566518 Tue Oct 21 22:52:12 -0700 2008 11 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 4120380 Banana Island is hidden in a maze of concrete in the massive Westlake complex...as we drove around looking for it, I noticed some other interesting places too....I think someone needs to do a comprehensive report on the food here. One interesting thing I noticed is what seems to be some sort of self-serve yogurt place? Anyway... Got takeout from Banana Island once we found it, and it only took them about 7 minutes to prepare. We ordered 1 Nasi Lemak rice plate and 1 beef rendang with rice. Beef was $7.95 and Nasi Lemak was $8.50 (dinner prices, it's cheaper at lunch). Once back at home, we opened up the styrofoam containers. The portion of beef rendang looked kind of measly (though the flavor was actually pretty good). Meanwhile, the nasi lemak was actually a very nice presentation. In the center was a generous serving of coconut rice ("flavored with cloves and screw pine leaves"), along with curry chicken, chili anchovies, vegetables, peanuts, and hard boiled egg - all of this served on a banana leaf. The portion was much larger than the beef rendang portion. The coconut rice was pretty good, not overly sweet. The curry chicken sauce was pretty tasty, but most of the chicken pieces were quite bony, so it wasn't very much meat. The vegetables were in a sweet and sour type of sauce - there were stringbeans, yellow squash, onions and some other things....the chili anchovies were very good and spicy (though they could have been more spicy). Hard boiled egg was sliced beautifully. So overall, I was impressed. The inside of the restaurant looked nice, and at 7 PM on Tuesday, there were about 20 people eating in it (maybe more?). I read a few posts that mentioned this restaurant, but has anyone eaten there recently who can give a full report? Either way, I think I will add it to my list! Dave MP Tue Oct 21 22:52:12 -0700 2008 21930 Dave MP 1 4121215 I'm a bit puzzled. You said the portion of beef rendang looked kind of measly and most of the chicken pieces were quite bony, so it wasn't very much meat, then - overall, I was impressed. I guess impressed in spite of the small portions of both servings of meat? Wed Oct 22 09:42:59 -0700 2008 4120380 10724 Mick Ruthven 2 4122079 Oops, sorry I wasn't more clear. Flavorwise, everything was pretty good. However, considering the two meals were about the same price, the portions were quite different. Nasi lemak consisted of rice, chicken, vegetables, anchovies w/ chili, peanuts and a hard boiled egg.....the actual chicken portion wasn't that big, and the pieces were bony, but there were other things on the platter, so the container was quite full and the presentation was nice. I wouldn't have expected a larger portion of chicken here, since chicken is only one component of nasi lemak. Meanwhile, when we opened the rendang, my first reaction was "wow, that portion of meat is small!" It was good, but it was much less meat than I am used to getting with a typical rice plate at a Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai/etc. restaurant. Also, there was nothing else in the container other than rice and meat....so it was a lot less food. Luckily my housemate and I shared both items, so we both had enough to eat. So I guess I was impressed by everything, except for the small portion of rendang. Wed Oct 22 14:33:46 -0700 2008 4121215 21930 Dave MP 3 4122458 DaveMP, Would you please give some basic directions on how to find this restaurant. That's one reason I haven't tried it yet, too hard to find is what I heard. Wed Oct 22 17:38:47 -0700 2008 4122079 10677 hhc 4 4122964 Here's the webpage of the mall - there's a PDF map. Banana Island is located in a little nook near the Home Depot. Within the center, there are some good maps that also show the location. It was not clear which lot is best to park in....since we got takeout, we just pulled up in front. http://www.kimcorealty.com/propSearch/siteplan.asp?S=2&propertyid2=SCAW0186&choice=all&propsearchid=104184&sk=leasing&ointerestid=1 Wed Oct 22 21:31:11 -0700 2008 4122458 21930 Dave MP 1 4122733 As far as the other places in the mall go...I think the Westlake coffee shop is a great throwback. The food is solid retro, as is the decor. I think one of the true treasures is Tani's kitchen, a homestyle Japanese place on the east end of the mall. I've tried to eat there twice but could not get a table. The place is tiny but it has an appealing energy. Bugermeister was a real letdown for me. Over charred poorly cooked meat and mediocre sides. The pho place in the back is solid if not great. Haven't tried the Italian place but it seems pretty generic. There's also Nathan's, Jamba juice and a strange seeming Greeky fast food place. I think there's more but I can't remember. Wed Oct 22 19:29:00 -0700 2008 4120380 16655 bdl 2 4123001 Everyone -- stay far away from the Greek chain rest. Daphne? At Banana Island I love the roti with a coconut dipping sauce. Wed Oct 22 22:01:15 -0700 2008 4122733 12520 walker 2 4124417 It's Nation's, not Nathan's. Thu Oct 23 12:26:27 -0700 2008 4122733 10644 Nancy Berry 3 4124639 You're right...thanks. Thu Oct 23 13:32:27 -0700 2008 4124417 16655 bdl 2 4124908 When passing by the shopping center, I saw a sign that a new restaurant is opening up - Little Fire Pot was the name, I believe. Don't know when scheduled opening date is. There's also a Chipotle in the center, as well as Tokyo Teriyaki in the back near the pho place. Haven't been to either. Thu Oct 23 15:13:20 -0700 2008 4122733 64454 kcchan 3 4125074 Tokyo Teriyaki serves some very nice country-style Japanese dishes. And they use three distinct house-made teriyaki sauces for beef, chicken or seafood. http://www.allmenus.com/menus/56002/Tokyo-Teriyaki Thu Oct 23 16:34:24 -0700 2008 4124908 10644 Nancy Berry 1 4124626 I was born in SF but raised in Daly City. I'm surprised that this place isn't poppin' on this board as much as I thought it would be. I love Banana Island and I found it sad when I saw that ginormous (and hideous) parking structure built in front of it. Just a couple of years ago, you would have been able to see it from across the street. Anyway, my favorite things to order there are the roti with the yellow curry. For sure, the best I have ever had. The yellow curry dipping sauce is great. The space is actually very beautiful and great for groups. I think they have the best rice plates in Daly City. Thu Oct 23 13:28:46 -0700 2008 4120380 101827 jobostonisafoodie