Archive for the ‘Marin Restaurants’ Category
Sol Food, San Rafael’s hip, ultra popular Puerto Rican restaurant is opening a bodega next door to its “Big Place” location at 901 Lincoln Ave. The bodega will carry Puerto Rican goods like coffee, salad dressing and homemade hot sauce, and it’ll be the spot where they manage all of their take-out and deliveries. It’s nice to see such a great Restaurant doing so well. If you haven’t eaten there yet it’s really yummy! I love the Camarones Criollos, large prawns sauteed with fresh garlic and onions in a tomatoey sauce, served over rice, with organic salad, avocado and fried plantain. If you like chicken try the Pollo al Horno combo. Excellente!
Exploring by the Bay
Next stop: Sam’s Cafe!
With a gorgeous spring day and 80 degree weather, this weekend seems like a great one to spend outdoors. Looking to relax and enjoy the sunshine? You don’t have to go far! Visit downtown Tiburon and the landmark Sam’s Cafe along the Tiburon waterfront. This is one of my favorite spots to relax, sip a spicy bloody mary, and take in the sparkling waters of the San Francisco Bay and fantastic views of the San Francisco skyline and Angel Island. This place gets packed on a hot day with people coming over from San Francisco on the Tiburon ferry. Arrive early in the day if you don’t want to wait. The food isn’t Marin’s finest, but the awesome location and fantastic people watching make up for it. This is really the perfect place for a lazy Marin afternoon in the sunshine.
You can check out a live view from their sunny deck on Sam’s webcam.
Sushi is one of my absolute favorite foods to eat. We are so fortunate living in the Bay Area to have phenomenal sushi. I often pick up sushi from my local favorite gourmet grocery store, Woodlands Market in Kentfield.
When I am looking for fantastic sushi and a finer dining experience, I frequently head to one of my favorite Marin restaurants, Sushi Ran in Sausalito. Sushi Ran is located on Bridgeway in downtown Sausalito. The restaurant is pricey, but it is well worth the cost. It is truly one of the Bay Area’s finest restaurants. In October, Sushi Ran’s Executive Chef, Mitsunori Kusakabe, won the Sushi of the Year Award in London. The exclusive restaurant has also been awarded the exclusive Michelin Star.
Reservations can be tough to get at the popular restaurant but it does take walk ins. It is also generally easy to grab a table later in the evening on the weeknight. My favorite spot to sit is on the walk-in side of the restaurant on the covered (and heated patio). I love the warm, inviting atmosphere and the sushi is truly outstanding. If you haven’t been there, check it out!
- What: Sushi Ran
- Where: 107 Caledonia Street, Sausalito, CA 94965
- Phone: 415-332-3620
- More information: www.sushiran.com
I can’t believe I haven’t written about the Half Day Cafe in Kentfield before. The Half Day Cafe is one of my absolute favorite spots to meet friends for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Half Day is located on College Avenue just across the street from the College of Marin. It has been a Marin County staple for more than 20 years. The restaurant is tucked into a charming brick building built in the 1930’s. It was originally the Kentfield Garage. Half Day is bright and cheery with tall ceilings and huge windows. On a warm, sunny day, it has a great outdoor patio for leisurely dining.
I have never had anything I didn’t like on the menu. Half Day Cafe has phenomenal omelettes, huevos rancheros, and french toast for breakfast. Most of the breakfast options come with a choice of homemade pastry- their scones, cinnamon rolls and muffins are to die for! For lunch, there are many options. I typically go the lunch omelette route unless I am craving a burger and fries. My lunch companions often enjoy delicious homemade soups and tasty salads. Everything on the menu is fresh. The service is always good, and they happily oblige my coffee addiction with frequent refills. This restaurant is tops for me in terms of service and menu.
- Where: The Half Day Cafe
- Address: 848 College Avenue, Kentfield, CA 94904
- What: Breakfast, Lunch & Brunch
One of my big complaints about Marin County is the lack of good, authentic Mexican food. Being born and raised in Arizona, I was blessed with delicious Mexican food restaurants on every corner. I decided I needed to stop complaining and branch out to some of the Mexican food restaurants here in Marin. I stumbled upon Las Camelias in San Rafael. The restaurant has actually been around for 27 years and has repeatedly won awards. How I could live in Marin for this long and never hear about this place is beyond me!
My first impression was good. Nice atmosphere – very clean and nice round tables. The homemade chips- were my favorite type–thick and crispy.
I am a margarita snob, yes I admit this. I have a special recipe I make, so I am almost always disappointed at restaurant margaritas. Since I knew I would be writing a review, I just had to try one. While not in the realm of a “gingerita”, the margarita was actually quite good. It was made with agave and not super sweet.
For my dinner, I had the barbecued shredded beef crispy tacos, which were excellent. The family owned restaurant uses good quality, organic ingredients. I really enjoyed my dinner and look forward to going back to Las Camelias for some traditional Mexican food!
- What: Las Camelias Cocina Mexicana
- Website: http://www.lascameliasrestaurant.com/
- Where: 912 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901 (on Lincoln Ave between 3rd & 4th)
Map to Las Camelias:
Looking for a great burger and fries in Marin? Fifi’s Diner in Greenbrae’s Bon Air Shopping Center is a great little find. The tiny restaurant is located near Peet’s Coffee and Mollie Stones in the Bon Air Shopping Center. I first started going there for frozen yogurt but soon found that it is a great spot for a burgers, chicken and even a great caesar salad. I have been told breakfast is excellent too.
The atmosphere is very casual and kid friendly. Seating inside is limited but there are ample tables and chairs outside- a great spot for lunch on a sunny day in Greenbrae! This is definitely a great neighborhood spot in Marin for casual fare.
This isn’t a healthy stop (more of a greasy spoon type place), but it sure tastes good!
Try it out:
Fifi’s Diner
284 Bon Air Shopping Center
Greenbrae, California
415-461-3247
I read a disturbing article in the Marin IJ this morning. Seems 29 Marin restaurants have received three or more health visits in 2007. I was shocked to find many of my normal spots on the list including Boudin SF, California Pizza Kitchen, Dipsea Cafe, Yankee Pier, E&O Trading Co, Left Bank, Marin Brew Co, Noonans, Sushi Ko and Yankee Pier. Uggh. I hope all of these Marin restaurants take these violations seriously and get them fixed.
Marin has lots of great places for breakfast. Probably one of the most well known is the Dipsea Cafe in Mill Valley. The Dipsea was named after the seven mile Dipsea trail which starts in downtown Mill Valley. The trail is famous for the annual Dipsea Race, the second oldest foot race in they country.Interestingly enough, the Dipsea Cafe is not located on the Dipsea trail. It is located on shoreline just off the 101 freeway in Mill Valley. Parking can be tight at this busy Mill Valley restaurant.
The Dipsea is very casual. The interior is bright and cheery with a blue and yellow interior. The menu is diverse and has daily specials. Whether you like pancakes or huevos rancheros, everything I have tasted is excellent with generous portions. The biscuits are supposed to be amazing, although I have not tried them. My favorite lunch item is the gyro with greek salad. YUM. The Dipsea is a family friendly restaurant with a special menu for kids.
The Dipsea Cafe is located at 200 Shoreline Highway in Mill Valley, California. Phone (415) 381-0298. Reservations are not accepted.
There are many child friendly restaurants in Marin. Here are just a few of my favorites:
350 Harbor Dr, Sausalito – (415) 331-3474
This Sausalito restaurant is pricey, but I love it. Order at the counter and sit inside or out (but bring a coat). The fish tacos are great, the setting is fantastic. The fish is fresh and local!
301 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera (415) 413-9890
P.F. Changs in Corte Madera is a great addition to kid friendly restaurants in Marin. Mine seem to love all the noodle and rice dishes. We dined recently at 5:30 p.m. and ran into many families just like us, trying to dine early before bed time for young kids. P.F. Chang’s is located at Corte Madera Town Center. Check out my review of P.F. Changs when it first opened in Corte Madera.
800 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley – (415) 383-0600
Pizza Antica is located in Mill Valley’s Strawberry Village, just off the 101 Highway at Tiburon Boulevard. It is noisy and perfect for kids, with a large menu featuring pizza, pasta and salads. Think black and white checkered floors in a big open room. The decibel level goes up at Pizza Antica when it gets crowded, so don’t go for a romantic dinner for two.
15 Main St, Tiburon – (415) 435-3440
Located on Main Street in downtown Tiburon, this charming pizzeria is a great place to take the kids. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. The menu includes pizza, pasta and some really good salads. If you are going with a larger group, check to see if the back room is available. It is a great place to let the little ones run around while you have an adult conversation.
286 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur – (415) 924-7676
Great food, and kid friendly- hard to imagine! This Larkspur restaurant is part of the Lark Creek Restaurant Group- so the food is simply outstanding. It is located just a short distance from the Lark Cree Inn in an old house. The front has outdoor picnic tables which are great for families. It is open and inviting in the summer months, enclosed and heated in the warm months. Kids love the sandbox on the outdoor patio.
Looking for a good burger in Marin? An exceptional martini? A delicious Ahi tuna nicoise salad?Buckeye Roadhouse is the place to go. Described as “a beautiful, cozy, Aspen lodge-like dining room, complete with fireplace,” “The Buckeye” is tops. It is probably one of my all time favorite restaurants. Located just off the 101 freeway in Mill Valley at the Stinson Beach exit, the Buckeye is convenient, but more importantly, a fabulous Marin dining experience.
Most nights the bar is packed, as is the restaurant, so make your reservations well in advance. Think two martini lunches are long gone? Not at the Buckeye -any time seems worthy of a martini.
It seems like it would challenging to make a burger special- but Buckeye does it. Think mouthwatering, juicy, yum-yum good. Other great finds- oysters bingo, chili-lime “Brick” chicken, the filet mignon & the pulled pork sandwich with homemade potato chips. Top it off with an glass of wine from the exceptional wine list and first class service- this is dining at it’s best! (Did I say how much I like The Buckeye?)
The Buckeye Roadhouse
15 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, California (415) 331-2600.