Bad Food from Oakland through Fremont?
Matthew Lasater
Voynick) wrote:
> Yes - disaster area, indeed! Is this "Pearl's" you are speaking of in
> Fremont "Pearl's Cafe" on Bay (Street, Road, etc...)? That's the only
> listing I find in the phone book, but they were closed when I called...
> How about a quick rundown on type of food, atmosphere, level of
> formality??? (Sorry if I sound a little giddy - the prospect of someplace
> to eat in Fremont has me a bit lightheaded...)
I recently moved to the area, and I've commented that not only have I not
been able to find a single decent restaurant east of the bay, but the food
(restaurants and grocery stores) are absolutely the worst I've seen
outside the Midwest. (No, I didn't move here from there, but I've
experienced the Starch/Bland Belt.)
Is there _anything_ that's of good quality? (Normally I would ask for
places with good quality food that's rich, spicy, or otherwise very
intense, but I'm afraid to be picky.) I've started frequently going to SF
just to find good food (either in restaurants or grocery stores), but I've
been hoping that there really are good restaurants and grocery stores east
of the bay-- and that I just haven't found them yet. I almost completely
given up on finding anything, and "dinner out" means either a train to SF
or California Pizza Kitchen (to which I've been attached for some time) by
Stanford.
Help?!
Alan Cheilek
Matthew Lasater <aa...@interramp.com> wrote:
> Is there _anything_ that's of good quality? (Normally I would ask
> for places with good quality food that's rich, spicy, or otherwise
> very intense, but I'm afraid to be picky.) I've started frequently
> going to SF just to find good food (either in restaurants or
> grocery stores), but I've been hoping that there really are good
> restaurants and grocery stores east of the bay-- and that I just
> haven't found them yet. I almost completely given up on finding
> anything, and "dinner out" means either a train to SF or California
> Pizza Kitchen (to which I've been attached for some time) by
> Stanford.
Matthew,
I was with you right up to the end there, but with your mention of the
California Pizza Kitchen, I'm afraid your idea of of good and mine are
diametrically opposed. Good luck!
-Alan
--
Alan Cheilek, Controls Department Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
che...@leland.stanford.edu MS 46, POB 4349, Stanford, CA 94309
Charlotte L. Blackmer
>Matthew Lasater (aa...@interramp.com) wrote:
>: I recently moved to the area, and I've commented that not only have I not
>: been able to find a single decent restaurant east of the bay, but the food
>: (restaurants and grocery stores) are absolutely the worst I've seen
>: outside the Midwest.
>I think you're looking at it the wrong way. The East Bay is a nice place
>to live (generally). Cheaper to live. Cooler in the Summer. Traffic's
>not as bad. You can park anywhere. You can go walking in the evenings.
>Most of the stuff you need is convenient. If you want great restaurants,
>world-class bookstores, revival cinema, anything out of the ordinary, you
>go across a bridge and there you are.
Mr. Freedman:
What part of the "East Bay" do you refer to, and where is this bridge between
it and North Oakland/Berkeley?
Mr. Lasater:
I'm not quite sure what your idea of a "decent restaurant" is, but I'd be
happy to email you directions to the Berkeley Bowl, Monterey Market, and many
other fine grocery establishments for your shopping pleasure. Even the
Safeways and Luckys in certain neighborhoods aren't bad due to competitive
pressure from the independents and local chains.
Yours from Foodie Heaven,
Charlotte Blackmer
c...@chiron.com
Len Freedman
: Mr. Freedman:
: What part of the "East Bay" do you refer to, and where is this bridge between
: it and North Oakland/Berkeley?
In my reference to the East Bay, I was, following the original post,
referring to that part which lies between South Oakland and Fremont (and
you could include Milpitas too). North Oakland/Berkeley has a different
character altogether, both in the positive sense of diversity and
authenticity (or at least character) in restaurants, and in the negative
sense of parking, safety, and affordability.
We live in Newark. Newark is a backwater, sort of like Alviso except that
it smells better. There are a few fairly good restaurants here, but
nothing you'd come from miles away for. South of Oakland, the whole East
Bay is like this--comfortable, respectable, but bland. But we go across
the Dumbarton and in 20 minutes we're in Palo Alto or Menlo Park. We
couldn't afford to live in PA or MP (at least not as well) so this is a
propitious situation for us.
--
Len Freedman (le...@netcom.com)
Icono Clast
LF}We live in Newark . . good restaurants here, but nothing you'd come
from miles away for.
Maybe you wouldn't but I sure do like Bandidos' food:
======================================================================
05-22-90 00:07 From: ICONO CLAST To: ALL
Subj: BANDIDOS . . .
----------------------------------------------------------------------
. . . of Barcelona (31014 Union City Boulevard, Union City - 489-7999) was
recently recommended.
We had a reservation for 7 and arrived five minutes late. But only five
tables were occupied and the bar was empty, so we were seated immediately,
anyway.
My mother asked the Mexican looking girl to seat us in the non-
smoking section. The request wasn't understood. I said, in Spanish, that we
wished to be seated away from the smoke.
She looked around, observed no one smoking, and sat us where she'd
originally intended.
After a substantial wait, one of the two young women came to take our
order. Neither spoke much English and neither seemed to have an IQ much in
excess of her age.
My mother had decided on one of the few Mexican selections on the menu.
Not available now. When? Later. How much later? In about a month. At the
moment, the cook who knows Mexican cuisine isn't here.
What's included with the entrees? The question wasn't understood. What
comes with the entrees? The question wasn't understood. Is everything a la
carte? The question wasn't understood.
The latter is the case.
I ordered lentil soup and was told that salad wasn't available.
We shared a very pleasant chorizo appetizer served sizzling hot in an
iron pan. Each of us was given a saucer(!) to serve as a bread (cold) plate.
We had long-finished the appetizer when I asked one of the girls where
was my lentil soup. No lentil soup tonight.
At about 7:50, the woman I took (no, neither my girlfriend nor my
concubine, but an occasional lover) got up to ask how much longer it would be
before we would be served our dinner. The girl asked disappeared into the
kitchen. At about 8:05, my mother got up to ask how much longer it would be
before we would be served our dinner. The girl asked disappeared into the
kitchen.
At about 8:15, a good looking, bearded man, came to our table to ask
whether we were the ones complaining about the service. The question was
asked in a very loud voice and all that he said was equally loud. I think the
primary purpose of the great volume was to inform the five other tables as he
was informing us that each dish is separately prepared to order (leg of lamb
to order?), that all the orders were taken into the kitchen at the same time,
that Spaniards are accustomed to leisurely meals and that North Americans
rush through their meals.
As he spoke, he collected the saucers, forks, and iron pan that had been
used for the appetizer.
At about 8:25, the first of our three dishes was served, 1 and 1/3 hours
after our arrival! I pointed out that we had no forks. The girl went to the
neighboring table, collected three forks, and placed them in the center of
our table. She was not being rude, she was not upset.
After a reasonable time, the bearded man returned to ask how was our
meal. Our praise, just short of lavish, was fully deserved. In addition, each
of the women had coffee that they couldn't praise highly enough.
He told us that the Flamenco, on Geary near Divisadero, was his former
location.
If you can tolerate such horrid service at $20 per person, the food is
faultless.
The two girls spent much of the evening seated in a corner of the bar.
From that vantage point, they could see each of the occupied tables but
seldom raised their eyes to see if someone was trying to signal them.
I've long said that dancing is one of the few things people will try to
do without bothering to learn how. Table service is another.
======================================================================
08-27-93 00:08 From: ICONO CLAST To: ALL
Subj: BANDIDOS . . .
----------------------------------------------------------------------
. . . of Barcelona is at 31014 Union City Boulevard, Union City -
(Telephone: 489-7999) in what appears to be a former branch of the Bank of
America. The place is very pleasantly decorated and mural'd inside and out.
We showed up at 7:30 to be the third party on the premises. A boy, perhaps
14, came to seat us in a very formal and professional manner. He handed us
menus, asked about drinks from the bar, and disappeared. About ten minutes
later, he brought unsolicited glasses of water.
Another fifteen minutes or more went by before the man we recognized
as the owner/chef arrived to take our order. Another fifteen minutes after
that, the boy brought us some nicely warmed bread. I took a napkin from one
of the other places to cover the bread.
Moments later, the boy came to ask whether everything was OK. What
everything? All we had gotten was unsolicited glasses of water and
warm bread. She asked for a cuppa coffee.
Shortly after the bread's arrival, I noticed a very small person
approaching the table. I said hello to her. She walked around the back of my
companion's chair and extended her arms upward in the universally-recognized
"pick me up" gesture. She didn't talk, but she smiled a lot and took a bite
or three of our bread.
Another ten minutes went by before our tapa and soup were brought.
Each was excellent (she thought the soup a tad salty) and piping hot.
Although we had said we'd share the soup, only one spoon was provided. She
asked for a cuppa coffee.
When the empty plates were removed, she asked for a cuppa coffee.
About ten minutes later, the coffee arrived.
Another twenty or so minutes went by. Our entrees were brought and she
asked for some more coffee. She had legga lamb, I a selection of mariscos.
Mine was excellent. Her meat was a bit tough but quite tasty.
Our forks were properly removed with the previous dishes. They were
not replaced. We took others from elsewhere.
After a proper pause, we were asked whether everything was OK. She
asked for some more coffee.
A reasonable time after we had finished our food, we were asked
whether we wanted dessert. She asked for some more coffee. Before removing
our empty plates, her cup was finally replenished and a fresh one was brought
for me.
Through the night, there were only nine diners plus two people at the bar.
The service is inexcusable but the food is outstanding. If you have the time
and patience to tolerate such horrid service, the food will be an ample
reward.
I don't know how much it cost as I didn't pay, but based on the menu
prices, I would guess it was fewer than $50 including tip.