As the kids say today, "This place is fire!" My second time back within weeks. A truly authentic…read moreItalian dinner experience. Try the Speck pizza. OMG it was good. Great owners and staff. Quality food and a really welcoming eating environment.

Careful! The part owner who seemed to be behind the menu (and perhaps the kitchen) left. On our…read morelast visit, the food was not great. Transition? New chef? We'll see next time. Still a great location.

Decided to come here after a day at Muir Woods a little skeptical about how good an organic plant…read morebased ice cream shop could truly be (it was conveniently on the way towards the Richmond Bridge for our way back home which is why we picked it compared to other places in San Rafael or Sausalito). The shop is pretty tiny, located next to a donut shop near the netrance of a medium sized open plan shopping center. Came in there and the worker offered us whatever samples we wanted and we immediately noticed the really interesting but unusual flavors that they had. Of the classic type flavors, we really liked the brown sugar vanilla and the breakfast cereal one. The cherry special drink and the grapfruit one also tasted quite nice. But the ones that stood out the most were the thom ka and the chaat masala ones. while the chaat masala didnt end up having that distinct tanginess you might expect, the thom ka ice cream was mind blowing. It tasted exactly like having the soup but in a cool and refreshingly creamy dessert form. My mind couldn't really process it other than the fact that it was delicious. We ended up opting to pair the thom ka and the brown sugar vanilla to have a "normal" flavor to offset the unusualness of having a thai soup ice cream. We honestly could not get enough of it - it easily was one of the best ice cream scoops we had ever had and it being a plant based ice cream was insanely impressive. Frankie & Jo's will definitely be a place we will be returning to especially as the new seasonal flavors roll out so we can see what other concoctions they might be able to try and conquer.

There were only three flavors available at the fairly small Frankie & Jo's as most of the board was…read moremarked as "sold out" so we taste tested the pistachio and the honey ended up choosing a small size sangria which had a light fizzy pop to it. The service was prompt and helpful but it seems like they're a small batch company so if you're already in the area shopping and it's easy to stop in you absolutely should.

If you're looking for authentic açaí, World Green Açaí Bowl & Juice is the real deal…read more I lived in Belém, Brazil, near the Amazon River in the early 2000s, where açaí is a daily staple and grows naturally. After trying countless places in the U.S., I can honestly say this is the only spot I've found serving true, pure açaí--not a blend diluted with blueberries or other fruits. Beyond the açaí, everything we've tried has been delicious. The pão de queijo, tapioca crepes, coffee, and fresh fruit juices are all excellent and taste wonderfully authentic. The service is consistently friendly and fast, and the restaurant has a vibrant atmosphere with lush greenery and beautiful Brazilian-inspired décor. The spacious patios are perfect for enjoying the fresh air, meeting friends, or simply relaxing with a snack. On our most recent visit, we spent a few hours on the patio watching the World Cup, and it made for a fun, memorable afternoon. If you're craving authentic Brazilian flavors, this place is absolutely worth a visit.

Oh boy. I rarely leave reviews, but this experience warrants documenting. I placed an order that…read moreincluded multiple items, and several had serious quality issues. Two smoothies tasted unusually sour and not drinkable. The cheese bread sandwich was extremely hard, and the empanada was undercooked. One drink was also underfilled. The most concerning issue was the Straus milk: the bottle cap was already popped, there was no cream top, and had pink discoloration, suggesting improper storage or spoilage. I contacted the business with detailed feedback and requested a refund. Their response was to dismiss the concerns as "unfounded" and require all items to be returned in order to be reimbursed, which is not reasonable given the perishable nature and safety concerns of the food. I would recommend exercising caution when ordering and expecting poor quality service.

Authentic Croque Monsieur -- one of the best I've had in the States (just oversized!)…read more Stopped by Le Marais Bakery (Buvette du Marais) at Marin Country Mart in Larkspur for a sunny outdoor lunch. Ordered the Croque Monsieur with side salad and a Maison Perrier sparkling water. This is a proper French-style Croque Monsieur executed beautifully. House-made pain de mie toasted to golden perfection with crisp edges, quality ham, plenty of melted aged Comté and Gruyère, and a light touch of béchamel that binds everything without any heavy, saucy overload (I didn't even spot a thick layer in the cross-section, but the rich, nutty flavor came through perfectly). It arrived piping hot, which made all the difference -- gooey cheese and satisfying crunch throughout. Flavor-wise, it tasted more authentic than most versions I've tried elsewhere in the U.S.: balanced, comforting, and not greasy at all. The simple mixed greens salad on the side kept it fresh and prevented it from feeling too rich. Paired with the crisp sparkling water, it was an ideal light-but-satisfying lunch. The only non-authentic thing? The size -- I've never seen a Croque Monsieur this large! It's generous (in true California fashion), but everything held up well without getting soggy or overwhelming. The outdoor setting is pleasant -- brick pavement, dappled sunlight, relaxed vibe. Their bread and pastries clearly shine here, and this savory dish holds its own. Highly recommend if you're craving a genuine French bistro classic in Marin. I'll definitely be back -- probably for one of their famous croissants or a crêpe next time.

The good: The moules were excellent - tasty and in a well-flavored milky broth. My wife's branzino…read morewas very good - nicely cooked with crispy skin. The bad: A real galette is paper-thin and most of it is crispy. The Deux Saumones galette was thick enough to be spongy and it was only une saumone. The menu said "wild & smoked" salmon but it only had smoked, and a monochrome flavor. The only authentic French part was the waiter's attitude when I asked. He just said there was only smoked today, and of course no apology, let alone a warning when I ordered. The chocolate crepe likewise had no pretense of crispness, and the valrhona chocolate was wasted on it. It was excellent chocolate too, as we discovered only when we scraped it off and ate it separately. But on the crepe we couldn't tell.

Equator Coffees in Larkspur is located in such an adorable downtown area. There's a Boichik Bagels,…read moreice cream spot, park across the street, and Perry's/other eateries next door. It's the perfect spot sandwiched in between all of the above for truly any time of day. Arriving mid-morning, we wanted to try something unique and different from their seasonal menu. Continuing on my search for trending happiness in a cup, we ordered the Banana Cream (cold brew topped with banana cold foam). Banana is having a moment, and we're here for it! It's so refreshing and delicious. I love banana, so this was right up my alley! Looks like other banana flavored drinks offered are the Banana Matcha Cloud and the Iced Caramelized Banana Latte. Def recommend if banana is in your top five rotation of the summer too. We also grabbed a pack of their seasonal beans for home, the Super Bloom blend ~ a light roast for the spring season! To note, there is a super cool kickback of proceeds of this blend. Find more about it in-store or on their website. Overall, this would be my go-to spot if I was in the area more. Friendly and quick service, and a fun menu also filled with tasty treats for brekky, snack, lunch, the in-between, to-go, and more.

The coffee is decent, but they take forever. They get a lot of online orders and if you are…read morestanding in line when a large online order comes in you will go to the back of the line, even if you were there first, even if you only have one small espresso. So you can go ahead and order online instead. Except I always bring my own cup so that won't work. Oh well. This policy has been confirmed to me by JP, their CEO, who did have the courtesy of responding to me. Thanks JP!