Locations of visitors to this page

Friday, February 20, 2009

Starbucks (Airway) - Livermore, CA


Starbucks Coffee
883 Airway Boulevard
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 960-9709
starbucks.com

This Starbucks drive-thru is usually busy or busier, being located right off I-580 at Airway in Livermore. Sometimes it seems like it would be quicker to just go inside! They make really delicious frappuccinos here (I love it because they blend them well - no ice chunks!) and the staff is nice. There's outdoor seating, too...and they have a bookshelf inside from the library that sells hardcover books for $1 and softcover books for 50 cents! :)

P.S. They're the only Starbucks in Livermore that stays open late (till 10:30pm Sun-Thurs and till 11:30pm Fri-Sat). The only other one I know of that stays open later is the one in Dublin off I-580 and Hacienda by the IMAX movie theaters.

UPDATE 9/18/09: I've been enjoying my all-time favorite Starbucks cold drink all summer, courtesy of their $2 treat receipts...grande caramel frappuccino light with sugar-free caramel, double-blended, with whip and caramel sauce. Mmmmmmm!!!















Caramel Frappuccino Light


Starbucks on Urbanspoon

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Cheesecake Factory - Pleasanton, CA


The Cheesecake Factory
1350 Stoneridge Mall Rd
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 463-1311
thecheesecakefactory.com

Happy Hour: Monday-Friday, 4-6pm

We went back here for another happy hour meal and started off by sharing their delightful spicy ahi tempura roll...it was just as delicious as we remembered it to be last time!

Since we were pretty hungry and we both enjoyed their chopped salad, we decided not to split it and ordered two this time. We also tried something new, the BBQ pulled pork sliders...mmm...what a wonderful little warm brioche sandwich that comes plated in a trio. This meal will likely be repeated during our next visit!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Yelp and the Business of Extortion 2.0

Yelp and the Business of Extortion 2.0 is an interesting article written by Kathleen Richards of East Bay Express.

As an "Elite Yelper" since I joined yelp last year, this article definitely sheds a new light on yelp's tagline "Real Reviews. Real People." I think they should have added "Real Extortion" at the end!

Yelp = love 'em or hate 'em, ya just can't ignore 'em!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Pet Food Express - Livermore, CA


Pet Food Express
1436 1st St
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 447-7777
petfoodexpress.com

We were regulars at another Pet Food Express when we used to live in Brentwood...LOVE that people at the location on Lone Tree!

Finally visited this location since we live here now and decided to switch dog food. We found all the staff to be very helpful and friendly and ended up buying Canidae Grain Free ALS Formula.

Best thing about Pet Food Express is their "Buy 3, Get 1 Free" bonus, which they've had for years now and I'm glad they still offer that...we have lotsa doggie mouths to feed! :)

30-lb. bag $54.99 (if you buy 3, get 1 free, each bag is $41.24)


Four 30-lb. bags of Canidae ALS Grain Free Food: $179.39

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant - Roseville, CA


Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
1565 Eureka Rd
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 797-2112
mikunisushi.com

Love their Marilyn Monroll...but I REALLY love their 12 o'clock (it's basically a couple of decorated raw oysters) which is my #1 reason to go to Mikuni. In all honesty, I couldn't recommend Mikuni if you're looking for an authentic sushi restaurant with top-quality fish...it's more of a "fun" place with "beautiful" rolls smothered in sauces that disguise the flavor of the fish. Don't get me wrong, I still like Mikuni but only for their 12 o'clock and foo-foo rolls. :)

Mikuni's in Roseville has a convenient location next to the movie theaters on Eureka Road and ample parking. Crowded sometimes, but only during hours that you'd expect most restaurants to be busy. Friendly staff, lively atmosphere, specialty rolls are a little on the pricey side.

You can spin the wheel of fortune on your birthday. One year I won a bag of rice, another year I got a marble soda.

I'll miss their 12 o'clocks because no matter how much I like them, it's definitely not worth a two-hour drive "just" for that. But if I'm in the area, I wouldn't hesitate to stop there!

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar (Roseville) on Urbanspoon

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant - Sacramento, CA


Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
1530 J St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-2111
mikunisushi.com

The Mikuni in Midtown Sacramento is the epitome of a trendy Americanized sushi bistro in a 20-something nightclub. It's a place you don't really go to for an authentic sushi experience, but reserved for those wanting a fun atmosphere and flashy specialty rolls that focus on sauces and nuts instead of top-quality fish.

So here's how my first experience at Mikuni went, in a nutshell:

Yes, it was a long wait...but it was a Saturday night.

Yes, it was pretty expensive...but it was worth it.

Yes, the parking was terrible...but at least it wasn't raining.

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar (Midtown) on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Law Office of William Webb Farrer - San Francisco, CA


Law Office of William Webb Farrer
300 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 765-9100

Update regarding #4 on my initial review: We finally received communication back from William Webb Farrer (aka Billy) on 12/1/2008...only 30 days after he said he'd send us an email!

0 points for punctuality...

Val's Burgers - Hayward, CA


Val's Burgers
2115 Kelly St
Hayward, CA 94541
(510) 889-8257

DH and I ventured here a couple of weeks ago, based on the great reviews on Yelp...what a disappointment, I'm sorry to say. :(

I had a Mama burger, medium, and was surprised that Val's charges extra for a slice of tomato, but whatever. DH ordered the linguica and eggs breakfast.

The burger was "okay" but the linguica was awful...DH didn't even finish it and he is not one to waste food. Service was "okay" and the owner Val seemed cheerful as he took our cash (no credit cards accepted) but their bathrooms horrified me...and I'll stop right there.

Honestly, an In-N-Out burger is better than Val's...and at least their bathrooms are clean, a slice of tomato is included and they do take credit cards.

Val's Burgers on Urbanspoon

Tully's Coffee - Pleasanton, CA


Tully's Coffee
349 Main St #110
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 846-8472
tullys.com

Went here for the first time a few weeks ago and...WOW! They had the BEST Matcha Green Tea Latte I've ever had in my life...mmm...yum...I don't think I'll ever order another green tea latte anywhere but Tully's!

Service: 5 stars
Location: 5 stars, it's downtown Pleasanton
Parking: not great, it's downtown Pleasanton
Matcha Green Tea Latte: 5 stars

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Simply Greek - Pleasanton, CA


Simply Greek
4220-C Rosewood Dr
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 463-8801
simply-greek.com

Update #1: Pork Souvlaki with extra tzatziki sauce = 5 Excellent Stars.

Can't wait to give Update #2!