Red Rock Coffee

Red Rock Coffee - Castro St, Mountain View

There are some places which you love even before you have eaten there. You just know that they are going to have great food and time spent there is going to be worth it. Red Rock is such a place.

Its a small place .. a locally owned cafe .. not expensive .. on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. I always .. always like locally owned shops more than the chains. It looks pretty inviting and once you go there .. you feel the laid back .. do your own thing .. kind of positive atmosphere. Space is not their forté, and as a corollary - neither is ample (or comfy) seating. But if you find an empty table .. do grab it, order something from the counter and relish it .. soaking in the friendly atmosphere and taking advantage of the free WiFi.

Thankfully the menu is not exhaustive (the big menus always have me wanting more than one thing) and offers a sane choice in coffee. The fruit smoothies are offered wither yogurt or ice-cream based (go for the ice-cream ones) and you can combine whatever flavours you want .. mango-banana-raspberry etc. The desserts look and are scrumptious. Intelligently they are not too big .. so having one doesn't invoke pangs of guilt .. in other people that is. I never get pangs of guilt.

And heres the best part. Red Rock is a non-profit coffee shop! What more can one want?

Warning: closes at 10pm on weekdays and super early - 5pm (!!?) on Sundays.

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: late-2007

Kayani Bakery

Kayani Bakery - East Street (Camp), Pune

Kayani Bakery is a landmark in Pune. Its a bakery started in the 50s by a family emigrated from Iran. They make select products, in select quantities (and so the products are routinely sold out long before the customers stop asking about them), are closed during the afternoon and are also closed on Sundays. On top of it buying something at Kayani is not one of the pleasanter experiences in life. [Prime culprits - crowd, customer service]. So I must say the Iranian owners have completely adjusted into the Puneri style of shopkeeping. [why make an attempt at improving customer service when the food we prepare is so good that the customers line up outside our door even before we open for the day?]

Everything apart, Kayani consistently offers baked goods of outstanding quality and taste. They offer delectable Shrewsbury, Nankhatai, Cheese papdi, Ginger biscuits, Butter biscuits, Wine biscuits, Mawa cake, Plain cake, Sponge cake, Choco-Walnut cake and a whole range of breads. The best way to eat the famous Shrewsbury is to heat them up a bit and just dampen them with a sprinkling milk and take large bites, savoring the taste, texture and smell. The cocolate-walnut cake is pretty good too .. with ample pieces of walnut .. I love dunking it in a cup of strong coffee.

Customers queue outside (before they open for the day) to get the fresh warm batch of Shrewsbury in the morning. The rest of the day witnesses complete chaos in Kayani .. with the hassled workers taking orders from a crowd of customers bordering on rowdiness. You have to jostle forward, making good use of your elbows, grab the attention of the dour Kayani employees - it helps if you are a strikingly beautiful lady, filthy rich (and looking it) or the Shah of Iran. Then - know your order .. if you hesitate they will move on to someone else who knows what they want. While they swiftly pack and box your order .. have the money ready .. pay and move out much to the consternation of others who think they were there before you and should have been taken care of first.

Enjoy.
Sigh. Now I feel like having a Shrewsbury.

Food: ***** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

ShivSagar

ShivSagar - JM Rd, Pune

I remember when ShivSagar started on J.M. Road in Pune .. quite a loong time back. They were all the rage back then .. and the place used to be packed .. even in those days. Back in the time .. they had the absolute best Cream of Mushroom soup ever. That, and all the kids used to love watching their clock on the wall where the little guy comes out and strikes the bell with his hammer every hour. Then slowly it grew out of favour and flavour .. and melted into memory as one of those 'also ran' restaurants.

Then they spruced up their interiors, opened up a branch in Aundh .. and then near Fatimanagar. I guess the overall appeal of these restaurants is better than the of the original one on JM Road.

It was also probably the first place to start serving Mexican food in Pune. Although by no way authentic, the enchiladas are delicious. So I started visiting it again around the time I was in college. That time ShivSagar meant enchiladas and awesome desserts. They have a dessert list which just goes on and on! Irritatingly, the names give no clue as to the contents of the dessert. Also .. the chaat items are good too .. the Sev Dahi Puri was really good and ever since I have had it recently .. I've always wanted to go again for the same.

Food: **** Ambiance: * Price: $$
Last visited: mid 2007

Amici's East Coast Pizzeria

Amici's East Coast Pizzeria - Castro St, Mountain View

Amici's wanted to build an upscale pizza place and they have been very successful at it. Pizza by nature is not considered upscale .. so credit to Amici's for pulling it off. Obviously they need great decor, atmosphere and food .. which they have.

One of the best places to have thin crust pizza. I just wish it were a bit cheaper.. as I don't care much for the upscale feel anyways. Pizza is pizza. The eggplant pizza is pretty good and there are ample vegetarian options available. All I have tried was good so everything should be a safe bet. The pastas are supposed to be good too but I have never tried them.

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: early-2007

Giovanni's Pizzeria

Giovanni's Pizzeria - Lawrence Expy, Sunnyvale

I have been to this place quite a few times .. what with living and working very close to it and all, but truth be told .. I am prepared to drive a bit for it too. Giovanni's offers pizza, pasta and sandwiches with a different .. I am assuming authentic .. flavour, which just makes me drool.

The place is in a strip mall on Lawrence Expy .. just behind the Shell gas station at the 101-Lawrence intersection. So the location could have been a bit better .. but then it wouldn't have been so close to work would it? Its packed during lunch hour .. so better go a bit late in the afternoon .. and it closes earlier than I would like .. about 9:30 I think .. so dinner has always been a problem there.

In pizzas .. they have good options .. though limited vegetarian ones. You can always choose to make your own pizza .. even a simple margherita is awesome here. They have one with chicken and garlic .. thats pretty good. Among the sandwiches the cheesesteak is pretty good .. have the one that comes with onions and peppers. They have beer too.

Food: **** Ambiance: * Price: $$
Last visited: early 2007

Zamu's

Zamu's - DP Road, Pune

Zamu's is one of the few places in Pune known exclusively for it's sizzlers. Its comparable in quality with Yana's and The Place (or should I say the Place from a few years back). It has a decent sitting area .. but no A/C and somewhat strangely .. I have never understood this .. starts filling out later than most restaurants. At lunch the crowd peaks around 2pm and for dinner its around 10. I find that most comfortable as both lunch and dinner for me are about an hour earlier.

Theres a good choice of beverages .. with pitchers of Beer .. but don't be surprised if the waiter tells you draught beer is not available as their supplier didn't deliver that week. The wines are decent too. For appetizers the garlic mushrooms/shrimp are good .. they come with some type of garlic mayo which also makes good seasoning for your sizzler later if you so desire. (so save some). I prefer going straight for the sizzlers. The portions here are not as generous as Yana's or at The Place .. so a sizzler is good for 1 person. The paneer masala sashlik, Chicken Shashlik, Drunken pork and Chicken Gregory sizzlers are worth checking out.

For dessert the caramel custard is good .. or just walk across to Just Baked ;-)

Food: **** Ambiance: *** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

Durga

Durga - Paud Rd, Pune

Durga is more about nostalgia and college days than about food. Its a tiny place near MIT college on Paud Road. Almost all engineering students from Pune (more so if you are in MIT) make it a point to have coffee at Durga at late nights during the PLs. Once you go there after a "well deserved" break from studying .. be it 10, 11 or past.. you will surely meet a few acquaintances, have the delicious cold coffee (or two) .. sitting on your bike parked at the road as theres no space to sit inside .. and maybe even a double-bhurji if you are hungry. The point is you hang out with friends who are all more or less in the same boat as you .. thinking about which chapters to put for 'option'. lol. Durga is fun.

Its hard to find a place to sit at nights .. especially if the engineering PLs are going on. If you go in the morning you can enjoy some decent upma or pohe. Or better still .. the tried and tested cold coffee and bhurji. The cold coffee at Durga is the most popular item here .. its a mix of many things .. the coffee itself is very good, plus the atmosphere you enjoy it in .. friends .. late nights .. add to it .. and then theres the unquestionable benefit of the price. Durga serves cold coffee at prices other coffee places (CCD, Barista) spend on their electricity bill in the time you spend there. But I shouldnt compare .. Durga has its moments as does Barista.

A must visit if you are a student in Pune.

Food: *** Ambiance: ** Price: $/2
Last visited: mid-2007

Big Bowl

Big Bowl - Schaumburg, Chicago

Big Bowl is an upscale Asian [chicnese/thai] restaurant in Chicago. They have a few locations across Chicago and I have been to the downtown and Schaumburg locations. Its the sort of place you would visit to celebrate something. The food is impeccable, the oriental yet contemporary decor suits the upscale feel and the service is polite and helpful. Needless to say its always crowded during lunch hour and weekends.

The restaurant has a bar which also serves food along with delightful and refreshing drinks. Its not unusual to find large groups waiting nearby to get seated. They have a nice pomegranate cocktail and pomegranate ginger ale. Also of note are the hibiscus iced teas.

The food at Big Bowl has never been a source of disappointment. And its more impressive as I have visited it both when its crowded and otherwise. Restaurants sometimes fail to retain their usual quality of food and/or service during peak hours when the kitchen and staff are stretched to capacity. Thankfully, Big Bowl is not one of them. The Kung Pao chicken is delicious and flavoured to perfection and the chicken fried rice is just heavenly. You can request off-the-menu items and they will gladly serve the same. I had once asked for a selection of stir-fried vegetables and was entirely satisfied with the result. You also have the option of choosing from the stir-fry bar which houses a wide selection of vegetables, meat and sauces.

Recommended: Kung Pao chicken, Spicy sichuan chicken, chicken fried rice, hibiscus lemon tea.

Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2006

O'Brien's

O'Brien's - Convoy St, San Diego

Having heard a lot about O'Briens, I and a friend decided to check it out one night. Finding the place was a bit difficult .. who would have thought of looking for an Irish pub in the midst of a korean neighbourhood and car dealerships (and in a strip mall no less)?? But find it we did .. and once you step in .. its like entering a different world an Irish pub. The old-world furniture, the dim lighting, the constant soccer playing on the projection TV, the old leather seating .. it all somehow feels like an Irish pub. And I have never even been to Ireland.

O'Briens sort of grows on you. Firstly, they have a terrific beer selection with plenty of foreign AND domestic/local brews. Next the food is great .. though doesn't offer a large choice. And finally the unassuming atmosphere is conducive for lazing around - eating, drinking and discussing the world's problems (or yours - for that matter) with friends. Or you can just down a few beers and watch the latest soccer action.

O'Brien's has a bigg list of bottled beers and quite a good selection on tap. This choice keeps on changing as they juggle around with the local brewery selections. My only gripe is that they close early (10pm on weekdays, 10:30 on weekends).

Recommended: Garlic Fries, Chicken Pesto Wrap

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2006

The Great Punjab

The Great Punjab - Koregaon Park, Pune

If ever you wish to be utterly satisfied in every aspect of a meal .. do pay a visit to the Great Punjab, off North Main Rd in Koregaon Park. And if you are not satisfied .. I will refund your money with a smile happily. [i.e. I will give you a smile in return].

The place itself is not a big thing .. but the decor is inviting and the service is courteous. Theres not much parking for the restaurant itself, but we didn't have any problems finding space in the adjoining lane. The valet seemed disappointed that we chose to park it ourselves.

Its pretty expensive, but well worth it. I am having a hard time these days figuring out what is expensive and whats not. Everybody around me seems to be spending hundreds of rupees per head on meals and finding it quite okay. Nowadays I generally draw the line at Rs 200/head for a good meal .. anything beyond that is 'expensive'. Or maybe I am just out of touch with todays prices.

The Great Punjab gets it right in every aspect. The ambiance of the place is great .. suitable for families as well as couples, and probably professionals too. Being situated in Koregaon Park has its advantages .. namely that you get a varied clientèle, which nearly always appreciates upscale places. They promptly serve you with .. this is what I liked most .. jaggery and molten ghee! It was a delight eating the tup-gul [ghee-jagerry] with their warm rotis. And they gladly refilled it again and again. Quite a refreshing concept and very Indian to boot.

We had some fenugreek-chicken kakabs, butter-chicken, sarso ka saag (with the waiter heaping spoonfuls of ghee on top of it), and a variety of naan/parathas followed by rice and daal tadka. Every dish was excellent, but I particularly remember the kababs and the ghee with jaggery. The kababs were perfect .. succulent, tasty and hot with just the right amount of spice.

Overall the pinch came to about Rs 300+/head (no desserts, we were 4). A price .. I realize.. one wouldn't hesitate to pay these days for a very satisfying meal.

Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

Rutuja

Rutuja - Prabhat Rd, Pune

Rutuja is an inconspicuous little (and I mean little) place on Prabhat Road. Its actually the garden of a bunglow which they have converted into a restaurant. I am not sure how long its been there .. I have been eating there since my Fergusson days, and I distinctly remember having ice-cream there in the 80s. The location is pretty good .. since its very close to Karve Rd, Garware college and on the way to Fergusson. I suspect they are only open in the evenings.

Rutuja offers limited seating space (and that too plastic tables and chairs) so you might have to wait in the evenings. This popularity seems to be new as I don't really remember a rush during my college days. I have not seen the staff hurry anyone despite the place being full - so one can enjoy an idyllic evening seated underneath the trees, chatting, eating and having coffee. The service is good. Strangely they had 2 kids around 10 and 15 yrs of age working there when I was in Fergusson (more than 10 yrs back) and they seem to have another pair of the same age currently. But they are competent and aware of the menu.

The food is good .. and I always have two orders of their chicken frankie. Its inexpensive and tasty. They also have a good chicken club s/w if I remember right. I used to like the chicken salami s/w but didn't quite like it as much during my last visit. Veggies have a lot of options too [veg club, veg frankie, etc] .. but I haven't tried any .. though all my friends appear content with it. ;-) Coffee is good too.

Overall a good place to hangout, have coffee and chat aaram-se with friends. Only thing I wish would change is their closing time .. as far as I remember - they close around 9:30.

Food: **** Price: $
Last visited: mid-2007

1000 Oaks

1000 Oaks - East St, Pune

Thousand Oaks is one of the best places you can go to in Pune to hang out, eat, drink and be merry. Located on East Street - it has everything - good food, a rocking ambiance and a location one can't beat. Its a pub slash restaurant .. and I often wish they had just kept it a pub which served food, but I guess they need to cater to the restaurant-patrons as well if they wish to do the kind of roaring business they do. Thus Thousand Oaks is divided into 2 parts .. the garden restaurant .. which is meant for a quiet night out .. serves food and drink .. and the pub inside which has a good collection of loud rock music playing, couches to sit on and drinks flowing freely. Actually theres another third section .. the kind of outside-inside .. where you can sit on the tables and have dinner if you wish.

The barman's pitcher is the most popular drink here (though not necessarily the best) .. which is a combination of beer, rose water, vodka and whatnot .. but I find it a tad mild. I recommend adding a large vodka to it and then enjoying the same. The food is all good - with melt-in-the mouth kababs and a good selection of dishes. The paneer lasuni kabab or some-such is pretty good, so are most of the other veggie dishes.

You can't beat this place if you want to hang out with friends, drink a few, eat good food and let your hair down. Best of all .. you can relax in the pub if you want or move outside to the restaurant if you prefer chatting undisturbed with your friends.

I used to think of T-Oaks as expensive a few years back .. but considering the prices in most good restaurants nowadays .. it seems quite at par.


Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: late-2006

Ghareeb Nawaz

Ghareeb Nawaz - Devon Ave, Chicago.

If you are a desi and have ever been to Chicago - then Ghareeb Nawaz needs no introduction. Its the mecca for desi students in Chicago, the place which seems to serve tasty, filling, desi food at unbelievable prices. Ghareeb Nawaz roughly translates into "poor man's shelter" and it certainly serves its purpose.

Theres not going to be an 'ambiance' rating for this place .. as there is none. You order at the counter .. waiting in line to do so .. while looking at the menu printed on the wall. The man taking the orders is extremely busy and hassled. Make sure to request enough plastic spoons and paper napkins for everyone. Meanwhile the phone will be ringing constantly .. and I have never seen it being answered. The tables are dirty and you'd like the overall experience a lot more if you are any of the following - poor, drunk, sleepy, hungry. I have been there a number of times when I was 'all of the above'.

Whatever impression that has given you .. the place is a must visit. The prices are ridiculous .. one can have a full meal there for under $3!! No dish is above $5! The chicken boti is tasty .. the chicken biryani costs just 3 bucks .. and naans are 50 cents a piece! I am going delirious just thinking about it!

I have probably been there at all possible ungodly hours .. so it seems its open 24 hrs. Good luck finding parking nearby.

Food: *** Price: $/2
Last visited: mid-2004

El Burrito Loco

El Burrito Loco - Wheeling

Right opposite the Pita Inn .. lies another blessing for broke young guys .. serving yet again delicious and cheap authentic Mexican food. Its a tiny place in a run-down strip mall at the intersection of Dundee and Elmherst St. Once seated, you are immediately served with warm tortilla chips and 3 types of salsa [all of them amazingly lip-smacking] .. on the house. Any place which serves 3 salsas on the house has to rock!!

El Burrito Loco has quite a big menu with most items being in the $3-5 range! I particularly remember the Chicken Torta as being delicious. The tacos are all in the $1.x range and are worth a try. Oh and the waitresses are cute.

All in all .. one can have a good eat here for under $5

Food: *** Ambiance: * Price: $
Last visited: mid-2004

Punjabi Tandoor

Punjabi Tandoor - Mira Mesa, San Diego

Punjabi Tandoor is a typical family-owned restaurant serving the desi working class of San Diego [read - Qualcomm employees]. Its located in a boring-kind-of office/industrial area .. where you wouldn’t imagine a restaurant existing at all. If I have to draw similarities - then its like a roadside dhaba in India. With similar cheap plastic chairs and tables.. which probably havent been cleaned ever since they were bought, the similar tiny kitchen, a fridge which houses the cold-drinks which you open and help yourselves, and amazing, lip-smacking food. The place is owned by a sardar and his family .. and everyone seems to help out. The sardar and this wife are the main cooks and their two children help with the order-taking and table-cleaning.

I have probably eaten at this place more than a hundred times. This place is open till 10pm .. whereas most desi restaurants close by 9 or 9:30. We would so often reach there by 9:55 which would piss of the owner a bit. He would always tell us to call in advance and order .. which we somehow never did. One of my friends in San diego used to insist on eating here and here alone. If we wanted to eat elsewhere he would insist on ordering something from Punjabi Tandoor for him first. And strangely he would also eat the very same thing day in and day out. The prawns-masala and 2 naans. It is undoubtedly very weird for a person to eat the same thing for dinner every day .. but I have to admit that the prawns-masala kicks ass. The gravy is to die for. And with the richness that I recall .. I wouldnt be surprised if the prawns coupled with the gravy would make it a literal reality some day.

The prices are cheap but the quantity is less too.. so its kind of deceptive. A dish is enough for one person as opposed to it usually serving 2 people in normal Indian restaurants. The ambience is nurturing for bachelors who want to laze around just enjoying their meals and having a good time. The food is served on disposable plates and the trash can is always full .. so you have to skillfully balance your dirty plate without upsetting the whole mountain and not getting your hands dirty in the process.

Recommended: Prawns-masala, Chicken tikka masala, Baingan Bharta, plain paratha.

Food: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2006

Sunrise Cafe

Sunrise Cafe - Mira Mesa, San Diego

Sunrise Cafe is a small cafe located in a strip mall very near the Qualcomm offices in Mira Mesa. They serve coffee, bagels, sandwiches etc. The main draw is without doubt their Gyro. I kept dreaming about having Gyros from Sunrise cafe months after I had left San Diego. They are that good. The meat - even though I am sure they order it and don’t prepare it themselves - is amazing, the pita is darn good and the cucumber sauce that comes with it is among the best.

The cafe has limited seating .. probably just enough for 10-12 people, but theres additional seating outside - and being San Diego you can sit out all year through. The coffees are good and they offer some good flavourful concoctions. Among pizza - theres a limited variety but somehow it appears healthy (though pizza and healthy don’t really go together). There are other items available but I used to have the Gyros every time I would visit the place .. so I have no idea how they taste. But other patrons always seemed happy so I guess they must be good too. I have spent a few long lunches there .. chatting with friends or reading the magazines which are surprisingly current and also include Time and Newsweek.

Go on Tuesdays - thats when the Gyros are for 5 bucks in the lunch special.

Food: **** Ambiance: * (its a cafe after all) Price: $
Last visited: mid-2006

Kapila Kathi Kabab

Kapila Kathi Kabab - Dhole Patil Road, Pune

Kapila Kabab is a small tapri at the roadside opposite Kapila bar on Dhole Patil Road. Its legendary (along with Olympia on East Street) for its frankie-like kathi kabab rolls. The menu has some 4-5 items, but the main one is of course the chicken kathi kabab roll .. which is a chicken frankie. It consists of a maida roti shallow fried in egg - which is rolled around the chicken-onion stuffing. Tastes better if you don’t watch him prepare it. Other items are chicken tikka, paneer roll etc. Not for the strict veg people.

Its open from 5pm onwards .. so don’t go there for lunch.

Food: *** Price: $
Last visited: mid-2007

Just Baked

Just Baked - D P Road, Pune

Just Baked offers baked goods of incomparable quality. Its located right opposite Madhuban on Dhole Patil Road. Desserts dominate the scene here, and I always have trouble choosing what I want. Everything just seems so delicious. They also offer various breads - multigrain, garlic, croissants etc. and a range of sandwiches. Mostly anything with chocolate in it is good. I find the butterscotch too sweet for my taste, but the Pineapple pastry is just right. The pastries and desserts are on the pricier side with most desserts hovering around the Rs 90 - 95 range. Seating is upstairs and is comfortable, albeit with a ridiculously low ceiling.
I hate it that they don’t offer any water for free. Are these kind of places - where you have to buy water increasing in Pune? If you want water - you have to buy a bottle. I find this practice very inconsiderate, rude and snobbish.

Recommended: Death by chocolate, Choco Mocha pie, frappuccino.

Food: ***** Ambiance: **** Price: $$$
Last visited: mid-2007

Frangipani

Frangipani - SB Road, Pune

Frangipani is a little joint off Senapati Bapat Road, very near the Symbiosis campus. They have a varied menu which is usually a good thing, but in this case I think its a case of trying to please everyone. Punjabi, Italian, continental .. without offering a big choice in either .. makes it a tad odd. Maybe its because with a name like Frangipani, I did’nt expect them to offer any Punjabi cuisine. The menu is structured in a very innovative way though. They quote a price at the top of the page - and all the dishes listed on that page cost the same. I found its a lot easier than the normal method. (yes - I do watch the price).

On to the food. The appetizers are good and promising. They have tried to make a fusion of tastes .. and it works out well in most cases. The kebabs are average, the punjabi main course slightly above. What people seem to like - is the pasta. They have totally made a desi version of pasta with a lot of masala added on.. and honestly I didn’t like it much. Haven’t tried all that is offered though. But looks like it works for most people. The desserts are good and worth a try. Now heres the kicker. I had the absolute best dal-tadka at this place. Bar none. Its been years since I had any dal this good, and I hope its how they always serve it, rather than being a one time thing.

Overall I rather like the place. The food is good and the general satisfaction of dining is high. Though I suspect it may be because I enjoyed a rather memorable meal with delectable company there, which because of a power failure ended up being a nice candle-lit one.

Food: **** Ambiance: **** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2007

Thai Tom

Thai Tom - Seattle

I have been to Seattle just once and I loved the city. I was there for 4 days or so and my most memorable dinner was at Thai Tom. Its a very small place tucked away in a wall - located in Seattle’s U district. Its so small that I think all the tables were just big enough to accommodate 2 people. Alternatively you can sit at the ‘bar’ which is a long wooden table that runs along the open kitchen.

My friend had insisted we meet there and I immediately realized why. The smell coming from the open kitchen was terrific. In fact he was so insistent that when our 3rd friend - being hopelessly drunk fell smack down on the pavement right in front of Thai Tom - we dropped him home and came back for the food!

I forgot what I had but rest assured .. everything there has to be terrific. The food somehow ‘feels’ authentic Thai. The small cramped seating, the dark weathered appearance, and the fiery, awesome food - it all adds up. Or should I say - it feels like being in a small bylane in Bangkok.

Cash only. Be prepared to wait - outside. Don’t come expecting an idyllic romantic dinner. Wait, sit, order, eat, pay, get out. Relish forever.

Food: ***** Ambiance: * Price: $
Last visited: late-2005

Cafe Zia

Cafe Zia - San Diego

Cafe Zia is a small cafe on El Cajon Blvd, very near SDSU. And I’ll be damned if they don’t serve the best wraps ever!! The food is great tasting and healthy, the waitresses and the owner are friendly and on top of it the prices are very reasonable. Zia is located at the intersection of Montezuma and El Cajon .. almost opposite The Daily Grind Cafe.

Like i said .. they have the best wraps .. which are served with a combination of chutneys. The owner is from Afganistan and thus the ‘chutney’ part. The wraps are either chicken or tofu in combination with potatoes/peppers. The chicken is terrific. The filling is stuffed straight off the grill so its real hot and tastes delicious in combination with the cooling pineapple/papaya/yoghurt chutneys.

I have eaten at this place quite a few times and have always left satisfied.
Recommended: The Big Kahuna

Food: ***** Ambiance: ** Price: $$
Last visited: mid-2006

The Daily Grind Cafe

Daily Grind Cafe - San Diego

The Daily Grind Cafe is a nice family-owned, inexpensive place located on El Cajon Blvd, in San Diego close to the SDSU campus - almost at the intersection of Montezuma and El Cajon. It was one of my favourite places to eat when I was staying in the area. Even after I moved a bit north, I used to frequent the Daily Grind on lazy Sunday mornings afternoons for a hearty breakfast brunch. Quite a few times I have spent hours at the cafe chatting with friends and gorging on waffles, omelettes and fresh fruit. This was probably the time when a visit to the Daily Grind would be the only occasion I would have any fruit!

They have very good combos offering a variety of omelettes, toast, coffee and sides (especially the home-style potatoes and fresh fruit). Do try the spinach-mushroom omelette or the Eggs Benedict. Even the coffees and smoothies are pretty good. All in all you wont be spending anything over $10 for a nice meal at this place.

The only problem is that - it closes at 4pm!! (opens at 4am apparently). I asked the owner why this ridiculous 4pm closing time and she said that otherwise SDSU students take up all the tables in the evenings and sit for hours .. thus the turnover for the evenings is very low. Oh and they only take cash. (an ATM is on the premises).

Food: **** Ambiance: ** Price: $
Last Visited: Mid-2006