Naked Lunch

Naked Lunch, located in North Beach of San Francisco, features a very limited yet satisfying lunch. For lunch, the prices can be steep, but the food is quite extraordinary and rich. Naked Lunch serve French quality sandwiches and soups. I am a big fan of the Fried Chicken sandwich, consisting of garlic aioli and creamy cole slaw. If you like added flavoThe chicken is moist and full of flavor. I've always heard of positive reviews of the duck prosciutto sandwich with black truffle salt. Although the price of the sandwich isn't as appealing ($16) if you love duck then you won't be disappointed with the quality. They also feature one vegeterian sandwich, which although I haven't tried normally sounds as fantastic. Last time, I was blessed with the opportunity of trying the butternut squash soup with creme fraiche. I enjoyed it immensely with its bold flavor. Naked Lunch is an ideal place to take people to try at least once in their life a casual yet classy lunch.

Yelp Review
504 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133

Never Too Latte

Like the cafe's name, this place is full of cute charms. First of all, the atmosphere is very relaxing and quaint. It's not ideal for noisy and rambunctious groups as many people come here to study with their laptops and books. However, it is quite welcoming for small groups having softer conversations. I can imagine laughing quite loudly and catching other customers' attention. This place is ideal even for families whose children can be entertained with a few board games and toys. The quality of the food is fair and simple, nothing too extravagant. I am a huge fan of their sippy lids that slide for closure, making it convenient for someone like me who tends to spill a portion of my drink by walking around. Although, nowadays, you can find these lids in a few other cafes, I still appreciate the convenience. Some comments on the food, if you like warm milk tea with cinnamon spices, then the NTL pulled milk tea can easily satisfy such cravings. The green tea latte is fairly light, which I wish was a bit more richer. Overall, their coffee beverages are great. I've tried a few of the dessert items including their crepe which was enjoyable. I can't speak much of the rest of the menu, but this place is definitely above average. Prices for the food items are standard, with drinks ranging from $2-$4 and food items $2-$8. I do like the intimate and friendy interaction between the workers and customers, mirroring a home-like feel.

Yelp Review
486 San Mateo Ave
San Bruno, CA 94066

Joanie's Cafe

I have an unconditional love towards brunch, so I have a tendency to praise places that serve good quality breakfast and brunch meals. Joanie's Cafe definitely makes the top list for my affair with brunch places. Like Sunny Side Cafe, La Note, Fat Apples, and Venus in Berkeley/Solano Avenue, Joanie's is a quiant little shop in Palo Alto (near Stanford University) with lots of charm. I love the vintage-style art hung on the walls and small novelty items displayed on the counter. Breakfast and lunch items are served till 2 pm and the restaurant re-opens for dinner at 5 pm. I unfortunately have not tried the dinner, but I heard the food is as amazing as breakfast. The store is small and cozy, utilizing all amounts of space for a well-packed venue. Luckily when I came, there wasn't a long wait, but I can imagine on the weekends during the busiest hours people waiting for seats. The prices are moderate, around $1o an entree.


Dishes are filling; I especially enjoyed my omelet of feta, spinach, tomatoes and bacon. Another dish I tried was the home fries favorite mixed with bell peppers, onions, eggs, ham, and cheese which was delicious. I must say my favorite side, if given the choice to order, is their hash browns. Perfectly crisped with a softness that mirrors mash potatoes, I can can easily state that Joanie's serves the best hash browns I've ever had. If I come back again, I'll definitely try the hash browns and perhaps get the salmon crepe, which I am hoping is thin and crisp as well. A friend who went with me to brunch ordered the hot chocolate and said the one at La Note in Berkeley is richer. I've had the mocha in La Note and loved the taste as well as the big soup cup that contained the beverage. Overall, from what I can tell from looking at people's tables was that the food at Joanie's is solid and satisfying.

447 S California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Yelp Review

Tai Wu (Mr. Fong's)

Tai Wu, located in the foggy hills of Callan Blvd in Daly City, is among a string of Asian shops. I remember coming here at a very young age during the restaurant's grand opening. As a child, I received a complimentary paper dragon to play with, but more importantly, I enjoyed fresh quality seafood. As one of the few Chinese restaurants in Daly City, Tai Wu is the best second choice for good quality dim sum after Koi Palace. Prices for the dishes are more affordable and the quanity of food is reasonable. For a small, you can get 4 pieces of shrimp dumpling (har gau) and 4 pieces of shu mai. Some places I believe would only give three pieces, causing my family of four to fight over who gets a piece. The wait is much more tolerable. The dining area is well-kept and clean, and the service is decent with attentive waiters and waitresses. The selection of dishes are typical for dim sum and seafood-oriented entrees. For the quality of seafood, I have to give Tai Wu a high rating because I find it particularly hard to appreciate good seafood.

950 King Dr
Daly City, CA 94015
Yelp Review

Chick O'Peas

Chick O' Peas is a cute little shop close to downtown Berkeley/Gourmet Ghetto. Tucked away in a little alley, this place can be easily overlooked. Venturing unexplored territory in Berkeley can bring many pleasant surprises. I unfortunately have not tried their falafels, which is their main dish. I did, however, tried their fries and I was blown away. Their fries are thin, shoestrings and made perfectly right. They also feature several flavors topped and mixed with their fries. I tried both the pesto and wasabi fries, and were both delectable. I was especially pleased with the wasabi fries, which were moderate and not too spicy. If I'm ever around Berkeley, I would go back and try their falafels. The place isn't too crowded, and able to accomodate 4-5 groups of people and prices were fair.

1926 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
Yelp Review