Best Kept Lil Secret

Did you know the Best Lil' Pork House in Corte Madera now has brunch on weekends? One day running morning errands I saw a big sign announcing brunch from the freeway and thought that "I've got to try this!". Turning around swiftly at the next exit, I headed back. 

I popped in the entrance and the friendly staff seated me right away and noticed that even in the morning there are trays of popcorn and peanuts waiting on all the tables. There are new pool tables in the bar area.

I chose the ham and eggs that day which is basically scrambled eggs with chopped ham and cheddar cheese accompanied by potatoes, fruit and well-buttered thick Texas toast ($11.95). The eggs tasted real (as opposed to hotel free breakfast eggs I've been having lately) and I was satisfied with this weekend morning comfort food. The service was prompt, the place was clean and the staff checked in with me at appropriate intervals. All in all it was a great start to my day.

There are now three locations, the original San Rafael, the Corte Madera, and later this month Alameda. The Corte Madera location is the only one serving brunch at this time.

Best Lil' Pork House
60 Madera Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925
(415)927-RIBS

2042 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 457-7675

523 S Shore Center West
Alameda, CA 94501

www.bestlilporkhouse.com

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Bio- a little French twist in Sausalito

Bio started in San Francisco, and now its Sausalito location is not only open, but beckons with French hospitality.  The window denotes that its menu has an emphasis on crepes, and it is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Enjoy watching a French television channel while waiting for your order.  Bio is owned and run by Sylvie Krawec, who will greet you, seat you and do all the tasks, including cooking to bring you a meal which is local, organic, and with many gluten free options.

Sylvie is originally from Madagascar, although it's been 25 years since she's been there.  There has been a chalkboard sign outside touting the "Best Coffee from Madagascar" (usually $2, special price $1).  And it is really smooth, rich and delicious.

I think this is the only place in Marin to serve galettes, a buckwheat crepe that is gluten-free. The restaurant is also potato-free according to Sylvie.  The Galette with vegetable of the day ($14) has a choice of filling featuring chicken, jambon de Paris, duck confit or smoked salmon.  I chose the jambon de Paris.

I cut open the galette to find the filling also included a white cheese. The dish was accompanied by the vegetable of the day, a mix of finely sliced summer squash and red peppers which was sauteed in a little olive oil and herbs.

I also tried the "Natural Organic Berry Purée" ($4) which was made of organic strawberries the morning I visited.

I enjoyed the food, beautiful decor, and not to mention the French TV so much I had to return for a second visit the next day.  I changed it up by ordering a Bio  Croque-Monsieur ($8) with vegetable of the day. That day's vegetable was a ratatouille freaturing very finely sliced vegetables. Summer squash, zucchini, onions and I think eggplant that made a nice addition to the sandwich.  The surprise was that the sandwich base is a gluten-free thick slice of brioche, topped with ham, cheese and Béchamel sauce.

Bio is relaxing, inviting and the food is good too.

Bio

2633 Bridgeway

Sausalito, CA 94965

(415) 324-7080

www.biologiquesf.com

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Off the path for breakfast

Anchorage 5 Restaurant is a favorite locals hang out in Sausalito. Located a few blocks off Bridgeway across from the Heath Ceramics outlet, it is not far from the harbor and quite a few boaters and live-aboards enjoy breakfast or lunch here. I'm posting from a couple of recent trips here.

The French Toast Sandwich ($10.95), is really a deconstructed one with the ingredients (French toast, one egg and three pieces of bacon) plated attractively. There is cinnamon added to the batter which gives it interest, as well as the maple syrup served on the side.

The "Sailor" ($11.95) has a hamburger patty, two eggs, grilled mushrooms and onions piled on rye toast with a topping of cheddar cheese.  This is definitely filling and indicated for those who need the calories to row the boat.

Service is efficient and cheerful, and if you want to catch the more laid-back local vibe, you won't go wrong with a breakfast or lunch at Anchorage 5 Restaurant.

Anchorage 5 Restaurant

475 Gate 5 Road

Sausalito, CA 94965

(415) 331-8329

Previously reviewed:

February 3, 2009

March 2, 2008

October 17, 2007

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The Cantina

On a warm summer's day I dropped into The Cantina for lunch, and a few days later found myself there for brunch with family.  The Cantina was a long lived restaurant in Mill Valley that left for a bit, replaced by Maria Maria, then it came back with some reinvention.

 

Chips and salsa arrived soon after I sat down, and I found that the chips are gluten free and made fresh every day on premises.

 

I enjoyed an old favorite, and found a new twist.  This arroz con pollo had a pounded chicken breast atop Mexican rice.  Along with the ranchero sauce, there were chunky pieces of red and green bell peppers and onions.  Usually I've had this dish where the chicken was served over the rice in tenders, and not with such fresh and colorful peppers and sweet onion as toppings. Also my experience of this dish at other places is without the corn cake, refried beans and green lettuce.  This dish shined.  The only thing I would have changed is to have some kind of dressing or topping for the plain, yet crisp and fresh lettuce.

 

A second trip for brunch found me irresistibly drawn to the crab omelet. The omelet was accompanied by soft potatoes, sour cream and pico de gallo. I was happy with this dish.  The crab was very smooth and paired well with the egg envelope.

The latest food inspection reports can be found here.

The Cantina
651 E Blithedale Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 381-1070

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Cheerful chomping

I wandered into the Blue Skies Cafe in San Rafael early one morning to sample their breakfast fare. The Blue Skies Cafe is tucked away in the Marin County Health and Wellness Connection Center complex near "The Loop". The Blue Skies Cafe is a Buckelew Program, which only makes it even more of a positive place to visit. Buckelew a non-profit organization which assists older youth and adults with mental illness, into homes, jobs and recovery services.

The staff were so cheery and worked with me to find a breakfast of my choosing from their array. The food and drink are all mostly on the politically correct list, and good for the planet!

I found a beautifully sunny table and enjoyed my meal. The blackberry scone was WOW, and the hard boiled eggs and mocha were great too. You won't find cooked items like omelets or pancakes here, it is mostly boxed for take out and to eat-with-coffee kind of fare. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by for good items within their repertoire, and enjoy the sun!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last Inspected: March 9, 2009

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Crepe choices

One fine weekend day, Dad and I made our way over to Crepevine in San Rafael. We were on the early side, so there were plenty of tables both inside and sidewalk style.

Dad wanted the Denver Omelet. He liked the omelet and thick slices of toast, however, he invented a new culinary term for the potatoes -- Baaaa! Yes, he did not enjoy these, and with his memory problem, kept forgetting and trying them again, finally throwing his fork down violently, and yelling 'Baaaa!'. The problem was that they were cooked VERY unevenly. Some were crispy critters, so hard they were painful, and some had one side nearly burnt, and the other raw and crispy. Mine were the same, but I could remember not to eat the questionable ones.

I tried a unique-sounding vegetarian savory crepe, the Kyoto. It was filled with marinated grilled tofu sauteed with spinach bell peppers, shitake mushrooms and peanut sauce. The crepe itself was too crisp and hard on the outer third, occurring more as a dosa crepe than a French-style one. The interior ingredients were a good combination and tasted great. I liked that there as both a little salad, and potatoes, if only the potatoes were better cooked.

I've had better experiences at the Crepevine, and I hope this one was just bad luck and not a trend.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 3/27/2009

Previously reviewed:
December 2, 2006

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Invisible, until now

I must have passed Caffe Acri in Tiburon hundreds of times. I thought it was just a coffee and ice cream place. I recently heard that there is breakfast served, and I immediately opened my schedule for Dad and I to visit one morning. The restaurant faces Main Street with the well known Guaymas just behind.

I tied the Mushroom, Avocado and Tomato Omelet. It came with home fries and thinly sliced whole grain bread. It was all quite good, I'd have it again in a heartbeat. There were a few things that could be improved however. There were no napkins given with the meal, and none were set out with the usual coffee condiments, you had to request a napkin! Also, the toast was not only not buttered, but there was no butter on the plate, another trip to the counter to request it. Lastly, the women behind the counter seemed much more intent of flirting with the men who stood and chatted with them over the counter than noticing or acknowledging those waiting for service.

My Dad had the croissant sandwich, he said it was a winner. Bacon, eggs, cheese and tomato all pressed against croissant halves and pressed in a panini grill from the looks. I think that this place is a perfect place to wait for the ferry as the entrance is just a couple businesses away. They also serve simple lunches.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 4/22/2009

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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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Awwwh say it isn't so!

I was walking past Debbie Does Dessert in San Anselmo and was so disappointed to see the shop closed and a "For Sale by Owner" sign in the front door. Debbie's has deck on the back that was in a joyful French country style. The deck overlooks a lovely creek with lots of green surrounding it; trees and moisture-loving plants are near the creek. Birds and butterflies frolic about nearby and I've seen butterflies sometimes land on the deck rail. The brunch menu was good and the food delightful! It was one of my favorite Marin brunch places. It looks empty inside and just waiting for the right person to birth its next incarnation.

Lovely brunch

I was treated to brunch at Piazza d'Angelo in Mill Valley by some good friends one recent Sunday. We had a peaceful corner to ourselves (once the music from a speaker directly overhead was turned down). There were quite a number of delicious-sounding menu items, but we managed to choose.

Michael and I both chose the Wild Mushroom Frittata. We were being particularly precise about our opinions on the frittata. Michael thought it was a bit thin and overcooked, it could have been made a little fluffier for his taste. Personally, I was looking for the mushrooms. It didn't contain many to carry the moniker "Wild Mushroom Frittata". I thought the addition of the potatoes on the top was particularly decorative.

Michael's wife ordered the Pan Fried Trout. It looked luscious! She loved it, and we decided it was the best dish at the table.

Their older daughter was in the mood for veggies, so ordered a Grilled Vegetable Platter. She asked the waiter for some Parmesan and made quite a tasty and healthy dish for herself.

The younger one thought the Omelette Campagnolo sounded good with its filling of onion, mushrooms, bell peppers, fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese. She asked them to leave out the mushrooms, however it was served with mushrooms when it came. Our waiter was new to the restaurant so was still getting used to things. She just removed them and was ok about it.

Since it was a bit of an occasion we shared a couple of desserts. The first was a feather-light yet creamy Tiramisu. The chocolate shavings on the top gave it an extra air of festivity, and of course we chocolate lovers dove in!

The other dessert was an open pastry puff with pineapple flavored cream. There were small chunks of pineapple in the filling. It was light and sweetly satisfying. I was having difficulty with getting a good shot of this without shadows, so Michael took the photo on my camera from a different angle. Although there were some glitches in our service, having been here many times it was definitely the exception and I would not hesitate to come here again for delicious Italian food.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 7/21/2008

Previously reviewed:
November 7, 2007
April 27, 2007

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Now this is good!

Jo-Ann and I finally managed to get together for breakfast, choosing to try a new place to us, Easy Street Cafe in San Anselmo.This location is easy to find in the Red Hill Shopping Center. We chose it in part because Jo-Ann was in the mood for sweet crepes.

Jo-Ann's Fruit Crepe was HUGE. It occurred as a gigantic fruit burrito, although clearly it was a crepe. The interesting thing about it is that the fruit crepe is not listed under 'crepes' on the menu, but its with the pancake and waffle section. Go figure. Although absolutely delicious, it was impossible to finish, so Jo-Ann took half home.

I had to try the Ahi Tuna Benedict. The large, thick pieces of thoroughly cooked ahi tuna was placed on top of caramelized onions, which were on top of the traditional English Muffin half. This was unlike any other benedict I've ever tried, and was a lovely medley of savory flavors. I would go back just for this dish. The service was friendly and prompt.

Here's a close up of my dish. The ahi was thickly sliced and well done. I have to say, if you are watching fat calories, this meal was pretty over the top with not only the hollandaise sauce over the benedict, but full-bodied sour cream adorning the potatoes. I skipped lunch and had a light dinner after eating this for breakfast. I hear that Kids Eat Free on Mondays here.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 5/6/2008

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Great way to start the day

Saturday morning, friends Karen & Michael were dropping off a car for maintenance and invited me to meet them from brunch somewhere. I suggested Pier 15 as an enjoyable place to brunch on a sunny Saturday.

Karen and I both gravitated to the Dungeness Crab Benedict special. It was great! The crab was plentiful and very fresh!

Michael decided to try a signature dish, the Apple Pan Doré. It consists of thinly sliced French bread coated with egg batter and a fresh apple topping. The deck overlooking the inlet to the marina area was as bright and pleasant as previous experiences. The service was just right, and we enjoyed lingering and catching up with each others lives.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 9/30/2009

Previously reviewed:
July 5, 2007

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Crepes!

I had a lovely breakfast of crepes at the Rain Tree Cafe in Mill Valley the other day. There is a nice selection of both sweet and savory. The waitstaff was prompt and friendly and I was able to have a nice breakfast and still arrive at work on time!

The crepes come with your choice of salad or potatoes. I felt more in an American breakfast mood and chose the potatoes.

The crepe I chose was a Florentine which of course had spinach, but also onion and jack cheese. It was a little change of pace to start the day and quite enjoyable!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 4/20/2009

Previously reviewed:
July 9, 2009
March 15, 2009
September 7, 2007
March 7, 2007

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