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| Where we go when we have a little more to spend. | |||
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Sushi: Minako specializes
in organic Japanese food and sushi, with some tasty vegetarian and vegan
options, as well. Although the food is amazingly fresh, creative and delicious,
the key to enjoying your dining experience is knowing in advance that
it takes a really, really long time to prepare. So, have a snack and then
head over; by the time you're hungry again, your food will be ready. Try
the Green River roll (spicy vegetarian eel and cucumber wrapped with rice
and topped with spinach and avocado and a spicy, sriracha-like sauce),
the Rainbow roll (crab and avocado wrapped with rice and topped with yellowtail,
ahi, BBQ eel, albacore and salmon) and the ae mono (ahi sashimi with steamed
spinach and shredded nori). So good! Chinese: Cozy and romantic, with to-die-for nouveau Chinese cuisine, Firecracker is our favorite Mission bistro for special occasions. Start with their hot and sour soup - not too eggy, with big chunks of shiitake and tofu - the crispy crab rolls and the spicy calamari with spinach. Also don't miss the gold bean tofu with a savory, garlicky sauce, the sweet and crunchy walnut prawns and the melt-in-your-mouth seared ahi with caramelized onions. Tapas/Spanish: We knew we were off to a good start when the bread came with an amazing roasted red pepper dipping sauce (you'll need more). The menu includes the standard tapas (try the escalivada - grilled slices of eggplant, zucchini, tomato, green pepper and red onion drizzled in a light vinaigrette; and the combinaacion de gambes y vieras - prawns and scallops in a rich garlic lobster sauce), paellas and several seafood and meat entrees; we opted for the lubina, a delicate baked sea bass topped with chopped tomatoes, onions, oregano and parsley and served with mashed potatoes; and the chuleta de cerdo, a giant pork chop grilled to tender perfection and served with tangy mustard sauce, vegetables and Spanish rice. The beautiful, dimly lit dining room has a patio feel and also doubles as a stage - you're likely to be treated to live flamenco music and dancing.
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Italian: La Traviata is known
for its romantic opera theme and its straightforward, traditional Italian
delicacies. The appeal of some of the standout dishes lies in their simplicity:
the sogliole (filet of sole) piccata - simple and delicate with plenty
of flavorful capers, served with housemade tortellini; or the pasta ai
funghi, with mushrooms, fresh tomatoes and garlic. Also try the pasta
carbonara and the pasta tinta, with sauteed calamari in a rich tomato
puree and ink sauce. Thai: If you're worried
about missing Suriya Thai, don't be: There's a giant elephant painted
on the garage next door. We love the suriya kanom bueng - a humongous
crepe filled with shrimp, tofu, coconut, peanuts, sesame seeds and bean
sprouts - a unique and amazingly tasty appetizer. Other favorites include
the rich pumpkin curry, the Pacific Rim ginger sea bass, steamed in garlic
and ginger and served in a tamarind and plum sugar sauce; the terrifically
lemongrassy tom som salmon soup w/ginger, mushrooms and tamarind; and
the green duet - prawns and scallops with yellow noodles and pumpkin in
a spicy green curry. If you're lucky, Suriya himself will be in the kitchen. Mediterranean: Medjool occupies a gutted and renovated, two-story former office space. Now part cafe, part lounge and part dining room (with a hostel upstairs), it's gorgeous and colorful with beautiful lighting and an intimate atmosphere. Innovative takes on Mediterranean dishes are served in the ever-popular small plates format, and they can add up to an expensive meal, but damn, they're tasty. Try the grilled portobello and asparagus salad with haloumy cheese to start. Other standouts include the Zhoug-marinated shrimp served over a perfectly spicy-sweet tomato jam, the grilled vegetable b'stilla (wrapped in filo dough) with goat cheese, and the grape leaf-wrapped halibut with preserved lemon caperberry butter. Brunch: At night, Levende
serves up innovative small plates, exotic cocktails, and pumping beats,
but the real fun is on Sunday afternoons at their "Boogie Brunch."
A combination of the swanky but comfy interior, the make-your-own Bloody
Mary bar, the DJ spinning breaks in the background and the rich, deluxe
versions of standard brunch fare - such as crab cakes benedict, goat cheese
quiche and truffled scrambled eggs - make this a truly indulgent way to
spend your early Sunday. |
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