The TenderNob

Housed between Geary, and Sutter.
San Francisco, CA 94109

Eric W. writes: Where am I?
This hood is perfect with me because like me it's having an identity crisis. Sometimes you think it's great and clean and then you shot, sometimes yo hate it and you stumble into wicked good food.
There are hills and flats, buses and…

Fusion Nails & Spa

1235 Park Street
Alameda, CA 94501

laura b. writes: Best pedicure ever!  Now I will preface this by saying that I am not a girly-girl and very rarely treat myself to something so divine but that being said, I had a really great time here.  I went in on a Saturday at about 11 am and told her that I had…

La Rose Bistro
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley

2037 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704

vivian c. writes: This charming restaurant is tucked into a bi-level store front right on Shattuck Ave.  It's location (sandwiched between the less-than-mediocre Saigon Express and the equally less-than-mediocre Mandarin Garden) really belies how wonderful this little…

Erawan Thai Restaurant

2639 Broadway Street
Redwood City, CA 94063

Setareh N. writes: The best Thai food by far. I love thier brown rice....The lovely spinach is really quite lovely! The Spring rolls and the Pad Thai are also delicious. The have the best peanut sauce around and they have this black bean sauce noodle dish thats…

Little Lucca Sandwich Shop

1809 El Camino Real
Burlingame Shopping Plaza
Burlingame, CA 94010

John B. writes: You must remember this, a sandwich is just a sandwich. A roll is just a roll. The Fundamental things apply,  As prices rise.

 After some forty years prices do tend to go up. I believe it was the summer of 1968 that I first set foot into Little Lucca…

Juniper Tree
Neighborhood: Lakeshore, Lower Hills

3303 Lakeshore Ave
Oakland, CA 94610

Michelle S. writes: If you need to get one of your friends a very cute girly gift that doesn't have "Victoria's Secret" or "Bath and Body Works" plastered all over it, this is the place to get it.

Their dresses are very cute and girly. They range from fun and summery to…

San Francisco Public Library - Chinatown Branch
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

1135 Powell St.
San Francisco, CA 94108

Don B. writes: Thanks SFPL... you made my life better in a major way while I'd been forced to "improvise" my life.  No access, no way to settle finances and you were a bright spot, an oasis within the desert of life.

Thanks for nearly always having an open computer…

City Optix
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

2154 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

Katrina D. writes: This review goes out to all those with "omigod you're blind" glasses prescriptions. If you're like me, you've turned your handicap into bragging rights ("-3? Child's play. Try -8, beyotch."). You've stopped stressing about your myopia getting worse…

Gelateria Naia Lounge
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area

2475 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94720

Elena S. writes: Apparently this location is struggling a lot because of its hidden location, by the bear's lair.  It's so sad because if it had existed when I was a student I would have been a junkie.  It has an awesome study area with wireless and the best gelato…

Epicurious Garden
Neighborhood: Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley

1509, 1511, 1513 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94709

Andrew W. writes: Epicurious Garden,
I wrote a love letter to you but its a little embarassing, posting it online.

Let's keep this private, for now. I'm sorry, I haven't known you long enough for PDA. Maybe after the second visit.

-Andy

Champa Garden
Neighborhood: East Oakland

2102 8th Ave
Oakland, CA 94606

Lainie L. writes: When I first started going out with my boyfriend, a big night out for him was getting the combo fajita platter at El Torito.  He actually ate at El Torito on purpose!  He's Mexican.  Well, only half like me but still . .. even my half breed self…

San Francisco's Chinatown
Neighborhood: Nob Hill, Chinatown

Grant Avenue and Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94101

Kristina R. writes: It happened one year that many of the parents in my class were Chinese.  I mean Old School Chinese.  And they were great.  They all showered me with food, which is always the best way to bribe me into giving your kid "special treatment."

But it was…

Jun Restaurant & Sushi Bar

1355 Broadway
Burlingame, CA 94010

Mike V. writes: Wow, wonderful place.

It's one of those places where the people who work there will remember who you are and prolly what you had last week.

The food is pretty cheap, especially compared to other sushi restaurants and restaurants in general that are in…

Yun Yun Wong
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset

1000 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA 94122

Autumn K. writes: An amazonian white girl walks into  a store clearly marketing clothing toward the more petite Inner-Sunset asian population...and walks out with THE cutest to-die-for olive green cargo pants that can be worn with heels and cashmere for dinner or…

Church Produce

1798 Church St
San Francisco, CA 94131

Berna .. writes: This is a great neighborhood grocery - it reminds me of a bodega in NYC, minus the random electronic equipment for sale and the lottery tickets.  

They do have a pretty full selection of produce and some fancier items (dried gourmet mushrooms!), as…

Hotel Kabuki
Neighborhood: Japantown, Pacific Heights

1625 Post St
San Francisco, CA 94115

Tanya S. writes: Me korean, me like asian things.  
Me like staying in asian hotel.
Me don't like the Japanese but,
Me like Japanese soaking tub.

Well, I guess there's some truth to stereotypes.  All these things are what attracted me to Hotel Kabuki and apparently also…

Judahlicious
Neighborhood: Outer Sunset

3906 Judah St
San Francisco, CA 94122

nobu k. writes: Well, i only get an Acai Bowl here.
That's all I have.
with Hemp seeds on it!
YEAH, I'm eating FXXXin' Hemp seeds!!!!
And it's FXXXin' Awesome!
But,
I am not interested in that the Raw Taco and the Raw Pizza?
I can't.
I am sorry but.... I can't.
That's…

Natural Resources
Neighborhood: Mission

1367 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Nish N. writes: There are so many toxins and who knows what else out there, and you really start to pay attention once you have your own child. Everything NR carries is, well, natural. Or organic. Or very tested and approved, at the very least.

The store is also a…

Pets Are Wonderful Support
Neighborhood: SOMA

645 Harrison Street
Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94107

laura b. writes: From their website 'cause they say it best:

Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) is a volunteer-based organization that provides for the comprehensive needs of companion animals for low-income persons with HIV/AIDS and other disabling illnesses. By…

pie- sweet, not savory or pizza

in coffee shops, bakeries, pie shops, Costco
frozen food sections of the grocery store
San Francisco, CA 94101

Wendy K. writes: ok, pie, in order of preference:

1. boysenberry
2. blackberry
3. banana cream (must be fresh and have real, unbrown bananas)
4. cherry
5. apple (not dutch crunch or anything fancy)
6. mixed berry
7. chocolate cream
8. sweet potato

your thoughts...

La Biang Thai Massage
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

1339 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109

Christine M. writes: Like many others on here, I, too, did the obligatory "find yourself" stint in Southeast Asia *lite* (e.g. Thailand).  A good deal of this year-long self-discovery and road to enlightenment involved massive amounts of beer, plenty of beach time, and a…

City Kinetics
Neighborhood: SOMA

123 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105

David L. writes: Where else can you get:
1.  a breakfast sandwich
2.  tamales
3.  shin ramen bowls
4.  yoohoo chocolate drinks
5.  donuts
6.  falafels
7.  cigarettes

Davids bottom line- nowhere!

San Francisco Giftcenter & Jewelrymart
Neighborhood: SOMA

888 Brannan Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Sara F. writes: I bought my first boyfriend a Seiko watch for $70 (I think, can't remember it was so long ago) at age 19 at one of the stores here. I remember feeling so grown up that I had a man in my life to buy a *real* gift for. He loved the watch but didn't end…

Kate Beal Grove Photogaphy

San Francisco, CA 94101

Lise L. writes: We hired Kate to do casual candid pics at our wedding reception cocktail party, complete with swing dancing, which I'm sure was a big challenge.  She did a GREAT job -  the photos are beautiful!  We received a full leather-bound album with all photos…

Americana Grill & Fountain
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

3528-3532 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA 94121

phillip w. writes: After that horrible dinner we had at Little Henrys, my lady and I decided to walk a bit around the area. See what else was around and we noticed this place. Seemed a bit interesting so we decided to give a try the next time we were around.

This joint…

Panaderia La Mexicana
Neighborhood: Mission

2804 24th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

megan w. writes: For less than a dollar, you can pick up a pastry that is basically the love child of a jelly doughnut and a pound cake sprinkled with coconut, and if it's not enough to get you through the wait for a table at St. Francis Fountain, well I can't help…

Aroma Tea Shop
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond

302 6th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118

Jeremy S. writes: I had a really pleasant experience at Aroma this weekend. Dropped in and sat down for a tasting, the woman serving was very kind and patiently took us through probably a dozen different teas. You can try anything in the store and prices go from…

Weinstein Gallery
Neighborhood: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin

383 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Mickey R. writes: An absolute pleasure in every way, Weinstein Gallery is an afternoon well spent. An afternoon, because you will not learn more about modern art in a shopping district any where in the U.S., save the Wal-Mart on the corner of Klan and Lout in Pig…

La Boulange
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

1909 Union St
San Francisco, CA 94123

Kristina R. writes: They don't serve delicious hot sandwiches after five o'clock.  Let's get that straight right off the bat.  Very disappointing.  

But as I was leaving, I saw a lone chocolate chip cookie staring at me from the display case of goodies.  It was…

Lila Theatre
Neighborhood: SOMA

1067 Market Street
Ste 1008
San Francisco, CA 94103

Andrew K. writes: Artistic Director, Jill Mueller is a gem, and this theatre company consistently produces top-quality, well thought-out, artistic improv shows, as well as musical cabarets, plays, and sketch shows. Their casts are always talented, self-revelatory, and…

Little Vietnam Cafe
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond

309 6th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118

Faithy L. writes: 2.5 stars really.

The cheap bastard in me thinks the mediocre (not enough meat) banh mis here are overpriced because you can get a top-notched one in the TL for a whole dollar less. Their pho is really average and you can taste the freezer in their…

Bay Crossings
Neighborhood: Embarcadero

1 Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111

jordano k. writes: so if you were going to buy a ferry ticket, where would you go to buy it?

a.  at fisherman's wharf cuz you like to stand in line with the hordes of people wearing hooters t-shirt.
b.  at the ferry plaza farmers market cuz you like to stroll through the…

Timbuk2
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

506 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102

Ed to the M. writes: I feel like I have to practice Cafe-Gratitude-like self-affirmations when I enter Timbuk2.

I Am Socially Responsible.
I Am Frugally Rich.
I Am Vanguard.
I Am Casually Urban.
My Consumer Choices Speak My Lifestyle.
I Think Globally and Spend Locally.…

El Taco Zamorano Restaurant
Neighborhood: East Oakland

4032 Foothill Blvd
Oakland, CA 94601

Tsada K. writes: YO MAMA is so fat, she weighs almost as much as the wet burrito from El Taco Zamorano.

YO MAMA is so trashy, I think she played the mistress on the novella that was on the TV at El Taco Zamorano.

YO MAMA is so hairy, she has a longer mustache than the…

Papalote Mexican Grill
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA

1777 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Connie C. writes: After all this talk of a Papalote Eat-off between J-To and Carlos A at Nico's yelpy office hours, I was craving a burrito for dinner tonight. Jessica and I were big winners, first scoring rock star parking out front and NO line inside. When we turned…

Kiehl's
Neighborhood: Fourth Street

1848 4th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

rodrick p. writes: If I learned anything from reading Naomi Wolf it's that overpriced skin care products are for the birds.  I've been using Cetaphil since 1995.  It's mild and effective and it's $7.99.  So I was a bit shocked when I walked into Kiehls and the…

Jamba Juice

32258 Dyer St
Union City, CA 94587

Steven N. writes: "I'll take an Aloha Pineapple with a vita boost and a double shot of wheatgrass juice please."
It did take about 10 minutes even though I was the second one in line.

Connoisseur Coffee Co

2801 Middlefield Rd
Redwood City, CA 94063

matt G. writes: Connoisseur coffee...you bet I am!

My office and co-workers goes through 1 pound of bagged coffee-beans daily. Yes, my job and that agency are big in terms of active employers. I was sent by my work to get some fresh Coffee beans.

Located in the…

Lulu Boutique

302 Baldwin Ave
San Mateo, CA 94497

lucy k. writes: Thanks to Sarah K., I went to Lulu and at long last was able to find jeans that are both hip enough and long enough. Citizens FH jeans are nice and all, but a wee bit short for me. Kasil jeans are very long (35" inseam) and fit great. (Read: no…

Ann Taylor Outlet

Marina Center
1221 Marina Boulevard
San Leandro, CA 94577

Just J. writes: When I lived in San Leandro, I visited the Ann Taylor outlet with more regularity than I did a grocery store.  $10 shoes that went for $70 at the real Ann Taylor and $5 blouses and sweaters---I could go without food.  The quality was pretty good,…