Saddle up! Horseshoe Tavern

Horseshoe Tavern

So you're in the trendy Marina District of San Francisco, you've been drinking at the California Wine Merchant (review to come - and it is great!) in the evening and just feel like something different for a change.

So you think, where can I go to find a "real" bar? You know, the kind of place where you feet stick to the floor and there are grooves worn in the bar where the regulars sit. Yes, Liverpool Lil' (stay tuned for a review)! Wait, that's up near the Presidio and actually you were just there the other day.

Think now, right, I'm on Chestnut Street. Of course, the 'shoe, a local fixture since 1934. The perfect spot for a real drink or a quick beer.

Meal: Drinks
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 18 October 2007
Address: 2024 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94123
Website: n/a

The Vault - where they don't lock up the hospitality!

2008-03-18-dscn2961
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

The Vault

We've all heard about that place in Boston where "everybody knows your name". Well, I really do think that if I came to The Vault more than a couple of times, they really WOULD know my name. And you can bet the food is better than at that "cheer"-ful place off the Common!

Smack in the heart of Boston's financial district, The Vault is located in a former bank (and yes, the old vaults are still there and hold owner Packy Norton's stash of "the good stuff".

I was there on a weeknight around the time of the Bear-Stearns debacle, so the crowd was a little more subdued and thinner than I imagine they usually are.

You'll know you're in a great Boston bar from the moment you step through the doors. Plenty of wood, just enough glass and mirrors, and a wide, generous bar area perfect for filling up during after work happy hours.

So, what about the food? Well, it is Boston, so I started off with some chowder. Perfectly done, just the right mix of potatoes and clams, rich and creamy sauce.

I followed on with a burger (remember to order to a restaurant's strengths - The Vault just looked like they'd serve up a great burger and they did). A nice sized burger and all the sides, charred to perfection.

The staff were great. From the host staff on down the line. The bar staff pour a good drink and didn't shy away from some of the more complicated orders from our group.

More photos.

Dish: Burger
Meal: Dinner
Rating: ***** of 5
Date: 18 March 2008
Address: 105 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109
Website: N/A

Roy's: Not your parents' Trader Vic's

2008-06-30-dscn4627
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine

Roy Yamaguchi opened the first "Roy's" in Honolulu in 1988. Since then, it's grown to a chain with locations around the country. I first saw a Roy's in Philadelphia and was intrigued by the concept. When I saw there was one in Anaheim, I felt I should give it a try.

My table started out with the Wood Grilled Szechwan Spiced Baby Back Pork Ribs and the Pacific Rim calamari. The ribs were excellent and I would highly recommend them. The calamari was something different. Cut in strips, the texture was more like that of lobster and didn't quite have the right "mouth feel" for squid. Different, but maybe a bit too different.

Others at the table had selections from the sushi menu (Lakanilau Roll Seared Kobe Beef wrapped around Dynamite Crab, Tempura, Asparagus & Avocado, and Auntie Lei’s Aloha Roll Spicy Tuna Roll topped with Hamachi, Salmon & Avocado). I tasted the kobe beef rolls and wasn't terribly impressed. Didn't quite work for me.

My own entree was the pork tenderloin (Apple Wood Smoked Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Maple Miso Drizzle & Asian Pear Chutney). The pork was good, but a bit overwhelmed by all the accompaniments.

The Anaheim location has been open only a few months, but it looked like all the kinks were worked out. The host staff were very friendly and eager to please. The wait and other service staff were helpful (though not quite that familiar with the extensive wine list).

All in all, I think that Roy's makes a fine, but still "safe" exotic destination - a sort of Trader Vic's for the 21st century.

Dish: Pork tenderloin
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *** of 5
Date: 30 June 2008
Address: 321 West Katella Ave. Suite #105, Anaheim CA 92802
Website: http://www.roysrestaurant.com/

Gandhi Palace - Worth the wait!

2008-06-28-dscn4552
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Gandhi Palace

Anaheim was looking a little bleak in the foody department - at least in the areas around the Anaheim Resort/ Disney area. So when a colleague texted me and suggested lunch at an Indian place, I didn't pause before saying YES!

Located in a Ramada Inn just a few blocks from Disneyland, the exterior of the Gandhi Palace isn't terribly inspiring. A group of people queued at the door waiting to get in and the staff slowly seated each group in turn. The restaurant was pretty crowded and there was a big group, but still the wait wasn't that long.

Lunch was buffet style with everything that you might expect: lamb vindaloo, chicken korma, saag paneer; a selection of bread; raita; tandoori chicken, and more.

Reasonably priced ($9.84 with tax) for the all you can eat buffet, it made for a perfect change of pace.

So good in fact, that I returned later that night for dinner with a couple of colleagues. Again, there was a bit of a wait at the door and the staff were not particularly attentive, still the wait wasn't all that bad.

Ordering from the menu, we selected lamb vindaloo, a bhindi masala, and some other selected vegetable dishes. The wine list, though not extensive, did have just the white wine that we wanted.

And well, yes, the food is really good, so I came back again for dinner the next evening (for those of you who've lost count, this makes my third visit!). On this night, again, a line at the door, but I think they staff were starting to recognize me. After we were seated, we decided on the dinner buffet (not offered the previous night I was there). Similar to the lunch buffet, again, everything was great.

One small quibble, the tandoori chicken was a bit dry and thin on meat. The rich lamb vindaloo, however, more than makes up for it!

FYI, the restaurant offers a "traditional" American style breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, etc. - it would have been interesting to see an Indian breakfast buffet!

Dish: Variety of dishes
Meal: Lunch and Dinner
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 28 & 29 June 2008
Address: 515 W Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802
Website: http://www.gandhipalace.com/

Mr Stox - Best on the blox?

2008-06-27-dscn4526
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Mr Stox Restaurant

Need a table for two or a dinner for 10, 15, 20? Mr Stox is your place. Whether you're looking for a nicer place for a small dinner or hosting a larger event, Mr Stox, managed by the Marshall family since 1977 will fit the bill. I had a business dinner for eight and Mr Stox was just the right mix of casual and elegant. Located in a Mission-style complex that stretches further than it might look from the road, Mr Stox offers a number of different settings from the large dining room (with both booths and tables) to an enclosed patio area that is perfect for a larger dinner.

The menu offers an extensive selection of "classic" dishes of fish, meat, and poultry. With a few "trendy" items on the menu (ahi, osso buco, portobello mushrooms) as well as something you might not expect to see in Southern California (Maryland crab cakes! - the wait staff informed us that the owner was from the Chesapeake area), selections should meet nearly every taste.

For appetizers, the table split orders of onion rings (nice and large and neatly battered) and ravioli (a tasty spring pea ravioli with crispy pancetta and a smoked paprika cream sauce); I added a Caesar salad to the mix.

Others at the table selected the halibut, swordfish, crabcakes, and portobello for entrees. I selected the duck. The Mesquite grilled duck breast and confit of leg was served with a red beet purée with pears and King Oyster mushrooms. The duck was well done and the mushrooms added just the right touch.

Dessert offerings included a crispy fruit tart.

Service was knowledgeable and attentive. A nice wine selection compliments the extensive menu.

More photos.

Dish: Duck
Meal: Mr Stox
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 27 June 2008
Address: 1105 E Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92805
Website: http://www.mrstox.com/

JT Schmid’s: Come for the beer!

2008-06-26-dscn4386
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

JT Schmid’s

Where to go on Anaheim? Well, that's a good question, so, looking around the web, I found JT Schmid's. Located near the Honda Center (home of the Might Ducks) and within sight of Angel's Stadium on a weird little strip mall, the vast restaurant dominated the area. It looked like the perfect place to bring a large group, but on a Thursday night, it was pretty quiet.

Starting off with the Panko Crusted Tuna Roll (Sushi grade tuna wrapped in spinach and panko flakes. Flash fried and served with a wasabi soy sauce) and an excellent IPA (from the onsite brewery), things looked good.

The tuna roll was quite good with a reduced soy sauce, ginger, and wasabi.

For dinner, my table got two orders of ribs, the Baby Back Ribs and the Beef Back Ribs. The baby back ribs were quite good, but the beef ribs were a little on the fatty side. For sides,we had the shoe string fries (very good), coleslaw, and sweet potato fries (also quite good).

Service was excellent and the waiter knew the menu (but wasn't bold enough to steer us away from the beef ribs!). Come with a large group, get a beer, and stick with the basic fare!

An additional location in nearby Tustin.

More photos.

Dish: Ribs
Meal: Dinner
Rating: ** of 5
Date: 26 June 2008
Address: 2610 E Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806
Website: http://jtschmids.com/