Invita Bistro

20170122:
Ada and I came here without any reservation and we preferred eating inside. Luckily for us, the host was able to seat us at a table whose reservation was still over an hour away (the restaurant was still rather empty when we arrived).

Olives wrapped in Sun-Dried Tomatoes

While the table was wobbly, one of the workers had noticed and fixed it by placing a wooden chip under one of the legs. She did this without being asked.

Prior to receiving complimentary bread, the restaurant brought out a simple, but delicious treat: olive and sun-dried tomatoes.

As for the bread, I liked the focaccia best (but it only tasted good when warm).

Complimentary Bread

For an appetizer we got the mixed tempura plate composed of fried zucchini (delicious), fried shrimp (good), fried scallops (no taste) and fried calamari rings (great). Ada liked it, and noted the breading. I agree, the breading here was done right.

Then for our entrees Ada had the salmon salad and I got the linguine frutti di mare.

(Smoked) Salmon Salad

Website Menu Description: (English)
Salmon (Arugula, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan with citrus and extra virgin olive oil)

While my dish was a solid choice on account of the pasta, the seafood - composed of squid, shrimp, scallops, and mussel - was just standard tasting and I liked the taste of Ada's smoked salmon salad more.

Linguine Fruitti di Mare

Website Menu Description: (English)
Linguine Frutti di Mare (Fresh seafood in tomato sauce and spicy red pepper)

We were quite full by the time we were done (in part from the bread we ate), but one of the servers asked if we'd like to see the dessert menu and I obliged. This subsequently led to us splitting and enjoying a deliciously made creme brulee.

Creme Brulee

On a related note, while I imagine most people would disregard a mint leaf as simply garnish, I took a bite of creme brulee with some and loved the taste; I encouraged Ada to try a bite as well. If I were given more mint leaves, I would have enjoyed eating the entire helping of creme brulee with them.

Overall, this Italian restaurant was an excellent choice for dinner in Cabo San Lucas. If I came again, I'd book a reservation.

[20170126]

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Invita Bistro

Relevant Links:
Invita Bistro Website
Invita Bistro - Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico (Yelp.com)
Invita Bistro (TripAdvisor)

Pan di Bacco

20170121:
For the appetizer we ordered a plate of calamari which tasted great. I liked the green mustard-like sauce while Ada liked the red sauce which seemed to bring out the squid's flavor.

Calamari

Among the complimentary breads, the one with the tomato inside was the one I liked most.

For dinner Ada got a vegetarian lasagna (mushrooms) while I got the surf and turf (shrimp and steak with pasta).

Surf and Turf

The pasta with the mushroom sauce was delicious, the shrimp was good but sometimes salty, and the (medium rare) steak was not good enough to get again. As Ada later mentioned, it was heavy on the garlic, which I didn't consciously note - perhaps due to the aforementioned salty shrimp - until I was close to finishing it. However, in hindsight I recall smelling the pasta's strong aroma (likely due to the garlic) when the dish first arrived to the table.

Vegetarian Lasagna

As for the lasagna, it had a good taste, but was partially burnt at the bottom which made it hard to eat, especially when it got cold.

After we finished, we had to wait a while for the check, because apparently when a restaurant is preparing to close, they're no longer turning tables and thus no longer in a hurry to give the customer the check!

Complimentary Bread

On a positive note, the restaurant serves its customers a chocolate liqueur which can be taken in sips or shot. Ada and I first took a sip to determine its strength and taste. It was extremely smooth and I couldn't detect any signs of alcohol in it. Upon approving the drink's taste, we both raised our glasses and shot the rest. Delicious.

[20170126 Edit]

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Pan di Bacco

Dips for Bread

Relevant Links:
Pan di Bacco Website
Pan di Bacco - Cabo San Lucas, CA (Yelp.com)
Pan di Bacco (TripAdvisor)

Roam Artisan Burgers

20170114:
Looking through the menu, I decided to get a lettuce-wrapped Tejano-style burger with a bison patty.

Menu Description:
Burgers | Patty: BISON – Great Range All-Natural (add 2.99) | Style:* Tejano $10.49 Pepper Jack, Jalapeño Relish, Avocado, Tomato, White Corn Strips, Herb Ranch

The burger tasted great. It was juicy, had a flavorful ranch sauce, and had a mild spiciness. From what I could tell, the meat was cooked medium rare (just the way I like it).

*choice of traditional sesame seed bun, whole grain bun, lettuce wrap, gluten-free bun ADD $1

[20170127]

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Roam Artisan Burgers

Relevant Links:
Roam Artisan Burgers Website
Roam Artisan Burgers - San Francisco, CA (Yelp.com)

Tacolicious

20170110:
I came here today with my coworkers and the popular opinion was that the tacos were good, but not worth the price.

On a positive note, the salsa was delicious.

For an appetizer, we ordered Brussels sprouts and mushroom empanadas. Between the two, the Brussel sprouts had a flavorful and delicious sauce while the empanadas were just alright, nothing particularly special.

Menu Description:
mushroom empanadas oaxaca cheese, leeks, tomatillo salsa 11.50
fried brussel sprouts lime, agave, ancho recado 8

Getting to the main event, I had a brisket taco with the medium spicy sauce, a little lime, and some guacamole. It was okay.

Then I had a chicken taco which tasted better. In particular, I ate part of it with the hot spicy sauce, pickled vegetables, and some guacamole. It was a solid experience. 9:11PM PT

Menu Description:
Tacos 1 for 4.95 / 4 for 17.95 / 10 for 39.95
shot-and-a-beer braised chicken
guajillo-braised beef brisket

Menu Description:
made-to-order guacamole 9.50

[20170127]

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Tacolicious

Relevant Links:
Tacolicious Website
Tacolicious - San Francisco, CA (Yelp.com)

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

20170106:
Despite having eaten at Ohana Hawaiian BBQ earlier today, I was more than happy to have more Hawaiian barbecue, especially because I had never eaten at an L&L before.

Looking through the menu, Ada and I eventually decided to get an order of the Super Low Carb combo (eggs cooked medium) and an order of chicken katsu.

Menu Description:
Super Low Carb combo 3pc chicken, 2pc beef, 1pc short rib, 1pc Loco Moco (hamburger steak w 2 eggs).

The Loco Moco was good; I liked the gravy and the egg was perfectly cooked medium as requested.

Chicken Katsu

I like the barbecue chicken from Ohana Hawaiian BBQ more.

Meanwhile, the short rib and beef tasted good and were not overly salty.

Ada said she likes the one in San Jose better.

[20170127 Quick Edit]

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L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

Relevant Links:
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Website
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue - Daly City, CA (Yelp.com)

Bowl'd

20170101:
After seeing Zoolights at the Oakland Zoo, Ada and I went searching for dinner. Initially intending to go to a Korean restaurant in Berkeley, we arrived only to find that it was closing early and we headed back to Oakland to eat at Bowl'd instead.

While walking into Bowl'd, I was amused to find, sitting on a counter, a handful of business cards for the place we just came from.

In any case, Ada got the kimchi stew and I got a bibimbop (mixed rice bowl). In addition, we also shared some fried potstickers.

Banchan (bottom) and Kimchi Stew (top right)

The shrimp potstickers tasted alright; they lacked the delicious shrimp flavor I was hoping for. In addition, I eventually experienced a slight tingling sensation on my tongue and lips (probably sesame oil, a common problem for me when eating potstickers, but it can also be from the banchan).

I continue with the banchan: kim chi, apple (haha), seaweed (I like seaweed), carrot/daikon (solid), radish (okay).

Menu Description:
Kimchi Stew Kimchi with beef, tofu, glass noodles, onions and sliced rice cakes. 14 Available with beef, pork or vegetarian.

My sizzling works with spicy pork belly and mixed grain rice mostly tasted good. And by mostly, I mean to say that some food item (perhaps the banchan or the dumplings) had enough sesame oil to dampen my overall eating experience.

Bibimbap

On a separate note, at some point I finally realized, after getting a hot (ceramic) bowl for bibimbap about five or six times at different restaurants, that I actually don't like the experience of eating out of a hot bowl! Mainly because I have to either blow on it and wait for it to cool or eat it while it's unbearably hot.

In any case, the red sauce (golgoljong) was good but eventually it might have also had an aftertaste. I'm not sure. Again, it was tasty, and yet not, but that's a personal (allergy) problem, not a fault of the restaurant food itself.

Menu Description:
1) Choose your bowl: The Works A bed of rice with spinach, mushroom, radish, julienned carrots, bean sprouts, quinoa and assorted vegetables. Topped with your choice of protein and fried egg. Cold Bowl 13 | Sizzling Works Same as The Works but served in hot stoneware. The heat from the stone bowl keeps everything warm and makes the rice sizzle. Hot Bowl 14
2) Choose your protein & rice: beef | chicken | spicy chicken | spicy pork | porky belly | spicy pork belly | beef short ribs Add $3 | salmon Add $3 | mung bean pancake | tofu || white | mixed grain (barley, sweet rice, sweet brown rice, wild red rice, and black rice)

Shrimp Potstickers

[20170213]

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Bowl'd

Relevant Links:
Bowl'd Website
Bowl'd - Oakland, CA (Yelp.com)