Week in Reviews Blog Edition: Bar Jules, Balboa Cafe, Spork and MORE!
Friday, December 7, 2007

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We don't do reviews per se here at Eater, but we hear there are plenty of local bloggers that do. Know of a local blog that should be on the Eater radar? Do share.

Earlier in the week, 7x7's Sarah Sung stopped by the newly-open Bar Jules in Hayes Valley, with fairly decent results (and the color scheme ain't all that bad): "Since the menu's variable and the space seats about 50 (my guess), the selection, while thoughtful, is small ... And you&'ll be happy to note that the mustard, olive and turquoise colors on the walls work. They pop, making it a vibrant, yet cozy space all at once." Also of note: some snazzy bathrooms. Color us intrigued. [Bits + Bites]

The Daily Feed crew finally goes PlumpJackin' as their burger quest leads them to the Balboa Cafe, where they saddle up to the old school bar with theories on Newsom's reasons for opening the place: "It's the sort of place that a public official could feel right at home drinking a few martinis made by the stylish, white coated barmen." Though the service leaves something to be desired, the burger hits the right notes and is good enough to earn a spot on the Bunrab burger grail. [Daily Feed]

Despite the puzzling, superfluous addition of a spoon-fork utensil to his mussels, Chef Ben has 3.5 stars for Mission hotspot Spork: "... the meal overall was a creative approach to comfortable favorites packed with flavor. The service is also very friendly and there were nice touches from beginning to end (such as the tiny burger candy made in Japan that comes with your check)." [CWTSG]

This week, Michael Bauer takes the Magic Pizza Friday Bus to Santa Clara's Rosso and gets a little daring: "I veered from the standard Margherita and went for the Beppo, with a sprightly tomato sauce base, Hobbs pepperoni, black olives, slivers of red onions and a thin glaze of housemade mozzarella. We also tried the "white" style, Moto Guzzi. House-smoked mozzarella and sweet Italian sausage play off the sweetness of long-cooked sweet onions and the punch of wilted Swiss chard. Both toppings accentuated but didn't upstage the crust. In all, some of the best pizzas I've had." [Between Meals]

ELSEWHERE: Sam at Becks & Posh recounts her "mum's" various dining experiences in the city, Food For Thought casually pops in The French Laundry, Fork & Bottle is at the General's Daughter in Sonoma, Slow Food Taste Life tastes life slowly at Alaturca and finally, Bits + Bites gets warm and fuzzy over tea at Samovar.

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