Brandon K.

Jitters & Shakes

This place is a small family run operation. I went in there the other day for lunch and I have to say it was pretty good. Definitely one of the best cafe/deli options in the SOMA area. I just got a simple turkey sub sandwich. It was pretty good, definitely a generous meat portion. Apparently they cater and offer a free dessert when you call in your lunch order.

They also have daily home-made specials like ribs. I saw that they also offer tacos and burritos, but I haven't sampled those yet. I'd definitely go back.

Oh, they also have tons of smoothies. It's surprisingly nice inside, given the somewhat sketchy area. The people who work there are really friendly.

My Tofu House

We had an early dinner at Kabul and it was great - the restaurant was not too crowded. The interior was very nice, the service was good, and the food was excellent.

One entree is more than enough to fill you up - I had the vegetable combo dish and loved it but couldn't finish it.

Price was reasonable - it came out to about $14/person (w/tax and tip, w/o alcohol or drinks).

Kabul is located in a strip mall which is not in the very best of shape, but don't let this keep you away. It is across from the Days Inn and Holiday Inn Express for folks who are coming out of town.

Mr. Miniblind

Does all types of treatments. Does all types of treatments. Does all types of treatments. Does all types of treatments. Does all types of treatments. Does all types of treatments.

Digs Bistro

This apparently used to be an underground restaurant which is pretty cool.

It never seems that busy, which is kinda sad, but you should definitely check it out! The service is great. The food is simple and amazingly tasty. Even dessert is good (the chocolate torte was delicious).

It's in a cool old house which creates a nice ambiance. This would be a good date spot.

If only the location were a little better.

El Mariachi Taqueria

This place has awesome burritos, hands down. It's one of the best places to get Mexican food in Davis.

The thing that really sets El Mariachi apart is its salsa bar. I think they have at *least* 15 different kinds. Weird and delicious kinds too. They have a strawberry one and a nopales cactus one. I think there's even a pineapple one.

This place is not to be missed.

Pita Pit

The Pita Pit isn't bad, but I do agree with the other reviewers when they say it's overpriced.

I pretty much aways get the bacon ceasar salad pita. It's pretty consistently delicious, but I don't know if it's worth $7.00.

The biggest thing going for the Pita Pit is its central location and it's late late hours. It's certainly a late night drunk food staple.

If you want a real pita go to Sam's Mediterranean.

Maritime East

This is the second location of Maritime, with the other location in San Francisco.

Their focus is seafood of course. They're also big on small plates. We were just there for a snack and got the 'Fritto Misto' which was Mahi Mahi battered and fried with 'chips' and fried lemons. The fried lemons may sound weird, but they're delicious. This also came with a fresh made fennel tartar sauce which was pretty tasty. We also got this plate of dukkah flatbread. I'm not sure exactly what was in it, but it was spicy and tasty.

The service was good, albeit a bit green since the restaurant is new. Their beer selection could be better, but I am only comparing it against the high-end places in Berkeley and San Francisco.

A few things that I think could be improved are 1) the music - it was too loud and way too island-y reggae for a place that seems like it's trying to be white-tablecloth fancy -- 2) The space feels too cramped and needs to be more open - I don't know how this compares to the old Zax Tavern, but Maritime East has a lot of places where your table feels shoved in a corner and cut off from the rest of the diners.

This place is also kind of a terrible location, which is sad because I think some placed with great locations (Trattoria la Siciliana to name just one) can suck and still be packed.

Definitely check this place out!

Oil Changers

I went here after having experienced horror at the Berkeley Jiffy Lube location. They were open on Sunday which is good since many auto places aren't. The guys working there were professional and courteous, but they did try pretty hard to push extra services on me. It didn't seem too bad, but It's hard to keep refusing transmission flushes and oil system cleaners for the whole experience. Definitely a pretty good place to get your oil changed. Prices are pretty reasonable.

Basil Thai Restaurant & Bar

Basil has a nice, modern, and casual atmosphere. The wait-staff was friendly, the food was delicious, and the prices were very reasonable. While the place is certainly white tablecloth, it's still very casual. An Entree will run you about $10-$15.

Whenever I first go to a Thai place, I always get the Pad Thai. This is the standard by which I measure all Thai places. While I a by no means Thai and have never been to Thailand, I can say in my lay opinion that it was really tasty. The prawns were jumbo and well cooked. A definite thumbs up!

They have a full bar and a mixed crowd. I'd definitely go back when I'm down for Thai, South of Market.

Lujan Adriana - Elmwood Dental Care

This is a small general dentist right near the corner of College Avenue and Ashby Avenue in Elmwood, Berkeley.

Dr. Bavafa and his staff are quite friendly and helpful. I've been several times and it has always been a pleasant experience (as pleasant as any dental visit could be I guess.)

Yes, they do have an emphasis on hard core flossing. Yes, there is a "make-you-feel-bad" flossing video that you may watch. Honestly though, how else would you scare people into flossing better?

I would definitely recommend Dr. Bavafa if you live near Elmwood or Rockridge.