2/7/2008

5/5 stars

Our vet at Encina, Dr. Trujillo, has been fantastic. She has done an excellent job balancing what's possible with what's realistic. And she has never "up-sold" services the way some vets do. The staff has taken care of issues when they arise and has gone the extra mile quite a few times. Sometimes they're a touch disorganized, but that's not surprising given the number of vets.

Yelp tags: Veterinarians

2/16/2008

4/5 stars

Whoa. Not at all convenient for weekly groceries if you live across the East Bay hills, but fun. There are far more pre-made food vendors here than at other markets. That can be nice when you're looking for unique cheeses. This market also pulls in farmers from further afield, so there's a lot of variety in almost any season. You do lose the more local touch of other regional markets.

Yelp tags: Farmers Market

2/16/2008

4/5 stars

The Professor makes a mean coffee. And the owners are great people. I don't spend much time inside, but that's just because my office is right around the corner. Although I'm more likely to see colleagues here than in my office, so maybe I should spend more time…

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

2/16/2008

1/5 stars

No. It's a typical multiplex, so the technical bits are there. But no spirit. And the designers put the bathrooms far, far away from the screening rooms. So for the modern too-long movie, you're going to miss a good 15-20 minutes trudging to the front of the place and then upstairs and then winding your way back. It's a shame; it'd be nice to have dinner, see a movie, and grab a hot chocolate or ice cream all in the same area… The closest for having all that and having it nicely is Orinda.

Yelp tags: Cinema

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

I eat their apples almost every day during (and for a while after) season. They're at many local markets. They seem pricey, but always check the "cosmetically challenged" bin. Often you'll be surprised at what you find; most are perfectly fine for daily oatmeal, etc. The Pink Ladies rock, and their (semi?) heirloom Fuji variety is really exceptional. And they have Red Delicious apples that actually have flavor! Someone else from the east coast calls their apples the only good ones she's had since moving out west.

I haven't stopped by the orchard yet, but I'd love to try their famous doughnuts…

(Oh, and let their cider ferment "accidentally" in your refrigerator. It's ridiculously good as it is, but it's just obscene with a little fizz.)

Yelp tags: Fruits & Veggies

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

Sweet and creamy in just about every way imaginable. This is serious ice cream. If you like foofy things with delicate, barely noticeable imaginings of flavor, then please leave space at the counter for serious ice cream lovers.

These folks also have sugar in many different forms. Including sugar Legos(tm)! Build your own sugar Tokyo and be a sugar-breathing Godzilla! The staff seems to enjoy watching what happens when people ingest far more than their FDA daily allowance of sugar, and they always seem in high spirits. Probably a contact sugar high.

Loard's is yet another reason to see movies in Orinda Theater.

Yelp tags: Candy Stores Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

Rockin'. I used to *hate* all fungus. Then I experienced truffles. My wife and I decided we will learn to like mushrooms… And Far West Fungi's there to help! Every time I've been by their storefront, the folks have been helpful and friendly even with the Ferry Building and farmer's market crowds. They even let me smell the truffles. They have a neat truffle salt… Their markup on the high-end truffles seems fair compared to market, but it's so far out of my price range right now… (And I hate that the gov't's 100% import tarriff. Yes, half the import cost of truffles goes straight into the Federal coffers.)

Also, these folks have the least expensive mushroom farms / logs we've seen. We have one, and it has popped out flavorful shiitakes every month. We're now mushroom fans.

Yelp tags: Specialty Food

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

I've only had my knives sharpened by him once, but I definitely will revisit this fellow. I went to his booth at the Walnut Creek market early. I was expecting a multi-hour delay, etc. Nope. Maybe 45 minutes later I had four sharp knives, and I wasn't even the first on the list. I suspect he does see long lines later in the day. He did an excellent job on our Globals and Shun.

Yelp tags: Home Services Local Services

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

Eat here and be well satisfied without lightening your wallet much. Trace your steps across the Mediterranean map on the floor. I'm not sure if the area by the door is a political statement, but serving high quality, inexpensive food while existing next to a McCrappy's is a wonderful food statement. The wraps are large and satisfying without being obscene. They have Turkish-style coffee, but I haven't asked if they're partial to calling the pot an Ibrik or a Briki…

Eat, smile, and enjoy this oasis in a strp mall.

Yelp tags: Greek Mediterranean

7/21/2009

5/5 stars

I cannot begin to describe how much I miss this market. The farmer from Gilroy with garlic and mushrooms and the most amazing strawberries ever (for a short, short time), the other wonderful tent with perfect, succulent, flavorful lettuce and leeks…

I've now experienced "farmer's markets" elsewhere. No comparison. They're either bucket loads of produce trucked in from across the country of a few stalls of mostly the same few items. Or they're mostly pre-prepared items (yeah you, SF, and you, Piedmont Park).

Perhaps this market has changed, but this place almost always had a large variety of produce from local-ish (some 3-4 hours away) farms. The only time there's little is in the dead of winter, hence the *dead* part. These are real farms. And the prices… Often on par or better than the crap in the major grocery chains.

GET YOUR GROCERIES HERE! Walnut Creek's also is good, but not as good.

(Fun note: Use Google's street view to scope out the market setting up on a Tuesday morning.)

2/16/2008

0/5 stars

Where we get most of our groceries all year. There are a few vendors I frequent who return for the whole year. It's great.

Yelp tags: Farmers Market

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

The produce is surprisingly good for a large-ish grocery store, and times I've grabbed other items I've been happy. I haven't had the opportunity to buy from the meat counter, but it looks good. And they have sweetbreads. Many sweetbreads. Cheap and always fresh thanks to the turnover.

The in-store eatery is GOOD. The economy has squished their menu quite a bit, but it's still quick and hearty food. They have a tiny sitting area, but it's fast enough food that I've always found a seat when I needed one.

BTW, I'm not at all hispanic and have forgotten all my Spanish. Everyone I've met who works there has been very helpful and nice regardless of their native language.

Yelp tags: Grocery Mexican

12/19/2010

5/5 stars

After being gone from Berkeley for over two years, the family at the Stuffed Inn remembered both me and my sandwich. We could talk, catch up a bit, and still not hold up the line. These folks rock. They definitely helped me make it through grad school, and I miss they daily return to sanity that the Stuffed Inn granted me.

2/16/2008

0/5 stars

Fast, good, cheap, plentiful, and fun! There's a super-fast service refrigerator up front, but you'll miss out on the company. A certain someone who works there knows he completely rocks. They treat you like royalty, at least if you order the right sandwich…

Yelp tags: Sandwiches

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

How a thin slice should be. Thin. Simple. Crispy. Flavorful. This place rocks. I haven't dared to try the baked goods; I'm afraid they'll be as good as the pizza and the people.

Yelp tags: Pizza

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

It's not entirely fair for me to review this place so highly… I really order only one thing here, the roasted turkey and cranberry sandwich (without mayo, ick). When you need it, you need it. Friends and colleagues have liked other items, but I cannot tear myself away from the turkey. Need all the tryptophan I can get when on campus. The people are great and pretty quick even during the lunch crush.

Yelp tags: Delis Coffee & Tea Sandwiches

2/16/2008

3/5 stars

Good. Slightly more variety in the depths of winter than the Concord market. The vendors are mostly friendly… However, the weekend car and foot traffic make this market a bit of a pain and I'm sure make some of the vendors a bit less friendly and helpful than when the same folks are at other markets. If you're going for groceries and not to meander, well, expect to be annoyed by the folks with no crowd skills.

Yelp tags: Farmers Market

2/16/2008

4/5 stars

Yes, an indie theater in suburbia. So the technical quality isn't always perfect. The physical environment sucked and now mostly has been demolished… Hopefully there are better things in store. But it's an indie theater. The staff love movies. The audience is there to see the movie rather than annoy everyone else. And the movies are more than "see Dick hump Jane while blasting away at monster Spot." See movies here before the major studios lock out almost everything that isn't centrally controlled and broadcast via satelite. (Thankfully much of that is mired in inane standards meetings.)

Yelp tags: Cinema

12/19/2010

5/5 stars

Miette is still Miette. My "perfect" description still applies two years later. Fantastic. The rose geranium macaroons remain my favorite.

2/16/2008

0/5 stars

Perfect. Simply perfect.

Don't expect massive mcdesserts here. These are well-sized, hand-crafted experiences. The prices seem high but are commensurate with the quality. My wife's description of everything here is followed by "…and it's so cute!"

And the macarons… Wow.

Yelp tags: Bakeries Desserts

2/16/2008

4/5 stars

Fun place for a foodaholic to visit. Some of the vendors are shockingly inexpensive and high quality (Far West Fungi). And others are just plain wonderful (Miette). Expect long lines and randomly stopping viewers on the weekends.

Yelp tags: Shopping Centers Specialty Food

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

Good food in generous services. Not fancy or flashy but rather down-home, solid food. Service and activity level is just right. And they have roaming musicians some nights.

Yelp tags: Mexican

2/16/2008

5/5 stars

See movies here. Ask the staff about their theater (and the state of the movie industry in general). Buy their stuff. Look to their stars. Be happy. Escape. Escape. Escape.

Yelp tags: Cinema