22984 Fri Feb 14 12:21:07 -0800 2003 8 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 86252 We are going to an event tonight in Berkeley (Fourth Street), and so will be challenged with having to find dinner out on a chaotic Valentine's evening. Any ideas for lowkey places that won't be hit by the V-Day drama? I'm not looking for special or romantic, just good food. :) Thanks - Fri Feb 14 12:21:07 -0800 2003 0 jen maiser 1 86254 There are tons of ethnic places that probably won't be hit with the insanity (but I could be wrong). 4th Street is near a few good Indian places along University. Ahlishan, Kabana, Chaat Cafe, Udupi Palace, to name a few. On San Pablo down toward Marin/Solano there are a couple of good Thai places that never seem to have a wait - Ruen Pair and Thep Naree. (I prefer the latter, but many chowhounds have gone crazy for the former.) Good luck! Fri Feb 14 12:30:36 -0800 2003 86252 0 Alexandra 2 86260 Ruen Pair has more interesting dishes on the menu that are rarely seen at "average" Thai restaurants (such as Thep Naree). BTW, what's with the naked-breasted women paintings/frescoes at Thep? The motif is all over the place. Is that a Thai thing? I've asked the waitresses there, but all they do is giggle and say "don't know." Fri Feb 14 13:37:35 -0800 2003 86254 0 svL 3 86266 Not to start a fight or anything, but I've been to Ruen Pair twice and both times with several people, so we ordered a good selection of items, all of which weren't "average" Thai restaurant dishes. I just felt the flavors weren't delicious. Maybe they were interesting, but that's not enough. I felt the same way at Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas, which is supposed to be the best Thai in the country. I guess standard Thai is all my palate can take. And I have no idea what it is with the bare-breasted maidens in Thep Naree! My gosh... Maybe I enjoyed the food because I was so distracted by that! Fri Feb 14 15:54:51 -0800 2003 86260 0 Alexandra 4 86271 What dishes do you like at TN? Fri Feb 14 17:29:35 -0800 2003 86266 0 Margot 5 86277 I wish I could remember something specific, Margot, but usually I remember egregiously unacceptable dishes before I remember good ones. All I can say is that nothing I've had there stuck in my mind as bad. Everything seemed fresh, high-quality, and flavorful. Service is good, the decor is interesting, and they have tasty special dishes. Next time I go I'll post a recap of what we ate. Fri Feb 14 18:19:51 -0800 2003 86271 0 Alexandra 4 86354 Probably not a good place to discuss LOS. What dishes did you have there ? I was also underwhelmed there. And kept wondering why so many raved about it. Some said it's the house made spices that made the dishes stand out. Sun Feb 16 21:36:54 -0800 2003 86266 0 Han Lukito 5 86355 las vegas board would be better, pls Sun Feb 16 21:42:12 -0800 2003 86354 0 vn 1 86263 Agreed -- ethnic may be the way to go. Personally, I'm going to Bangkok Thai (University, 1/2 block W of Sacramento). I find their larb to be more well balanced than most places, and they know me well enough to realize I mean it when I say "spicy!". Of course, there's the possibility that places closer to campus will be swarming with students -- it's not as if you can afford Chez Panisse easily on a student budget. Fri Feb 14 14:59:58 -0800 2003 86252 0 Marc Wallace