by Alyssa G. on Where else except in the Castro will you find a brunch spot that is more club/bar? After watching Spain beat the Dutch in what may have been the lamest soccer game of 2010, my friends and I were starving and needed a pick-me-up. "I've heard of this place Lime, on Market that's supposed to be good," says friend A. "Well I just need to get some grub on to be ready for tonight's festivities," responds friend B. Walking into Lime, there's the huge white bar, with a lounge area in the front by the window facing the street. Walking towards the back, we were able to grab a booth, facing the rest of the restaurant, giving us great views of some naughty dancers. Oh, right the food. Eggs Florentine with a side of bacon. I hadn't set my hopes up high because I was jamming to 50 cent followed by Lady Gaga. The food was surprisingly good, and well-portioned. Plus you can't beat $7 bottomless mimosas. If your friends want a good time, and not have to deal with slimy clubs, go to Lime!
by Kelly K. on So my friend Ana whom I hadn't seen in forever had her birthday bash at Opera this past Saturday. She got a table so the 3 guys in our group got in without much fuss. Bottle service is not exactly attentive, but as all of us have working limbs, it wasn't a big deal pouring our own drinks, etc. The big sofaish seats are big and roomy so if you don't have large friends, you can fit quite a number of people comfortably. In a way, it was a big sorority reunion (don't judge you Greek haters!) so based on my experience, it's worth getting a table if you have a large enough group of people who want to have a spot to gather around and talk. Music: it was not exactly exciting or danceable stuff at first, but as the night wore on, the dj played a fun mix with group hits such as "Small Town Girl" (again, don't judge!). No avant-garde snob music here! Crowd: Well, it was an interesting mix. For example, while in the washroom, some girl was proudly talking about being on a reality show. Also, a lot of the men here seem to have difficulty taking no for an answer - particularly when they're flashing their new i phones, not so casually dropping their income figures, and expect your panties to drop when they grandiosely offer to buy you and your friends drinks. Um. No thanks. We've got our own money. What?!!! Women can make money too? Get out of here! Overall though, Opera was a really fun place with respectful security that open doors for you, clean restrooms, trendy and safe atmosphere that I would definitely come back to. I didn't drink all night either - so that's saying something!
by Marcelino Pirog on I never had Ethiopian food before, but had been to this place several times for drinks while out with friends in my neighborhood. One day, a few of us were tired of all the usual stuff, and decided to see what the food was all about. I have to say, not bad at all. Great portions and savory, unique flavors. When we were served, one of my friends looked a little confused as he thought they had forgotten to give us silverware. Meanwhile we figured out that you're supposed to use the spongy pancake-like bread that's served with it to pinch a bit of food and eat it. The food is somewhat spicy, through and through, but two of us asked for extra-spicy food, and were a little let-down. I'll most likely eat there again a few times, since it's near my house, and I thought it turned out to be a random idea that turned out great, but it's hard for me to say much more about the food without trying more of it. For drinks, it's a decent joint. Never too crowded, and the scene seems to be more in keeping with the vibe of the neighborhood than some other spots in the area: down-to-earth, chill people, nobody getting obnoxiously loud or drunk, and no impression that there's a particular "scene" that dominates the atmosphere. The people who work there have always been very nice, too.
