Yelp

Castro Valley, CA

Three words for you: Small, small and small.  Yeah, this gym is small.  I've only gone here a handful of times, but the place is setup like a can of sardines.  And this is during non peak hours.  I can't imagine what it's like during rush hours.  It's almost as if the machines are nearly stacked on top of each other.  Parking is relatively easy to find and the gym and locker rooms are well kept... did I mention this gym is small?

San Francisco, CA

My mom was visiting last week and one of her objectives was to find a replacement for a jade necklace that she lost last year.  She had come to SF a few years back and randomly stepped into a Chinese jewelry store and bought it.  When she came to visit me she told me her intentions and all she said was, "I remember it's a Chinese jewelry store near Fisherman's Wharf".  Thanks that really narrows things down.

En route to Napa we stopped in SF at 10am on a Sunday.  I insisted going early to avoid tourist traffic and it paid off as we found easy parking.  No offense to the elders or to women, but I had serious doubts we were ever going to find this place with the uncertainty my mother exuded.

Unbelievably, like a shaky divining rod (I have images of Inigo Montoya using his sword to find the secret tree) my mom found the jewelry store within 10 minutes of walking.  

My mom spent a good 20 minutes shopping around and apparently they were having a huge sale, more than 50% off.  Wow, imagine that, an inflated ticket price being marked down for a special sale ... at a Chinese store!

Nevertheless, my mom left very happy.  No reason for me to come here again but a good experience for us all and then we were off to Napa.

South San Francisco, CA

At first glance you wouldn't think too much to stop by this place.  The small house-like edifice resembles a cute gingerbread  house and sits  sort of in the middle of no where, almost near the corner of El Camino Real and West Orange Avenue in the northbound direction of traffic.

This place was around when I was a young boy in high school, and while the sandwhiches were good, I didn't know what a treasure it was back then having only ordered ham or turkey sandwiches, although those were also good.  After reading the reviews on Yelp, I decided the time has come to revisit an old haunt, and see what the rave is all about, especially since I know the ownership had changed hands from the original owner who was affilliated with South San Francisco's sister-city in Italy: Lucca.  Hence the name.  

The name alone gives evidence of an old world style, of Tuscany the state where the city of Lucca is located.  Now I don't know about you, but I love Italians, and I love their food and culture, and I get a bit excited when I hear about Toscana food.  The original recipes were created by the original owner who was from Lucca and the recipes have remained the same.

I almost shouted that saying of the boisterous TV chef Emmeril Lagasse, when I tasted that extra garlic sauce on my sandwich,

        " Aww yeah babe!"

in that rustic Northeastern accent of his.  The garlic sauce is amazing, and for me the essential clencher of what ties the character of this sandwhich shop together.  But thats not all-the breads are perfectly done, and Dutch Cruch like you wouldn't believe!  The prosciutto is real ham of good quality none of this slimy stuff you find at the supermarket, and just overall the construction of the sandwhiches here are unmatched by a long shot.  

It's really nice to see a shop that maintains that old world quality and doesn't skimp on the meat and fixings.  The price is reasonable too for what I ordered:

I had a 3 meat combo:  Proscuitto, coppa, Genoa Salami  (love those Italians! LoL ) and I tell you, I was in Lucchese heaven.  My sandwhich plus a drink and chips, did not exceed $8.00 USD.

Luckily the owner was there and I spoke with her about the place, and the famous garlic sauce.  She was a really  nice person to talk to, really down to earth, a bit serious, but thats the Italian way.  The garlic sauce is a closely guarded secret, so don't try to get the recipe or you might sleep with the fishes lol (joking).

Overall, I enjoyed my revisit to Little Lucca.  You get an excellent quality sandwich for what you pay for, and a bit of South San Francisco history with that garlic sauce.  I can't wait to come back for my next sandwich, and typically I go off peak hours, such as lunch 12-1pm because of the long lines.  Usually after that, theres not much of a line.  I love this  place, and glad to see that it is doing well.

Here is some fun trivia to accompany your sandwhich:

* Lucca is the sister city of South San Francisco, CA
* Lucca is located in the Toscany region of Italy.
* Images of Lucca, Italy  http://images.google.c...

San Francisco, CA

Beer = 5 stars. Tons of Rogue beers and other microbrews on tap. Awesome.

Food = 1 star. They have a bunch of Kobe beef items on the menu. I ordered a Kobe burger, medium rare. It came out well done. What the f@$k's the point of serving Kobe beef if you don't know how to cook it properly? What a waste.

Fremont, CA

I'm one of the dancers at the studio.  LOVE the studio!  Yoko is strict, but that's why we learn so well and win so many competitions.  I've had a few classmates leave to go to other studios because they couldn't deal with it.  But that's ok.  We win and become awesome dancers!

San Bruno, CA

So Jeff is an alright guy that just isnt very friendly at first. Doesnt really like to answer questions especially stupid ones. If you get to know him (and spend some$$$) he will help you a ton. Not much in stock but can order anything.

Martinez, CA

Finally a decent taco shop!  I feel like I am back in San Diego.  The burritos are amazing, esp. the carnitas.  The hot salsa is pretty good.  Avoid the fire salsa-- it is very bitter and not that hot.

The works burrito is good.

Veggie burrito is a little "watery".

Bean, rice, and cheese burrito is excellent!

Can't wait to try some of the other menu items.

Hayward, CA

I've attended this gym for several years.  It's conveniently located near the freeway, so it's really easy to get to.  Unfortunately, convenience doesn't match quality.  The gym is small and always crowded.  You can always count on this place being crowded early in the morning, rush hour after work and well beyond 9:00PM.  Parking is a hassle because of the plaza it's located in, a relatively high traffic area.  Although the men's locker room is pretty spacious to get around, the cleanliness level is pretty horrid.  The lockers are painted with a mat white finish so you can see all the dirt and grim that seems to have collected over the years.  On several occasions, I found myself opening an empty locker to be greeted with a foul odor.  The gym itself appears clean, but if the locker room is any indication of their gym floor... yuck!  These days, it's a last resort gym if I don't make it during my normal schedule.

San Francisco, CA

I totally dig this place.  The food was very tasty and original - who would think of putting salmon on top of cream corn??? but hey, it totally worked!  They have a fab wine selection and the ambiance is excellent.  It is a bit pricey, but you can go in and order off the bar menu (they have a great burger) and that is a bit less expensive...  well worth it though.

San Francisco, CA

The Bi-Rite Creamery has sophisticated, unique, delicious ice cream. I especially love the salted caramel (rich, densely flavored, and not too sweet-- this is ice cream for grown ups). the crunchy coffee toffee, and the roasted banana.

If anything, Bi Rite may be a little too creative, and there are occasional misses-- the honey lavender tasted kind of like eating a potpourri, and the strawberry balsamic was too oddball for me. But it's a special place. Between Tartine and Bi Rite, this is a dangerous blockof Mission for sweet tooths.

San Francisco, CA

Martuni's is my favorite place in San Francisco, hands down. The drinks are creative, strong, large, inexpensive, and - oh yeah - taste great. The bartenders have some serious skillz. The live piano music is so much fun - I'm always smiling. The customers create an amazing mix that is friendly, diverse, and lively - never once have I been in the bathroom line and not struck up a conversation. The atmosphere is dark and loungy and really condusive to making any kind of event great.

Best of all, Martuni's is the only place in this city where the staff remember me. This is huge! A warm smile and "Hey! How have you  been?" from Glen and a hug and quick life update from Tommy always helps to make my night.

Go to Martuni's, get wasted, have a great time!!!

San Carlos, CA

Really fantastic stuff!  A friend recommended this place, and we had a lovely meal here.  We started off with the Kadu (pumpkin with ground meat over it, listed in the sides section), then had the Lawang (chicken), Mantoo (lamb dumplings), and the Vegetarian Platter (spinach, pumpkin, and eggplant).  I can't decide which one was THE standout, probably the Kadu, but everything was so tasty.  Such unique spices, and the preparation was amazing.  For the 4 of us, the bill came to only $49, which is really a steal, although we didn't have any drinks.  The service was impeccable, too.  I'm so happy to have found this place!

San Bruno, CA

This place is the BOMB and actually the only game in town. Not as cheap as the net but staff is very knowledgeable and they actually do repairs.
Decent selection. Not too much in the way of shotguns but they will order anything.

Foster City, CA

The food here is phenominal for being out in the Foster City middle-of-nowhere! Every dish has so much flavor I don't mind waiting for a table during the lunch rush hour. The decor inside is stylish, it makes you compfortable during the meal compared to a lot of places that feel like a dingee corner. The only reason I didn't put 5 stars is that the phone/takeout order could be better, given most of the time the person who answers can barely here you with the surrounding noise... maybe they need a more sophisticated phone, who knows? I think they should open up a restaurent in SF!

Newark, CA

No pool, no sauna, no jacuzzi.... no crowds!  I've gone to this gym just after it was converted from "Planet Fitness."  Even on its most social nights, Monday, it's still not as crowded as the other 24's I've gone to.  The place is big.  Machines are separated enough so your not rubbing elbows with others as you change your weights.  This also means if you're new to this location, trying to find a specific machine could mean a few minutes of walking around to find it.  Overall, what I like most about this location is the ease of parking, no crowds to fight and the consistency of their cleanliness.

Oakland, CA

Great service.  These guys are fast, economical, and very detail-oriented.  I watched them dry my car and clean the rims...they don't miss a spot.

For $20, quite possibly the best deal in the East Bay.

Corte Madera, CA

Yuck. The exterior of the place looks nice, and I walked in, expecting a half-decent decor. Nope. It was like...a dimly lit Denny's, and the booths and tables had a more subtle color scheme than Denny's.

Service was good; I have nothing critical to say about the hostess or our server.

The food, however, is another story. I opted for the Ahi salad with the dressing on the side, and my friend sitting on my right ordered the same thing. The server even asked, "So the same as her?" to which he nodded and replied in the affirmative.

Our food came. My salad was already dressed and tossed and had literally 4 pieces of tuna. It also had rehydrated shitake mushrooms. I looked over at my friend's order. His salad had ginger, carrots, alfalfa sprouts and the dressing on the side.

We traded because I'm very picky about the amount of dressing on my salad, which is why I asked for it to be ON THE SIDE. About halfway through, I realized my salad had no mushrooms. What? I thought these were supposed to be the same orders!!

Well, they weren't, they messed up our orders, the food was not good at all, and the ambience wasn't all that great either. I wouldn't recommend this place, and I definitely wouldn't go back.

San Francisco, CA

These cupcakes are so cute, it's hard to actually imagine eating them!  

But you have to eat them b/c they are ALL delish little treats.  The Lemon cupcakes are my fav.

Just an FYI:  My work orders these cupcakes on a regular basis as incentive for employees to attend meetings and such.  And let me tell you, their tactic works every time!

Piedmont, CA

Unfortunately, i did not have a good experience with Leslie. I was recommended to her by my doctor. Before the first initial visit, I had to fill out paperwork that took me at least 30 minutes. I dont have an issue with thorough and complete information being collected..I just expected that after I submitted it, it would be read prior to the visit. I understood that the first half hour of the visit would be consult and then I would have my first accupuncture session. I was also told to bring any vitamins or supplements I was taking. In all, the visit should take 1.5 hours.

Leslie spent the whole time reading my information out loud. After 1 hour, she said our time was up. I was surprised...I asked if she could look at my vitamins, she said No..bring them in next time. This initial visit cost me $325. I walked out to the main office area and noticed Leslie having lunch in a chair in her office. No time to look at my vitamins but time to stuff your face. How patient centered and caring.

i went back one more time only because I had spent so much time and money. The second visit was equally disappointing. I even found her rude and abrupt. She dismissed my concerns and my need to consult my doctor about certain issues..she exclaimed..Do you know how much nutrional training MD's get in med school? I responded..I dont know 6 months? NOpe. she snapped, exaggerating the sound of 'P"..how about 0?? No training!!

She seems a little too sure of herself in an unpleasant way. I never went back and have told other women (one has had a similiar experience) to find someone else. her rates are too high as well. i asked if there was an discount if my spouse and I both got treatment from her. As teachers, $325 for an intial consult, plus $125 per visit..was way too expensive.  Especially since she expected I come 2x a week. Leslie just said No..without any attempt to work out a solution.

I did not get a good energy from her...would be counter intuitive to seek treatment from someone like that. It's a business, that's all. And not a very good one.

San Francisco, CA

Lana is my type of woman.  She is a perfectionistic Virgo obsessed with eyebrows.  That is really all you need to know. The search for the perfect brow has tormented me ever since the emergence of fuzzy Brooke Shields-like brows at the age of 11.  I can't even tell you the number of people I've seen to help tame them.  Lana is the first person in the Bay Area I've been satisfied with.  She knows the most attractive shape for your face and scrutinizes your brow hairs with a magnifier and bright light.  She takes the time to make sure every little hair is in place and gives you "homework" for next time - don't you dare pluck here or here.  Make sure you are not even one minute late or else you will be severely scolded.

South San Francisco, CA

Save yourself. The staff is like stoned and doesn't speak any English. You almost have to take the order yourself. 2 out of 10 and cleanliness. I definitely wont be back.

Fremont, CA

Great studio!  Would be nice to be in a newer studio.  But its the teaching and family environment that really make a studio.  Love the potlucks they have before competition season.  I think its a great family studio.

Danville, CA

If you like foie gras, you can order your steak and add some foie gras...quite tasty!  The steaks are probably not as good as Flemmings or Ruths Chris, but they are still very tender and juicy.  The maytag blue cheese salad stood out - very good!  The service is also good there, they have some very nice personal touches.  For example, if you are there celebrating a special occasion, they will print your name on the menu.  They also bring out a nice complimentary dessert.

San Francisco, CA

55 is the magic number. This is the speed at which the FasTrak gizzmo may not register. Notice that I said "may" - sometimes it does, but I'm not risking going 3 times the speed limit to test any more.

Go get one immediately, and experience the orgasmic sensation of whizzing by the lines of change-fumbling luddites on Bay Bridge while saving a dollar. FasTrak makes you younger and sexier, and is the new, hip way to pimp out your car without having to spend $10K on a new suspension.

Berkeley, CA

Walking into the store you can sense discontent w/employees. They are rude to customers, and each other. They don't take the time to prioritize customer service. After ordering a pair of glasses, I had my current glasses re-adjusted, they were ruined in the process and they will not take full responsibility for them.  They made me feel at fault. I will not be returning even though I was a repeat customer.

Colma, CA

Great place for hackers and kids learning to play. 9 holes, bad weather, not expensive.

San Francisco, CA

An enormous lavosh with egg, tomato, feta, avocado, and spinach - my new favorite breakfast sandwich. WOW!

San Francisco, CA

My sister .. she like!!!

San Francisco, CA

These guys understand customer service! I am another unhappy Royal Motors customer. Since my car is out of warranty, I no longer have to deal with their surly unfriendly manners. When they wanted to charge me $360 to do a diagnosis, I asked them to return my car, did some homework and found Advanced. Not only did they charge me $120 out the door to fix my car, they confirmed that there was an update on the part for my car that pops up on the Audi website and wondered why Royal didn't just tell me that and give me an estimate to replace it when they heard the problem....hello ? how dishonest can you be Royal motors?

Millbrae, CA

Jay is a really good guy. Fair and he know what he is doing. Smaller shop with personal service.
Trust this place