reviews

Amazing food

tweinthal — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:17:54 -0700

One of the best mexican restaurants in a city with a lot of them. Family friendly atmosphere, but a fun place for parents to let loose a bit.

Breakfast and Coffee Anyone?

shellakers — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:56:48 -0800

Recently my mom took my daughter and out to breakfast at the most DELICIOUS and quaint little place in St. Louis Hills. I dare Starbucks to come close to the coffee that Murdoch Perk serves and I don't WHEN the last time I had such a good breakfast. We ALL felt the same way. So much food for such a small price. If you find yourself in St. Louis Hills soon, you have to check this out. Even if you're not in the are, I'd HIGHLY suggest a morning visit. The atmosphere was a preppey or a college atmosphere, although I am neither and was very comfortable. I saw mothers stroll their babies inside just to have a pastery and a cup of coffee. It seemed to be a popular little meeting place. I loved the old fire place and the beautiful antique mantle. Perfect on such a cold day! I forgot to add that they serve lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served all day. Tues thru Friday 7am-9pm Sat and Sun 8am-9pm

Great Breakfast, Attentive Staff at the Golden Egg

anastasia — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:18:30 -0800

I really, really love this place for breakfast. I've not been for often for lunch, but what I have experienced has been top-notch. What sets this place apart, I think, is two-fold -- the food is really great and plentiful (I can't get enough of their eggs florentine or their quiche) and their waitstaff is just on top of everything. Last time we went there, the waitress really "got" us having a toddler and provided extra spoons for her to play with, plus read a one of my baby's books to her when it was offered up! (Sure, we were there before the breakfast crowd, but still, it was so cute.) I also appreciated that when our food arrived, the waitress made sure that our hot plates were far enough away from the baby that she couldn't grab them. Very, very conscious, that. Coffee refills are plentiful and on-time. High chair was in working order. The homemade banana bread is amazing, as are the biscuits. Fresh fruit bowls are always fresh (what a concept!). The place is family-owned and it isn't uncommon to see the littler kids working there after school, which I love. Homework being done at one of the tables, but they are hussling to get you fresh water if you need it. The Golden Egg is just walking distance from Pete's, a Ventura staple, but for your money and your time and for good food and dining experience, I'd pick the Egg every time.

bad business

catstrands — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:38:19 -0800

watched waitress get verbally abused and saw owner touch his workers on the behind and other private places, food had hair or plastic in it. heard he went thru 22 waitresses in 7 months

Local diner

ngerakines — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:55:54 -0800

My wife and I take our little girl here every now and then and it works out for us. The food and service is good and there weren't any big issues. We did have trouble with a few things though. We had a problem finding a place to keep our stroller and the staff didn't really know how to handle such a thing. While they do have highchairs, the don't really fit very well with the booths they use to seat people.

Great Food, Friendly Waitstaff -- Bit Slow

anastasia — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:15:45 -0800

We head to Fresno quite often to visit my cousin, his wife and kidlet. One of the areas we love to hit is the historic Tower district -- before kids we enjoyed the dancin' and drinkin', now, we look for good restaurants! :) Irene's definitely one of those -- excellent food for a fair price, attentive waitstaff, (especially with regards to our kids' needs), and charming atmosphere. One complaint we had was the length of time it took for us to get seated and for our breakfast order to be taken -- they just seemed disorganized. However, it was a Sunday morning, and several of the local haunts are not open, so Irene's takes the hit. Once our waitress showed up, though, she was wonderful and warm and on top of everything. And somehow, they managed to get the food to us in no time flat -- which helped make up for the earlier wait. My tasty veggie breakfast croissant was enough to feed me and my toddler, and I noticed that no one was able to finish their entire meal. We all agreed that my cousin's pancakes were some of the lightest and fluffiest we've ever had, especially for the size. Coffee and tea were ever-flowing. My niece loves the kids' pancakes -- made in the shape of a smiley face. :) Owned by a Fresno native, Irene Saul, this restaurant is one of those mom-and-pop places you shouldn't miss when traveling through. They're open every day, and do take-out and catering.

Tasty Pacific Brunch

mizfran — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:54:48 -0800

Weekend brunch is high on our list of fun, food outings and we go to Tangerine, a Pacific Rim restaurant in the Castro, when we want some tasty offerings and a friendly, neighborhood vibe. Tangerine has a wonderful Pan Asian brunch menu, with an impressive amount of unique egg creations such Sweet Corn & Sauté Leek Omelet (with brie cheese), Chicken Liver Pâté Omelet (served with chips), and Lemon Prawn and Avocado scramble (with gruyere). If sweet bready things are your breakfast preference, try their Coconut Pancakes with Ginger Syrup (served with sliced bananas and low-fat yogurt), Belgian Waffle (topped with sautéed bananas, strawberry, walnut, pecans), or Almond French Toast (topped with maple syrup and sautéed bananas and strawberries). Yummy poached egg specials are also available. My favorite: the Potato Latke – two perfectly poached eggs in a light hollandaise sauce, served atop a large, flavorful (and surprisingly nongreasy) latke, with a side of smoked salmon or sausage. While Tangerine is primarily an adult-oriented restaurant, kids can hang here, too. There's no children's menu, but you'll find enough items of interest for your kids, such as bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, French toast, fruit salad, and a variety of potato options (fries, roasted potatoes, hash browns, latkes). Boosters are available for younger kids (but no high chairs). Strollers and car seats would be a challenging fit near most tables, but the helpful and friendly staff will do their best to accommodate you, including moving tables around if possible. Outdoor seating is also available (and more stroller friendly). Tangerine is open for brunch, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and also serves dinner from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. every day. The restaurant gets quite crowded and loud for both brunch and dinner, so go early if you prefer a quieter atmosphere. Street parking in this neighborhood is super difficult no matter what time you go, but buses, muni trains, and taxis are easily attainable nearby. Enjoy!

Padaro's: Good, Dirty Fun (and Food) for the Fam

anastasia — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:14:00 -0800

Known as Padaro's to the locals, The Beach Grill at Padaro is the perfect place to truly soak and relax in the SoCal sunshine -- oh yes, and to get a solid bite to eat for you and the fam. Located just a hop, skip and a jump from the beach, the ocean breezes keep you cool while lounging on the grass and watching your kids play to their hearts' content in Padaro's fabulous SANDBOX full of toys. This is the perfect place for SAHPs to meet for a weekday lunch with their brood (just remember the sunscreen), or for the whole family to gather on a weekend. Obviously, the servers "get" kids, as the restaurant is built around pleasing families, so that is a relief for both you and the kids. You can pick up a variety of grill food -- burgers, fish, tacos, salads, soups and pizza -- plus choose from an excellent variety of beer and wine or non-alcoholic drinks. Kids' menu includes a drink and includes a burger, corndog, chicken tenders, mac-n-cheese and pizza. Prices are moderate, you definitely pay for atmosphere, but your crew will be full and content (I mean, SANDBOX) when you leave. If the kids let you leave.

Your Body Needs Some Sol Food

anastasia — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:06:30 -0700

Hands down, this is the best food I have eaten in a restaurant in ... I don't know how long. Really, really amazing. Puerto Rican cuisine, served up hot, fresh and casually, this is a place you could easily take your family to at least once a week. If you had the budget, it's fairly certain you'd want to eat there more often ... but, I digress. You stand in line to order, grab drinks while there and pay up. I was delighted to find young coconut milk as a drink option (my baby loved it, too), while my companions tried the Malta (a maple syrup drink -- delish) and the herbal iced tea (also yummy, and served in a huge jelly jar ). Many offerings are organic, or vegan, or free-range/naturally fed. There are enough choices on the menu to make any picky eater content. I loved that there were several large, rectangular tables to sit at -- perfect for a big group of folks, or for getting to know strangers. There are also smaller round tables to use for a more intimate meal. The decor was fun, bright and cheery. And the meals...oh, my goodness! Whatever you do, make sure you try the savory plantains. Cut thin, and cooked in olive oil and completed with a dash of salt and garlic, these guys were to die for. My baby, who is rather uninterested in bananas these days, basically ate her weight in these fried plantains. That is, when I was willing to share. ;P I ordered the chicken combo and it was tender and amazing -- melt in your mouth -- and my companions reveled in their beef and sandwich options. Each plate came with plenty of food, so you'd have more than enough to share with younger ones (I certainly did), or if you ordered a multi-piece combination plate, you could definitely split with an older child or partner. The place was very welcoming to my toddler, especially when she needed to get down and wander a bit. I was happy that the wooden high chair was clean, and that the seat belt worked. This is a perfect place to bring out-of-towners, or to take a trek up from the city to visit while exploring San Rafael. A gem not to be missed!

Best Pie in Apple Hill Camino CA

san68 — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:35:09 -0700

Well...what can I say? I love apple pie and Bodhaine Ranch offers the best pie in the area. I never miss the chance visiting Apple Hill every Apple season since I living in El Dorado Hills. There are many fun ranches and shops to visit in Apple Hill but I just go straight to Bodhain Ranch when I want to eat some fresh baked pie or order some frozen pie to go.