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Style Asian |
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Ajanta |
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Artisan Bistro
We also enjoyed the Artisan Foie Gras Terrine, toasted brioche, balsamic, kumquat and red grape carpaccio which was delicious. Definitely have the Steamed PEI Mussels with spicy fried garlic, tomatoes, parsley, shallots, sherry. It had an excellent broth. |
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We loved this appetizer and would return just to have it alone. The entrees that we enjoyed were the Skate Wing with Bloomsdale Spinach, Niman Ranch bacon, sweet potatoes puree and brown butter Hollandaise and the Coca Cola Braised Short Ribs with spring peas and red onions.
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Bijou Restaurant & Bar There’s a new restaurant in Hayward that serves California/ French Cuisine called Bijou which means “A Little Gem” in French. The restaurant owned by Benjamin Young and Phillip Chan has a crisp, chic, modern décor. |
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Chevalier Restaurant We love French Cuisine and were thrilled to hear about Chevalier which is in Lafayette and has been open for almost two years. As we entered, we were greeted by Executive Chef-Owner Philippe Chevalier who was born in Vendee, France. |
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Digs Bistro Berkeley has a new restaurant that is casual and cozy and has a small focused menu serving New American Cuisine with Mediterranean influences. It is so cute inside you feel like you are away for the weekend in Carmel or Mendocino. |
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Gather Restaurant Downtown Berkeley now has a great new restaurant that features seasonal farm fare and organic fruits and vegetables that are carefully sourced and thoughtfully prepared by Executive Chef Sean Baker who honed his culinary skills at Millennium. They serve Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in a comfortable environment which is very active and lively. |
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Italian Colors Ristorante It is hard to believe that Italian Colors Ristorante has been open in the Montclair hills of Oakland since 1993. We have dined there many times and enjoyed their Italian cuisine. Executive Chef/Owner Alan Carlson who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York has continued to create new Italian menu items that reflect the changing tastes of his loyal customers. |
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Jordan’s Restaurant Fine Dining with a Great San Francisco Bay View Jordan’s Spicy Crab Cake- Carrot, Daikon & Orange Salad with Sweet & Sour Chile Vinaigrette- Almost all crab which is unheard of these days and absolutely fantastic!! This was the Best Crab Cake we have ever eaten! |
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Joshu-ya Brasserie Our favorite starter was the Seared Hokkaido Scallops served in a wild mushroom bacon sauce nestled in a blend of mashed potatoes. Next, we had the spicy and ultra-fresh Jalapeño Hamachi Carpaccio with sweet ponzu. This was a perfect pairing of sweet and spicy with the Jalapeno pepper. |
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Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill We were very excited to hear that the Lake Merit Municipal Boat House in Oakland had been restored and the Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill was now open. We appreciated that valet parking was available in the evening, as parking can be very difficult around the lake. |
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Laurus Restaurant We have always enjoyed going to Blackhawk Plaza in Danville to dine and shop but had not been there in well over a year. We knew there were some new restaurants, so we decided that since it was overcast and 60 degrees in the City a ride to where it was warm would be very welcome. |
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Meridian International Sports Café The Truffle Deviled Eggs with crumbled bacon, tomatoes and chives had a Dijon kick and were a wow!! We ordered the Chefs Dinner for two which included two entrée and a bottle of wine which was very value priced. We loved the Moroccan Barbeque Wild King Salmon with Jasmine Tea infused rice, spice rubbed vegetables |
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The Entrée was absolutely fabulous. It was a Pepper Crusted filet of Wild King Salmon with giant peppercorns; pinot scented mustard, greens, smoked corn and pinot reduction.
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Nonni's Bistro We enjoy our day trips to small towns in the Bay Area and are always looking for new and interesting dining destinations. We went to Downtown Pleasanton for their Annual Antique Fair a few weeks ago and noticed that there were quite a few restaurants with both indoor and outdoor dining options on Main Street. Nonni’s Bistro which recently opened in July 2010 was quite charming and inviting so we decided to sit outdoors and have Brunch which is served on weekends from 8:00 A.M to 3:00 PM. |
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Ozumo Restaurant Downtown Oakland ’s “Restaurant Row” is a hotspot for upscale dining. It is hard to believe that Ozumo Oakland which led the way to help revitalize this area has been open for almost two years now. This impressive and stylish restaurant features a Sushi Bar, Robata Grill, a beautiful Bar with a D.J.in the evening, and a Sake Lounge with the largest “By the Glass” Premium Sake selection in the United States |
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Pasta Bene Berkeley has a new casual Italian restaurant, Pasta Bene, recently opened by experienced restaurateur Farhad Jalal. They offer both indoor or patio dinning and you have the option of table service or ordering at the counter and seating yourself. The interior is nicely decorated with bright classic Italian poster art and beautiful bold hanging light fixtures. |
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Spengers Spenger’s has always drawn a fun crowd. Such luminaries as Clark Gable, Carol Lombard, Errol Flynn, Ernest Hemingway, Robin Williams, Al Rossi and Tom Hanks have been known to dine at this historic restaurant. So much history, but now its time to move on to the main attraction---THE FOOD. |
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Tanjia Moroccan Restaurant We had dined at and enjoyed Tanjia Moroccan Restaurant a few years ago with a group of friends and were eager to see the changes, as we had heard that there were new owners. Restaurateur Jamal Zahid who grew up in Casablanca and his wife Judith recently bought the restaurant from his brother and renovated the interior. |
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Zut! |
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TOQUES (MORE REVIEWS) |
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