Grand Hyatt SFO

The Grand Hyatt at SFO (NOT Grand Hyatt San Francisco) was such a pleasurable hotel stay that I may fly into or out of SFO overnight just to stay there again! A long road trip to Sonoma for a wedding required an overnight stay for me to recuperate enough to arrive at the celebration with a smile on my face :) 

After my usual stopover at Harris Ranch to refuel the car and my body, it was a relief to arrive to a beautiful, clean, comfortable, and new LEED hotel. The most challenging part of my arrival was figuring out how to drive into the hotel! Several employees said they also had trouble for a week or two when they started working there because it is very tricky if you are driving into the hotel. Most guests take the skytrain which comes in directly to the hotel from SFO, so there were flight crews mixed in with people with luggage checking in and out as they perused the very handy flight board behind the check in counter. Rooms during my 2 stays were about $350 including all taxes, fees, and valet parking (which I paid for in advance using the Hyatt app as a member, and it was a reasonable $36 a night with in and out privileges, as opposed to double price for hotel parking in SF proper).

Not much action at the airport, but one waiter said every 2 months or so there is actually an event that calls for the emergency crews to scramble to this area.

The 2 story lobby atrium sculpture looks great both day and night, and from both above and below.

I asked for an ADA room without feathers and they delivered a wonderfully comfy bed, with 2 sets of robes, slippers, and a note from housekeeping saying that it was checked for feathers before my arrival!

The removable shower/tub seat was handy for getting in and out, and the handle bars were thoughtfully placed at different levels. The door also had a wheelchair level peep hole! All the bath products were natural and smelled fabulous! I loved the specifically marked makeup towel next the sink!

The room itself had a space for either a laptop or food tray, along with a safe, refrigerator, Nespresso machine, and tea kettle, along with coffee capsules, tea bags, and alkaline water bottles in metal containers!

Their in house restaurant was just one of the options for guests, including a lobby bar and self service 24 hour snack area (that was VERY expensive-$15 for 3 bags of snacks). But overall the restaurant prices were very reasonable from drinks to food, offering mostly Asian fusion cuisine and a full bar. Their menus are all on tablets, and their staff was universally professional, kind, and efficient.

Since I wasn't driving until the next day, I ordered a Grey Goose Dirty Martini and it was the perfect antidote after 6 hours on the road :)

Their tomato soup was a welcoming light comfort start to a meal.

I ordered the Bloomsdale spinach salad, which used crisp pork belly instead of bacon, for a hearty savory crunch, and this meal was very hearty and HUGE so it would have made for a great meal by itself.

Not knowing the portion sizes until I ordered, I also had the fried rice which was easily enough to feed 3 people!

On my return trip, I learned to order less, but again the gem salad was probably enough for a full meal, but I was hungry, so I ordered the fried chicken, which ended up being two meals with the gai lan and coconut rice on the side. The marketplace snack bar next to the lobby has a microwave, which the waiter recommended for heating up leftovers :)

Monta Factory Glendale

My previous review of their place in Pasadena was 5 years ago! Monta Factory, is one of the places that not only survived the pandemic, but expanded their presence to a bigger second location in Glendale. The new location is MUCH MUCH bigger with indoor and outdoor seating, a large parking lot, and big photos of the menu items. This is a very casual place, serving everything on either paper or foil plates, and everything is easily made to go.

I invited 2 friends who had never been to either location to join me, so we ordered the Hangry sized Monta platter for $20 with the works on it. We couldn't finish this platter because we also ordered the small tomato soup for $8 with monta, 2 salmon sandwiches with wild salmon for $15.50, and 2 orders of the cheese Booreg for $2.75 each.

On our visit, the salmon was overcooked in the sandwiches, but a squeeze of lemon helped. 

They offered us a complimentary samples of the Eech salad made with bulgar, tomatoes, red onions, jalapenos, olive oil and spices that was very light and refreshing.

Bianca and The Rose

I've enjoyed all my meals at Bianca, and brunch last week was no exception. Their seafood salad was one of the best I've ever eaten, with tender squid, shrimp, clams, and mussels, all perfectly seasoned and lightly cooked so that the pure flavors sparkled when hit with a squeeze of lemon for $26

The skirt steak sandwich was on special that day and a filling rendition with a nice balance of meat, vegetables, and bread, served alongside a small salad.

Eggplant parmigiana for $20 was exquisitely comforting in a vegetarian way ;) Service is always impeccable, and if you just keep your sights on the patio, you can image being in Italy instead of Culver City.

Since Bianca is not open everyday for breakfast or lunch, I went with a friend to The Rose in Venice. I think the first time I ate at the Rose was several decades ago, so the fact that this place is still open and still thriving is remarkable in terms of any business, but especially in the restaurant business, and even more so after the pandemic changed everyone's sense of what was necessary and what was valuable in life. 

Their side salad is a nice way to add some fresh greens when you order something that comes with chips or fries...

like their shrimp burger with a side of homemade chips! The shrimp burger had a nice shrimp shui mai texture, and the bun was good enough to eat on its own. I liked that they used a slice of heirloom tomato and a lively leaf of lettuce in the sandwich.

If you are coming from the gym around the corner, or simply want a power breakfast, they have a Gold's Special with egg whites, poultry sausage, great mushrooms, spinach, sweet potatoes, and half a ripe avocado!

Service was great from the wait staff and bus person, but terrible from the hostess made me give her my phone number to "waitlist me" and then seated us immediately since there was no one else  waiting for a table! It was a nonsensical move that added on to my displeasure of her ignoring us until we stood at the host stand for 5 minutes. On the plus side, they took care of a safety hazard at the front door that we mentioned upon arrival in the time it took us to eat!

Zinqué Venice Happy Hour

After trying Zinqué for dinner, I went back the following week for happy hour :)

Their pan con tomate with prosciutto for $6 was a wonderful introduction to their happy hour menu with a generous portion of prosciutto on marvelous toasted bread.

Perhaps my favorite item on their happy hour menu was the grilled artichokes with a saffron aioli for $11. I could have easily eaten another plate!

I was very impressed by their paté de campagne on poilane bread for $5. The picture is of only half the portion so that I could get a close up of the texture. Served with proper cornichons, all I needed was a little dijon to make this a truly French appetizer!

For the Americans who crave chicken wings, they offered a sweet version for $8.

I was still hungry so I ordered the grilled asparagus for $13

and the grilled shrimp for $17, neither of which was on the happy hour menu, but offered on the dinner menu. Both portions were quite substantial and perfectly done, not over cooked, and nicely seasoned. 

They offer several cocktails and glasses of wine during happy hour for $10-$11, so you might want to get a ride there and back home if you want to enjoy carefree leisurely sipping between 4-6pm M-F :)

Zinqué Venice Dinner

Zinqué has been on my radar for awhile, but until someone I know actually suggested going, I did not make it a priority. It has moved to my regular rotation list now :)

We started with ratatouille socca (chick pea flour snack) for $16. It was a nice version, but the socca was quite flat and crisp, making it more like a Roman pizza, but the flavors and textures were good, and it was a great appetizer to share since each socca is cut into 2 pieces.

My friend Liana ordered the mussels and fries for $23 and generously shared both her mussels and fries :)

Another friend ordered the short rib pappardelle for $26. A hefty hearty bowl that needed a bit more cooking time for the short rib to get to the point of tenderness that would have made this perfection. 

I was very happy with my branzino for $34, stuffed with lemon, and grilled until the skin was crisp while the flesh was still tender. It was a gigantic portion, so I shared it with my table mates who all liked it even though they had all demurred at first ;)

I am looking forward to trying their breakfast, brunch, and happy hour dishes soon!

Dialog Cafe

Finding great coffee and great food at the same place is a rare and welcome combination. I wished I lived closer to Dialog Cafe, but the trip to West Hollywood is definitely worth it. Parking can be tricky during prime brunch hours, but you may get lucky with the metered parking across the street or you can park a little bit further on Sunset and walk off your meal:)

Yes, I am a coffee snob, and their blend of expertise and good beans makes an excellent cup of oat milk cappuccino. I've also tried their latte and they are equally good for those who prefer a bit more milk (oat or whatever else you might prefer). Their freshly squeezed orange juice is at the cash register counter, if you want something other than or in addition to your coffee.

Their brisket verde breakfast burrito is hearty, filling, and a bargain at $12.95

If you want a standard breakfast plate, called the Westside for $13.95, every component is perfectly executed, from the crisp bacon, to the homemade strawberry jam, and hash browns that set the paradigm for hash browns.

Their brisket is so good, that anything you order with the brisket will be a winner, like this brisket bowl for $14.50 that is like a decadent version of steak and eggs.

I love their vegan kimchi bowl for $13.95 so much that I ordered it on two occasions and both times, I devoured the entire bowl both times! The combination of pickled, fermented, and crunchy textures is one of the best uses of kimchi I've ever eaten!

Their protein omelet for $12.95 was so flavorful and full of turkey, spinach, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and parmesan that I was full all afternoon!

If you are in the neighborhood, or want to take a short drive, Dialog is definitely a place to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat. The service is top notch, from the people taking the orders at the register, to the food runners, and their sidewalk is dog friendly with plenty of shade.

Picalilli

Picalilli has been on my radar for awhile, and I'm glad I finally taste tested their fusion cuisine on a balmy afternoon. They have a very spacious dog friendly patio, with plenty of heat lamps when Los Angeles gets chilly (that translates to around 50-60F).

I went with a local who had also not tried them yet, so we sent our tastebuds out to explore several plates, starting with the hamachi crudo for $22. It was a lovely presentation with fresh fish and edible flowers.

One the specials was an eggplant and pepper side dish that could easily have been a main course alongside some of the spicy crispy rice salad.

The spicy crispy rice salad for $18 was not spicy hot, but spicy complex that would please any vegetarian looking for something slightly different yet comforting at the same time.

I specifically came on a day they offered octopus, which was beautifully charred and tender, having come from a nice fire and delicate handling. 

I didn't need dessert, but my friend did, we we ordered the white chocolate blondie for $13 that was easily enough to share, but I graciously only tasted and allowed my friend the indulgence of a double portion of dessert :)

They offer brunch, happy hour, and craft cocktails, so there's still plenty for me to explore next time!

Metro Breakfasts

It's serendipitous when a favorite local place opens up a new outpost in another location that just happens to be a city that I frequent and where I have friends. The gigantic breakfasts at Metro Cafe in Culver City are available in El Segundo with the same people running both places, so it was wonderful to be greeted as a regular in a new location!

Their California scramble served with fresh fruit for $17 is as vibrant and fresh as it looks, and there is no way to finish this plate unless your appetite is gigantic!

They offer a yogurt, granola and fruit bowl for those days when you want something simple. I am always amazed by how ripe their fruit is on all their plates!

One day I wanted something a bit smaller so I opted for 2 eggs over medium with some of their wonderful guacamole with a side of fruit and an English muffin. A bit smaller was still a very filling breakfast plate!

I don't remember what this dish was because it was my friend's plate and I didn't eat it! But it looked beautiful and all my friends know that dining with me means I must take a picture before they taste anything :)

Since I'm heading down that way again next week, I'll have to figure out what the plate was, order it, and taste it!