305019 Tue Jun 27 15:38:40 -0700 2006 13 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 1714643 Melanie requested an update on Tamarindo Antojeria ( http://www.tamarindoantojeria.com ), and I'm more than happy to oblige. We go back at least once a month, and have tried their Saturday morning brunch, as well. Almost everything has been exceptionally well-prepared. Some favorites are Ceviche (spiced with coriander - delicious and unique), Mulitas (Niman steak, guac, salsa fresca between two tasty corn tortillas - very nicely integrated flavors, though usually slightly undersalted), and Sopecitas ('open faced' tacos, one with a delicious chorizo). For brunch, these guys make the most AMAZING Chilaquiles. Admittedly, I don't have much experience with this dish elsewhere, but I've recently started ordering it wherever we go, and I have to hold my ground that the Tamarindo brunch version is really special -- it's topped with salsa verde and cotija cheese, which I understand are a bit of a departure from the norm. I also really like their Pozole, though haven't had it in some time since the weather has warmed up so much. Wine selections are pretty limited, though their Sangria is very good and not overly sweet. I think I prefer beer and sangria with this type of food... there are just too many different flavors and many dishes, making it very difficult to pair wine effectively. Their website says they don't take reservations, but I've walked in a few times and noticed a reservation book - it's probably worth calling ahead to check. A few photos posted on my blog, here: http://www.gastronomie-sf.com/2005/07/tamarindo_antoj.html . Tue Jun 27 15:38:40 -0700 2006 11625 Gastronomie 1 1715270 What are the prices like? I've driven by about 6 times and never made it inside. What's the brunch like? It's hard to skip a Saturday breakfast at 817 unless it's going to be fab. Tue Jun 27 20:28:40 -0700 2006 1714643 10245 oakjoan 2 1716968 I can't comment on the "entree" prices since we've nevered ordered those, but the small plates are all between $4 - 9. I think tortas are around $11. Desserts are $4-6, I believe. Tamarindo's Saturday brunch is VERY different from Caffe 817s. So, if ever you're not in the mood for 817, that might be the time to try Tamarindo. I think of 817 as a lazy European Saturday, drinking au lait on the sidewalk with a bowl of polenta and reading the paper. Tamarindo is more... vibrant and alive. Wed Jun 28 18:12:13 -0700 2006 1715270 11625 Gastronomie 2 1788747 When Susan, Lillian, and I tried it, I think the tab was around $25 apiece (w/t+t). We were fairly stuffed and did order drinks, though. They were stingy with the menus (which are on a nice cardstock), but I managed to snag a dinner one -- about $4-10 for the antojitos, averaging about $8. Average was about $7. Lunch is $1-2 cheaper per item. Fri Aug 04 23:26:36 -0700 2006 1715270 23870 Marc Wallace 1 1715276 here is a report from a visit that a few of us did a while ago: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/38601#182018 While I wasn't quite as thrilled with you, your description of the chilaquiles has me very excited: sounds like what I think of as Mexico City style! (because that is how they serve a famous version at the Sanborns Chain of restaurants that has been there foreover (at least 30 years) in DF. Will have to go back soon and check them out! thanks... Tue Jun 27 20:32:36 -0700 2006 1714643 10158 susancinsf 1 1788069 The Contra Costa Times did a review today. I'm guessing they are trying out new critics. This guy seems good. http://ae.contracostatimes.com/entertainment/ui/cctimes/restaurant.html?id=71425&reviewId=19251 Fri Aug 04 18:50:18 -0700 2006 1714643 10264 rworange 1 1803892 Three of us enjoyed an excellent meal last night at this lovely little place. We ordered 4 appetizers (guacamole & chips, botanas pico de gallo, empanaditas, and the sopecitas), the torta poblana, the cochinita pibil and the chicken mole. For dessert there was a special- molten chocolate cake with whipped cream and a chocolate cinnamon ice cream (my daughter polished most of it off) and the crepa. Of the appetizers, probably would not get the empanaditas again, but loved the sopecitas. The cochinita pibil was so flavorful, and the mole sauce was excellent, but the chicken leg (not breast as stated on the menu) while very tender had no real flavor. Excellent hot corn tortillas came with both entrees. Both desserts were excellent, but I loved the caramel sauce on the crepa. Service was friendly and fairly efficient. The problem with small plates is that you run out of table space quickly if you order more than 2, but the kitchen and server did a good job of pacing the dishes. You can dine outside with a heater too, but we enjoyed the ambience of the room. Sat Aug 12 14:59:04 -0700 2006 1714643 12163 anli 2 3272449 I just had dinner (again) at Tamarindo this evening, and the place is still one of the best dining spots in downtown Oakland. I was looking at some old threads on the place & am surprised to note that their menu hasn't changed in the last 3 years: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/38576 Some even questioned whether it'll survive (and that was in 2005): http://www.chowhound.com/topics/38517 In a way, I'm glad it did - it's one of the few places in downtown Oakland that I truly enjoyed dining in (B restaurant around the corner is another one). This evening, I had the Sopa Azteca, followed by Elote Asado, Ceviche, Empanaditas de Camaron Estilo Nayarit and Tamal Oaxaqueno, and everything tasted simply fabulous. I was in Oakland on business last October for 2 weeks & ate there 5 times in two weeks. Never got tired of it. Mon Jan 07 22:17:28 -0800 2008 1803892 143097 klyeoh 3 3272501 Racking my brain trying to think of other good, non-Asian options in the area, having a hard time. Have you been to Levende East? I haven't yet, but the food looks somewhat similar to B Restaurant's. I keep meaning to try Rico's Diner http://www.chowhound.com/topics/413451 OTOH - there isn't much Korean food in Singapore, is there? Maybe you can try out the bundaegi tang at Gaboja Sojubang (347 14th St at Webster). I'm still working up the nerve. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/464335 Mon Jan 07 22:50:27 -0800 2008 3272449 44059 daveena 4 3275143 Thanks for the heads-up, daveena! I'll head down to Levende East tonight (I originally planned to dine at Flora on Telegraph & 19th, but shall do that tomorrow,since some Chowhound posts weren't too complimentary about the place). Tue Jan 08 15:19:50 -0800 2008 3272501 143097 klyeoh 5 3275978 Bringing over our conversation from the Greater Asia board - I'm kind of hoping you'll post on Siam Bay and Breads of India - I can't remember ever seeing a review of Siam Bay. My meal from Breads of India was so bad I was too depressed to post afterwards (actually, I liked my naan. But the chicken was bland, mushy from over-marinating in yogurt, and the spicing was off.) I usually eat in Chinatown, but every once in a while I saturate on East Asian food and cross Broadway in search of something, anything else... only problem is that with all the wacky traffic lights, it takes so long to cover those few blocks that it's hard to have a good sit down lunch, so I haven't been able to eat at Tamarindo. Could you post a few lines to this thread? http://www.chowhound.com/topics/447839 (I feel ridiculous, asking for more, when you've already given me a goldmine on Singapore...guess I'm greedy) Tue Jan 08 20:15:13 -0800 2008 3275143 44059 daveena 3 3273475 Thanks for the post and reminder I want to try this place. I see they use Niman Ranch meats which might give me a point of reference to compare with another Mexican restaurant that serves that meat They recently gave a recipe to Oakland Magazine about a Christmas drink called Ponche. I'm kind of curious if they served it during the holidays. Tue Jan 08 09:29:08 -0800 2008 3272449 10264 rworange 1 3302606 Dined at Tamarindo Antojeria last night, and they churned out the PERFECT Chile En Nogada! Unfortunately, it's under the daily specials list. Something this good should be a regular item on their menu. Wed Jan 16 15:42:00 -0800 2008 1714643 143097 klyeoh 2 3303325 Thanks so much for the tip. Given the ingrediants, it really can't be a regular item and needs to appear when all ingrediants are in season. I love a good Chile en Nogada so will make an effort to finally make it there. Wed Jan 16 19:15:41 -0800 2008 3302606 10264 rworange