Carlsbad
-
Posts
668 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Store
Help Articles
Posts posted by Carlsbad
-
-
I'm just grateful I don't have to have bad food at Helene Darroze or an experience like that at Hévin, since I know not to go there now.
To be honest, I can't remember a truly bad experience in Paris. Everything hasn't always been perfect, of course. Since I am there for only a week or two at a time, I select safe places about which there is little criticism anywhere. Paris has more than enough for my limited visits, especially when I have resources like eGullet France.
Perhaps because my work involves confronting overbearing and rude people quite often, I try to avoid conflict when I am on vacation. I reserve, confirm and often overdress. I try to remain positive, even when there are minor service lapses or I don't like something. I also recognize the difficulties in running a restaurant, and that while I have an opinion, it is only my opinion.
That said, if I got that much bad food in one visit, I would probably just leave, perhaps saying that telling the waiter why we were leaving. I go to dinner to relax and enjoy a good meal and good wine. If I have to get very assertive at dinner, the night is already ruined. On the other hand, if someone with me suggested leaving the food on the floor thing, I would go along in a second.
-
I have a feeling that the sales clerk messed up big time. Obviously, she hasn't been to too many stores around the world. Let them know and give management a chance to make it right. If they don't, then please let us all know so we can avoid the place.
-
Marie-Anne Cantin.
-
Let's be honest here. In-n-Out french fries suck, and even putting animal stuff on them isn't going to help. I order two burgers if I'm hungry- one with cheese and one without, both with grilled onions. Just personal observations: don't get too excited, it's still fast food, and the pickles on animal style burgers ruin them IMHO.
-
I think I'll check it in an off-hour next time I'm in SF. I've been worried since they moved to the Ferry Building. I loved this place in it's old location- it wasn't what I get in Garden Grove, but the food was really interesting and the wine list even more so. I'm hoping success didn't ruin it all.
-
Welcome FrogPrincesse. I like Tapenade very much, and your description of your meal there was excellent. It made me want to return soon. Your mention of Vivace also has me thinking about about going back. Thanks.
-
The pressed duck at La Tour d'Argent is partially pre-cooked, but that's not really news. When we ordered it at lunch, they brought out the whole duck that had been partially roasted to display it to us. Then it was taken to a stage-like area, where one of the captains cut off the breast meat in thin slices, and prepared its sauce in pan over an open flame. The legs and thighs were removed, and then sent back to the kitchen for further roasting. The carcass was pressed, and the juice added to the pan. The thin strips of rare breast meat were warmed in the sauce and served with little pillows of puffed potato. The leg and thigh were later served as a separate course with a small salad. It's a dish worth having once for the history, especially when you get to enjoy the view. I doubt I would ever return unless someone else was buying.
-
I have to agree Paris isn't for sushi. What about changing the reservation to the 75E lunch menu at L'Espadon. I think they serve it on Sundays.
-
It sounds like a great line-up to me. Please fill us in on how things went when you return.
-
For walking, North Beach is a good choice. There is a lot to see and explore. While there, L'Osteria del Forno, 519 Columbus Ave. reminds me more than any place in the city of the great little places in Italy. No reservations and it can get crowded. The best strategy is to get there when they open for lunch or early for dinner. It's not large and fills up quickly. You can have anything from a sandwich on foccacia, to pasta, to real secondi, and they have a nice selection of wines by the glass.
A trip to the Ferry Building is a must. By the way, I love Sinbad's next door for a drink at the bar with a upclose view of the Bay Bridge.
I agree that Tadich Grill and Swan both give a feeling of old San Francisco, and would be good choices. Swan is all counter service and Tadich has it as well, so they are good choices for single diners. Also Jeaunty at Jack's comes to mind for old SF charm and good food.
I also agree with Chez Panisse- either up or down. It's a must-see for any foodie as far as I'm concerned.
Piperade has a communal table and I think the food is excellent and interesting for the price. It's casual and fun. Zuni might also be a good choice for a solo.
-
If memory serves, and I don't guarantee it does, the first place I encountered Vincent's cooking was a restaurant in the back of a strip mall on PCH in Solana Beah. I believe it was called Mon Ami, and I think Bertrand Hug may have also been involved in it. The second was in the Flower Hill Mall in Del Mar, where they served outside under some nice pepper trees. Next was a place in the front of the Carlsbad Inn. (We were all excited when it opened, but the City ran Vincent off with some silly parking regulations.) And then there is the present location in Escondido.
-
Since you are asking, for what it's worth, I would choose Piperade for the casual bistro.
I'm a big fan of Fleur de Lys, but it is about as formal (even stiff) as it gets in San Francisco. I would also put Zuni more into the casual bistro category.
-
Not to beat a dead horse, but in the five days we spent mid-summer at the Hotel Welcome on the waterfront in Villefranche, the cruise ships didn't really pose a problem, especially in the evenings. We spent a lot of time on our balconies observing the village, and we watched a different cruise ship pull in every day we were there. There were crowds coming ashore during the early morning, but they were well organized, and did little to ruin the tranquility even then. Most of them seemed to leave on day tours and then return to the ships before dinner time. Of course there were tourists visiting day and night (most of them seemed to be European), but the town never seemed to be overrun.
-
From my two experiences at La Mere Germaine, if you have the daily fish specials, you will be fine. Ask the waiter what is best. A friend with us had the expensive lobster dish, and loved it. I tasted it, and I have to admit I thought it was excellent, and somewhat unusual. The service and setting were first rate IMHO. Perhaps the setting would not have the same impact on someone who is cruising around the area on a boat. Hopefully, the weather is good.
-
I've enjoyed Vincent's food for years at 4 locations, but I haven't been to his current location in a year or two. I'd be interested to know how you liked it. His duck confit has always been very good.
-
San Diego has its share of large supermarkets. The big chains, Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, have stores that vary somewhat is size, usually because the stores get bigger and bigger each year. The newer, really big ones have banks in them, as well as fast food take-out and Starbucks coffee. They increasingly have more packaged and prepared food.
There are some smaller markets that have much higher quality, but also higher prices. For instance, the Harvest Ranch Markets (which include Jonathan's in La Jolla), have high quality meat and seafood, and pretty much every trendy culinary fad foods. My favorite markets these days are the Seaside Market in Cardiff, which has the same quality at the Harvest Ranch Markets but without the attitude, and Jimbo's Naturally, which have a few stored in the County. Jimbo's stresses organic produce, naturally produced meat and chickens, vegetarian foods, and environmentally sensitive products. Seaside Market also has a lot of good organic produce. The Whole Foods chain has high-quality and higher prices. There are also farmer's markets all over.
I go way back with the Trader Joes chain, although I'm growing increasingly disappointed in it. Costco is a bulk warehouse place, although they do have well-priced choice-grade beef and Australian lamb. We also have ethnic markets, from small Mexican places that sell carne asada to Ranch 99, where you can get Asian products and a large selection of seafood, some live in tanks.
Chino's vegetable stand on the edge of Rancho Santa Fe has very high quality, interesting and expensive produce, which makes its way to many restaurants, including Chez Panisse in Berkeley.
-
I think Rancho Gordo said it right: the upstairs and the downstairs compliment one another. They are somewhat differ in concept, but they have in common the idea that you take the best ingredients available at their freshest and prepare them so they compliment each other and don't destroy their essence. The food tastes like what it is, if that makes sense. Upstairs and down, the whole building is comfortable and quite simple, a handsome craftsman gem, that is totally in keeping with the food and location. The service is friendly, confident and professional.
The upstairs is fairly casual. We took our kids there years ago when they were young, and they seated us adjacent to the kitchen. They set up something for my younger one to stand on so he could watch when they made his special pizza and put it in the oven. On the other hand, you can make a great meal with several courses there, and the past 3 or 4 times we have been there, we have had a very long lunch. The cheese is great if you want to extend the meal. We usually order the olives and/or the anchovies. There is one menu upstairs each day for lunch and dinner as far as I've ever seen. There is a 3 course fixed price meal, although I don't recall ever ordering it. If I l could go often, I probably would sometimes.
The downstairs is one set menu each night. The Monday dinners are three courses and are more casual. The rest of the week, there are four courses, and the prices are a little higher as the week progresses. Fridays and Saturdays, an aperitif and some tidbits (for some reason I can't call them amuses) are included. To me, even though it's a little more formal than upstairs, the downstairs is the antithesis to places like the French Laundry. If you go there execting a large number of little courses, you will be disapponted. If you expect creative cuisine, you'll probably be disappointed. The combinations are usually pretty classic. If you are looking for a wine list is large and flashy, you'll probably be disappointed. However, the wines are remarkably well chosen to go with the food.
As the years go by, I like eating here more and more.
-
Three of us had dinner at Bartolotta a few months ago. I pretty much agree with everything Macarons&Mozart said about the place. The food was excellent, there were some minor service lapses, and it is quite expensive, although not really that bad by Las Vegas standards. The seafood we had was exceptional, but strangely the dish my wife and I remember most was the simple gnocchi dish she had, simply dressed with tomato cream sauce and cheese. They were as good as any gnocchi I've ever had in Italy or anywhere. I would not hesitate to recommend Bartolotta.
-
I would love to see the photos if it's not too much trouble.
-
I hadn't seen this thread before. I'm a bit shocked to be honest, and not quite sure how to respond. Different people have different tastes, of course. I've been going to Acquerello regularly for years, usually just two of us, but occassionally with groups as large as eight. Maybe this was an off-night, or maybe it's a matter of personal taste as to how pasta and risotto should be cooked, but I can't remember ever having undercooked pasta or risotto there. The garganelli with duck ragu is frequently on the menu, and I have never noticed it looking like it came out of a Marie Callendar microwave entree box, but then I confess I've never had a Marie Callendar microwave pasta. (The pasta with foie gras glaze is outstanding, by the way, but they do cook it al dente. My wife usually insists we order it and another pasta or a risotto, and have them split them for us.) The Parmesan budino (not pudino) is usually on the menu with different accompanying vegetables and sauces that change with the seasons. I've never had anything like a "Passover brisket from hell" there. As with any restaurant, I like some things more than others. There is no mention of the wine list, which I think is excellent. Wine service and service in general are very helpful and gracious. In my opinion, Giancarlo is the consummate host.
I am a big fan of La Folie, although I haven't been there since they decor change. It's hard to compare to them since one is very French and one is very Italian. I wouldn't say one is better than the other. I think they are roughly the same price. I've always thought Acquerello was prettier, quieter and much more romantic, although maybe that's changed with the remodel. I think of La Folie as less formal, and I seem to usually eat too much there, but that's probably because the food is so good and the portions are fairly large. I've always been pleased with both places, but they are very different experiences.
-
Ingrid is so right about the cheeses.
-
I think you would get a great meal at Danko, the Dining Room or F de L. I'll also put in my inevitable plug for Acquerello. Great upscale Italian food, perfect service, quiet, romantic, and a terrific wine list, and someone who can really assist in picking wines. Nobody ever listens, but I keep trying.
-
Interesting thread. Yes, Fleur de Lys is a French restaurant, very much so. I'm sure they have some part of a Sonoma duck on the menu most of the time. If they do my experience is that it will be from a very good Sonoma duck. Not inventive? Take a look at the menu. No, you won't get 15 "courses", but there are few places in SF that are as discreetly inventive in my opinion. The vegetarian menu is terrific and it was there long before it was as fashionable. Expensive? Of course it is. It is a special occassion place. However, if you order 3 half bottles of $20 retail wine for two, you can't spend half that $400 a person you'll apparently spend at the FL. If you order the wine pairings, it's $115 for the three course menu, $133 for the 4 course menu, $153 for the 5 course menu, and $123 for the 5 course vegetarian menu, all without tax or tip. The wine list is pretty deep and the mark-up is too high, so be careful if you order off the list.
All that said, If I were going to Manresa, TFL, and Chez Panisse on consecutive nights, I would want a little break from that kind of eating.
-
This whole thread makes me shudder. I loved this place before, but I've been afraid to go since they moved. I think I'll just let it be a memory.
Cuisiniers in Paris
in France: Dining
Posted
Under 200E per head: Taillevent and l'Astrance.
Under 100E: Les Ormes and l'Atelier de Joel Rubuchon.
Where I would spend most of my time for well under 100E: Aux Lyonnais, Le Troquet, Mon Vieil Ami, Le Clos Des Gourmets, La Bastide Odéon, and Le Pamphlet.
It might be interesting to try Le Violin d'Ingres (about 100E without wine) one night, and Cafe Constant another. Constant is obviously a great teacher. Just a thought.