LauraChou

Must try their prix fixe (5 course). Located by Ghirardelli Square by Fisherman’s Wharf. Service is top notch, and food is superb. Be prepared to eat for approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Everything is fancy-schmancy, but seats can be a little bit close to each other. I believe dress code is business casual, but most people were a bit more dressed up as it is a 5 star restaurant. Usually they give you a little “surprise” to take home and try. So worth the money.

Place is located on Fullerton, by Ashland and Fullerton. Decor is modern. Loved their Hot Crab Salad. It’s actual lump crab meat in ginger miso dressing. Don’t get the green tea—biggest rip-off. For a 3 oz cup, it’s $3.50, and it doesn’t taste much better than the ones from Costco. They do have interesting and creative rolls. The pistacchio crusted Salmon teriyaki is supposedly very good.

I’d give it 4.5. They’ve got delicious and VERY freshly baked cookies (even at 5:45 pm, when they close at 6:00 pm!) The lady there is a bit snobby, but i guess if i’ve got the skill to bake such delicious cookies, I’d be a snob, too (well, not really). They’ve got this mint-chocolate cookies, with this creme mint sandwiched in between two chewy chocolate cookies (not chocolate chip, but CHOCOLATE cookies). There’s also the Peanut Butter Cookie, so very very delicious. Their french bread looks like the “real thing” (though I didn’t get a chance to taste it, it looked very very French).

I’d give it 4.5. They’ve got delicious and VERY freshly baked cookies (even at 5:45 pm, when they close at 6:00 pm!) The lady there is a bit snobby, but i guess if i’ve got the skill to bake such delicious cookies, I’d be a snob, too (well, not really). They’ve got this mint-chocolate cookies, with this creme mint sandwiched in between two chewy chocolate cookies (not chocolate chip, but CHOCOLATE cookies). There’s also the Peanut Butter Cookie, so very very delicious. Their french bread looks like the “real thing” (though I didn’t get a chance to taste it, it looked very very French).

Pricey, but Dahlia is VERY good. James Beard Foundation Award Winner. Doesn’t always make it the best (didn’t like Chef Mavro’s at Oahu that much, and that was a James Beard Foundation winner). I would say for appetizer to try Dungeness Crab, but understand the portions are quite tiny for the appetizers. The wood grilled alaska caught king Salmon was absolutely delicious. Also, the seared sea scallops, tender, grilled to perfection, not too rare (which tastes sea-ish), and not over-cooked (which tastes rubbery). Scallops are just sweet, and goes well with the cornmeal johnny cake (i almost asked for a second one, but didn’t). Highly recommended, and you can book through opentable.com and earn points at the same time!

Long Line. EXCELLENT, absolutely THE BEST Bakery I’ve been to in the U.S. Their croissants and pain au chocolat are just like the ones from Paris. There’s a LINE when we went on a Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Small place, seats about 35. Chocolate hazelnut tart-divine. Friand-little bites of heaven. Gougere avec gruyere et herbs – tastes perfect.

Lovely place. Everything is organic. They’ve got the most decadent mint chocolate tart. Their french macaroon is light, and not sugary. Bit pricey (it’s no surprise given the ingredients they use). Very good cupcakes with the smoothest ganache on top. Closed on Mondays.

Crowded on weekend evenings. Cozy and loud. Not romantic for dates. There’s TV in every corner, playing old movies. Fast service. Great food. Portions are little, tapas-style, but italian food. Pesto gnocchi is very good, or was it pesto risotto? I forgot, but their gnocchi, risotto, and pizzas are delicious! For dessert, you MUST try the profiteroles, or chocolate fondue, or zeppole (italian donute holes, with drizzled honey)..hmmm, delicious.

Famous for their steaks, the waiter brings out individual cuts of steaks (raw, of course), to explain their house specialty. The steaks are usually cooked to perfection, as you want it (which mean, medium rare—is ACTUALLY medium rare). There’s no way one can finish a steak, so usually people take home leftovers. Here’s the interesting part: the steaks taste just as good when you heat it up at home, as it does in the restaurant. Also try their chocolate cake…a slice can feed at least 5. It comes with a steak knife in the center.

Expensive, and can’t say I really remember much about it, except they’ve got $1.00 seafood gumbo (highly recommended) with any entrees, and their seafood is decent, though it’s a bit drowned out in their sauces. There is something I’d recommend: the crabcake for appetizer. It’s a great combination of lump crab meat with tri-colored peppers, and sauteed crisp to perfection. Not drenched in oil like most other crabcakes i’ve had, this one tastes fresh, but not fishy. Just enough spice, and is good enough to share between 2-4, depending on how many appetizers you order. I would not recomend the chocolate mousse cake for dessert. Too rich, too heavy, and too sweet.