Cooking
Sometimes you're in the mood for something light, healthy and fresh tasting. You might want to eat out, but where do you go? Thai or Vietnamese food or even sushi might fit the bill. But if you want a sandwich or salad, it's not as easy as it might seem to find something really satisfying.
On one tiny block in the Marina, Steiner St, there are a whole host of restaurants to choose from including one of my favorites, Isa. A fairly new addition this year is Lettus Organic. It's not vegetarian but there are tons of vegetarian and vegan options. Much of the food is made behind the counter and you can see the care and concern that goes into each plate. Portions are not huge but are very satisfying. You'll find no imbalance between health and taste and no preachy or earth mama vibe.
Salads are a perfect example of something simple that can be excellent when made with care or terrible if just one element is off--too much dressing, slightly wilted greens, etc. Here everything is crisp and just right. The Mango Chicken "lettus" Cups ($8) are a refreshing mix of cabbage, basil, cilantro and ginger with crisp cashew and chunks of chicken or baked tofu and mango. It's healthful tasting but full of flavor. Likewise, the open faced shrimp salad sandwiches have a peppy curry aioli that takes it from ordinary to something special.
At lunch there are soups, grilled and cold sandwiches, salads, noodles and rice bowls to choose from. At breakfast the menu is shorter, but I enjoyed the airy ricotta pancakes with fruit and a lusciously soft Scrambled Tofu ($8) the texture of perfectly cooked eggs, with spinach and mushrooms. Prices are reasonable, especially considering everything is organic and made to order. Though the potatoes aren't browned, they are very tasty nonetheless.
The only downside for me is that there can be a bit of hustle bustle when the place gets busy. You order at the register then your meal is brought out to you and staff flies around getting you the butter or lemon for your tea or whatever it is that you need. Nonetheless I can't wait to take my in-laws here because it is the kind of place pretty much anyone can find something to their liking.
Lettus Organic now called THE PLANT
3352 Steiner St @ Chestnut
San Francisco
Mon - Fri 7:30 am -10 pm
Sat & Sun 8 am - 10 pm
FOOD
- Pack A Lunch! Cookbooks
It’s back to school and that means bag lunches. Or maybe like me, you don’t have school age kids, but still want to start packing lunch to take to work. It’s easy to get in a rut, but these three cookbooks offer many ways to jazz up your lunchbox. ...
- Duck And Mango Soba Salad
Duck and Mango Soba Salad is a big bowl of deliciousness--slithery noodles, succulent roast duck, juicy mango slices and vibrant green herbs. The dressing relies on just a few pantry staples. Asian pantry staples that is. I recommend you keep on hand...
- Jimbo: Restaurant Review
I am crazy about noodles and eat them just about every chance I get. In Hawaii the noodles to indulge in are Asian. You can find Vietnamese pho and bun, Chinese noodles and dumplings and Japanese noodles. When it comes to Japanese noodles there are...
- The Grill At Diamond Head Market: Restaurant Review
The Grill at Diamond Head sounds like an upscale kind of place, doesn't it? Then you may be surprised to learn it used to be "Burgerland" a drive-in on the edge of the Kapiolani park just a stone's throw from Waikiki beach. But don't let that...
- Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese: Restaurant
When I was growing up Asian food meant Chinese and occasionally Japanese. But over the years Thai restaurants became quite common. Then Vietnamese restaurants started popping up. What strikes me about Vietnamese cuisine is how varied it is. Sometimes...
Cooking
Lettus Organic: Restaurant now called THE PLANT
Sometimes you're in the mood for something light, healthy and fresh tasting. You might want to eat out, but where do you go? Thai or Vietnamese food or even sushi might fit the bill. But if you want a sandwich or salad, it's not as easy as it might seem to find something really satisfying.
On one tiny block in the Marina, Steiner St, there are a whole host of restaurants to choose from including one of my favorites, Isa. A fairly new addition this year is Lettus Organic. It's not vegetarian but there are tons of vegetarian and vegan options. Much of the food is made behind the counter and you can see the care and concern that goes into each plate. Portions are not huge but are very satisfying. You'll find no imbalance between health and taste and no preachy or earth mama vibe.
Salads are a perfect example of something simple that can be excellent when made with care or terrible if just one element is off--too much dressing, slightly wilted greens, etc. Here everything is crisp and just right. The Mango Chicken "lettus" Cups ($8) are a refreshing mix of cabbage, basil, cilantro and ginger with crisp cashew and chunks of chicken or baked tofu and mango. It's healthful tasting but full of flavor. Likewise, the open faced shrimp salad sandwiches have a peppy curry aioli that takes it from ordinary to something special.
At lunch there are soups, grilled and cold sandwiches, salads, noodles and rice bowls to choose from. At breakfast the menu is shorter, but I enjoyed the airy ricotta pancakes with fruit and a lusciously soft Scrambled Tofu ($8) the texture of perfectly cooked eggs, with spinach and mushrooms. Prices are reasonable, especially considering everything is organic and made to order. Though the potatoes aren't browned, they are very tasty nonetheless.
The only downside for me is that there can be a bit of hustle bustle when the place gets busy. You order at the register then your meal is brought out to you and staff flies around getting you the butter or lemon for your tea or whatever it is that you need. Nonetheless I can't wait to take my in-laws here because it is the kind of place pretty much anyone can find something to their liking.
Lettus Organic now called THE PLANT
3352 Steiner St @ Chestnut
San Francisco
Mon - Fri 7:30 am -10 pm
Sat & Sun 8 am - 10 pm
FOOD
- Pack A Lunch! Cookbooks
It’s back to school and that means bag lunches. Or maybe like me, you don’t have school age kids, but still want to start packing lunch to take to work. It’s easy to get in a rut, but these three cookbooks offer many ways to jazz up your lunchbox. ...
- Duck And Mango Soba Salad
Duck and Mango Soba Salad is a big bowl of deliciousness--slithery noodles, succulent roast duck, juicy mango slices and vibrant green herbs. The dressing relies on just a few pantry staples. Asian pantry staples that is. I recommend you keep on hand...
- Jimbo: Restaurant Review
I am crazy about noodles and eat them just about every chance I get. In Hawaii the noodles to indulge in are Asian. You can find Vietnamese pho and bun, Chinese noodles and dumplings and Japanese noodles. When it comes to Japanese noodles there are...
- The Grill At Diamond Head Market: Restaurant Review
The Grill at Diamond Head sounds like an upscale kind of place, doesn't it? Then you may be surprised to learn it used to be "Burgerland" a drive-in on the edge of the Kapiolani park just a stone's throw from Waikiki beach. But don't let that...
- Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese: Restaurant
When I was growing up Asian food meant Chinese and occasionally Japanese. But over the years Thai restaurants became quite common. Then Vietnamese restaurants started popping up. What strikes me about Vietnamese cuisine is how varied it is. Sometimes...