Author: marga (Page 86 of 112)

Yesterday I ate my first oyster. My friend Lola and I were exploring Tomales Bay and she wanted to stop at Hog island Oysters for some oysters. I’m a nice friend, so even though I knew this would mean I’d seat around staring at the bay while she ate oyster after oyster, I complied. Plus it’s a nice bay.
Hog Island Oysters has a swank oyster bar at the Ferry but at the “farm” it’s a much more downscale (though not cheaper) experience. You park your car, go into the farm and chose your oysters among the types available that day (they start at $10 a dozen). You can then either take them home, or pay $8-10 per person for use of their pic-nic facilities – don’t expect anything fancy, just a few old pic-nic tables and grills. As I wasn’t eating oysters, they were nice enough to not charge me but Lola’s bill for two dozen oysters and pic-nic fee came up to $30. Not bad, but not that much cheaper than at their bar where oysters cost $1.50 each.
Lola was quite happy to eat her oysters plain and raw, if you want to BBQ yours or add some lemon or condiments you can buy charcoal and supplies at the general stores a few minutes south. Hog Island Oysters does provide you with a tray, a shucking knife and glove so you can shuck them yourself.
Lola was in ecstasy. She ate and she moaned and she celebrated each and every taste, to the point that I figured I should at least give them a try. Could they possibly be that good? Trying them wasn

Lola and I had a get away weekend to the Tomales Bay and stopped by Priscilla’s in Inverness for lunch. Yes, we would have preferred to go to Manka’s, but that wasn’t in the cards.
Priscilla’s is a small, quaint, small-town cafe serving gourmet pizza and sandwiches. They make their own bread and bake it just before assembling the food (we could see the process from the window). You order the food at the counter and a waitress will bring it to your table. Service was quite prompt and everyone was very friendly.
Lola (who apparently was not filled by the 23 oysters she had just had) ordered the clam chowder. She thought it was a bit bland. It was fresh and homemade tasting, though not particularly clammy. She’d eat it again though she’d probably chose something else if she had the choice.
I had their roasted tri-tip sandwich and was also disappointed. The bread was very nice, warm and fluffy, and the meat was probably good as well, but the flavor of the mustard was so intense that I couldn’t taste anything else. I’d definitely would skip it.
That’s too bad, as Priscilla’s was a very cute place to stop for a bite – I might still go again, but try the pizza or pasta instead.
Priscilla’s
12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.,
Inverness, CA
(415) 669-1244

Viva Mexico is one of the very, very many taquerias that dot the San Leandro landscape. This one is located in the “Fashion Fair Shopping Center”, the little outdoor mall by Bayfair Mall where Ross, Michael’s and Pier 1 are located. We went there for dinner one night last December before going to see a movie nearby.
Unfortunately all this time after our dinner I don’t have a clear picture of everything we had. Under such a circumstance it might be better perhaps to not write a review at all – but we’re quite unlikely to go back there so it’s now or never. Plus I figure that as long as I’m honest, you, the reader, can give my recollections the weight you think they are worth.
In any case, I’m afraid to say that I cannot remember what we had for dinner that night. My educated guess is that I had a carne asada burrito and that Mike had a carnitas burrito, as this is what we usually order when we go to a taqueria. I don’t remember eating it, but I do remember discussing that the food wasn’t that great, certainly not as good as that of our favorite taquerias. I also recall liking the chips and the fiery roasted pepper salsa, while Mike being less parcial to it.
I did like the restaurant itself. It’s a small operation and the owner, behind the counter, was very hospitable. A couple of diners at another table were saying (in Spanish) how this was the best Mexican food around. Still, Mike and I left thinking we wouldn’t be coming back.
Viva Mexico
Fashion Fair Shopping Center
15100 Hesperian Blvd.
San Leandro, CA
510.317.2042

Last night we wanted to get a drink before going to a movie in Orinda (saw Pride & Prejudice, even the Austen haters among us loved the movie) and we decided to stop at Calypso Bar & Grill which is very close to the theater. Alas, unbeknown to us there is a cafe/wine bar just across from Calypso which might have been more appropriate for a quick drink. Next time.
Calypso is a Caribbean themed restaurant, the type that might have been popular in the 60’s and 70’s. The restaurant is small and dark and on Saturday nights, at least, features music. Last night it was a singer/guitar player singing covers from the 60’s. I particularly enjoyed American Pie.
Boris and Regina just had bottled drinks, but Mike ordered the hand shaken Margarita while I had a fruity rum drink. They were both good, though not outstanding. Mike felt the Margarita had too much ice, but I was happy for that as I prefer my drinks cold. Mike liked the coconut shrimp, though as he says, he’s never had coconut shrimp he doesn’t like.
In all I wouldn’t mind giving the place a try for dinner if we happened to be in Orinda. The restaurant is family friendly – there was a whole group of children while we were there.
Calypso Bar & Grill
2 Theatre Sq., No. 153 (off Moraga Way)
Orinda, CA 94563
925-258-9686

I just got a message from a website visitor who seems to have liked Gonzales y Gonzales, a Cal-Mex restaurant we visited in NYC, where we had terrible service. He says:

“I am not sure how long ago you went to this restaurant but you may want to give it another try. I recently moved to Pa from Ca and could not believe we could not find Mexican food that came close to the food in Ca. Then I found Gonzales y Gonzales…the food is so good. I even took friends from Ca who were visiting NYC and they too loved it. The food is fresh and the service has always been good. Maybe they read your review and decided to change.
Try it again…you may be surprised.”
Alas, not everyone seems to agree as to the merits of this restaurant. Here is another message about Gonzales y Gonzales I got on June 2005:

“Two weeks ago my boyfriend and I went out to have a few dinks and appetizers
at Gonzales y Gonzales. It was a friday evening after hard days work. We
were having a good time. Tiping very well and ordering for a good two
hours.
I went to the ladies room because I started to feel a bit nauceous. I into
the ladies room where then I vomitted all I had to eat. I disgustingly
wiped the bowl feeling embarrassed of the mess I just felt I made. The bowl
was cleaned off proceded to get napkins from the bathroom attendant. She
refused to hand me more napkins unless I gave her a dollar for each napkin
used. I was so upset. I did not understand this rule of hers to charge
for napkins.
I went to the upstairs to speak with the manager. I first went directly to
the first bartender he ask what happend and just ignore my request to speak
to a manager. I then went to My boyfriend asking me what was taking so
long. I told what happened. We then spoke to the bartender that served us
all night. He got the manager for us. The manager then came. I explained
how ridiculous to be charged for napkins in the ladies room. He then rudely
gave me a pack of napkins and placed it on the bar. I was so angry!!! I
told him why would I be charged for a napkin to wipe off the vomit off my
shoe. I needed extra napkins and I am being charged.
An apology but rudely and no compensation for the horrible moment I had to
experience. The evening was ruined and the good time I was having was
completely ruined by this restaurant. The bathroom attendant disappered.
I know why because this restaurant hire illegall immigrant and these people
are trying to make money how ever they can.”

If you have a comment on Gonzales y Gonzales feel free to leave it below.