Restaurants

Jeff Vendsel

With a couple of years under its belt, the Miracle Mile outpost of Cafe Gratitude appears to be thriving. No longer strictly raw and vegan, the restaurant has broadened its menu to include a hot soup of the day along with cooked burritos and tacos. A veggie burger with caramelized onions is also in the works.

 

Jeff Vendsel

Last month, the Holiday Inn Express on Shoreline in Mill Valley was replaced by a more-upscale Larkspur Hotel. The neighbors are happy about this change - especially longtime Italian restaurant Frantoio, whose management anticipates more guests stopping in next door for dinner and drinks.

 

Jeff Vendsel

I reviewed Piccolo Teatro shortly after it opened in September 2008. It was clear that the beautifully transformed space was something special, however, the menu didn't seem in sync with the stunning room, convivial bar and friendly local vibe.  

Frankie Frost

Northgate's splashy makeover includes the recent addition of BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse - the big-box equivalent of an American brewpub. A shrine to all things massive, this mega-square-foot food emporium boasts seven flat-screen TVs, 35 beers on tap and more than 100 items on its 10-page menu. There's no doubt that BJ's and its ilk contribute mightily to the ever-expanding waistlines of Americans.

 

Jeff Vendsel

Umi Sushi and Grill on Fourth Street in San Rafael reminds me of sushi bars I have been to in Hawaii. Umi translates to ocean in Japanese and the sea is joyfully celebrated at Yoshi and Atsuko Yoshida's almost two-year-old restaurant. Surf photographs along with a large mural of Mount Fuji with waves lapping at its base adorn one wall. Even a curvy blond wood bar and foam green walls evoke overtones of the sea. A massive menu that includes plenty of nigiri, rolls and unusual appetizers and entrees is almost dizzying.

 

Jeff Vendsel

Much like its name, which is often used to refer to an experience that can't be reduced to its individual parts, the Gestalt Haus is made up of many parts, all of them quirky. Some of the Gestalt Haus crew cut ties with the flagship bar — originally in San Francisco's Mission District — and moved closer to their favorite playground.  

Jeff Vendsel

Sam Jarjoura opened his eponymous eatery in January 2006 and built a steady clientele who traveled to his on-the-side-of-the-freeway location for big greasy breakfasts and predictable American favorites. He described his menu at Sam's Roadhouse Diner as, "Everyday food for everyday people." Jarjoura still owns the cheery roadside restaurant, but now, along with American classics, the kitchen at the newly named Points South is cooking up Mayan or Yucatan food for dinner.

 

Frankie Frost

MY SON LOVES Pinky's Pizza in the Montecito Plaza Shopping Center in San Rafael. I'm also a pizza lover, but it's not something I indulge in too frequently. I would much prefer a salad to my son's gooey, cheesy slice. The owners of three-month-old Cafe Trio, next door to Pinky's, must have read my mind.  

Jeff Vendsel

Piazza D'Angelo is a Mill Valley institution. Brothers Domenico and Paolo Petrone have owned the upscale trattoria that sits directly across from the downtown square, or piazza, since 1991. For many it has become a familiar home away from home.