Epinions Recent Reviews for calvarez

Terrific tapas

Tue, 23 Apr 2002 19:07:52 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - I've lost count of how many tapas restaurants there are in the Mission/Valencia area between 18th and 22nd streets. Similarly, most of those places are utterly forgettable -- either too greasy, or ruined by misguided notions of fusion cuisine...

An overlooked treasure

Wed, 18 Jul 2001 21:22:13 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Angkor Wat is one of those solidly good and entirely under-hyped restaurants that makes San Francisco great.

They serve Cambodian food (for the unfamiliar, it's somewhat similar to Thai), beautifully presented with flavors expertly...

Worth its weight in gold (cards)

Tue, 17 Jul 2001 19:59:30 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - This is a mystery novel of sorts. I normally don't like mysteries, because they're either too obvious or too deliberately hard-to-follow. It's a rare one where you-the-reader can discover the clues at exactly the same pace -- and with the same baited...

Direct deposit into NetBank

Mon, 16 Jul 2001 20:13:15 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - I've been a happy NetBank customer for about 6 months now. I opened a checking account first, and was pleased enough with their interest rates and service that I opened up a money market account and a short-term CD.

I had tried several...

Overrated and outclassed

Mon, 19 Feb 2001 19:47:52 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - La Folie is often named as one of San Francisco's finest French restaurants, although after having dined there on Valentine's Day, I can't understand why.

Overpriced, crowded, and unprofessional waitstaff made for an underwhelming experience.
...

Simple and delightful

Tue, 9 Jan 2001 19:17:39 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - If you've been in the Japan Center, you've probably walked past Maki a dozen times without noticing it. It's a small nook of a place, with the blonde wood counters and bamboo typical to Japantown.

When you step inside, you notice that there...

San Francisco's Best Steak

Mon, 8 Jan 2001 02:25:07 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - If you want a great steak in San Francisco, the place to go is Izzy's. I've been to all the other "bests", and Izzy's is the only steakhouse worth going back to. Located in the Marina, Izzy's is a fairly unassuming-looking restaurant -- aged...

Verizon Mobile Phone Service in San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland: Hello? Hello? Are you still there?

Thu, 4 Jan 2001 03:35:38 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - When I got my cell phone activated, I wanted to go with GTE Wireless, because I knew several people with that carrier who used their cell phones constantly without complaint. But when I got to my friendly neighborhood GTE store, there was a big banner:...

The best 30-second makeup tip

Thu, 16 Nov 2000 04:56:40 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - I have to admit, I was a little dubious about shelling out $26 for what looked like a bottle of colored water ... especially since I had never been very successful with wearing blush. But the BeneFit BeneTint is now easily the best thing in my makeup...

No more gritty kitty

Mon, 6 Nov 2000 19:05:05 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Despite only having one small cat, there was a whole lot of little clay litter pebbles in our apartment. We tried the standard "no tracking litter" -- didn't make a difference. We tried putting a mat under the box -- no difference. So I...

The best cookbook

Sat, 7 Oct 2000 23:03:28 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - _The Best Recipe_ looks more like a textbook than a cookbook, but don't be fooled by its lack of glossy pictures. (I mean, who actually makes food that looks so perfect, anyways?)

This cookbook takes a unique approach -- the cooks of Cooks...

Best of the sticky supplements!

Fri, 22 Sep 2000 22:09:06 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - I have run a marathon and a half-marathon, and lest you be impressed, I must quickly disclaim that I need all the help I can get to get my body through those distances. So I've tried a fair number of the "power" snack products on the market...

Weak colors go on goopy

Fri, 22 Sep 2000 19:07:03 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - The Maybelline Cool Effect cream looks wonderful in the plastic tube -- subtly glittery, smooth, pleasant colors. Unfortunately, there's really nothing good I can say about this product.

The cream is not thick but very liquid-y, which...

Great food, great experience

Sun, 30 Jan 2000 04:58:05 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Whether you're a devotee of Korean food or you can't tell kimchee from a chopstick, you'll enjoy your evening at Brothers Restaurant. This modest-looking Korean barbeque restaurant is popular enough to warrant a Brothers #2 just a block down. Both...

Rock on, somewhere else

Sun, 30 Jan 2000 00:26:14 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Why is it that Hard Rock Cafes are so popular? I've been dragged along to go to quite a few of them by now, and they're all the same: some rock n' roll memorabilia plastered to the walls, harried-looking waitresses, sulky kids and unimpressive food...

Mediocre Thai

Sun, 30 Jan 2000 00:04:22 GMT

rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Yukol Place combines disappointing Thai food with average prices and a pleasant but not exceptional atmosphere. Located in the Marina district of San Francisco, Yukol Place is within walking distance of at least four other Thai restaurants. My advice...

Style over substance

Thu, 27 Jan 2000 07:52:26 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Ace Wasabi's Rock n' Roll sushi is more hip than delicious, although you could probably have guessed that from the name. This trendy Marina eatery (is that redundant?) serves up aesthetically-pleasing side dishes and decent sushi in some unique...

Eat, linger, enjoy!

Thu, 27 Jan 2000 07:07:07 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Walking past all of the splashy neon signs and huge outdoor restaurants on Columbus Avenue, you might accidentally pass right by Cafe Michelangelo without noticing it. That would be a travesty, because this little eatery offers excellent Italian food at...

Disappointed in North Beach

Thu, 27 Jan 2000 06:34:13 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - L'Osteria del Forno's food is about on par with any typical suburban Italian "cute" eatery. Unfortunately, L'Osteria is located right in the heart of San Francisco's North Beach, surrounded by dozens of far superior Italian restaurants.
...

Lucksmiths: Adorable -and- Australian accents

Wed, 26 Jan 2000 00:50:49 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - My introduction to The Lucksmiths came when my roommate Aaron sent me an mp3 of their song "Under the Rotunda" with this notation: "This is the cutest song in the world."

"I've been here for hours / I can't see the...

"Why sit still when you've got a swivel chair?"

Tue, 25 Jan 2000 23:00:38 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Ten minutes is all you'd need to get hooked on Nothing Painted Blue's energetic, intense pop. Their single, _Swivelchair_ starts off with the title song. A catchy guitar intro and the opening line:

"I want to sit in your office / I want to...

A masterpiece album: clever, full of life and great sounds

Tue, 25 Jan 2000 05:34:09 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - The Loud Family's _Interbabe Concern_ is an album packed with intelligence and wordplay, sounds of baroque and synth, and terribly wonderfully catchy pop music sounds.

"I cross the room like a dancing architect / A daddy waltz on the...

Kozmo Online Store: Kozmo: another reason to love the Web

Tue, 25 Jan 2000 04:44:36 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - You know the situation: you're sitting at home, feeling lazy and hungry, and there's nothing on television. Now you can stay in your sweats and get snacks and a great movie delivered to you in less than an hour, for the same price you'd pay if you had...

Spedia: My computer dislikes this program; so should you

Tue, 25 Jan 2000 03:59:02 GMT

rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - Spedia is one of the many "pay for surf" sites who try to get your attention by claiming that they pay 60 cents or more an hour (more than the now standard and trusted program, AllAdvantage). Of course, if you read the fine print you'll see...

Ebates.com: Buy stuff, get money back. No strings.

Tue, 25 Jan 2000 03:26:57 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author calvarez - If you buy stuff online, you'd be crazy to -not- sign up for Ebates.com.

You don't have to pay anything, don't have to download anything -- just go through their site to shop at the merchants that you'd shop at anyways, and get up to a 25%...