Epinions Recent Reviews for lyre

An indifferent dinner at the South Park Cafe

Fri, 31 Aug 2001 22:51:24 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - I went to the South Park Cafe with a friend last night, and found it to be of indifferent quality, as many supposedly good restaurants in San Francisco unfortunately seem to be.

For starters, I got the Heirloom Tomato Salad ($8.95)and my...

Maybe it used to be good...

Thu, 15 Feb 2001 05:13:25 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - My dining companion and I decided to go to the Cypress Club tonight for three reasons: 1) We had no reservations anywhere else 2) OpenTable suddenly showed an open reservation only 45 minutes away 3) It was Valentine's day, and Cypress Club seemed a...

Unassuming but tasty!

Thu, 23 Nov 2000 06:40:33 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Chapeau! is a fairly small, crowded (when we attended, on the night before Thanksgiving -- a night not known for crowds) room in a quiet residential neighborhood. The decor is a bit tacky (a mural of a hat blowing in the wind, stencils on the walls),...

The most overrated Thai in San Francisco

Fri, 18 Aug 2000 05:47:19 GMT

rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Thai food is rarely bad. It seems to be a cultural characteristic of Thais that it's difficult for them to cook poorly. While Chinese restaurants vary widely in quality from great to horrid, Thai food is usually good to great, hardly ever poor.
...

LowestFare.com: Only sometimes the lowest...

Sat, 17 Jun 2000 09:14:31 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Lowestfare.com really does have the lowest fare. Sometimes.

But it has the lowest fare only in a very specific set of circumstances. Other sites are better in other cases. I'll explain what I mean in a second, but let's look at an example...

The New Bruno's

Sat, 17 Jun 2000 08:22:33 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Bruno's has just reopened after a several month hiatus. The review by Nicky1970 is of the previous incarnation of the place.

Bruno's closed after a year or more of declining quality and declining attendance. It was then purchased by the owner...

The French have it!

Thu, 15 Jun 2000 07:54:15 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - It's easy to dismiss the current super-premium spirits craze as just a fad, and in fact it may be one. I've tried numerous liquors in pretty bottles with trendy names, and only some of them seem really unique and worth the price.

Citadelle...

A good Sunday Union Square Meal

Mon, 12 Jun 2000 04:43:40 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - It was Sunday, and we happened to be in Union Square, wanting a fancy dinner. Most restaurants were closed, and many (Scala's, for instance) were booked up.

"Let's go to the Grand Cafe," I say, "It's so huge it's bound to have...

OK Basque at OK prices

Sat, 10 Jun 2000 19:27:12 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - We decided to go to Pastis by accident... we were walking by. I judge a random restaurant in three ways:

- how happy do the diners look?

- how interesting is the menu?

- what are the prices?

And then, once inside there's...

first class airline food

Wed, 31 May 2000 00:43:51 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Albona is the best bad restaurant I've ever been to.

It's an odd thing to say, but let me explain.

We'd decided to try Albona after seeing it listed in the San Francisco Chronicle's "The Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants"...

pan-asian mish mosh

Wed, 31 May 2000 00:03:58 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Tin Pan is a pan-Asian restaurant, with dishes from various places around Asia, reinterpreted for the US market.

I'm always suspicious of such places, and Tin Pan unfortunately did not do anything to make me change my opinion.

...

loads of fun, but don't come for the food

Tue, 30 May 2000 04:04:25 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - It's always a fiesta at La Rondalla. The blinking lights and decorations help make it that way, the free-flowing pitchers of Margaritas help too, and the dueling mariachi bands finish the job of creating the fiesta atmosphere.

Dueling...

Excellent sushi in a "new Mission" atmosphere

Mon, 29 May 2000 22:03:19 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - When Tokyo Go Go opened up, various long-time Mission dweller friends expressed dismay. "It looks like it belongs in the Marina." "Full of yuppies!" "I'll never go in there."

I kind of agreed. It did look out of...

High-end Comfort Food

Wed, 12 Apr 2000 08:28:51 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Liberty Cafe is a cozy spot, up on Bernal Hill, in the middle of Bernal Heights' small business district along Cortland Ave.

It's definitely an American place, with chicken pot pie as its signature dish.

I've eaten here several...

Great food in a Gay atmosphere

Wed, 12 Apr 2000 07:52:03 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - 2223 Market is one of the better places in San Francisco in its pricerange. There are only a few items on the menu at any one time, and these change, so make sure there's something you want before going.

But everything is cooked beautifully...

fun food, beer and music too!

Wed, 12 Apr 2000 07:34:11 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - First, let's get out of the way what Radio Valencia isn't: it isn't a fine dining restaurant. Don't expect roast duck breast, chanterelle mushroom puff pastry or profiteroles here.

Radio Valencia's fare is all about salads, pizza, sandwiches,...

Good, but not THAT good

Wed, 12 Apr 2000 07:13:22 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Before I start, a question:

Why is it that Asian restaurants with American names and which may hire caucasians as waiters seem to be taken seriously and do well, while those with Asian names (like Fung Lo, for example) which hire Asian...

Nice Indian Food, but a bit pushy

Wed, 12 Apr 2000 06:53:31 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Indian Oven is good. No denying it, it's good. They have real tandoori (which requires a large clay urn filled with hot coals to make properly), the breads are puffy and cooked right, the food is just spicy enough and not too oily, and is made with fresh...

Fine fare, especially late at night

Fri, 7 Apr 2000 05:35:07 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - El Zocalo is a good place for a late dinner, especially if you're in the mood for something hearty and filling.

Like many of the restaurants in the area, Zocalo makes excellent pupusas, which are like doughy pancakes filled with beans,...

Old-school lousy Italian

Fri, 7 Apr 2000 05:25:16 GMT

rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author lyre - Remember how Italian food used to be in America? Take some canned tomato sauce, some spaghetti, add a lot of supermarket cheese and serve with a flourish?

Well, if you thought that was long gone and are feeling nostalgic, come to La Traviata...