Seems like people haven't been happy with Sato's in the last few years...from my perspective, things must have changed recently. First I've eaten Lunch here about 4 times in the last month. The food has been consistantly fresh and very well prepared. I have tried other nearby Sushi restaurant's and none are of the same quality and atmosphere. I give the Sushi chef credit for the quality and presentation of the food...and I suggest that others who may have tried Sato in the past, do so again...you may be pleasantly surprised.

The ratings for Haps seem pretty random. My experience with Haps was a very pleasant evening, great dinner, and a very good wine list. My guest enjoyed her steak, I had Salmon and we shared a bottle of 2002 Larkmead Cab...all in all a wonderful experience. I like Vic Stewarts also, but for those who live in or near the Livermore Valley, Vic Stewarts is a little bit out of the way.

Gerald Hirigoyen (the chef and inspiration for this masterpiece) has hit a home run with this restaurant. His reputation for great cooking was made at Fringale's, he has now taken it to a whole new level. This is a great place to take friends out for a casual dining experience (especially those who have never had tapas or small plate dinners before). All of the dishes are good some are better than others (for example, while their serrano ham dishes are good...because of America's restrictive import laws, real serrano ham may not be imported, so don't expect the real thing...). I wont go into details on each dish I've had (been there three times in the last 3 months)...suffice it to say, there are numerous choices to tease your palette. The best part is parking is a breeze in the evening...and although reservations are recommended, my wife and I enjoyed a spontaeous dinner there, dinning on tapas at the bar (just like Spain).

I had forgotten how good the Beef ribs were...you can argue about who has the best Bar B Que (N.Carolina, Memphis, St. Louis or KC) but I don't think anyone will challenge the claim that Texas has the best Beef BBQ in the world...and Beef Ribs are getting to be rare indeed...so when I am in Texas, I try to avail myself of the BBQ Beef ribs...and if I'm lucky enough to be in Austin...I know that I'll have some of the best Ribs in the State...its worth the trip out of town just for the view (the food is an added bonus)

Ok...so its not really Tapas...think small plates (two to four people can share each dish)...four of us had dinner there last Saturday night. We ordered and tried just about every dish offered on the menue...everything was great (or at least very good)...we especially liked the Camerones al Mojo (large sauteed prawns in a great sauce), Chipotle Albondigas (Cuban style meatballs), Puerco Viejo Empanados (shredded pork turnovers with raisins, olives, pineapple, jicama and peanut pesto) and Ceviche Andino...great ceviche with toasted field corn as the surpise taste treat. This place is going to be doing well for some time, so be prepared to plan in advance (make reservations for parties of 4 or more).

Its not really worth 5 stars (just 4 1/2) but it is the best everyday kind of place in Oakland...we drive about 15 miles 2 to three times a month to get our fix here...the pizza is great, but you haven't lived until you try their cannelloni (and if you like squid...they have the BEST sauteed squid in the bay area, bar none)...crowded because it is a popular place(duh...), be prepared to wait (they will take reservations for parties of six or more...)...ya gotta try this place if you are anywhere in the vicinity!

This place is rooted in Chezh tradition but with a german cuisine that is equal to any in the E. Bay...you can go to fancier places...trendier places...but you will not get better food than you can find here...their Wienerschnitzel is wonderful, but I keep going back for their brautwurst....(and their luncheon specials are always good). They have a selection of imported Chezh beer, including the original Bud (Budwar or something like that).

Just thought I'd stop by to add that Pasqual's was recently featured in one of Rachel Ray's segments $40 a day (Food TV Network). There appears to be a great disagreement on this bulletin board (either 1 star or 5)...I guess you either like gourmet food or you like Mickey D's...(I guess some like both). I stand by my original assessment of this restaurant and the others we visited in Santa Fe.

Sam's is my favorite hamburger joint in SL....forget what they say about Nations...it can't compare to Sams. Also note that the ownership has just recently changed (the new owner was a prior owner, back in the 70's...don't know if he was the original, but he knows the business). The only reason Sams doesn't rate higher is that there is no indoor seating available, so its outside in good weather, and take out all of the rest of the time.

This is a very good restaruant in a very unpretentious setting. Ok so maybe that is overstating the case. The food is never-the-less outstanding. All of the traditional dishes...well prepared, with attentive service. You can't ask for anything more. This is my favorite lunch spot here in Concord....their luncheon specials are a real bargin at around $6.00 per person.

Very nice sushi and other traditional Japanese dishes...I particularly like their bento box lunches....with a broad selection of dishes and combinations.

This restaurant is too good to have only one review....I have eaten here on a number of occasions and have always enjoyed the dishes. The food is authentic Italian...with good pasta dishes and of course great entres as well...I've had the spaghetti carbonaro, the salmone with olives and tomatoes and the penne salcicci....great place for lunch and a romantic place for dinner.

This is an excellent replacement for Prings (at least the location...San Leandro still needs a good non-franchise 24 hour coffee shop). I have noted on several occasions that there are only a few good Italian restaurants between Hayward and E. Oakland. You can add La Bella to the short list. I have given it 4 stars but it really only rates 3 1/2 (marked down from 4 due to the lack of wine selection). The executive chef (Bhupinder....must come from the Italian suburbs of New Dheli)does an outstanding job of reproducing many of the traditional dishes of Italy (both northern and southern) while bringing his own touch to the plate. So far I have had Veal Saltimbocca and Spaghetti Carbonara and my wife has had the Fettuccine Alfredo as well as the Raviola. The wine list is extremely limited but the quality of the house wine is acceptable.

I have enjoyed the food here on two different occasions. The first time I had their Steak ou Pouvre, the last time I had their Veal Citroen...the desserts and hors d'oeuvre were well prepared (thought limited in choice) and the wine menue was reasonably good. I like the fact that I haven't needed reservations either time (that's both a good and a bad thing...if you don't need reservations, obviously the restaurant is not on everyone's "A" list.

A nice new restaurant for San Leandro. Its the first Vietnamese restaurant in town and a welcome addition to the dining opportunities available. The setting is modern, the tables are set with tablecloths, so it is a "nicer" restaurtant...one where you could take a date or take the whole family out. The food is well executed and artfully presented...with a fairly good selection of seafood, chicken, beef and pork dishes....if you like Le Cheval in Oakland...you will like Vo's. And for those of us who live here...the bonus is the short drive and easy parking.

Good burgers....great milkshakes and malts...the rest of the dinner fare is good...this place is an institution and as such it deserves its great reputation..its much better than the fast food alternatives in CV and Hayward...but be prepared to wait. <br> Yeah...I guess the breakfasts are good too..I had forgotten that I have enjoyed breakfast here on more than one occasion...but its really known for the burgers (and steak sandwiches).

I'm only rating the breakfast for now....I really enjoyed this "family style" operation. The food is fresh, and well prepared...although it is traditional in content..there is a wide assortment of selections for your consideration. I love the decore (lots of prints and photos...scenes from Europe), but I will keep going back because the food was good. I was told the family is from Iceland. If so, they have done a good job of transitioning from "haddock and herring breakfasts" to bacon and eggs....try this place...you will like it!

What's not to like? This is hofbrau style food...comfort food...real food...(I might add it's also heavy food). But the best part is that it is utterly predictable...you know exactly what you will get...and more often than not it is like your mom made (if mom could cook)....besides...who is going to roast an entire turkey sometime during the year (other than Christmas or Thanksgiving)...if you want fresh hot turkey sandwiches or turkey ala king...you gotta come here.

We came for the crabs and we were not disappointed....I have eaten here several times over the last few years (when business brings me to town), and the thing that keeps me coming back for more is the wonderful steamed crabs....they are spiced just right and more often than not, a table full will keep us busy for several hours....the last time we went I was with 3 other people who had never had Chesapeake Bay Crabs before...but before the night was over, they were cracking crabs and flinging shells like crazy....you had to be there.....

Jim is wrong...twice...he seems to do that a lot...I doubt he has ever been here or over half of the other places he has reviewed...I've eaten here (business lunch while visiting Boeing). It is indeed in the industrial area so lunch pickings are thin...but this place is good Bar-b-que...there is always a crowd at lunch, with most appearing to be regulars...that's how you know you are at a good restaurant...I've had ribs and pulled brisket here..both very good...the rest is standard fare (beans, potato salad, soup, etc) but for this part of town, you can't go wrong here. I have awarded 4 stars. 3 1/2 for the Bar-B-Que, and another 1/2 for the great outdoor patio dining (when weather permits).