Some friends worked here and decided to show us the place. It’s Italian style, but I’m not sure it really is Italian (not that it particularly matters).
One great thing about eating in groups is you can all share a large number of dishes! Overall the food was ok. Seems like a college-goer type of meal.
I liked the sauce on the steak and potatoes, which was some sort of sweet and savory demi-glaze.
Sumirich
1-2-5 Shiba Daimon
Minato 105-0012, Tokyo
Fry everything. Fry it all on a stick. That’s what kushikatsu means to me.
I got the Miybai lunch special.
I had to look at other diners to figure out what this plate was about (separates the sauces). And everything surrounding it (ALL the sauces). And the fish above it (put used skewers there).
There was a pretty good variety of fried food on sticks.
I’d go again for the lunch specials. I like fried food.
Kushinobo
Isetan Kaikan 8F
3-15-17 Shinjuku
Shinjuku 160-0022, Tokyo
The Uptown location is much more convenient than the downtown location. Better parking, faster seating, no frills service, and tastes similar to its better location. If you don’t like waiting an hour, this is close enough IMHO.
Feels old-school on the outside. On purpose, I think.
Feels old-school on the inside too.
DAT RASPBERRY COFFEE CAKE THO! Dangerous.
Normally I get something sweet, like the blueberry pancakes (AWESOME) or the french toast (a classic), or the cinnamon roll french toast when my sweet tooth takes over. This time, however, I tried the Benedict Oscar. 
Would definitely get it again! Crab, fresh tarragon (a nice touch) scrambled eggs, English muffin, hollandaise sauce, asparagus. Herbed potatoes on the side.
Los Gatos Cafe, Uptown, 15662 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos, CA. 95032
http://losgatoscafe.com/uptown.html
I must have walked past this place dozens of times while walking through South Park. I decided to stop by.
If you go before noon, the line is short.
Clean, well-kept interior.
A friend got the Croque-Madame. When I saw it I wished we shared.
Grilled salmon with mixed greens and seasonal vegetables.
Grilled chicken breast salad with peanuts, sesame, and Napa cabbage.
I got the pork confit sandwich with Dijon mustard on Acme baguette. No regrets!
I’d go back, but next time I’ll share dishes so I can try more!
South Park Cafe, 108 S Park St, San Francisco, CA 94107
http://southparkcafe.com/
Darwin is pretty awesome, which is why there’s always a line during lunch time. During my last visit, I went before lunch on a Saturday morning and was delighted to have no wait! Definitely doing this again, next time with the fiancee.
In a quiet alley, the curbside seats are nice when the weather is warm.
That small cafe vibe.
The Poached Eggs Darwin, only available for dine-in. Creamed spinach, roast beef, grilled sourdough, béarnaise sauce. Served with Darwin’s standard house salad.
If I were to make food for a living, I’d want it to be like this because everything is made well with high quality ingredients. The flavors aren’t masked by the sauces, but that béarnaise was just the right amount to complement the dish. The creamed spinach wasn’t overly creamy so that you could still taste and appreciate the spinach. Of course, the poached eggs were cooked just right with fully cooked whites and slow-runny yolks. The bread is a solid platform, and it’s what makes their sandwiches good too.
Weekday lunches to go are also fantastic; I try to go when it’s raining outside since SF’s SoMa workers seem to stay indoors when it rains.
Butter lettuce salad with sweet potatoes, pecans, and ham.
Roast beef sandwich with watercress, sweet onion, tarragon aioli, white cheddar. Served with Darwin’s standard house salad.
They also serve De La Paz coffee, if that’s your thing.
Darwin Cafe, 212 Ritch St, San Francisco, CA 94107
http://darwincafesf.com/
