Cafe de Flore -- 5/5

You may have noticed that I haven't written in some time. Or, as no one reads this, you may not have noticed. Regardless, I have a good excuse, which is that I've been in Paris for about a month.
"But wait!" exclaims the disenfranchised, albeit nonexistent reader, "Why can't you tell us about Parisian restaurants?"
"Well," I respond sagely, though in a voice tinged with resignation, "I had no time to write because I was enjoying them rather too much for the first few weeks, and now I'm too broke to enjoy them very much at all."
But hah! I just happen to be writing another blog in conjunction with my fellow Stanfordians and a few law students at ASSAS, in which I travel around Paris to sites of literary fame, and compare their past condition to their present experience. Which brings me to... Cafe de Flore, my first entry in that blog and, conveniently enough, a cafe, and hence appropriate for this blog as well. Like I said, automatic 5 out of 5 for being in the 5th arrondissement Paris and for having such a strong, cool history. Enjoy:

Popular as the Metro may be for its predictable (if not unfortunately diurnal) timetables and ability to get you to any destination with an alleged maximum of two train changes, Paris is a city made for walking. The reason I mention this is that, practically from the moment the plane touched down at Charles de Gaulle Airport four weeks ago, that’s all I’ve been doing. Pick a direction, and walk. 

After settling in to my host family’s apartment in the 15^th arrondissement, my first thought was, “So where can I walk to now?” Getting a feeling (which turned out to be more or less correct) that I was somewhere southwest of the action, I figured that east and up along Vaugirard would be the way to go. 

The turns are now a blur; the reasoning, forgotten. Eventually, however, I tore my eyes away from the mouth-watering storefronts of Rue de Rennes, took in my surroundings, and had to catch my breath. From left to right: Lipp’s, Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots. 

I’d only been in Paris for five days at this point – meaning I still had enough money to afford coffee and a croissant at one of these now upscale literary Meccas – and it was still a bit early for tourist season to have taken its toll on the available seating. Having become pretty (theoretically) familiar with Lipp’s and Les Deux Magots thanks to an Ernest Hemingway kick last quarter, I headed instead to the less familiar (and hence, less intimidating) Café de Flore. 

Clearly, I don’t read a lot of philosophy, or Café de Flore would’ve had me just as awed. Evidently, as I found out on Wikipedia later that evening, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are known to have frequented this warm, busy café to discuss existentialism over drinks. Oh. Okay. 

Nowadays, the literary prize the Prix de Flore is presented each year to a budding French writer and includes not only a cash prize of about €6,000, but a glass of Pouilly-Fumé (a white wine from the Loire) every day for a year. Additionally, Sophia Coppola once mentioned that Flore was her favorite place to hold production meetings for Lost in Translation. 

Not like I knew any of this walking in there. For about three hours, I nursed some hot milk (side note: has anyone else noticed that dairy products in Europe, while delicious, taste very differently from the American variety? or do I have a taste bud-altering tumor?) and a croissant, and tried to coax my memory into remembering the past five days well enough to get them semi-accurately into my journal. 

Generally, I’m used to pressure to eat, pay, and move on, especially at such highly trafficked cafes, but the waiters didn’t seem to mind at all that I’d just sort of stationed myself in a booth with paper, pen, and no visible intention of leaving. A couple even dropped by to ask (in French, which was a little bit of an ego boost) about my studies, how long I’d be in Paris, where in the States I came from—apparently one of the waiters hails from Texas. Anyways, a few weeks have past, and maybe that kind of long-term hangout is no longer acceptable, now that tourism’s up and the pressure’s on to keep people moving in and out, but I’ve only been back once since then, and for a much shorter cappuccino break. 

They say that not much has changed at Flore over the decades, except for the fashion of the clientele. “The atmosphere, the energetic flow of conversations, and the mythology of the Flore mark it as an institution of Parisian culture,” remarked one observer. 

Who knows? Maybe they let me stay because they thought I was writing the Next Great American Novel. 

Hell, maybe I was.

Sprinkles Cupcakes -- 4.5/5

1. Food -- 5/5 I've only had Sprinkles three times during my college career -- teenage-girl heresy, I know -- but I think I've had enough to know that this place is amazing. Vanilla with vanilla frosting: a little dry, but the frosting totally makes up for it. St. Patrick's Day Special: you have got to try this when that time of year rolls around. Red Velvet: super-popular for a reason--all the chocolate flavor without feeling like you've got a brick in your stomach. Peanut butter chocolate chip: Orgasmic. Yup, I said it. (But I'm super-biased towards all things peanut butter-y.)
2. Service -- 4/5 Super friendly, despite constant buzz and crowds! Pretty pink boxes, always more available of the flavor you want, and daily specials that you can only find out about by "liking" them on Facebook.
3. Price -- 3/5 Three-fifty per cupcake. I will never say it's not worth it.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 Stanford Shopping Center. Totally gorgeous, pretty expensive, but lots of nice gardens and benches to enjoy your cupcake. Or, just head back to school (5 minutes by car or bike) and celebrate the end of finals with your new best culinary adventures friend.
5. Good for... girl time or kid's birthday parties. The occasions where I've had Sprinkles: outing with archaeology girlfriends, a Greek Life seminar, and (as previously mentioned) an end-of-quarter wine-and-Sprinkles celebration with my co-qualitative research expert and beautiful fantastic grant winner, Amy.

Lulu's Mexican -- 3/5

1. Food -- 4/5 Okay, so I wouldn't call it the most authentic Mexican food of all time. I mean, it's in the Town and Country shopping complex. It was, however, pretty delicious -- I'm picky about my breakfast burritos, and this one didn't disappoint. Everything is fresh and put together right in front of you (a la Chipotle, but much better and less overrated), with soft-but-not-runny eggs, tenderly crisped potatoes, and salsa -- spiciness of your choosing -- in a warm tortilla. Yum. They have a pretty extensive menu, as well. Like, extremely extensive, actually.
2. Service -- 4/5 Very kind and speedy service, didn't make fun of my Spanish (always worth bonus points), and let me hang out inside for a surprisingly long time to do some reading for my French Lit class.
3. Price -- 2/5 Nine dollars is a lot to pay for a breakfast burrito, no matter how good. That's all I'm sayin.
4. Location and Setting -- 4/5 Town and Country is super pleasant and convenient, if not kind of gentile, and Lulu's is conveniently situated in between a trendy shoe store and Kara's cupcakes. Who needs anything more? Not a whole lot of indoor seating -- one table, actually -- so if the weather's poor, you're out of luck. That having been said, most of the orders I observed were taken "to go." So non issue if all you want to do is eat, but don't go there planing to hunker down and study or have an intimate conversation over burritos.
5. Good for... on the go with sufficient cash to spare. This was back in the day when I actually had an income.

Monique's Chocolates -- 4/5

Ok, so maybe truffles and hot cocoa don't exactly qualify as lunch.

It's been a rough week.

1. Food -- 5/5 The fantastic thing about eating out with other people is that you get to try more of the menu than you would alone. Especially in a chocolate shop where truffles are labeled according to their exotic single origin. My friend and I split two chocolates: the "House Blend" truffle, mixture of Belgian dark chocolate and San Francisco milk chocolate, and a Fleur de Sel caramel. I preferred the truffle -- caramel is a little too sweet for me -- but they were both wonderful and totally hit the mid-Winter quarter stress spot. We also ordered hot chocolate, because this place is kind of famous for it. I got the Dominican Republic variety (74% dark), any my friend got a dark-milk blend. Wow. This is what hot chocolate should be. And the two tasted totally unique from each other -- not just on a dark vs. milk level, but they each had very different flavors. More cocoa than sugar, which was a nice change.
2. Service -- 3/5 Pretty average. Not crappy, not stellar. There was some mishap behind the counter, and we were held up for a minute or so by some missing receipt paper or something like that, but no big deal. Eh.
3. Price -- 3/5 Let's face it: two to three bucks is a lot of money for a piece of chocolate, even if it is really, really, really good chocolate. The hot chocolate is more reasonable -- about the same price as the same product as Starbucks, and much better.
4. Location and Setting -- 4/5 Great location on Bryant Street, right across from the back entrance to Three Seasons. The store itself is shiny, white, and deco, but honestly it felt a little sterile. Doesn't go so well with all the exotic chocolate, but my interior decorating tastes are a) questionable and b) irrelevant.
5. Good for... girl time. At least that was my impression. Oddly, the only other customers were some businessmen mid-negotiation. Hmmm. A new way to soften up the opposition?

Village Cheese House -- 5/5

As I mentioned a couple entries ago, my new friend and I have decided to dedicate our Thursday afternoons to lunching at new restaurants across town. Our first stop was a made-to-order sandwich shop that I've heard pretty good things about and wanted to check it out.

1. Food -- 5/5 This is what a sandwich should be. (Don't kill me if you're a die-hard Ike's fan!) A beautiful, soft, albeit enormous whole wheat roll + tender deli chicken + fresh lettuce and red onions + provolone + the special house sauce = love. My friend got smoked turkey, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and the special house sauce on their famous Dutch Crunch bread; I only had a bite, but considering that she tried to save the 2nd half for dinner and then ended up giving in and eating it during class really says something. Sandwiches are made-to-order off of a list of dozens of possible meats, cheese, veggies, and sauces. The shop also stocks a variety of drinks, chips, and novelty snacks and European chocolate.
2. Service -- 5/5 Very efficient order-takers, especially considering the volume of customers around lunchtime, and skilled sandwich-makers.
3. Price -- 3.5/5 So maybe $8.50 is a little much for a sandwich, but like I said, they're huge! Half is definitely enough for a meal, leaving you with the other half for dinner or a convenient bag lunch the next day that will have all your peers slobbering with jealousy.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 Located in the back corner of the Town and Country shopping center on El Camino, the Cheese House is tucked away to the left of CVS, behind the high-end sportswear store and next to the state senator's office. It's a surprisingly spacious unit with a nicely organized line, good deli atmosphere, and a beautiful patio with plenty of wrought iron tables and benches for a sunny day. Plus, it's like two blocks away from Stanford. So you have 20 minutes to grab one of the best subs in town and get back to class? Not a problem. Also conveniently located in the same center as Trader Joe's, CVS, Kara's cupcakes, Cold Stone Creamery, and a bunch of other random rich people stores. Get your sandwich on the go if you've got a busy afternoon of errand-running ahead!
5. Good for... a much-needed lunch break in the sun. Or in the rain. Or whenever, really. I also hear it's a good morning-after/hangover recovery place. Don't know from experience, but I believe it.

Caffe del Doge -- 3.5/5

1. Food -- 5/5 Less food, more coffee. But very good coffee. So flavorful and smooth, very easy to take black. They're also very creative, with everything from Americanos to fancy concoctions served in martini glasses with chocolate layers, exotic spices, and all kinds of foam. They also make a very nice pear tart -- dense and not too sweet -- and the mousse was quite tempting. Many varieties of coffee are also available in bulk, a perfect gift for your favorite non-materialist coffee gourmand.
2. Service -- 5/5 The girl behind the counter was so sweet! There was no one behind us in line, and we got to talking. She actually graduated from Stanford last year with a degree in Anthropology (just like me! except I also do Archaeology). Before you get all cynical and make the post-hoc fallacy of assuming this means my degree will amount to working in a high-end cafe, take into account the facts that
1. It's Palo Alto, and she probably has a lot of student loans to pay off (financial aid wasn't as good then).
2. Sometimes, the last thing that a girl who's just completed four of the most academically and organizationally rigorous years of her life wants to do is jump straight into the professional version thereof. Burnout is bad.
3. Price -- 2/5 More expensive than Starbucks. Certainly better coffee, but definitely a splurge.
4. Location and Setting -- 3/5 It's a bit far down University, and customers are all rather squished in together. Not a very good place for exchanging confidential information, I think. Nice atmosphere and music, though, as well as a television that's constantly showing (silently) artsy French and Italian films.
5. Good for... high-end study sesh, dessert with girlfriends after dinner at Pasta? or Three Seasons, or maybe after an old movie at the Stanford Theater.

Pasta? -- 4/5

Welcome back, non-readers! Apologies for my extended absence. First of all, WINTER BREAK. It was fabulous--lots of cooking, skiing, sleeping, and reminiscing with high school friends about how ridiculous we really were and still really are. Anyways, I realized upon returning to school that Sundays are no longer a good day for restaurant visits, what with skiing every weekend and all. This boded ill for my blog, but fortunately I made a new friend in my Qualitative Research Methodology class, and we have decided to go out to lunch to a new restaurant every Thursday before class. Fear not, review-readers! The sortof-kindof-critic isn't done yet.

At least not until she leaves for Paris in April. Somehow I don't think reviews of their restaurants would prove very useful for y'all.

1. Food -- 4/5 Sometimes, you just crave Italian. Complex carbohydrates, Parmesan cheese, fresh tomatoes and basil and garlic and you probably get the idea, because you've been there. We asked for our salads lightly dressed (you know how restaurants can be...more dressing than salad...), and they were lightly dressed alright. Like, no dressing. They were plenty nice about bringing some out on the side, though. As an entrée, the penne giannino (with chicken and pesto) totally met my expectations and requirements for a delicious and stress-busting pasta dish. It was large enough to split with a friend and still have some left over to stick in my fridge for a late-night study snack.
2. Service -- 5/5 Still trying to work out if our server was really Italian, or if he's just an out of work character actor. Regardless, very sweet, accommodating, and professional.
3. Price -- 4/5 It's more expensive than food on campus, but honestly, not by much. Salads run at about $7, pasta at $12, and meat dishes are about $17. Like I said, plenty split-able. Good value for good food.
4. Location and Setting -- 4/5 About three or four blocks down University Avenue, it's very accessible with nice signage. Parking is a difficulty, as always, especially when it's cold out and walking isn't as pleasant as in the warmer months. It's not very Italiano-atmospheric -- it's actually got a sort of chromic, trendy vibe, but it works. Classy, but relaxed enough that I felt okay wearing track shorts. Ok, well I felt a little awkward, but not enough to detract from the dining experience.
5. Good for... a fun, classy-but-informal night out. Seems a little too echo-y for an intimate/date setting, but I can definitely seeing heading here with a few friends and splitting some delicious pasta dishes before heading over to L'Amour for a frozen finale.

Chavez Supermarket -- 4/5

Was taking the train to Redwood City for dinner and a movie the night before finals a good idea? Probably not, even if I did study during the "dinner" portion of the evening.

Was it entertaining and delicious? Entirely. (Burlesque was a thoughtlessly delightful joyride, Fair Game was a wake-up call.)

Was it necessary for maintaining my sanity? Absolutely.

Did I just get my butt kicked by 10 pages of French grammar? Nous verrons. We'll find out soon enough.

1. Food -- 5/5 My shredded chicken burrito was super authentic, fresh, and filling (maybe a little too filling, if we're being honest). It had just the right amount of kick, and the ingredients and flavors all came together seamlessly in a warm, fluffy flour tortilla. They menu is enormous -- for any dish there are about 8 different meat options, including multiple varieties of chicken, beef, pork, seafood, and even goat. The options extend even further when you realize that you're standing in the back of a supermarket and have an entire store's worth of drinks, desserts, and sides for practically pennies.
2. Service -- 4/5 Counter order. Burrito-making was super speedy, and they even had enough self control to not laugh at my Spanish (which, to be fair, is pretty good for a white Jewish girl).
3. Price -- 5/5 About $7 for a burrito -- I know that sounds like a fair amount, but a) it was really really good, and b) it was definitely enough food to split into two meals. Not that I did that, but it's totally possible if one should be so inclined. That was more or less the most expensive item on the menu -- other meat entrées ran around the same, and everything else was very cheap.
4. Location and Setting -- 3/5 Redwood City, within walking distance of the downtown (movie theater, train station, shopping center, museum, etc). Before I went, I didn't know if it was in a sketchy part of town or not, but it's actually pretty decent. Very low-key neighborhood-y place, next to the laundromat, with lots of seemingly regulars hanging out inside and out. The inside "restaurant" area is little more than a few tables in the back area of a supermarket, but it's clean and well-lit, and it's easy to take your food to go and walk to any one of the nice outdoor seating areas downtown.
5. Good for... late night Mexican food cravings, or lunch with your dudes. Bros. Whatever. When I say your dudes, I mean the ones who already love you (as a friend, or otherwise). Probably not a great first date venue, but maybe later along? Once the need for perfect breath becomes less critical? Either way, definitely a good place to stop for take out on the way to a [insert team of choice here] game, poker tournament (maybe tacos can make a nice pizza alternative on game night), or even a really hardcore study session.

Alright, so I'm gonna be on a bit of a hiatus for the next three or so weeks -- WINTERBREAK WINTERBREAK WINTERBREAK.

It's cool though, because no one reads this anyways. Except maybe my dad. Sometimes.

...awkward...

Tandoori Oven -- 5/5

Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break! Hope y'all had a fantastic week off, even if it was overshadowed by research papers and Dead Week midterms... who the hell thought that was a good idea?

I arrived back at Stanford yesterday after brunch had already closed. I was about to head to CoHo for one of their killer paninis, when I remember that a) it was Sunday, and hence time to check out another new restaurant, and b) I had a really tempting coupon for Tandoori Oven, so off we went to California Avenue for my last supper lunch before the reality of finals set in.

1. Food -- 3/5 The tandoori paneer salad (romaine with cucumbers, tomatoes, walnuts, cranberries, the house vinaigrette, and light, delicious, traditional Indian paneer cheese) was fresh and pleasant, but a little dull overall. At least, it didn't have the creativity and flavor I usually expect from Indian restaurants. The chicken tikka masala wrap, on the other hand, was great--easy to understand why it's advertised on their Specials board as their "best wrap yet." The curry is fun and balanced, and the naan is fluffy and fresh. And pretty healthy, to boot! As the menu advertises -- "All Fresh! Never Frozen! No Trans Fat! No MSG!"
2. Service -- 4/5 Nice, but nothing special. A cute guy behind the counter takes your order, and a nice server promptly delivers it to your table. Very fast turnaround!
3. Price -- 5/5 This is where the restaurant earns its top marks. For regular Joe Sixpack, appetizers are around $6 and entrees are around $10. If you happen to have a Stanford ID, however, everything changes. The Stanford discount totally blew my mind: just show the cashier your ID and pay $5 for any ala-carte curry or wrap, OR buy one, and get one for $2 (this applies to everything on the menu). My friend and I had a good meal for $14 between the two of us. These people know their audience.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 Lovely! Bright, beautiful murals on the walls; high level of cleanliness; indoor and outdoor seating; right next to Starbucks and across the street from Culture Frozen Yogurt on California Ave.
5. Good for... lunch or dinner with a group. Paying at the counter will help you avoid the awkward check-splitting process at the end of the meal, order turnaround is super-fast, the menu is extensive enough to appeal to pretty much everyone, it's in walking/biking distance of campus, and the student discount is fantastic. Highly recommended.

Printer's Inc. Cafe -- 3/5

And so continues the search for the perfect (off-campus) study spot! As has been the case lately (especially with our renewed good weather), I found myself procrastinating at the California Avenue Farmers Market this morning. While a pleasant experience, it was quickly followed by the guilt of such time management weakness in the face of required reading, a term paper, and grant proposals, and the instinct to buckle down and read another chapter of The Rational Optimist led me straight to the most intellectual-looking, hipster-y cafe on the block.

1. Food -- 3/5 Despite the temptation of beautiful grilled sandwiches, yummy-smelling Mexican dishes, tasty baked goods, and a huge list of coffee drinks, I ordered the Printers Salad: mixed greens with grapes, walnuts, goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. Pretty good -- crispy red grapes, crunchy almond slices (they ran out of walnuts), and enough dressing to add flavor with only minimal wilting of the greens. There was, however, too much goat cheese for me. As delicious as that stuff is, disproportionate amounts of any cheese overwhelm a salad and kind of mitigate the otherwise healthful lightness.
2. Service -- 4/5 It's very hands-off. You order at the counter, take a number, sit down, and your dish is brought. I'm totally cool with that, especially when the purpose of my visit is to study, but it depends on your preferred level of staff involvement. Also, my server was very sweet when she came to inform me (albeit a bit belatedly) that they were out of walnuts, and to ask what I'd like instead.
3. Price -- 3/5 Most dishes run around $8, and they're pretty big. Sandwiches all come with salad, salads all come with bread, and I'm pretty sure most of the entrée-sized dishes can be split, taken home, and saved for the next time you don't feel like hitting up Lag dining. Again.
4. Location and Setting -- 4/5 Clean and pleasant. They have a nice outdoor seating area with a wraparound bench that was pretty comfortable to curl up against and do some heavy reading. Also, free wi-fi. Yay!
5. Good for... relaxed brunch/lunch, with buds or alone. It's energetic enough to be fun, but plenty of people are there reading or on their computers. Very versatile that way.

Oh, and also... GO STANFORD. 48-14, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

Evvia Estiatorio -- 4.5/5

Oh. My. God. YES.
A few months ago, my dad ended up on a plane with someone who couldn't shut up about this restaurant, and he's been trying to get me to go ever since. For some reason or another, it never worked out until this weekend, and I cannot believe it took me so long to get to arguably one of the best restaurants in the Palo Alto area. Not that I've been to all that many so far, but sometimes, you just know.

1. Food -- 5/5 Delicious? Consistently. Healthy? Well, there are plenty of healthy options. Exotic? Mediterranean at its finest. Classy? Oh, so classy--such a step up from the Greek I'm used to at diners and delis. We ordered: Anginares Souvlaki (super-tender grilled artichokes, eggplants, and bell peppers with creamy Greek yogurt), butternut squash with pomegranate and pumpkin seeds (I can't remember the Greek name for the dish, but it was fantastic), Avgolemono (chicken-lemon-egg-rice soup... the best way to describe it is as egg drop soup without the drops, because the egg has been tempered into the broth. Not like anything I've ever had!), and Fakes (good old lentil soup. Hard to go wrong there). We debated splitting Moussaka as an entrée, but it would've ended with busted GI tracts, and we had to save room for dessert! We took the waitress's advice and ordered Galaktoboureko, which basically looked like egg rolls, but was actually phyllo rolls filled with vanilla bean semolina custard and topped with a scoop of pistachio ice cream. No words. Just happiness. I could practically taste the love in every dish.
2. Service -- 5/5 Our waitress was very friendly, engaging, helpful, relaxed, blah blah blah everything you hope for in a waitress. Food came quickly, even on a busy Saturday night. We saw the owner and his wife checking in with the couple at the table next to us, and (bonus!) cute Greek waiters abound.
3. Price -- 2/5 Apps and desserts around $10, entrées anywhere from $20-30. Yeahhhh... thanks, Dad.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 On Emerson, within a block of University Ave. Parking can be a bummer, especially on weekend nights, but there are a few free lots around, so just budget in a little time to find a spot. The restaurant itself was decorated beautifully. It's very Mediterranean and atmospheric without being distracting or drifting too far towards Epcott-desperate-worldliness.
5. Good for... night out with the 'rents. Or, if you're feeling wealthy and courageous, an anniversary date. Save this one for occasions -- it deserves the special treatment.

I think I've said all there is to say. Good night, and good food.

Zao Noodle Bar -- 4/5

I finally took myself out to eat this weekend. It required actively not thinking about how little spare cash I have right now and a big dose of decisiveness -- so many restaurants to choose from, and only one meal a week to get through them all! Found myself at Zao Noodle Bar on University Ave, a colorful, modern, pan-Asian place that my eye has been diverting to for weeks.

1. Food -- 4/5 I had a delicious entrée salad from their fall specials menu -- grilled chicken and mandarin slices on mixed lettuce with pesto vinaigrette. The basil added an interesting, and in my experience more Western flavor, and it worked. It would've worked better if the dressing had been a little more flavorful, but the chicken was well-cooked but tender, and the rest of the flavors in the salad were delicious. Beware: the crispy rice noodles included on most of their salads are piled SKY HIGH. It took about five minutes of finagling before I could eat any salad without sending rice noodles toppling onto the table -- either ask for fewer, or to hold them entirely.
2. Service -- 5/5 Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. I arrived at about 4:45, before the dinner rush came in, and got to pick a little two-fer against the wall. Took out my laptop to do some work on grant applications (even though, to be honest, it felt a little inappropriate in a sit-down restaurant -- I was desperate!), and no one treated me strangely for it. My server was extremely nice, attentive, and speedy. My iced tea -- with free refills, by the way -- arrived practically before I'd finished ordering it, and my full-size salad was out by the time I'd finished my "Research Objective" paragraph. Then, when I wanted to stay and work for a while but was afraid of taking up a potentially valuable table, my server was very reassuring and accommodating, allowing me to stay and type away about heritage preservation in developing nations for what I later realized was nearly two hours.
3. Price -- 5/5 Who would've thought? A full-size salad and a never-ending glass of mango ceylon iced tea for only $13? On University Avenue? Hot damn, I'm okay with that.
4. Location and Setting -- 3/5 Many points for mid-University Ave location. Minus a few for closely set tables in a very echo-y room full of families with small, shrill children. Sorry, not so much my thing. Maybe if the walls absorbed sound a little better?
5. Good for... pretty much anything. Solo nights on the town, dates at any point in the relationship, night out with friends, or parental visits! You name it, I can see it.

Hmmm... maybe next time I'll actually eat some noodles.

Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant and Bar -- 4/5

Last weekend, a bunch (5) of us had plans to take our friend out to this cool-sounding Cajun place for her 20th birthday. Of course, we only found out that afternoon that it was closed for renovations. I'd passed Coconuts plenty of times walking around Palo Alto, and the bright colors promising Caribbean nostalgia and flavorful food always looked inviting, so I suggested it as an alternative, and we went for it.

1. Food -- 5/5 They serve you family-style, which I love. My biggest problem with going to restaurants, especially alone or with only one other person, is how difficult it almost always is to choose just one menu item! We started with the AMAZING sweet potato fries and a caesar salad (to attempt to ease a little bit of the guilt of our rich entrees), and then split: curried chicken with steamed rice, boneless jerk pork with curried sweet potatoes and root vegetables, and shrimp creole. The curried chicken won best overall; the pork was delicious and tender but fattier than I would've liked; I only got to have one shrimp, because it was a kind of small dish for the five of us to split, so I don't really feel qualified to comment on it. We were way too full of delicious food by the time the dessert menus came out, but maybe next time!
2. Service -- 3/5 When we arrived, the hostess was on the phone with someone who was apparently being really picky about ordering and insisted on having most of the menu read to him/her. You could tell she was losing her patience (though honestly, I don't blame her), but luckily the person seemed satisfied and hung up before she could blow a gasket. She recovered quickly and was very sweet to us. It took a long time for them to come take our order, and we were really hungry by the time it arrived. At the end of the night, our server didn't really understand how we wanted to split the bill between our cards and seriously overcharged one of my friends, so we had to re-do it. She was very sweet and patient with us, though, and everything worked out in the end.
3. Price -- 4/5 We each ended up paying about $18 to split two appetizers and three entrées, which is pretty damn good for Palo Alto. Most entrées run $12-20, and apps are about $7-10. Reasonable prices for a special occasion/night out with friends. BONUS! Get 10% off if you show your Stanford ID.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 About a block and a half south of University Avenue -- quieter neighborhood, which facilitates easier parking and less hazardous sidewalk navigation. Indoor or covered patio seating available. Has serious potential as a mood-booster in the winter months, what with all those bold colors and painted palm trees. Deliberately and delightfully tacky.
5. Good for... going out with friends and celebrating in pseudo-Caribbean fashion, of course!

Can't wait for an excuse to go back and try the crab pasta and the sweet potato pudding. Yeah mon.

Franklin Street Caffe -- 4/5

It was a cold and rainy weekend afternoon. I'd just come from seeing The Social Network (super-good, by the way, once you get over the idea of making a biopic about someone still in his 20s) at the movie theater in Redwood City, since for some reason there's no multiplex in Palo Alto proper, and I realized that I had 45 minutes to wait for the next southbound train. What's a girl to do? Head for the nearest funky cafe/diner in sight and hammer out some Anthro 115A reading, of course! I think Jared Diamond was involved...

1. Food -- n/a Ok, I'm gonna be straight with you. I didn't actually have anything to eat when I was there. "What the eff is up with that?" you might ask. "Why would you write a review about a place you've never actually eaten at?" Um, good question. Mostly because everything else about it was fantastic, including the delicious single, non-fat latte with heaps of cinnamon and a packet of Splenda (thanks, teen body issues). Normally I take my coffee black, or at least I don't add anything to my espresso drinks, but something about the weather that day made sweetness a necessity. Anyways, the coffee was delicious and my overall experience was so happy that I felt the need to review, and then go back for actual food the next time I'm in Redwood City. (Let me just say this: they serve breakfast all day. WIN.)
2. Service -- 5/5 The fellas behind the counter were super sweet, and there was less than a minute between latte order and delivery. To be fair, I was the only person in line, but still.
3. Price -- 5/5 Oh my gosh! Reasonable prices! Toto, I don't think we're in Palo Alto anymore... Latte was $2.25 (exactly what  happened to be in my wallet at the time....that stupid $10 movie ticket practically broke me), which we all know is an improvement on the Starbucksian extortion we've become accustomed to. A full breakfast runs around $8, lunch (sandwiches & burgers, small pizzas, pasta, salads) anywhere from $4-9, and a couple more protein-rich entrees and large pizzas run in the $10-13 range. Check out their full menu here.
4. Location and Setting -- 4/5 It's literally right on the train tracks. Like, 10 feet from the platform. It's perfect if you're waiting for a train and don't want to lose track of time and miss it (because they only roll around every hour), and it's in the same shopping center as a Safeway, CVS/Pharmacy, other cafes, salons, etc. It's also about a minute walk from downtown Redwood City -- movie theater, library, Broadway, it's great. They have indoor and outdoor seating options, it's very clean, and they love their 80s classics. That might be the first time I've ever heard "Separate Ways" in a restaurant, and it made me so happy.
5. Good for... waiting for the train. Relaxing, escaping the glitter of downtown Palo Alto, and eating breakfast all day.

But yeah. Next time I'll actually eat something and get back to you on that front. My hopes are high!

La Strada Ristorante Italiano -- 3/5

So we were wandering around downtown PA. Like always. Because let's be honest, unless you have a very distinct reason for going there, the only thing to do downtown is wander.

And of course eat, which is where this blog comes in.

There are plenty of Italian restaurants to choose from -- sometimes the Italian food mood just strikes, you know? -- and we landed someone randomly on La Strada. Basically, we were already standing in front of it at the moment of mood-striking. It was... well, you'll see.

1. Food -- 3/5 My food standards for University avenue are pretty high, and this straight up just didn't live up to them. I ordered the grilled chicken salad with Gorgonzola, almonds, and a Cabernet vinaigrette dressing on spinach, and my companion got the 'Casonsei Alla Bergamasca' house-made sausage ravioli with amaretto, brown butter, and pork guanciale. The salad was decent -- nicely dressed and almonds/cheese were paired well. Chicken was a little crispy though. The ravioli, according to my mom (because it was about to drown in butter-and-amaretto soup that looked like it could give me pimples from sheer proximity) went overboard. There's a way to utilize multiple types of meat in one dish without giving your customer a heart attack, and this is so not it. We (well, she) couldn't even look at the dessert menu.
2. Service -- 5/5 The host let us pick our own table (out on the curb, because we had the dog and going inside would've been a little illegal) and came by plenty to refill our water and ask what was up.
3. Price -- 3/5 This, unfortunately, is a risk you run at sit-down restaurants in Palo Alto. The salad was $10, the ravioli was $13, and desserts ran $7-9. Not gonna break you, but maybe not worth it for the end product.
4. Location and Setting -- 4/5 I think we've pretty firmly established that University Ave is a win in my book blog. Too bad it lost points for cramming the tables wayyyyy too close together.
5. Good for... Exploring (read: Narrowing Down) Your Italian Food Options

Good, but not quite good enough to warrant the (reasonable but not lovable) prices. It all tasted pretty good, but given the volume of Italian restaurants in this area I'm definitely going to explore before I ever go back. Also, sorry that was so short. So. Much. Anthropology reading.

L'Amour Frozen Yogurt -- 5/5

I could try and come up with some pathetic excuse for why I'm six days late in blogging.

Scratch that. I can come up with a pathetic excuse, and I'm going to: frankly, this school year is kicking my ass. And I'm basically broke, so dining out options are limited -- don't worry, I'll figure out how to keep going somehow! Anyways, I had a meeting for my internship in town yesterday, and when I got out of it the weather was PERFECT and all I wanted to do was wander around beautiful Palo Alto for a little while. When I passed L'Amour, already a favorite of mine, and saw that they've got pumpkin spice froyo, I had to go. Had to. You know how it is.

1. Food -- 5/5 What sets this place apart from typically adored frozen yogurt joints like Fraiche and Pinkberry is the sheer variety of (mostly non- or low-fat) flavors and toppings available. Here are some of my past favorites:
• Mint frozen yogurt with brownie pieces and white chocolate chips
• Peanut butter frozen yogurt with banana slices and honey (it's like those sandwiches I adored as a kid, but in chic frozen form)
• Pumpkin spice frozen yogurt with graham cracker crumbs, sliced almonds, and vanilla yogurt chips (same idea as the pb & banana, where I'm trying to recreate solid desserts with froyo)
2. Service -- 5/5 I mean, it's self-serve, so I guess this one is fairly self-fulfilling, depending on how happy you are with your decisions as a froyo designer.
3. Price -- 5/5 It's not super cheap, but it is sold by weight (47 cents/oz), which means you can have as much or as little as you want/can afford to eat. I had a totally delicious, high-quality, satisfying dessert yesterday for about $2.50.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 Such a fan of University Avenue! They're only three-ish blocks down the street, so it's a nice walk to get there but not inordinately far. So close to the bookstore, drug store, the Stanford Theater, etc etc. And it's always beautiful there in the Fall.
5. Good for... Girl Talk or First Date I don't even want to count how many times I've sat at their adorable little tables out front and people-watched while girl-talking with... my best friend from high school, my mom, my sorority sisters, my... self... Either way, this place is simultaneously decadent and low-key, at prices that vary on your terms and plenty of places to sit (or, if you'd rather keep walking, total portability).

Alright. So yes, my timing is off. But it's not like anyone actually reads this blog or cares if I keep my apparently-not-at-all-strict weekly schedule. But things should get back on track soon--I got a Bling Nation chip on my phone today and now have $20 to spare for tomorrow's culinary adventures! Woohoo!

Oh and also, GO CARDINAL. 37-35. Way to kick some U$C patootie tonight.

Just For Kicks

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Mediterranean Wraps -- 4/5

I was wandering around after the fabulous California Avenue Farmers Market yesterday (well, two days ago at this point) when my tummy started rumbling. Realizing that about six hours had passed since I'd last eaten anything, "anything" being a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats way early in the morning. I looked up and this was the first restaurant I saw. As a fan of Mediterranean (and let's face it, pretty much any) ethnic food, I figured, why not?

1. Food -- 3/5 The first thing I ever order at a new Mediterranean place is the falafel wrap. It's a quintessential dish that should, if it does its job, represent the rest of the menu. The falafel itself was pretty good--moist, crunchy, kind of nutty--and the veggies were fresh and plentiful, but the wrap was a little burned and super messy. At a few points the tahini sauce-dripping was out of control, and I ended up having to blot some of it out with my napkin before I could safely finish eating. (To be fair, a Mediterranean deli recently opened about a block away from my house back in my hometown that has the best falafel wraps ever, so I went into this situation a little biased against possible competitors. This still wasn't as good, though. I'm seriously about the potential for drip damage.)
   Take a look at the rest of their menu (prices not included).
2. Service -- 5/5 These guys are great! I was helped almost the minute I went into the store and they got to making the wrap right away. The nice man behind the counter flirted just enough to be sweet without being creepy, and they have free ice water in a nice pitcher and cups. Very courteous and attentive, speedy service. 
3. Price -- 4/5 My fairly large wrap (not in-edibly enormous, but enough to make up for minimal breakfast and fill me up until a late dinner -- could safely be split with a friend) cost a little over $6. They have side options in the $3-4 dollar range, as well as larger specialty wraps and plates between $8-10. A nice weekend option if you have a bit of cash to spare.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 Full marks for having two locations in Palo Alto, one on swanky University Avenue (15 minute walk from campus, 10 minute bike ride) and one on lower-key but still middle class hippie-yuppie-hybrid California Avenue (20-25 minute walk from campus, 15 minute bike ride). I've never been to the one at University, but on California they have a nice outdoor patio set up with chairs (beware when you're wearing shorts or miniskirts, girls, these are the wiry chairs that leave awkward marks on the back of your legs), umbrellas, and a nice view of this quirky street. People watching opportunities galore, especially on Farmers Market day.
5. Good for... Weekend Wind-Down It was a great place to regroup and enjoy some simple but exotically tasty fare after a hectic weekend of back-to-school frat parties and the oddly frenetic energy of the Farmers Market. It seems to appeal to a lot of different types with different purposes--me with my mountain of assigned reading, three middle-aged men in the middle of what looked like a business meeting, a family of four, and a few young couples.

Well this is getting easier as I go. Remember, I'm still super-new to this and open to any thoughts or suggestions you might have on my tentative entrance into the world of restaurant reviews. I probably wrote this one way too late at night (or, I guess, early in the morning) for it to make a whole ton of sense. Hopefully this week will be kind to me and I'll have my head on straight enough by next Sunday to actually write a coherent review.

Thanks for hangin' in there. See you next weekend!

Three Seasons -- 3.5/5

Don't let the rating fool you. This self-described "contemporary Vietnamese cuisine" has hands-down been my favorite dining experience since coming to Stanford. I've been there twice: once at the beginning of freshman year, and again this weekend after a long and semi-delirious move-in. My two visits, space about a year apart, have two very important things in common. The first is that they were equally wonderful.

1. Food -- 5/5 Unfortunately, I only vaguely remember what I ordered last year, but this weekend my mom and I were torn between all the delicious-looking menu items and ended up splitting three small dishes. In ascending order of goodness, we got: seasonable vegetable curry (smells great, spicy in a good way, overall pretty run-of-the-mill), summer crab rolls (loved em! but maybe I'm biased by my predisposition to shellfish), and duck spring rolls (six pieces of delicate, chewy, easy-to-share Vietnamese goodness with a sweet and spicy kick). Check out their full menu here.
2. Service -- 2/5 I'm tempted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but there were a couple things I can't overlook. Long wait to be seated, friendly but inattentive servers are forgivable, especially on a busy night, but it took them three tries to get our bill right. First they returned it without running the credit card and then it came back with the wrong credit card, which could've been a major bummer for everyone involved.
3. Price -- 2/5 The second very important commonality between my two visits is that both times were with a parent, meaning I didn't have to pay. Two starters and a side costs about $30 + tax (which isn't too terrible if you're splitting with a couple of friends), and larger dishes range from $14-26. But yeah, maybe you should wait 'til Parents Weekend on this one.
4. Location and Setting -- 5/5 518 Bryant Street, just off University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto. Beautiful! Simultaneously relaxed and intimate. If the weather's compliant, definitely opt to sit outside on their patio. It looks out on a beautiful courtyard that separates you from "busy" University Ave and tones down the whole experience a little bit. I recommend walking the mile from campus, especially when it's nice out. Driving is okay if you have to, but why not do this the environmentally friendly way (and avoid the bummer that is parking downtown)?
5. Good for... 3rd+ Dates & Anniversaries Probably don't go here on a first date unless you're sure that the niceness of the restaurant won't accidentally come off as too serious. If you're willing to dish out the dough, however, this could be an awesome anniversary setting. Bonus: most of the food won't ruin your breath... just stay away from the garlic noodles.

Ok! Great! One down! That's all for this week, folks, but stay hungry, stay collegiate, stay tuned.

Food at Stanford is pretty good, all things considered.

I've eaten at a few college cafeterias, and what we have here at Stanford is seriously nothing to complain about. It's healthy, varied, and we have a ton of different dining halls and other restaurant/cafe options on campus. That having been said, it'd be nice to get away from campus once in a while and explore the Palo Alto area... the bistros! The ethnic food! The hipster cafes! At least, if they didn't all seem to come at Silicon Valley (i.e. not-so-student-friendly) prices. That's why, this past summer, I made a pledge to go to a different area restaurant -- ranging from Redwood City to Mountain View, which are the two farthest points that I feel comfortable bike riding on El Camino Real -- every Sunday of the school year and review it for college students based on the following criteria:

1. Food -- How good the food is clearly factors into any restaurant review. Since I only have one stomach (and only so much money), unfortunately I won't be able to review every dish offered, but I'll do my best to represent the overall quality of the restaurant.
2. Service -- Wait time (to be seated, waited on, served, and presented with the bill)? Server attentiveness/attitude? Ability/willingness to accommodate special needs or requests? Etc.
3. Price -- Probably one of the most important factors from the student perspective (if not the most important). What's the average dish price? What's the minimum cost of a decent meal? Is it somewhere you can go alone/with friends, or should you wait until Parents Weekend and sweetly ask them to take you out? Are there any coupons for it in the Stanford directory/unofficial guide?
4. Location and Setting -- For students who don't have a car at school (like me), how easy is it to get to from campus by walking or bike riding? Is it worth renting/splitting the cost of a Zipcar or pressuring your friend with a car into driving? Is it close to any cool stores, movie theaters, etc? What's the neighborhood like? Basically, is it an enjoyable place to have a meal?
5. Events -- Is this a good setting for a date? Which date (first, second, anniversary, etc)? How about group stuff: club or team celebrations, senior dinners, dorm banquets, group dates?

Let me know if you have any suggestions--places you like and want to share, or that you've always been curious about but have never had a good enough reason to take the effort to get off campus and visit. Or do you  feel like contributing your own thoughts on each restaurant or questioning my credentials as a restaurant reviewer? Go for it, because I don't really have any, other than a knack for cooking and a love of going out for lunch. These are just my opinions, as well as a great excuse to eat yummy off-campus food every once in a while. My restaurant adventures begin this Sunday and end when I graduate in June 2013. Stay tuned!