Andalu

3198 16th St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Occasion:  It was supposed to be a surprise belated bday dinner for the big sis,  but with all the flakers, it was more of an intimate dinner with great friends=] We had a preset menu due to our large party size. 06.04.11

Ahi tartar tacos

with chile, lime and mango salsa

So good! My only complaint is that I wish they were bigger.  It's awesome coming here on taco tuesdays, where they're only worth  $1.  It's the mango sauce that I really really like!  This is seriously the perfect appetizer for a seafood lover like me.

Salmon tartar with avocado and serrano chiles on a gaufrette potatoe

Also delish.  It was basically salmon tartar on a piece of chip.  It was good, but I still like the tuna taco better.

Crispy Mac and Cheese with herb tomato vinaigrette

I've had them before and I really like it. Crispy fried skin with mac and cheese filling. So good!

Cambazola cheese fondue with fuji apple slices amd asian pear slices

Not my favorite, nor is it something I would order if not for this preset menu.  The cheese was nothing special, but it wasn't bad either. Our waiter did say that dipping our sliders in the cheese fondue is amazing. 

Beet and arugula salad with ricotta salata and a champagne vinaigrette

I've never been a big fan of beets, but I still managed to give it a try.  Even though I may not like beets, I still gave it a chance to redeem itself, but too bad it failed.  It wasn't too bad, but still not something I'd order.  The beets were sweet with a soft texture.  Loved the arugula though.

Shrimp "Pil Pil" with garlic, tomato, sherry and a bit of red pepper

Delicious. I liked dipping the bread in the sauce!

Rotini pasta with rock shrimp, cherry tomatoes, marjoram with white wine and cream

By the time this starchy pasta dish came out, we were all pretty stuffed.  I had a little bit of it, but didn't think it was anything special.  It was actually really plain and on the bland side.

We had originally wanted to order the braised lamb cheeks, but they did not have it that night, so we got what they offered...which was a pork cheek with polenta.  I didn't think it was all that great.  I wish I got to try the lamb ones because I've heard good things about it.

Cocoa cola braised spare ribs with white bean salad

I love the ribs and i love the salad. Absolutely delicious dish. I have to get this every time I come here.  The meat is tender and the beans are nice and crunchy, but soft and mushy on the inside.

Vegetarian tagine with garbanzo and sweet potato on spiced cous cous

Everything about this dish did not meet satisfactory marks.  Not only was the presentation of the dish not appealing, it also didn't taste that great.  Another entree we were stuck with due to the preset menu.  I've had good vegetarian food before, but this is definitely something different.

Sliders - Three Mini Burgers with Basil Aioli and Tomato, Shallot Rings

I really wanted to try them, earlier on, but by the time these sliders came, I was beyond stuffed.  Onion rings were pretty good and the sliders seemed to be pretty decent as well.  I dipped a little bit of it in the cheese fondue and it was way too rich for my liking, especially with a full stomach.  I might need to try these again.