best monday fancy dinner?
So, I have family in town, and the only night we have for a meal out is Monday. I had been hoping to take folks to Manressa, but of course they're closed on Monday. As is chez tj. And just about everywhere else on the usual short list.
Looking through opentable, I see reservations available at Boulevard, but we have often eaten there and I'd like someplace different. The steak places (like that new 5A5) are open but you can get steak in a cryopack anywhere. Slanted door - done. Fringale - done.
Jardiniere is a possibility, I know exactly what they do. Bix is open. Foreign Cinema. Two. Waterbar. Range. Salt house. Bar crudo. Perbaco. Cav. Chaya. RN74.
You can see the range I'm thinking. California, somewhat modern or at least interesting. Moderately formal. Price not really an object. Seafood is good. Not so much interested in chinese because we'll probably eat that down the peninsula. Nor japanese, because they go to japan for that. Italian/californian is fine. Quality of food + quality of overall experience.
Anything I'm missing?
By bbulkow
on Jun 11, 2009 09:47 AM
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La Folie isn't really "California" but they are open Mondays. Gary Danko is also open, and you also might consider Bushi-Tei.
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Incanto is open on mondays.
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Thanks for the recs ---
We ended up down-peninsula at Tamerine, and I must say, one of the better meals I've had there. I think the loss of Bong Su must have focused the mind - I've had a couple of so-so there in the last year or two; not this one.
The place was wall-to-wall at 8pm on a monday (why?), and slowly cleared out afterward. The tea leaf beef was a winner, as was the "blackened" snapper, and the eggplant side. Drinks / deserts weren't bad either.
They could lose the music when it gets full - there was no need for an ultra-lounge house soundtrack.
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I had a lovely dinner as a party of 10 at Tamarine last August, better than expected, so I'm happy to hear that you think it might be more focused now. Did you order any appetizers? I'm curious because Tamarine is offering half-off on apps during happy hour.
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Yes, we did 4 apps and 2 entrees for a table of 4, family style. I was a little hungry at the end so needed desert.
[technical according to their menu, 2 apps, 1 salad, 1 side, 2 entrees)
apps:
tea leaf beef - fan *tastic*. Huge tea leaf taste. Add on the complexity of charred. With a lot of beef. Hubba hubba!
meatballs - sounded great on the menu, I did not taste the coconut, would not order again
technically a salad:
mango salad - interesting prep, the dry cooked beef and sauce made a huge difference, wish the mango was a little softer and more mango-ish, very good overall
technically a side:
Aubergine - an excellent dish. Pungent rollercoaster of taste and texture. Number 2 to the tea leaf beef.
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Thanks for the details. I'll have to get in there before this recession ends and the markdowns stop. I'll add that the majority of our group of 10 came down from SF and were quite familiar with the Slanted Door. We were in agreement that the service and food for our large party beat out SD.
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Downstairs at Chez Panisse is open. It's also "bargain" night and the prices are moderate in context. Obviously California, downside is the set menu.
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