Every time I'm in town I make it a point to stop here. The cozy atmosphere and unique interior is…read morealways one that brings comfort before the food even makes it to the table. The service is always impeccable with every server and bartender demonstrating strong knowledge of the menu and the details of each dish and drink. They have such a variety of flavors and cocktails you can't find anywhere else in the area. My favorite dish is the oxtail with a side of their homemade roti, although the roti is traditionally used for the curry, they complement each other so well. Pro tip, ask for their house hot sauce for a little extra kick and sit at the bar for extra fast service!

4.5/5 First time…read morehere and was pretty quiet on a Monday night. Inside was so colorful with plenty of seating. Staff was very patient and gave great recommendations. The table ordered the jerk chicken, 2 coconut salmons, 2 P.O.G.s and I ordered a paella oyo! There were rave reviews from the group for the plantains. Everyone enjoyed their meal and it was a very cozy warm experience. The paella was so crispy, the corn was delicious and it was flavorful! Excited to eat my left overs.

Visited Chico Marx for dinner with a friend while I was staying in a nearby hotel before an early…read moreflight out of SFO. It was initially hard to find a restaurant in this area -- as many seemed to be food trucks, or close early, and/or were difficult to access from the hotel/pharma block. Fortunately, this establishment was conveniently situated in a nearby office building. I was hesitant but, upon entering, the mixture of lighting, live plants, leather seating, and a giant tile mosaic brightened the space alongside appropriately friendly staff. It'd be hard to believe anything could brighten up a cold grey cement building but they did a great job and making the space feel wildly inviting, lively, and even cozy! The dining experience was slow paced and very European, which I appreciated. I felt like we were able to enjoy our meal without being rushed along. We started off with the braised beef empanadas that we ate too quickly for me to photograph! They had a light tender puff pastry exterior filled with juicy braised beef that was perfectly accented by the bright chimichurri (that we generously spooned inside with the beef). Next, we had the Lomo saltado and the lentil and cod entrees. The tender juicy Lomo had a nice balance of fresh veggies along with the beef, potatoes, and rice! The cod was perfectly pan-seared with a crisp, well-seasoned exterior, hey smooth buttery interior atop fragrant green lentils, tender potatoes, and greens. The pickled onions and grilled Lemon, were the perfect garnish. This was served with a hearty grilled whole grain bread lightly drizzled with extra virgin olive oil which was a really nice balance to soak up the soupy bits of bright citrus, earthy lentils, buttery fish, and tangy pickled onions! (This was a great twist on a classic Spanish dish that is traditionally made with lentils and salt cod) I was craving a sweet treat, so we also ordered the chocolate mousse which was made with honey and chipotle and topped with fresh mint and sliced strawberries! This was not too heavy, like some mousse can be -- it was a nice, light, whipped, chocolate treat to wrap up the meal. Don't be scared away by the business park location... This place is a real gem full of modern interpretations of various Latin-American favorites.

Service was disjointed and pushy throughout the casual Friday lunch. Menu was very unclear about…read moreallergies and contents - "short rib" everything thought it was beef but ended up being pork. Our waiter took our order piecemeal (first order of just water), prioritized other tables seated after us, and pushed aggressively for extra dishes while ignoring specific requests - never received hot pepper or sauce request. Mains took over an hour to arrive. The food itself was a mix of highs and lows. The pan-seared fish with lentils looked great, but the portion was small and so heavily over-salted that it left us parched long after leaving. Desserts were equally hit or miss. The chocolate mousse was exceptional, rich and creamy without being overpowering, while the churros were terrible, resembling dry, oil-soaked breadsticks paired with an overly sweet chocolate sauce. Poor pacing and inattentive service make this hard to recommend.

The tapas were excellent as well as my Coconut Mojito...it was the bomb!…read moreGreat place to share food with good friends The wait staff was terrific as well as the atmosphere If you are looking for upscale Latin food look no further

The food was good, though I found it very mildly seasoned and a bit bland. That said, it's probably…read morea great fit for the general population. If you enjoy more flavor and some heat, the habanero sauce is amazing and definitely worth trying. They also serve drinks, but the staff never seems to ask if you'd like another round, which may be a positive if you're only planning to have one. On the other hand, if you don't enjoy sitting with empty cups for long periods, it can come across as inattentive service. The small plates are very good. One thing to note is that they don't seem to rush guests out. Even after clearing the table, they'll often let people linger, which is great if you're looking for a relaxed dining experience and have plenty of time. If you prefer more attentive service throughout your meal, that may be something to consider. Overall, the food is enjoyable, especially the small plates and habanero sauce, but go in expecting a slower, more hands-off service style.

I originally found this place on TikTok. The owners son made a TikTok about all the food with…read morepictures and I knew this place was right up my alley. So I went right away. I ordered the Pan Con Chicharron Sandwich and OMGGGG IT WAS INCREDIBLE! The pork was so tender and crispy at the same time ! And the Bravazo hot sauce was delicious ! My waiter was CARLOS and he was so sweet & helpful . He gave me some good recommendations and I'm definitely going back for lunch today to try the Tiradito and empanadas! This is going to be my new go to spot when I'm in Pleasanton!!! MUST TRY EVERYTHING ! Also, I cannot wait to try the tiramisu ! Thank you again Carlos !

The food was good! Normally I can leave service / wait times out of reviews as it is expected with…read moregoing out to eat. We got seated within 5 minutes of arrival, but found it difficult to flag down a waiter/waitress, despite being 1 of only 2 tables seated outside. The inside was relatively empty as well with maybe 2-3 tables seated inside. My issue here is the difficulty of actually ordering our food as well as the wait time to get our food. I have no issue when it is clearly stated to my party / I when ordering about long wait times, but I found it almost impossible to reflag a waiter/waitress to even ask for my food updates. We arrived to Bravazo at around 1:15PM on a Sunday but didn't get our food until 2:30PM, which without notice or a heads up was a little jarring to me. We mentioned that the wait time was long in passing, but please give a heads up to all patrons if this is the case. Most likely we know that food is made to order here, but the long wait time made it incredibly disappointing to dine here.

Amazing service and food. you cannot get any better ceviche in this city. nothing better than…read moresitting on that patio.

La Mar is a beautiful Peruvian seafood restaurant right by the water. The setting is gorgeous, and…read moreit's a nice spot if you want seafood with a view. Luckily, it was a beautiful day in SF. Overall, the staff was nice, but I had a frustrating experience with the host. I came in and asked if I could get a table and if there was a wait. She said there wasn't and that she would get me a table. I waited...and waited...while watching other people get seated. Eventually, I had to ask her again, and she finally printed out a ticket for me to be seated. I'm still not sure what happened the first time I asked. I ordered their special lobster pasta and a latte. The lobster was perfectly cooked, and the pasta was al dente. The sauce was creamy with a nice peppery kick, and everything worked really well together. The dish is meant for two people, so it's definitely a generous portion. The latte was pretty basic and weak. I'm a bit of a coffee snob, so I'm pretty picky when it comes to coffee. I would love to come back and try some of their other seafood dishes.

I ordered Lomo Saltado & Ceviche Mixto w/ Chips & Salsa…read more Highly recommend this place. Huge portions and delicious Peruvian food! $28 Lomo Saltado 8.5/10 The sauce is perfectly salted to eat with the rice and frites. Majority of the tenderloin was tender. Love the onions and tomatoes complimenting with more flavors to the dish. $24 Ceviche Mixto 8/10 A lot for one person but can't complain! Definitely a 2-3 person appetizer. Perfect starter since I was craving for ceviche. Fish was nicely tender. Nice chunky size for a nice bite. Everything tasted fresh. Slightly a little more acidic than I liked but I enjoyed it. Staff were friendly and made sure I was taken care of. Love the ambience and the vibes of the interior. Music spot on. I'll definitely comeback to try the Mariscada next time!

For legitimate Latin/Peruvian food, this is a great find. Everything we tried was solid. Highly…read morerecommend the yuca frites and chicharron de pollo (fried chicken) to share. Totopos Con Chile: B Chicharron de pollo: B+ Yuca frites: A Spinach and mushroom B Mariscada: B+ Service was just okay. They had live music on a Saturday night so the place was a vibe.

We celebrated my daughter's surprise 40th birthday at Lolinda with a party of 14 after our…read morecupcake-decorating workshop. Our theme was "Dress in the City," where Emily in Paris meets Martha Stewart, and Lolinda was the perfect place to continue the celebration. Communication with Cortney was excellent from the beginning. She was helpful, attentive, and created a special menu that matched our theme beautifully. We were seated on the mezzanine, which gave us a wonderful atmosphere and made our large party feel comfortable and special. The food was absolutely amazing, and everyone enjoyed it. The entire evening was beautiful, lively, and memorable. Thank you to Cortney and the Lolinda team for helping us make my daughter's birthday so special.

We came here to celebrate our anniversary and to try their Happy Hour in addition to their regular…read moremenu. We were not disappointed. First let me give a shout out to our server Mindy. She was super attentive and made the dinner special. Thank you Mindy! And thank you Lolinda for the complimentary glasses of Champagne, so nice and unexpected. Note if you wish to try the happy hour it is limited to seating in the bar area which was fine with us. We started with (from Happy Hour menu) Cocktails 1 Bees Knees and 4 Penicillin (I had 3 and wife had 1) Suffice it to say we liked the drinks. Beef tartare and toasted bread, beef was luscious! Empanadas beef and chicken were hecka good. we wanted to bring some home but they don't allow take away from happy hour menu Mushroom empanada yep this was good too Dipping sauces were excellent Dinner Asada Mixto. Meats, peppers, potatoes, bread and chimichuri sauce. Excellent combination of flavors and textures. The grilled peppers and potatoes were soft with nice charred flavor. Two types of sausages with crisp casing and great flavor fillings. Could have used a bit more meat but the flavors were great. Outstanding bread served with this dish and with beef tartar Rescoldo, Eggplant, pepper and onion, Served room temp spread over toast Dessert Burnt Basque cheesecake with poached peaches. To die for!!! Beautiful interior warm and rustic. Open kitchen in the back but you can't see them easily from the tables. There's a long bar height table centered in the bar area for large groups. With several bar height tables along the wall and normal tables and booths in the main dining area. For the most part there is street parking but good luck finding a space. We took Uber so that we could have some drinks.

Excellent ceviche selection, nice presentation, laid-back vibe, friendly staff. The menu also…read moreincludes traditional, Mexican food, and a nice brunch menu..

Looking back on it now, it's kind of funny how I was somewhat hesitant to try Franco's Latin Table…read morethe first time my buddy suggested meeting up here. However, in my defense, he only referred to this place as "that Peruvian joint in West Portal" and I was still under the impression this was still Fresca's, which I had been underwhelmed by. However, once I realized they weren't one in the same, I definitely felt a bit more excited, especially given his strong recommendation. Although, it should be said that Franco's actually isn't all that different, though, it's definitely better! Inside, a lot about this place looks the same as when it was Fresca's - both good and bad. While the restaurant's decor and feel is still just as relaxed and cozy, it's also rather dated and worn, as evidenced by the strips of tape holding the booth cushions together. As for the menu, it's pretty similar as well, though, not as exclusively Peruvian, which isn't a bad thing. While the bulk of it is still made up of classic Peruvian dishes, like ceviches, empanadas, lomo saltado, and causas, it also has items like tostadas, pupusas, and birria tacos that originate from other Latin cuisines. Regardless of where they're from, though, there's no shortage of enticing options to choose from! -- EMPANADAS DE VEGETALES - Portobello Mushrooms, Chocio, Quinoa, Onions, and Bell Peppers Stewed in Aji Amarillo Cream Sauce...$12 I only tried a bit of this one, but it was really good. The empanada was golden brown and not at all doughy while the filling was so flavorful. I really like how there was a fair amount of mushrooms in it and the rest of the veggies weren't overcooked/mealy. -- YUCA FRITA with Aji Verde...$8 Funny enough, eating this reminded me that I should really get this more often! The batter was thin yet crispy and I liked how they tasted slightly earthy (in a good way). Plus, despite being a bit dense, they also had a nice sort of creaminess. -- BIRRIA TACOS - Slowly Stewed Beef with Dried Chiles and Spices, Melted Cheese, Cilantro, and a side of Consomme...$22 Not that I expected it to be bad, but it was a lot tastier than I thought it was going to be. Each taco was crispy, loaded with with tender chunks of beef, and had so much gooey cheese in them. Plus, while it wasn't even needed, the consomme was rich, tangy, and smoky - so good! -- TOTOPOS CON CHILE - Homemade Tortilla Chips Tossed in a Chile de Arbol Salsa Topped With Cojita Cheese, Crema, and Lime...$9 This essentially felt like eating the chips and salsa in a chilaquiles, but better. The chile de arbol salsa was super flavorful and I loved how crunchy the chips were, even towards the bottom. I just wish this had a bit more crema and cojita cheese in it. -- CHICHARON DE POLLO - Crispy Fried Chicken, Aji Amarillo, Salsa Criolla, and Five Spice Mayo...$12 I was cautiously optimistic for this dish, but, thankfully, it turned out great! The batter on the chicken wasn't too heavy and the meat itself was moist (not juicy, but moist). Plus, I lreally liked the pickled onions and the mayo dipping sauce, too. -- PESCADO & PAPAS - "Fish & Chips" Hand dipped in "Cuzquena" Beer Batter, Coleslaw, Handcut French Fries, and Huacatay Tartar Sauce...$24 I've had this twice and while it was great the first time, it was closer to "okay" the second. Both times, the fries were fine (a bit potato-y) and the fish itself was good, but this last time, while the batter was crispy on the outside, it was rather wet and soggy on the inside. -- ARROZ CON MARISCOS - Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Calamari, Scallops, and Fish with Aji Panca Rice, Cilantro, Green Peas, Peppers, and Salsa Criolla...$32 They may not have paella like how Fresca did, but no matter - this is actually better. The rice was really soft and I love how it soaked up all of the seafood flavors in the dish. The chunks of salmon, mussels, and scallops were probably my favorites, but all of the seafood was fresh. Beyond the food, the service here has been mostly fine, other than one minor hiccup. Every time, the workers have all been friendly and I appreciate how they have been more than happy to answer any of the questions we've had. However, there was one time where one of the servers tried to take away our Totopos Con Chile even though we still had a few pieces left of it. Also, there was a stretch during our meal where it felt like we had been forgotten about, but, to be fair, I imagine it was more due to them trying to sort out what the large party next to us had ordered than anything else. Even though my more recent experience with their Pescado & Papas may not have gone nearly as well as the first, it doesn't change the fact that the vast majority of everything else I've tried has been more than solid. Given that as well as how I'm curious to try their brunch menu and some of their other offerings, it's more than a safe bet that I'll be coming back to Franco's again sooner rather than later!

Found a new breakfast spot to go to after I drop off the kid to school- down the street from…read moreJefferson high school it shares a space with chick n coop. Breakfast Bagel portions are hefty and worth the $, the matcha was good and it was cute getting a little design of a heart on top. Happy endorphins triggered Lady there was so sweet - genuinely felt like my auntie when I'm waking up and asking me what I want for breakfast. I foresee myself being a regular here for sure.

Coffee was yum & she wasss super nice. I'm not from the area so I was confused at first about…read morelocation but once I got out car to look it was easy