Flora Loses 1/2 Star; The Kauff Digs SF's Newest Food Trucks

This week, Paul Reidinger was busy weighing in on the Best of the Bay 2010 Food & Drink selections for the San Francisco Bay Guardian, so there's no review to speak of. But we'll get right into it with the Bauer Bouquet, who's at Flora in Oakland, a restaurant he once welcomed to the land of three stars. Since then, original chef Jason Moniz has left, Chris Dettmer of St. Helena's Restaurant at Meadowood has taken his place and the prices have gone up. Here's what Bauer thinks of it all: "I know it's trendy to serve upscale food in casual environments, but in this case it feels like the former prom queen is wearing too much makeup and trying to be something she's not." Now we're down to el 2.5 at this stage of the game. [SFGate]

In other news, The Productive Kauff has this tour de force detailing "S.F.'s newest street food trucks." He visits seven with "big ambitions" that have popped onto the scene since March: Chairman Bao, Hapa SF, Primo's Parrilla, SF Crispy Tacos, IZ-IT Fresh Grill, 51st State and Curry Up Now. The piece is strewn with sage advice, including this most startling revelation: "Hapa SF...[is] making some of the cleanest, most technically sophisticated food on wheels." So do give it a read when you can. [SF Weekly]

THE ELSEWHERE: The CoCo Times files a threefer of Bombay Express, Trueburger and Yum on the Run, Metro SV tries healthy fast food at Sante Grill; the Marin IJ sees Le Garage's sister at L'Appart in San Anselmo, then gets fresh at Marin Sun Farms Cafe; The Merc feels meh at Marché; the EBX is lively, low-brow at Cheesesteaks, Urbann Turbann, and Northside Cafe; the second Datebook review gives two stars to Catelli's in the former Geyserville Santi space; there's a Middle Eastern Bargain Bite at Oasis Food Market in Oakland; and Bar Bite has Randy's Tuaca Drop at Market in St. Helena.

[Photo: SFGate/Noah Berger]