Great iDine Restaurants Thread

[KathyWdrf]

I've recently eaten at three San Francisco (SFO, but I don't mean the airport ) idine places, all in the Marina district (zip code 94123):

1. Pacific Catch on Chestnut near Fillmore: excellent seafood tacos. A tiny, cozy place with only a few tables, where you are likely to strike up a conversation with your neighbor. 5 miles/$ anytime, max $600, but only one visit per month is eligible.

2. Three Seasons on Steiner between Chestnut and Lombard: excellent Vietnamese cuisine, though a bit on the pricey side. 5 miles/$ Sunday through Thursday ONLY, max $600, and only one visit per month is eligible.

3. Emporio Rulli Gran Cafe on Chestnut at Scott: I have very mixed feelings about this place. They have good food, but sometimes you don't get good service or value for money. Although they are listed as inexpensive (i.e., a single dollar sign $) on the idine website, I had a lunch of a very overpriced ravioli dish. It was excellent, but consisted of only FIVE ravioli ( ), included NO salad or other side, and cost $10.95 plus tax and tip! The way I figure it, they are catering to anorexic yuppie Marina girls, and I don't quite fit that profile (other than being female). The only consolation is that you get 5 miles/$ anytime, with NO limits on visits or spending.

[chariot]

I've been to several and they keep changing on you. Make sure you check they're in the program the EVENING you dine. I guess I can classify some of these places as "stable" => have been in the program for awhile. I am vegetarian though and so my impressions are colored by only that section of the menu!
1. Vogalonga (Italian), 22nd St, SF 10mi/$, stable
Not too bad. I'd give it 18 for food on a Zagat scale. Doesn't accept credit. Debit only. Apparently you CAN add debit cards to your profile. Priced moderate.

2. Zao Noodle Bar (Asian), Univ Ave, Palo Alto 5mi/$, stable
Zagated. Stay as long as you want here. Interesting food. Inexpensive. I must say there are better places though

3. Shiok (Indonesian), Menlo Park 10mi/$, fairly new
This place was not bad. Reasonable portions. I'd give it a 17 for food on Z

4. Lotus Cuisine of India (Indian), San Rafael 5mi/$, stable, Need to reserve before you dine to get credit.
Excellent. This is my favorite Indian (well, North Indian) in the Bay Area (and I AM Indian). A little expensive for the category but worth it. Zagated at 22 for food I think which is deserved.

5. 1/2 Al-Masri (Egyptian), Richmond Dist, SF 10mi/$, unstable, Is open almost only weekends (check their web-site). iDine keeps saying they're quitting "this month" but that's every month for the last 3
Excellent. They claim to be the only authentic Egyptian in SF. Very good food and large portions. Offers 3/4/5 course menu options. Belly dancers nightly.

6. 1/2 Acorn (Mediterranean), Menlo Park, 5mi/$, stable.
Very good. A little expensive but has a good wine list and interesting food.
Worth a dine.

7. Massimo's (Italian), Fremont, 7.5mi/$,
Average. Very good service but the food was nothing to write home or FT about.

8. Savanna Jazz (African), Soma, SF, 5mi/$, unstable
Good French/African food. Limited vegetarian options. Live Jazz music. Good for an interesting evening.

9. Greenroom Comedy Club (Italian), North Beach, SF, 10mi/$
lacklustre. You can have dinner at Tre Fratelli through the show. The food, ambience and show are sub-par. Maybe if the headliner happens to be someone interesting, this place would be worth it.

10. Khana Peena (Indian), Berkeley 20mi/$ (I think only 1 of the 2 locations offers miles)
Average Indian food. Extremely cheap. Good for a quick stop.

11. Mio Vicino Cafe (Italian), Campbell 10mi/$ (incl Fri!)
Good Italian. Friendly service. They stayed open till we got there on request.

12. Rasoi Fine Indian (Hayes Valley), SF 5mi/$
so-so. There are many better options, esp in the city (might be excusable in South Bay ). Friendly service though.

13. 1/2 Patxi's Chicago Pizza, Emerson St, Downtown Palo Alto 5mi/$
Average Pizza. Some may like it better than I did

14. Tahini Grill (Mediterranean), Napa 10mi/$
Good mediterranean food, with lots of middle-eastern influence. Good local wines too.

15. Shimla (Indian), Foster City 10mi/$
Pretty bad, cheap. Samosas were passable

16. Tandoori Oven (Indian) Campbell 10mi/$
Not a bad place for a quick bite but it's in the middle of a mall.

17. Antonella's (Italian) San Jose 5mi/$ stable
Good food and ambience. I think it's very near the Egyptian museum.

18. 1/2 Rose & Crown (Downtown Palo Alto) 10mi/$ stable
Pub fare for Stanford. I think they have trivia nights on Tuesdays or something!

19. De Afghanan Cuisine, Fremont 10mi/$
Interesting Afghan food. Service is a little sloppy. The place looked empty but the food wasn't bad actually.

[best]

If you had two separate cards on two separaTE AIRLINES, you may have been able to split the bill.

Originally Posted by jessej

i paid for our $800 group christmas lunch at my "Thats Amore" in Vienna, VA, and got 5000 ff miles, damn i hated leaving those 3000 miles on the table!!

[best]

Any Las Vegas suggestions?

[best]

Second this place on W Sahara near Decatur.Very pleasant. Great lunch specials. Nice service.

Originally Posted by MisterAviator

Mayflower Cuisiner -- http://www.usmenuguide.com/mayflower.html -- gourmet Chinese food a few miles west of the Strip. The food and the service are outstanding!

[best]

SNA / SAN: Blue Danube: 111 Avenida Palizada, San Clemente, Ca 949 388 7234; bluedanube-usa.com only open dinner tuesday -sun. 10 miles.
Very nice food, drinks, music, service and convenient location near 5.
Especially if you like Hungarian or Austrian specialties. The gulyas soup and also main course was superb. Wiener Schnitzel excellent. Palacsinta crepe very tasty including one for appetizer with meat.

[sonora]

STL-St Louis County(University City): Momo's; Greek food, wonderful fresh served tapas style. Leave room for dessert, the phyllo wrapped milk chocolate is very good-and after all, it's worth more miles to eat dessert!
They also have belly dancers in the evening if that's your thing. I think they quit awarding miles on weekends recently.

STL-St Louis County(Clayton): The Crossing: Fabulous French food, served unobtrusively. We go at least once a quarter to sample the new seasonal tasting menu. Great place to take clients, or for a date.

[best]

SF Bay area: Pacific Palms at 1380 S Main St, Milpitas few hundred meters east of 880 and Montague Expressway, 408 9344999 pacificpalmsgrill.com.
20 miles. Very nice interior, great food with ample amount of it, very nice service. One item we had: crab cheese- excellent.
Don't let plain outside deter you!

[BBT in NY]

Just found this intersting thread. Here is my small contribution...

NYC - financial district - Romi - lounge bar - not truly a restaurant but great for afterwork drinks.

NYC - Lower East Side - Teany - vegeterian - great selection of teas and nice sandwiches and salads
NYC - Tribeca - Mocca Espresso lounge - european - very nice lunch place - good cocktails after work too
NYC - Tribeca - Viet Cafe - Vietnamese - nice and comtemporary decor/ tasty vietnamese cuisine with a modern touch

[lessthanzero]

DCA - Pentagon City - Oyamel is a great hip latin american restaurant (tex - mex does nto really cover it).

[MarkS90046]

I've wanted to try out Norman's up on Sunset in West Hollywood for some time. As it is now offering 10 miles per dollar I couldn't pass up the opportunity. The restaurant is in the newish complex that houses the Equinox gym. There was another restaurant (Central) which offered miles when it first opened but it has now closed. Central had a wonderful view whereas Norman's is downstairs and looks onto Sunset.

The food was excellent. This is a very upscale establishment. My partner liked the restaurant very much as it was very modern but quiet. Dinner for two, including two drinks, bottled water, appetizers, an after dinner cheese course and dessert ran $180. For those so $ inclined, I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to another visit soon.

Bon appetit!

[skhosla]

Did a couple of iDines during my last trip to the Windy City:

ORD/MDW - Chicago, River North - Bice - Italian
ORD/MDW - Chicago, Loop (and River North) - Oysy - Sushi/Japanese

Enjoyed both of these.

Bice is a mid-range Italian joint that's found in several cities. The Chicago location is a block from the Michigan Mile and has a nice patio for outdoor dining in summer.

Osys is across from Grant Park. Reasonably priced Sushi; modern/minimalist decor and great taste. Also, great for summertime patio dining.

[JDiver]

Yep, July 1 2005 has come and gone, new rules, many listings no longer active... but with the reprieve of 5 + 5 miles for elites through June 30, 2006, we can still benefit from an up-to-date list.

[gardener]

Originally Posted by JDiver

Yep, July 1 2005 has come and gone, new rules, many listings no longer active... but with the reprieve of 5 + 5 miles for elites through June 30, 2006, we can still benefit from an up-to-date list.

OK, I hear you. I had lost interest in the program when they dropped the awards levels, but now that there is some hope with the "temporary" 5+5 offer, I'll see if I can find the time to add the new spots. I'm not going to verify all the old listings but if folks know some to be no longer participating let me know and I'll delete them.

PS a couple of good spots in SAN (uptown/Hillstown/Pacific Beach) - Da Kine's plate lunch for those who like Hawaiian. Downtown - Rama thai in the gaslamp.

[JDiver]

Right-oh! I'll have to check out Da Kine and see what kine it is - da chickenskin, da bettah, or what .

Meantime, folks - don't forget you can now register your Diners card, since it is really now a branded MasterCard, and have a double dip... My primary card is my HHonors AMEX, so I get 5 + 5 miles, and 5 HHonors points per dollar, a very nice double dip.