Just had dinner here last nite with a business client - one of her recommendations. From the valet to the greeter to the waitstaff, everyone was very friendly and willing to ensure an enjoyable experience. <br> We ordered the prix fix menu for $68 with a wine pairing for an additional $24/25 (I forgot). I will say that the first choice of seating was in the middle of the room next to some ugly looking monstrosity, but we got a nice table on the side free from the center of attention. <br> There was a starter from the chef of cold cantelope soup and mint oil. It tasted exactly how'd you expect it to....it was refreshing and tasty. <br> First course was a salad of thickly sliced heirloom tomatos and olive tapenade. 4" diameter purple, yellow, orange, and red juiciness with earthy olive oil and large mature leaves of basil. I was glad to have such a large portion just for myself, but I could see how some might prefer a smaller portion. <br> Second course was a roasted quail stuffed with foie gras over a creamy reduction sauce. The quail was slightly over-cooked (most likely to ensure doneness of the stuffing) but retained excellent flavor - not too gamey and the sauce easily made up for any lost juiciness. <br> Third course was a nice slice of white fish with skin on. Laid over a bed of wilted greens and accompanied by a molded creamy custard, I slowly and extensively enjoyed this course. <br> Last course was seared venison tenderloin accompanied by potato gnocci and wilted greens. If you love venison and came with an empty stomach, you will leave a happy and full game meat affecionado. VERY generous portions - about 8 slices, each the size of 3 pads of butter. <br> Dessert wasn't especially memorable, but still very nice way to finish meal. Phyllo dough rolled around baked apple slices cut on the bias and soldiered around a scoop of ice cream. Tastes just like great apple pie a la mode, but different. <br> Very pleased with meal, service, and atmosphere. Hopefully my experience is indicative of the competitive restaurant climate of the day and a return to the good reputation this restaurant once had. I will return to and recommend this reataurant in a heartbeat. Bill came to $198 for the 2 of us. <br> The following is the listed prix fixe menu from the restaurant's website: <br> Amuse Bouche <br> House Cured Duck Proscuitto Salad Arugula, watercress, mint and basil, wrapped in duck proscuitto, parmesan-pecorino vinaigrette <br> 2003 Quivira "Fig Tree Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA <br> Fresh Daily Fish special presentation to be described by your server <br> 2001 Calera Chardonnay "Central Coast" Hollister, CA <br> Jumbo Texas Quail stuffed with foie gras and brioche, with braised endive and princess green grapes; quail demi-glace infused with foie gras <br> 2002 Moshin Pinot Noir "Lot 4 Selection" Russian River Valley, Sonoma, CA <br> Intermezzo <br> Free-Range Venison Tenderloin pan seared rare with a huckleberry demi-glace <br> 2001 Vacqueyras, Domaine du Grapillon D'or, Southern Rhone, France <br> Cherry Napoleon Layers of crispy phyllo dough, sweet cherry pastry cream and marinated bing cherries. Accompaned with a red wine cherry sauce and bitter-sweet chocolate sorbet.

I just had dinner there tonight. Wasn't too crowded and easy enough to find parking. Decent interior and bar on one side and bench/chair seating on the other side. Several taller tables scattered around the room. At one end of the bar, there's a cooking station, not sure if that's the main one, but there's a chef there and the huge exhaust unit is above him.
Just to be clear, I'm an American born Chinese and I consider myself pretty Chinesey. I know my asian foods, how they should taste, how they're prepared, and how much they usually cost when going to an asian restaurant. I like to go out and have fun, but hate getting ripped off. Please keep this in mind while you read my review. And I although it may sound like it, I'm not racist.
I've tried many fusion restaurants around this country and there are a few true standouts. Grasshopper is NOT one of them. I prefer something like House (although a bit pricier and noisier) and even Roy's surprised the hell out of me (San Diego one). The most irritating thing to see is an anglo person cooking asian food. I apologize if I offend anyone, but how can you possibly design/create a menu if you don't eat this style of food all the time????
Grasshopper bills their food as asian tapas. I can kind of agree, but if you're in a group of 8 like we were (to be able to order a wide variety), it's difficult to share 1, even 2 dishes, if there are only 3 pieces of meat--rib eye. I did like the wilted dandelion greens with these. The rib eye was very tender with a slight soy flavor and skewered.
The ono fish was grilled? but cut very thin. The meat reminds me a lot of say, shark or tuna. Overcooked of course because it was cut so thin. Salmon croquettes with light breading and fried -- overcooked with no salmon flavor. In fact, I don't remember seeing much red in the meat.
The ribs had a nice taste and we were given 4 ribs. Gimmicky and omnipotent, but they were good. Not too salty and not too sweet, roasted and glazed with a hoisin type of sauce.
Fried calamari, which you find everywhere (I didn't order the dishes because I arrived 10 min late ffrom Bay Bridge traffic, so it was a surprise when I sat down to a number of plates), was crunchy and the accompanying sauce was quite nice.
I had to order a bowl of white rice, as did most others, to get full. Which leads me to the next dish. Sticky rice with rock cod and black bean sauce. Excuse me, but what idiot would pair a delicate tasting sticky rice (naw mai fon) with a strong black bean sauce??? And I couldn't taste the tiny tidbits of fish tossed with the rice. Hmmm....definitely a miss.
The roasted chicken was VERY tender and juicy. I liked this one. YUM...forgot how much this dish cost.
The braised pork was very reminiscent of braised beef brisket that you commonly see offered in Chinese restaurants like New Hong Kong over noodles/rice. This time this dish was prepared with small chunks of pork braised until very tender. Cubes of daicon radish. Very subtle soy flavor and a hint of star of anise...nice balance. I liked this one too, especially eaten with a bowl of white rice.
The veggies were simply wilted or sauteed bok choy. C'mon, I eat this every night. At least go for something high class that a real Chinese restaurant would serve! Do something like garlic sauteed large pea shoots. It's served in Chinese restaurants too, but has plenty of spring sweet flavor and has lots of crunch. These bok choy were typically halved and cooked. Prensentation was nice on all dished, but I've always been more concerned with flavor over fashion. But hey, that's me.
Wait staff seemed pretty attentive. They even served an ice cream cake for us since a member of our party was celebrating a birthday. I appreciated their kindness. Although, I arrived late and there weren't any utensils for me. Took me a few minutes to get someone to bring some for me.
If a restaurant is going to serve fusion, you want to teach people that a marriage of two cultures can produce wonderful offspring. You want to show them the BEST of both and how they can mingle and melt. Use the BEST ingredients that you can find, especially vegetables, and try to push the envelope a little by serving not common every day eaten dishes like ribs. They're good, but I want an adventure. Grasshopper is like paying more for Chinese food just because it's served in nice plates in a nice restaurant and cooked by an anglo chef. If you want authentic Italian, don't go to Little Henry's (albiet still good food prepared by a Chinese fellow who's worked in some of the best Italian kitchens and is trained well), you go to something like Ceasar's on Bay Street, right???
The crowd is pretty good looking and most people seemed to be enjoying themselves. It's good to see people having fun, but I will have fun somewhere else next time. Hope this helps you.
-aj

It's not exactly a Japanese cuisine restaurant, but more like a California cuisine restaurant in Japantown. Very hip and stylish. Visit the website for an interesting history on the design and ownership. The LORD OF BALLS bar makes for good conversational topics.
http://www.dotrestaurant.com/splash.html
Make reservations because it can get busy. I've dined there as a couple, party of four, and even a party of 10 in their private blue room (very nice).
For starters try these (compared to what's listed in the online menu):
1/2 Dozen Oysters of the Day Caviar and Cucumber Mignonette *sweet and the mignonette adds a nice touch*
Spicy Prawns Garlic Flatbread & Roasted Mushrooms *juicy and succulent*

For your main and from what I remember was very good:
Maple Leaf Duck Breast Slow Seared Duck Breast, Savory Lentils, Escarole, Meyer Lemon Marmalade *used to serve duck 2 ways--that was EXCELLENT. Not sure how this dish compares*
Whole Fish & Chips Bird Chili Slaw and Spiced Vinegar Dip *great entree if you're a TRUE fish fan. Even when it was a fried catfish, you didn't notice that tell-tale fishy flavor. They marinate the fish before frying...very nice!*
Grilled Black Angus Tenderloin Spring Pea, Gorgonzola Risotto, Bloomingdale Spinach, Fuji Apple ver jus *this tenderloin has newer accompaniments, but still probably shines*
Aussie Lamb Rack Yukon Potato Gratin, Dino Kale, Mint Pinot Noir Sauce *I love lamb...I love THEIR lamb*
My recommendations include the whole fish and chips (you'll know what I mean when you see it), the Nieman ranch steak, the lamb chops were quite nice, and if they still have it available, duck 2 ways.
Desserts really aren't that great...my opinion. But,

Smores & More Graham Cracker, Marshmallow, Chocolate Mousse Cake *wasn't on the menu before, but has hit cult status at almost all restaurants recently*
Nipple of Venus Vanilla Chiffon, Vanilla Creme Brulee, Vanilla Malt Ice Cream *called something else before and a little different, probably improved it. I'd go for this one*
Chocolate Praline Propeller Chocolate Brisee, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Flourless Cake *dry and not that great...looks neat, but not that great*
Lemon Teardrop Citrus Compote, Lemon Curd, White Chocolate Mousse *they claim it's VERY popular, but I didn't think it was that hot*
Warm Chocolate Brownie Sundae Sauteed Bananas, Candied Macadamia Nuts, Honey Rum & Butter Sauce *new to menu as well....I'm a sucker for these types of desserts*
Hazelnut Flower Power Hazelnut Cookie, Caramel Bavarian, Cocoa Bit Praline *new...not sure*
Sorbets Trio of Flavors *wasn't that great...3 small scoups. one was cranberry and it was TART! Tangerine and I think mint were the others...SKIP*
I've been there 3 times and I still think it's a great restaurant. Service is usually friendly and pretty attentive. They're pretty generous with their mixed drinks too. Hopefully you'll have a good experience....ENJOY!

I've been going to Hing Lung for over 25 years (at least as far as I can remember) and I'm only 28!! =)
And whenever I have a craving for Chinese comfort food, I head to this Chinatown landmark. And while the restaurant may not be fancy or the cleanest, it's always serving great food at any time of the day. That's better than I can say for most places...
Like everyone else has said, the staple of Hing Lung is the variety of rice porridge soups and Chinese doughnuts. My absolute favorites are the 1) San Pan seafood and 2) 1, 000 year old & pork porridges. The SanPan has crunchy roasted peanuts, chewy calimari, plumps shrimps, and much more. The history of this, as explained by my Dad, raised in Hong Kong, was that the poor people living on the Chinese junks (San Pans) in HK harbor used to drop nets and throw whatever they were lucky enough to snare, into the pot. Voila! This is my first favorite. The second is a bit more dicey for those unaccostumed/unadventurous with traditional Chinese food. The 1, 000 year old egg (not really aged that long, but instead with preservatives silly) has a distinctive black color and equally memorable flavor--didn't like it as a kid, but love it now kind of thing. Combine little bits of ground pork and you have a time-honored bowl of comfort food.
The key to these dishes is the quality of the jook (rice porridge)--consistency. Some prefer rice and water (thin) while I like thick-n-pasty--it really depends on which village you were brought up in back in the motherland. Hing Lung serves a nice not-too-thick pasty jook and is always piping hot. Sprinkle a little white pepper and you're home.
The perfect accompaniment is the venerable Chinese doughnut. Ask any kid and he/she will start saliating at the mere mention--dipped in sugar (remember?) These crunchy baguette-length sticks are sliced into 1-inch pieces are perfect for dunking into the jook (in fact, some dishes called for "yau-tieu" already in them). A clever and delicious spin to this is a doughnut wrapped in a super wide ho fun, drizzled with sweet soy sauce, and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. ROCK!
The rest of the menu is pretty satisfying--braised beef brisket with soup ho fun, won ton noodles, rice dishes, etc.
All in all, great for breakfast all the way to the wee hours after a night on the town. Please be careful whenever venturing into Chinatown late at night. Have fun!!

I live in the Richmond and enjoy restaurants that are close by. It's convenient, clean, relatively cheap, tasty, and very welcoming.
The fare here is more "family style" than say just a bowl of pho or bun. My favorite is the clay pot catfish--sweet thick sauce with fresh catfish, plenty of scallions and onions..mmmmmmm.... The basil chicken or pork is very tasty as well--fans of spicy food will also like this one. Have tried many dishes and all have been wonderful.
Parking can be a little difficult, so allow up to 20 minutes during peak meal times.

When you need a bite to eat and it's late, Hing Lung up the street is closed, drop by here--they stay open even later!!
The rice porridge (jook) is still pretty good. Won Ton noodles are filling. Ho Fun soups are also pretty good. Those are examples of late night nibbles...
I happened to eat dinner there several times recently.
Roast duck: a bit greasy, a bit salty, medium amount of meat Ginger & Green onion crab: not terrible impressive or fresh Chinese broccoli sauteed with garlic: huge portion and perfectly cut sizes and taste! Fresh sole: very nice fish and fantastic flavor...bit too much oil Boiled chicken with ginger/green onion sauce: nice tender meat with tasty sauce--a bit greasy though Snow pea sprouts sauteed with garlic: a bit oily and salty, but decent
This is not by any means a great restaurant that you have to go to, but if you're hungry and it's late, it's open. Been here many times.
Again, please be careful anytime you go to Chinatown late.

I've been going to "hot pot" restaurants for years. I understand how many of these restaurants have been criticized for everything from poor service to bad food...but you're in a Chinese restaurant!! =)
Seriously, known as shabu-shabu to some, hot pot is great for cold nights and/or when you're really hungry. You get to choose from a great selection of meats and vegetables, you get to cook it anyway you like, you get to have a great dessert/drink, you get to have a long hot meal with friends/family!!!! It's all in the style of cuisine and many find it very enjoyable. Let me explain the difference between going out and having hot pot at home.
At home, someone goes shopping to find fresh ingredients and either has the meat sliced thin or attempts to slice it thin at home. When you go to a restaurant, you realize that this is a buffet and this is still a business--ingredients won't be of the highest quality, but good enough. Most meat that's been sliced has been frozen because it's way easier to slice frozen than defrosted...if you don't believe me, you try it on your own. And amazingly, most people don't know how to do hot pot correctly who are experiencing it for the first time. There's a whole process and method. hehehe
Once seated, you'll notice the pot of boiling broth ringed with a cooking surface covered with foil--boil or broil. Get your food--most meat is still defrosting in the marinade, so you dig to the bottom for the tastiest pieces. Seafood won't be too fresh, but how you cook it makes a difference. Some vegetables are meant to be eaten quickly, while others have more purpose. And then you have your starches--white rice to accompany your cooked food and an assortment of noodles. Lastly, pick a glass bowl and throw a little of everything in it (I skip the raw egg fear of salmonella). I like satay sauce, chili oil, crushed peanuts, minced garlic and ginger, green onions, cilantro, sesame oil, and maybe some hoisin sauce.
The first thing I do is put the napa cabbage in the broth--you boil it for a bit. The napa makes the soup sweet and I enjoy eating it soft. Next, use some of the butter to start sauteing. (I've seen people throw everthing in the pot, but how can that possibly taste good...when's the last time boiled everything was touted as gourmet food?) Start with some meat and be patient while it browns...don't constantly feel you have to move it around...trust me on this one. Next maybe a few fish balls, tofu, mussels, etc. can be added to the pot. Get your bowl of rice and start eating. Monitor your fire and ask for more broth when the level starts to get low. But keep in mind that when you finish with the solids, you do want the soup to boil down to increase the flavor--great way to finish.
Here's a trick: instead of boiling your shrimp, sauteed with butter and garlic...so much better! Here's another one: use a bit of my sauce recipe. Get some noodles and cook it al dente. Remove from water and mix with sauce...oh boy! Here's another one: beans, tapioca, jellies, crushed ice, a bit of syrup makes for a fantastic dessert. You ever wondered what that stuff was for? Try it...
To finish, the food is not the highest quality, but if you know how to cook it, it's not bad, but definitely filling. The wait here is terribe, come early or late. Don't wear anything nice because you'll wreak of smoke guaranteed. It is a cool place to check out young people and their fashions...too true. It does help to speak Chinese and I feel bad that some customers are treated poorly...some HK people are just like that, but still inexcusable. The restaurant was clean when it was first opened, but has since been a grease pit...watch your step.
I still enjoy coming here though.

It's been awhile since I've gone here, but noticed that this restaurant has been so well. For the life of me, I can't figure out how???? Might be the food, it's the only thing going for it!
Truthfully, it's been at least a year so my memory is shaky and has been reminded lately by all the other "better" places. I'll tackle this point by point:
1) The restaurant is very easy to find--big yellow house on Solano with a small front door. And while the layout is quite awkard, I do have to agree with the other reviewer that don't forget this building's history. I've been there both before and after the renovation...it's better now, but it doesn't really make a big difference on my rating. The glass wall in main room towards the back looks out on a lovely garden. It's beautiful...enough said, but it's the only nice part.
2) My biggest complaint is the service. Ever since being in the profession, I've been able to notice a huge disparity in service from one restaurant to another nice restaurant. I have to make it very clear that Roscoe is the WORST host I've ever had to come across. I don't care what magic his wife does with the dishes, but if I have to go through and deal with this monster, I'd rather steer clear away. Everything bad that's been said here about him, including blaming customers for the long wait, is true. I've kept up with people in the industry for years and although his track record looks distinguished, my impression is nothing short of terrible. Let the host at Boulevard and Phillipe at Chapeau! be the mark he hopes to someday aspire to! And the rest of the wait staff does a decent job, but not quite enough.
3) The food was quite nice...I do remember having a mushroom dish. Must be the same one that's mentioned here--quite nice. And the polenta was quite luscious. I believe I had a filet mignon which was both tender and juicy, but a little salty and the accompaniments didn't quite go well (forgive my failure to remember exactly). The food would be much better if the service were better. You know how it's mentioned that you should not judge a book by its cover....but first impressions are always lasting!
4) I'd rather recommend LaLimes as the best restaurant in Berkeley. I was thoroughly impressed by the wait staff all the way to the food. It doesn't suffer from the snootiness that so ails Rivoli.
Sorry to contradict so strongly the other reviews posted here, but this is one bad rating I firmly stand by!

It's been awhile since I've gone here, but noticed that this restaurant has been rated so well. For the life of me, I can't figure out how???? Might be the food, it's the only thing going for it!
Truthfully, it's been at least a year so my memory is shaky and has been reminded lately by all the other "better" places. I'll tackle this point by point:
1) The restaurant is very easy to find--big yellow house on Solano with a small front door. And while the layout is quite awkard, I do have to agree with the other reviewer that don't forget this building's history. I've been there both before and after the renovation...it's better now, but it doesn't really make a big difference on my rating. The glass wall in main room towards the back looks out on a lovely garden. It's beautiful...enough said, but it's the only nice part.
2) My biggest complaint is the service. Ever since being in the profession, I've been able to notice a huge disparity in service from one restaurant to another nice restaurant. I have to make it very clear that Roscoe is the WORST host I've ever had to come across. I don't care what magic his wife does with the dishes, but if I have to go through and deal with this monster, I'd rather steer clear away. Everything bad that's been said here about him, including blaming customers for the long wait, is true. I've kept up with people in the industry for years and although his track record looks distinguished, my impression is nothing short of terrible. Let the host at Boulevard and Phillipe at Chapeau! be the mark he hopes to someday aspire to! And the rest of the wait staff does a decent job, but not quite enough.
3) The food was quite nice...I do remember having a mushroom dish. Must be the same one that's mentioned here--quite nice. And the polenta was quite luscious. I believe I had a filet mignon which was both tender and juicy, but a little salty and the accompaniments didn't quite go well (forgive my failure to remember exactly). The food would be much better if the service were better. You know how it's mentioned that you should not judge a book by its cover....but first impressions are always lasting!
4) I'd rather recommend LaLimes as the best restaurant in Berkeley. I was thoroughly impressed by the wait staff all the way to the food. It doesn't suffer from the snootiness that so ails Rivoli.
Sorry to contradict so strongly the other reviews posted here, but this is one bad rating I firmly stand by!

I'd really like to rate Citron higher, but the price forces me into this position. I had a pleasant evening experience and everyone in the party enjoyed their dinner. Let me explain...
Surprisingly, I was able to get a reservation on short notice (called on Wednesday) for a Friday reservation at 6:45pm. My girlfriend and I made good time from the city, excellent in fact and got to the restaurant a full half hour too early. We figured that we could sit at the bar or in a cafe...couldn't find a cafe. So I apologized for arriving a bit too early and asked if we could sit at the bar. The hostess very generously offered if we'd like to sit at our table...how nice. We both don't drink alcohol but did order a nice apple cider and chardonnay grape juice. We especially enjoyed the grape juice...great for non-drinkers. While waiting, we also ordered the seafood assortment to whet our appetite.
What an excellent assortment at the market price of $12. We all enjoyed this because the rest of our party (total of 4) arrived shortly thereafter. In fact, the chef added an additional oyster to the normal three (very nice touch)! There was a nice small glass with the lobster bisque, the raw oysters, and some rock shrimp gratin. The lobster bisque was very well balanced in texture--in fact the lobster nuggets were cooked to the right doneness. It just needed a slightly stronger hint of brandy/cognac (for my taste at least). The rock shrimp were cut into plump little bites and served in a light tomato based sauce and had a nice little crunch from the taasted bread crumbs--very nice. The first time I enjoyed raw oysters was at Aqua. This was the second and it was simply heavenly. Even my friend who lived in Seattle for a year and is also an oyster connoisseur noted how high quality they were.
We ordered additional appetizers...my friend's wife had the pumpkin soup ($7 & she said is was flavorful and smooth), my girlfriend had wild mushroom phillo ($8) that was "fine, " and I shared the lobster salad ($12) with my best friend. The lobster was very nice, complemented by grapefruit slices on romaine lettuce. Just pretty good--I enjoyed it.
2 of us had the rabbit two ways ($21) and 2 of us had the grilled halibut ($22). The rabbit tender was roasted and the rabbit quarter end was braised. Root veggies (beet, carrots, radish) were roasted with a few wax beans on top. Common comments for the rabbit dish were, "not exactly memorable" and "tastes like chicken." I thought the rabbit was ooh so tender and very well prepared and really enjoyed the beets especially. But I'd have to agree that if the rabbit was so much like chicken, would rather pay less for CHICKEN! hehehehe
The halibut was semi-moist and a very nice generous portion. It was sitting on top of scalloped potatos (creamy and even a bit rich). The veggies were brussel sprouts with bacon. Now, I really don't like brussel sprouts, but with some butter and diced into smaller pieces (leaves instead of the whole ball) and braised with the smokey flavor of bacon, these little darlings really sung!!! And although it was a bit rich, I now know of a way to enjoy brussel sprouts...BRAVO!!! I enjoyed my dish, but think the halibut could have been marinated to infuse more flavor.
We skipped dessert because by that time we were kind of full of food and bread. The desserts being offered that night were not of the same variety mentioned in the other reviews...another reason why we didn't order.
The table next to us had both ordered the roast lamb with squash. For one, I think the portion was so small, especially after thoroughly enjoying my portion at LaLimes. The squash did look rather interesting...forgot what type, but sliced in half, hollowed out, filled with a chevre custard and baked. The people didn't seem to enjoy the squash that much but the lamb was gobbled up. Price $25. I think the portion needed to be larger..too little meat.
The restaurant has an excellent atmosphere: soft colors, playful wall sconces, nice prints, and curtain to separate the dining area made of this luxurious maize-copper colored velvet. Most importantly...it was quiet. We really liked that, compared with the din at Aqua. Although the back wood deck was closed to dining we explored outside...would make a lovely summer dinner or brunch. Service was very attentive at first, but seemed to drop off as the meal wore on...not sure why. Need to be more aware of the levels of water and iced tea.
That's why I justify my rating of only 3. Nice meal in a nice restaurant, with mediocre service (could've been so much better) at a much more reasonable price. If you're willing to pay, and don't want to travel too far, then I would still recommend Citron. Either way, it would nice for you to experience one of the better restaurants in the East Bay.

This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in all of San Francisco. The only thing is that it's not always easy to get in...it's so popular that there's usually a line outside that makes the wait an average of an hour! So plan to get there around 6p if you don't intend on wasting an hour or so milling about on the sidewalk.
I've gone there about once every 3 months and it never disappoints. Their sushi is fresh, the dinner portions are generous, and the menu exciting. For the price, the portions are large--check out the specials as they get updated all the time.
My favorites are the Chilean Sea Bass dinner, the deep-fried soft shell crab dinner, and anything on the sushi menu.
The last time I was there in July, they were in the process of renovating and enlarging the restaurant by adding additional dining areas in the back. There's also two other locations: one on Judah and the other on Clement. I haven't been to the one on Judah (I hear it's great too) and the one on Clement isn't quite as nice (food and decor) as this one on Taraval.

When the wallet's thin and you still want to enjoy good sushi, drop by here. I know there are a few other locations, but I've only gone to this one. In fact, it was highly recommended to me by several different groups of friends--all SF locals.
Like the previous reviewer noted, don't go here expecting a nice atmosphere--it's OK only. And the service isn't all that skilled--they will eventualy get to your table.
It's been almost 7 months since I've been back, but I remember trying a vast array of everything (it was cheap!). But the one thing I always think about are the fried prawn heads. I know it may seem not terribly desirable to most, but it was nothing short of exquisite! It was delicately coated in a light batter and fried to a waify crispiness. Gently salted and very succulent. You have to be brought up by Asian parents to understand why we eat fish/shrimp/crab heads I guess...but this was just awesome!
Give this place a try, especially if you're planning on catching a movie at the Coronet or going to Straits Cafe (this place is terrible--I travel constantly to Singapore and the food isn't anywhere like the fare served there and it isn't even well-prepared...just thought I might tell you).

We visited the restaurant on a Sunday nite after combing through the ranked restaurants on dine.com. Let's put it this way, we noticed it's been good this long, it's probably gonna be terrific for a longer time!
Lalimes is tucked away in a Berkeley neighborhood and lives up to all the billing by way of service, food, and atmosphere. Even though I've never been to Postrio (and I will probably continue to steer clear away from it..hehe) the stairway leading down into the main dining area sounds reminiscent of it's much applauded brethen. The room is delicately and wonderfully painted a soft yellow and decorated sparsely with a few nice prints. The dining area must have been updated because it's a nice place to have a romantic dinner (albiet not at a quiet and whispery noise level). From the start til the end, the staff is very helpful and friendly. It was explained that it's simply a friendly place where the neighbors could stroll by and always get a fantastic meal--believe it!
Let's get to the meal--we ordered and shared the 1) gravlax ($8) and 2) lobster puff pastry ($9). Even though smoked salmon is normal, the orange zest and creme fraiche made this dish very much alive. The lobster in philo pastry had a nice wine and shell reduction. There was also some wilted greens and I think a bit of aoli. The lobster wasn't rubbery at all and the philo had a light buttery taste---not greasy in the least. My girlfriend's main was a philo pastry filled with monkfish, apples, peas, some other good stuff accompanied by a curry sauce. This was a very generous portion and every last bite was delicious--very interesting taste ($17). I ordered the roast lamb with pumpkin polenta ($24). I've ordered lamb at Boulevard, Bizou, etc. and this the most generous portion I've ever had--succulent and tender to boot! Pumkin was pureed and combined with some creamy polenta--I like it and will incorporate that into my own dinners from now on. Dessert was an expresso chocolate cake with grand marnier sauce ($5.75). I loved the taste and texture, but was a bit disappointed that we couldn't find a hint of grand marnier. Nonetheless, you have to try this to experience this heavenly, chocolately, luscious dessert fork by fork!
I was very much reminded of Chapeau when I was there. Outstanding prices (must have slightly increased since everyone else had visited) considering the quality of food served. Since we don't drink alcohol, didn't have a chance to sample from their wine list. All in all, a wonderful little neighborhood restaurant that we will surely be returning to. We would actually like to give Lalimes a 4.5 star rating.
Hope you enjoy like we did!

We fell in love with this place. For 2 people, we went crazy and ordered way too much food, but managed to finish it all--goes to tell you how good it was!
The BBQ shrimp is served in a cast iron skillet--huge and plump with a terrific sauce and you should see how well it's cooked! The mussels were delicious too! Try the turtle soup--nice zing! The other soup was great as well (can't remember which one but it's a popular one). And this was before we even got to the mains!
We went about 3 months ago, but it's still fresh in our minds. Prices tend to be on the higher side, but well worth the taste and quality. Wait staff is EXCELLENT and very ATTENTIVE! Parking is a habitual chore, especially on Fillmore Street. Make sure you make reservations. It can and is usually quite loud inside. Be adventurous when you dine here! Makes you want to book a trip to NAWLENS!!!

I've had many fond memories of my first visit 3 years ago. I decided to bring my girlfriend here for her birthday. I bought her one of those Canon ELPH cameras to capture what I remember as beautiful food...you'll love this story.
The actual wait was kind of irritating...the reservations were for 6:30p and we were not seated until 6:50p after much complaining from your truly. We were seated in the back next to some large tables filled with business-folk conducting an evening celebration or meeting. I'd have to agree with one of the previous reviewers that the service has declined a bit, but the food more than offsets this annoyance. We scanned our menus and I suggested that we just get the chef's sampler and have fun! (and thinking in the back of my mind that the camera was going to be put to good use!) Well, I had her open her present and the camera wasn't there!!! What a huge dissapointment because here came the food...it was quite busy that night so the chef decided to give us complimentary oyster shooters. I distaste raw oysters, but I'm a believer now..let me tell you. This little marvel was served in its little half shell with a teaspoon of lemon sorbet--way cool. =) Short and to the point that we were going to have some fun!
The soup was something like apple curry...we liked it, but it also had something else in it that made it special. It was served in these small metal cups. Next we had the black mussel souflee (how do you spell this again?). Cafe Jacqueline was fun, but this dish will make you squirm in your seat from how good it tasted...the texture was so soft but still had enough body--hard to describe. Then the foie gras...WOW!!! She's never had this before and I'm not too keen on this---we both loved it!! BUTTERY SMOOTH and oh-so-good! The reduction sauce was also brilliant. I think the mains were ahi tuna and scallops. I'm trying to remember exactly what each dish had, but we were all smiles for a good hour and a half. The food kept coming and the people sitting on either sides commented that we had not stopped eating for what seemed like an eternity. What sumptuous fun!!! Seafood has absolutely no idea what is supposed to be unless it's served here! We also had the dessert sampler...somewhat different in choices from what others had, but definitely included the root beer float. I can honestly say that this platter should be mounted on my wall as a fine piece of art--simply beautiful. The sorbets were delicious and everything else was gobbled up quickly.
The food here continues to lead the pack..even though it's quite damaging to the wallet. I still consider this a must once-a-year in order to maintain sanity. My girlfriend says that we MUST go back with the camera (that we finally got...thank you very much GOOD GUYS STONESTOWN) to capture the fun. I'd have to agree with her! Beautiful flower bouquets abound in the dining room and even in the bathrooms--the aroma from the arrangements is very pleasant. And let's not forget the godzilla-sized mirrors that line the walls--you simply have to visit the restaurant to see these.
We saw the lobster pot pie being served and it was spectular being presented in a copper pan with a billowy crust! I'd like to taste it next time, but the portion seemed a bit small.
So while service leaves something to be desired, our 3 hour + dinner was still very memorable. I strongly recommend this restaurant to any food lover that claims to know what good seafood is all about--it's a learning experience for the newbies!
And one final note...it's funny how the restaurant lacks a sign, yet everyone knows where this famous landmark is. =)

I've heard so much about this place that I guess I had built up too many expectations. While the food is good, I thought it would be much better.
We ordered 3 different "half orders": short ends (pork ribs), chicken, and links. And we chose the hot sauce. Each half-order comes with a small side--we combined 2 smalls to get a medium potato salad (yummy) and got a small baked beans (yummy too). Then we also ordered a medium greens and muffin (but they had run out of cornbread muffins to our dismay) and had to get the peach cobbler when they had sold out of the sweet potato pie (bummer).
First and foremost, the sauce packs a definite wallop!! Great taste and will burn long and hard. The short ends were a tad too dry for my taste, but my girlfriend didn't mind. And no fat--great. The chicken was juicy and very good. We both loved the links--the casing had a great chewiness to it--you'll know it when you bite into it...like a hot link sausage from Top Dog in Berkeley.
The greens were way too salty and I had to take a mouthful of white bread with each fork in order to chew comfortably. And the peach cobbler was pretty good, but I wish I had more of the crumbs--not too sweet.
The people there are very friendly. One other small complaint is the long wait after ordering--only one guy handles the meat and the back-up that is created can be up to 15 minutes!! Be prepared.
I also didn't like the fact that I saw cooked ribs on a counter waiting to be put into the brick oven for "warming" up. I was in line and waiting for my order for a good 20 minutes, and any food should not be held in room temperature for that long.
Will go back in a month to try again. We went this time on a Saturday nite---not that late on a Halloween weekend--so I hope we get the sweet potato pie and cornbread muffins next time!
Also, can't eat there...have to bring somewhere like home to eat for those uninitiated.

This Hong Kong-American restaurant serves very uninspired fare. I can think of ten other HK-American restaurants that are better--go to Mario's on Clement between 25th and 26th.
While cheap and big (always people inside), the food is bland and not even prepared well. I ordered the baked pork chop over spaghetti and my girlfriend had the chicken a la king over spaghetti. She had a hot HK milk tea and I had the banana milk shake.
For those of you that have never had HK-American food, it's best described as typical American food with Hong Kong style twist. For example, my pork chop is supposed to be breaded and baked, crispy outside and juicy inside, with maybe a little bit of that tasty fat/grissle on the edge. The brown sauce usually has a nice taste with some peas and carrots. You can either have spaghetti or Chinese fried rice. This is usually plated on a skillet-like plate and baked for a few minutes to get the flavors to mingle and form a nice crust over the sauce. Sometimes, they sprinkle a little cheddar cheese on top. And least I forget, the "over easy" egg on top.
My pork chop was so bland and dry. The sauce was just scooped on the spaghetti with an egg on the side. No taste and it didn't even look good. The chicken a la king was worse. The only reason why I finished my dish was that I was so hungry after trying to find parking on this notoriously busy street.
I liked my banana milk shake though. But the food should be more important and based on that premise, I can not give this restaurant a higher mark.

I compare all tapas to the food in Spain.
This restaurant is fun, affordable, and good. Located next to the legendary Chez Panisse, the front opens up to the street on warm days and the delicious smells waft to the passerbys.
We tried to taste everything, so forgive me if I can't remember everything. The papas fritas had a great infusion of garlic and cumin. They're served with a light aoli that's nice, but not necessary.
The prawns had a lovely lime flavor and pretty sprinkling of paprika. Perfectly cooked, huge, and delicious. A bit salty in the sauce.
The mussels with sausage was nice, but too salty. I'd ease the salt shaker and you'll have a real winner. The mussels weren't overcooked and made a great add-on to the bagette slices.
The jamon serrano was not too salty and felt just right in the mouth...you'll know it if you spend any time in Spain. The chorizo was a bit too fatty, but the taste was there.
The smoked salmon was very light in taste, but the fish was of very high quality. Nice pungent capers.
The pork loin sandwich was a fine example of SF picnic food. Thinly sliced pork loin, complemented by the arugula leaves were nestled in a crusty bagette lightly spread with a garlicky mayo. Mmmmm.......
The lemonade was wonderful...still can't place the zing, but try it..you'll love it. My ginger ale didn't have the bite, and seemed like Canadian Dry.
The tab wasn't too bad. I'll be back with some friends. The restaurant stays open til midnight and from what I've heard, it's still busy until closing!
Enjoy!

I've been going to this restaurant for at least 3 years, at least 10 times per year. Always great food. I've been here in small and large groups. Service always friendly. Prices are very reasonable. Food tastes delicious and portions are generous. A tad bit noisy--don't go here expecting a romantic meal.
I personally like the curry shark, orange beef, lemon calimari, pho, buhn thit nuoung (BBQ pork over vermicelli with sweet spicy fish sauce), and would guess that everything else is just as excellent.
It's been family run for years. In fact, the former hostess is now the bartender. I see uncles, aunities, and nieces and nephews all working side by side. Just to give you a feel about how personal the service is...the grandma had a birthday cake one year when I happened to be there, and every diner got a nice piece!!
A definite winner!