Q-Tips Reviews

SAX’S JOINT -317 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 559-3021, saxsjoint.com

Q-Tips say: Don’t miss this one! The diner is decorated in bubblegum pink, black and white checkerboard, and chrome, and play a steady stream of ’50s and early 60s music on the jukebox. A walk back in time to the 50’s and the “Movie Grease.” They have a section with Elvis posters, etc. Perhaps Elvis is still with us and alive and well in Petaluma and dines here?

The waitstaff wears pink handkerchiefs in their ponytails, black eyeliner “cat eyes,” and make friends with all the customers, and they treat the customers like family than clients. Open for breakfast, made your way, and lunch and dinner. We went for Breakfast. Everything is home made and delicious and reasonably priced.

Mrs. Q says: Enjoy the walk back in time, but go for the good service and excellent food.

JACUZZI FAMILY WINERY – 24724 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, (866) 522-8693
jacuzziwines.com

Q-Tips say: GO AND ENJOY! You can’t beat it anywhere! FREE wine tasting. YES, FREE! Also, should you be fortunate to get “FRED” as your host, he is one of the long line of Jacuzzi Familia. Fred not only tells you about the wine, grapes and how they make the wines but will spend time telling you about the family history. He was happy to answer our many questions. Make a point to walk around and see the beautiful works of art they have inside and out. If you are a Senior Citizen, ask about their 15% discount.

So, you think they went from Italy right into wine making? NOT SO. The original Jacuzzi Family originated from Italy. The sons developed the propellers for airplanes. After one of the brothers got killed the Matriarch said, no more propellers. When Mama speaks, the family listens. They moved their family to Northern California and purchased a 161-acre farm land in Contra Costa County. The Patriarch with help from his older children, planted a portion of the open farm fields with grapes and applied for a license to make wine for home consumption. They took their propeller ideas and went into the Jacuzzi business. where they manufactured water well pumps and eventually, the bath and spa that bears their name which is now in Berkeley. That leads us to the delicious wine they make.

Thanks, Fred, for making our visit so enjoyable and patiently answering our questions and offering us free chocolate shots. Usually the cost is $5.00.

Mrs. Q says: FREE WINE TASTING and also FREE olive oil tasting. WHAT a DEAL! Of course, we could not leave without purchasing several bottles of wine, A Sagrantino, Giuseppina and La Dolce Vigne and some olive oil. So many wines, so little time. Go and enjoy, we did.

GIRL & the FIG – 110 W Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 938-3634, thegirlandthefig.com

Q-Tips say: Go and enjoy! Nice ambiance, great drinks and service and a nice happy hour – the bar area was full.

Our choices were: Pastis-Scented Steamed Mussels & Frites– Garlic, leeks, herbs, grilled bread, Grass-Fed Steak Tartare- Traditional with raw egg, caperberries, lavender sea salt, toast, Bay Scallop Risotto- Carnaroli rice, cauliflower, confit leeks & fennel, shaved pecorino.

All delicious with our perfect drinks made for an enjoyable evening. Will go back when in the area.

JACK’S OYSTER BAR – 336 Water St., Oakland, CA 94607, Jack London Square, (510) 271-7952,
HOURS: Monday – Thursday 11:30 – 9:30, Friday & Saturday 11:30 – 10:00, Sunday 11:00 – 9:00
jacksoakland.com

Q-Tips say: GO FOR IT! The best Oysters we have had since we have been in Chicago at Shaw;s Crab House. Great drinks, service and cute ambiance. Not inexpensive but worth every penny.
We will go back when in Oakland.

Daily Oyster Special – Come in and enjoy or featured oyster for only $2.50. For every oyster you purchase Jack’s donates 10¢ to The Watershed Project.

Fixed-Price Menu – We offer a 3-course fixed-price menu for $16 from 11:30 to 3pm, M – F

Happy Hour Specials – From 3pm – 6pm, enjoy the featured oyster for $1.50 (for every oyster you purchase Jack’s donates 10¢ to The Watershed Project), $2 off House Cocktails, $1 off Linden Street Beers, and $1 off Happy Hour white, rose and red wines. Go and enjoy, we did.

The STINKING ROSE (A garlic Rest.) 325 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133, b/t Broadway St & Vallejo St in North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, (415) 781-7673, thestinkingrose.com

Q-Tips say: If you like garlic, and we do, this is a must do in San Francisco.
Good food, drinks, and service. Everything has garlic,. They even have garlic ice cream and a garlic wine. We have come here just about every time we visit S.F. They have been around a long time. The garlic dishes we had were not overwhelming and perfectly done. They will serve the same dish without garlic – so they aim to please the customer and entrees are reasonable priced. Mrs. Q says: Yes, during prime cooking time, you can smell the restaurant a block away (that’s a good thing).

Appetizer
BAGNA CALDA Garlic Soaking in a Hot Tub, garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy. A wonderful treat for spreading on house-baked focaccia bread, served at your table in an iron skillet and enough for all to share.

Entrees:
Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib, and garlic encrusted Baby Back Ribs, both $23.95, and a Pasta Dish. All we could say is: Deeeeelicious!!!

Servings were large and asked to take home the remaining delicious morsels.
Mrs. Q says: So if you enjoy garlic, or not, try “The Stinking Rose”.
There is also a “Stinking Rose” in Beverly Hills CA.

SEARED – 170 Petaluma Blvd N., Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 762-5997, searedpetaluma.com

Q-Tips say: GO and ENJOY, WE DID! A relatively new restaurant in Petaluma and a must visit. Superb service, drinks, food and ambiance. Our server, Mary M. one of the best servers you can have serve you. Mary went out of her way to please the customer.
KUDOS to the Manager: Mrs. Q asked the bus person to please bring a box to take home the delicious food she was unable to finish but was mistakenly tossed out. She mentioned it to the hostess and hostess spoke with the manager and made another entree at no cost and apologized. Now that is GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!

HAPPY HOUR: Daily from 4-6 PM – Friday & Saturday from 9 – 10 PM
Mrs. Q says: We had the Oysters, in fact, we had two orders of Oysters. They were extremely fresh and soooo enjoyable. The drinks were discounted during Happy Hour and absolutely the best.

BAR BITES: Drakes Bay Oyster Each: $1.50
Steak Skewers $5, Jalapeño chermoula Prime Rib Slider $5
Carmaelized onions, horseradish Crème fraîche, Spring Hill jack Pork Belly Banh Mi $5
House pickled vegetables, cilantro Henry’s Daily Snack $6 A different tasty snack for every day of the week.
Seared BBQ’d Oyster $2, Petaluma Deviled Egg $2, Hand Cut Fries $5, Salt ‘N’ Pepper Calamari $5
Jerk Chicken Skewers $5, Salmon “Pastrami” $6, Kung Pao Prawns $6,
Man ‘n’ Cheese $6 Add Neuske’s bacon: $3, Poutine Fries $7, Seared Grass-Fed Cheeseburger $10

Decided to stay in the bar after Happy Hour and have dinner. They offer:
Dinner Menu Small Ware – Greens – From the Sea – Steak – Farm & Fowl
Shared Sides and Desserts.

Each member of our party had different Entrees:
Day Boat Scallops $25 Caramelized onion puree, wild mushrooms, braised chard, slab bacon, cippolini.
1/2 Mary’s Chicken $20 Confit leg, garlic, marsala jus, duck fat-potato galette.
Wagyu Steak Tartare $14, Asian Pear, Quail Egg, Scallions, Chili Aioli, Pickled Mustard Seeds, Sesame Oil, House-made Kennebec Potato Chips.

Hearty helpings & EXCELLENT FOOD enjoyed by all.

ALCATRAZ Alcatraz Tickets Toll-free reservations 888-814-2305

Mrs. Q says: A MUST SEE and DO in San Francisco– should be on your bucket list. They offer a group tours and tram service if you unable to walk Alcatraz. Make sure you see the short film and get your audio phones before touring – they offer audio phones in many different languages. Don’t forget to walk around the Warf afterwards. Many stores and Restaurants to sooth your growling tummy.

Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States.[2] Often referred to as “The Rock”, the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison (1868), and a federal prison from 1933 until 1963.[5] Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of aboriginal people from San Francisco who were part of a wave of Native activism across the nation with public protests through the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz became a national recreation area and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

The federal prison on Alcatraz Island in the chilly waters of California’s San Francisco Bay housed some of America’s most difficult and dangerous felons during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963. Among those who served time at the maximum-security facility were the notorious gangster Al “Scarface” Capone (1899-1947) and murderer Robert “Birdman of Alcatraz” Stroud (1890-1963). No inmate ever successfully escaped The Rock, as the prison was nicknamed, although more than a dozen known attempts were made over the years. After the prison was shut down due to high operating costs, the island was occupied for almost two years, starting in 1969, by a group of Native-American activists. Today, historic Alcatraz Island, which was also the site of a U.S. military prison from the late 1850s to 1933, is a popular tourist destination.

Today, the island’s facilities are managed by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; it is open to tours. Visitors can reach the island by ferry ride from Pier 33, near Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco. Hornblower Cruises and Events, operating under the name Alcatraz Cruises, is the official ferry provider to and from the island. Hornblower launched the nation’s first hybrid propulsion ferry in 2008, the Hornblower Hybrid, which now serves the island, docking at the Alcatraz Wharf.[6]

It is home to the abandoned prison, the site of the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony (mostly Western Gulls, cormorants, and egrets).

WILD GOAT BISTRO 6 Petaluma Blvd N., Ste A5, Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 658-1156,
wildgoatbistro.com

The Q’s were in the mood for some good home made soup. We found it! Delicious cream of mushroom soup with a touch of garlic. Perfect light lunch. The Restaurant is small cute place crowded with locals eating lunch.

PETALUMA HISTORY MUSEUM 20 4th St., Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 778-4398
petalumamuseum.com

Q-Tips say: No, it is NOT FREE but certainly reasonably priced so go and learn a little history of Petaluma. Who would have guessed that at one time Petaluma was the “egg capital of the world?” The museum is in a building that was a library. Of course, there is an egg exhibit – a old egg washing machine, etc. Other exhibits include an exhibit honoring the former Fire/Police Depts. An exhibit of the movie American Graffiti, which was filmed in Petaluma. All the original items are from a collector who lives in Wisc. An exhibit featuring past school items, books, desk, etc., – a good exhibit for the kids to see how it was way back when there were no cell phones, etc.

Mrs. Q says: Not a large museum. Perhaps it would take 2 hours to see everything depending on your interest in each exhibit. Cute, inexpensive way to spend a few hours on a rainy day.

BARNACLE BILL’S – 1526 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236, (941) 365-6800, barnaclebillsseafood.com

UPDATE: Perhaps it was what we ordered, but the Soft Shell Crabs were the worst we have ever had. The Mr. asked them to do another one but wanted it sauteed NOT fried which is the way it was supposed to be done. The waitress did do go to the cook but it came out the same way breaded and fried in a lemon sauce.  🙁  Not sure if they will survive. Was not as busy as usual – probably will not go back.

Note: The other Barnacle Bill’s located in Sarasota near Ringling Museum has closed.