter's "draft beer" selections and found it delish..........as well!!!!!!!!

 

                                                       

Rosalie and I thoroughly enjoyed our Gastro Pub experience and further enjoyed the very reasonably priced bill (delivered to the table in an old library book).

The "Tipsy Pig" has fabdelish fare, casual (yet attentive) service and a lovely young hostess that makes sure you're seated comfortably.  Add to that ................. delish "All-American" comfort food, unique bar selections, and a friendly pub atmosphere and you have a fab dining experience!  OMG!

The "Tipsy Pig" gets two thumbs-up from these very "full" bloggers and it's "easy on the pocketbook"!!
Happy Halloween!

 

 



Lovejoy's Tea Room, 1351 Church Street, Noe Valley (EOPB)

Rosalie and I decided to add a new twist to our food blog, with a visit to "Lovejoy's" in Noe Valley.  "LoveJoy's Tea Room" is an eclectic, English-style spot for tea and crumpets that you've only read about in some Agatha Christie novel.  You almost expect to see Miss Marple sitting at the table next to you, buttering her scone.

Although this is not "The Plaza", it's a cozy, quirky, little tea room with excellent service and fabdelish fare.  You are welcomed and treated like royalty and really are transported to another place and time.
"Stuffed" with English memorabilia and antique furnishings, "Lovejoy's" is far from "stuffy".  It seems to embrace and cater to the blended cultures of San Francisco.
The restaurant was inspired many years ago by a novel about an antique dealer, which explains not only the very eclectic, antique decor, but also "Lovejoy's Attic" shop that is located directly across the street.


 

Rosalie and I ordered the Queen's tea which was fabdelish!!!!!!!!!  Served on a traditional English silver, tiered tray, we feasted on warm homemade scones with preserves and Devon cream.  We indulged in hot delicate crumpets with lemon curd and enjoyed an assortment of fresh fruit crowned with delish.............black figs.  There were two different salads that were a great accompaniment to the finger sandwiches, of which our favorite were the "pear and Stilton".  OMG!!!!!
Our server ensured our teapot was always full and ended our English feast with Petit Fours and shortbread tea biscuits.

Okay, we can explain why there are NO pictures of the fadelish fare described in this "food" blog.  Rosalie and I swooped in on that spread like those "chicken" pigeons at Sausalito's "Fish".  By the time we realized we'd forgotten to even snap one shot, most of the fare was no longer on the tray.  Perhaps this was our way of piquing your interest and urging you to run to Noe Valley to actually see what we're talking about here.  We really hope you do, because "Lovejoy's Tea" is very unique and very delish! 

Our staff photographer is currently running a contest for the best submission of the "Lovejoy Queen's Tea", before it is inhaled.  Please submit all entries to the "comments" section at the bottom of this post.

Thank you for your understanding.  We were hungry.

Ann "Staff writer & Good Eater"
Rosalie "Staff Photographer & Good Eater "

Fish, 350 Harbor Drive, Sausalito (BDYW)

 

 

Rosalie and I are "back on the road again!"



We'll try to make up for our 4 month hiatus with some unique and candid reviews on our "food blog finds".

"Fish" is not a secret.  It is, in fact, a very popular, casual, fresh-fish eatery, located on the water in Sausalito.

"Fish" has been reviewed by many, even Zaget rated, and 99% of what you read gives this spot high praise............................................but, quess which two ex-PI (private investigator) bloggers were sorely disapointed by "Fish"!

Famous for their crab roll, ceviche, creative sandwich combinations and all things organic & fresh to boot, "Fish" gets you on the hook.  Unfortunately the prices may make you swim away from this very casual picnic table eatery.

 

Our staff photographer ordered the crab roll and I had the "special", a BLT (bacon, lettuce & trout) sandwich.  If their fish speaks to quality, then their fries speak to quantity!
As reported by other food bloggers, critics and tourists, the servings are huge!

Back to the fish .............. Rosalie's sandwich was dry and mine was soggy.  The fries were boring and the prices were high.  The only thing that was more disappointing was being swarmed by pigeons, seagulls and large black crows that are ready to swoop in as soon as you leave your table.  The dirty-dish tubs that reside on the patio, make a perfect perch for these very well-fed birds.  (Honestly, some were the size of small chickens!)

Yes, Im' afraid Rosalie and I did not find "Fish" fabdelish!
We really thought it was "for the birds" ................................
Look at it this way, we just saved you a small fortune! 
Don't worry!  There are many more great finds in our future, that will have great food, a unique vibe and still be easy on the pocketbook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piccino, 1001 Minnesota Street, Dogpatch (BDYW)

This Tuscan Pizzeria in "Dogpatch" left Rosalie and me disappointed.  I read lots of reviews, after the fact, and maybe we just missed the plot on this one.  It appears to be a neighborhood favorite, famous for it's thin-crust Tuscany-style pizza, as well as many other small plates. ( I do mean "small"!)
Piccino is located in a large, corner building, that looks like it belongs in downtown Mountain View, not a quaint, artsy & light industrial area of San Francisco.

This structure is often referred to as "the yellow building".  The restaurant itself is fairly large and has a very modern and "spa-like" contemporary style. The "yellow building" also houses a clothing boutique, a wine shop and a separate coffee bar (owned & operated by "Piccino") where "Sightglass" coffee is featured along with various pastries, prepared daily by "Piccino's" pastry chef.

Natural and organic fare is the theme, but the portions are small (encouraging you to "taste" numerous dishes) and the food, frankly was bland.  Soft drinks are served in little jelly jars which was cute and although we didn't imbibe that day, the wine list is supposedly excellent and extensive.

I ordered the pork and beef  "polpette" (little meatballs), served with crushed tomatoes and Parmesan.  Though the portion was small, the meatballs were good and the crushed tomatoes were deliciously sweet.  Thankfully, I had requested crusty Italian bread with olive oil (delish.........), which I consumed in it's entirety.  Rosalie ordered the "prosciutto panini", mozzarella, braised radicchio and tomato chutney.  Unfortunately, it was served on an organic roll that was sooooo hard, our staff photographer was unable to eat it without losing her two front teeth!  The waitress offered to replace the sandwich, so Rosalie ordered the "asparagus salad", hard cooked egg, pickled mustard-seed vinaigrette and breadcrumbs.  The salad was mediocre and starving Rosalie was once again left hungry and disappointed.

We looked at the fully-booked tables and decided to give "Piccino" one last shot. 

Since we were far from stuffed, we decided to order a couple of "Piccino's" highly renowned pizzas "to go".  I discussed the options with our waitress and chose the "funghi pizza", roasted mushrooms, stracchino, and shaved garlic.  Rosalie, decided to go with their "margherita" pizza", tomato, mozzarella and fresh oregano, taking no chances with her 3rd "Piccino" dish of the day. 
You guessed it.  The pizzas were not good. 
My "funghi" was loaded with mushrooms, but also with tons & tons & tons of garlic and Rosalie's "margherita" was tasteless.  How ironic that the only picture of the food that came out that Wednesday afternoon was the "polpette". 
"Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry" spooky!!!!!

Well, we did try..........really tried, to the tune of $80.00, including tip (no charge for that panini).  Rosalie and I know that any place that is that packed with diners and has that many good reviews can't be as bad it seemed, but "Piccino" gets no recommendation from these famished food bloggers!
Rosalie and I have blogged 23 restaurants and over 80% of them were delicious and very reasonably priced.  Please look back at the previous posts that include some of "the best" we've found in San Francisco.

Don't worry, your "food PI's" are back on the streets next Wednesday and WE ARE HUNGRY!!!!!!
Ciao e grazie!

Plow, 1299 18th Street, Potrero Hill (BDYW)

Plow is soooooooo good on so many levels, it's hard to know where to begin....so let's start with the location. Yes, Rosalie and I are still enjoying our favorite Potrero Hill neighborhood, shaking our heads, wondering how we could have missed this "fab food mecca" for all these years.
"Plow's" architecture has a clean industrial look, but with a homey all-American feel.  It's all windows, high ceilings and glossy reclaimed woods and metals.  There is only one large painting on the far wall, of a red, weathered barn, sitting out in the fields.  Maybe that's why the "design feel" is so rustic, while still being chic and sophisticated.   That painting so reminded me of the farms I grew up with, as a kid in the Midwest. 

You can look out the windows at the city from one angle or view a gorgeous tree on Texas Street from another. The small dining space has been featured in Dwell magazine, so needless to say, it is really cool and unique.

 The heavy marble counter provides additional seating and faces the open kitchen where the food magic begins.
Famous for the hearty and wholesome American farm breakfasts, this eatery does not disappoint.  OMG!!!! Choose from the menu of eggs & homemade sausages or Nueske bacon to lemon ricotta pancakes and french toast with strawberries, mascarpone & maple syrup, just to mention a few of the many fabdelish choices.
If you want to skip breakfast and go right to lunch, Rosalie and I can tell you just what to order.
I had the famous fried chicken sandwich with cabbage jalapeno slaw and aioli on a fresh baked torpedo role.  Our staff photographer had the portobello mushroom sandwich with aioli, Cowgirl Creamery Wagon Wheel and grilled balsamic onions.  Both lunches were, of course, served with crispy "plow potatoes", which are absolutely to die for and seriously delish!!!!!

The chef/owners (husband and wife team) of this wonderful spot also own the popular neighborhood wine shop, "Ruby Wine", located down the block, so........... you might want to choose a "glass" from "Plow's"  wine list to enjoy with with your scrumptious meal.
I could go on and on, but Rosalie and I agree, you just have to experience it for yourselves!  This place is so worth the short trip to Potrero Hill, our 4th neighborhood "fab food find", all within a few blocks of each other. (take a look at the 3 prior posts of "Chez Papa", "Chez Maman" & "Papito")
Breakfast, lunch, or week-end brunch..... do not miss this one!!!!!!!
Our staff photographer even snapped a shot of someone else's order!  Looks like they ordered "the plow" which is 2 eggs, house sausage, lemon ricotta pancakes and crispy potatoes.  Yum!  Rosalie is becoming the "Ansel Adams" of the food blog business, so we hope these pictures inspire you to discover the "deliciousness" waiting for you on Potrero Hill!

Papito, 317 Connecticut @ 18th, Potrero Hill (EOPB)

Another fabdelish find in Potrero!  Rosalie and I decided it would be a great idea to further investigate this "steep & hilly" San Francisco neighborhood and blog about the many unique places to dine when you find yourself in Potreo.  Just two minutes off 101 at Vermont and "Voila", you are in a restaurant and bistro mecca!!!!
Now for our third Potrero neighborhood find, "Papito"..........

"Papito" is not your typical Mexican taqueria.  Chips and tasty salsas are just the beginning and we warn you now, don't eat too many, especially if you want to try the specialty "Elote asado" (grilled Mexican corn-on-the-cob slathered with Mexican mayo, sprinkled with qeso cotija (cow's milk cheese), lime and  homemade chili salt.  OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! Delish is not even the word!!!!!
The corn is served skewered on a fork, so it's finger-lickin' good (without you actually having to lick your fingers).
I had a beer on ice with a salted rim and a squeeze of lime.  Rosalie had an iced watermelon acqua fresca.                       

Ahora, con el espectaculo!!!!!

I ordered the tacos.  I had one "Carnitas De Pato", duck confit carnitas, homemade pickles, mint and chipolte tamarind sauce & one "Bajaco", deep fried rock cod in negra modelo batter, chipolte remoulade, salsa roja and guacamole with purple cabbage slaw.
Rosalie ordered one of "Papito's" highly recommended quesadillas, "Polo Empanizado", fried chicken, chipolte remoulade, salsa roja, guacamole and purple cabbage slaw.
Then, for dessert,.........................................no, we didn't....only kidding!

This fabdelish place is tiny, but there is outdoor seating and we loved eating at the counter.  " Papito" has a real neighborhood feel and that's part of it's charm. " Eighteenth off Vermont" is the new "bistro row" for these food bloggers.

We know that Potrero is going to get crowded after this posting, so grab your hat (sombrero or beret) and meet us for a bite.  If you're lucky, our staff photographer may snap a shot of you, that could end up on "More is Less Mula"!

ihausta luego!

>2100 JPY

 

Cafes Chez Papa & Chez Maman, 18th Street, Portreo Hill (EOPB)

This was one of the most successful food-blog trips we've ever had!!  "Excellente cuisine et très bon service."
What a find!  "Chez Papa" for a lovely lunch and "Chez Maman" (several doors down) for a dessert of crepes and cappuccinos, while of course, perfecting our French.  (You speak in English, but the staff responds in French.....It works out quite well!!!)
Anyway........ it was a rainy Wednesday in San Francisco, so what could be better than a cozy little French Bistro, "fabdelish" french food and a lovely glass of Pinot Noir.

This Potrero neighborhood is a little hidden gem in our city.  There are tons of European & Urban restaurants, bistros, bakeries, and little flower shops lining 18th Street. Everyone we passed on the street had an umbrella, a smile and a greeting.  What a fab place to be on a rainy day!
"Maman & Papa" certainly created some great recipes with that true French "Bistrot" feel. 
As starters, the menu offers typical French small plates (petites assiettes), such as local grilled sardines, fresh chick pea salad and pistou coulis or roasted bone marrow, garlic confit, parsley, capers and cronichon salad.  If this is too French for you, (Rosalie & I are not that French either) there are many other selections that include lamb dishes, warm goat cheese salads, beef tartar (a Chez Papa specialty) and many, many more.

Our staff photographer ordered mussels, served with the highly recommended "frites, aioli".  (Check out those fries!)  I had the Salade Nicoise with rose pepper crusted ahi.  What can we say????
Pictures are worth a thousand words and I'm exhausted from all that French translation (Merci Microsoft!!!) , so..................... just look below.

Let's not forget Chez Maman!!  Next time Rosalie and I find ourselves near 18th Street, we'll definitely have lunch there.  We're dying to try their famous onion soup.  It looked delish!!!!!!  After our lunch at Chez Papa on this blog-day, we just had dessert and great cappuccinos! I had crepes with fresh berries and creme fraiche and Rosalie had the very French "crepes with nutella and bananas".  We're still stuffed!!!!!!!!!!! 

Well, we found a little bit of Paris on 18th and Vermont.  Where does it all end????? 
Our staff photographer and I will be back on the streets of your city next Wednesday, looking for  more "fabdelish" places.  If they're out there, we'll find them! (For those of you who don't know.....Rosalie and I did complete a Saturday, all-day course on "how to become a private investigator".  We knew that someday those skills would come in handy.)  This investigation turned up two "fabdelish" and unique spots.  Rosalie and I will definitely be dining again at both "Chez Papa" & "Chez Maman".  We hope we run into you!

"Bon Appetit!"