Cortland Marketplace

Clockwise: Smoked Whitefish Sandwich, Mushroom and Kale Piroshki, Maple Bacon Waffle

I love the idea of a marketplace for restaurants especially ones like the Cortland Marketplace. It gathers various vendors into one place where you can purchase your meal, drink, and dessert. I suppose the idea is similar to the gathering of food trucks, but I'd prefer this marketplace any time. I liked that there was indoor seating compared to eating outside where your hair keeps getting into your food and it's freezing. I also liked how the place looked very simple and cute, plus the workers were so helpful and nice.

Our fist stop was Paulie's Pickling, where we purchase the whitefish sandwich. Initially, I was kind of nervous since I really didn't know what whitefish was. After my first bite, I was really happy I had picked it. I liked the smoked flavor in the fish and everything else about the sandwich. 

Second was Anda Piroshki. I love piroshkis and this one was perfect. That is all.

For dessert, we had a maple bacon waffle from Suite Foods. We had the option of buying one that was already made or a fresh one. We opted for a fresh one since we weren't in a rush. I'd say this is for any lover of sweets, bacon, or carbs. Overall, this visit to the Cortland Marketplace was positive in every area and I can't wait to go back!

331 Cortland Marketplace

331 Cortland Ave.

San Francisco, CA 94110

Neighborhood: Bernal Heights

Gilberth's

Initially planning on going to the new Long Bridge Pizza, we realized it was closed for lunch so we walked down the block to find somewhere else to eat and stumbled into Gilberth's. From the outside, it appeared to be a take-out restaurant as the line was out the door and all you could really see were people ordering their food. As we ventured into the restaurant, we found that there was a dining room complete with a communal table and all. 

Lomito Saltado

It was love at first bite. Ever since I tried Sanguchon's Lomo Saltado, I've been ordering it wherever I found it. It was definitely not a bad decision today since this dish from Gilberth's just increased my love for the dish so much more. The sauce was impeccable with the steamed rice, beef, and onions that I was able to finish the entire plate (with the slightest bit of help), which is quite impressive for me. I honestly cannot wait to have this again although I do have to mention that the fries were a bit too dense and heavy on the starchy side for me. Other than that, I have nothing close to a complaint.

Gilberth's

2427 Third St.

San Francisco, CA 94107

Neighborhood: Dogpatch

Straw

Sweet Tots and Fried Chicken-n-Waffle Monte Cristo

If you're into carnivals, this is the perfect little spot for you and your friends. The restaurant has a carnival theme throughout, Tilt-o-Whirl booth included. They even give you goldfishes instead of your typical bread before your meal and use storybooks for menus, talk about nostalgia. But even if you're not into carnivals, the food is well worth the trip.

An order of the chicken and waffle sandwich comes with a side of chips, salad, or sweet potato tots. I chose the sweet tots with blackberry barbecue sauce to try something new. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This is a dream for sweet potato lovers. On the other hand, I wasn't too much a fan of the blackberry part of the sauce but these tots were amazing without it anyways. 

As for the sandwich, there were fried chicken strips, raspberry jam, and a slice of swiss between two halves of their belgian waffles top with powdered sugar (syrup on the side). The raspberry jam was probably my favorite part since I love raspberries and it added sweetness to a usually savory combination. Since the jam was included in the sandwich, I skipped the syrup so I wouldn't end up with a sugar high after lunch, which is perfectly fine if you're into that. But do come and try this cute restaurant located in the heart of Hayes Valley. I can't wait to try other selections on the menu and perhaps their brunch too!

Straw

203 Octavia Blvd.

San Francisco, CA 94102

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

Samovar Tea Lounge

Downy Sprout White Tea  

Tea is something I tend to go to when it rains. It just warms me up and gives me a cozy feeling inside. Tea also has a soothing power to it and allows me to temporarily forget about life's hardships and of course, the rain. As you can tell, I am not very fond of the rain and that is why Samovar Tea Lounge was the perfect hiding spot. 

Since they ran out of White Moonlight by mid-afternoon, we opted for the Downy Sprout which was suggested as similar. It was made with roasted pine nut, watercress, and Mount Tamalpais moss. We were given a cup of leaves and a pot of hot water and were taught to pour the hot water into the cup of leaves, allow it to sit for some time, then pour it into our cups. This process was actually enjoyable to go through as we downed cup after cup. We stayed here talking for hours which was nice in the relaxing environment. 

Note: One thing that was unexpected for us was that each person was required to order something from the menu. We were only expecting to have tea since we just had lunch before and wanted somewhere to bypass time from the rain. Other than that, the tea was excellent and I'd plan to come again perhaps for lunch and then tea afterwards.

Samovar Tea Lounge

297 Page St.

San Francisco, CA 94102

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

*There are also two additional locations in San Francisco.

Roka Akor

This past week I visited Roka Akor, easily one of the best Japanese restaurants I've been to. The service was excellent and the food surpassed my expectations immensely. 

Roka Akor's dining room

Butterfish Tataki with White Aspargus and Yuzu

Yellowtail Sashimi with Shallots and Poached Garlic Ponzu

White Miso Soup

Glazed Baby Back Pork Ribs with Spring Onions and Cashews

Diced Assorted Sashimi on Sushi Rice with Avocado and Spicy Sesame Soy

The meal began with the two sashimi appetizers. The Butterfish had more of a tangy lime taste, while the Yellowtail was sweeter. Both were exceptional to someone who doesn't usually care for sashimi. Next came the White Miso, which contained a smokey pang in each sip adding something different to an average bowl of Miso Soup. 

For the entrees, we picked the Ribs and the Sashimi Bowl. The Ribs were delicious, and the meat was fall off the bone and easy to eat. The green onions and cashew pieces added extra crunch and flavor to the already amazing texture and taste. The sashimi in the Sashimi Bowl was flavored with sesame oil which went really well with the dish. All three platters of sashimi were flavored differently which I have never tried before. The tastes and textures from this meal were vibrant and addicting as we ate and tried to savor our last bites. 

Roka Akor

801 Montgomerey St. 

San Francisco, CA 94133

Neighborhood: Financial District

Kitchen Mojo

Clockwise from top left: Spicy Pork Scramble Egg, Crispy Pork Katsu, Popcorn Shrimp Kimchee Po' Boy

After trying some amazing Asian fusion food in Southern California, I stopped by this place to see how the bay area does in this food group. Kitchen Mojo is an American Latin Asian Fusion restaurant and it offers indoor and outdoor seating. The style is set up as an 'order at the register and pick your own seat' kind of restaurant. 

To begin, the Spicy Pork Scramble Egg was definitely something different. There is a flavor blast when you eat this dish and it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what you are tasting. Having said that, this dish is good none the less and a definite must try if you want to know what I mean by a flavor blast. 

Crispy Pork Katsu. This had to be my favorite of all the dishes since the pork was crispy yet unbelievably moist on the inside. Plated with cucumbers, cabbage, tonkatsu sauce, and wasabi aioli, this dish is something you can't get anywhere else. 

The Popcorn Shrimp Kimchee Po' Boy was delicious. The shrimp remained crunchy even when sandwiched between two layers of kimchee. I'd have to admit that I'm not a big fan of kimchee, but this po' boy was really good. The fries are a plus!

Kitchen Mojo

300 De Haro Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

Neighborhood: Potrero Hill

Garibaldi's

My love for trying new restaurants and food has got me starting this new section -Bites- of posts on visits to different places I try. First off, Garibaldi's. This restaurant is quite large but fills up quickly with walk-ins and parties with reservations. We arrived at 11:30am to find one other person seated but by the time we left, the floor was filled with chattering folks. Noting that this was a Wednesday, reservations are suggested.

Grilled Chicken & Farro Salad

This salad was different than any I had ever tried before, in a good way. First, I've never had farro before. It had the texture of brown rice or chewier white rice, which added another dimension to the salad. Second, it was dressed with meyer lemon vinaigrette. I usually veer away from any salad containing vinaigrette, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised with this mixture of cucumbers, mint, almonds, and purple cauliflower. Lastly, grilled chicken is not a friend of mine. As a child who has choked down dry chicken, I've grown a fear for grilled chicken. But again, Garibaldi's proved me wrong.

Braised Wild Boar 'Sloppy Joe'

For an infrequent eater of 'Sloppy Joe's,' this sandwich was not the same as I had remembered what a Sloppy Joe was like. This one had whole grain mustard, arugula, and a fried egg stacked between two buttered and toasted buns. For lack of better words, this Joe was good. Placed beside crispy salt and pepper potato wedges, the plate was complete and very filling.

Chocolate Pudding

This chilled cup of chocolately goodness was topped with whipped cream, caramel, and sea salt. The caramel and sea salt definitely added a little something to the pudding. The extra dash of sweetness yet saltiness made this pudding more complex.

Garibaldi's
347 Presidio Ave
San Francisco, CA 94115
Neighborhood: Presidio Heights