I am deeply disappointed in my culinary explorations of my neighborhood. I have been to at least a dozen restaurants within walking distance of my house and only three of them are any good. I give a thumbs down to all five of the Chinese restaurants I've been to since none of them serve Hunan or Szechuan. I reject both of the Japanese places (one for abysmal service and the other for distinctly second-rate sushi). The Lyon's was wretched, the bar-b-que joint served dry, bland ribs, and the Middle Eastern Olive Tree Cafe's best dish was the baklava. I was especially disappointed in the Hong Kong Flower Lounge which was highly recommended but turned out to have bad service, greasy linens, and threadbare cuffs on the waiters. Also, only one out of three dishes was anything like what we ordered. At least we didn't get sick.
In my neighborhood's favor is Big Joe's Diner, a truly eccentric and yummy 30's-style diner, the mom and pop Italian restaurant across the street which has yet to serve us a bad meal, and Don Pico's Mexican organic haute cuisine. A fifteen minute drive away is a good Thai restaurant in Burlingame, but I don't really consider that local food. I would love a good sushi place nearby, and either Thai or Vietnamese or Chinese, but I don't think we're going to find them. This area is the land of bad, boring food, I'm afraid. I have been faintly intrigued by Martinelli's Steak Pit since it looks like such a classic prime rib and caesar salad kind of place, someplace that plays nothing but Frank Sinatra. However, I may opt to not test my fantasy. I'd be so sad if it turned out to be lousy.
It's such a drag to be surrounded by restaurants and to still feel like we have to hop in the car and drive to Burlingame or Palo Alto to get something decent to eat. Even Redwood City which I used to consider a blighted landscape of auto dealerships and chiropractors' offices has a Max's Opera Cafe, outstanding Indian and Italian restaurants, and a really good sushi bar. But not where I live, oh no, I'm stuck with restaurants who don't believe in buying the best and prefer to open a can instead of making the whole dish from scratch. Blah.
Listen, if you think I'm bad you ought to see how picky my parents are. They're the gourmets of the family. All I want are fresh ingredients, freshly prepared, and interestingly combined. I don't need anything fancy. I do want to eat good food. Life's too short to put up with a plate full of glop.
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