Jeffrey's Hamburgers

Name: Jeffrey's Hamburgers
[see below for location & Web site]
Date & Time visited: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 7:20 PM
Guests: Jennifer and me
What we had: Fish & chips (me), garlic herb chicken (Jen), onion rings

After our first pleasant experience at Jeffrey's, we wanted to try it again and sample some of the other, non-burger menu items. My fish & chips were above average; the fish filets were crunchy but not greasy outside, moist and flaky inside. Jennifer's garlic herb chicken was tender, not dry at all, and flavorful. And I've already commented on the onion rings.

Service: Counter-service. They were pretty busy so it was a bit of a wait for the food to be delivered, but no more than anyone else at the restaurant was seeing.

Would we go back: Yes.

Jeffrey's Hamburgers

Name: Jeffrey's Hamburgers
Address: 888 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, California 94025
Phone: (650) 322-1959
Web site: None; Google Local info page
Date & Time visited: Thursday, September 27, 8:00 PM
Guests: Jennifer and me
What we had: Blue cheese & avocado burger (Jen), patty melt w/Gardenburger (me), onion rings + fries

We'd watched this place come together after the location sat empty for a year--it had been at least three other restaurants in the past--and now that it's finally done we had to try it. Both burgers (Jen's beef and my Gardenburger) were very good, though there was a bit of confusion at order time as the cashier tried to put my request into their system. The onion rings were cooked just right--neither soggy nor burnt--and the extensive toppings bar let us build our burgers the way we wanted.

Service: Counter-service. Aside from the brief delay while the cashier figured out how to enter "patty melt but with Gardenburger"--I gave them a pass since the place is so new--there were no service problems. The seating areas were clean and the toppings bar was well-stocked with fresh ingredients.

Would we go back: Yes, and in fact we have since this first visit.

Oak City Bar & Grill

Name: Oak City Bar & Grill
Address: 1029 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, California 94025
Phone: 650-321-6882
Web site: www.oakcitybarandgrill.com
Date & Time visited: Wednesday, December 28, 2005, 8:00 PM
Guests: Jennifer and me
What we had: Smoked chicken pizza (Jen), Apple salad, Mac & Cheese Gratin (me), Carmel Heath Bar Crunch Brownie Sundae

The single-serving pizza was very good--cheesy, the chicken done just right, tasty grilled red onion--and of respectable size for $12; we took half home. The apple salad was similar to the Uva Bar's Manchego salad, though I think it was a different cheese. And my Mac & Cheese Gratin was perfect! Served in a crockery pot, it was more or less a bowl-o-cheese, with Cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan cheeses along with crunchy garlic croutons. It was so incredibly rich that I could not eat more than 1/3, so that came home as well.

Finally, the Carmel Heath Bar Crunch Brownie Sundae. Think about what that must be like, just from the description, and note that it's covered in walnuts and chocolate and caramel sauces. Absolutely decadent, and between us we could not finish it.

Service: A slow start, but otherwise good. We were seated at the window, which looks out onto busy El Camino Real, and at one point watched a traffic stop. Our server came over to see what the flashing lights were all about and told us there are many tickets issued outside this restaurant. Drink refills were just slightly long in coming, but not excessively.

Would we go back: Yes, and we think it's an ideal place to bring friends or family when they're in town.

Mike's Cafe

Name: Mike's Cafe
Address: 150 Middlefield Rd, Menlo Park, California 94025
Phone: 650-324-6453
Web site: none; Google Local info page, Amazon.com Yellow Pages entry
Date & Time visited: Saturday, November 26, 2005, ~11:00 AM
Guests: Jennifer and me
What we had: Salmon Benedict (Jen), 2-egg Spanish omelet (me)

Jen enjoyed her Salmon Benedict, and was impressed by the selection of teas. The menu has the Spanish omelet with three eggs, but since I didn't think I could eat that much I asked if they could make it with two instead; there was no problem with that request and the result was very good, though it could have been a touch spicier.

Service: Good, no complaints.

Would we go back: Yes.