• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Pescadero
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Pescadero 94060
(650) 879-0633

kathfisch said
Stunning views, so peaceful
This hostel in beautifully situated right on the coast next to Pigeon Point lighthouse. It has shared dorm rooms as well as private rooms, there are three separate buildings and each one has its own kitchen and lounge for guests to use. There is also free wireless internet throughout. An absolute highlight of our stay was the amazing hot tub which has views of the pacific ocean and, on a clear night, a wonderful array of stars. There are paths around the hostel to walk along the coast and down to the beach and there are lots of lovely places to visit close by if you have a car. I would recommend the Big Basin Redwoods State Park and the city of Santa Cruz, as well as lots of lovely beaches all along the coast. The drive down the coast from San Francisco along highway 1 is incredibly picturesque, it takes an hour at most and you’ll wish it lasted longer because of the scenery!

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: San Francisco
• Category: Hotels and Travel

San Francisco 94102
(415) 788 5604

kathfisch said
Great location, people and price.
I stayed at this hostel for over a week and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was in the city on my own and so made good use of the group activities planned by the hostel, there was a wide range of these covering sightseeing as well as evening activities and meals out. I stayed in a dorm room shared with three other people, the beds were comfortable and there was plenty of space for my stuff, including a good size locker for my valuables. There is also a communal kitchen, lounge and television room and free wireless internet access throughout the hostel. All the staff I spoke to were very friendly and helpful when I needed advice about things to do in the city. The hostel is perfectly placed near the union square area of the city, I felt safe walking around there on my own and it was close to buses, cable cars and streetcars to get to all parts of the city. Definitely recommended!

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Buffalo
• Category: Restaurants

Buffalo 14214
7168326666

kathfisch said
Great food, great welcome
Amy’s Place is hard to describe… perhaps ‘different, eclectic and delicious’ is a good way to start! I was taken to this restaurant whilst visiting a friend of mine in Buffalo who is obsessed with the place and eats there all the time, and I can see why. The menu was varied and had so many interesting dishes that I struggled to choose. In the end I needn’t have worried because we went back there a few times, giving me the chance to experiment and experience a few choices. Every meal that I had was different from the last and absolutely delicious, the veggie wet shoes and French toast are two that spring to mind. Enjoy!

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Cardiff CF24 3DL

kathfisch said
Nice atmosphere
Shot in the Dark is a nice café bar on City Road in Cardiff serving a wide range of drinks and snacks. The atmosphere is relaxed, it is a perfect place to take your time over a cup of tea and a cake whilst chatting with friends or reading a book. The prices are quite high but the food and drink are of a high quality and very enjoyable. There is an upstairs seating area as well so there is plenty of space and it doesn’t feel too crowded even when its busy. The whole place is available to hire as well apparently, it would be good as a party venue.

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Restaurants

Cardiff CF10 1PU
029 2023 3091

kathfisch said
Does what it says on the tin!
Being a national chain, the menu here is probably exactly what you expect, because you’ve been to Pizza Express before! The restaurant itself and the staff, though, are nicer than I have experienced at other branches of the same chain. The restaurant is spacious inside and decorated in a light and airy style, there is plenty of space between the tables with I appreciate. The kitchen is in the middle of the space, along one wall, and is open so that you can see the chefs preparing your pizza. I especially like to see (and smell) all their fresh ingredients waiting to be used. On both of my visits the staff have been friendly and attentive without being overbearing and the pizza is delicious.

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Chepstow
• Category: Restaurants

Chepstow NP16 5DE
01291 627111

kathfisch said
Greasy but good!
Charcoal Grill is definitely the best place to get takeaway burgers in Chepstow, this is the place my family always ask to go. The menu consists of standard takeaway stuff – burgers, kebabs, pizza, chips etc, with all the usual toppings and lots of grease! The staff do not always speak English very clearly but they are friendly and helpful and it is never a problem. The food is mostly cooked fresh for you while you wait so it is not the quickest takeaway ever but it is worth it because it tastes better and you know it is fresh. There is also the option to have your takeaway delivered if your order is over a certain value, something that not too many places in Chepstow will do.

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Chepstow
• Category: Restaurants

Chepstow NP16 5EP

kathfisch said
Excellent food, service and atmosphere.
The Sitar Balti is absolutely my favourite Indian restaurant anywhere, it has such great food, service and atmosphere! As you go down the small steps and enter this restaurant you are first struck by the setting, it is in the cellar of an old building in the centre of Chepstow, and so has a beautiful curved brick ceiling. Combined with the tasteful decoration, this gives a lovely intimate and homely atmosphere – booths provide privacy for up to four people or there are larger tables for parties. The staff are extremely friendly and happy to advise on menu choices or to create custom dishes according to your taste. When the food arrives it is served very attractively in beautiful dishes above candles to keep it warm, and is absolutely delicious. I have been to the Sitar Balti so many times (and had their takeaway many many more times!) and I have never been disappointed, enjoy!

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Chepstow
• Category: Restaurants

Chepstow NP16 5EL
01291 627726

kathfisch said
Excellent takeaway
The Red Lantern serves good Chinese food at reasonable prices and the staff are friendly. The inside of the restaurant was refurbished about a year ago I believe although I haven’t eaten in since then, I am much more a fan of their takeaway food. The menu is a nothing extraordinary, the standard selection from most Chinese restaurants I imagine, but there are plenty of dishes to choose from and they are well made and tasty when they arrive. The food is not too greasy, as a lot of Chinese food can be in this country, and the portions are a good size. Definitely my favourite Chinese in Chepstow.

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: Chepstow
• Category: Restaurants

Chepstow NP16 5LJ

kathfisch said
Yum!
Mamma Mia is a great Italian restaurant, there is a wide range of dishes to choose from and they are very tasty and generous portions. The inside is very tastefully decorated, clean and simple with bold colours. When it first opened I found the service to be excellent but on more recent visits I have not been so impressed. It can get very busy and I have felt a few times that the staff were too busy to really give us the attention we needed, which is a pity because they are friendly when it is not so busy. There is a special price menu at lunch times which I totally recommend because it is very good value and there are not so many people so the experience is much better.

• Added: 10th of September 2008
• Area: San Francisco
• Category: Restaurants

San Francisco
415-788-3779

kathfisch said
The most delicious burgers!
Mo’s Grill is a lovely little burger place in the North Beach area and they also have a place in Yerba Buena Gardens, at 772 Folsom Street, San Francisco. I visited the one on Grant Avenue and was immediately impressed with the decoration inside and a very friendly welcome from the staff. The menu offers a wide selection of burger types, toppings and buns – it was hard to choose which to go for! In the end I decided upon the California Burger which is topped with avocado and cheese as well as the usual salad and tomato, absolutely delicious. The meat was cooked just how I’d requested and the toppings were absolutely fresh and very generous quantities. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and will definitely return when I’m in San Francisco again.