Gregoire's Takeout

City: Berkeley, CA

Address: 2109 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA. 94709

Website: http://www.gregoirerestaurant.com/

Food type: French

Price range/person: $10/lunch

Wait time: 5 mins to order; 10-20 mins for food

Service: Friendly, fun.

Ambiance: Quaint, cheerful.

Dish Focus On:

Smoked shrimp salad with mango & mint in pantofolina. $7.50








Smoked shrimp has distinct and delicious flavor. Mango and veges keep the sandwich chilled - very refreshing. Colors are gorgeous together.

Olive oil poached English sole with avocado & tomato salad on toasted white deli bread. $7.25










Incredibly tasty sandwich - combo of fish and avocados is sensational. A nice upgrade from the typical tuna sandwich.

Crispy potato puffs. $4.50











Freshly deep-fried balls of mashed potatoes. Served HOT and with a delicious dipping sauce - which changes periodically (keeps things exciting).

Other delectable sandwiches from past visits.







































Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: A favorite lunch spot of mine in Berkeley. Have not visited the new Oakland location yet. Menu changes monthly to keep you coming back. Side salads (always tasty), served with all sandwiches, change often as well – appears to be weekly, but not sure. Restaurant is tucked away on a small street in a busy town, but place manages to stay busy with loyal customers. Portions are perfect and leave you happily satisfied. Potato items are tasty and fun (love the roasted fingerling potato & onions) and desserts are prepared/baked fresh. The banana chocolate fold is amazing! Food served in cute brown boxes - you save $0.25 each time you re-use the box (didn't learn that until I had been there over a dozen times). Very limited seating area and parking can be difficult, but the food makes everything better! You can find Gregoire himself there at times.

Bertrand at Mister A's

City: San Diego, CA

Food type: Fine Modern American Cuisine with French and Mediterranean influences

Restaurant link: http://www.bertrandatmisteras.com/

Price range/person: $45-65/dinner

Wait time: Make a reservation

Service: Very attentive, helpful with menu items, pleasant, courteous. Carefully cleans table between dishes.

Ambiance: Romantic, grand, elegant. Gorgeous panoramic views of San Diego from the 12th floor of the building.

Dish Focus On:

(Appetizer)
HOUSE MADE SPINACH GNOCCHI AND VEAL
fresh porcini mushrooms































Gnocchi is perfectly cooked with authentic spinach flavor. Veal is meaty and tenderly melts in your mouth. Mushrooms and grated cheese accent the dish nicely. Few scattered olives add a punch to the entree. Food presented on beautiful dishes, with a delicate doily layered between the larger and smaller dish.

PAN SEARED FILET OF KING SALMON
bordelaise sauce, beluga lentils and sea beans















WOW. What a beautiful masterpiece! Looks almost as good as it tastes. Salmon is delightfully tender - flakes gently melt on your tongue. Sides of mushrooms, beans and vegetable medley are delicious. Lightly toasted (or fried?) patch of salmon skin tops the delicate dish. Skin is crunchy and light, with just the right amount of saltiness.

SPECIAL: WARM CHOCOLATE TART, served with churros, caramel ice cream on a thin wafer, and bittersweet chocolate infused with mandarin oranges.













Scrumptious warm chocolate cake with a crunchy crust. Rich chocolate oozes from the center. Twin churros are sugary and yummmy. Ice cream is decadent and presented on a delicately thin wafer. Bittersweet chocolate infused with oranges makes a great dipping sauce for the churros. I would gladly hang this plate from any room in my house.

Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: Entrees are works of art for the eyes and palette. Service is impeccable. Views are delightfully stunning. Dishes are tantalizing to the tongue. Desserts are beautifully presented and absolutely decadent. Although very pricey, you get what you pay for. A place to impress any guest, co-worker or friend. Portions are just right – leaving you happily satisfied. A truly impressive dining experience.

Bistro AIX

City: Jacksonville, Florida

Food type: Mediterranean/ French

Restaurant link: http://bistrox.com/

Price range/person: $30-50/dinner

Wait time: 15 - 30 mins

Service: Classy, professional, polite.

Ambiance: Chic, romantic, modern. Dimly lit with modern decor and furniture. Beautiful lamps and scattered artistic pieces enhance romantic mood.

Dish Focus on:

Crispy Calamari served with red pepper-feta dip


















Crispy outside and tender calamari inside. Dip is deliciously creamy with a distinct cheesy flavor. A great appetizer choice.

Crispy Chips house-made potato chips with warm blue cheese


















Unique and tasty appetizer. Blue cheese is not too pungent. Must eat quickly, as warm cheese topping tends to make the chips soggy.

Mixed Green Salad with dried tomatoes & shaved cheese, tossed in a walnut vinaigrette


















Typical salad - not too exciting. Dried tomato pieces are too hard and walnut vinaigrette is a bit on the oily side.

Grilled Tuna over whipped potatoes, baby spinach, lemon-garlic butter & chive oil


















Tuna is thick, hearty, and meaty, with an almost steak-like consistency. Outside is nicely flavored while the inside remains tender. Spinach and potatoes accompany the fish well. Fish was prepared medium - would probably order medium-rare next time. Beautiful and creative presentation.

Classic Creme Brulee a Bistro Aix favorite


















Fresh berries accompany a creamy delectable dessert. Crunchy sugar top coats the chilled custard below. Yumm.

Flourless Chocolate Espresso Torte
dense chocolate cake with just a hint of coffee flavor

A VERY dense slice of chocolate cake. Slightly too rich, possibly even for chocolate lovers. Almost like thick chocolate pudding.

Yummmy factor: 3.5/5

YummmyRambles: Exquisite food presentation and service. Warm interior that creates a fun and classy atmosphere. Love the fiery lamps that decorate the rooms. Large selection of wine to enhance your meal. Riesling (Saint M Riesling, 2004, Pfalz, Germany) was fantastic. Able to accommodate parties of all sizes. Great dining experience.

Hyde Street Bistro

City: San Francisco

Food type: French

Restaurant link: http://www.themenupage.com/hydestreetbistro.html

Price range/person: $25-35

Wait time: 5 - 30 mins

Service: Friendly, professional, courteous. Chef himself may come out to check on you.

Ambiance: Elegant, romantic, serene.

Dish Focus on:

STEAMED MUSSELS MARINIÈRE - Garlic Shallots White Wine, With Fries


















Plush mussels in tasty broth. Good, but not extraordinary. Fries make a nice side.

COULIBIAC DE SAUMON A LA GENOISE - Layers Of Salmon Filet Divided By Rice And Wrapped In A Brik Pastry Paper, Stuffed With Mushroom Mousse And Spinach















Exquisite presentation, with each entree item able to stand on its own. Very original salmon preparation, with tender fish and veges wrapped in thin pastry paper. Entree looks small, but adequately satisfies hunger. The rice is a little too rich, but still tasty.

SOUFFLÉ AU CHOCOLAT FONDANT - Warm Chocolate Cake Melting Inside With A Scoop Of Vanilla Ice Cream

Decadent artistic masterpiece, able to delight any chocolate lover. Warm cake with heavenly center. All I could ask for would be a little more ice cream.

Yummmy factor: 4.5/5

YummmyRambles: A quaint little restaurant on a busy street. Delicious food with creative food presentation. Reservations recommended. Parking is rough. A bit on the pricey end. Perfect place for a romantic night out.