Via Veneto

San Francisco $$$ ****
Proof that spontaneity often leads to good results. My friend and I were shopping on Fillmore and unsurprisingly became hungry. We wandered around, crossing the street and changing directions randomly. Finally we found our way into this cheerful little restaurant. Pale yellow walls, Italian food, and a smiling host - yes, this place will do.
The food was decent, but the service and atmosphere were great. The restaurant seems to be run by a boisterous Italian family, but I happened to appreciate their little bickering in the background. The owner walked from table to table, making conversation. When he found out we were from Hawaii, he pointed to the man a few tables away and told us that he was also from Hawaii. A few minutes later, he brought the man over. We discovered that the man and I lived only a few streets away from each other. Small world!

Via Veneto (Pacific Heights)
2244 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

Poleng Lounge

San Francisco $$$ *****
I have never seen so many young Filipinos in one restaurant at one time. This is definitely where most of the Asian population of USF hangs out at night. The most interesting Filipino menu I've ever seen, offering courses such as: Sizzling Sisig (Pork medley with coconut vinegar, onions, peppers, and fresh calamansi), Bo Luc Lac "Shaking Beef" (Tender marinated sirloin stir fried with nuoc mam red onions and peppercress), and Walu Kinilaw (Butterfish cooked in sugarcane
vinegar, lime juice and coconut milk, with thai chiles, toybox tomatoes and cilantro). I would highly recommend the crispy adobo wings, but everything was good and relatively cheap.
Poleng Lounge (Richmond)
1751 Fulton Ave
San Francisco, CA 94117
Daily 4pm-1am

Kara's Cupcakes

San Francisco $ *****Best cupcakes I have ever had. Neither Magnolia, St. Cupcake, nor Jones can compare to Kara's light and airy cupcakes. Eating the frosting is like eating a whipped cloud, not that clouds taste that good. Unlike other cupcakes I've had, these are moist and don't make you feel like you've just ate a whole chunk of cake.
Kara's Cupcakes (Ghiradelli Square)
900 North Point
San Francisco, California 94109
Mon-Thurs 10am-8pm
Fri-Sat 10am-9pm
Sun 10am-6pm

Zen Bistro

San Francisco $$$ *****
The best part wasn't the surprisingly good Japanese food, nor was it the ridiculously hip atmosphere. The best part was that I was with my two great-aunts when I came and realized they are more hip than I am.
Zen Bistro is a new restaurant in Millbrae (in the Bay Area). We ordered a bunch of appetizers and shared. The waiters were so excited when they heard we were from Hawaii because the chef is from Hawaii too. The menu was very interesting, food tasted great, and the atmosphere felt like you were in a lounge in Tokyo.Zen Bistro (Millbrae)
420 Broadway
Millbrae, CA 94030

C'era Una Volta

San Francisco $$$$ *****
Amazing Italian restaurant in Alameda. Great food, great service, pretty yellow walls, yadda yadda yadda. A little on the pricey side, but worth every cent (especially when I'm not paying for it).
C'era Una Volta (Alameda)
1332 Park Street
Alameda, CA 945011Alameda, CA

Ala