Why aren't there more places like Cafe 15 and Outerlands in the Bay Area?
The first time I went to Cafe 15 in Oakland, I was blown away by the quality of the food, and couldn't believe there was nothing like it in San Francisco. Then I discovered there is, in the form of Outerlands.
Regardless, despite a plethora of formal sit-down restaurants serving California/Cal-Med cuisine in the Bay Area, there really seems to be a lack of places like the above that serve California cuisine made with top-notch ingredients and cooking, where you order at the counter and nearly everything is under $10.
Thoughts? Or am I way off base and just don't know about other ones? (I do realize that Outerlands is slightly more refined than Cafe 15, but I still consider them similar)
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Cafe 15
597 15th St, Oakland, CA 94612
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BernalKC
Apr 8, 2010 03:24 PM
Any reports about Fish&Farm's "American Box Lunch"? Looks promising, and everything is under $10. Seems like it might fit in this category. http://www.americanboxlunch.com/
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BernalKC
Apr 6, 2010 08:48 AM
Great question. It really should not be that hard. Certainly there are plenty of 'ethnic' places where the ingredients are top notch, service is counter-casual, and prices are low. But California cuisine? Not so much.
How about Kitchenette? And I haven't managed to eat there yet, but Heart has their food at <$10 prices, and there is seating.
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Kitchenette
958 Illinois Street, San Francisco, CAHeart Wine Bar
1270 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110›2 Replies-
re: BernalKC
Looking at the menu, it seems that wine bars like Heart and Fat Angel (where I went last night, really good, will write a report soon) are more meant for noshing on small bites with wine, rather than places to go for dinner.
Nonetheless though, it's encouraging
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Fat Angel
1740 Ofarrell St, San Francisco, CA 94115 -
re: BernalKC
Shane Greenwood
Apr 6, 2010 06:56 PM
Kitchenette is a good call for lunch. Not even a counter to order from, just a loading dock and a folding table. Food is always great and they seem to be expanding their menu with more choices.
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re: Shane Greenwood
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re: Shane Greenwood
Shane Greenwood
Apr 6, 2010 07:22 AM
Also, Cafe Fanny for breakfast.
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Cafe Fanny
1603 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702-
re: Shane Greenwood
oakjoan
Apr 7, 2010 11:31 PM
I agree that the breakfast food at Cafe Fanny is really good, but it's just too pricy for me.
I haven't been to Gregoire for many months because of a couple of overly expensive and not that great dishes. I'm talking about the one on Piedmont.
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Cafe Fanny
1603 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
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re: Shane Greenwood
For me, Gregoire quickly lost its early bloom. Used to be consistently full of love, & sometime after the expansion to 2nd location they seemed to lose that consistency. To be fair, things are never bad or even mediocre (with one exception*), but I acutely feel the difference between good & great. The potato puffs though are solid gold! That's mainly what I get there anymore.
* There was a risotto that led to argument w/ the cook over our divergent understandings of "al dente" -- his definition was "raw & hard in the middle" & his tone & attitude showed that he considered me an unwelcome rube who wanted him to dumb down his fine cuisine for my ugly American palate.
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re: Glencora
I looked up the menu just now. For dinner, definitely over $10. Lunch items are under $10 but one item often seems not quite adequate for a full meal, so you end up spending more than $10. Contributes to my overall sense of mild disappointment, since I have quite a thing for Value.
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re: indigirl
BernalKC
Apr 7, 2010 11:48 PM
Those prices are in line with both Outerlands and Cafe 15. And the strong tendency to order more than one item and drive the price well over $10 is also similar. Same with Kitchenette. The last time I was at Cafe 15 I had the Po Boy, a strawberry lemonade, and a panna cotta == $15. As long as the food is outstanding -- and it was -- I'm OK with that for the occasional lunch treat.
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Cafe 15
597 15th St, Oakland, CA 94612
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