Where-To-Wednesday Adventure #25: Radius

Moving here from LA, where hour commutes to *insert anywhere you need to be* were par for the course, I had no idea just how much of my life I was wasting in my car traveling from one side of LA to the other, until I arrived in San Francisco. Sure, those ‘learn Italian’ tapes sounded like a great idea when I bought them, but an hour of reciting phrases I would never use: “Martha makes bread” (silly Martha, why doesn’t she just buy it at Whole Foods like the rest of us?) while simultaneously uselessly yelling at cars at a standstill in front of me, only served to make me look like a crazy person in traffic and resulted in the incurred knowledge of the sole word: andiamo! 7x7. Who knew how sweet those three little letters would sound for my commute and yet how much culture, activity, eating, drinking…just life in general, such a small radius could hold? For seven dollars and ten minutes, a magical ride known as ‘the taxi’ (and later the Uber + two dollars and a snazzy ride) would drop me off at my destination within this small big city and for the first time in my life, I was *gasp* early. Who knew I had it in me? This 7x7 radius held everything I needed and although San Francisco is easily one of the largest cities of this country…this small circumference of land gave it the small town feel that brings out the charm and friendliness of each neighborhood: your coffee barista has your order ready as soon as you walk in…with your name on it, your local cashier at the grocery store spots you when you’re a short a buck, your dry cleaner smiles and reaches for your clothes as you walk in the door… And as a result – we root for our local neighbors. Five dollars for a latte? When it’s pre-made with my name on it, I say okay. Ever the San Francisco neighbor, our latest new Where-To-Wednesday destination: ‘Radius’ took this idea to heart – sourcing all of their food and wine from within a 100 mile radius. What a concept. Radius is making friends with the neighbors AND delicious food. You go, Radius…you go. Ironically and…well, completely unrelated to the premise of the restaurant naming convention, the waiters are all French and the cuisine has a French flair to it. What a twist. Perhaps a ….french twist?? It’s time to stop, isn’t it. I can already feel the French scowl my way. Okay…I’m wrapping up. At this Where To Wednesday adventure at Radius, planned by Becky, which myself, Chelsea, Jenny and Lindsey attended on August 7th – we enjoyed this locally sourced, French inspired, California cuisine. Yep…that’s a mouthful. And we had it all.

Ambiance 8: At first, I was a little taken aback. I mean sure, sometimes our restaurant selections are a bit on the casual side. But when I saw people were placing their orders (mostly for coffee) with the cashier up front and only then, taking a cue from the ‘please seat yourself’ sign, sitting down at little tables scattered amongst the  linoleum-tiled restaurant…I ran. ‘I ran so far away. I just ran. I ran all night and day’. Okay…I didn’t actually run away. I mean, come on, I was STARVING…how could I possibly have the energy to run…and ‘far away’ at that? Keep dreaming. (And for the record, neither did Flock of Seagulls. They’re in a house of mirrors for crying out loud…how does anyone REALLY run in a house of mirrors without a death wish? Get real, Flock of Seagulls. And choose your girlfriends a little more carefully before you take them to a carnival). But anyways, yes, that’s what I felt like doing. Instead, I kept turning around and around in a little circular dance by myself in the middle of the restaurant looking for…help. Finding none and seeing as though my crazy antics were falling on blind eyes here, I walked back outside, and stumbled upon…wait for it, wait for it…the REAL restaurant. Yes, tricky tricky. Neighboring restaurants – both under the Radius umbrella – one being the café, and one being the sit-down restaurant. As soon as I walked into the next door restaurant, I knew I had found home. Low lighting and candles illuminated the restaurant casting a soft glow, while the elongated bar in the front and graffiti-framed artwork told you to stop short of relaxing too much, because this place was about to get kicked up a notch. It seamlessly meshes modern with rustic and spits out a lively atmosphere that you’ll be glad you stopped in for…even if it did take you two tries.

Wine 9: With a similar premise as the food, the wine is sourced from a radius no greater than 50 miles. Looking at the wine list I’m reminded how damn lucky we are to live in such a close vicinity to amazing wines! With only one bottle over a hundred dollars and most resting comfortably in the forty-ish range, the list was just begging for us to dig in…and so, we did. We started with the Tres Sabores Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma – smooth with hints of honey and chamomile it was slightly sweet without the tartness that Sauvignon Blancs can sometimes bring. Great starter and we probably should have stuck with what worked, but…we moved on to the Elizabeth Rose Chardonnay which was slightly oaky with a bit more fruit than is typical for a chardonnay. When your biggest problem of the night is drinking the wine that was almost as good as you expected, you know you should shut your mouth and sip on. Things could be worse. And soon enough though…it was time for the main event: Red. We kicked it off with Dashe Cellars Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley – velvety smooth with hints of peppery spice and oak. So good, we stuck with the Dashe for the rest of the night. In retrospect we probably spent a little too much time with Dashe….but hey, we’re really just getting to know our neighbors. And to quote the wise words of the leader in my day (and by ‘my day’ I do mean kindergarten) - Mr. Rodgers, himself – “would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?” (Trick question, Dashe – you already ARE. I win).

Food 9.5: So… locally sourced, French inspired, California cuisine. What does it all mean? Rest easy and leave your translation dictionary at home. You’ve got this.

-          Heirloom Salad: A perfect start to the meal. Fresh and delicious with a perfect consistency of succulent watermelon mixed with light, sesame crisp and topped with sweet tomatoes.

-          Flat Bread: Easing into the meal, this one was a bit heartier. The warm flatbread was topped with oyster mushrooms, dry jack, arugula and a hint of chili flake to give it kick. Now we’re getting into the good stuff.

-          Hommage a San Francisco: Well..the French do know how to butter us up. (For the record, actual ‘butter’ works well too, Mon Frere. Right Paula? It was too soon, wasn’t it….) The heirloom salad was light and juicy and if there was ever a salad-off…this one would take the cake. (I mean, not literally, because well – cake always wins. Those are just the rules. But…you get it). The Hommage a San Francisco was a very unique dish with a truly unique combination of flavors. This little gem salad was topped with pine nuts and foraged herbs and flowers (I know this sounds extremely hippy but just imagine the most aromatic spices that didn’t overpower the dish, dancing in your mouth amongst the greens…truly delicious. And yes…I do realize that sentence reads exactly the opposite of how I imagined when I started writing it). And to top it off, green goddess dressing was drizzled at the very bottom of the dish, and was bursting with flavors of chives, anchovy, tarragon, lemon juice, and pepper. Truly a dish that pays homage to San Francisco.

-          Trout:  Moist (I know…some people can’t deal with that word but here…you must) and delicious, the trout just about melted in your mouth. Slightly salted on the outside, it held a light crisp to the bite before giving way to the tender meat inside.

-          Broccolini: Roasted with crushed red pepper and topped with garlic chips…you’ll never want to pass over veggies again. Seconds!

-          Pork Chop: Tender, juicy, generously thick pieces of pork chop were arranged atop a bed of butterbeans, oyster mushrooms, and bacon white chocolate gastrique. This dish is bursting with peaks of flavor in every bite, as the gastrique marinates the pork chop in its savory sauce, bringing you back for another bite!

-          Potato Gnocchi: Fresh and light, each piece of gnocchi held a slight crisp before caving in to the soft potato. Immersed in a bed of fresh peas, confit mushroom and pancetta…this one is not to miss.

-          Fried Chicken: If chicken and a donut had a baby...this would be it. Imagine juicy chicken coated in sweet crumbs that melt in your mouth leaving the sweet taste of honey behind. Borderline a dessert....just spectacular!

Dessert: Oh yes we did....

-          Lemon Curd Tart: Light, tart Italian meringue sitting amongst of whisk of chocolate sauce with delicate, toasted marshmellow clouds atop. Candied almonds to the side added the perfect crunch addition to this dish to complete it's perfection.

-          Mint & Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta: topped with strawberry and rhubarb compote, the delicate mint panna canna was balanced with the tart of the rhubarb, and topped with honey brioche croutons it gave the dish the crunchy kick it needed.

-          Vanilla & Olive Oil Milkshake: I know some people would shudder and shake their heads at this ("olive oil in a dessert??") I know...BUT...get over that simple little fact and slurp up a taste of heaven. So savory and smooth, and accompanied with delicious dark chocolate shortbreads perfect for dipping, you can't go wrong.

-          Dark Chocolate Cake: chocolate cake laid upon salted caramel (if you're not already salivating...get ready), topped with a white chocolate granache (that resembled a light marshmellow layer) and finally sprinkled with cocoa nibs. Delicious!

Service 10: That's right, 10 - for 3 reasons. 1) the service was great. Our waiter was extremely helpful, patient and friendly. 2) He was French. I don't know why I feel like that's a reason for a higher score but...it just does. I think we felt important with that accent. And as René Descartes once said "I think...therefore I am." So, there you go, thanks to Franz, we ARE important. (Note: I do NOT know his name was Franz. But I mean, it SHOULD be so...let's go with that). 3) We liked the little chocolate shortbread cookies that accompanied the milkshake SO much, that we asked how it was made. And instead of humoring us with nonsense such as "a little flour, dark chocolate, milk..." which I would have expected, he actually excused himself and appeared ten minutes later with THE ACTUAL RECIPE. Oui! That’s right, we sure MUST be important. Now granted the recipe is chalk full of gram measurements which we'll need to dig out our old grade school conversion charts for, but hey...it's a small price to pay for chocolate.

Price 7: French waiters serving you locally sourced food with a French flair. Price: close to $100 each. Reality: it's cheaper than going to France. It's all about perspective, people. Do you really need a refill? Your glass looks half-full to me! See how easy that was?? (Truth: this applies to any drink sans wine. Let's be real here).

Noise Level 6:  We discuss all of our ratings at each restaurant, and when 'noise level' came up, I said: "They call it energetic on open table. I think it actually means "'loud.'" Response from the other side of the table: "It's loud in here, what did you say?" Exactly.

All About the Area: Well...it's not France. Soma is pocketed...with portions that are populated/fun/safe and portions that are vacant/sketchy/unsafe. Folsom itself in this vicinity is home to several bars/restaurants close by...but come 6th street, I would recommend halting quickly. Know where you're going and what areas are unsafe (i.e. ALL of 6th). So bring your street smarts, be aware and stop texting on your phone and looking down. Unless you're reading your latest dose of where-to-wednesday. Then..as you were*. 

*Kidding...seriously people, be aware of your surroundings. Read the blog at home. But I mean, as SOON as you get home. No lagging. Franz will not stand for that.

Overall Grade: 8.25

MERCI BEAUCOUP!

Front of the restaurant facing the bar area

Shot towards the back of the restaurant that opens to a larger dining area

Heirloom Salad

 

Flatbread

Hommage a San Francisco

Trout

Broccolini

Pork Chop

Potato Gnocchi

Fried Chicken

Lemon Curd Tart

Mint and Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta

Vanilla & Olive Oil Milkshake

Lindsey digging into the milkshake...mmmm!

Dark Chocolate Cake

Where-To-Wednesday Adventure #12: Maverick

You know it, I know it. The day after the new year begins, otherwise known as known as get-your-ass-to-the-gym day. Flooded with people magnetically drawn to those treadmills with hopes of resolutions being made true before their very eyes, the gym gets rockin’ like it never has before. For us, that day was pushed back a bit…to January 18^th. And instead of going to the gym, it was all about eating your face off. Come on, what would you rather do?  At our latest Where-To-Wednesday adventure to Maverick, our “come one, come all” mantra rang as true as ever, and we had our biggest group yet – 11 of us, including two newcomers: Jen and Leala (we love our newbies!) Full of anticipation for the first where-to-Wednesday of the new year, Maverick offered a warm embrace from the brisk weather, a table that could actually accommodate our entire group (take notes Boxing Room) and an enticing menu full of first, second and side plates that looked so much more fun than a treadmill, we just had to order them all. The entire menu, that is. And make that two rounds on the side dishes, ahem. What can I say…new year, new food…yes, it gets exciting. Many thanks to Neva for brushing off the pressure and flawlessly planning the latest Where-To-Wednesday adventure that myself, Lindsay, Chelsea, Neely, Jocelyn, Terra, Jen, Leala, Elizabeth and Becky enjoyed. So…was Maverick a top gun experience (oh come on, you knew I’d throw that in there) at 10 or a nose dive at 0? Throw on some Righteous Brothers, sit back and….read on to see just how the night went.

Ambiance 6.5: I’m suddenly reminded of the “there was an old woman who lived in a shoe” classic, yet disturbing, nursery rhyme. Don’t get me wrong, we were fed. We were fed well. And the only thing being whipped that night, was cream in the kitchen. But the restaurant was indeed small…in fact, smaller than that condo-sized shoe they picture this old woman inhabiting in Wikipedia. Just how many children were in fact living there? Maverick felt a little more like…a ballet slipper. Simple, unpretentious, and built to cater to its main function. In Maverick’s case, that meant that the kitchen was displayed front and center as you walk in, giving you a sneak peek into the delicious dishes the chefs were mastering as they hurriedly worked their way around the kitchen. We had front row seats to the show, as our table took up the front room of the restaurant, literally backing us up to the kitchen counter. I was hoping the small stature of this brick and mortar would allow for a charming, quaint feel to envelope the atmosphere, and although on the upside the set-up did let us pretend that we had our own private room (do you know who we are??) it fell short on what could have been a warm, cozy ambiance to bask in. This is where I typically like to rave about the décor, the little details that make all the difference, but...I’m coming up empty. The front room we were in was geared more towards functionality than enhancing the decor: an over-sized table to accommodate a large party (which we are grateful for), ease of food delivery and close proximity to the staff for what should have been great service..but we’ll get to that later. The second room was a bit bigger than the front room, and held 7-8 dining tables..and the same ambiance. If you’re looking for a place to hit with a few friends for a no-frills dinner that will fill you up…this, my friend, could work. But bring your imagination, some fun friends to create character where Maverick falls short, and your glasses so you don’t miss the door if you blink.

Wine 9: By now you should know that Where-To-Wednesday is more than dinner, it’s about friends. And that night we met a new friend: Palmina. Yes…wine is our friend. We treat them well. Before, during and after dinner, Palmina was enjoyed by all. This winery originally introduced itself to us by the name of Tocai Fruilano, and we were instantly smitten. This delicious, crisp white wine had a perfect balance to it, showcasing notes of peach and apricot – making it a perfect accompaniment to the dishes we enjoyed, as well as holding its own without food. It wasn’t until later, well into the meal, that we met its older brother: Dolcetto. Graduating to red, we slipped into this velvety soft wine quite easily. Just as smooth as the Tocai, we finished up the night smacking our lips to the balancing act that the soft spice and lively fruit seem to master effortlessly. Points to Maverick for knowing a good winery when they see one, and featuring both a red and white from Palmina on their wine list. These wines are available both by the bottle and the glass, so if my overview didn’t quite sell you…grab a glass and let the grapes do the talkin’.   

Food 7.5: Hold on to your seat, because we’re about to take a wild ride through the entire menu of Maverick. Yes, the entire menu. The good, the bad, and the fried. I’ll say it right now though, we skipped the salad. Two orders of mac and cheese ? Yes. Salad? No. We walk on the wild side. Try to keep up. For the second time tonight…let’s take a walk down memory lane, and visit the famous contortionist who, unlike us, could always easily simply “stretch out” to make room for any extras he ate (damn him): Gumby.  Able to be pulled into almost any position, the food at Maverick seemed to do the same to us and our opinions. Some dishes were phenomenal, while others tasted like sneaky replicas of others. Some of us ooh’d and ahh’d at the fried chicken served right after the butterfish, while the vegetarians starred on hungrily. The lows and highs left us second guessing ourselves as soon as we’d made a statement about the dish only to hear a surprising rebuttal, but it certainly never left us at a loss for words that night.

-          Brussels Sprouts: Sweet tang meets dirty grit when these brussels sprouts are tossed with preserved lemon and kicked up a notch with pomegranate seeds. The pomegranate seeds burst in with a pop of flavor against the otherwise average brussels sprouts. Sorry Maverick, Restaurant Zero Zero has a strong hold in the brussels sprout race.

-          Foie Gras Torchon: I think I’m the only one who actually had this dish. And I have to say, y’all missed out. Rich, buttery, creamy…delicious. But as much as I probably need another liver in me to digest all the wine we drank…there’s only so much foie gras for one I can handle.

-          Baltimore Crab Fluffs: “Crab Cakes and football, that’s what Maryland does!” Well, you were half-right there, Wedding Crashers. You take the “crab” cake…but you can leave the football to the the professionals. Zing! Better luck at the ‘bowl next year, Baltimore. Sorry, it had to be said. Okay where was I? Yes, crab cakes. Delicious dish – crispy coated outside gives way to the warm, delicious, buttery inside. Tangy capers hidden in a creamy sauce were the perfect accompaniment, as were the delicate springs of lettuce alongside the cakes.

-          Tempura Black Trumpet Mushroom: Crunchy and salty – extremely fried. Tiny little buggers but they’ll make you instantly feel bigger.

-          Truffle and Black Trumpet Mushroom Fritter: I typed this out twice trying to figure out what the difference was between it and the one above. From the title..it doesn’t look like much. (Replicas…don’t say I never told you). When I look back on my notes I see that I never got a taste of this dish unfortunately, so I really can’t judge. 11 girls…2 fritters..you do the math. I did get some of the tempura though..so in a way, I’m all set.

-          Mac & Cheese: Vegetarians unite on the first of the only 5 dishes you can enjoy. Luckily for you, this one’s a heavy one and you won’t even need to eat the ones that actually contain vegetables. For the rest of us, this one is simply just heavy. Nothing special about it – rich, a little bland, and nothing too special to bring it to the next level. Just…heavy. Just…a reminder of why-didn’t-I-get-my-ass-to-the-gym-like-everyone-else? Sigh. Keep eating.

-          Stuffed Calamari & Crispy Pork Belly: Stuffed calamari? Whoa curve ball. I’m pumped. What a very unique-seeming dish that was in actuality…a little bland. It could have used a bit more flavor to really resonate better. I will say that it was NOT overdone which can often be the case, and the texture and consistency was just right.

-          Crispy Sunchokes: This needs to become a household name. If not everywhere, at least in my household. I’m in love with these. Unbelievable little delicious, delectable bites! All we love about the artichoke wrapped up in crunchy goodness. In a word: addicted.

-          Hawaiian Butterfish: Raw butterfish is phenomenal. Baked butterfish with baby fennel, butter beans and arugula broth…is, in a word, a dream. Buttery, creamy, moist and bursting with flavor, this dish is unbelievable. Easily a favorite.

-          Cauliflower: Another absolute favorite. First of all, the presentation of this dish was so unique in and of itself. Amongst the typical browned cauliflower, lay little sprigs of purple cauliflower dressing up the dish, and a bubbled froth alongside everything. Winner winner: cauliflower dinner. Now for the real test..the taste. Get these guys a medal. A slight crisp to the cauliflower bundles gave way to a perfectly done consistency inside. Indonesian long pepper seasoned the cauliflower, and left spices dancing in your mouth and a kick to make sure you remembered it.

-          Flat Iron Steak & Oxtail Croquette: Perfectly done with the outer edges of the steak giving it a crunchy and slightly salty consistency, giving way to a juicy inside full of taste. The oxtail was even better. Also cooked to create a crunchy texture upon bite, the oxtail then surprised with a burst of orange peel flavor tucked away into its soft meat.

-          Tagliatelle: This was a standard pasta dish covered in a mushroom cream sauce that didn’t do much to evolve the overall taste. It was also a little too al dente for my personal taste. If you’re going to do a pasta, and include only one on the menu…you’ve got to do it better than this. Long story short..leave the pasta to the Italians, Maverick.

-          Southern Fried Chicken: Usually the best fried chicken is served in a restaurant whose menu consists of items such as grits, taters, greens..you get it. Seeing none of those here, I had my doubts. Well, slap my ass and call me Sally. This, my friends, is some damn good fried chicken. This is so good, I wish I would have ordered it again for dessert. And for good reason, the batter it was fried in tasted a little too similar to a donut. In a good way, of course. A delicate crispy outside with a hint of sweet, salt and spice all rolled up, gives way to moist, perfectly done meat inside. This dish is a do-not-miss!

-          Massachusetts Day Boat Scallops: Well Maryland, Mass pulled through, and the Northeast got their second chance on this menu. And wow, you sure came through this time…just like those Patriots. These delicious, delicate scallops were cooked to perfection, dancing in the juices around them giving them a big flavor for their light consistency.

Dessert: Maybe it’s because they thought we left. Sure, everyone in the restaurant is gone. But us? Hell no, we won’t go. Oh? We’re still here? And we want dessert? That’s right. Cue what I hope was scramble-mode cause and effect. So maybe, that’s why we got the stale carrot cake from last week’s left overs… Benefit of the doubt is my gift to you, Maverick. First of all, four desserts does not a dessert menu make. We need options, people. And “cookies” are not one of them. If I really want cookies, I’ll head straight to that blue wrapping the double-stuff O’s are nestled in at my nearest grocer. Which…bring us down to 3 dishes. And yes, we’ll take all 3. Obviously. Now, I would assume – as would most of you I’m sure, that this index card-sized menu which holds such limited desserts, meant: judge me on quality, not quantity. That this little mini-menu represented the best of the best, discarding the so-so options to the wayside. And so, Maverick, I need to ask: is this really your best? Come now. I just can’t believe such nonsense. A quick solution to improve the menu? Add the fried chicken to this menu too. Can you really have too much fried chicken? (That was a rhetorical question, people. The answer is no. The answer is always no).

-          Carrot Cake: I’ve never had the chance to travel to the Mohave Desert, but thanks to this carrot cake, I’ll never need to. Dry and leaving me with mirages of good food, this seemed to do the trick. And remind me to drink more water. See...my glass really is half full.
-          Winter Wonderland: This looked more like a science project than an actual dish. It was creative and unique – I’ll give it that. Recreating a “winter wonderland” this dish consisted of animal-cracker-tasting stick reindeer, hazelnut macaroon and chocolate marshmallow. The presentation was pretty impressive, but the taste left much to be desired.
-          Pineapple Upside Down Cake: The one dish we thought would be bland…was amazing. Absolutely delicious! I wish we would have ordered four of these puppies. It was served warm, with a taste sensation mix of crunchy and gooey all at the same time, with a hint of French toast to it all. Topped with huckleberries, and served with a side of rosemary ice cream (which was amazing in its own right) this was a huge hit. 

Price 8.5: With a round of just about the whole menu…and then some, we ponied up just $60 each. In our world, that’s pretty darn good. Especially when the wine keeps flowing..and you’re paying for that too. (“On the house”..oh pretty phrase, it’s been too long since I’ve heard your voice).  I will say, however, that if you’re coming with a small group keep in mind that the portions are rather small – especially given the price point. The more dishes to share and disperse – the cost evens out a bit more; the smaller the group, the more the price will affect you so take a long glance at the menu before heading out and adjust your pocketbook accordingly.

Noise Level 9: We essentially had our own room, so the noise level was…amazing. The only thing even mildly distracting was the kitchen in the background but honestly, it really didn’t affect our hearing in the least. Very easy to converse, even with a large group. Now…if you were to ask the other people there who sat in earshot of our loud, boisterous group…I can’t promise they would say the same.

Service 6.5: Who’s on first? Caught in an Abbott and Costello routine, I still don’t know who our waitress really was. All I know is that multiple people came over to help us, periodically. Not when we had a question, or needed a new fork, or wanted to order…but just…periodically sporadically. Yes, that’s a more accurate word. Which brings me to another rendition of “Seriously?” Maybe we all need to have a refresher course on picture-taking. People, this is no longer the polaroid wait-game it used to be. We’re not going to grab 6 whole minutes of your time while you peek through a teeny-tiny hole to take what you *hope* is a good picture, only to wait with bated breath as we leisurely shake the color right into our captured moment, and give you the verdict: success or… “can you take one more?” No. Seriously? 7 seconds and you’re out. That’s all we need. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has 7 seconds to spare. So when we ask our waitress (or one of her stand-ins) to take a picture for us and get a page from the book of Bar Agricole yet again..I’m just at a loss. Seriously? No, it’s not okay for you to come back 30 minutes later when the moment has passed when it fits in with your schedule. Seriously? Just push the button before you push ours. After all, isn’t calculating a tip a little more difficult than pushing a little button? Zing! And yes, that’s right, another rhetorical one for you. I’m taking all the guess work out because that’s just the kind of person I am. I can also take pictures. That’s right. Go ahead. Throw the ball, I’m on first.

All About The Area: You have seen by now that the Mission is an area we frequent. The restaurants are plentiful whilst unique from one another, and they call to us like a sketchy scavenger hunt dangling the potential prize of unforgettable food before our eyes, while simultaneously scaring the bejesus out of me with the thought of taking a wrong turn and having to ask a creepy stranger at the BART stop/playground-esk/checkerboard-tiled/turned scary hangout at night corner-area (what IS that place) on the corner of 17^th and where-everything-is-sort-of-close-to-but-not-close-enough, where I am. Stranger danger, beware: I WILL be wearing my blackbelt to the next W2W here. Unfortunately, that’s all it is..a black leather belt. But cabs we will take, and restaurants we will conquer because…Mission you big Stud, you’ll never lose that lovin’ feeling. Oh come on, you knew I had one more in me.

Overall Grade: 7.8

And for our next stop? Jen leads us to our 13^th adventure in the Where-To-Wednesday world. Many thanks to Terra for inviting newbie Jen and we can’t wait to see where we’re heading! Check in next month to catch our latest adventure. Until then…reread some of our past adventures to see the hits and misses along the way. There’s so much to do here! Join us...“like” us…“tweet” us...or just love us.

Brussels Sprouts

Foie Gras Torchon

Baltimore Crab Fluffs

Tempura Black Trumpet Mushroom

Truffle and Black Trumpet Mushroom Fritter

Mac n' Cheese

Stuffed Calamari & Crispy Pork Belly

Crispy Sunchokes

Hawaiian Butterfish

Cauliflower au Poivre

Flat Iron Steak & Oxtail Croquette

Tagliatelle

Southern Fried Chicken

Massachusetts Day Boat Scallops

Our New Best Friend: Palmina Wine

Carrot Cake

Winter Wonderland...in a recession

Pineapple Upside Down Cake with rosemary ice cream

Maverick

Where-To-Wednesday Adventure #9: Boxing Room

It’s not every day you dine at a restaurant where whilst sipping on your glass of wine, you nibble on pieces of alligator. And, while we’re at it, it’s also not every day that an alligator dish will entice a vegetarian to switch sides for the night, and venture on over to where the wild things are. Well, on our latest Where-To-Wednesday adventure on 8/3 to Boxing Room selected by moi with Terra, Elizabeth, Amanda, Becky, Lindsey and Melissa, we checked those two puppies right off our list. And the verdict from the latter, in case you’re wondering? Two enthusiastic thumbs up. We’re proud of you, Terra. It tastes like chicken veggies, right?? This latest extravaganza for the Where-To-Wednesday crew was bitter sweet, for as we dined on deliciously unique dishes with every bite, we lifted our wine glasses (holding equally delicious wine) to cheers not just another exciting adventure together, but the last adventure with Amanda before she moves to Seattle. Amanda – you are a Where-To-Wednesday regular and we will miss you on our monthly adventures together but we hope you can join us on another trip down. I mean, if Terra can push carrots aside to try alligator…anything can happen, right?  Read on you vicarious armchair traveler you, and check out if the Boxing Room really was a knock-out. 0/10 scale…with 10 packin’ the punch.

Ambiance 7.5: All in all, it’s a pretty cool space with a modern kick to it. Large windows line the restaurant, and the exposed kitchen in the back opens up to the bar area where patrons can pull up a seat at the counter. Wood walls with clean, clear edges and bright lighting really modernize this place, which seems counter-intuitive to a Louisiana speak-easy sort of establishment. Reco? Dim the lights a bit. Come on, we all have a few flaws. They had a good mix in seating with bistro tables, counter seating, booth nooks, and larger tables to cater to larger parties. Which brings me to…drumroll please… the inaugurating “Seriously?” segment of Where-To-Wednesday.  With all of this seating available, our first request for a table of 10 was rejected. Seriously, Boxing Room? Flat out. No substitute option provided. Do not pass go, do not collect your seating. Thank you reservation specialist, you were most helpful (insert sarcasm). I was told under no condition in any way could a 10-person party be accommodated. Seriously? You mean to tell me never, ever, could 10 people round themselves up around a table? Seriously? I find that hard to believe, especially after being there and seeing all of the table options. Obviously no one table accomplishes this, but perhaps, just perhaps, putting two tables together could provide the solution? 1 + 1 is….lightbulb. There it is. As it turned out, only 8 of us were able to make it after all, and we luckily (why do I feel as though I time-traveled back to Los Angeles for this reservation: phew, we got it) secured a table for 8. Table success, rant over, moving on.

Wine 9.5: Let me put it to you this way: the food here is pretty amazing (spoiler alert) but even if we had just come here for the wine…I’d be a happy camper. I bet I’d also be a hungry camper..but the world is full compromise and for this wine, I would. The wine was fantastic. We couldn’t decide between a red and a lighter option, so..we went with both. We grabbed a Pinot Noir Copain Tous Ensemble and the lighter Pinot Noir Cep Rosé. Welcome Pinot Noir: our hero (standing ovation). The rosé was light with a bit of fruit and a kick to it, which definitely got our little W2W party started. It was the perfect complement to our appetizers, allowing the spices in the food to take precedence and filling in only where needed. The Pinot Noir was mouth-watering in itself – smooth, velvety, light-medium bodied and again, the perfect pairing with our food, and carried a perfect balance with the more heavily spiced dishes.   

Food 8: This is the cheapest trip to Louisiana you will ever take. The food truly tastes authentic with hearty dishes filled with spice and fried batter. (Note to self: extra sit-ups this week). With tons of options, this place even got the nod of approval from our vegetarian. The appetizers seemed to be more of a hit amongst our group over the larger entrée dishes, but hey, you be the judge:

-          Hushpuppies: If my eyes were closed, I would swear this was a donut. Well, with peppered jelly I suppose it would be a weird donut, but…you get my point. Absolutely delicious – I would gladly take this as a dessert any day.

-          Cornbread Muffins: My God. Is this crème brulee cornbread? Did we start with desserts instead of apps? This may be the best cornbread I’ve ever had. Crispy outside with a hint of sugar, gives way to soft goodness.

-          Deep Fried Alligator: Yes, the one we’ve all been waiting for. The head turner. The “oh-my-god-i-just-ate-alligator-someone-take-a-picture” dish. And the verdict? Delicious! It tastes like chicken! Served with a creole remoulade this is lip-smackin good. How can you ever go wrong with deep fried goodness? What was under all this fried goodness…I really couldn’t taste to be quite honest…and neither could our vegetarian. Win, win.

-          Pickles: Yawn. Nexxxxxxxt?

-          Crispy Boudin Balls: This is basically an entrée tucked away inside an appetizer – genius! God I love surprises! These little crispy fried morsels are filled with a soupy rice consistency mixed with pork sausage – winning!

-          Gulf Shrimp Creole: Yeeehaw! Get yo’ hands dirty with these little guys as you shell the shrimp and eat up their garlicky goodness. That’s right – a little work to do with this dish, but hey, it’s worth it. The garlic bread that accompanies the dish is equally as good, laden with heavy spices and mouth-watering garlic – providing the perfect tool to soak up all the delicious, spicy sauce the shrimp are marinating in.

-          Smoked Chicken and Andouille Gumbo (large order): Smoky, savory and spicy with brown rice piled high; this hearty dish had a nice kick to it. Filled with chicken and big rounds of Andouille sausage, this dish is set to satisfy. Definitely not a show stopper, but come on, going to a creole restaurant without trying the gumbo?  Sacrilegious.

-          Southern Fried Chicken: Let’s be honest, this dinner would not be complete without fried chicken! Crispy with delicious seasonings outside, and juicy meat – really moist. Served with mashed potatoes and corn salsa on the side.

-          Stuffed Mirliton and Eggplant: Ratatouille in a baked tomato sauce with tangy cheese folded into a mirilton– a unique dish that really surprised me with the heartiness of it

-          Gulf Flounder a la Meuniere: Sigh. My favorite dish. We got two of these…mainly because we couldn’t count after all the wine, but I’m glad we did because it was worth going back for seconds. The flounder was prepared with a lightly crisp outside, flavored with a hint of salt and left your mouth in buttery heaven.

-          Rabbit: Damnit, I can’t decide. Maybe this one was my favorite. Welcome to my food love triangle. Absolutely delicious – moist, filling and perfectly seasoned.  

Dessert: In all honesty, we should have just ordered more hushpuppies. Damn those were good. The desserts were average…it was as if all the work went into the spicy dishes and then they realized they had a leftover banana and took it from there.

-          Bananas Foster Cake: Maybe there were a dozen leftover bananas. This was basically an entire banana cake with what tasted like banana flavored cream cheese frosting and possibly even banana flavored  ice cream. Well, maybe not, but it was definitely overly banana. Meh.

-          Pralines and Cream: It’s occurring to me now that I don’t think I got a bite of the blondie (why does that sound dirty?) that was served with this, which could have made all the difference in the world. Ice cream and pralines…not really cutting it. Ice cream is fun but…hardly a dessert to order at a restaurant. Come on, we’ve all got Breyers at the corner store. Or in our freezers. Some of us have a few tubs in our freezers. But that’s a story for another time…

-          Peach and Blackberry Cobbler: We’re getting warmer. Literally. And maybe that’s the key here. This dessert was much better than the other two – warm cobbler oozing with blackberries and peaches, with bits of buttery, sugary goodness melted in between. Topped with a big ole scoop of ice cream, this one was much better than the other two.

-          Beignets: How do you top off a meal of deep fried dishes? Deep fried dessert! Weeeee! These warm beignets were served with both an espresso and a milk chocolate cream dipping sauce. Pretty good, but after those hushpuppies…I know, I know…I’m obsessed.

Price 7.5: At a little over $80 a person, it was a little steep. Maybe….we could have taken a trip to Louisiana afterall. Granted, that included tip but for that price we could have used some reliable tips – i.e. skip the boring peppers.

Noise Level: 9 Cue the halleluiah chorus – we could hear! Which is kind of a miracle when you take an open kitchen, crowds of people, and a large room…and can still converse.

Service: 9 In short, Shelly rocked. Great recommendations for both wine and food, and she did a great job handling our large party. I don’t think we had to stop and look for her once – she was always at our table. And we like attention. Perfect match.

All About The Area: Hayes Valley, how we love thee. With streets adorned with stores, restaurants, and bars, this area is the perfect go-to to both start-off and end your night in one go-round. In fact, we actually kicked off the evening a hop/skip/jump away at Absinthe, and wandered the 5 steps down the street to get to Boxing Room. I love when a plan comes together. This area is definitely a favorite, with great favorites to frequent along with newbies opening up all the time. You can’t really go wrong, you can’t really get bored, and you can’t find a way to avoid eating. You know you want to… hit up Hayes Valley! You’ve got our W2W stamp of approval.

Overall Grade: 8.4

Deep Fried Alligator

Boxing Room Pickles

Gulf Shrimp Creole

Crispy Boudin Balls

Hushpuppies

Me, devouring the hushpuppy with peppered jelly - yum!

Smoked Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Rabbit

Southern Fried Chicken

Gulf Flounder a la Meuniere

Cornbread Muffins

Stuffed Mirliton and Eggplant

Bananas Foster Cake

Pralines and Cream

Peach and Blackberry Cobbler

Beignets

Sending Amanda off well...with a last lick of her dish

Cheers to the end of a great night!