Sunday, August 17, 2008
Dinner at Straits Cafe, Burlingame, CA
After watching (and betting on) some horse races on the last weekend of Bay Meadows, we headed to Straits for some Indonesian/Singaporean food. Really, it's all about the roti prata, however. The service was off tonight. They were slow to bring us menus, slow to take our order, slow to bring food. Also, in the entire restaurant, which is very large, they did not have enough high chairs to bring for our friend's kids.
Roti Prata $7
In the past we have said that the roti pata at Straits is a bit too thick, but today it was very good. And really, roti prata is never bad.
Mussels with Cracked Pepper and Garlic $15
Good, but nothing special.
Hainan Chicken Rice $12
This is comfort food for Singaporeans, and it was for me to tonight for some reason. This is nowhere near the most exciting dish, but there is something oddly satisfying about boiled chicken, rice, and condiments.
Roti Prata $7
In the past we have said that the roti pata at Straits is a bit too thick, but today it was very good. And really, roti prata is never bad.
Mussels with Cracked Pepper and Garlic $15
Good, but nothing special.
Hainan Chicken Rice $12
This is comfort food for Singaporeans, and it was for me to tonight for some reason. This is nowhere near the most exciting dish, but there is something oddly satisfying about boiled chicken, rice, and condiments.
Labels: Decor: 1, Food: 1, restaurant, review, Service: 0, Singaporean
Friday, October 12, 2007
Best Snack Ever: Roti Prata at Borobudur
Roti Prata $6.50
This time we walked in the door and they asked us how many roti prata we wanted. I suppose that they've noticed we are obsessed. In any case, this is a snack worthy of obsession. It's flaky and stretchy and buttery and very, very good, especially after you have a few drinks in your stomach.
Borobudur Restaurant
700 Post St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Previous Post
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, restaurant, review, Service: 1, Singaporean
Monday, May 28, 2007
Dinner at Banana Leaf Restaurant, Milpitas, CA
On our way back from Santa Cruz we met some friends for dinner at a Singaporean/Malaysian place. We can never resist and opportunity too try a new version of roti prata.
Curry Dipping Sauce (served with roti prata, below)
Very tasty--earthy, spicy. This curry was the most like the roti prata curries we found in Singapore.
Roti Prata $3
A bit to thin and with a touch of sweetness we were not particularly fond of.
Sea Bass in Tamarind Sauce $21
Not as good as it was expensive. The sauce was nice and spicy with a sweet tang from the tamarind. The long beans and eggplant were tasty, but the okra was a bit slimy, as okra tends to be.
Chili Prawns $12
We were warned that this would be really spicy, but it was hardly spicy at all. The egg in the sauce was a bit strange, but not in a bad way.
Ratings:
Food: 1
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Curry Dipping Sauce (served with roti prata, below)
Very tasty--earthy, spicy. This curry was the most like the roti prata curries we found in Singapore.
Roti Prata $3
A bit to thin and with a touch of sweetness we were not particularly fond of.
Sea Bass in Tamarind Sauce $21
Not as good as it was expensive. The sauce was nice and spicy with a sweet tang from the tamarind. The long beans and eggplant were tasty, but the okra was a bit slimy, as okra tends to be.
Chili Prawns $12
We were warned that this would be really spicy, but it was hardly spicy at all. The egg in the sauce was a bit strange, but not in a bad way.
Food: 1
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Labels: Decor: 1, Food: 1, restaurant, review, Service: 1, Singaporean
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Snack at Borobudur, San Francisco, CA
After a few more drinks, we headed to our favorite snack place, Borobudur, where we introduced some co-workers to the best snack of 2006.
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, restaurant, review, Service: 1, Singaporean, snack
Friday, February 23, 2007
Late Night Snack at Borobudur, San Francisco, CA
Roti Prata $6
Just about the best thing ever for a post drinking snack. Flaky, stretchy, buttery and eaten with your hands. Yum.
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, restaurant, review, Service: 0, Singaporean
Monday, February 05, 2007
The Roti Round-up
As loyal readers of our blog know, we've been obsessed with roti prata since our trip to Singapore in November. In order to rationalize our sinfully carby snack, we have decided to scour the Bay Area and come up with our first ever round-up.
A roti prata dish is composed of two components, the bready, buttery goodness and the oft overlooked but essential curry sauce. Accordingly, we will rank the competitors on those two dimensions.
The Contenders:
Borobudur, San Francisco
Straits Cafe, Burlingame
Banana Island, Daly City
Straits Cafe, San Francisco
Singapore Malaysia Restuarant
A roti prata dish is composed of two components, the bready, buttery goodness and the oft overlooked but essential curry sauce. Accordingly, we will rank the competitors on those two dimensions.
The Contenders:
Borobudur, San Francisco
Straits Cafe, Burlingame
Banana Island, Daly City
Straits Cafe, San Francisco
Singapore Malaysia RestuarantThe Rankings:
Best Roti:
5. Banana Island (too sweet and too thin)
4. Straits Cafe, San Francisco (too dry and too expensive)
3. Straits Cafe, Burlingame (too thick)
2. Singapore Malaysia Restaurant (pretty good, but also a bit thick)
and the winner is...
1. Borobudur
Borobudur won for the perfect ratio of flakiness to stretch and lots of butter. It is also fairly filling for the price.
Best Curry:
5. Banana Island (too sweet and too creamy)
4. Singapore Malaysia Restaurant (not enough depth of flavor)
3. Straits Cafe, San Francisco (decent, but not special)
2. Borobudur (pretty darn good)
and the winner is...
1. Straits Cafe, Burlingame
Straits Cafe in Burligame has superior curry because it contains the perfect ratio of creamy coconutiness to spice and depth of curry flavor. The consistency is also great, latching onto the roti, without overpowering it.
Best Roti:
5. Banana Island (too sweet and too thin)
4. Straits Cafe, San Francisco (too dry and too expensive)
3. Straits Cafe, Burlingame (too thick)
2. Singapore Malaysia Restaurant (pretty good, but also a bit thick)
and the winner is...
1. Borobudur
Borobudur won for the perfect ratio of flakiness to stretch and lots of butter. It is also fairly filling for the price.
Best Curry:
5. Banana Island (too sweet and too creamy)
4. Singapore Malaysia Restaurant (not enough depth of flavor)
3. Straits Cafe, San Francisco (decent, but not special)
2. Borobudur (pretty darn good)
and the winner is...
1. Straits Cafe, Burlingame
Straits Cafe in Burligame has superior curry because it contains the perfect ratio of creamy coconutiness to spice and depth of curry flavor. The consistency is also great, latching onto the roti, without overpowering it.
Labels: comparisons, restaurant, review, Singaporean
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Snack at Singapore Malaysia Restaurant, San Francisco, CA
Roti Canai
Very flaky and stretchy. The curry left a little something to be desired, but it was still very good.
Ratings:
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: 1
No Website
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, restaurant, review, Service: 1, Singaporean
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Afternoon Snack at Straits Cafe, San Francisco, CA
After seeing a movie in the new Westfield Center in SF, we decided to stop off for a roti prata at the Straits Cafe in the same mall. It was much hipper than the other 2 locations, and more expensive, but it was pretty damn good for mall food.
Roti Prata $7
Smaller in portion and more expensive than any we've tried, this version didn't quite live up to what we expected. It was much drier and not as stretchy as the version at either the Straits Cafe in Palo Alto, or the one on Geary in SF.
Website
Health Code Violations
Roti Prata $7
Smaller in portion and more expensive than any we've tried, this version didn't quite live up to what we expected. It was much drier and not as stretchy as the version at either the Straits Cafe in Palo Alto, or the one on Geary in SF.
Ratings:
Food: 1
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Food: 1
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Health Code Violations
Labels: Decor: 1, Food: 1, restaurant, review, Service: 1, Singaporean
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Pre-Dinner Snack at Banana Island Restaurant, Daly City, CA
Ever since we got back from Singapore we've been on a mission to try all of the versions of roti prata in the Bay Area. We heard that Banana Island in Daly City had roti canai, the Malaysian version from which roti prata was derived. We were a little relieved that this was not the best we've had, since we really don't want to have to drive to get our fix.
Roti Canai $3.50
Roti Canai is thinner and crispier than roti prata, and ths dough was oddly sweet. The curry was very coconuty and creamy. The curry was better than the roti.
Claypot Seafood Noodle Soup $6
This was not very good at all . This was more of a claypot than a soup, but the "broth" was very corn-starchy and therefore gelatinous. It was basically flavorless.
Roti Canai $3.50
Roti Canai is thinner and crispier than roti prata, and ths dough was oddly sweet. The curry was very coconuty and creamy. The curry was better than the roti.
Claypot Seafood Noodle Soup $6
This was not very good at all . This was more of a claypot than a soup, but the "broth" was very corn-starchy and therefore gelatinous. It was basically flavorless.
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 0, restaurant, review, Service: 1, Singaporean
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Dinner at Straits Cafe, Burlingame, CA
We met up with some friends for dinner at Straits Cafe in Burlingame. Straits is a Singaporean place that we've been to before, but this time it was particularly tasty. The meal, including drinks, tax and tip came to $73 per couple.
Whole Fish
This whole fish was fried and then slathered in a tasty sauce. The flesh was moist and the skin was crispy.
Chicken Rice
This is one of Singapore's signature dishes and I have to say it was a bit better in Singapore. I think it may have been the sauces, as rice and boiled chicken are gonna taste the same anywhere. The chili sauce in Singapore was a bit sweeter and a lot spicier and better all around. This version was a bit bland, but still tasty.
Garlic Noodles
These sounds exactly like what they tasted like. Very garlicky.
Roti Prata
Although Straits was the place we first had roti prata, I think we were spoiled by Singapore and even Borobudor in San Francisco, where the roti prata is thinner and flakier instead of the sort of pancake like version served tonight. However, the curry sauce at Straits was amazing, and we did end up going through 4 orders of the stuff (as a group), so it was still very tasty.
Beef Skewer with Chili Sauce
Very tasty. The meat was tender and juicy and the chili sauce was hot-sweet.
Chili Prawns
Well cooked prawns in a nice chili sauce with tomatos for a bit of tang.
Apple Carrot Prawn Salad
The prawns were sort of beside the point as this salad was refreshing and delicious on it's own. Not sure what the dressing was, but it was a bit creamy and very tasty.
Whole Fish
This whole fish was fried and then slathered in a tasty sauce. The flesh was moist and the skin was crispy.
Chicken Rice
This is one of Singapore's signature dishes and I have to say it was a bit better in Singapore. I think it may have been the sauces, as rice and boiled chicken are gonna taste the same anywhere. The chili sauce in Singapore was a bit sweeter and a lot spicier and better all around. This version was a bit bland, but still tasty.
Garlic Noodles
These sounds exactly like what they tasted like. Very garlicky.
Roti Prata
Although Straits was the place we first had roti prata, I think we were spoiled by Singapore and even Borobudor in San Francisco, where the roti prata is thinner and flakier instead of the sort of pancake like version served tonight. However, the curry sauce at Straits was amazing, and we did end up going through 4 orders of the stuff (as a group), so it was still very tasty.
Beef Skewer with Chili Sauce
Very tasty. The meat was tender and juicy and the chili sauce was hot-sweet.
Chili Prawns
Well cooked prawns in a nice chili sauce with tomatos for a bit of tang.
Apple Carrot Prawn Salad
The prawns were sort of beside the point as this salad was refreshing and delicious on it's own. Not sure what the dressing was, but it was a bit creamy and very tasty.
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 2, restaurant, Service: 1, Singaporean
Sunday, December 10, 2006
After Dinner Snack at Borobudur, San Francisco, CA
After Singapore, we were craving some roti prata and determined to find it someplace other than Strait's Cafe. We found some within walking distance of our place. Interestingly, when we went to Borodudur's website, we mistakenly assumed it would be a rather chic, loungy type of place. Instead we found a far too bright, strangely decorated mishap. The roti prata was worth it though.
Roti Prata $6
At first we thought this was expensive, but it was HUGE. Far too big for even the two of us to share. The curry was well flavored though, and the roti both crunchy and stretchy.
Ratings:
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: 0
Website
Health Code Violations
Roti Prata $6
At first we thought this was expensive, but it was HUGE. Far too big for even the two of us to share. The curry was well flavored though, and the roti both crunchy and stretchy.
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: 0
Website
Health Code Violations
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, restaurant, Service: 0, Singaporean
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Mid-Morning Snack at Kopitiam, Singapore
We still hadn't had Chicken Rice, a staple of Singaporean cuisine, so we grabbed it for take out at Kopitiam, a lunch counter where we'd had our first roti.
Chicken Rice
Boiled chicken, rice and sweet chili sauce. Not bad. I can see how this could be a great comfort food.
Chicken Rice
Boiled chicken, rice and sweet chili sauce. Not bad. I can see how this could be a great comfort food.
Labels: restaurant, Singaporean
Monday, November 27, 2006
Dinner at Jumbo's, Singapore
Just about everyone we spoke to told us that Jumbo's was THE place to go for seafood in Singapore. And it was very good. It is an open-air restaurant about 10 yards from the beach, so it was quite a pleasant atmosphere as well. The feast (for 4) came to approx $125 total.
Chili Crab
This is a signature dish of Singapore and it was very, very good. The chili sauce was a bit sweet, but Alexis loved it. Needless to say, our hands were very dirty when we finished with this dish.
Whole Tilapia
The flesh was moist, yet firm.
Drunken Prawns
These whole prawns were cooked in beer and some other alcohol, as the name suggests. They were cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful.
Black Pepper Crab
The name says it all and it was delicious.
Steamed Asparagus
This was the only vegetable we ordered and it was practically forced upon us by our motherly waitress. It was fine, but obviously not the star of the meal.
Crawfish with Scallions and Ginger
These were crawfish as big as lobsters and were very tasty.
Scallops in Fried Yams
This dish was recommended to us by our local friend and we didn't really like it that much. The scallops were over-cooked and the mushyness of the yams wasn't a pleasing texture.
Peanuts and Hot Sauce
The peanuts were little appetizers that arrived, gratuit, at the table shortly after we did.
Ratings:
Food: 2
Service: 1
Decor: NA (the decor was the beach)
Chili Crab
This is a signature dish of Singapore and it was very, very good. The chili sauce was a bit sweet, but Alexis loved it. Needless to say, our hands were very dirty when we finished with this dish.
Whole Tilapia
The flesh was moist, yet firm.
Drunken Prawns
These whole prawns were cooked in beer and some other alcohol, as the name suggests. They were cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful.
Black Pepper Crab
The name says it all and it was delicious.
Steamed Asparagus
This was the only vegetable we ordered and it was practically forced upon us by our motherly waitress. It was fine, but obviously not the star of the meal.
Crawfish with Scallions and Ginger
These were crawfish as big as lobsters and were very tasty.
Scallops in Fried Yams
This dish was recommended to us by our local friend and we didn't really like it that much. The scallops were over-cooked and the mushyness of the yams wasn't a pleasing texture.
Peanuts and Hot Sauce
The peanuts were little appetizers that arrived, gratuit, at the table shortly after we did.
Ratings:
Food: 2
Service: 1
Decor: NA (the decor was the beach)
Labels: seafood, Singaporean
Mid-Morning Snack at Kopitiam, Singapore
We'd been hunting for roti prata since we got to Singapore. It is something that we love from Strait's Cafe, a Singaporean place in San Francisco. We were having a lot of trouble finding it, until a friend recommended, Kopitiam, a lunch counter in the convention center near our hotel. So, while waiting for her to show up for lunch, we stopped here to get some roti prata.
Roti Prata $0.80
Flaky yet chewy, layered bread fried on a griddle and served with curry for dipping.
Curry
Comes with the roti.
Roti Prata $0.80
Flaky yet chewy, layered bread fried on a griddle and served with curry for dipping.
Curry
Comes with the roti.
Ratings:
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: NA (counter)
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: NA (counter)
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, Singaporean
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Late Night Dinner at Lau Pa Sat, Singapore
Lau Pa Sat is an enormous open-air pavillion in Singapore that houses probably 100 street food outposts under one roof. They basically have every kind of street food available in Singapore and it is open until 3 am on week days. A Singaporean friend later told us that it is rather touristy at Lau Pa Sat and that the best street food is in the red light district, but that isn't something the guidebooks or the hotel concierge fill you in on, so...
We found some Dim Sum at Bau Luo Wan Xiang, which appeared to have an entire aisle at Lau Pa Sat...
Sui Mai $2
Standard--nothing special.
The following are from Mohamed Restaurant...
Lala $5
We beleive that Lala is clams, because that is what this looked and tasted like. The lala were awfully puny, but the sauce was amazing--rich, tangy, and delicious.
Cockle Laksa $3
This version was cleaner tasting that the first, but we weren't too fond of the cockles.
We found some Dim Sum at Bau Luo Wan Xiang, which appeared to have an entire aisle at Lau Pa Sat...
Sui Mai $2
Standard--nothing special.
Lala $5
We beleive that Lala is clams, because that is what this looked and tasted like. The lala were awfully puny, but the sauce was amazing--rich, tangy, and delicious.
Cockle Laksa $3
This version was cleaner tasting that the first, but we weren't too fond of the cockles.
Labels: Chinese, Singaporean
Lunch at Fu Zhou, Singapore
After walking around in Chinatown for a while, we finally settled on a dingy place at the end of an alley. The service was perfucntory at best, but we weren't expecting much for a meal that totaled $5.
Fried Meat Dumplings $3
These dumplings were wrapped in tofu skins rather than won ton skins or something else. They were not bad.
Laksa $2
Lasksa is the unofficial national dish of Singapore and this was our first taste of it. It is spagetti style noodles, fried tofu, shrimp and fish balls in a spicy coconut broth. This version was a bit gritty for some reason but the flavor was oddly like something Alexis makes.
Fried Meat Dumplings $3
These dumplings were wrapped in tofu skins rather than won ton skins or something else. They were not bad.
Laksa $2
Lasksa is the unofficial national dish of Singapore and this was our first taste of it. It is spagetti style noodles, fried tofu, shrimp and fish balls in a spicy coconut broth. This version was a bit gritty for some reason but the flavor was oddly like something Alexis makes.
Ratings:
Food: 0
Decor: 0
Service: 0
Food: 0
Decor: 0
Service: 0
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 0, seafood, Service: 0, Singaporean
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