Restaurants on my Radar

This is a list of restaurants I want to try this year, 2011.  I love trying new places, learning what works and what doesn't and sharing what I learned with others.  As I learn about new places to try, I'll add them.  As I try them I'll YELP about my favorites.

I also have an obsession with food truck, for that list, click here.

Lastly I want to check out some Biergartens and breweries, they are popping up everywhere and it will make hubby happy.

SAN FRANCISCO:
Once I visit an Ethnic restaurant I write it up in the Examiner.com (I'm the SF Ethnic Food Examiner so check out my reviews on the places that I've removed from this SF list.  All other reviews will be posted on YELP.


Fishermans Wharf:

• Boudin Cafe: Sourdough Gnocchi in the upstairs dining room.

Pier 39:

• Forbes Island:  Floating Island, seafood.

North Beach:  (click here for places to visit)

• Soto Marre:  I believe I tried chipino here but try again and compare against my favorite.
• E Tutto Qua:  270 Columbus Ave
• Mama's (1701 Stockton St at Filbert St). Every time I pass by this restaurant there is a huge line down the street waiting to get in. One day I'm going to get in this line and give it a try. I have to know what people are willing to wait so long for. I heard the Slim Joe Burger was great and everything is homemade even the jams.
• Original Joe's: 601 Union St. at Stockton St., (415) 775-4877  try pot roast
• Urban Curry:  Indian Pakistani food
• Eden Lounge (hidden above Park Tavern):  only open on special days, seats 45 with unique cocktails.
• Taverna Aventine:  582 Washington (Opposite the TransAm Pyramid), 415-981-1500:  weekday lunch or Sat after 8:30pm.
• Sip Bar and Lounge
• Café Jacqueline 1454 Grant Ave: amazing soufflés, brie and broccoli app and chocolate dessert
• Molinari Delicatessen: 373 Columbus Ave.  7 salami’s made in house and 5 sausages. North Beach Special sandwich (prosciutto, provolone, sun dried tomatoes and sweet bell peppers
• L'Osteria del Forno:  519 Columbus Ave.  roast pork braised in milk
• Caffe Trieste:  601 Vallejo St., house blended and roasted coffee beans and Saturday afternoon music
• Amante:  570 Green St.
• Tony Nik's: 1534 Stockton St. at Union St.
• Our City Guides tour guide Linda Cahill provided these ideas.
  
• Italian French Bakery (Union and Grant):  I heard that they have incredibly long crispy Griselli (bread sticks) and fresh Hazelnut Biscotti.  They have good foccacia if Liguria is sold out but try their's first.  Crusty loaves of French bread.  A pitcher of the 2 food long bread sticks makes an antipasto platter look professional. Wing Sing Dim Sum Bakery:  One of the least expensive places to eat in Chinatown at 1125 Stockton near Jackson).  This place closes at 5pm.  You can get steamed pork buns, shrimp har gow, pork shu mai, chow mein.  All are excellent quality but not a pretty place.  Giant pork buns are $1, three pieces of dim sum @ $1.50 and Jook (slow cooked rice porridge) not on the menu but available for $1.00
• II Pallaio (Columbus near Union):  Per our tour guide, they have excellent Argentine grilled chicken.  By one chicken for two with a huge salad to split and a glass of wine
• Rose Pistola (532 Columbus Ave.):  Although I have been here, I don't remember how it was and I never went back but I would like to check out the menu and give it another shot.  Per the guide very fresh seafood or make a meal out of appetizers while listening to Jazz late night. 
• Osteria (Columbus near Green):  Per the guide have the roast of the day.  Try the milk cooked pork roast (Marcella Hazan's recipe) if available or the crespelle (Italian egg crepes).  Worth the wait for this tiny gem.
• House (Grant at Columbus):  Per the guide, great California fusion.
• Tomasso's (Kearney near Broadway):  Wood fired oven pizzas and cho cho clams.  Wonderful lasagna per the guide.  Located between two strip joints
• Melt: (Columbus & Filbert):  Happy hour 3-6 ($3 Becks)
• Cafe Divine (Stockton @ Union) Happy hour 5-7, half priced drinks and free apps.
• Piazza Market ($3 specials but very pricy food)
• Giordano's (Columbus near Broadway)  Happy hour 3-7 ($2 beers, good sandwiches)

Russian Hill:

• Taps: 1516 Broadway (20 minutes walk down Broadway through tunnel from Columbus & Broadway.  House made sausages and 45 taps.China Town:

• R&G Lounge: I need a new go to spot in China Town so maybe R&G Lounge will be it. On "No Reservations" they talked about the Salt and Pepper crab so if you love crab and don't mind the mess this might be for you. I don't know about deep fried crab in a shell so I'll give something else a try.

Financial District:

• Grubstake Diner (1525 Pine Street ). Another one on Triple D, meat ground fresh daily
• Hayes Street Grill (Hayes at Franklin). Fresh seafood, great fries, on the pricy side $45pp so keep in mind for a special occasion.
• Michael Mina:  (252 California St, between Front St & Battery St) (415) 397-9222.  Eye on the Bay: Counter service at the bar.
• Bask SF: (42 Columbus) Spanish tapas
• Barbaccos:  (220 California St.) Italian; heard about the lasagne (big enough to share) and bolognese
• Tropisueño (75 Yerba Buena Ln) Mexican:  Bring 5 friends and you drink free all evening.  Camarones - shrimp dish in a sauce
• Per Diem:  (43 Sutter St) , 415-989-0300
• Dim Sum at 662 Commercial St.

Financial District North bar hopping tour.

Embarcardero:

• SB40:  At Pier 40 by the Ball park; South Beach; 415.222.6169.  Per the article I read "Oyster offerings include fresh singles with three dipping sauces (spiced vinegar, cocktail, tangy avocado) and baked quartets (like the butter, cayenne, and cilantro'd Mexicali), while BBQ is rib-focused with baby backs and the Flintstone-sized Not So Short Rib, a marbleized 13"-long, 4"-thick Angus beef bone"
• CoCo 500 (500 Brannan):  We accidentily walked by this on the way back to Powell Street bart and then I remembered hearing about the Truffle flatbread, fried green beans, beef cheeks and sorbet.  I would try the truffle flatbread but the rest not sure.  It is also not in the best area but if I happen to be in the area.
• Yank Sing (Old Post Office):  Dim Sum, Phone:  415-957-9889
• Burger Joint: (244 King St. by AT&T Park)  Voted America's Best Burger by Travel & Leisure.  Always looking for my next favorite burger.
• Little Griddle (1400 Market St, at Fell; Civic Center) 415.864.4292.  Read about this place in Thrilllist, opened by Donnie Wahlberg, a breakfast and burger joint.  If you ever wanted to try one of those donut burgers here is your chance.  Don't know if I'm up for it but it is one of those things you should do at least once.
• Mijata:  Ferry Bldg and Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T park.  Don't know where I heard about this but menu is inexpensive, heard about the chilaquiles for breakfast and the Fundito sounds great.
• Parlor 1255:  1255 Battery St., Try the lobster roll and pork belly sandwich.  Reasonable prices ($12 & $8.5)
• Waiheki Island Yacht Club:  read about in 7x7

Soma:

• Juhu Beach Club: 320 11th St, at Folsom; SOMA; 415.298.0471. Another joint in a liquer store, new trend? Well I have to try it. I love short ribs and they mentioned "Holy Slow Braised Cow (smoky black cardamom short rib sandwich with cucumber Raita and plans to add a rotating biryani (veggies or meat up top, rice down below, all baked together), plus a vacay-inspired Shrimp Po'Bhai with NOLA-style BBQ shrimp done up in curry leaf ginger butter.
• Pazzia: 337 3rd St, (between Folsom St & Saint Francis Pl); SOMA, 415-512-1693. Heard about "Kevin's" risotto with prawns, asparagus and mushrooms, pizza, bortalloni with braised beef and mushroom sauce, filet, taramisu on a TV show.
• House of Shields: 39 New Montgomery St. (between Stevenson St. & Jessie St. (415) 284-9958
• Bar Agricole: 355 Eleventh St. (at Folsom). I've never tried pork belly and here is my opportunity served with fried eggs for brunch with house coffee.
• 25 LUSK: 25 Lusk St. (at Townsend) try the cinnamon doughnuts, the seasonal pancakes and maybe lobster benedict.
• Zero Zero: 826 Folsom St. (between 4th & 5th), try the brunch pizza, chicken and wafles and biscuits.
• Prospect: 300 Spear SZt. (at Folsom). Try the Prospector (house made bacon, duck breakfast sausage, corn cakes, eggs and home fries. YUM
• Soma Street Eat Food Park:  428 11th Street.  A stationary place where food trucks gather and change up weekly.
• Cat Head BBQ:  They ere a pop up restaurant in SF when I saw them on Chopped.
• Bluestem Brasserie:  One Yerba Buena Lane, by Powell station just off Market.  Stuffed goat cheese pepper.
• The Cavalier:  360 Jessie Street by Powell station just off Market.
• Rocco's Café:  1131 Folsom St.  Saw on Restaurant take over.  Want to try the chicken marsala, picatta and parmesian.

Potrero Hill:

• Chez Mamans:  1453 18th St (between Missouri St & Connecticut St).  Heard about this restaurant on TV they said they had the best burger and try the quesadilla and mahi mahi

Mission District:  Mission Street is not a destination place, dirty, not appealing on the wide 4 lane road.  Want to check out Valencia more and check back at 24th Street.  Going forward avoid Mission Street.

Doctors lounge:  4826 Mission Street

Batter Up: (888 Geneva Ave. at Mission St.). I reciently tried a sausage corndog and loved it.  Here they even include cheese, a must try in my book.

16th St Bart

• Mission Bowling Club:  3176 17th St @ S. Van Ness.  Read about their Mission burger ($15; $10 during happy hour)  They said it is juicy, almost too rich with an caper aioli and Jack.
•  Taqueria Pancho Villa:  3071 16th St (415) 864-8840.   Try a burrito
• Plin:  280 Valencia St., SF:  Tried some donut holes with pears but heard about the chefs favorite dish to make and my favorite to eat is Fettuccine Carbonara.
• Trick Dog bar:  

24th St Bart & other

• Joe's Cable Car: (4320 Mission St.) This was on Diners, Driveins and Dives. I gotta try a burger here and it looked like a cute place inside an old cable car.  Heard from a friend not so good.
• Mavericks: 3316 17th St (between Hoff St & Mission St): Need to try the Tuesday burger (on Tuesdays), check out my post.
• Chez Spencer: 82 14th St. (between Harrison St. & Trainor St.), (415) 864-2191. Heard about the filet with morels and the hazelnut moose. I also heard they do a good brunch.
• Carne Asada Burrito Contest, 5 judges and their #1 picks were: El Farolito: 2779 Mision St.Best burrito, 1 2/3 lb. for $6.50. El Casztillito and Papalote (3409 24th St.) 1 1/3 lb. for $8.49. Runners up in this order were Taqueria Cancun (2288 Mission St.) 1 1/3 lb. for $6.56, El Tonayense a truck (at Harrison and 14th) for1 1/4 lb. for $6.50, Chipotle (really, I would skip this when in the Mission and go for a local place, Gordo Taqueria (5450 Geary Blvd.) 1 1/3 lb. for $6.73 and the El Castillito (136 Church St.) at 1 2/3 lb. for $8.20
• Flour + Water:  2401 Harrison St (between 20th St & 21st St) (415) 826-7000.  Best handmade pasta per Food Network.
• Mission Chinese:  I must give this a try, sign out front says Lung Shan Restaurant. I must try the chicken wings even though they are more fried than I like but especially the Thrice Cooked Bacon
• El Metate:  2406 Bryant St, fish and pork tacos, torta, cookies
• Heaven's Dog:  1148 Mission St , 415-863-6008; after 5pm only,  bunned pork belly & scallions or beef/watercress/chili Szechuan wontons, then wash it down with cocktails
• KronnerBurger:  2379 Mission St, 415-656-9871, Sun-Fri 6pm-late.  Marrow burger and beef cheek gravy on fries.
• Rheas Market & Deli: 800 Valencia St., sandwiches served in a liquer store, try the signature dish and Kim Chee.
• Walzwerk:  381 S Van Ness Ave.  (415) 551-7181.  Found a note about this places German food and drink.
• Foreign Cinema:  Dinner and a movie
• Humphry Slocombe:   2790 Harrison St, San Francisco.  Unusual flavored ice creams like Jam and Toast.
• Trick Dog Bar:  2010 20th St., Try Mr. Big Stuff drink, read in 7x7
• Garden Creamery:  20th st.  Try toasted caramel and banana in a chinmey cone

Marina / Cow Hollow:

• Roam Artisan Burgers:  1785 Union St. (between Gough & Octavia St.) (415) 440-7626 .  Try the Classic with cheese $7
• Umami Burger:  2184 Union St. (at Fillmore (415) 440-8626.  Try  The Cali $10
• Super Duper Burger:  2200 Chestnut St. (at Pierce) (415) 931-6258.  Try the Mini with cheese $5
• Horseshoe Tavern:  2024 Chestnut St (between Fillmore St & Mallorca Way)
• Boboquivari's: 1450 Lombard St (between Van Ness Ave & United States Highway 101).  Try the NY steak.
• Tipsy Pig:  2231 Chestnut St 415-292-2300

Nob Hill:

• House of Prime Rib: We have tried on a couple of occasions to get a reservation and found out that you need to plan ahead. It is very popular and has been around for ever. Located at the foot of Nob Hill on Van Ness Ave.
• Zarzuela:  2000 Hyde St (between Union St & Allen St) (415) 346-0800.  A Spanish restaurant that everyone on Check Please loved, romantic spot.  Try the Paella, Grilled calamari, Padrone peppers, baked goat cheese and Gazpacho and bread pudding..  There is a garage across the street to park if you can't find street parking.
• House of Crawfish:  Saw on TV,  no notes.
• Swan Depot:  1517 Polk St (between California St & Sacramento St)

Pac Heights:

• Bun Mee: 2015 Fillmore St. (between Pine and California St.) (415) 800-7696 . Try the sloppy bun (ground meat and a fried egg)
• Dosa:  1700 Fillmore St (between Post St & Sutter St) (415) 441-3672.  Southern Indian cuisine heard about it on Check Please, greata salads, try the dosa for sure, open for lunch on Sat/Sun
• Troya Fillmore:  Turkesh, MEzes, trio, bread, cucu, salad, zucchini frit5ters, lahmaiun flatbread, moussaka, turkish beef dumpling.
• State Bird Provisions:  1529 Fillmore St, San Francisco.  Was told it was a great restaurant and reservations are two months out.  Must go.  American served DimSum style

Western Addition/ NOPA

• NOPA: 560 Divisadero ST. (between Fell and Hayes St.) (415) 864-8643 . Try the Pan de mie French Toast
• Little Star Pizza:  846 Divisadero St (between Fulton St & Mcallister St).  Try their deep dish piza.
• Smugglers Cove: 

Union Square:

• Cafe Claude:  Don't remember where I heard about this place but a new place to try in Union Square will be nice.
• Belden Place:  From what I have read there are about 12 countries represented in this one lane alley known as the French Quarter of San Francisco with many outdoor alley cafe's.  Sounds like a great summer location.  Belden Place runs between Pine Street and Bush Street on a block that is bordered by Kearny Street and Montgomery Street in San Francisco, California. It lies on the border of the Financial District, Chinatown, and Union Square.
• Hops & Hominy:  1 Tillman Pl, off Grant.  Check it out, article read well, southern fried with Mac n Cheees.
• Parallel 37:  The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco 600 Stockton St (415) 773-6168.  Eye on the Bay:  Counter service at the bar.
•   Hakkasan Dim Sum:  1 Kearny St, Financial District, Union Square

Civic Center/Tenderloin:

• Pagolac, (Southern Vietnamese):  655 Larkin St. (between Ellis St. & Willow St.), SF, (415) 776-3234
• Lahori Karahi (Pakistany):  612 O'Farrell St. (between Harlem Aly & Leavenworth St), (415) 567-8603.  Try the tandori or the tenderloin
• FarmerBrown: 25 Mason St (between Turk St & Market St) soul food, Cranberry Gin ricky drink, sweet potato fries, pear brandy sidecar, angel biscuits, mac n cheese
• Bar Jules:  609 Hayes St. (at Octavia) Follow them on Twitter to find out when their once a month waffle day is(415) 621-5482
• Jones:   620 Jones St. (between Geary & Colin Pl) (415) 496-6858 3 bars, happy hour and roof top space. 
• Dotties True Blue Cafe 28 6th St (between Stevenson St & Jessie St), Breakfast joint saw on Food Network
• Morty's Delicatessen:  280 Golden Gate Ave (between Dale Pl & Hyde St) Try the meatball marinara with a side of mac n cheese.
• Sing Sing Sandwich Shop: 309 Hyde St (between Eddy St & Ellis St). 
• Show dogs:  saw on TV, must try
• Straw:  203 Octavia.  Ringmaster Donut Burger

Outer Richmond:

• Kabuto: 5121 Geary Blvd (between 15th & 16th), (415) 752-5652 . I hear they have an extensive menu and I think I need more sushi experience before I go here so I know what to try but some things they talked about was Hamachi pear mustard, hamachi jalepeno, salmon.
• Bills Place: 2315 Clement St. (between 24th & 25th Ave.), (415) 221-5262 . Give the burger a try.
• Shanghai Dumpling King: 3319 Balboa St (between 34th Ave & 35th Ave) Want to try the dumplings (crab, Shanghi Vegitarian and the pork) and maybe the spicy mapo tofu dish with BBQ Sauce and the sugar egg puff.
• Mescolanza:  2221 Clement St (between 23rd Ave & 24th Ave).  Heard about teh Gnocci and carpaccio on TV.
• Trad'r Sams:  6150 Geary Blvd (between 25th Ave & 26th Ave)

Inner Richmond:

• Steins: 731 Clement St., (between 8th & 9th Ave. (415) 221-3888
• Q: 225 Clement St (between 3rd Ave & 4th Ave):  On DDD they highlighted the duck confit and the pulled pork plate with tortillas. 

Inner Sunset:

• Yellow Submarine:  503 Irving St (between 6th Ave & 7th Ave).  Heard about their steak sandwich.

Outer Sunset

• Pisces:  3414-3416 Judah St..  Great happy hour menu (4-10pm T-Sun).  Try the prefix or the short ribs, pork belly...

Haight Ashbury:

• Aub Zam Zam Room: I heard this was a place with a ton of character. The original owner has passed but I'm sure the regulars maintain the original ambiance. Stop by and have a martini and don't tell them how to make it. The original owner wouldn't have stood for that.
• Pork Store Cafe:  1451 Haight St (between Ashbury St & Masonic Ave) (415) 864-6981 (heard about it on Check Please.  Try the biscuit and gravy, eggs in a tasty nest and banana pancakes.

Castro:

• Red Jade:  245 Church St. (between Market and 15th).  (415) 621-3020 .  Pot stickers, dim sum, chicken with basil, coconut walnut prawns, bitter melon with pork, green onion pancakes were phenomenal (so I hear).

West Portal:

• Manor Coffee Shop:  321 W. Portal Ave., SF, (415) 661-2468

Cole Valley:

• Zazie:  941 Cole St. (between Carl St. & Parnassus Ave.) (415) 564-5332 

Hayes Valley:

• Biergarten:  424 Octavia; Wed-Sat 3-9 or Sun 1-7.
• Schulzies Bread Pudding:  364 Hayes St.  Looked in the window and the worker told me to try the caramel.  If  I hadn't just eaten I would have got it.  For sure next time.
• Grove Street Market:  500 Grove St (between Octavia St & Laguna St) try a deli sandwich
• Straw:  203 Octavia Boulevard at Page

Bernal Heights:

• Vega, 419 Cortland Ave. (between Bennington St. & Wool St., (415) 285-6000. Try gnocchi bouskalla with mushrooms, sausage and cream.
• Sweet Foods Waffle Shop:  331 Cortland Ave.  Try the maple bacon egg waffle.

Dogpatch:

• Third Rail Bar:  coming soon

South San Francisco:

• Basque Curtural Center:  599 Railroad Ave

Golden Gate & Fort Mason Center:

• Tai Chij Jangbing

OAKLAND:

• Tamales Mi Lupita:  Food trucks are the latest craze and I have yet to give any of them a try.  Pupusas are my new favorite and just the shot I saw on TV made them look worth trying.  I need to give them a try for cheap eats, located around 3340 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, CA.
• Golden Lotus (1301 Franklin St.)  Vegitarian restaurant.  Chicken drumsticks, chicken pot curry, pot stickers or crispy chicken.  I believe they list meats but nothing is really meat.
• Brown Sugar Kitchen (West Oakland):  2534 Mandela Pkwy (between Campbell St. & 26th), (510) 839-7685
• B-Side BBQ:  (3303 San Pablo Ave) same owner as Brown Sugar Kitchen. 
• Grand Oaks Restaurant & Sport Bar:  (Grand Lake, Lower Hills) 3701 Grand Ave (between Weldon Ave & Bonham Way) (510) 451-5253 .  Try the shrimp ravioli, steak, pizza, taquitos.  Open Sunday before 5 but not Saturdays or during the week.
• Commis (North Oakland), 3859 Piedmont Ave (between Rio Vista Ave & Montrll St.):  Saw a picture of the Parmesian Rock cookies which looked interesting but the reviews are mixed.
• Pizzaiolo:  5008 Telegraph Ave (between 49th St & 51st St) (510) 652-4888.  Try the pizza and the pasta
• HomeRoom:  400 40th St (between Shafter Ave & Webster St.); try the mac and cheese
• Pican:  Eye on the Bay:  2295 Broadway (between Grand Ave & 23rd St) (510) 834-1000 Counter service at the bar. 
• Souls:  try the mac n cheese, saw on "Check Please", 6403 Foothill Blvd
• LaneSplitter Pizza and Pub:  4799 Telegraph Ave (at 48th St) Neighborhoods: Temescal, North Oakland.  Heard about the calzone, salad, garlic bread sticks and pizza.
• Bakesale Betty's: 5098 Telegraph Ave. heard about their chicken salad sandwich
• Box & Bells:  Rockridge   Read about in 7x7
• A16:  Rockridge.  Read about in 7x7.  Not open during the day, after 5 only.  Next to an Irish bar we have stopped in several times.

BERKELEY:

• Vintage Berkeley, Vine Street Pumpking Station Wine shop (2151 Vine St.):  All wines under $25, M-F tastings.
• Gather:  2200 Oxford (heard about it on Check Please)
• FIVE:  Hotel Shattuck:  Hotel Shattuck, 2086 Allston Way (510) 225-6055, Eye on the Bay:  Counter service at the bar.
• Rivoli:  1539 Solano Ave (between Neilson St & Peralta Ave.  Saw on "Check Please"  they said the portabella fritters were great and a good cheese plate on the dessert menu.
• Zatar:  1981 Shattuck Ave(between Berkeley Way & University Ave).  Try the phillo pastry stuffed and grilled cheese and bread.
• Moxy Beer Garden, 3136 Sacramento St.,

EMERYVILLE:

• Cafe Aquarious:  1298 65th St..  Try the cinnamon roll, hash, lemon ricotta pancakes, blackened fish sandwich.

ALAMEDA:

• Speisekammer German restaurant:  A patron at McGee's bar told me about this place.

BURLINGAME:

• Sapore Italiano:  1447 Burlingame Ave, (650) 348-3277  (heard about it on Check Please - mixed reviews) try the freshly made pasta
• Stella Alpina -Primerose. (truffle gnocchi, short ribs, ....)

CUPERTINO

• Alexanders Steakhouse:  10330 N Wolfe Rd

LOS GATOS:

• Dio Deka:  210 E Main St (408) 354-7700.  Eye on the Bar:  Counter bar food.

SACRAMENTO:

• Jamies:  427 Broadway, Downtown / Land Park; Steak sandwich
• Dads Kitchen:  2968 Freeport Blvd, Citrus Park
          

POINT REYES:

• Station House Cafe:  saw on "Check Please" they recommended the Hang town fries (fried oysters, bacon and eggs for breakfast), Osso Bucco and the calamari

SAN RAMON:

• Fat Maddies (2005 Crow Canyon Place)

DUBLIN:

• Khyber Pass Kabob, Afgan food:  7467 Village Parkway, Ste 9.  11:30-9.  Go again and try the borani kadoo (pumpkin), chapli kabob (ground sirloin) and zabzi challow (spinach and lamb or chicken)
• Koi Palace:  4288 Dublin Blvd, Ste 213; Dim Sum

PLEASANTON

• Roli Roti:  Pleasanton Farmers Market from 9am - 1pm on Saturdays but also at the Ferry Bld. in SF.  Tried the potatoes which I had high hopes for but they were potatoes, nothing special.  Porketta sandwich and chicken still on list.

WALNUT CREEK:

• The Door:  1448 South Main St.

LAFAYETTE:

• Roam Burgers:  Try the salted caramel shake, truffle parm fries and sweet potato fries.
• Rustic Tavern:  write up I read said everything they had was good.
• The Park Bistro & Bar

CONCORD:

• 54 Mint Rosticceria & Formaggi in the Trader Joe’s shopping center on Oak Grove Road in Concord near the Walnut Creek border.  Went to the SF location
• Memos:  2118 Mount Diablo St.  Mexican restaurant, saw on "Check Please"

PETALUMA

• Risibisi Restaurant:  154 Petaluma Blvd. N,  (707) 766-7600 .  Try La Boreto (mozz cheese), bruchetta, carpaccio, spinach and goat cheese salad, gnocchi & boar or with pesto.

AMADOR CITY:

• Buffalo Chips Emporium:  Burgers apricot 3 berry pie; 14175 Old Hwy 49, Amador City

NAPA:

• French Laundry:  Plan ahead, make reservations way in advance, maybe a year.  It's pricy and depending on the actual price will I go now or when I have money to blow.
• Ad Lib:  A Thomas Keller (French Laundry) restaurant.  

Note:  On way to Napa stop by American Canyon at Marshalls Farm to pick up some honey at 159 Lombard St.

ST HELENA

• Model Bakery:  Famous for their English muffins.
• The Restaurant Bar at Meadowwood: 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena, Ca (707) 967-1205.  I read they have the best drinks in the "entire" bay area.

GUYSERVILLE:

• Catellis:  Saw their meatball sub, 10 layer lasagna and the garlic butter raviolis on a TV review show, then again on DDD.

RUTHERFORD:

• Auberge du Soleil:  Saw on TV.  Fancy but looked lovely.

SONOMA:

• The Girl and the Fig:  110 West Spain St.  707-938-3634 lunch and dinner
• Sunflower Café:  Found it on DDD site.  The duck breast sandwich was the rave along with the lamb burger.  On the menu the burrata looked good.

SANTA ROSA:

• Willie Birds:  1150 Santa Rosa Ave Santa Rosa, CA.  Found on DDD site.  They farm their own turkeys.
• Hanks Creekside Restaurant:  2800 Fourth St.  Found on DDD site.  Specialty Dishes: Corned Beef Hash, Eggs Benedict, Pancakes, Cinnamon Walnut French Toast

HEALDSBURG:

• Jimtown Store:  Saw on DDD, sandwiches looked great.  6706 State Highway 128,Healdsburg,Ca,95448

RUSSIAN RIVER:

• Russian River Pub:  11829 River Rd.Forestville, Order grilled pesto chicken, beef tri-tip and Ahi tuna salad.  Specialty Dishes: The Pub Burger and Chicken Wings
  

MILL VALLEY

• El Paseo House of Chops:  Tyler Florence restaurant and the thick steak looked great sliced off the bone but cooked and served with.

PEBBLE BEACH:

• Roys:  The Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17 Mile Dr. (831) 647-7500.  bagpipes at 5:45pm with a view of the Ocean. 

HALF MOON BAY:

• Pasta Moon:  315 Main St., try house made ravioli stuffed with salmon or butternut squash or try local produce like fish and goat cheese.
• Chez Shea:  408 Main St.:  try the south African fruit and beef curry called bobotie or corn chowder, paella or ceviche tostadas.

WOODSIDE:

• The Mountain House:  Skyline Blvd (on way to Half Moon Bay).  Don't know where I heard about this but it has good yelp reviews.

BIG SUR:

• Big Sur Roadhouse:  47080 Highway 1, Big Sur.  Read about in 7x7

MALIBU

• Paradice Cove Beach Cafe:  28128 Pacific Coast Hwy
• Geoffreys Malibu:  27400 Pacific Coast Hwy - nice seafood dinner.  

LAS VEGAS

• Hash House a Go Go:  Saw on DDD.
• Container Park:  Eat and shop with a variety of small businesses.

NEW ORLEANS, LA:

• Parasol's Restaurant:  Saw it on Diner's Drive In's and Dives.
• Cafe Reconcile:  Saw on a TV program, helping the youth get back on track.
• Bayona:  430 Dauphine St (504) 525-4455
• Cochon:  930 Tchoupitoulas St. (504) 588-2123

PENNSYLVANIA

• Starlite Lounge:  364 Freeport Rd, Blawnox (outside Pittsburg).  Saw on DDD, perogies, meatloaf and fall alfredo.

WASHINGTON DC

• The Churchkey :  Saw this on The Chew.  Sunday's secret menu of only 30 on a first come first serve basis "The Luther" a hamburger on a donut with candied pecans, bacon and fried chicken.

WASHINGTON STATE

• Dalia Lounge:  Try their coconut cream pie

UTAH

• Les Madeleines:  Saw this in BHG magazine, Kouing Aman:  salted caramel custard bread pudding.  I must try if in Salt Lake.

VANCOUVER CANADA:

• Raw Canvas:  meats, pates, cheese, and paint after wine

CHEZ REPUBLIC:

•  Chodovar—a historic brewery dating back to the 14th century, you can even bathe in beer, restaurant and brewery.