Rise Woodfire San Mateo

After a delicious meal at Elia the night before, I wanted to treat Cable Car Guy and fam to lunch.  You see, trying to fight for the bill with him can be futile since he uses every trick in the book.  I've been desperate enough to give my credit card to the server before we order so I can have the pleasure of paying!!!   Anyways, upon his suggestion, we traveled across the Bay over to Rise Woodfire in San Mateo.  This location is in addition to the Santa Clara store, both are locally owned.  Entering the place, we were greeted to high ceilings and a spacious dining room.  The menu focuses on wood fire pizza and rotisserie.

As such, we started with the Woodfired Chicken Wings in Chipotle BBQ and Buffalo.  Since these were not fried, the skin was not as rendered.  However, that also meant the wings were not dry nor too crunchy.  With that being said, the skin wasn't flabby either.  A bit vinegary with mild heat, the buffalo wings were best dunked into the side of peppercorn ranch.  As for the chipotle BBQ, they were a bit more saucy being sweet and tangy with a decent amount of spice.  The chicken meat itself was tender and almost juicy.

Continuing on with poultry, we tried their whole Pitman Family Farms Local Chicken.  This slow-roasted rotisserie chicken had a beautifully roasted exterior with rendered and flavorful skin.  The meat itself was on the drier side while lacking seasoning.  As you can see, the chicken was large and wasn't lacking in meat.  In addition to the charred half lemon, we had a choice of sauce where we went for the slightly spicy chipotle BBQ.  It had a nice tangy sweetness.

Included with the whole bird, we had a choice of two sides.  It was without a doubt we'd go for the Mac & Cheese with applewood smoked bacon (+$3.00) and the Parmesan Truffle Fries.  Both were good where the mac & cheese was super saucy and cheesy.  It wasn't really all that salty though but the addition of crispy (and not overly fatty) bacon took care of business.  Noodles were not too soft either.  As for the fries, they were crispy with plenty of creamy potatoness left.  I think there needed to be more parm though, but the truffle was evident.

Of course we would have some pizzas too right?  Instead of getting the usual baseline pie in the Margherita, we opted for the Burrata.  This was pretty much like a Margherita with crushed tomato sauce, sea salt, parmesan, torn basil, EVOO and of course di Stefano burrata.  Although the crust didn't look like it had much charring, it still ate very well.  There was some smoky leoparding on the bottom and the dough was properly salted.  There was a nice chew to it while the exterior was crispy.  Although you might think that there was far too much sauce on top, it worked well due to the robust nature of the crust as well as the limited amount of toppings.  It was a nice contrast to the creamy burrata.

As good as the burrata pizza was, the table favorite happened to be The Brunch pizza.  It was liberally topped with mozzarella, applewood smoked bacon, Yukon potato, organic egg, red onion, thyme, sea salt and parmesan on white panna sauce.  This was a hearty concoction where the breakfast nature of the components really came through.  The salty smokiness of the bacon obviously went well with the tender sliced potatoes as well as the egg.  There was a good amount of mozzarella that was stringy where it melded with the creamy sauce underneath.

Personally, the pizza that was the most impactful was the Calabrese + Honey with crushed tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami, fire-roasted jalapeño, parmesan, torn basil and drizzled with Calabrian chili infused honey.  Beyond the crispy chewy crust, the combination of sweet, salty and heat worked our taste buds.  Furthermore, the amount of toppings and sauce made this pizza not-so-dry, which was great in my opinion.  

We also ordered a couple of gluten-free crust pizzas including the Pesto Lemon Shrimp with basil pesto sauce, mozzarella, seasoned shrimp, roasted garlic, housemade dried lemon, red chili flakes, chives and parmesan.  Despite all of the components, the flavors were harmonious and focused.  We had an herbaceous cheesiness going on with some acidity and spice.  The briny sweetness of the juicy prawns still stood out.  As for the gluten-free crust, it was thin and almost cracker-like.  Not bad.

The other gluten-free crust pizza was the Prosciutto di Parma + Arugula with crushed tomato sauce, mozzarella, sea salt, parmesan, torn basil, EVOO, topped with freshly sliced prosciutto + fresh organic baby arugula.  Sitting on the same crunchy and well-charred gluten-free crust, the plethora of tangy tomato sauce helped provide moisture.  The saltiness of the prosciutto was tempered by the peppery and bright arugula.  There was a proper amount of cheese to compliment without making the pizza heavy.

Onto dessert, we had the Basque Cheesecake with cherry sauce as well as the Flourless Chocolate Cake.  On appearance alone, the cheesecake looked dense.  In reality, it was actually decently airy and light (typical of this type of cheesecake).  It had a caramel-taste to it due to the aggressively browned top.  As for the chocolate cake, it was like a rich ganache where the sweetness was muted, giving way to an appealing bitter finish.  Overall, the food at Rise Woodfire is quite good and served in large portions.  Great for a group of friends and family alike.

The Good:

- Solid pizzas

- Rotisserie items are great too

- Large portions

The Bad:

- Chicken could be more moist

Meadowlark Dairy

After ordering nearly the whole menu at Elia, we were both satisfied and stuffed.  Now that didn't mean we were forgoing dessert.  Sure, we skipped that part at Elia, but we quickly transitioned to a few blocks away with Meadowlark Dairy.  With its unmistakable "Milk" signage, Meadowlark started off as the first certified dairy in California.  It was eventually sold and the new owner's son started making ice cream and selling it as a drive through and walk up in the 80s's.  It continues to operate today as such and we walked up for some soft-serve.

We made it just before closing and despite the rain, we happily waited our turn to order some soft serve.  For the day, we found 5 regular flavors and 2 special Christmas ones.  The first picture that you see here is Pineapple in a small cup.  That can also be had in a cone (more on that later) as well.  I wouldn't say the soft-serve was the creamiest I've ever had, but it certainly had some weight to it.  Hence, it ate like ice cream.  Yet at the same time, it was still refreshing, partly due to the sweet pineapple.  I would've loved to see more tang, but it had some Dole-whip vibes.  Surprisingly, this was a vegan flavor and it really didn't eat as such.

Now for the cone, we actually returned to Pleasanton so that we could explore the sights and sounds of the area.  Really enjoyed the small museum with the history of the place.  We then strolled over to Meadowlark and I went for a small Chocolate cone.  I felt this was somewhat like a malt that had Wendy's frosty vibes but with more chocolate flavor.  It was rich and creamy but not heavy at the same time.  Best of all, I thought it was only purposefully sweet.  Since this was one of the non-vegan flavors I tried, it was definitely creamier.

On the first visit, I went big with the large cone with Strawberry (Vegan), Egg Nog, Orange (Vegan) and Pineapple (Vegan).  Yah, for the large, they really pile it on!  If the weather was warmer, I would've struggled to eat this without it melting all over me.  Luckily it was December and I was able to mostly finish it, especially with the help of putting it upside down into a cup.  I thought the vegan flavors were pretty good with balanced sweetness and decent creaminess.   Overall, Meadowlark Dairy is what I would call a nostalgic experience.  The soft-serve is good, but the everything else about the place makes it worthwhile.  If you are every out in Pleasanton, go check it out!

The Good:

- Surprisingly good vegan flavors

- They don't skimp on the portion size

- Cool overall experience

The Bad:

- Gets pretty busy, so be prepared to wait, whether it be walk-up or drive-thru

Elia Pleasanton

Here we go with our biennial visit to the Bay Area once again.  Last year, we headed down to LA to get away from the rain, but it seems like the rain followed us to SFO this time around.  Once we landed, it was straight to an In-N-Out for a double double before heading over to Pleasanton to meetup with Cable Car Guy and Cable Car Girl.  Always a pleasure to dine with them and catch up!  They suggested that we try out Elia in Downtown Pleasanton.  Never been out there and wow, if there was some snow, Main Street would look like something straight out of a Hallmark movie!  

Anyways, we weren't there to scout out film locations, rather, we were going to eat!  That we did with some appies to start including the Kolokithokeftethes (or Zucchini Cakes).  At first, I thought they were crab cakes and in fact, when I bit into them, they were firmer than what I would associate with zucchini.  This would be the result of mixing it eggs and flour.  I liked the texture as it was not too wet, so that the outside would crisp up uniformly while the inside had some body.  This was served some garlic yogurt on the side.

Next, we had the Octapodaki or Grilled Spanish Octopus.  This was my favorite dish where the large tentacle was tender and meaty while having a bite.  It was grilled until there was a light char on the outside which afforded a rich and appealing smokiness.  There was enough seasoning for it to stand on its own, but the addition of some pickled potatoes, orange wedges, carrots and radish in a honey mustard dressing, there was crunch, brightness and sweetness to balance the dish.

One of the most interesting things we had was the deep fried Smelt with chipotle aioli.  Now if you are into Chinese cuisine, deep fried smelt aren't anything new.  However, I've never had such a dish at a Greek restaurant before.  Well, I have to say that this version was very much like the Chinese dish.  The smelt were full of roe and only lightly-battered.  They were crispy and beautifully salted.  The side of lemon and aioli complimented the smelt with acidity and some creaminess.

Plated much more intricately than I would've imagined, the Seabass Carpaccio was presented as a bouquet of flowers sitting in a mix of lemon, orange, garlic, olive oil and dill.   Although not completely "cooked" by the acid, this ate very much like a ceviche.  The firmness of the seabass along with the high acidity made it less of a carpaccio.  It was good though, as the fish was fresh and the marinade was extremely bright, tangy and appetizing.

Continuing on with the small plates, we had the Kounoupidi Tou Fornou (Roasted Cauliflower) with garlic-chili butter, pimenton, toasted almonds, fresh herbs and crumbled feta.  Really enjoyed this as there was a real oven-roasted appearance and taste to the dish.  Hence, each cauliflower floret was smoky and had a firm crunch despite being cooked through.  I thought the addition of feta really added some body to the dish and creaminess.

We also had the Keftedes featuring lamb & beef meatballs in tomato sauce and topped with tzatzki.  The meatballs were super moist and meaty with a noticeable gaminess.  Personally, I love that lamb flavor but I can see how some people might find it overpowering.  As for the tomato sauce, it was pretty bright and tangy with background sweetness but a bit one note.  The dollop of tzatzki added some creamy brightness to break up the heaviness of the meatballs.

Of course we couldn't do without the classic Kalamarakia featuring Monterey calamari with fried jalapenos and shallots.  I have to say these were some of the largest squid rings I've ever seen.  Despite this, they were not overly chewy.  Sure, they had a definite bite, but the rings were still tender and the batter was crispy while properly seasoned.  I thought the side of chipotle yogurt to be a refreshing change from the usual tzatziki.  It was light with a slight spiciness.

My favorite part of any Greek (or Mediterranean meal) is the lamb.  So when the Arnisia Paidakia hit the table, I was super excited.  These lamb rack chops were beautifully charred (without burning them) with a smoky caramelization.  These were properly marinated with hits of garlic, lemon and earthiness from the herbs.  Best of all, the lamb was cooked to medium where the meat was still juicy and plenty tender.  This came with some roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, campari tomatoes and latholemono (drizzle of lemon EVOO).

Continuing with lamb, we also had the Kokkinisto served with orzo, mizithra, diced veggies, romesco and jus.  This large lamb shank was braised just enough that the meat was super tender and gelatinous without all of the meat falling apart.  It was delicious due to the braising jus as well as the romesco.  There was so sweet garlicky tang going on that flavorful without being too strong with any one component.  Orzo on the side had a great al dente texture.

Other than a roasted lamb shoulder, my other favorite Greek dish is Moussaka.  Normally, I find versions that are heavy on the bechamel and low on the layers of eggplant and potato.  However, the one here was one of the most balanced I've had.  As you can see in the picture, there were defined layers of eggplant, meat, more eggplant, more meat, potatoes and then a proper amount of bechamel.  This all sat in a tangy tomato sauce.  Consisting of lamb & beef, the meat was tender with plenty of natural meatiness.  Eggplant and potato were tender without being mushy while the bechamel was creamy with the unmistakable taste of nutmeg.

With the Bucatini Astakos, we found a large lobster tail with garlic prawns with al dente pasta.  Due to the thickness of the bucatini, it was pretty chewy, but in a good mouth-feel kinda way.  It sat in a spicy urfa pepper lobster sauce that was almost like a creamy bisque.  It was definitely aromatic and briny, but also surprisingly with a lot of heat.  The lobster had a nice rebound texture while the prawns had a moist snap.

Of course we couldn't forget about the classic Kotopoulo Souvlaki right (Chicken Souvlaki)?  However, unlike most other places, the one here employed chicken thighs instead of breast.  Hence, there was much more meat flavor in addition to it being juicier.  There was a nice char on the outside, which made things smoky while the marinade ensured the meat was tender.   This came with vermicelli-bulgar, roasted almonds and arugula.

Going out with style, we had the Lavraki (Whole Mediterranean Sea Bass) with arugula, heirloom tomatoes, sumac red onions and roasted potato.  The fish was prepared well with the skin being mostly crispy while the meat was flaky and moist.  I think the fish could've been salted a bit more aggressively, but it wasn't bland either.  Some lemon really helped bring out the salt. In the end, we didn't end up ordering any desserts because we had our eye on Meadowlark Dairy just down the street.  So the fish was our last dish and it was a fine end to a really solid meal.  Proteins were cooked properly and dishes were composed.  This was a little more refined than the usual neighborhood Greek restaurant.  The prices reflect that too.

 

The Good:

- Well-prepared food

- More refined than other Greek restaurants

- Excellent service

 

The Bad:

- It does cost more to eat here, but the food quality did reflect that 

- Although there are parking lots nearby, it was difficult to find a space

 

Plaza Premium Lounge (US Departures)

So back in December, we made the trek out to the Bay Area to visit relatives.  We ended up visiting the Plaza Premium Lounge in the US Departures terminal at YVR.  Being the holiday season, I could understand the increase in passengers at the airport and thus, more people visiting the lounge.  That was the case for us as we struggled to find seats in the relatively tightly-packed room.  We did end up getting a table near the end though, but even with that, there was not a lot of space for our carry-on luggage.

There was a selection of included alcoholic beverages but if you wanted something fancier, it was as surcharge.  Near the bar, we found some breads during breakfast and it changed to soups when it was lunch service.  They were not able to keep them filled though as one of them remained empty until we had left.  There was a hot and cold drinks station near the washrooms and they struggled to keep cups stocked for the soft-drinks.  I was not able to get a proper cup for soft drinks during the entire time there.  I had to resort to using coffee cups instead.

Next to the drinks, we found a refrigerated section that had some juices, iced tea, cold water and an array of salads, yogurt and mini-cakes. On top, there was an assortment of bundt cakes as well.  This section was fairly well-stocked and the salads were not bad.  I thought the quinoa was the best of the bunch.  The best way to describe the cakes was that they were serviceable.  Once again, we had no cups for the duration of our stay for the juices and water.

When we arrived, it was still breakfast service with a modest selection of items including French Toast, Pork Sausages, Vegetable Fitatta and Hashbrowns.  They were trying to refill the food as fast as they could but there were times when some chaffing trays were empty.  Nothing particularly good or bad about the food other than resembling a complimentary breakfast at a Marriott Residence Inn.

While we were eating, they did a changeover to lunch where the selection included Turkey, Veggies, Stuffing, Rainbow Tortellini and Yams.  This was a bit better than breakfast where the turkey was moist and yams were pretty tasty.  Veggies were predictably overdone and soggy while the stuffing was a bit on the denser side.  Tortellini was surprisingly not overdone, but a little lacking in flavour.

So after posting all the food, I'm going to post a picture of the washroom.  pretty basic, but mostly clean, except for the toilet itself.  It needed to be cleaned but really, there was not enough staff to handle that let alone provide some cups for the soft drinks and juices.  Overall, the Plaza Premium Lounge was anything but premium.  Rather, it was no better than a complimentary setup at a lower-branded Marriott.  That in itself is not worth the $55.80.  I had free passes from my credit card and even with that, I don't think it is worth wasting a pass on.

The Good:

- It is in a convenient location right after customs pre-clearance

The Bad:

- Food is meh

- Staff were trying their best, but things weren't being refilled fast enough

- No cups to be found for soft drinks or juice

- It is far too small for the amount of people using it

Coastal Cravings

Piggybacking off my last post on Yummy BBQ, we have another cheap eats to blog about...  Coastal Cravings, located near the boundary of upper and lower Lonsdale offers up delicious brunch for well under $20.00 per dish.  In fact, most are around $15.00!  Not only are the prices attractive, the portion size is also generous and as mentioned, the food is actually good.  I don't know much about Coastal Cravings, but they did replace the Garage Grill.  Not sure if they have any affiliation with the former Fresh Cravings that was in North Delta.  Whatever the case, Jackie and I sampled their wares on snowy February day.

Although our first dish was nothing really sexy on paper, The Signature Smash Avocado Toast ended up to be more than just avocado and toast.  Sure, it did have those components with fresh creamy avocado and a nicely toasted Savour sourdough bread.  However, there was also 2 perfectly poached eggs on top with sauteed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and blueberries.  With runny egg yolks, it made the toast much more fulfilling and more than just avocado toast.

Another seemingly simple item was the Sunrise Croissant Sandwich.  Being one of the least expensive items on the menu at $11.99, it was still pretty substantial.  As you can see, they overstuffed the croissant with fresh guacamole, lettuce and perfectly-prepared soft scrambled eggs.  I can tell you that this was really a study in texture with the fluffy eggs and creamy avocado having a great mouth-feel.  The toasted croissant was able to hold things together.

One of the more interesting dishes was the Waygu Omelette for $15.99.  Not sure if I prefer ground wagyu anything (including burgers), but for this omelette, it was okay.  The meat was pretty tender was moist.  However, I really couldn't tell you if it was Wagyu or not (that is why I don't like ground Wagyu).  I mean it did taste beefier, which would be an indication there was more fat.  I did like the addition of mushrooms as it provided some complimentary flavours.

My favourite dish was the Chicken & Waffle where they essentially made it into a quasi-Eggs Benny.   The mini-waffles were thick with a crunchy exterior and soft chewy interior.  On top, we found Thai Fried Chicken and I did notice some spice to it.  The chicken was juicy and the batter was crunchy while not being overly greasy.  On top, we found runny poached eggs with a dollop of Hollandaise on top.  I found the Hollandaise to be creamy with proper seasoning.

So we actually got a Benny for our last dish in the Bacon Eggs Benny served on a classic toasted English muffin.  There was a good amount of crispy and meaty bacon topped with the same runny poached egg.  I liked how the muffin was toasted enough that it wasn't doughy.  Egg yolk was perfectly runny while there was a sufficient amount of Hollandaise.  Hashbrowns were crispy, well-seasoned and fully.  Overall, the food at Coastal Cravings is quite good and well-priced.  A really good combination given the uncertain economic times we are experiencing.  

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:

- Solid eats

- Well-priced

- Good portion size

The Bad:

- Limited staffing, so service can be slow

Yummy BBQ

You have probably heard me go on and on about the cost of food these days.  Believe me, I am acutely aware how lucky I am that I can afford to eat out.  Even with that, I have noticed the high cost of food, whether it be buying groceries or visiting a restaurant.  I mean, it is almost impossible to find a meal for under $10.00 that doesn't involve something burger and fries (even that is hard to find).  Enter Yummy BBQ located in the Central at Garden City shopping complex.  They are the newest entry into the Chinese BBQ game and they offer specials that are just a smidge under $10.00.  I recently checked it out with Lesley.

To get a sense of all the available meats, we strategically ordered something a bit different from each other.  The first combo consisted of BBQ Duck and Roast Pork on Rice.  I thought the duck was quite good where the skin was rendered and had crispy parts.  It was in an appealing shade of golden mahogany.  As for the meat, it was tender (both the breast and the leg meat) with the dark meat benefitting from the brine more than the breast.  

The next combo featured Roast Pork and Soy Chicken on Rice.  The cuts of roast pork for all the combos we had were on the leaner side with not a lot of fat.  Despite this, the meat was still moist and tender.  However, the lack of fat did mean it wasn't as succulent.  The brine on the meat was sufficient and the crackling was crispy and light.  As for the soy chicken, it had lacquered skin that was flavourful without being salty.  The meat was juicy and mild-tasting.  The scallion ginger condiment was mostly scallion though.  Could've used more ginger, but I do realize that it would be more costly to make.

For my combo, I went for 3 meats including Roast Pork, BBQ Pork and BBQ Duck (the duck was underneath the pork).  The BBQ pork was a mix of lean portions with some fattier pieces.  As expected, the ones with more fat had a softer buttery chew to them.  I thought the flavour was a bit lacking other than the bark.  Even with that, I would've liked some extra dextrose/honey glaze on the outside and/or drizzled over the pork.

I also got their Daily Soup which was Pork & Lotus Root.  It had some depth which meant it had been cooked for a length of time.  The meat was fall-apart tender while the lotus root had softened.  There was enough seasoning in the soup too.  Also in the picture, you will notice that we had tea.  We could serve ourselves to that as well as napkins and chopsticks.  In general, the stuff at Yummy BBQ is above average and very well-priced.  Really can't go wrong for $10.00 or so.  Not sure how long the promos run for, but this is the place to get a filling and tasty meal on the cheap.

The Good:
- Above average
- Well-portioned
- Cheap

The Bad:
- If you want to eat-in, there are literally only 4 tables
- Parking in the complex sucks

Petrichor Social Restaurant & Bar

When I heard that Jules Bistro was closing at the end of 2023, it marked the end of its run in Gastown since 2007.  I had made a visit way back 2010 and then again in 2022, which would almost bookend their years in existence.   Not long after it closed, a new French restaurant, Petrichor, opened up in March 2024 in its place.  French native chef/owner Luc Duval offers up a slice of Southern French cuisine in a remodelled dining space that is inviting and quaint.

We arrived in time for happy hour and decided to get some cocktails for only $10.00.  Yes, that is correct, any of their cocktails are only $10.00 during happy hour!  We had From Mexico with Love and the Grenoble Sour.  I liked both but preferred the former as it had more pop in the form of lime, blueberry syrup and ginger beer.   The sour was much more subtle and the sweetness of pineapple juice.  

Also, we went for the Crab Croquettes for $15.00, also on the happy hour menu.  This came in a trio of crab cakes that were topped with saffron aioli and sat on a bed of spring mix.  These crab cakes were on the lighter side with an airiness inside.  Hence, it wasn't exactly packed with crab, but especially for the price, there was a sufficient amount that was fluffy.  Outside was uniformly crispy and the aromatics from the aioli was impactful.

Next, we had the House Brioche served with brown butter for $12.00.  This featured a whole brioche charred on the grill.  It had a lightly crisp exterior with some nutty smokiness from the char.  On the inside, it was super fluffy and steaming warm.  Presented as streaks on the plate, the whipped butter was super creamy and amplified in terms of tasting like butter.  Naturally, being brown butter, it was nutty and sweet.  There was minimal salt added to it, which meant the aforementioned flavours were more pronounced.

Onto the regular items, we decided to go for the Coquilles St. Jacques for $38.50.  Plated with 3 whole scallops on the shell, it was dressed in its classic bechamel with carrots, leeks and bread crumbs.  There was some piped potato puree on the perimeter of the shell.  I thought this was prepared quite nicely as the scallop was plump and still bouncy.  It was super sweet and had a concentrated scallop flavour where the brininess really came through.  The bechamel was creamy with sweetness from the veggies, but could've used more salt.  On the side, there was a salad and grilled herb brioche.

We also decided on the Creamy Sausage Ragu Pappardelle with sage, dijon mustard and confit onion-infused cream.  This was also quite good with al dente ribbons of pasta that were not clumpy.  There was enough cream sauce to keep things fluid without drowning the pasta at the same time.  Flavours were rather subtle with the meatiness of the sausage being the dominant texture and taste.  I could get a bit of the sweet onion as well as the background with the earthy herbal taste of sage.  

Lastly, we shared the 32 oz. Dry Aged Bone-in Ribeye.  We asked for this to be prepared medium (since my dining partner prefers it this way).  It came out more-or-less medium with some medium-rare portions (that I personally prefer).  The meat was nicely crusted and just salted enough.  The meat was full of umami and a bit of mustiness due to the dry aging.  Great flavour and super tender.  It didn't look like a lot, but we didn't finish it.

 

We had a choice of 2 sides to go with the steak as well as a herb butter.  Our choice of sides included the Pommes Dauphine and the Roasted Butternut Squash.  Those crispy little potato pillows were so delicious.  Beautifully salted, they were like a little snack.  The roasted butternut squash was caramelized and sweet.  They were soft, but not mushy.  Overall, we enjoyed the meal at Petrichor and it did bring me back to Southern France.  Only thing missing was a version of socca!  The place is cute and the happy hour is a good value.  Would come back.

The Good:

- Cute and quaint

- Solid eats

- Happy hour is a good value, especially the cocktails

The Bad:

- Some dishes could use more salt