Burma Superstar

309 Clement St

San Francisco, CA 94118

(415) 387-2147

Reviewed 6/7/2009

Definitely cute and definitely different. I can see why there is a write-up of it in the New York Times.

But to-die-for? I beg to differ.

I would like to go back to try the curries and noodle dishes. The famed samusa soup and tea leaf salad are worth trying (again because I had never had anything quite like pasty tea leaves before. Ditto for many of the things in the soup). But the tomato salad, while different, was not particularly special.

For dessert we had the banana spring rolls with coconut ice cream. It was gorgeous, but not particularly memorable in the flavor department.

I didn't use my chopsticks because there looked to be a hardened red pepper flake cemented to one of them.

I still would like to try the curries and noodle dishes at some point.

Zaytoon

209 E Canon Perdido St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-1293

Reviewed June 26, 2009

This place is preening with charm.

Fireplaces, waterfalls, adorable lighting, indoor and alfresco options, pretty flowers, and gorgeous food.

Lighting inside

Plus the food is yummy. Three of us shared the Vegetarian Feast, which was just the right portion for three reasonably-hungry-but-not-famished adults.

Inside

Faves:
Labneh- creamy and thick
Hummus- wonderful smoked flavor
Tabbouleh--almost entirely parsley--delicious

Service was reasonable. I didn't get any eye contact, but that could have been because I was with The Good-Looking Couple. It was, at least, efficient.

Our bread basket caught on fire, so watch the flames.

And if you sit by the mini-waterfall, make sure your hearing is good so you can hear the dinner conversation.