The Student Foodie: SF

Deal Alert: Free FroYo in San Mateo this Saturday

2009-04-02T14:09:00.001-07:00

Regular readers of this blog will remember my review of Tuttimelon in West Portal last month. If you live on the Peninsula or want to make the trek this weekend, Tuttimelon is offering a free small frozen yogurt with two toppings at the grand opening of their newest location in San Mateo.

Print out the coupon on Tuttimelon's website and head over for a free treat. It is only available this Saturday, April 4th.

Photo by Nick T. on Yelp.

Tuttimelon
165 E. 4th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 863-0886

$1 Oysters and $4 Draft Beers Every Tuesday

2009-04-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is my first food vlog. I went to Woodhouse Fish Company in the Castro with two friends last Tuesday. Watch the video below to see what we ordered.

Because it was a little noisy in the restaurant, I have provided a transcript below in case you can't understand what I am saying.

Student Foodie: Hello, the Student Foodie here coming to you with a live food blog. I'm standing in front of Woodhouse Fish Company at 14th and Market Streets in the Castro district of San Francisco. It's Tuesday night and it's packed inside because every Tuesday from 4 PM to close, Woodhouse offers $1 oysters and $4 draft pints. It's really a great deal and I'm hungry, so lets go inside and meet up with some of my friends.

The oysters being offered tonight Blue Point and Hood Canal. We got here at 7:30 and they had already ran out of the Blue Point Oysters, so we ordered a dozen of the Hood Canal. They're from Washington State. Let's give them a try. They're very good and $1 a piece is a great bargain. I also got my $4 pint of Sierra Nevada, which is delicious, and Hilda ordered the Anchor Steam. Cheers!

Hilda ordered the half Dungeness Crab.

Hilda: Here's the half Dungeness Crab - $10 for a half or $20 for a whole. I love Dungeness Crab and we get coleslaw, lemon and some nice butter sauce with it. So, it's quite delicious.

Student Foodie: We also ordered the fish and chips. It's $12.50 for a three piece. The fish is Alaskan Cod and it's beer battered in Anchor Steam. How can you beat that? It's so delicious. It's flaky and crispy at the same time. I've got to try one of these chips. I love the fries here. They're perfectly crispy and they're my favorite kind of fries - the thin, little shoestring fries. So crispy and so delicious.

Dinner was great and the bill came to $48. With tip, that's less than $20 per person. We had a dozen oysters, a half Dungeness crab and a three piece fish and chips - and beers, you can't beat that. This is as close as you can get to the East Coast without leaving San Francisco. Woodhouse is opening a new location in Pac. Heights in a couple of months. They hired the executive chef from Swan Oyster Depot, so that's something to be on the lookout for. Woodhouse Fish Company at Market Street and 14th in San Francisco, come here and have a great meal.

Woodhouse Fish Company
2073 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 437-2722

$$

Holy Mole!

2009-03-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

I first saw mole on a restaurant menu last year in New York City. The description went something like this: "Chicken bathed in a spicy chocolate and cinnamon mole sauce." Wait! Chicken and chocolate? That can't be good, but the adventurous eater in me had to order it. Guess what. It was to die for.

Photo by Aaron Gustafson on Flickr.

Back in San Francisco, the mole experience had slipped into a far corner of my mind until one night when a friend suggested we eat at Velvet Cantina in the Mission. As I slipped into a cozy booth and scanned the menu, the dish leaped from the page. "Tender marinated chicken drenched in a rich, mildly spicy mole sauce with hints of chocolate and cinnamon" ($12.49). Sold!

The dish was everything I remembered and more. Velvet Cantina's take consists of three tender chicken legs that are indeed "drenched" in a perfectly spiced mole, topped with cilantro. Completing the plate are generous helpings of rice and your choice of beans. I recommend the refried, which are made without lard and are relatively more healthy than most. The dish is served with three warm tortillas, with which to make your own chicken mole tacos. The entree is very filling and I usually end up taking leftovers home.

Also included in your meal are endless chips and salsa. Velvet Cantina's chips are perfect: warm, crisp and freshly fried. The salsa is also very good.

I have eaten at Velvet Cantina four times. On each subsequent visit, I have contemplated ordering something other than the mole, but I just can't do it. The menu includes other tempting entrees like chili verde ($10.99), achiote steak tacos ($12.49) and shrimp diablo ($13.99). Entree prices range from $10.49 - $15.99.

A house margarita ($6) or a seasonal fresh fruit margarita ($6.50) is a nice accompaniment to your meal. Velvet Cantina serves stiff margaritas made with fresh juices. No sickeningly sweet drinks here. These margaritas pack a punch.

Bottom line: Velvet Cantina's delicious chicken mole keeps me coming back for more. As hard as I try, I cannot stray to other menu items. Why mess with a good thing?

Velvet Cantina
3349 23rd Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-4142

$$ (without alcohol)

Gialina: My favorite pizza in the city

2009-03-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

I am a fan of Italian-style thin-crust pizzas. I have been to many pizzerias in San Francisco that are touted as having the best. For me, Gialina takes the pie.

The owner grew up in a tight-knit Italian family, to which she attributes her love of food. In homage, family photos adorn the walls. The feeling of family translates to the cozy restaurant. The staff is always friendly and attentive and diners often eye one another's dishes, interact and make recommendations.

The menu at Gialina, which changes daily, features a number of perfectly crisp, thin-crust Italian pizzas ($11.50-$17) made with fresh local (and often interesting) ingredients. Wild nettles, dandelion greens, figs, heirloom tomatoes, speck, and Italian sausage are just some of the ingredients featured on the pies.

Photo by Lauren Y. on Yelp.

The menu also features excellent salads offered in small personal sizes ($8-$9) or a larger shareable size ($16-$18). There are also many small plates which are great for sharing. I love the hearty autumnal farro and butternut squash salad. If you are lucky enough to see it offered when you go, you must order it. Also offered are one or two roasted meat options (approx. $17), but I mainly go for the pizzas and salads.

Photo by Sara N. on Yelp.

The wine list features a selection of affordable Italian wines. The staff is very knowledgeable and can make great recommendations. If you can't make up your mind, they will provide you a couple samples from which to choose.

There are many desert selections. On a recent visit, a friend and I ordered a gigantic piece chocolate truffle cake ($7) that was sinfully delicious. I also love the affogoto ($5) with two little scoops of vanilla ice cream and a double espresso poured on top. It is the perfect combination of caffeine and sugar. A selection of ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery ($6) is available each night. No Mission-trek or line waiting required.

Gialina is a little off the beaten path for some San Franciscans, but definitely worth the trip. They do not accept reservations and on the weekends there can sometimes be a lengthy wait, which can be avoided by arriving early or late. The restaurant is open until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10:00 p.m. all other evenings.

Gialina Pizzeria
2842 Diamond St
San Francisco, CA 94131
(415) 239-8500

$$$

Deal Alert: Oatmeal for $1 at Jamba Juice

2009-03-10T01:02:00.000-07:00

Got a buck? With the coupon below, you can trade it in for a wholesome bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh fruit and brown sugar at your friendly neighborhood Jamba Juice.

I haven't taken Jamba up on this deal yet, but what's not to love about a healthy organic breakfast on-the-go for a buck?

Photo courtesy of Jamba Juice.

Just print out the coupon from oatmealforabuck.com and head to your neighborhood Jamba Juice before 3/31/09.

Jamba Juice
Find a location near you

$

Home Prices Are Inflating

2009-03-07T10:31:00.000-08:00

When did eating at Home become a luxury?

I've been eating at Home Restaurant off and on since they opened. The concept of the restaurant has always been affordable comfort food with an urban sensibility.

Photo by Jonas T. on Yelp.

Having not been in a while, I went back last night for a late dinner. It seems prices have been creeping up lately and it was hard to see any hint of the original Home concept on the menu. There is a reason the restaurant does not publish food prices on their website: the entrees are severely overpriced.

I ordered the pork chop with greens and sweet potato gratin ($19). The chop was edible, although a bit overcooked, dry and drizzled with butter to compensate. The sweet potato gratin was the best, and unfortunately the smallest, thing on the plate. The greens were overly spiced and salted. I woke up with dry mouth this morning even though I chugged down three glasses of water while eating. All-in-all, the plate is not worth $19, and certainly not a healthy dinner option.

My friend wanted to share the poutin ($7), which is essentially a bowl of french fries with cheese curd and gravy on top. I felt like I should have been wasted to truly enjoy it.

I want to love their early bird special ($13), which is served from 5-6pm and includes a three course meal (salad, entree, dessert) and a glass of wine. The last few times I have ordered it, however, it seems the entree is whatever they are trying to get rid of in the kitchen - usually a stew of some sort as a vehicle to clear some mystery meat from the kitchen. On one occasion, the desert was a piece of cake that looked like something they had run across the street to buy at Safeway. If the early bird special included actual menu items (possibly in smaller serving sizes), it would be a better deal.

On the upside, service last night was impeccable and the staff generously accommodated us even though we walked in five minutes before closing.

Bottom line: Home's non-rent controlled prices have inflated above the quality of their food.

Home Restaurant
2100 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 503-0333‎

$$$

Deal Alert: 99¢ FroYo in West Portal

2009-03-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

As a frequent visitor to Los Angeles, I have grown to enjoy the delicious and guilt-free goodness of Pinkberry frozen yogurt. The chain has not yet invaded San Francisco, but similar concepts have been popping up around the city in the last few years. None however, have managed to stem a FroYo craze to rival that of Southern California. I have twice been to Jubili in the Fillmore. Their yogurt is good, but a little too out of the way for me to enjoy on a regular basis.

Last week while riding the M line, I noticed a new FroYo shop called Tuttimelon in the heart of West Portal. Imagine my giddiness when I noticed the sign proclaiming a 99¢ grand opening special on frozen yogurt!

Tuttimelon's take on the original tart flavor is a bit more dense than Pinkberry, but perfectly delicious nonetheless. It is available in three sizes: Small 5 oz. (99¢ for a limited time, $2.45 regularly), regular 8 oz. ($3.45) and large 13 oz. ($4.45). If you have not tried this style of frozen yogurt before, imagine the tartness of regular yogurt in a frozen version. It is fat and guilt-free at only 30 calories per ounce.

Fresh fruit, grain and candy toppings are available for an additional cost (95¢ for one, $1.25 for two, $1.55 for three).

Tuttimelon in West Portal currently offers two flavors: Original tart and pomegranate (an additional 50¢). They plan to add more flavors soon. Other Tuttimelon locations in San Francisco and the Bay Area also feature green tea, mango, blueberry, and sugar-free chocolate.

It is yet to be seen if San Francisco will join in the FroYo craze, but with Tuttimelons popping up all over the city, chances look promising. An employee says the 99¢ special will likely last another month or two. If you have never tried the tart treat, now is your chance. If you already love it, what are you waiting for?

Bottom line: A guilt-free treat at under a buck. What's not to love?

Tuttimelon
44 West Portal Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94127

$

Kasa: Homestyle Indian Kati Rolls in the Castro

2009-03-04T00:24:00.000-08:00

Kasa Indian Eatery serves home-style Indian Kati rolls and combination Thali plates in the heart of the Castro. On the restaurant’s website, chef and co-owner Anamika says, “We want to make Indian food that would make our grandmothers proud.” I do not know what her grandmother thinks, but I love it.

The Kati rolls include a meat or vegetarian filling of your choice wrapped in a flaky roti with onions and chutney. On my visit last weekend, I ordered one Chicken Tikka Masala roll and the daily special Gobi Aloo roll, a combination of cauliflower and potato. The Chicken Tikka, served in a creamy tomato sauce, is very spicy and delicious. The Gobi Aloo is mild in comparison and lacked the kick of the Chicken Tikka. It would be a good choice if you enjoy less spicy foods.

The rolls are served with a cool raita sauce in which to dip them. The sauce is an especially great accompaniment to the spiciness of the Chicken Tikka. The rolls are relatively small. I usually order two ($8.95), which makes a nice meal. If you want a snack, order one ($4.95); if you are really hungry, order three ($11.95).

To drink with your meal, Kasa serves assorted beer and wine, a selection of Indian bottled and standard fountain sodas, house-made Mango Lassi ($3), and house-made Chai ($2.50). On my last visit, I ordered a glass of Tripel Karmeliet ($5.50), a beer from Belgium. I would not order it again as I tend to enjoy a fuller bodied and more hoppy beer and because I found the small 20cl glass (approximately .35 pint) overpriced.

Bottom line: Go to Kasa for the delicious Kati rolls. If you wish to imbibe, grab a beer at a nearby neighborhood watering hole after your meal.

Kasa Indian Eatery
4001 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 621-6940

$ (without alcohol)

Castro Tarts (Vietnamese Sandwiches)

2009-03-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

Castro Tarts should really be called Castro Vietnamese Sandwiches. Sure, they serve coffee, Double Rainbow Ice Cream and pastries, but the real reason I come here is for the sandwiches -- my favorite Vietnamese Sandwiches in the city. They're not 100% authentic, but I love the soft, freshly baked bread because it doesn't cut the roof of my mouth like the baguettes the more traditional ones are made on.

The owner and staff are extremely friendly. I am always greeted cheerfully and I look forward to stopping by. Castro Tarts also gets a big plus because I can walk in and order "the usual" and the owner always remembers what it is, even if I have not been in awhile.

My "usual" is a BBQ pork sandwich with pâté ($6.50; $5.50 sans pâté). It is not listed on the menu, but the pâté can be added for an extra buck and it makes the sandwich all the more tasty. The sandwiches are topped with the traditional fixings: fresh cucumber and cilantro, pickled carrots, cilantro and jalapenos to your spice tolerance. Add a soda (50 cents) and you have a delicious bargain lunch. On a rainy or chilly San Francisco day, a small bowl of wonton soup ($3.50) is the perfect accompaniment to your sandwich. They also serve a selection of noodles, rice plates and Phở.

The owner displays a rotating selection of local artwork, which is available for purchase. On my visit this afternoon, I saw a number of pieces from a local artist who cuts up his photos and displays them in 3D format in deep frames. Many of his pieces are of local attractions like The Golden Gate Bridge, The Bay Bridge seen from below on the Embarcadero, the SoMa skyline as seen from Yerba Buena Gardens and my favorite, a view down California Street from Grant.

Bottom line: With fancy and delicious Vietnamese Sandwiches at bargain prices, Castro Tarts is much more than its name suggests.

Castro Tarts
564 Castro St
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 861-3268

$

Chow

2009-02-25T19:03:00.000-08:00

Chow has two locations in San Francisco: Chow on Church Street in the Castro and Park Chow off Irving Street in the Inner Sunset.

I have been eating at Chow for nearly nine years. They have something for everyone. Their menu ranges from salads, to pizzas, burgers, Thai noodles, spaghetti, ribs... you name it. It is a great place to go when you are craving home-style comfort food or when your party can't agree on one type of cuisine. Most dishes are offered in varying sizes and prices, so it's perfect for people of any appetite or budget.

Last Saturday, I ordered the organic pork chops with greens, bacon, apples, onions and polenta. Pork chops and apples is a classic combination and I was eagerly awaiting their arrival. The pork chops were perfect: thick, moist and flame charred. Imagine my disappointment when I found only two or three small pieces of apple hidden in the nest of cooked greens underneath. However, the chops, polenta and greens were still delicious and a good deal at $15.95 ($13.95 if you only want one chop).

On the same visit, a friend ordered a small plate of the old-fashioned spaghetti and meatballs ($8.95). He describes it as what home-style spaghetti should taste like. He found the pasta to have the perfect degree of firmness; the sauce, light and balanced.

Based on previous visits, I would recommend the B.L.T. sandwich with avocado (only available on Saturday) ($9.95), mussels ($7.95) and Thai-style noodles ($9.95 or $12.50). I want to love their burger ($9.75) but it is served on a hard roll, which makes it difficult to eat without falling apart or cutting up one's mouth.

For dessert, my sweet-toothed friends and I ordered Chow's famous warm ginger cake, drizzled with caramel, accompanied by a generous scoop of pumpkin ice cream and the cobbler topped with a scoop of whipped cream. Both were quite good; the ginger cake, outstanding.

The beer selection is great. Any place with Speakeasy on tap is A-OK in my book. The wine selection is well rounded and has improved in recent years, along with a significant increase in prices.

Bottom line: Chow consistently delivers a diverse selection of hearty and familiar comfort food.

Chow
215 Church Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 552-2469

$$ (without alcohol)

Welcome to The Student Foodie: San Francisco

2009-02-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

Anyone who is or has ever been a college student knows: it is easy to eat cheap, it is easy to eat well, but it is difficult to accomplish both simultaneously. This blog will help you do just that.

First, a note about your guide: I became spoiled about food in my late teens when I began working in the wine business. I quickly became accustomed to company and self-paid meals at some of the San Francisco’s finest restaurants. My palate was awoken to a world of delicious food and wine. When I left the wine business in 2007 to become a full-time student, I knew my lifestyle would have to change dramatically but I was not willing to resort to eating fast food and Top Ramen. The world of food is like Pandora’s box: once opened, it is impossible to contain. And so began the search and ultimately the genesis for this blog: places to eat cheap and well in San Francisco.

In future posts, I will blog about restaurants, cafes, bars, desert places, etc. Essentially, any place I find that one can eat or drink well without breaking the bank. I am adventurous in my eating habits and I am always interested in trying different styles of cuisine; this blog will reflect that diversity. It is also a great excuse for me to try out new restaurants.

Even when on a budget, it is nice to treat oneself from time to time. Nobody likes to pay a lot of money for a meal that is not all that great, especially if it is an infrequent treat. Occasionally, I will write about a "splurge worthy" restaurant. These will be pricier restaurants at which I have dined twice or more and that consistently provide an excellent experience.

Each restaurant review will include a rating on the average price of dinner per person.

$: < $10
$$: $10 - $19.99
$$$: $20 - $29.99
$$$$: $30 +