Restaurant Reviews

Limón Rotisserie

1524 Locust St, Walnut Creek, CA

Limón is a Peruvian-styled restaurant that opened its doors in Walnut Creek in July. Limón has two restaurants in San Francisco, one in Burlingame, one in Wanut Creek, and one in Hawaii.

A popular eatery, Limón has a 4 out of 5 stars rating on Yelp. Both locations in San Francisco are constantly packed due to its delicious and unique food. Grilled beef tongue, grilled Mediterranean octopus, Truffle Mac n’ Cheese, and meat/veggie/cheese empanadas are just a few of the many unique dishes Limón has to offer. In addition to these, some signature plates include stir-fried beef tenderloin with onions, tomatoes and garlic-infused soy sauce served with a side of crispy french fries, and jasmine rice; as well as a premium boneless ribeye with chifa green beans, baby Yukon mashed potatoes, and fresh seafood cooked in savory saffron rice and served with a pepper-based sauce.

In order to ensure that Limón was the real deal, I went there myself. It was crowded because it was a Saturday night, but it only took a couple of minutes to get a table. Both the atmosphere and service at the restaurant was pleasant and better than expected. I ordered the truffle mac n’ cheese and the sirloin empanadas. The truffle mac n’ cheese was delicious, with just the right amount of creaminess. While the sirloin empanadas were extremely tasty, they were relatively small and two of them cost $8.95.

Although Limón Rotisserie is a little on the pricey side, it is overall an amazing restaurant with great food and service. The diverse menu guarantees that you will find something you’ll enjoy. If you are around the area, it would definitely be worthwhile to stop for a bite to eat.

-Nicholas Muirragui

Food: 9/10

Staff: 8/10

Presentation: 8/10

Atmosphere 8/10

Overall: 33/40 B-

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Oz Pizza

201 3rd Street, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA

Oz Pizza is a pizzeria located in the Castro in San Francisco. While mostly popular for its pizza, Oz Pizza makes lasagna and sandwiches as well. I ordered the pizza with the kangaroo meat. The meat had a very unique taste and went well with the pizza, which was fresh. This food quality was matched by both the service and the atmosphere; the waiters were friendly, I got my food very quickly, the scenery was pleasant and there were plenty of tables. It was also located in a great place downtown. However, Oz was pretty expensive, as a single slice cost $3.95. This restaurant was very unique, and I definitely suggest trying this pizza place out when you are in the city for a quick slice of pizza or a great sandwich.

-Charlie Rosen

Food: 9/10

Staff: 9/10

Presentation: 8/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall: 34/40 B

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La Oaxaquena

508 Castro St, San Francisco, CA

La Oaxaquena is a Southern Mexican restaurant located in the Mission District of San Francisco. This place serves various exotic traditional Mexican dishes. The restaurant receives positive reviews and generally isn’t crowded.

This restaurant is best known for serving tacos with Chapulines, or grasshoppers, with various seasonings and spices. Nutritious and healthy, this Oaxacan delicacy is enjoyed by many Americans.

While most people would probably be disgusted by toasted insects, the grasshopper tacos (and all the other food) were delicious and fresh.

Like many restaurants in San Francisco, the place felt a bit cramped, but with the atmospheric decorations displayed, it still managed to capture the feel of a traditional Mexican restaurant. In short, La Oaxaquena was a unique experience with delicious food and excellent service.

-Mark Barram

Food: 8/10

Staff: 9/10

Presentation: 8/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 34/40 B

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Fogo De Chão

2128 Mission St, San Francisco, CA

With an all you can eat-meat-model, Fogo De Chão is the place to go for Brazilian BBQ in San Francisco. Located on the corner of Howard and 3rd next to the Moscone Center and a few blocks away from the Montgomery Street BART station, Fogo De Chão is part of a chain of upscale restaurants that specialize in Brazilian style BBQ, which has a saltier taste common in Brazil and Argentina. All the food is delicious, but the real draw is the Full Churrasco Experience. You will be given your choice of pork, lamb, chicken, and nearly all cuts of beef that you can imagine. This interesting way to serve depends on a small marker, which you can purchase for $60. This circular marker has one red side, and one green. The green side tells the servers to bring you various cuts, which come in a constant stream out of the kitchen. If you place the red side up, they know to stop serving you and give you space to eat, digest, and relax. Fogo De Chão’s upscale BBQ reputation stems directly from their signature cuts, which are small, mouth-watering, nearly bite sized pieces of meat. Their prime sirloin cut, known as Picanha, is a rare, juicy piece cut in small slices and masterfully seasoned. Alcatra, the more popular signature piece, is a cut of rump steak and is naturally tough and rare. Brazilian BBQ steakhouses produce saltier cuts than what is typical for the North American palate. This isn’t to cover the flavor of the meat. Rather, it is because the BBQ process includes a salt rub and a salt water baste. Consequently, a drink is key to resetting and de-salting your palate.

The meat isn’t the only draw of Fogo De Chão, however. The appetizers are key to the experience as well. The market table at Fogo is stocked with fine cheeses and vegetables that deliver fresh, light tastes to cleanse your palate between cuts of meat. These little bites can stack up and make you feel a little fuller than you anticipate if not careful. One of the main reasons I come to Fogo is because of their Brazilian cheese bread; small bread rolls using a unique blend of cheeses and yucca flower to create a legendarily delicious appetizer.

In short, Fogo De Chão’s food will leave you extremely satisfied. If you don’t make a reservation, expect a wait. If you’re looking for an unforgettable restaurant experience in which you can sample a variety of meats and cheeses, Fogo De Chão is the place to go.

- Marcus Lin

Food: 10/10

Staff: 10/10

Presentation: 10/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Overall: 39/40 A