Red Lantern: Weak Substitute for Tamarine

We dined at Red Lantern with high expectations. I've eaten many times at Tamarine in Palo Alto, and Slanted Door and Bong Su in San Francisco. These three places offer fine pan-Asian menus in upscale settings. The food is tasty, creative, yet fairly simple, and anchored in "modern Vietnamese" style.

The idea of having a restaurant of this style and caliber, right here in sleepy Redwood City, was an exciting one.

Alas, Red Lantern was good, but not exquisite.

The setting and decor are nice. High ceilings with silk lanterns hanging from the top. Service was ok, but left a bit to be desired. We had to pour our own wine, for example.

The food looked promising on the menu but ended up being pretty monotone in flavor, and a little bit heavy. The tuna poke appetizer was ok. All the beef dishes seemed to have the same flavors. The fried rice and noodle dish were a tad bit oily.

Give it a try for yourself, and let me know what you think! We'll certainly be back to give it another shot.

Address: 808 Winslow Street, Redwood City, CA

Phone: 650.369.5483

Website: www.redlanternrwc.com

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Alana's Cafe: Brunch in the Garden

Alana's Cafe is a lovely spot for a homey weekend brunch.

It's located on Main Street in Redwood City, right near the public library.

The restaurant occupies an old historic home, and is nestled under some hundred-year-old trees that shade the lawn and give the place character. There's more about all this on their website.

We bring our kids there, often meeting another family for brunch, and it's always a hit. The setting is great, and there's a big bird-bath and plush lawn to keep the kids occupied.

The menu is great, with all the brunch standards - various egg dishes, pancakes, and sandwiches too. The staff is nice and they do quite well with families with young kids.

It's not a huge space, and can get a bit busy, so expect a short wait if you're coming during weekend prime-time.

Address: 1020 Main Street, Redwood City, CA

Phone: (650) 366-1498

Website: http://www.alanascafe.com/redwoodcity.html

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El Grullense: Great Taqueria Mystery Solved

For those who live in the peninsula and eat a fair bit of Mexican food, you've probably noticed that there are lots of taquerias called "El Grullense" scattered about.

Initially, I thought there were 3 or 4 in Redwood City, and that was the extent of it. On further exploration, turns out there are at least twenty taquerias named "El Grullense," stretching as far north as Richmond, and as far south as Morgan Hill.

Just do a quick Google Search and you'll see them all nicely arrayed.

I also discovered an article in the Palo Alto Daily that recounts the story of the founder, the source of the mysterious logo, and actually explains what "El Grullense" means. For the cognoscenti, this is one of life's great mysteries, solved. Who new?

But I digress.

I've tried at least five of the different El Grullense spots, and have officially proclaimed this one, on El Camino just south of Jefferson, as the best of the lot.

It's a standard tacqueria, really. But the food is delicious, freshly prepared, and there is a lot of choice on the menu. My favorite is the wet burrito. Take a burrito with the works, then slather it with spicy red sauce, sprinkle some cheese on it, and let it melt and mingle together. Ay dios mio!

If you can't handle a little bit of lard, this probably isn't the place for you. Often the tortillas get dipped in a little extra somethin' that many find delicious but may scare others away. It's a real taqueria, not a fresh-mex place. You've been warned.

But if you're hankering for authentic tacos, burritos, and such, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better spot in the mid-peninsula.

Address: 1280 El Camino Real, Redwood City

Phone: (650) 368-3737

Website: http://www.elgrullensegrill.com/ELCAMINOREDWOODCITY.html

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John Bentley's: Fine Dining in Redwood City

I'm occasionally asked "what is the best restaurant in Redwood City, CA."

The answer is clear: John Bentley's.

Bentley's second eponymous restaurant (the first is in Woodside) opened a few years back and has it all.

The menu is excellent, featuring a mix of steak and seafood and some excellent desserts. I suppose you'd call the style "new american" - lots of fresh vegetables, well-prepared sauces, tasty and complex but not too over-the-top.

On various visits I've had their seared scallops, double-cut pork chops, hanger steak, and rack of lamb, and they've all been delicious. There is a very nice wine list as well.

The service is phenomenal - very attentive and knowledgeable staff who are also quite friendly and have a casual air to them.

And there's a large bar that always has some friendly folks there. It's a perfect place to park for a drink before or after your meal.

Located right near the Atherton border, near Beltramo's wine store, it's an easy trip for residents of Palo Alto or Menlo Park who are looking for a new dinner haunt.

Address: 2915 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA

Phone: (650) 365-7777

Website: http://www.johnbentleys.com/

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Bangkok Bay: Tasty Neighborhood Thai

Bangkok Bay is one of my favorite restaurants in Redwood City.

Excellent, authentic thai food is served in a clean, casual setting. I've eaten there, and enjoyed the casual ambiance and fine service. Of course, you can also order dinner to pick up and eat at home.

Bangkok Bay is a short walk from the newly-developed downtown Redwood City, and a great spot for the dinner part of dinner-and-a-movie.

I've found everything on the menu to be fresh and tasty.

For an appetizer, try the spring rolls or calamari salad.

For main course, try pad thai, beef masaman curry, or thai chicken with basil. All the curries are great, and they usually have a few specials on the more exotic side.

Address: 825 El Camino Real, Redwood City

Phone: (650) 365-5369

Website: http://www.bangkokbay.com/

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