Au Revoir Christophe

Well I'm certain of it now. Christophe's name has been painted over on the building, the person who ran the elist for news of Christophe hasn't replied to my query about the status of the restaurant, and yesterday a press release came round that showed that Chef Pierre Smets has joined Côté Sud in the Castro district of San Francisco. It's closed.

Neighborhood Niche

I stopped in for breakfast at the Koffee Klatch the other day after being absent for a number of years. This place has a little history for me. My first visit was a few years ago when I met a man who I originally met via Match.com here, who did some research to find a fun place to meet before enjoying an annual fair in the nearby park. Although the meeting didn't blossom into a romance, I still have fond memories of the place and the day as he was a really nice man, just not enough chemistry. This time, rather than gazing into the eyes of a red-headed Celtic type, I observed the people around me and noticed that everyone was quite comfortable, whether the women with children, or the older folk. There were no generational conflicts here! Everyone was just made to feel at home by the busy waitress with a ready smile.

I happily noticed the section on the menu called "Veggie and Egg Scrambles" and ordered "Irlando's Favorite" from it. How could I resist something that had fresh herbs with garlic, onion, basil, oregano, black olives, spinach tomato and feta in it? It was a wonderful scramble, and the potatoes and wheat toast were also good. I'd come back here anytime, wish it were closer to Mill Valley!

Established Neighborhood Italian

You'll notice I finally was able to activate my 'title' line, I'm happy! Dad and I felt like a neighborhood Italian place, so decided to try out Riccardo's in San Anselmo. It surely fit the bill with checkered tablecloths, wine bottles hanging from the ceiling and friendly, but busy staff.

Dad's Dinner Salad was unexpectedly large, but he said it was great with fresh greens and a variety of toppings.

The Minestrone I ordered tasted good, but had some unexpected cold spots in it.

Dad lapped up every bit of his Chicken Piccata saying it was tender and seasoned well with a nice blend of flavors.

Swiss Chard came as a side vegetable with Dad's chicken, and he said it was flavored nicely with a hint of garlic and olive oil. Pasta would have been the other choice of side, but Dad decided to watch his carbs.

I ordered from the specials menu which offered Paperadelle with Shrimp, Asparagus, Tomatoes and Porcini. Although this one was promising, the shrimp was overcooked into little hard balls, a lot of the asparagus was 'woody', and the paperadelle was clotted together with hard spots underneath. Not what I expected from a $17 dish. I thought I should speak up, so I mentioned the hard ball shrimp to three different staff members who said 'oh, sorry, I'll tell the chef", and that was the end of it. I'd like to try this place again because of the charming coziness, but I'm a little hesitant about the recommendability of its food at this point. I'm hoping it was just an off night.

Sunny soup. It had been quite some time since I'd dropped in at Thai Terrace, and it beckoned one sunny day. The staff was friendly and welcoming and had me seated in no time short by a sunny window.

Venturing where most do not, I took a chance on a soup that had a 'foreign' sound to it - Fish Ball Soup. It was a wonderful discovery. A light soup base with lots of rice noodles, some cilantro and some pleasantly light balls of fish. Think surimi, but moistened and enriched by a good broth. Light and nourishing, I'll seek this dish out again.

Previously reviewed:
October 10, 2006

Family by the seaside. My host sister from Hiroshima days is visiting with her husband, and our younger brother now lives in Marin, so the family got together for some local fun yesterday. After a refreshing walk breathing in the redwood scent at Muir Woods we decided to go to Stinson Beach for a drink and rest before the next round of activities.

After a quick survey of the scene, we decided to try the Stinson Beach Grill for some of the famous local BBQ oysters. Delectable! And we were seated promptly and given friendly and timely service. This is a place I'll come back to sometime to try a full meal.

We took in a little slice of the beach also. It was a glorious day yesterday!

A little French joie de vivre. My neighbor Jerrie and I took a drive to San Anselmo the other night to visit Bistro 330. It had a very bright atmosphere and busy owner?/waiter greeted us warmly and sat us.

Jerrie tried the spinach salad with goat cheese, which she said was very good.

While I stuck with the standard Caesar, which wasn't quite so standard here. The dressing wasn't a classical Caesar, but had what I think was balsamic vinegar in the mix. It was quite good.

Jerrie was enticed by the mustard chicken, however it turned out a bit bland for her taste, but was served very artfully.

I went for the grilled salmon with vegetables over wild rice. That was a perfect combo and my salmon was grilled just right, seared crisp on the outside with the center done through yet moist. All said, the server needed more help but he managed to give pretty prompt service anyway, as the restaurant filled it got a bit noisy, but there is a very fun and happy slant to the whole place. The food was slightly uneven, but basically good. It's Frenchness also showed beautifully.

Breakfast with Al Bano. Actually I was planning to go somewhere else for breakfast, but the place was closed and there I was in Larkspur. So I decided to try Cafe Lucano's breakfast offerings. I asked what the smooth Italian music was and I was shown an album of the popular singer "Al Bano". Giuseppe was serving this morning, one of the family who make your visit so friendly with his ready smile.

I tried the Contadina Fritatta, filled with zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms and eggplant if I remember correctly. Served with slices of sweet kiwi, garlicked yellow colored potatoes, and freshly toasted focaccia, I was sure for a moment that I was actually in Italy at a quiet place near the sea. Unfortunately, I had to return to reality, and take myself to the office. But I will be back again for another slice of Italy.

Reviewed previously:
February 2, 2008

Breakfast at home. I just didn't feel like the traditional. Our typical American breakfasts are pretty staid and 'set'. How much more fun to realize you can eat anything at breakfast that your imagination can conjure. Breakfasts have quite a range around the world, and I first had my declaration of breakfast independence in Japan. How could your world not shift if you wake up to grilled fish, rice, pickles and green tea in the morning, with nary a piece of toast in sight? Some of my roommates long ago had declared a different kind of breakfast independence -- cold pizza leftovers. I never quite took to that although I appreciated their freedom from convention!

Friendly earnestness. I found myself close to the heart of Mill Valley at lunchtime, and thought that it was time to revisit Amberjack Sushi. Amberjack is small, and attentive to details. Good food attracts traffic, and at 11:45, this place was already packed, so I pulled up at the sushi bar. It was a great spot as I had a bird's eye view of the kitchen as I waited, and I could see all the directed, careful and clean activity taking place. This place is serious about giving you a delicious and well-prepared dish! I started with miso soup, which was well flavored and had good depth.

I then asked for a special favor, which they accepted without skipping a beat, substituting tofu for chicken in the oyako don. What arrived wasn't so much this exact thing, as a beautiful riff on a theme. Yes, there was the egg and onion, but the chef also adjusted the seasoning broth and viscosity of the sauce to produce something altogether a delight for the palate. There was nothing bland about this, being savory yet sweet and very satisfying. Amberjack is a pleasant neighborhood place which has good food.

Previously reviewed:
September 21, 2006

Arty breakfast. Caffe DiVino on Caledonia in Sausalito is a very colorful place where you are surrounded by color and light, and in the evening, every evening music, usually jazz.

I stopped by for some breakfast one fine morning, and ordered the spinach and ricotta omelet. To be frank, it wasn't my cup of tea. First the egg was cooked in a way to have a lacy hard brown coating at the edges and over spots of the omelet, secondly it was very oily on the outside, and my plate had a watery oil slick. The water I expected from the spinach, but not all that oil. Also the menu (I checked twice) did not mention garlic as an ingredient. As you can see, half cloves are sticking out, and it was laced with these. Tasty mind you, but not the smell I want to treat new clients to first thing in the morning after breakfast, so after one surprise bite, I picked them all out. It would be nice to have a warning, as there was nothing wrong with the taste, you just have to pick and choose your times! Also the ricotta (when I pulled up the flap) looked very much like mascapone, very creamy and melty. I like both of these things, but when combined with the wateriness of the spinach it didn't meld well. The primary chef works rather late in the evenings, while the jazz is playing, so I suspect the master chef wasn't responsible for this breakfast. I've had some over the top entrees at night from her. Now if they would just train the day chef a bit...

Oh, and there is a choice of fruit or vegetables as your side with the omelets. Walking past the diners earlier, I can say the vegetables looked fabulous, but I was in a fruit mood and had the most delightful bowl of fresh fruit. All in all, this is a wonderful place for lunch and dinner, and I would choose it on a more cautious basis for breakfast.

Previously reviewed:
November 27, 2007
August 3, 2005

Near mega-outlet mall land. That is, in Vacaville with it's huge campus of outlets. I go here once a year or so for a buying frenzy, then I don't want to see it for a looong time. I met a business associate and a long-time reader of this blog for lunch in this fair city for a multitude of business reasons. We first let my 'car' do the choosing with its 'Points of Interest' restaurant listing as we had all been pressed for time and didn't do any research. That was not a good idea. We drove past our first pick, a Chinese restaurant, which looked like it was part of the set of a bad section of town in a B movie. We then just stopped at the first place that looked welcoming, which was Pietro's No 2 (yes, there is a No 1 owned by others).

I started with the clam chowder, only available on Fridays. It was barely acceptable, a little too creamy (overpowering the clam flavor) and a little too much starch was used in thickening (further obscuring the clam flavor). It was mostly creamy liquid, and the submerged ingredients, diced potatoes and clams, were thinly dispersed.

My dining companions both tried the tossed dinner salad. Michael intuitively chose the oil and vinegar on the table to adjust his dressing, while Karen ordered a vinaigrette type dressing which was heavy in oil and encapsulated the other dressing ingredients such that it looked a little unappetizing. The greens were fresh and they both seemed to enjoy the salads despite the dressing issue. Karen's salad is pictured above with said dressing.

I followed my soup with a half-order of capellini with marinara sauce and added mushrooms. The noodles were cooked al dente just perfectly, and the sauce with mushrooms blended pleasingly with the noodles. It was quite large considering it was a half-order!

Michael also had a half-order of pasta choosing the rigatoni with marinara sauce. He voiced no complaints.

Karen arrived by separate car, and a little later, so when ordering she freshly considered the options and got a deal. If you order a full order, the salad or soup is included. She thought that the leftover linguine and clams in marinara sauce would make a fine second meal. And it looked like she was enjoying her entree too. You'd think from our order all they have is marinara sauce, however, they do have quite a variety of sauces to choose from including pesto, meat, butter & garlic and so on with the typical Italian varieties. Pietro's is a cut above average for the area and I far prefer a 'local' restaurant to a chain, and if you do too, you might consider this place if you find yourself at mealtime in Vacaville. Pietro's No 2 is located just across from City Hall.

Marine theme for Marin. I always enjoy stopping by Anchorage 5 Restaurant for the friendly service and cozy interior that has a marine theme that reminds me of home (Seattle). I've been wanting to try out their breakfast, and was given a nice opportunity a couple days ago.

I chose a Yukon Omelet, which is stuffed with fresh spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and artichoke hearts. It was done to perfection, and came with my choice of cottage fries (or hashbrowns). It also comes with your choice of toast, I enjoyed some wheat toast (not pictured). It's not far from Molly Stone's Market, hidden back on Gate 5 road. This breakfast is worth seeking out. Open from 7 a.m. every day, serving breakfast and lunch only.

Previously reviewed:
October 17, 2007

Quiet evening. Dad & I enjoyed a warm and quiet evening over at Paradise Bay the other day. The ambiance was good, and the waitstaff attentive.

Dad enjoyed a Niman Ranch burger, which the chef specially flattened to make it easier for him to eat. He enjoyed it and said we could come back here for a burger any time. He also liked the balance of the bun, not too hard, yet it held together.

I was tempted by their Scottish salmon with lobster and corn stuffed baked potato. Need I say more? It was delicious, and the salmon was cooked to be well grilled yet moist. And the potato could have been eaten as a meal itself.

Previously reviewed:
June 16, 2007
December 6, 2006

It's breakfast time again. Time flies, and I thought it time to refresh the Marin breakfast list. My definition for a 'breakfast' place is that they open before 9 a.m. on a weekday and have at least one protein choice on the menu (no American-style continental breakfasts count). Those restaurants who choose to open only on weekends or a weekend day for brunch are really not breakfast places in my mind, but I list them separately as they usually do a bit more upscale and interesting things on the weekends and make a nice round out to the week.

I welcome your comments to point me to other places for breakfast in Marin or your experiences with any of these.

I continue to keep my blog's sidebar updated with a legend indicating with a * after restaurant links if breakfast is served there, and ** for weekend brunch only places (some brunch only places only serve one of the weekend days, so you should check before showing up). The links below go to my review (most recent whether breakfast or other), if there is a restaurant website, it's listed in the review.


Places I've been for breakfast

Corte Madera
Champagne French Bakery and Cafe
Corte Madera Cafe
Max's Cafe

Fairfax
Koffee Klatch

Greenbrae
Cafe Z

Mill Valley
Caffe Oggi
Champagne French Bakery Cafe
Dipsea
La Boulange
Mama's Royal Cafe
Mill Valley Coffee Shop
Rain Tree Cafe
Shoreline Coffee Shop
Strawberry Gourmet Delicatessen
Toast Cafe

Kentfield
Half Day Cafe
Willie's Cafe

Larkspur
Burritoville Cafe
Ward Street Cafe - Brunch only

Muir Beach
Pelican Inn - Brunch only

Novato
Chez Pierre
Fernando's Restaurant - Brunch only
Finnegan's Marin-Brunch only
Golden Egg Omelet House
Grant Ave Cafe
Grazie
Hamilton Cafe - Brunch only
Star Restaurant
The Garden - Brunch only

Point Reyes
Pine Cone Diner

Sausalito
Bayside Cafe
Bridgeway Cafe
Caffe DiVino
Caffe Trieste
Fred's Coffee Shop
Lighthouse Cafe
Louie's Deli Cafe
Poggio
Pomodoro Pizza Cafe
Sartaj India Cafe
Sausalito Bakery & Cafe

Tiburon
Dave & Mike's Restaurant
New Morning Cafe
Sam's Anchor Cafe
Sweden House Bakery & Cafe
Three Degrees

San Anselmo
Comforts Cafe
Hilda's Coffee Shop

San Geronimo
Two Bird Cafe

San Rafael
Bobby's Cafe
Bogie's Cafe
Eduardo's Restaurant
Lighthouse Diner
Lundy's Home Cooking
The Crepevine
Le Croissant
Pier 15 - Brunch only (brunch and after 9/10 a.m. every day)
Taqueria Bahia - Brunch only
Theresa & Johnny's Comfort Food
West End Cafe Deli & Market

Stinson Beach
Parkside Cafe

Places yet to go for breakfast

Bolinas
Coast Cafe - Brunch only

Fairfax
Barefoot Cafe
Cafe Amsterdam

Greenbrae
Road Runner Burrito

Larkspur
Left Bank - Brunch only
Tabla Cafe - Brunch only
Café Lucano

Mill Valley
Buckeye Roadhouse - Brunch only
Depot Bookstore & Cafe
Piazza D'Angelo - Brunch only
Small Shed Flatbreads - Brunch only
Vasco - Brunch only

Nicasio
Ranch Nicasio - Brunch only

Novato
Marvin's Breakfast Club
Mary's Place
Skully's Bakery & Cafe (T-Sat 7 a.m. - mostly pastries with fritattas)
The Garden - Brunch only
Wild Fox - Brunch only

Olema
Olema Farm House - Brunch only

Point Reyes
Station House Cafe

San Anselmo
Eat

San Rafael
Casa Manana- Brunch and after 9 a.m. weekdays
La Hacienda - Brunch and after 9 a.m. weekdays
Panama Hotel & Restaurant
Redwood Cafe
Seafood Peddler - Brunch only

San Anselmo
Bubba's Diner
Insalata's - Brunch only

Sausalito
Anchorage 5 Restaurant

Previous round-ups:
August 20, 2007
May 6, 2007
November 19, 2006

The rain was with me. Usually Marvin's Breakfast Club is so packed even the outside tables have a line waiting for them. Now that I've gone, I can see why. I didn't have breakfast, but the breakfast plate that whizzed past me were a sight to behold. Golden potatoes, perfectly shaped eggs... it smelled delicious also.

This saucy little nook is run by three ladies, one of which is the owner, and they are quite friendly and funny. They cheerfully and deliciously converted the taco salad into a vegetarian one using refried beans instead of beef. It was fresh, good and inventive. I wouldn't have put some of the ingredients in a taco salad, such as pickles, raw onions, but the cucumber slices were delightful! If you can ever get a space in this Novato hang-out, grab it!

Big sky kind of day. Yesterday I came back from Central California with lots of good things in the works. It was also spectacularly beautiful. The sky was so blue and seemed to be endless as far as the eye could see in some places. But more about that later in the post. I'd like to introduce you to a lovely dining spot in Visalia, The Depot. Our client took us to dinner there, and it's always wise to trust a local to know the best places. I couldn't resist snapping the shot of this succulent, moist and very large lobster tail. It was one of the best I've ever had. He also advised us to ask for the 'off-menu' twice baked potato, which also was fabulous, with just the right amount of flavorings to set off the freshly baked flesh. The pan roasted broccoli and carrots were very flavorful and finished to the correct doneness. The accompanying Caesar salad had the added color of some diced tomatoes which made it quite festive. It was also very fresh and had great dressing. The dessert, an orange and cream cheesecake, tasted like a cheesecake Popsicle. A bit too much given the rest of the meal, but tasty.

The Depot is housed in a converted railway station, complete with beautiful stained glass and a warm interior. The staff is also quite warm and friendly. If you are looking for fine dining in the central part of California, this place is definitely worth an evening and your money.

If you are anywhere in the Central Valley, don't miss appreciating all the beautiful almond trees in bloom. It's simply breathtaking to look down these rows and see nothing but blossoms as far as you can see.

And it was interesting to see all the bee houses at the end of the rows. Those bees must be in heaven amongst all those blossoms! A close up of those below. Spring has sprung!