My parents and aunt & uncle took me to AQ Restaurant for my birthday dinner - fabulous! Love the food, seriously delicious and experimental. The service needs some tweaking/fine-tuning, especially considering how pricey the place is. But the decor was amazing, everyone was so nice, and again the food was wonderful.

AQ Restaurant
1085 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103 

Amazing first experience at Hog Island Oyster Co.’s San Francisco oyster bar. A bit of a wait, since we went at the tail end of the happy hour crowd on a Thursday, but worth it. 

We sat by the window and Anneka had her first oyster in years and loved it. There’s something about Hog Island’s oysters in particular (and that amazing Hog Wash sauce that I could just guzzle) that is really the essence of what an oyster should be. 

Find it: Hog Island Oyster Co.

5/3/2012

Another few snaps from a trip to Balompie a few weeks ago. 

I really, truly love this place.

The pros:

  • Amazing, authentic food. 
  • PUPUSAS.
  • Friendly and efficient service.
  • No annoying frills or trappings. 
  • Good & cheap beers on tap.
  • Never have to wait. 
  • Can sit inside or outside. 
  • Cost efficient. 
  • Everything is delicious.

Cons:

  • It’s not in Oakland. BUT - close to BART, just a few blocks. So kind of a weak con. Shup up, I’m not lazy.

ANYWAY - visit here ASAP! (The 18th St location.) But only bring people you really like, I don’t want the word getting out too much - just enough to keep em in business :)