43749 Mon Feb 20 17:08:15 -0800 2006 4 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 214355 Sunday was Raoul Duke's birthday. Fittingly, two hounds enjoyed a day of chow. Sunday morning and Sunset was buzzing. We decided to get coffee and some food at Cafe Gratitude, which looked like the only place with an available table. Mistake. We split almond toast and a pecan bun, both of which tasted like mud patties left to dry in the sun. I gazed longingly across the street to Arizmendi. The couple next to us surveyed the menu and left. The woman who took their spot ordered a salad that looked pretty good, but our food was so bad I wouldn't chance going back. So...Sunday morning and still hungry. We shambled downtown to the Turtle Tower on Ellis. We'd never been, but frequently enjoy the pho at Golden Star. I had the pho ga, Raoul had pho chin. Pho ga was love at first sight. Just like grandma would make, if she were Vietnamese and a good cook. Delicious, thick noodles and succulent strips of chicken. Raoul prefers the style of broth at Golden Star, finding TT too fatty and not spiced to his liking, but we both agreed the noodles were amazing at Turtle Tower. Dinner: Aziza. We had prepped by watching Morton the Mousse's "Bay Area Eats" episode on KQED On Demand. We ordered the chef's tasting menu; 5 courses for $39. First up were two soups: asparagus and lentil. The asparagus soup was rich and delicious, anchored with a chunk of fresh crab. The lentil was good, not amazing. Next: flatbreads and a dish of lima beans with French feta. Monsieur Le Mousse was right about loading up the flatbread with the various dips. The lima beans were good, and the French feta was particularly lovely. Basteeya I don't love, anywhere at any time. Too dry for my taste; RD thought it was good but not exceptional. For dinner I had the stewed lamb with eggplant, which I would recommend. However, the superstar of the night was Raoul's rabbit, coated in paprika and served with pureed parsnips and roasted carrots. Succulent, perfectly spiced, not too sweet. Question: If you suck on the bones, will more meat appear? It will not. The one sore point of the night: service. Our entrees came out over an hour after the previous dish was served. Our waitress stopped by to apologize after 20 minutes, saying it would be a few more minutes, then disappeared until the food was delivered. She offered free tea, but there were no takers. Oh, and what's with a one person woman's bathroom in a restaurant that probably seats 60? I had to wait in line with two other ladies, equally unimpressed. These blips in service were certainly eclipsed by the delicious eats, though. Even with the world of culinary possibilities in SF, we'd go back. Mon Feb 20 17:08:15 -0800 2006 0 pani 1 214393 Question on Golden Star. I actually use to frequent Chinatown often for lunch due to friends working in the area and notice minimal difference between Golden Star and Golden King which is literally across the street (Pho and soup stock wise, never tried the rice places). I am curious as to what other think. Is there actually really a noticable difference between the pho/broth between Golden Star and Golden King that warrants the longer line at Golden Star or is the longer line due to other dishes that are different? Mon Feb 20 21:51:13 -0800 2006 214355 0 Mike Lee 1 214412 I have a problem with Cafe Gratitude or should I say attitude. Ok some of the drinks are good but they cost an arm and a leg.The 70's is over and it was cheap.The place peppered with signs that ask you what are you grateful for. Well I say for the chance to eat the challah and pizza across the street at Arizmendi. Tue Feb 21 01:12:44 -0800 2006 214355 0 lani 1 214430 Nice write-up. I keep forgetting about that Cafe Gratitude on 9th. Sounds like it was a good idea to forgt it, at least in terms of baked goods. For some reason I thought it was nearer to the beach in the sunset. Link: http://www.withthecurrent.com/cafe.html Tue Feb 21 02:55:39 -0800 2006 214355 0 rworange 2 214460 I don't know if the food is the same at the Cafe Gratitude in SF as the one in Berkeley, and I have no doubt I'm in the minority here, but the only thing I liked at Cafe Gratitude was their desserts (and I'm more of a sugarhound than a generalized chowhound). My bf (he is generally not a dessert-eater, and only gets desserts so I can pretend I'm not really eating two of them) and we/I got the coconut cream pie ("I am devoted") and the pecan pie ("I am perfect"), and the pecan pie was so good he would only give me one bite. The pecan pie is made with dates and the coconut cream pie is sweetened with agave- I really, really enjoyed both. But like I said, "I am weird"...I also like some of the extremely crunchy desserts at Manzanita on 40th St., particularly their raspberry jam filled cookies, and I have heard nothing but disgust for their baked goods on this board. Tue Feb 21 12:59:48 -0800 2006 214430 0 Ace