Where-To-Wednesday Adventure #13: Marlowe

There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. *Open eyes* Blast. I’m still here. It must be these measly brown boots that aren’t filling the magic those ruby slippers could pull off. Luckily for me, Marlowe isn’t an alternate dream world accessible through a magical yellow brick road filled with flying monkeys, but simply a short walk away. And that’s good news, because this place is sure to become my new home. Just what you’d expect in your own casa, this place throws a comfortable yet kicked up ambiance we all strive for between our own four walls, tons of delicious wine (let’s be honest: a must-have for any home of mine…almost more important than the four walls themselves) and roommates - in the form of waiters - that keep you guessing just what on earth is going to happen next. At our latest Where-To-Wednesday adventure at Marlowe on February 29^th, we got all that and more. Many thanks to our latest newbie Jen for planning this adventure, that was enjoyed by myself, Elizabeth, Neva, Terra, Leala, Becky, Bree, Erika and Melissa. So…what crazy other antics were witnessed at Marlowe during our 13^th adventure? You’ll see, my pretty. 0/10 scale as always…read on to see how it tipped.

Ambiance 9: Big things come in small packages. Hershey kisses, munchkins (those guys sure can sing), and Marlowe. Tiny as it may be, Marlowe sure offers a packing punch of goodness. Embracing a rustic chic feel, Marlowe’s décor mixes sophisticated dark wood with the laidback feel of straw wicker chairs. Chalkboard drawings of animals adorn one of the walls, while a handwritten list of specials is displayed upon a large beige roll of oversized paper, welcoming patrons to the restaurant. Showcasing a sleek architecture, Marlowe definitely exudes a modern feel, harnessed in the straight, rigid lines found defining every table and chair. Exposed air ducts reminds you that you’re in the heart of SOMA, and gives a nod to the industrial feel so many building in this area embrace. Although one can appreciate the contemporary placement of the décor, the beam that is oh-so awkwardly placed from one end of the ceiling to the middle of the communal table, leaves me scratching my head. Aren’t communal tables hard enough? Why throw a beam in the middle of it to complicate seeing the person across from you and beg the awkward question of where you sit with your oversized party, at a table with no real defined seating? I realize I’ll never have answers to these questions, but I’ll never let that stop me from asking them. My advice? Grab a seat at the bar, a real true table, or an end seat at that tricky little communal table that punishes those middle seaters.   

Wine 8: If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. (Yes, a mantra for life, but even more so when wine is involved) It’s true, we were off to a rough start. A mix-up with the wine glasses, led to the Grenache Carignan from Languedoc France and the Three Zinfandel from California, being switched and served to the wrong person. Our girls – ever the open minds – took it in stride and embraced their surprises whole heartedly, opting to keep those choices for the next round. I, myself started with my go-to wine to ease into the night: Sauvignon Blanc, opting for the Brancott Estate from New Zealand. Although it was crisp, this Sauvignon Blanc was quite acidic, with a tangy green-apple bite to it and a bitter finish…as if you were taking a bite of fruit that’s not quite ripe just yet. It wasn’t long before I moved along to the Domaine Michel Caillot Chardonnay from Burgundy, France – which was a huge improvement. Soft and clean, with a hint of warm, sweet honeysuckle, this was a perfect accompaniment to the meal, to give just enough of its own flavor, leaving the food to do the real talking. Moving on to reds, a few of us opted for the La Petite Ferme Cab from South Africa, and with the first swig, my taste buds thanked me with a standing ovation. This was easily my favorite of the night. With soft hints of floral mixed with a smooth, velvety chocolate that created depth within every sip, this one was a winner.

Food 9: I scratched something down on my note paper that either said amore or amazing, but either way…it’s right. Tempted with what looked like so many delicious choices which we would quickly find out were indeed so, we quickly scratched off the plates that make you check your sharing skills at the door: salad, soup, “a” deviled egg, three oysters, and a partridge in a pear tree. Otherwise, the dish was ordered, devoured, and in some instances…ordered right on over again.

-        Brussels Sprout Chips: Is it me, or did those crazy people over at the Brussels sprout PR firm really do their job this year? Brussels Sprouts are literally sprouting up on every menu I flip over. And I’m not complaining, I mean, they’re freaking delicious but I’m just curious. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next time I hit the cinema, these things are hanging out right next to the popcorn stand. And you know what? I think I’d opt for the Brussels Sprout Chips. Perfectly done – not too crispy with just the right amount of chew to them, and lightly dusted with sea salt they were the perfect start to the meal. Seriously, watch out popcorn.  

-        DiStefano Burrata: By God. People DO live under rocks and I must be under one of them. Burrata. This term I’ve heard in passing several time but embarrassingly enough, I’ve never really bothered to look up exactly what it is. Smile and nod, smile and nod. I’ll be the first to admit that. But if I had taken two seconds to look up just exactly what this dish is, I would have found: “mozzarella and cream." Followed by “amazing. Order this everywhere you can. Starting yesterday.” Doh! Learning from my mistakes, I’ll tell you, if you haven’t had a bite of this piece of heaven, do yourself a favor. Order this and bring it back to your rock for later.

-        Twice Baked Dungeness Crab Souffle: Light and delicate in texture, but rich in flavor this dish could give Mac & Cheese a run for its money. But Mac and cheese could afford it…I think it has the same PR firm as Brussels.

-        Warm Marinated Mussel and Monterey Calamari Toasts: Whew, that’s a mouthful. A good one for me, but not so for many of the girls. Served on a grilled baguette, the mussel and calamari were served with garlic aioli, a touch of lemon and sea salt.  The verdict was that it was a bit fishy and too salty. I actually liked the dish, and thought that the toast gave some depth to the tangy delicate fish but hey – to each her own.

-        Marlowe Burger: I’ve given up cussing for the time being, but if I hadn’t, you can guess what kind of positive profanity would be leading this post. The burger here is what seems to be, a legend. Think of it as the shot heard ‘round the world, except that San Francisco is your world and you can actually eat the shot. Pretty nifty daydream I have here, isn’t it? Well, not to be confused with ANY other burger, the geniuses at Marlowe attached their name right to the burger. (I really need to locate this PR firm). And I can see why. This might just be one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Rich, juicy and succulent, the burger – excuse me – the Marlowe Burger was topped with caramelized onion, cheddar, bacon and horseradish aioli. To. Die. For.

-        Grilled Niman Pork Chop: One word: phenomenal. The pork chop was tender, juicy and cooked to perfection. Served with thick huge slices and lightly salted, it was delicious.

-        Steak Tartare: If you ever need a trip to France without the hassle of airlines, this dish can do the trick. Served on a bed of greens, the steak tartare held a light, delicate consistency yet a little rich in taste, with hints of onion and pepper kicking in some spice. A poached quail egg served on top to be mixed, added a richness to the dish. Crostini were served alongside for easy sharing. Delicious! Just like the burger...sans the bloat.

-        Seared Hawaiian Tombo Tuna: Extremely fresh and delicious this dish was a definite crowd pleaser. And again…thick cuts. Nods and smiles to the chef. Served with a side of cous cous and candied olives, it added a rich and savory taste against the delicate tuna. Perfect tombo combo. Anyone?

-        Smoky Cauliflower Gratin: If there was a fail of night, this was it. Packed with aged provolone and smoked cheddar, the dish was almost too cheesy. No..it was too cheesy. I was on such a positive roll…the fail is hard to give but…FAIL.

-        Anson Mills Polenta: I think we ordered 45 of these. Maybe 46. I lost count. Either way, I think everyone had their fair of it. Served with wild mushrooms, parmesan and a poached egg, this dish was complex in taste but simply delightful. Flawlessly balancing a rich, savory flavor, with an overall fresh feel with every bite – this dish was a winner.

-        Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts – For the record, and in case you nodded off earlier, this is the SECOND Brussels sprouts dish on the menu. We may be pushing it here folks. After originally being told that they were out of this dish but then miraculously finding a last one (which now makes me wonder…) we had high expectations. What is this mystery dish that everyone in the restaurant has seemed to order your kitchen right out of? And yet, we were sorely disappointed. Perhaps I’m being harsh, since our expectations were set so high, however, the dish was just average. The Brussels sprouts were browned and flavored with lemon and lightly salted. They were a bit tart and missed the mark with a one-dimensional flavor. Zero Zero still has a stronghold on these puppies.

-        Poulet Vert – Allow me to translate: chicken. And yes, I can see why it’s not just called “chicken.” The dish even just looks fancy shmancy. The presentation is mouth-watering in itself, until you take a bite of the chicken…and forget all about the presentation because you’ve died and gone to heaven. The serving size is pretty big, and the dish does not disappoint. A lightly crispy skin, gives way to tender, juicy meat inside. A must-order.

-        Tuna Conserva & Proscuitto di Parma: Think of this as spruced up lettuce wraps. The smooth light tuna mixed with spicy radicchio creates a nice contrast in taste. And the crispy celery and arugula add interesting textures to the dish, to create a little party in your mouth.

Dessert: Are we still hungry? Check. All of the desserts? Check, check.

-        TCHO Chocolate Cream Pie: Why oh why do I choose now to give up chocolate? With a heavy heart and a drooling mouth, I had to get someone else’s review of this dish: Very rich, the pie featured a chocolate mousse with cocoa nib and oreo crumble on top. Are you happy now? Good, because I’m hungry. For chocolate. Uh oh.

-        Strawberry & Rhubarb Crisp: Served in a jar filled with vanilla ice cream, this dish is then topped with a tart strawberry and rhubarb crisp – creating a perfect harmony of flavors.

-        Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta Affogato: This dish is just fun to say. Affogato. I’m just going to start saying this the next time I forget something. But unfortunately, the fun stops there. I’m not sure if there was a mishap with the jello in the kitchen, but this had much too heavy of a gelatin taste. I know what you’re thinking, how would you know how gelatin tastes? You just know. And…its not good. Order a 47^th Polenta and call it a night.   

Price 8: Averaging out at about $70 each, it was relatively average…especially given the 46 orders of polenta. A priceless dish, I’ll never complain about that. Speaking of, can I get another order for delivery?

Noise Level 7.5: Given the small, packed nature of the restaurant, the acoustics aren’t the best for a serious conversation (read: not a break-up spot. Unless you want to continue repeating the answer to: “You’re breaking up with WHO??” Cue the crying.), but easy for low key get-togethers and groups cognizant that in here, we may need to use our “outdoor voices”.

Service 7:  There’s Jeckel, there’s Hyde, and then there was our waiter. I’m not sure if he loved us or hated us, but he sure kept us guessing. The evening began with an air of arrogance, as unrequested opinions were thrown our way on the dishes. Then, a little bit of a wine fiasco. My wine was – gasp – forgotten (I know, I don’t want to talk about it; therapy should commence soon), while others had their wine mixed up and good thing their taste buds were doing their job, because they figured out the switcheroo on their own. A quick look at the menu and what we had ordered, and we were scratching our heads. Where was everything else we had ordered? When we inquired, our waiter informed us it would be coming out with the main meal. Was that the plan all along or was it the “revised” plan because we noticed a few missing dishes in what otherwise would have been a messy table of “who knows what we got” dishes…no, we pay attention. Do you see my pages of notes here? But we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on that. They were technically ‘sides.’ Luckily, mid-meal our waiter suddenly became much more agreeable. Maybe we grew on him…or maybe the wine from my “forgotten” glass started to kick in. (Kidding! Kind of…unless you can prove it, then I’m not). The mistakes were comped, he inquired on our thoughts of the meal, and a complete 180 spun us around to really liking the guy. So there you go: food, drinks and the caliber of life learnings typically reserved for a PBS special. You can sleep easy tonight, friends.

All About The Area: Sandwiched between the Cal Train station and…let’s call a spade a spade..NOTHING, it definitely presents an awkward area to travel for dinner…or lunch for that matter. Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. Although, with a Safeway across the street and a Walgreens next door as a worst case scenario, the block has you covered if your dining experience here doesn’t pan out. In true SOMA form, Marlowe is nestled quietly on a block laden with warehouse façades housing various businesses. The area definitely seems more industrial than a welcoming neighborhood to leisurely stroll in after your dinner, so bring cab money to head somewhere a little more bustling afterwards…or prepare to get crazy at Walgreens.

Overall Grade: 8.0

So…what will our next adventure hold? Well you little anxious reader you. Stay on the edge of your seat…because the next Where-To-Wednesday is coming soon! Planned by our newbie Leala, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate our 13^th adventure! Are you still on the edge of your seat? Getting antsy? No worries…we’ve got you covered. Check out some of our past adventures while you wait. As always…join us, and “tweet” us, and “like” us – OH MY!

Brussels Sprout Chips

DiStefano Burrata

Twice Baked Dungeness Crab Souffle

Warm Marinated Mussel & Monterey Calamari Toasts

Marlowe Burger

Grilled Niman Pork Chop

Steak Tartare

Seared Hawaiian Tombo Tuna

Smoky Cauliflower Gratin

Anson Mills Polenta

Brown Butter Brussles Sprouts

Poulet Vert

Tuna Conserva & Proscuitto di Parma

TCHO Chocolate Cream Pie

Strawberry & Rhubarb Crisp

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta Affogato

Specials Menu - hanging in the restaurant (hey, everyone makes mistakes)

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