27562 Fri Jan 23 14:08:07 -0800 2004 3 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 113864 Ok, I'm staying off Ignatio Blvd in Novato. Any locals have opinions on these places. TJ's Take Out seems to specialize in takeout meals. THey have Swedish and Scandinavian food. Things like smorgastarta (swedish sandich cake) and a whole bunch of stuff I can't spell. They also have Swedish meat balls. A local review on the door gave a mixed review where some things were good and others were just ok. Actually a cool review, very to the point. They have semlor on Tuesday and Wednesday. This seems to be a Swedish almond and cream bun. It used to be made only the day before the fast began before Easter, so that people could have a real feast preceeding the fast. Nowadays it's baked at least for a few months around the old date. Missed that one. The menu seems to have more non Swedish food. Anyone try this place? Next door is a nice little mexican grocery / meat market. Lots of Mexican cheeses and a ly red sausage called longaniza. There's a big tamale pot at the front of the store. They also have a few Mexican drinks that I don't see often like BOING. Anyone tried the tamales? Attached to a hotel down the street is a restaurant called Little Bavaria. Any good? Anything else near the Ignatio Valley road exit. Dinner tonight hangs in the balance. Oh yeah, there's Wild Fox but I hear that is overpriced and the food isn't that special. Fri Jan 23 14:08:07 -0800 2004 0 Stanley Stephan 1 113940 Right off 101 is Orsi's. The man in the parking lot told me to get the cannelloni and he was spot on. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/25504#102037 Fri Jan 23 22:18:20 -0800 2004 113864 0 Melanie Wong 1 113941 Oh, I haven't been to the Mexican market, but that's the sister to one in Santa Rosa that I like very much for grilled chicken, carnitas and other cooked foods. The owners told me that Novato is their flagship location. Would love to hear about the tamales. Fri Jan 23 22:20:25 -0800 2004 113864 0 Melanie Wong 1 113959 I second Melanie's rec on Orsi's. Your basic standard upscale Italian ristorante. You might try Maya Palenque -- sort of a cross between a Mexican restaurant and a sports bar. Food and ambience are pleasantly serviceable. As for the two places you mentioned, I'm not familiar with either one. Where are they located? Sat Jan 24 11:27:07 -0800 2004 113864 0 Sharuf