There is a real Mary

Mary's Place in Novato highlights it's crepes as a speciality, the large sign at the top of the building reading "Mary's Place Crepes". Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner it is a versatile and friendly place with a real Mary who serves and oversees to be sure you have a good experience.  Although she didn't serve me this visit, I could see her watchful eye over my service and hot food coming out.  The house was not full, yet there were quite a few parties and it seemed that staff was on its game.

Crepes called to me that morning, so I had a breakfast crepe with home fries.

The crepe was dubbed "The Favorite" ($9.95).  It even looks better when you see the tasty filling. It contains sausage, mushrooms, spinach, scrambled eggs and Swiss cheese.  The home fries were dressed up with fresh and crisp chopped green onions. I enjoyed my meal and the thoughtful refills of my ice tea as I started my day with a fragrant and delicious treat. 

Mary's Place

819 Grant Ave 

Novato, CA 94945‎

(415) 897-9761

Previously reviewed:

August 4, 2007

December 5, 2009

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An Enchanted Evening

A friend and I decided to try an evening at The Tavern at Lark Creek when Chef Bradley Ogden was making a guest appearance.  I'll bottom line it here: Chef Ogden is making a guest appearance one more time this summer, and it's a great opportunity for a delicious evening!  More details on the last opportunity on August 25 at the end of the post.

Years before I moved to Marin, I came to the bay area on frequent business trips.  I remember driving by the grove of Redwoods by the the Lark Creek Inn, and thinking it was the patch that reminded me most of my hometown area north of Seattle.  It was what attracted me to put Marin at the top of my list when I was transferred here and was looking for a home.  And finally I was eating under this very grove!  

It was such a pleasant evening, the weather was just right and the setting was elegant.  My friend chose to go with Chef Ogden's prix fixe $35 menu.  

So she started with the Organic Cucumber and Heirloom Tomato Salad, as did I.  This was exquisite!  So fresh and bursting with flavor!

The next course on the special prix fixe menu was Mom's Meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and Blue Lake Beans.  My friend raved about this dish.  She reported that the meatloaf seemed to be made out of delicious and tender steak, very meaty.  And the potato flavor of the potatoes actually showed through beautifully.  And the beans had a nice snap.

I diverged to try one of the regular menu items, Idaho Rainbow Trout, brown butter, hazelnuts and  zucchini hazelnut salad with sauce gribiche.  It was delicious, and I especially was interested in the zucchini salad as it was so tender.  I wasn't sure if it were steamed or just lightly marinated.

My menu questions were answered since both Chef Ogden Bradley and Chef Aaron Wright came out and strolled among the tables to introduce themselves and find out how guests were enjoying their meals.  Chef Bradley mentioned that the zucchini were lightly marinated.  Chef Wright and I chatted about Canlis in Seattle where he once was chef, and I knew from growing up in the area.

Instead of the Caramel Swirl Angel Food Cake with plum and blueberry compote that would be the finale of the prix fixe menu, my friend chose the Lemon Cheesecake Brulée, with peach coulis, and strawberries.  I took a taste; it was remarkable.  Creamy with distinct flavors of peach and strawberries with the cooling sensation of lemon.

I chose the Strawberry Shortcake, with vanilla cream biscuit, mascarpone, and fresh berries.  It was a great old fashioned version.  Growing up in what once was the strawberry capital of the world (Marysville, Washington) summer isn't summer unless you've enjoyed one of these.

The Redwood grove was cooling off, and my friend and I had a leisurely and delicious evening.  Our waiter even quoted us a poem in perfect cadence.  What a night!

What I missed was going to the market that morning with the chefs.  August 25th one can start the day by meeting up with the chefs at the Marin Farmers Market at the Star Route Farms booth at 9:30 a.m.  Shop together and get tips on picking the best produce.  In the evening will the final dinner with Chef Ogden, reservations recommended.  The menu for the 25th is:

Corn Chowder with corn and shrimp fritter, parsley pesto

Grilled Albacore Tuna with warm tomato bread salad and tomato basil sauce

Coconut Cake with buttermilk ice cream

Watermelon Margarita (for an additional $9.50)

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 3/22/2011

Inventive and delightful

Weezy's Grass Fed Shed has been on my mind for some time since its opening (and before). Located near Scotty's Market in San Rafael's Terra Linda district, it was just enough out of the way that my visit was delayed. I was happy to find a slice of time to get there and try this wonderful well thought out concept - grass fed beef and veggie burgers served in and with compostable containers, napkins, etc.

I was greeted warmly, and ordered a couple burgers. The sizes are small so you can try a variety of toppings. These are just the perfect size for kids. I got a budget-wise combo that included either regular or sweet potato fries, or a mix. I chose the mix, and got a free sample of their dip for the sweet potato fries too. The dip was really great - creamy (cream cheese based?) with a hint of seasonings. No less so the burgers. The vegetarian moo-less burgers were very good. These don't have the texture of a hamburger, and the good taste made that aspect very forgettable. There is a small bar of condiments to top your burger, and I loved that the tomatoes were the Roma type, just the right size to top these 1/8 lb. beauties. I also convinced (it was not very hard) the staff to use a garden patty in a Contiki style burger that has Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce and a piece of pineapple adorning it. I enjoyed them both, and am looking forward to going back.

I was also lucky enough to be there at the same time as Weezy's brother. He enlightened me about Weezy and her hope as a mother to create a great community place where kids and the rest can enjoy healthy food quickly in a earth friendly way. She also lives nearby.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 2
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: December 22, 2009

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Large portions, good food

Dad and I stopped in at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse the other day in San Rafael's Northgate Mall. We had been searching for men's slippers, a daunting task indeed after the holiday season is over. Having exhausted ourselves finding a pair, we saw the big BJ's sign as a beacon of welcome. We were greeted and seated promptly.

We had some Calamari to start off with while we perused the rest of the menu. It was tender and crisp and had a delicious pair of sauces, spicy marinara and lemon garlic aioli.

I could not resist the Garden Vegetable Potato, a HUGE potato stuffed with fresh vegetables and an alfredo sauce. There was also both jack and cheddar cheese melted on top. It was nearly as big as a pee wee football! It tasted good, however, there needed to be a bit more stuffing to really have enough sauce for that sized potato. And most would not be able to finish it anyway.

Dad had the Old Fashioned Pot Roast, slow-roasted Angus beef pot roast that is served with white cheddar mashed potatoes, mushroom brown gravy and over roasted vegetables. He loved every drop of it! The only thing that didn't work about this place for my father (and perhaps others) is that the noise level is HIGH. It's hard to carry on a conversation with someone who has good hearing, and is rather miserable for those wearing hearing aids.

All in all, it's a recommendable place if you want good food in generous portions in an upbeat, noisy atmosphere.

And Happy Valentine's Day! I'm in Seattle right now and am looking forward to sharing some finds on this trip too!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritial: 0

Last inspected: November 13, 2009

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Great Neighborhood Breakfast Place

I had a craving for breakfast crepes and realized that it had been some time since we visited Mary's Place in Novato, and we'd never tried their crepes. So we jumped in the car, and took off! A nice surprise for us was to find that there is actually a Mary behind this all, and she's very friendly, efficient and manages to single-handedly keep all the tables happy at breakfast time.

After Dad arrived and saw the photo in the window of the pancake breakfast, he lost his interest in crepes. And loved his meal of pancakes, eggs and bacon.

I stuck with what I intended, and ordered the vegetarian crepes. The crepe came with home fries which were quite crisp on the outside and soft and potato-y on the inside. I liked the green onions included too.

When I opened up the crepe, I was happy to find it not only included spinach, onion, tomatoes and mushrooms, but scrambled eggs! It was hearty and delicious. I would recommend Mary's Place for a great neighborhood-style breakfast with good service.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 10/16/2009

Previously reviewed:

August 4, 2007

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Fun find

Dad and I were together in San Rafael, and thought Foodles would be fun to try. The first thing we noticed is that it has a very reasonably priced breakfast menu! However, it was lunchtime, so we chose options from their daily specials. Foodles is a casual breakfast and lunch place, and it has a sign in the window about using fresh and wholesome ingredients.

Dad opted for the chicken teriyaki which came with rice and a green salad. The portion was generous, and Dad liked it enough to finish the plate!

I chose the salmon teriyaki, which was amazing! There was a generous portion of perfectly grilled and sauced salmon and the salad was so very fresh. It's been a few days, and I forgot to right it down, but I believe this plate was $8-9. It is a casual, order-at-the-counter type place that has a bit tied interior, and the food and service was great. The burgers the couple had next to us looked awesome too.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 6/15/2009

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Tried and true

Dad and I went to The Dipsea Cafe in Mill Valley for breakfast a few days ago. The Dipsea provides a reliably solid breakfast, with lots of choice and well-executed, interesting specials. The service is friendly without keeping you from your friends. It's a great place to meet friends for a chat, and since so many others agree, the restaurant can be quite noisy.

I ordered the Vegetarian Frittata. It had generous portions of mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, spinach, and zucchini. It was smothered with a melted pool of Jack cheese. The wheat toast is covering the home fries, and you can clearly see the housemade strawberry jam, which is so good it can cause swooning.

Dad wanted "The Ususal". The dish of two eggs, two slices of bacon, home fries, and a biscuit is $8.95 on weekdays. Most other dishes are around $12, including my frittata. It's a bit pricey, and worth it for it's charm and good food. We both enjoyed our breakfasts.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 2

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 1/26/2009

Previously reviewed:

July 31, 2008
July 19, 2007
June 6, 2007
December 15, 2006

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Shhh... it's in Bolinas

My father so enjoys drives over to and around West Marin. We woke up on Halloween morning to such fog that it was hard to see very far ahead over the deck. Ah! Perfect! No one will be going to the coast on such a foggy morning, I'll take Dad to Bolinas for a late breakfast at the Coast Cafe! It will be great to see the scenery in another 'mood', and with a very Halloween-y misty vibe.

Bolinas is having a very severe water shortage, so you are requested to ask for water if you desire it. It comes served in a very eco-friendly cup made of corn. If you haven't already heard, Bolinas likes its quiet nature and would prefer most visitors stay away. There are no signs pointing the way, and my GPS would only take me to the town, not being able to find "Wharf Street". Once I was in Bolinas however, the map clearly showed I was traveling on Wharf Road. Did the town strike a deal to keep its streets off searches?

Bolinas has a long time reputation for being artsy and off beat. Since it was Halloween, I was frequently unsure of weather the people I saw were in costume or not. The staff at the Coast Cafe were in costume, and very welcoming. It was nice to come in from the fog and sit by a cheery fire. The place had both a nautical and Halloween theme with lots of skeletons hanging about. They also obviously adored their local children as there was children's artwork on white placemats adorning the walls. There was a mix of older folk, aging hippy types, young eco-tourists from Washington's San Juan islands, and a cute child in a devil's costume. It is VERY laid back. The man in the cat-in-the-hat red and white striped hat was chatting away to the little girl on the other side of the restaurant, sitting and enjoying the moment. It took quite some time to get our breakfasts, and we noticed that things didn't really move in the kitchen until he went back in!

And the wait was well worth it as it was evident that attention and care went in to our breakfasts. I had the Blackstone Benedict with out the Bacon. It was obvious that they use the fresh local quality ingredients that they say they do. It tasted so. The potatoes were perfectly cooked as well as the benedict.

Dad had the Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble. He liked it, but said 'this is a FULL meal', which translates to 'too much food for me'. However he put a big dent in it and said it was very tasty. If you don't mind a laid back service when you know great food is coming you can't go wrong here.

I took some photos going to Bolinas, and back with some other photos of the town. I'll repost the link here when I write up the trip and other sites.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 6

Noncritical: 5

Last inspected: 7/16/2009

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The cheer factor

Dad and I decided to get back to Mama's Royal Cafe in Mill Valley at lunch time today, prompted in part by a buy 2 beverages + 1 entree and get 1 entree free coupon we received in one of those discount mailers. We were greeted warmly and invited to take any unfilled seat in the house. It was just as we remembered it, whimsical and psychedelic!

Dad wanted a burger, and because at 89 he has difficulty getting his mouth around burgers piled high with extras, he ordered the Nostalgia '57 without onion, but definitely including the 'secret sauce'. He LOVED his hamburger, but wished that there was something more interesting in his salad than just greens, cheese and Ranch dressing.

I decided the Black Sheep Crepe was for me. The crepe is filled with sauteed spinach and mushrooms, and topped with sour cream. I didn't notice until I got it that there was no cheese listed for the interior which I thought unusual for a crepe. However, I liked it this way. It had a fresh taste and the sour cream flavor was more prominent in this style. We came towards the end of lunch hour, and I'm not sure if that is why, but the potatoes were a bit crisp and dried out. Mama's has a long history in Mill Valley and is so unique and cheerful that who cares if the potatoes aren't quite perfect? We had a great lunch together.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 9/29/2009

Previously reviewed:
August 3, 2008
October 24, 2006

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Breathing Green for Breakfast

A couple of weeks have flown by since Dad & I visited the The Valley Grove Cafe in Lagunitas, but it was such a relaxing and positive experience, time seems to have slipped in a way that it occurs that we were just there yesterday.

Lagunitas is such a tiny patch that you have to keep your eye out to see the sign or it's passed all to easily.

I just couldn't resist trying out something called French Toast Napoleon.

The pieces of French toast were stuffed with beautiful fresh fruit, blackberries, strawberries, grapes and slices of banana, all covered with smooth and cool whipped cream. It was delightful, and a bit too large a portion.

Dad was delighted with his tall glass of hot chocolate.

He said he wanted a smaller meal, so we ordered off their small breakfast section. It was still quite a serving of a scrambled egg and cheese stuffed croissant with some fresh cucumber and tomato slices on the side. He also enjoyed this plate. The deck was so pleasant, and looking at the tall evergreens high on the hills surrounding the restaurant, Dad & I felt like we could have been in familiar forests in Washington State. The Valley Grove Cafe will be opening for dinner soon, if it hasn't already. It plans an eclectic menu of Mexican, Italian cuisine and beyond from what the waiter told me.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 2

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 10/14/2009

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$5 Pizza!

I discovered last week that Wipeout Bar & Grill in Greenbrae has a 'Wild Wednesday' special - all pizzas, all day for $5. These are 9" large and you can create your own if you don't see the right combination on the menu.

I decided on a modified "Veg Head", substituting fresh tomatoes for zucchini. 9" is quite large for a 'personal' pizza. It was hot, fresh and great! I hear there is a 'Tiny Tuesday' special where kids eat free, 1 child per adult, 12 and under. I checked out the kids menu while I was there, and there were healthy options! Steamed broccoli or fruit can be substituted for french fries, and there was an interesting sounding Teriyaki Bowl with either salmon or chicken with coconut rice and broccoli. The kids meals include a drink. There are big screens with surfing movies playing and appropriately happy music in the background. Wipeout Bar & Grill is a well-done theme restaurant that all might enjoy for a casual dinner.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 5/6/2008

Previously reviewed:
December 16, 2007

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