1) All Spice: | restaurant information + video | reviews |

2) Sorella di Zza's: | restaurant information + video | reviews

3) Hillstone: | restaurant information + video | reviews |

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My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I'm the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. I will also share some wine tips with each episode.

2007 Trione Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California $30
From third generation grape growers in Sonoma County, this beautifully aged Chard meshes the core brightness of Russian River fruit with the lushness of the vintage. It's a wine to sip poolside with nothing but your suit, or table side with everything from fish to fowl.

2009 Lasseter Family Winery "Chemin de Fer," Sonoma Valley, California $40
You know the name, John Lasseter of Cars and Toy Story fame. Add one more credit to John's resume — vintner — as he and his wife Nancy are the proprietors of Lasseter Family Winery. In a nod to their Francophile passions, they focus on French-style wines including this Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes. It's succulent, spicy and simply superb.

Related posts:

1. Sorella di Zza's: Reviews
2. Hillstone: Reviews
3. Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Rivoli, The Chairman Truck, Station House Café

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Location:
1602 Sout El Camino Real (at Borel Avenue)
San Mateo, CA 94402

Parking: Street, private lot

Phone: 650-627-4303
Email: info@allspicerestaurant.com
Website: allspicerestaurant.com
Twitter: @allspicedining
Facebook: All Spice

Restaurant Owners: Sachin Chopra, Shoshana Wolff
Executive Chef: Sachin Chopra

Type of Cuisine: Indian, New American, Asian Fusion
Signature Dishes: Indian Bread Fritter "Ma Mere," Shortrib Vindaloo, Dark Chocolate Kulfi
Vegetarian Options: 3+ items
Alcohol Served: Beer and wine
Corkage Fee: $15
Bottle Limit: No limit

Restaurant Hours: (lunch service begins 5/28)
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:30am-2:00pm (lunch), 5:30pm-9:30pm (dinner)
Wednesday: 11:30am-2:00pm (lunch), 5:30pm-9:30pm (dinner)
Thursday: 11:30am-2:00pm (lunch), 5:30pm-9:30pm (dinner)
Friday: 11:30am-2:00pm (lunch), 5:30pm-9:30pm (dinner)
Saturday: 11:00am-2:30pm (lunch), 5:30pm-9:30pm (dinner)
Sunday: Closed

Meals Served: Lunch, dinner
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: No
Average Dinner Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $35-$60
Average Lunch Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): info pending
Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard
Accept Reservations: Yes
Do you accept reservations through OpenTable.com? Yes
Need Reservations: Yes, preferred
How far in advance should reservations be made? 1-2 days in advance

Accommodations for Children: Only suitable for older kids
Dining Style: Formal
Disabled Access: Yes (can be arranged, please call ahead)
Restaurant Size: Medium (30-100 seats)
Accommodate Groups (10+): Yes
Private Dining Room: Yes
Tables with Scenic Views: No
Outdoor Dining: No
Entertainment: No

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Name: Peter
Occupation: Auto Parts, Business Owner
Location: Redwood City
Favorite Restaurant: All Spice
Reviewed All Spice: Wednesday, February 29, 2012


All Spice. To be honest I was a little bummed when I sat down and opened the menu and the wonderful rutabaga soup wasn’t on the menu! I had never had rutabaga soup until I went to All Spice previously, and I really was looking forward to it. The alternative was roasted Sunchoke soup, and I didn’t even know what a Sunchoke was! But I said why not and ordered it for my appetizer. To my delight, the Amuse Bouche came and it was a shot glass with rutabaga soup and peas and carrots. To my relief and joy, the Sunchoke soup was creamy, warm and smooth with two pickled kumquats and a small amount of pancetta, and as good as the memory I had of the rutabaga soup. The two pickled kumquats didn’t add anything especially to my taste, but the pancetta was smoky and tasty. The most interesting thing is the way the soup is served as the waiter brings out the large soup dish empty except for the kumquats and pancetta, after the dish is in place, he’ll pour the soup from the tureen into the dish, which adds a nice flourish.

I followed that up with a shared Coriander-cured hamachi that was outstanding. The fish was served in inch-sized squares with paper-thin lotus chips and guacamole, and it literally melted in your mouth.

My entrée was Shortrib Vindaloo, and I questioned why they gave me a knife, as the meat was fork tender and easily eaten that way. But it was on a bed of baby bok choy, and for that I did need my knife. What I especially like about All Spice is the creativity of chef Chopra; most good restaurants make tasty food as that is their business, Chef Chopra surprises your palate with flavor bursts that are unexpected and delightful.

I ended the meal full and was worried that I had no room for dessert. My wife convinced me to try the special as the description made it sound unbelievable. Homemade single malt scotch ice cream, vanilla chiffon cake, salted cashew brittle and huckleberry compote topped with a chocolate disc that is then melted with a few drops of hot olive oil. It is served in a small round glass with the chocolate laid across the top and then when the hot oil hits the center it melts over the ice cream. It was such a compilation of tastes that each spoonful brought new flavors to your tongue. This was a perfect example of what I was saying earlier in that not only was each bite a flavor surprise but an extremely unique dish that you won’t find anywhere else.

This is a restaurant I frequent often and especially when I have a visitor from out of the area that I want to show how good Bay Area restaurants are. It’s not cheap but it’s a fantastic value for the money.

We were pleased to see that the owners of the restaurant came out to greet patrons and we had a few minutes with Shoshana and Sachin. They are extremely nice people and meticulous in everything they do. The design of the small Victorian house that they renovated is perfect for an intimate restaurant with 3 or 4 small tables in each of the 3 rooms, so the noise level is quiet enough not only to converse with your companion but hear the soft background music while doing so. Each room is tastefully decorated and painted so you feel like you’re in a truly lovely room of a friend’s home. The individual dishes and silverware are all unique and reflect on the owner’s good taste.

In conclusion there are three things that make for a really good dining experience for me: service, ambiance, and unique and well-prepared food. All Spice hits a home run on all three; the servers are very knowledgeable and monitor their stations with an eye to your complete satisfaction. The ambiance is quiet enough to hear the background music playing and carry on a conversation without a strain, and the surroundings are both tasteful and elegant. And the quality of the food is superb. It's not an accident Esquire magazine picked Chef Chopra as one of the four top new chefs in the United States last year and said he is "one to watch." I wholeheartedly agree!

Name: Bill
Occupation: Musician
Location: Danville
Favorite Restaurant: Sorella di Zza's
Reviewed All Spice: Thursday, March 15, 2012


Located in San Mateo at 610 El Camino, All Spice is tucked away in the center of the block and easily missed, so you have to pay attention to find the turn into their driveway.

There were four of us arriving for our 8:00 PM reservation. Upon entering this converted house, we realized that it is a very cozy restaurant with a small and really quaint entry-waiting area with a couch for seating. As we were waiting, another couple gave nothing but praise for their dining experience as they passed us on their way out, so our expectations were heightened.

The hostess-owner seated us within fifteen minutes and once seated, we perused the menu. All the appetizers and entrees sounded unique and tempting, so we shared them all…. Mine was the hamachi, served cold on a plate decorated with mango sauce, so good! I also got to taste their braised scallops, which were melt-in-your-mouth delicious, as well as the lobster tail, also good. I won’t forget to mention the mushroom soup and bread fritters, which were our complimentary starters, amazing.

For my entrée I selected the Venison with Lentils and Brown Gravy and asked for it to be cooked to a medium rare. It had a subtle gamey taste, but was delicious, especially when you got a bite of the venison and lentils with the sweet grapes that popped in your mouth. All the portions were not too large that would fill me up too quickly, but just right and enjoyable when comparing different tastes. Although a little pricey in my opinion, the experience was still worth every penny!

Name: Amanda
Occupation: PR Account Executive
Location: Burlingame
Favorite Restaurant: Hillstone
Reviewed All Spice: Tuesday, March 13, 2012


All Spice blew my mind. Everything about it was beyond my expectations, and I can't stop talking about it already. I went with my aunt on a rainy weeknight. We were late for our reservation (my fault), but they were friendly about it as could be. Upon walking in a little frantic after a very stressful day at work (hence being late), the staff's smiles and understanding calmed me down immediately. They walked us to a table by the window in the front dining room next to the fireplace; the best seat in the house in my opinion.

Our server came over right away and answered any questions we had about the menu, gave us a suggestion on how many dishes to order, and gave us his recommendations. I read the menu and wanted literally everything on it. I had to have my aunt decide because I would have been there all night, or spent a fortune and actually ordered everything… would have been worth it, though!

We ordered two appetizers: the Ode to My Wife II (savory ricotta cheesecake layered with goat cheese custard, red and golden beets in a sundried tomato almond crust) and the Lavender and Cumin Scallops with bacon and black cardamom potato sauce. We ate the scallops first; perfectly cooked– seared lightly brown with the slightest bit of crunch on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside. The potato sauce was soft and buttery. It was just thick enough to beef up the dish, but not so heavy that it took anything away from the lightness of the scallops. Next we ate the Ode to My Wife II. I was the slightest bit nervous not being the biggest fan of ricotta cheese or cheesecake, but I was very pleasantly surprised. It was nothing like I thought it would be composition or presentation wise, but it far exceeded expectation in taste and flavor. Stacked in a neat torte shape, the ricotta cheese was mixed with goat cheese and flavored with fresh basil and garlic, making it closer to a pesto. The almond crust was in between the cheeses and the fresh beets, a completely unique way to stack the various elements. The crust was light and flaky, and the beets were cool, crisp and fresh.

Our entrees came out next, and we intended to share both. We started with the short rib vindaloo…it was love at first bite. Just the thought of it takes my breath away. Immediately it was one of the best things I've ever eaten. So tender it just fell apart at the touch of a fork; dark and caramelized on the outside, perfectly pink on the inside. Smothered in a sweet, tangy brown vindaloo sauce, it had the slightest hint of a kick on the aftertaste. Steamed baby bok choy and cherry tomatoes lay underneath soaking up all the yummy juices. And tiny crumbles of goat cheese melted in, giving a tart creaminess to the sauce.

Next we ate the Frilly Turbot (Katafi-crusted, with Madras masala, asparagus spears and yuzu cauliflower sauce). Not knowing what katafi was I had no idea what to expect, but again I was pleasantly surprised. A light, flaky, crunchy crust covered the fresh white fish. Much less flavor than the vindaloo (so quite possibly would have been better to eat before the short rib), I was not as overwhelmed with this dish, but it was perfectly cooked and seasoned and we still enjoyed every bite.

For dessert, we ordered the dark chocolate "kulfi" (with tandoori-spiced macadamia nut brittle). Not quite ice cream, but more than a mousse, the dark chocolate had a hint of spice, cutting the sweet richness (my preference). Tiny bite-sized pieces of the brittle were scattered on the plate along with halved fresh blackberries, both a perfect accompaniment to the decadent chocolate.

The service was impeccable throughout our time at All Spice. Our server was very polite and formal without being stuffy and knew a lot about the menu and how dishes were prepared. When we asked him for recommendations, he didn't just tell us what he liked the best, but also was careful to point out the most traditional dishes, along with the most unique dishes (which I thought was a very nice touch). He gave us plenty of time before ordering and between each course, though the food did come out faster than expected (but not in a “it's-been-under-the-heat-lamp-until-somebody-finally-ordered-it” kind of way). When we had finished and verbally attacked our server with rave reviews about the food and overall experience, he offered to bring the chef out, which he did. Chef was delightfully humble, and incredibly friendly. His pride and love for what he does was evident through his pristine smile and willingness to talk with anyone who wanted to speak with him. His wife – who manages front of house – was equally as passionate and warm. She also came by to see how we enjoyed our experience, how we heard about the restaurant and what we liked the best.

The restaurant was comfortably quiet; just soft enough to hear the enchanting restaurant murmur of light conversation over the clinking and clanking of forks and knives against porcelain plates, but audible enough to carry on a conversation without feeling like everyone else was listening to every word. Being set down a long driveway, we were completely unaware that we were anywhere even near the typically busy El Camino Real. The space was interesting in that it appeared to be the original framework of the house dating back to when it was built as a home. The whole restaurant is comprised of three very small dining rooms, all decorated with rich wall colors, beautiful hardwood floors, and contrasting modern crystal chandeliers.

Overall, we had an outstanding experience; I'm still glowing and gushing about it. While on the slightly more expensive side, it was more than worth every penny, and perfect for any kind of special occasion. I highly, highly recommend All Spice; it was a happy find and is definitely a neighborhood / Peninsula gem.

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Location:
552 Grand Ave (at Euclid Avenue and El Embarcadero)
Oakland, CA 94610

Parking: Street (easy), paid lot

Phone: 510-839-9124
Email: info@morezzas.com
Website: morezzas.com
Twitter: @zzasrestaurant
Facebook: Sorella di Zza’s

Restaurant Owner: Regina Passalaqua
Executive Chef: Filemon Jimenez

Type of Cuisine: Italian
Signature Dishes: Spaghettini, Pollo Mattone (roast chicken under a brick), handmade pasta (lasagna, ravioli, cavatelli)
Vegetarian Options: 3+ items
Alcohol Served: Beer and wine
Corkage Fee: $15
Bottle Limit: None

Restaurant Hours:
Monday: 5:00pm-9:00pm
Tuesday:5:00pm-9:00pm
Wednesday: 5:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday: 5:00pm-9:00pm
Friday: 5:00pm-10:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm-10:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm-9:00pm

Meals Served: Brunch (Saturday and Sunday), lunch (Saturday and Sunday), dinner
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Average Dinner Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $25-$35
Average Lunch Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): Under $15
Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, American Express
Accept Reservations: Yes
Do you accept reservations through OpenTable.com? Yes
Need Reservations: No
How far in advance should reservations be made? Same day is fine

Accommodations for Children: Kid-friendly on the restaurant side only.
Dining Style: Casual
Disabled Access: Yes
Restaurant Size: Medium (30-100 seats)
Accommodate Groups (10+): Yes
Private Dining Room: No
Tables with Scenic Views: Yes
Outdoor Dining: Yes
Entertainment: Yes, for special events, and live jazz for Saturday brunch.

Related posts:

1. Pizzaiolo: Restaurant Info
2. Oliveto Café & Restaurant: Restaurant Info
3. Lanesplitter Pizza and Pub: Restaurant Info

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Name: Bill
Occupation: Musician
Location: Danville
Favorite Restaurant: Sorella di Zza's
Reviewed Sorella di Zza's: Monday, March 19, 2012

This restaurant is always really good with friendly folks that make me feel right at home! There’s a good “neighborhood” energy at Sorella di Zza’s.

I usually eat in the wine bar side, not in the main dining room which is more family oriented. My bartender/server, Chris is always very helpful with wine selections, so I usually decide on my order and let him choose the wine. This time we selected the Spaghettini, a dish that I’ve had before and one that they’re famous for and the Lasagna of the Day. The lasagna was a sausage lasagna and was also very delicious. Everything arrived quickly along with some of their great homemade bread. All the dishes came in huge portions and were very delicious!

On a last note, I’m very glad we got the Cavolo Nero or Tuscan Kale, as it was yummy! As always the service was great without any problems and made for an enjoyable evening!

Name: Peter
Occupation: Auto Parts, Business Owner
Location: Redwood City
Favorite Restaurant: All Spice
Reviewed Sorella di Zza's: Monday, March 5, 2012


I was really looking forward to trying the third restaurant; the first two were so enjoyable. The drive wasn’t bad, even though I’m not too familiar with Oakland. And the area looked very nice, on the lake; we even parked a few blocks away and walked, as the evening was so nice.

The restaurant was very plain, we were greeted by a staff person and told to sit wherever we would like and easily found a table for two that was vacant as the restaurant was very nearly empty. Soon our waitress came by and asked if we were the couple who had the 7:00 reservation, and we assured her we were and that seemed to please her.

The wine list was fairly extensive, and I had no problem finding two wines that we could enjoy and we ordered our appetizers and our entree’s. The selection I chose was the Lasagna as I usually rate an Italian restaurant by the quality of the Lasagna, but unfortunately they were out of that. I looked for something else and settled on the 1/2 chicken at the server’s recommendation. We were served our wine along with some very tasty bread and dip and settled in. The noise level was certainly low, and we enjoyed sitting and talking. Unfortunately a couple with two young children came in at this point, and one of the children was very distressed and raised the noise level and everyone else raised theirs to be heard and consequently what started out as a relaxing dinner soon became somewhat less so.

It appeared to be quite a while that we waited, and finally the stuffed mushrooms and salad came to the table. Unfortunately the sautéed mushrooms looked very much like button mushrooms from a can and quickly heated, and the salad was supposed to be arugula, blood oranges, dates, pecans, and Parmesan with an olive oil dressing. It was mainly Arugula and very little of anything else. We just started on our appetizers, and the main courses showed up. There definitely was a timing issue, as I noticed the same thing happened at several other tables.

The presentation of all the dishes was extremely plain. My wife’s salmon was a very nice piece of fish with a tasty Mango salsa topping, but it was laid across a mound of mashed potatoes that made the whole thing look unappetizing. My chicken was prepared under a brick (as per the menu) so I really can’t complain that it looked like it was. It was served next to a mound of polenta and really didn’t excite me or encourage me to bite in. It was tender but tasted bland and oily, and I didn’t eat very much. I know my mother used to tell me that if I didn't have something nice to say I shouldn't say anything, but under the circumstances, even though it pains me, I feel duty bound to speak up.

I finished off with a cup of coffee, and I will say the coffee was made fresh and really tasted very nice. Everyone is entitled to an off day and I hope that I just caught Zza’s on one of those, but I don’t think I’ll go back to try again. I paid less here than at either of the other two restaurants, but I felt this was the least value for the money.

Name: Amanda
Occupation: PR Account Executive
Location: Burlingame
Favorite Restaurant: Hillstone
Reviewed Sorella di Zza's: Sunday, March 11, 2012


For a Sunday night, I expected this place to be empty and slow. When we got there, my sister and I were one of three tables, but within a half hour the restaurant was full. A promising sign.

Having grown up on the Peninsula and lived in San Francisco, we aren't very experienced with anywhere in the East Bay, so we were wary of heading into Oakland. But we were both delighted to learn that the restaurant was right off the freeway and right across from the beautiful Lake Merritt. We found parking very easily, just around the corner. And, when we were done, getting back on the freeway was a breeze (which it was not for our previous trek to Oakland…).

The space was open with little decoration. It felt almost cold upon arrival with unfinished cement floors, dark brown walls, brown tablecloths and napkins, no art on the walls, and only one window at the front of the restaurant. My hope was that they were in the middle of a remodel. The open kitchen was a nice touch though.

We were greeted by an enthusiastic and smiley server, but were shown to our table by a less than engaging hostess. We sat at a table in the back corner near the kitchen, which gave us a perfect view of the restaurant.

The menu looked like your standard modern Italian fare, but the wine list was interesting, offering unique varietals from all over the world. Being a native Californian, we stayed loyal and ordered a Syrah and a Granache from California's wine country. We asked our server for recommendations, to which she pointed out the exact dishes we had been eyeing.

They brought out bread and a garlicky balsamic dip to start. The bread was fresh; cool and doughy on the inside, light and crunchy on the outside (just like in Italy). The dip was full of flavor, and was rich enough to only need a few bites. Next we moved on to the arugula pizza with garlic oil, mozzarella, sweet pancetta, and a farm egg in the middle. The crust was thin and crunchy, delightfully firm all the way through the center of the pie. The pancetta was sinfully smoky and salty which was slightly cut by the fresh and peppery arugula. We also shared the spaghettini with slow braised beef and pork ragu. The portion size was perfect; just enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.

Being the biggest fan of kale, we ordered the side of Cavolo Nero (Tuscan Kale) in oil and toasted garlic. It was a healthy bright green, and a more than adequate portion for only $5.

Our server was refreshingly pleasant, and seemed to enjoy her job and believe in the food. However as mentioned, the hostess made us almost uncomfortable, and the support staff were a little too casual. We did wait quite some time before getting our check, but then again we were in no hurry, it being a Sunday evening and all.

We were happy with everything we ordered and overall had a nice experience. I would recommend Sorella di Zza's to anyone in the area, and should I find myself in Oakland again, I would happily, if not eagerly, head back there myself.

Related posts:

1. Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: All Spice, Sorella di Zza's, Hillstone
2. Sorella di Zza's: Restaurant Info

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Location:
1800 Montgomery Street (at Francisco Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111

Parking: Street (difficult),validated lot at 80 Francisco Street

Phone: 415-392-9280
Website: hillstone.com
Twitter: @hillstonesf
Facebook: Hillstone Restaurant (San Francisco)

General Manager Cameron Shaw
Executive Chef: Anna Garay

Type of Cuisine: New American, Steakhouse
Signature Dishes: Cheeseburger, French Dip Sandwich, Prime Rib, Pork Ribs, Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Vegetarian Options: 3+ items
Alcohol Served: Full bar
Corkage Fee: First bottle is complimentary, then $25 for each bottle thereafter

Restaurant Hours:
Monday: 11:00am-10:00pm
Tuesday: 11:00am-10:00pm
Wednesday: 11:00am-10:00pm
Thursday: 11:00am-10:00pm
Friday: 11:00am-11:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am-11:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am-10:00pm

Meals Served: Lunch, dinner,
Take-Out: No
Delivery: No
Average Dinner Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $25-$35
Average Lunch Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $15-$25
Payment Options: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express
Accept Reservations: Yes
Do you accept reservations through UrbanSpoon.com? Yes
Need Reservations: No

Accommodations for Children: Kid-friendly
Dining Style: Business casual
Disabled Access: Yes
Restaurant Size: Medium (100+ seats)
Accommodate Groups (10+): Yes
Private Dining Room: No
Tables with Scenic Views: No
Outdoor Dining: Yes
Entertainment: Yes, live jazz trio nightly. 6:30pm – 9:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays. 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Sunday-Thursday

Related posts:

1. Sauce: Restaurant Info
2. Spork: Restaurant Info [CLOSED]
3. Pork Store Café: Restaurant Info

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Name: Amanda
Occupation: PR Account Executive
Location: Burlingame
Favorite Restaurant: Hillstone
Reviewed Hillstone: Thursday, March 9, 2012


Hillstone Restaurant is more than an average steakhouse. It is, interestingly enough, a part of a chain of restaurants around the country, however each location carries a unique image from city to city. Chain restaurants get a really bad rap in the Bay Area, but part of the mission of each Hillstone restaurant is to blend with each city's unique culture, lifestyle, and perspective, making each restaurant feel like its own entity.

Most steakhouses feel stale, dated, unchanged. But Hillstone puts great emphasis on architecture, art, and design, keeping the space fresh and alive. Oversized cherry red booths compliment the dark wood tables and dim yellow light, while the open kitchen keeps abuzz all evening long.

Hillstone's focus on quality is unparalleled, with sourcing only the best ingredients from local purveyors. Their traditional steakhouse menu is given a modern twist with all ingredients — down to every aioli and dressing — made in house, and with additions like a variety of entree salads, different cuts of meat, and daily rotating specials often with other proteins.

My personal favorite thing to eat at Hillstone is their fire-grilled artichoke, so naturally, that is what we started with. Crispy and salty on the edge, yet perfectly tender in the middle, the flavors from the grill are as delicious as the freshness of the artichoke itself. A crave inducing aioli is served on the side, with ingredients I can only guess include something along the lines of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, scallions, lemon, and more, but the recipe is a highly guarded secret (believe me, I've tried!).

Next we had a cabbage and kale salad with cilantro and fresh mint in a spicy peanut dressing. The cabbage and kale were perfectly crisp, and the dressing was surprisingly light and had quite a kick on the aftertaste. A very pleasant surprise. The cilantro and mint were a perfectly cool balance against the heat of the dressing.

Having both brought a big appetite, I ordered the prime rib with a fully loaded baked potato, my friend ordered the classic French Dip with skinny french fries. The prime rib came medium rare, just the way I prefer. It was lusciously tender and juicy; albeit the slightest bit too fatty. The baked potato came with bacon, chives, sour cream, and butter — all the classics to accompany an equally classic cut of meat.

The French Dip — one of my favorite dishes — was piled high with tender meat and served on a soft French roll. The au jus is rich and buttery, balanced by a light smoky flavor. The French fries — offered in both steak cut and skinny — were piping hot and crunchy, also fantastic to dip in the au jus.

For dessert, we couldn't help ourselves and ordered the warm five-nut brownie with vanilla bean ice cream. The brownie was rich and moist, warm enough to satisfy but not so hot as to immediately melt the vanilla ice cream on top. The five varieties of nuts were sprinkled around the plate, allowing any desired amount of crunch.

Other perks and surprises from Hillstone are complimentary corkage and live jazz. It's a delightful atmosphere that serves all occasions appropriately — business dinners, date nights, family birthdays. It truly compliments the charm of this gorgeous "City by the Bay."

Name: Bill
Occupation: Musician
Location: Danville
Favorite Restaurant: Sorella di Zza's
Reviewed Hillstone: Sunday, March 11, 2012


Arriving for a 6:00 PM reservation, I brought a friend to share in the experience. Having been accustomed to fine dining, I enjoyed having someone with me who could add to my insight and appreciation for the total event. We were seated within 5 minutes, and I noticed the establishment was pretty much full. I also recognized the staff persons were young, well trained, and attentive. We opened with beverages while waiting for our appetizers and shared the signature artichoke and spinach dip. It was delicious. My wine was a Pinot Noir (recommended by our server), which was full bodied and satisfying.

I loved the caramelized onion soup and I tasted the wrinkled spinach side dish. But it was the service that was great and, in my opinion, made the evening. At one point when my guest said, “Excuse me?” three servers turned to respond simultaneously! That could be described as a commercial response but still illustrates the attentiveness of all the staff.

My main entree, the “Hawaiian” Rib Eye, prepared medium rare, was melt-in-your-mouth delicious! It was accompanied by a loaded potato, an easy addition. The meal was very well portioned and good. And the Key lime pie dessert was so incredible so that, although I was full, I still had to continue tasting this dish until it was almost gone.

All in all a great dining experience!

Name: Peter
Occupation: Auto Parts, Business Owner
Location: Redwood City
Favorite Restaurant: All Spice
Reviewed Hillstone: Sunday, March 4, 2012


This was a delightful experience, as everything worked on all counts. It was a spectacular day, sunny and in the 70s, so we spent a nice portion of the day riding our bikes on the Peninsula, working up an appetite. We arrived home after our day to shower and clean up and head off to the city. Traffic was light, and we arrived early, and the parking gods were with us and we found on street parking a block from the restaurant.

A good restaurant has to have three things: Great service, Ambiance (Not so loud you can’t hear your companions talk) and good food. The service was spectacular; the ambiance was nice, modern, and attractive, if just a touch loud. There was a 3-piece Jazz trio playing while we were there, and it added a nice touch. And the food was for the most part extremely good. It wasn’t an inexpensive evening, but we certainly didn’t feel ripped off. Tessa, our server, was fantastic! She always had her eyes on her section, and one just had to glance up and she’d be over in a heartbeat, inquiring if there was anything we needed. When we first sat down, I was looking at the wine menu trying to decide which wine to order, and when she came over she saw I was unsure of the choice I had made and offered to bring me a taste to make sure it was what I wanted. Little things like that go a long way to making the evening enjoyable. My wife also pointed out to me that she was spectacular looking, and that certainly didn’t diminish our enjoyment either.

We started out with two appetizers, the Smoked Salmon and the Chicago spinach dip. Both were amazing. The Salmon was house smoked, and it was a huge piece. It was served with thin toast points and a seasoned cream spread that made the whole piece melt in your mouth. We took the Salmon and could spread it on the toast, it was so soft and tender. This is the first time I can remember saying I didn’t want to finish the starters for fear of ruining my appetite and not being able to eat my entree, so we took some of the spinach dip to go rather than waste it. My wife ordered the Loup De Mer, which is a fancy name for Sea Bass, and she said it was spectacular. It was thin and flaky without a hint of fishiness. It came with your choice of seasonal veggie, and she chose the Brussels sprouts, which were done perfectly with a garlic butter flavor enhancing the dish. I had the Special of the Day, which was a Rib-eye that was done perfectly. The only complaint I had was that the meat tasted like it had been salted twice. I prefer that I put on my own salt if it needs it, and this was a gorgeous piece of meat that absolutely didn’t need the salt. The mashed potatoes that came with it were just OK; a little lumpy and not very special.

We finished with a piece of Key lime pie and two cups of a wonderful strong black coffee. The Key lime pie was done with a tasty graham cracker crust, a tart Key lime filling, and a mound of whipped cream that to their credit was not too sweet with graham sprinkles on top. It certainly worked for me, and I left with the knowledge that I just had a great dinner and did so at a restaurant I’ll look forward to coming back to.

Related posts:

1. Hillstone: Restaurant Info
2. Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: All Spice, Sorella di Zza's, Hillstone

Check, Please! Bay Area guests drank the following wines on the set of episode 705:

2007 Trione Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California $30
From third generation grape growers in Sonoma County, this beautifully aged Chard meshes the core brightness of Russian River fruit with the lushness of the vintage. It's a wine to sip poolside with nothing but your suit, or table side with everything from fish to fowl.

2009 Lasseter Family Winery "Chemin de Fer," Sonoma Valley, California $40
You know the name, John Lasseter of Cars and Toy Story fame. Add one more credit to John's resume — vintner — as he and his wife Nancy are the proprietors of Lasseter Family Winery. In a nod to their Francophile passions, they focus on French-style wines including this Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes. It's succulent, spicy and simply superb.

Related posts:

1. Check, Please! Bay Area: Wine Tips – 4 S's of Wine Tasting
2. Wine Tips: Pairing Dessert Wines
3. Wine Tips: About Shiraz, Syrah and Petite Sirah

1) Rivoli Restaurant: | restaurant information + video | reviews |

2) The Chairman (Food Truck): | restaurant information + video | reviews

3) Station House Café: | restaurant information + video | reviews |

Other ways to watch the episode online (and on video iPod):
Download episode (requires iTunes or QuickTime)
Subscribe to Video Podcast

View photo gallery (flickr.com)
Contribute your food photos! (flickr.com)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I'm the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. I will also share some wine tips with each episode.

2009 Starmont Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California $20
This wine is truly a star — for quality/price ratio you'd be hard to find a better deal. The sister brand to one of Napa's anchor wineries, Merryvale, Starmont's offerings are what I call "twice-the-price" wines. This Chardonnay with fruit grown in the cooler areas of Napa is vibrant and fresh yet still serves up lushness that is just kissed with spicy oak notes. You'll want to buy it buy the case as it pairs beautifully with food but is also an ideal sip by itself at the end of a long day's work.

2009 Coup de Foudre Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California $95
Sure to be a new cult wine, the Coup de Foudre (which means when lighting strikes) is a discovery for those seeking the best. It's only sold in six packs through the website as a mere 750 bottles were produced, but well worth it for the collector. Intense, concentrated and packed with layers of flavor and complexity, it's a wine destined for greatness.

Related posts:

1. Station House Café: Reviews
2. Station House Café: Restaurant Info
3. The Chairman (Food Truck): Reviews

Other ways to watch episode online (and on video iPod):
Download episode (requires iTunes or QuickTime)
Subscribe to Video Podcast

View Larger Map

Location:
1539 Solano Avenue (at Neilson Street)
Berkeley, CA 94707

Parking: Street (easy)

Phone: 510-526-2542
Email: roscoe@rivolirestaurant.com
Website: rivolirestaurant.com
Facebook: Rivoli Restaurant

Restaurant Owners: Wendy Brucker and Roscoe Skipper
Executive Chef: Wendy Brucker
Pastry Chef: Cydne Kaye

Type of Cuisine: Northern California
Signature Dishes: Portabello fritters, Caesar salad, braised and roasted meats, fish preparations, vegetable dishes, chicken or duck cooked two ways, strawberry shortcake, hot fudge sundae
Vegetarian Options: 3+ items
Alcohol Served: Full Bar
Corkage Fee: $20
Bottle Limit: 2 per table

Restaurant Hours:
Monday:5:30pm-9:00pm (dinner)
Tuesday: 5:30pm-9:00pm (dinner)
Wednesday: 5:30pm-9:00pm (dinner)
Thursday: 5:30pm-9:00pm (dinner)
Friday: 5:30pm-9:30pm (dinner)
Saturday: 5:00pm-9:30pm (dinner)
Sunday: 5:00pm-9:30pm (dinner)

Meals Served: Dinner
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: No
Average Dinner Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $35-$60
Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, American Express
Accept Reservations: Yes
Do you accept reservations through OpenTable.com? Yes
Need Reservations: No

Accommodations for Children: Only suitable for older kids
Dining Style: Business casual
Disabled Access: Yes
Restaurant Size: Medium (30-100 seats)
Accommodate Groups (10+): Yes
Private Dining Room: No
Tables with Scenic Views: Yes
Outdoor Dining: No

Related posts:

1. Gather: Restaurant Info
2. Bay Wolf: Restaurant Info
3. 2223 Restaurant & Bar: Restaurant Info