Villa 08
895 Villa Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
Last visit: March 2009
Good: Unfortunately the buffet food selection and quality were sub-par for this new Chinese buffet joint with a solcializing bar next to the main restaurant. The only good thing about the place was the nice bar area and clean/tasteful green restroom.
Bad: Overall the selection of Chinese food was not as extensive as others in the Bay area. Sadly, the food quality was not fresh nor tasteful, even the soups and BBQ grill. Perhaps it was the time (early dinner) when we went where the turnover was low.
Bottom Line: Skip this place until you've heard otherwise from others. There are better Chinese buffet places such as Yummy Buffet and King Buffet.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Rokko - Sunnyvale, CA
Rokko
190 S. Frances Street
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Last visit: March 2009
Good: Menu kind of unique for a Sushi joint with fried beef tongue, duck, and fish with nice presentation. Food was solid, fresh, crisp, and tasteful, and neat presentation. The rolls perhaps had too much rice, making it difficult for a one-biter. Price was also not bad especially for a high quality establishment.
Bad: Service was a bit lacking after the initial order. We also had to wait for several minutes for the sashimi after serving the udon soup (the place was not busy when we ate). Hardware for the place (tables, plates, and bowls) can use an upgrade, given the fine food and presentation for the dishes. Our soup bowl was worn out with the paint lacking in the inner bowl.
Bottom Line: Yes I would return to this place to sample their other unique offerings on the menu. A solid place to drop by every 2 weeks to a month to satisfy ones yearning for Sushi / Japanese Cuisine.
190 S. Frances Street
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Last visit: March 2009
Good: Menu kind of unique for a Sushi joint with fried beef tongue, duck, and fish with nice presentation. Food was solid, fresh, crisp, and tasteful, and neat presentation. The rolls perhaps had too much rice, making it difficult for a one-biter. Price was also not bad especially for a high quality establishment.
Bad: Service was a bit lacking after the initial order. We also had to wait for several minutes for the sashimi after serving the udon soup (the place was not busy when we ate). Hardware for the place (tables, plates, and bowls) can use an upgrade, given the fine food and presentation for the dishes. Our soup bowl was worn out with the paint lacking in the inner bowl.
Bottom Line: Yes I would return to this place to sample their other unique offerings on the menu. A solid place to drop by every 2 weeks to a month to satisfy ones yearning for Sushi / Japanese Cuisine.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Totoraku - Los Angles, CA
Totoraku
10610 W Pico Blvd.
Los Angles, CA 90064
Last visit: September 2008
Good: Food was quite unique and avant-garde, in particular the assorted seafood appetizer, though the portion was small for a group of four. The meats and other courses were also fresh and flavorful. Overall, the food was quite good and for some even better if one has high expectations due to the nature of Totoraku's clever marketing positioning.
Bad: Even though the dishes are unique, the cost is high, over $200/person w/o drinks. Ambiance and decor were absent, given that the food is the centerpiece of the establishment. The fact that an acquaintance of the place is required for reservations, the place has established itself as a cult-like figure, with Oyamasan at its center.
Bottom Line: Would I frequent this place? Only as a guest and/or if someone else picks up the tab or I have some nice financial windfall. So the answer will probably be No. Yet for those wannabes and ego-centric individuals, Totoraku will remain a soft spot in their gastronomic pleasures. Frankly, the place is over-rated.
10610 W Pico Blvd.
Los Angles, CA 90064
Last visit: September 2008
Good: Food was quite unique and avant-garde, in particular the assorted seafood appetizer, though the portion was small for a group of four. The meats and other courses were also fresh and flavorful. Overall, the food was quite good and for some even better if one has high expectations due to the nature of Totoraku's clever marketing positioning.
Bad: Even though the dishes are unique, the cost is high, over $200/person w/o drinks. Ambiance and decor were absent, given that the food is the centerpiece of the establishment. The fact that an acquaintance of the place is required for reservations, the place has established itself as a cult-like figure, with Oyamasan at its center.
Bottom Line: Would I frequent this place? Only as a guest and/or if someone else picks up the tab or I have some nice financial windfall. So the answer will probably be No. Yet for those wannabes and ego-centric individuals, Totoraku will remain a soft spot in their gastronomic pleasures. Frankly, the place is over-rated.
Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot - San Mateo, CA
Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot
215 S Ellsworth Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
Last visit: March 2009
Good: Nice place and clean bathroom! Can you believe this in an Asian restaurant? The food was OK, nothing spectacular with the standard meat and vegetable sampler. Good meatballs, combination mushrooms and the beef and lamb bbq skews.
Bad: Overall the Union City location is better in taste and service. We went on a Friday night and it was a bit busy, so every time a cleaned or close to empty dish was at hand, the waiters would scoop it up as to say, " your done , so pay and leave so we can seat another paying customer", this was quite annoying.
Bottom Line: I would NOT go back to this location but rather to the Union City location for the fore mentioned reasons above. Nice to frequent 1 -2 times every quarter.
215 S Ellsworth Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
Last visit: March 2009
Good: Nice place and clean bathroom! Can you believe this in an Asian restaurant? The food was OK, nothing spectacular with the standard meat and vegetable sampler. Good meatballs, combination mushrooms and the beef and lamb bbq skews.
Bad: Overall the Union City location is better in taste and service. We went on a Friday night and it was a bit busy, so every time a cleaned or close to empty dish was at hand, the waiters would scoop it up as to say, " your done , so pay and leave so we can seat another paying customer", this was quite annoying.
Bottom Line: I would NOT go back to this location but rather to the Union City location for the fore mentioned reasons above. Nice to frequent 1 -2 times every quarter.
King Egg Roll - Story Rd San Jose, CA
King Egg Roll
1221 Story Rd
San Jose, CA 95122
Last visit: March 2009
Good: Good taste and quantity to cost value. BBQ and dim sum dishes are especially tasty when fresh off the ovens and fryers. Go for the King Eggroll soup dishes and the like, they're quite fresh and flavorful.
Bad: Overall cleanliness of place/tables/bathroom, ice coffee, and service.
Bottom Line: Yes I would go back for the value, dim sum, BBQ pork, roast duck, King Eggroll soup. Level of food taste consistency is best when a fresh batch is at hand, so you'll need to time your visit accordingly. Probably visit 1 or 2 times per week, especially in these hard economic times.
1221 Story Rd
San Jose, CA 95122
Last visit: March 2009
Good: Good taste and quantity to cost value. BBQ and dim sum dishes are especially tasty when fresh off the ovens and fryers. Go for the King Eggroll soup dishes and the like, they're quite fresh and flavorful.
Bad: Overall cleanliness of place/tables/bathroom, ice coffee, and service.
Bottom Line: Yes I would go back for the value, dim sum, BBQ pork, roast duck, King Eggroll soup. Level of food taste consistency is best when a fresh batch is at hand, so you'll need to time your visit accordingly. Probably visit 1 or 2 times per week, especially in these hard economic times.
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