and Citrus & Spice in San Rafael is still doing well! My friend Sachiko was in the mood for Thai, and I thought she'd like this inventive place. She was a little surprised that it was rather refined and stylized compared to most of the Thai places around.

We started with Fresh Spring Rolls which were bursting with lettuce and so fresh tasting.

I was surprised to walk down 4th Street in San Rafael and find that China Dynasty had closed.

But it was quite papered up.

I've tried visiting Gaspare's Pizzeria twice before, circling round the block trying to find parking. This is one popular pizzeria! Last night, I was lucky, there were a few parking spots available, right in the lot! This is a happy family place. There were two little girls (one looked like she'll grow up to be a sultry flamenco dancer, the other a Nordic beauty who looked quite sporty) who were SO excited to be at Gaspare's they jumped up on their toes and shouted together "Pizza!" right behind us. The other side by the bar seemed to be the romantic side, as when we left, couples were noticeably gazing deeply into each others eyes with wine glasses in hand. The side we were seated also had spectacular paintings of the Italian seaside, one being of Portofino above my Dad's head.

I had the most cheerful lunch in a brightly colored mosiaced setting yesterday. It had been a few years since my last visit to Picante in San Rafael, but the greeting was just as pleasant, the service prompt and friendly and it just felt happy to be there.

I couldn't resist starting with the aguas frescas of strawberry and pineapple. As delicious as it is refreshing!

Joe's in San Rafael is not to be missed if you like the feel and taste of an old style Italian restaurant. It is family run, and there are a number of Joe's gracing various cities in Marin. Dad and I made our way here last evening for a friendly meal. And I was able to exorcise a first (and last) date from the past that took place the last time I visited this beautiful setting.

And this post marks completion of dining and reviewing ALL of the Thai restaurants in Marin! At least those that I know of, please leave a comment if I've missed a place inadvertently. And it's an old favorite I had not been to in a long time, Bangkok Thai Express.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this Thai place still serves Shrimp Chips as a treat. This used to be customary at many Thai restaurants, but has disappeared in the last few years. These were crisp and had a great savory dipping sauce.

Hatam's changed hands last year and although I've been there to pick up Persian goodies from the grocery section, I'd yet to try their new dining experience in the front of the store. Although I loved the cobwebbed and authentic peek at much loved things under the old ownership, the new owner has brightened it up and moved the groceries to the back and a fresh breeze has encircled the place.

I decided to stay for dinner this time, and I was served a lovely fresh appetizer of lavash bread and fresh greens (green onions and copious amounts of fresh mint leaves), butter and feta. I must have been Perisan in a past life as I so take to rolling up fresh mint leaves in the soft lavash and eating it.

The locals know it. I arrived after 7 p.m., and right after me came a steady stream of locals, including a couple policemen. Policemen often know the best values around. Puentez Taqueria is a good value. My meal was $10.36 + tip, and the food was in generous portion. And the high speed wireless internet is free, although I didn't bring my mac. This is a family run business, and I had an enjoyable conversation with the young man at the counter who told me he enjoys 'street basketball'. I'd never heard of it, and asked him what that meant. Apparently it's quite anarchistic in that there is no real organization. The players just show up - or not, there are no teams, and it seems as though it's as much about showing off great tricks and plays as actually playing. Sounds like a young man's fun!

Been dying to try. I found a good opening to try Sushi to Dai For in its new space, it's LARGE new space. It's huge and echoing and I can imagine it hopping with fun at night. So what if the rolls aren't very authentic. They are inventive and artistic, and the menu is huge.

I decided to try the Niagra roll, a special. Albacore tuna paired with something green, I've already forgotten - either avocado or cucumber, with green tea soba noodles, daikon radish spouts and a drizzle of jalepeno (hot!) ponzu over the top. I had my doubts about this combination, but it worked! I'd order the same again if it were to appear on the menu.

Pleasant lunch. Amici's East Coast Pizzeria was cheerful and welcoming. I was planning to come by at some point, but the smiling staff just beckoned me in.

I started with a broccoli half-salad. It was steamed crisp and chilled with some flavorful olive oil. With a squeeze of lemon, it was just the perfect crunchy and tender combo.

Bright corner of San Rafael. Yesterday for lunch Dad & I stopped at Arrivederci Cafe in San Rafael. Housed in a brick building that looks like it has a delightful warm weather patio, the interior is light and bright and hosts a variety of art.

We opted to try some calamari fritti to start. Dad keeps forgetting that calamari is actually squid, and loves it until someone mentions the English translation, every time. Luckily, no one reminded him today and he liked Arrivederci's crisp version.

Tiny and good. I've been driving by this "Little Mandarin" restaurant with curiosity for some time. Finally I took a chance to find parking and try it out yesterday for lunch.

You walk past some empty steam tables up front, but soon you see a busy and bustling section where you hope you will have a chance to sit after all. Where did all those people come from? As soon as I was seated a hot bowl of egg drop soup was placed in front of me, before I could even grab the menu!

Wise Chinese. I stopped in at Confucius Restaurant in San Rafael the other day when it was blustery but not raining. It's exterior may be drab, but it's clean and cheery inside.

I discovered a nice variety for a reasonable price in their lunch special. A small green salad and hot and sour soup start you off. Yes, these are not 'wow' items, but they are fresh and just fine.

Now I have butterflies... in the stomach. Imagine catching up on your Marin IJ reading to find the restaurant you just reviewed (Cafe Papillon) had closed! The story is wrong in one respect -- it did not close in 2007 since I was there for breakfast a few days ago... but I did a drive-by at lunch yesterday, and found, indeed it is very closed. The story reported that a new place will open there in spring, World Coffee Cafe.

Vegetarian menu takes up real estate! I was in a hurry for lunch the other day, and thought Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers may somehow have ONE veggie burger choice, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a whole section of interesting ones.

Butterflies. When I found out that Cafe Papillon serves breakfast every day, it immediately went on my must try list. Dad and I dropped by what was I believe the last sunny Sunday in Marin for some time. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and we were obviously earlier than most of their Sunday crowd since we were the only ones in the restaurant until the clock struck 10 a.m.

Pssst! Om South Indian Cuisine now has a lunch time buffet. They've quietly started this since January 1st, and it looks popular already - the place was packed! And with good reason; the food was excellent! The buffet consisted of a small but very attentively kept hot buffet of about 10 items, and a cold buffet selection on the side. And additionally, the quick moving staff brought naan or freshly made dosas to your table side - all for $7.99. The food was fresh and flavorful, with items to please both vegivores and carnivores!

Sicilian, tucked around a corner. My friends Jo-Ann & Michael met me for dinner the other night at Mezzo Mezzo, a place that is a little out of the way in downtown San Rafael, but it would be a shame to overlook. It was actually a birthday dinner for me that we decided to do after all the holiday hecticness was over, and it was perfect!

Farmer's Market Sunday. I got up extra early to get to the San Rafael Farmer's Market before I had to park VERY far away, and also to be sure I could get some yuba from Hodo Soy Beanery before it sold out. I took some photos at the Thursday Market too, and thought they were so colorful that I'd include some of them in this post as well. I also had Apollo, my Golden Retriever friend over for the day. And a human visitor, Daniel. And given his no wheat no sugar etc diet, fresh produce seemed to be the order of the day for dinner.

Sunny breakfast. Don't know how I missed this one. Dad & I had a leisurely breakfast at the West End Cafe Deli & Market after one of his appointments. Aside the deli area there is a large, narrow and very sunny dine-in room.

Shock! Headline: Good food at mall. Yes, Jhan Thong delivered great food at a very reasonable price! It is located in San Rafael's Northgate Mall. I had brought my father the the cinemas down the hall for a movie, and wanted to catch a quick bite. Noisy, bright and unattractive surroundings, yes, but it's great to have great taste as an option when you are there anyway.

Hidden around a corner. Where Ming's used to be, Mikado Sushi has set up shop in the Northgate area of San Rafael. I stopped in a few days ago to try their offerings out.

The meal started with a very rich tasting miso soup. The soy sauce containers were so cute I had to get one in the photo too.

Japanese at the Mall. There's a bright clean place at Northgate Mall in San Rafael which proclaims "Freshly Cooked Right Before Your Eyes", and it's true! At Oedo Grill the grill is right up front, and you can watch your meal be deftly grilled as you wait.

New style. The old Sushi Lin place has been overhauled and a new cuisine on the scene has opened up here since October, Hawaiian style BBQ. With as pleasant as staff can be, Mauna Loa Hawaiian Barbeque serves typical Hawaiian dishes, even Spam musubi.

Surfer Dude Sushi Master. I found that Umi Sushi & Grill had quietly opened, without signage or fanfare, so dropped in for lunch yesterday. Umi means ocean, and Yoshi, the owner and sushi chef is a surfer! He and his family hail from the beautiful area of Nikko, Japan via Santa Cruz. This new restaurant occupies the old Akira space, and you can see the tasteful transformation of the dining area into a theme that matches its owner. Those of you familiar with Akira will notice the mountain now has ocean waves at its foot!