The Cavalier - San Francisco

3/5 stars

Christmas shopping date with my mama! We wanted to stay close to Macy's and I was tickled pink to find that The Cavalier was within walking distance. Yeeess, cocktails and a Marlowe burger coming right up!

The place was really cute and cozy. I liked the decor. Who doesn't like red-leather booths? It *felt* like a swanky brasserie! Service was nice enough.

I've been following Anna Weinberg on Instagram and drooling over The Cavalier's gorgeous cocktails so I couldn't wait to order the Bramble. Unfortunately, my Bramble didn't look anything like what she posted:

Her's:

Mine:

It was skillfully constructed, but didn't blow me away. My mom's Pencillin was really smoky with its Great King's St. scotch, honey syrup, ginger juice, and lemon. She said it tasted better with food.

The food was really solid. We got the Shakshuka and the famous Marlowe burger. I adored the Shakshuka. I've never had it before. Egg yolk + spicy tomato sauce = dreamy. Dip, dip, dip with the toasted baguette.

Unfortunately, the Marlowe burger didn't meet my expectations. Maybe they were too high. It was good, not great. Certainly not the best burger in SF. It could've been my fault. I made the mistake of ordering it medium-rare and it came out more rare/more cool than I prefer. But no matter, the thrice-cooked chips were just the right amount of crisp. I guess thrice does the trick. Yummy dipped in the horseradish aioli. Do you like aioli more than mayo? I can't decide.

(2015) 

Three Restaurant & Bar - San Mateo

2/5 stars

Meh. I really wanted to like this place, but I just can't rate this place 3 stars.

First off, our server clearly didn't want to be there. He was just going through the motions. He was also extremely uninformed. I asked him to recommend a cocktail made with one of the infused liquors on the chalkboard, but he just waved at the menu and told me to pick something from there. Then, when my cousin ordered an old fashioned and asked him what bourbons were available, he just gave us a blank stare. He didn't even know if they had Bulleit!

Unfortunately, it just never got better. The old fashioned tasted watered down. And the yolk in my egg sandwich was cooked through. A hard-boiled egg sandwich makes me a sad panda. Apparently if you want a nice, runny yolk, ya gotta ask. The bun wasn't toasted either. And, the sandwich didn't come with potatoes, fruit, or fries. Pretty expensive for just a mediocre sandwich.

And they moved us mid-brunch to another table because they needed our table for a large party.

Sigh.

(2015)

Foreign Cinema - San Francisco

3/5 stars

I can't believe I can finally check this place off my list! Foreign Cinema has been on my SF go-to list for years. Even when I "worked" with them, I never visited. Unfortunately, I found brunch underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, everything was good, but I guess I was expecting more fairy dust.

The space was gorgeous. Probably my favorite part of the whole experience. I loved the exposed concrete, the light - the rustic, lovely feel of it all. It felt Californian-French. It was a rare sunny afternoon in SF and we were lucky enough to get a table outside. Our server was polite and patient.

We ordered bubbles and the homemade pop-tarts: one strawberry, one raspberry. They were delightful. After much perusing, I finally decided on the champagne omelet with morels, asparagus & creme fraiche because it's not every day you can order a perfectly made French omelette. Unfortunately, while nice, the omelette lacked morels and I can't remember seeing an asparagus. I've had immensely better eggs with creme fraiche at Ad Hoc in Yountville. I will say that the fried yukons were perfect. Good job there.

Overall, a great place for brunch with the girlfriends, but I won't be itching to come back.

(2015)

The Table - San Jose

4/5 stars

1. figgy fig fig & green walnut, 2. pims with cucumber juice, 3. mai tai with fresh cherry syrup, and 4. a very complicated, awesome tequila, absinthe & fig concoction

UPDATE :)

Call me a fan. Brunch and the excellent bartenders (Jason, Jimmy, Eri(c/k), and Sal) have won me over. This is now my go-to place for cocktails since my favorite bartender at Alexander's is nowhere to be found (David Clark, where are you?). I think we've ordered everything off the cocktails menu (before the expansion), but I prefer having the gentlemen make me something off-menu. They're just that good (and talented). The bar is also gorgeous. It's made from reclaimed wood.

The eggs benedict is different, but I really like the Acme green onion slab and the slice of ham is generous. The fried chicken biscuit w/ gravy is tasty and the chilaquiles has majorly improved. For appetizers, the scotch egg and Rocky Jr.'s chicken mousse are delicious. I haven't had much for dinner, but I don't think you can go wrong with their seasonal pasta dish. And their burger is the best "fancy burger" in the Bay Area (the best non-fancy is In n' Out of course).

I'm looking forward to visiting now that the remodeling is complete!

***

Hans, the bartender, was très lovely. I tried his Finn's Revenge (with huckleberry + ginger, how could I resist?), Veneto (maraschino + moscato), and Vieux Carre (rye + cognac, don't order if you don't like that sort of thing). They were all well-crafted, well-balanced. And $8 for bottomless mimosas? Wow!

The chorizo + poached cocotte was sumptuous! My husband ordered it and already I'm plotting our return so *I* can order it. I had the chilaquiles. The tortilla chips, though smothered in a delicious red sauce, still held their crunch while the egg yolks did the magical thing that egg yolks do. I would've liked more avocado and perhaps a protein (chorizo?). Also, not sure why some of the breakfasts come with potatoes and why some don't.

Pros: service was spot-on, I found the decor cozy and inviting
Cons: space is small, food prices are on the very high side

(2012-2014)

Founding Farmers - Washington, DC

5/5 stars

I love love LOVE the idea of brunch. Champagne at 11 in the morning? Thick cut bacon, runny yolk... can it get any better?

This is my favorite brunch place, hands-down. Too bad it's ACROSS THE COUNTRY, but that won't stop me from declaring it's the best.

+ hand-crafted cocktails
+ sweet n' sour thick cut bacon cooked just the way I like it (not too crisp)
+ hot-from-the-oven beignets
+ homemade raspberry sauce to drizzle over said beignets
+ the weirdest, fluffiest, weirdest poached eggs ever
+ the gorgeous open bar
+ the open, light-filled space

Love.

(2014)

Crepevine - San Jose

3/5 stars

We've been here twice for brunch. First time was great, second time was only okay... not sure if we'll return. To be fair, I've never tried a crepe. The first time, I ordered the eggs benedict. It was nothing special (Los Gatos Cafe is still my favorite), but good. The second time, I loved my tuna melt, but my mom's Mediterranean sandwich and my MIL's salmon were extremely greasy. The cupcakes were also bone dry. Wait isn't too bad. About 15 mins to order at the counter. Then you get seated, but turnaround is fairly quick.

(2014)

Brenda’s French Soul Food - San Francisco

5/5 stars

Holy cow, this place is awesome! And I'm saying this after an almost hour-long wait.

Everything tasted like I thought it should taste. There's just something so comforting and fun about New Orleans food.

The traditional beignets were piping-hot-out-of-the-oven-amazing. They were huge, but incredibly light and airy. And even though you'll probably get powdered sugar everywhere, you won't care. The beignets will melt in your mouth and you'll be a happy puddle.

The joy just kept on coming. The watermelon sweet tea was refreshing and the cream biscuit tasted like it was made by someone's grandmother who's been baking for fifty years. The pork belly was lip-smacking and the gumbo was delicious. I highly recommend the grillade gravy. My hubby kept sneaking his biscuit over to soak up the sauce. Nothing disappointed. Hubby was just moaning how he wished we had bought more biscuits home.

(2013)

Ad Hoc - Yountville

5/5 stars

UPDATE :)

I eat here as often as I can.

Fried chicken Monday delivered all the sparkly things. The mashed potatoes were freakin' heavenly.

I would eat here twice a week if I could (once for dinner and once for brunch).

***

I was SO excited when I discovered Ad Hoc!! Every foodie's dream is dinner at The French Laundry, but it's not some place you can randomly call up, grab a reservation, and casually drop down $500+ for a meal. Ad Hoc is much more accessible. I considered it my "French Laundry appetizer."

ATMOSPHERE: Reservations were super easy to get on Open Table. I booked them only a week in advance and had my pick of slots. I LOVE the concept of Ad Hoc - if I could own a restaurant, I'd want it to be just like this. The restaurant is modern, but not in a sharp edges sort of way. It was very home-y, with lots of natural light. Polite, as if dressed in its "Sunday best," but with a family-themed vibe. That's what the meal is like: cooked for a family to share (3 course prix fixe menu, $38 per person). The menu format was simply adorable: printed on clean, white paper and tucked into a folder. The service was professional and wonderful!

FOOD: I'd go every Sunday if I could ... maybe I'll strive for one Sunday a month because this is what it's all about: serving what's in season and celebrating the food's flavor at its peak. This Sunday, the menu was:

- red potato and sweet onion frittata with caramelized sweet onions, young frisee, puquillo peppers, and smoked Idaho trout

- grilled pork tenderloin with garbanzo beans, roasted romanesco broccoli, braised pork rib and celery root hash

- banana bread with chocolate mousse-vanilla ice cream and candied walnuts

I don't normally like frittata because they're usually dense and quiche-like, but Keller's frittata was thin, sweet n' savory, and light as air. Perfect when paired with the smokey trout, the frisee, and their mouthwatering sherry vinaigrette. I'd probably eat anything if it was topped with that dressing.

I was REALLY hoping that our menu would include pig and my wish was granted! The pork tenderloin was the juiciest pork I've ever had. Ad Hoc proves that you can cook pork and have it not be dry. The pork tasted maple-y and the hash was delicious. How could you not like the hash? It was probably the tastiest, fattiest parts of the pig pan-fried in its own fat. Yum.

I love bananas, in milkshakes, sundaes, and just by itself, but I've never liked it in bread ... until now. The bread was moist and not overwhelmingly banana-y or too sweet/chocolaty. The outside was crispy and the middle was melt-in-your mouth. Paired with the fluffy, homemade ice cream and it was the best way to end brunch!

Oh! And I also highly recommend their white wine sangria with blood oranges. It was the BEST sangria I've ever had - bubbly, crisp, not too dry or sweet.

If you want the perfect weekend get-away, I recommend my Jan 17 09 itinerary: wine-tasting in Sonoma (you can find my reviews for the wineries on one of my lists), a couple's massage and stay at MacArthur's Place, a dinner consisting of a picnic with cheese and salami bought at the Sonoma Cheese Factory, and then finished with brunch at Ad Hoc the next morning. That, my friend, is a recipe for success.

(2009-2012)

808 Bistro - Kihei, HI

3/5 stars

Right after stepping off the plane and getting lei'd at the airport, we began our honeymoon here at 808 Bistro with whale pie.

Whale pie is hash browns, ham, egg, and cheese smothered in brown gravy. This is where I discovered that (A) Hawaii puts gravy on lots of stuff and (B) gravy makes everything automatically delicious.

The restaurant is, unfortunately, not on the beach, but we got to eat outside. The menu was kind of limiting, but my *new word alert* husband had the short rib omelette and it was tasty. It was a nice time, but wasn't exciting enough for me to want to come back on my vacation.

(2011)

900 Grayson - Berkeley

5/5 stars

Why don't deliciously trendy brunch places like this exist in the Bay Area? Sure, we got our mom and pop shops, but they don't know how to make a cocktail like 900 Grayson does. Heck, even their home-made limeade rocks my socks. If I was wearing them. I came in flip flops. But I ordered the juicy, seasoned-with-a-kick chicken n' perfectly cooked, crispy n' thin waffles and, trust me on this one, get the gravy. Always get the gravy.

I'll be back if I'm ever in the neighborhood!

(2011)

TOWN - San Carlos

3/5 stars

Extremely price-y (breakfasts are around $20 and the drinks $9-$15), but I haven't found a place in the South Bay that serves bottomless mimosas so I'll probably come back.

I had the prime rib hash and it was very tasty, but the prime rib was sliced too thin. I prefer a thicker cut when it comes to prime rib. I asked for a side of au jus and that made it even better.

The service was hit or miss. Our server forgot about refilling my fiance's champagne glass, but there were others who made sure to keep it full.

(2011)

First Awakenings - Pacific Grove

3/5 stars

I had a calamari steak for breakfast.

And that's why I may not survive in a land-locked state.

(2010)

South Pine Cafe - Nevada City

4/5 stars

Pear cider mimosa? How about an olallieberry one? and lobster on the menu?

Hello, Sunday brunch.

PROS: fresh food, creative menu, super friendly service, BEST HOMEMADE BREAKFAST SAUSAGE PATTY KNOWN TO MAN

CONS: slightly pricey, toast can be overbuttered, expect to wait!

(2009)

Honey’s Sit-N-Eat - Philadelphia

5/5 stars

Yelp, I don't know what I did before I met you. You make eating whilst travelling so much better.

I was in Philly for the weekend and I wasn't stuck dining at chains or tourist traps because I had my trusty iPhone and my trusty Yelp. It was Saturday and we needed brunch, STAT!

FOOD: Erm. I had a little too much free champagne to drink the night before so I needed something greasy so I ordered a custom omelette that was not only GENIUS and one of the TASTIEST OMELETTES EVER, but ... it was also the FATTIEST omelette ever and I probably hurted my heart. Oops.

I asked for pastrami and BOY, did I get pastrami. Half-a-pound of slightly sweet/maple, perfect pastrami. On top of my pastrami, there was a pile of sliced avocado, tomatoes, and ... *dramatic pause* Velveeta cheese. I've never been to a breakfast place that serves Velveeta before! This was one makes-your-tastebuds-water omelette.

I also ordered:

* orange juice - fresh-squeezed, delicious
* FRIED GREEN TOMATOES were soooo good, served with a side of homemade ranch
* a potato and onion latke - it was too fried, oily, and salty for me

ATMOSPHERE: Honey's was local, eclectic, laidback, homemade, and our waitress was super friendly, chatty, and tattoo'd. Thanks, Honey, for a great breakfast!

(2009)

Los Gatos Café - Los Gatos

5/5 stars

Sorry Stacks. Sorry Bill's Cafe. Sorry Bobbi's, Counrty Inn, Country Gourmet, and Flames.

Los Gatos Cafe is the best breakfast place in the Bay Area.

FOOD: Yes, the potatoes. They were crunchy on the top, melt-in-your-mouth on the inside, with just a hint of yellow curry - how unique. Yes, the raspberry coffee cake. Moist, buttery cake with an amazing cinnamon crumbly topping. But mostly, MOSTLY, yes the hollandaise sauce. I normally dislike hollandaise because ... it's just. too. much. Too fatty or too oily, too thin or too salty, too thick or too yucky. But Los Gatos' hollandaise was delicious. It was tasty. It was yummy. It was from the hollandaise Gods. (I do recommend that you order the hollandaise on the side so you can control how much you put on)

I ordered the California benedict and the Los Gatos Cafe staff is cool with substitutions. Yay for making (A) my life easier and (B) making my breakfast dreams come true. I subbed the "canadian ham" on my benedict with "linguica." It was seriously the best eggs' benedict I've ever had. Sausage? Good. Plenty of fresh avocado slices? Good. Hollandaise? Duh. Good. HOMEMADE ENGLISH MUFFIN? GOOD!

The bf ordered the Mexcian Flag special which was basically their potatoes on top of their black bean chili smothered with cheese, chorizo, FRESH salsa, avocado, and sour cream. Seriously, that salsa tasted like it came from the garden out back. And they sure do know how to season their stuff at the LGC!

ATMOSPHERE: Accepts only cash. Expect a wait. I'd recommend sitting outside (less crowded, noisy, smelly). My water glass was never empty. Always got a genuine smile. Nice folks!

(2009)

Tower Cafe - Sacramento

5/5 stars

FOOD: Best. Tostada. Salad. Ever. I think the magic is in their beans and rice. I suggest ordering the salad with the salmon. I also think that Tower Cafe makes one of my favorite restaurant white wine sangria (sparkly, not too dry or syrupy sweet, made with raspberries and green apples).

This place defines eclectic for me. You can get big, fresh salads, enchiladas, lasagna, Thai curry, burgers, jambalaya, and beautiful-looking desserts. The desserts have been hit or miss for us - but mostly good (chocolate-raspberry cake, lavendar panna cotta, banana cream pie, just to name a few).

I really hope I get to try breakfast someday!

ATMOSPHERE: Just like the food, eclectic. Has a "global fare" character. Waiters are really friendly, patio is wonderful when it's warm out, but expect a really long wait!

(2009)

Bill’s Cafe - San Jose

4/5 stars

Stacks, you have competition!

FOOD: The menu was so big and enticing, I had trouble deciding what I wanted. And if you're not in the mood for anything, you can order the "Not in the Mood for Anything" which just happens to be soup and a side salad with breadsticks. Everything on the menu looks like tasty comfort food – from omelettes to wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and benedicts. I finally decided on the Parisienne French Toast which was a fantastic idea. A huge, freshly baked croissant smushed flat and then dipped in a cinnamon egg batter and then fried. Dusted with powder'd sugar, it didn't need any more butter or syrup. It was very melt-in-your-mouth yummy. Came with two eggs and sausage links for $9. I also tried the bf's chicken fried steak and hasbrowns and I would have to say that they were the best I ever had - on both accounts. The chicken fried steak wasn't greasy or fatty, and it was PACKED with flavor. They seasoned it... there is no other word than perfectly. The gravy and hashbrowns were both fresh and - no doubt - homemade.

ATMOSPHERE: The sun is out, Spring is in the air - it's time for lazy Sunday breakfasts outside. Bill's got a patio AND they're open till 3PM for breakfast! Our waters and coffee was constantly filled. The service was soo friendly and regulars were greeted warmly. I can't wait to be a regular! And last but not least, I must mention the tequila! A river of tequila flows through Bill's... don't be surprised if you're offered a shot! Breakfast and booze... genius!

(2008)

Judy’s Homestyle Cafe - San Francisco

1/5 stars

FOOD: Meh, boring, expensive, and sparce (as in portion size is pathetic... they don't even fold your omelette in half so that it appears bigger on your plate). Potatoes were way too herb-y (too much seasoning) and well... to be honest, I felt like I could've made the food at home. Yes, the ingredients were fresh, the warm blueberry muffin was a plus, and the mimosa was made with fresh OJ and they weren't skimpy on the champagne, so that was nice. It was a fun celebratory post-LASIK op drink (my eyesight is now better than 20/20)!

ATMOSPHERE: We didn't go inside, since the weather was so darn nice. High 60s and it's only March - gosh the Bay Area is awesome. They had some tables outside. Service was pretty non-exsistent, but polite. Note to staff: your coffee was the HOTTEST liquid my bf has EVER been served in his entire life. He barely sipped it (a teaspoon size sip) and it scalded his tongue. Maybe you shouldn't make it so hot. It was still bubbling in the cup.

(2008)

Country Inn Cafe - Santa Clara (closed)

4/5 stars

I'm really going to miss this place. It had a lot going for it: it was within walking distance of Bray Avenue, it served breakfast all day, and had huge, fluffy omlettes.

ATMOSPHERE: Old-fashioned look, clean, and simple, with very friendly service.

FOOD: omg, no wonder Americans are overweight. Huge plates and all breakfasts come with a stack of buttermilk or swedish pancakes. I heart the soft, delicate swedish pancakes topped with powdered sugar and sweet, pink lingonberry butter - delicious. I had the linguica omlette and the sausage was really good! They also have good hashbrowns and tuna melts, thiiick milkshakes, crispy, seasoned french fries, and are generous when it comes to avocados. Gravy tastes homemade and chicken fried steaks are uber tasty. Reliable meals!

(2008)

Nevada City Classic Cafe - Nevada City

1/5 stars

Nevada City Classic Cafe Haiku

Brunch took two hours
One and a half of waiting
to get our menus

and to order food
The service was very slow
Prime rib crepe was plain

My least favorite diner
that I have been to
It's unfortunate

(2007)