The Restaurant Challenge

Our new neighborhood, which is called Grand Lake (due to its anchor streets, Grand and Lakeshore) has a slightly more urban feel to it than our usual neighborhood, Rockridge. Grand Lake is higher density, with more restaurants and shops. Mr. Scobie has proposed that we try to eat at every restaurant, and then rank them like tennis players. That way new restaurants can challenge ones we like and the ranking can change constantly. Here's the current ranking, based on my opinion only. I will update as we try new ones, and Mr. Scobie disagrees with my assessment.

1. Penrose - this restaurant is owned by the same folks who own Boot and Shoe across the street, and Pizzaioli in Temescal. This is the best of the three, because the food is so good, so interesting and the portions are perfect. 

2. Boot and Shoe Service - Really great food but the menu is more limited and I have a problem with the portions. Give me a little more food, please. 

3. Neecha Thai - Really yummy fresh Thai with a huge vegetarian menu

4. Mijori - Standard issue sushi spot but good prices and fresh fish

5. Arizmendi - This is a pizza/bakery collective that makes delicious but precious pizzas. The bread is good too, but I haven't even bothered getting the pizza for the kids there.

6. Lanesplitter - This is the closest thing we have to East Coast pizza, and it's definitely what we get delivered for the kids. Nice to have a place we can walk to to grab a pie. 

7. Gelato Firenze - This wierd little gelato place has to be my kids' favorite place so far. Good gelato selection (salted caramel is all I've tried and I can't move on to another flavor because I love it so much. We let the kids walk there alone once. 

8. Lakeshore Cafe - We just had brunch there this morning. It tasted great because I was ravenously hungry, but I am not sure it was really that amazing. I will go back when I am not having a low blood sugar freak out. 

9. Connie's Cantina - This is the worst so far because I went in (it was empty) and the woman behind the counter ignored me for 5 minutes and then when I finally made eye contact and asked for a burrito, she said, "I can't help you for at least 15 minutes." The place was empty at lunch. Assume it is a front. 

Any recommendations for restaurants on Lakeshore or Grand between MacArthur and Mandana will be happily used and incorporated into the rankings.