620 Jones

Jones, San Francisco, CA

Sazerac

Here at 620-Jones, the experience of having a cocktail and lounging is on a whole different level. The structural layout of the bar/restaurant is a unique one. The outdoor patio is designed to bring people together and mingle around at an intimate level. 

Once you enter through the tall gated entrance, the feeling of being in the middle of a crowded street, surrounded by tall buildings, light fixtures all around, all gives a city rooftop NY/SF vibe. This has got to be one of and if not, the best rooftop lounge in SF/Bay Area. 

There is a fully stocked bar with highly experienced bartenders that specialize in classic to modernized cocktails. My experience of having a Sazerac was a good one for my first time. My bartender measured the proper amounts of bourbon, mixed the exact ingredients, gently shook it with light ice, lightly burned the fresh peel of the orange, and wiped the edge of the glass with a finishing touch. Having my cocktail as I walked around the patio or even sat by the edge of the roof, gave me a breath taking experience. It made me appreciate SF even more than I already do. 

To finish things off, my friend Wes and I lounged inside the dining area. Lights were dim, walls had a dark mahogany to red look, music was on point playing classic indy to light lounge tunes, the conversations between people were close and loud enough to hear, and more. Even the water that is served at your table comes in a used bourbon glass bottle (I think this is a great idea). We had a great time sipping our cocktails and eating small bites of their Jones-style pizza. The pizza was served with fresh cheese that has a melted texture, the light tomato sauce has a nice fresh-sour taste to the tongue, and the crust was soft but with a rustic oven crunch. 

After waiting over a year for this place, my expectations were met. From the warm-comfortable feeling, three large fully-stocked and modernized bars, dark and intimate atmosphere, outdoor patio city scene with people laughing and enjoying their evenings, etc. This all reached a different level of Bay Area lounging. 

Photo by: Allister de Vera

Taken by: iPhone 6+

Jones, San Francisco, CA

The Lexington House

The Lexington House, Los Gatos, CA

The Old Fashioned

Complimentary Bread

Baby Potatoes, Salmon Roe, Slow Egg

First off, I'd like to thank my best friend Weston for recommending this place. I remember him telling me about the bar experience and how their drinks are perfectly made. I've been anticipating to go for a few months now and well, we both finally came together a couple days ago and my experience was tremendous. 

We originally came for cocktails to start our evening so we left-out the dinner. As I entered inside, there was a dim setting with limited seating and a fully-stalked bar. The interior design of the bar was something out from another country. I noticed a rustic type setting with an old-western finish. There were barrels on top pouring fresh whiskey, scotch and fine whiskeys on the second shelf, and most of your vodkas, gins, tequilas, etc. on the bottom shelf. I can easily tell this cocktail bar was legit due to the layout of fresh fruits, cinnamon & spices, bitters/mixes, special cocktail instruments, and more!

Jimmy and Stephen are the owners of the restaurant and lead bartenders of The Lexington. They provided me and my friend with great info about their style, the history of their friendship, and The Lexington House itself. They showcased their skills in mixing and provided excellent customer service. They created our cocktails based on our taste and also recommended certain whiskeys to create the perfect cocktail. Jimmy was slick and organized with his work. He kept everything clean and still performed a show for us without spilling a single drop.

I ordered The Old Fashioned which is a go-to of mine. My cocktail had the perfect balance of sweetness & smokey/bitter all at the same time. The fresh orange peel was ripened and gave off this bitter citrus flavor that complimented each sip. The way Jimmy made my drink reminded me of The Old Fashioned from Rob Roy up in Seattle. It brought me memories from my trip! This is so far the best O.F. Ive had in the Bay Area.

Of course me and my friend had to get an appetizer to compliment the cocktails. We had the dry farmed baby potatoes, slow egg soubise, and salmon roe. This appetizer was unique in every way. It literally looked like a painting or sculpture on a plate. The salmon roe pops in your mouth with fresh salt juice bursting out, the egg is cooked to where the yolk breaks to make the dish runny, the potatoes were moist and tender, the potato chips were crispy and gave some texture. This was one of the best appetizers I've ever had!

My experience at The Lexington House was a great one. The owners really know what they're doing here with their employees and their service. The menu presents real quality dishes with rare ingredients and ideas. The cocktails are served fresh and given time to be made in order to create the best taste for your palate. It makes sense to have drinks at the best and ONLY the best. If you're looking for quality cocktails made from real bartenders who put their passion on the line, then I suggest coming here to sip. This is where the standard starts.


Photo by: Allister de Vera
Taken by: iPhone 5s
The Lexington House, Los Gatos, CA

Orenchi Ramen

Orenchi Ramen, Santa Clara, CA

Orenchi Ramen (Tonkotsu)

Tako Wasabi (wasabi octopus)

Orenchi is one of those restaurants you just have to try. You must drop your other places to eat and stop here for ramen (if you're into ramen). This place is a crown jewel; 2-time Michelin & Zagat rated restaurant with plaques and awards. 

Due to the high volume of customers, I recommend coming in early before 11am to put your name on the list. Trust me, the lines get long and the crowd outside are just waiting to steal your place. Be prepared!!

For starters, I ordered their Tako Wasabi (Wasabi Octopus). This is a room temperature octopus with a jelly consistency. The wasabi is real from the root and is marinaded within the octopus. This makes a great pair with a Japanese beer for sure. To me, this is a must try appetizer and I think its one of the best raw-type items out there.

The original Orenchi Ramen is a huge hit and made a huge impression on me. Just the look of this dish was stunning. The colors were vibrant; almost pastel like with shades of contrast. The pork is cooked to perfection; it was tender and moist with a buttery flavor. The broth tastes delicious! not too salty or fatty tasting. The noodles are eggy, thick, tender, and has a beautiful curl to them. Everything comes together inside this ramen dish. Each ingredient compliments one another. I recommend breaking in the egg and having the golden yolk dissolve within the broth to give it a creamy texture and a bit of a aged salty taste. 

Orenchi is truly a hidden gem that is highly appreciated by top tier reviewers from all around. There are lots more to try here so I will definitely make sure to come back for more!!

Photo by: Allister de Vera

Orenchi Ramen, Santa Clara, CA

Taken by: iPhone 5s

La PanotiQ

La PanotiQ, Campbell, CA

Maple-Pecan Plait

Mini Canelé Bordeaux 

Oakland Bicycle Company Cold Brew

La PanotiQ is a French-inspired bakery that is privately ran by The Guterman family. The dessert cafe resembles local boulangeries and cafes from the streets of France.

As I walked inside Campbell's location (First Location), I noticed the delicate-made desserts behind clean & shined glass shelves. It almost looked like jewelry behind glass. Each dessert is labeled with a fancy font and a short description of what the dessert is made of. The display is neat and gives a high-end feel to them.

From the bottom-up, this cafe is clean and spotless. I didn't see any mess or crumbs anywhere. The service is wonderful and they cater to orders and answer questions. They are efficient and friendly!

The Maple-Pecan Plait is sticky and sweet. The dough is flaky with a nice golden color to it. It's pecans were sweetened and toasted like candy. The Canelé Bordeaux was almost like a mini churro size with honey color and sticky marshmallow texture. To take it all down, I ordered Oakland's Bicycle Company cold brew. This is by far, the best cold brew I've had so far; much better than Stumptown's cold brew. The brew has a maple taste to it with a caramel-type texture.

This place is my newest go-to cafe for dessert and cold brew. I definitely recommend coming here with a group of friends or even with a bf/gf and just enjoy delicious and authentic French made desserts. This cafe gives off a great intimate vibe with excellent lighting and comfortable seating! Thanks La PonotiQ!


Photo by: Allister de Vera
La PonotiQ, Campbell, CA
Taken from: iPhone 5s

Wurstküche

Wurstküche, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbit/Rattlesnake w/ sauerkraut & peppers

Looking for a great and simple bite that'll do the work? I suggest coming to Wurstküche for their special gourmet German sausages. These sausages are carefully picked out of the case and grilled to perfection. They have about 20 different kinds of sausages and an extensive list of authentic Belgian imported beers.

While standing in line, have a fresh beer from the tap and sip while moving along the line. For starters I suggest ordering a light golden or brown ale before eating to get a light hit going. Once you order your choice of sausage and sides, order a dark IPA to finish it off for a nice but fulfilling taste.

I ordered the rabbit/rattlesnake sausage which tasted like chicken, peppery, smokey, and a light gamey taste. I just had to order this because it was a rare flavor and one of their most top selling sausage. I also suggest having their Belgian fries which are double dipped and cooked just right with a light crisp. Dip these in pesto mayo and you're done.

Wurstküche is a great hangout spot with a bar and DJ spinning awesome music while enjoying your food and conversations with friends and family. The dark lighting inside the restaurant gives it a pub-type atmosphere with a tavern feel. The best time to come is late night because the crowd is much more lively. Come with a group of friends and mingle around with others while still enjoying the most important thing; German sausages and beer!


Photo by: Allister de Vera
Wurstküche, Los Angeles, CA
Taken from: iPhone 5s

Paul Martin's

Paul Martin's, Mountain View, CA

"Brick" Chicken

Miyagi Oysters, Appetizers

My first time at Paul Martin’s was a success. From the structural design all the way to the service, everything was perfect. This is an American Grill type restaurant that serves your typical American-style dishes but with unique ingredients and blends. The ambiance is great for couples going on dates, family gatherings, and outings with friends. The lighting is dim, the noise level is about a 3-4/5, the food is delicious and served on time, and the patio is wonderful for lounging and gatherings.

I started with three Miyagi oysters! they were meaty and fresh but light enough to keep me going. These are the perfect way to start the course. They are served on a huge ice platter with twigs for decor, lemon wedges, mignonette and cocktail sauce. This is a great selection!

For dinner I had the “Brick” Chicken which was just fantastic. The portion is just right for a single person. The outside of the free-range chicken is marinaded well with it’s skin crispy and glazed with the juicy broth. The white meat is tender and moist; each slice was butter soft. The garlic mashed potatoes is soft and fluffy. The garlic isn't strong and the potatoes are buttered to perfection. The herbs that are used to help infuse some flavor into this dish isn't over used which is nice because the true flavors of the dish sticks out. 

I paired my entree with a glass of Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. This has a bold taste to it which is nice and heavy. It definitely suits right with the chicken and mashed potatoes. The course itself isn't too heavy either which is why a glass of this red wine is just about enough. 

Overall, Paul Martin’s takes on classic American dishes and transforms them into something different but still carries it’s true tradition. They use fresh ingredients which is always nice. There is a large selection of cocktails and wines on their list, so be sure to pair up!

* Tip: I hear the calamari is great for starters as well!

Photo by: Allister de Vera
Paul Martin's, Mountain View, CA