Double Header!

Keeping my eye on the old Samurai building in Sausalito, I noticed not one, but TWO notices. Hmm.. it was something I just had to check out.

The door on the left had a notice for "La Hacienda", a brew pub.

The second sign said "Taste of the Himalayas". Oh, cool! I'll be keeping my eye out for both of these to open!

Friendly brew pub

Friendly and community oriented, Marin Brewing Company also serves up good food. Although this is hardly a scientifically based comment, I recall over the years what seems like more than the average number of events sponsored by Marin Brewing Company to benefit nonprofit or community oriented causes.

In the neighborhood one day, Dad & I stopped by for a quick lunch. The staff were quite friendly and considerate of my Dad in particular. This Teriyaki Vegetable Stir Fry was sauced just perfectly and the veggies were a nice crisp tender texture.

Dad went with the standard Veggie Burger smothered in Jack cheese and lettuce, tomato and onion. Dad was particularly happy with the garden-fresh salad that he could substitute for the fries for a small upcharge. It was a beautiful day and all went well in every aspect, service, food and reasonable price.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 3
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 12/18/2008

Previously reviewed:
May 13, 2007

Favorite of movie goers

The Broken Drum Brewery & Wood Grill in San Rafael is a long time favorite of those going to movies at the Rafael theater, not to mention others. It is open late and has a variety of items on the menu, and is likely to have something that will please anyone.

I enjoyed the beer battered Fish and Chips. The fish inside was moist, fresh and there was a generous amount of fish. If you like thicker batter, this one is for you as well. I also liked the red cabbage slaw that had a light vinegar dressing and an unidentified herb that gave it a unique taste.

Dad chose a turkey burger and fries. He commented on the 'green sauce' (pesto) favorably and enjoyed as much as he could of the generous portion. He said that he was happy that the turkey burger itself was moist rather than the sometimes dry versions he's had elsewhere. The service was prompt and friendly and we enjoyed our lunch.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 3
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 3/19/2008

Never came back

On February 13, 2008 I reported that Rafter's had temporarily closed. There is a very large, red For Lease sign in the window now, so I think it's safe to say Rafters is not coming back to this location.

Green Friendly Brewpub

The weather has been quite summer-like! After a fun day at Marin French Cheese Company and browsing antique stores in Petaluma with Yukako and Mao on Saturday, Dad and I meandered over to Fairfax and drove by a most happening place. So we turned around, drove back and parked to try it out. Besides having great food and drink, Iron Springs Pub & Brewery is a green certified business, and has an interesting webpage of all the green efforts they've been making.

Having the most marvelous time with a dear friend who dropped by for an evening from parts mid-west, sharing all the marvelous dishes at Alegrias (a Spanish tapas place), veggie or not - I was sure to be completely veggie today. And I have to say that as a town I've found Fairfax to have the best veggie options as a whole of anywhere I've been in the US. That is, most restaurants have several veggie options which are actually appealing and tasty! Iron Springs was no exception with this Grilled Seasonal Vegetable Plate. I couldn't finish this big heap of wonderful flavors and textures! There were colorful grilled peppers, zucchini, eggplant, garlic mashed potatoes, crispy polenta and a garlic flavored mound of crisp green beans, bok choy and carrots. Kudos for making an array of flavors within the vegetables!

Dad was very happy with his Free Range Turkey Burger with fries. Iron Springs was filled to overflowing (to picnic tables on the sidewalk) with families, couples and everyone else enjoying what looked to be food bursting with flavor. The service was friendly and prompt and the atmosphere good. This experience is definitely worth repeating.

Open Late on Weeknights. Marin Brewing Company is one of the few restaurants open late on weeknight in Marin County (besides places like McDonald's or Denny's). Handy information if you are coming home after a very late project at work, or just off a plane from another time zone and your tummy's rumbling. Marin Brewing Company is open until midnight on weekdays, and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Actually, I enjoyed lunch here. It has been at least a couple years since I've been here, and I found they still had my favorite grilled chicken tostada gonzora on the menu. It's a kind of Mexican-style chopped salad with bits of tomato, grilled chicken, red onion and flavorful crisp lettuce all tossed together with a topping of cheddar and side of sour cream.

Happy Mother's Day, and I hope you all are enjoying it with her!

Next up. Rafters. Great service and food exceptionally so-so. Dad and I stopped for dinner at Rafters on the way to take him home after a full day of appointments. I'd been here before and had a reasonably decent dinner, and remembered it as bright and cheerful. As an 86-year old, sometimes it's hard for him to read the menu in dimly lit restaurants so I thought he would enjoy this a little more. The host and waiter greeted us quickly and sat us away from all the noise at the bar. The bar area was completely full, but there were few diners in the large dining area. Not too surprising considering it's a brewery.



We split a Caesar salad to begin, which was generously sized although only half. The romaine was crisp and fresh, but alas, the dressing was decidedly the most bland I've ever tasted.



I ordered the Linguine with fresh Littleneck Clams in white wine sauce. The linguine was a tad past al dente, and the sauce was heavily dosed with black pepper. In addition to the fresh clams, which were tender and delicious underneath it all, the chef added a large amount of chopped clams, which I suspect were canned; he may have wanted to intensify the delicate clam flavor by adding more clam meat. It usually doesn't work, and this time was no exception. The canned diced clams are rather tough and I'd rather have the delicate taste of the fresh even though very light.



Dad's reaction to the meal started with the definitely lukewarm coffee he was served. He felt the fish on his Fish & Chips platter were a little on the greasy side, I suspect the frying oil wasn't hot enough. I've had better meals here, I hope this meal does not become the norm there. Friendly service can only make up for so much.