Burp

[kevin_standlee]

Today is Cheryl's birthday, and as we both share a love of good food, I took her out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, CreoLa in San Carlos. It's not a place we can afford to go very often, but we've never had a bad experience there. Just about everything on their menu is attractive to one or both of us. After tonight, I think I've finally reached the point where I won't feel guilty about ordering something I've had before, as I've now worked my way through most of the things I find really attractive on their menu.

This restaurant is not that large -- maybe 50 seats or so -- and has a very cozy atmosphere. The owner/chef brought our meals out to us, and he even recognized us from the last time we were there about a year ago. That surprised me.

If you're the kind of person who plonks themselves down and says, "I want lots of cheap food, and I want it right now!" then stay away from here. The portions are not oversized, and a four-course dinner will cost about $50, but the quality is excellent.

The place was packed on this Friday evening; they called us earlier today to ask if we could come a little later than our reservation. If you're going (and I recommend it if you're in the area), reservations are recommended.

This is the restaurant I recommended to jbriggs and co. at Westercon. It's a little bit of a drive from San Mateo, but I recall them saying they thought it was worth the trip. I certainly thought so. This is a place I like so much that I wish I had to money to invite lots of friends and book the place out for an evening. That's one of those "If I win the lottery" dreams.

On the BASFA review scale, I give this place "worth full price plus the drive from Fremont and the bridge toll to boot." From the hush puppies with crawfish starter, through soup/salad, main courses (I had the Shrimp Clemenceau) and ending with chicory coffee and beignets, this was an experience I only wish I could afford (both the price and the effect on my blood sugar) more often.

Comments

[jbriggs.livejournal.com]

And thank you again for recommending it to me, galtine1, jcbemis and fla_sunshine. We had a wonderful meal and intend to return someday.

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

4 courses of good cajun food for $50 sounds like a bargain to me. Pity about the airfare!

Belated Happy Birthday to Cheryl!

[trinsf.livejournal.com]

Have you seen my review on Yelp about it? We live so close they had to inform us about trying to get a liquor license, and yet we never eat there because of the absolutely wretched service. The chef called me once to tell me he was in a dysfunctional parent/child relationship with a crazy woman who says she was the mistress of Einstein and had J. Edgar Hoover's love child, and that's why service is sometimes a problem.

I am *totally* not kidding.

And as for the quality, I've eaten in New Orleans at amazing places. I have high standards. Creola is very "eh" to me -- but I suppose if you've never had other, it would seem okay. Otherwise, my recommendation for excellent New Orleans style on this coast would be Sazerac in Seattle, and for Southern, Screen Door in Portland.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I've eaten there once, and I thought it was OK, but not outstanding. And then there's the cost.

Now I'll tell you where I eat around here when the creole hunger strikes: Poor House Bistro (in San Jose, right by the main train station). It's fast, it's inexpensive, and it has a good selection of po'boys and some of the other cajun/creole cafeteria food (though not the deep roux dishes). They're the only place I know that makes jambalaya by the same recipe as Mother's in NOLA, which is the perfect jambalaya. "Same recipe as perfection" is plenty close enough for me.

[debgeisler.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad you and Cheryl enjoyed it (and my best to her on her birthday).