BURMA SUPERSTAR, Richmond District, SF

The Champagne Supernova Supper Club ventured into the Richmond District of San Francisco on a Friday evening to check out the popular Burma Superstar. Like sardines, 6 of us piled into a 4-door and made the trek across the Bay Bridge. We were pleased as punch to zip through the carpool lane without having to pay a toll. The drive through the city was just as speedy, but once we got to our destination finding parking wasn’t so smooth. With considerable effort, a space was secured a good 4-5 blocks away.

Burma Superstar, like all renowned restaurants in the city, is anti-reservations—no matter how big of a party you’re dining with—so we were mentally prepared for a long wait. And wait we did. The stars seemed to be aligned for us though, since Burma Superstar has a clever way to keep hungry and impatient diners from twiddling their thumbs. We were looking at a wait of a page and a half, which was approximately an hour to an hour and a half. However, we were allowed to put down a name and cell phone digits. This freed us up to enjoy some pre-potations nearby at The Plough & the Stars. This Irish pub seemed to be the perfect niche to down some tasty Irish and English Beers, catch a football game and listen to live blue grass. Word to the wise though, the musicians weren’t too savvy with their equipment, much to the dismay of sensitive ears. The best sound in the pub that night was Burma Superstar calling us for our table.

Burma Superstar was a tiny hole in the wall. Kitschy Southeast Asian knick-knacks adorned the wall. The lighting was a bit harsh which seemed to compound their cramped and loud atmosphere. This isn’t a good place for a 1st date but is recommended for divorced couples, merely because intimate and romantic conversation would be impossible over the din. The menu selection was impressively extensive. There were tasty choices for carnivores, herbivores and pesco-pollo-vegetarians. The service was attentive, friendly and funny. We were concerned about the spice factor, and our waiter joked that although our food would have a kick, it wouldn’t “kill us.” Much like our trip across the bridge, after ordering, our dishes were delivered with speed. The presentation was colorful and saucy, as we’d expect from SEA cuisine. A run-down of our selections is as follows:

Rainbow salad- our appetizer had 22 ingredients but all we tasted was spice.
Sesame chicken- tangy and sweet, perfect crunch factor.
Curry eggplant- little eggplants, mild and tasty.
Coconut Chicken Flour Noodle Curry- the nutty flavor couldn’t save it from being boring.
Burmese-style curry & shrimp- fresh flavor, shrimpalicious.
Tofu vegetable- mild flavor, tofu was good and hearty.
Coconut rice- wonderfully meaty, the perfect pitch of sweet and sticky.

The libations were the standard fare with an SEA twist. We ordered the white wine sangria that tasted like sunscreen. The lychee mint julep was a pleasant mouthful of lychee. Like boba drinks though, be careful sucking through a straw or unexpected gelatinous fruit will be coming through the pipe. With stomachs bulging we had to decline a peek at the dessert menu.

Overall, Burmese Superstar is a bubbly and vivacious feast for all the senses. Although the ambiance is none too impressive, the dishes are definitely worth the wait and that’s saying a lot considering the price of admission on a weekend night will be a test of patience and hunger.

Burma Superstar Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
309 Clement Street (between 4th Ave & 5th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 387-2147
www.burmasuperstar.com/

OLD KRAKOW, West Portal, SF

From Switzerland we jetted off towards Eastern Europe by dining at West Portal's Old Krakow. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect. Reservations were made a week ahead of time and when the date came; we slogged into the city on a rainy and blustery evening, deep in the heart of winter. The downpour was tremendous and what better way to spend such a soppy and sloppy evening than supping on the meaty and tasty fare of Polish cuisine?

Now, there are members of the CSNSC who have a particular penchant for Polish cookery and Old Krakow reaffirmed a special affinity for this country's food. Old Krakow is an elegant, family-oriented venue. The wait-staff were genuinely kind and gracious. Although the restaurant seemed relatively small, there is an understated sophistication to the atmosphere. They have an excellent selection of Polish beers to whet the appetite, and we smacked our lips between sips, eager for the steady course of food to come.

We started with the all time favorite comfort food, the assorted perogies, which included cabbage & mushrooms, seasoned meats, and white cheese & potatoes. As soon as they were on the table, these perogies performed an outstanding disappearing act. They were gone in a blink of an eye. We moved on to the grilled halibut with steamed vegetables and seasoned rice. Much like the perogies, this dish could not escape our enthusiasm. Eating family-style, we feasted on the stuffed cabbage rolls with mushroom sauce. This was not as masterful as Suppenkuche's but presented a crowd of flavors that pleased the palate all the same. The breaded pork cutlets didn't seem to be as memorable either compared to Suppenkuche. What did stand up for rave reviews was the homemade polish sausage dinner. Piled gorgeous onto a plate, the object d' art wiener was surrounded by sautéed sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. This dish had the taste buds roaring for more, a perfect mélange of savory meat, creamy potatoes and the sweet and sour combo of crunchy pickled cabbage.

After finishing the last bites of this hardy meal, and loosening the belts and buttons to our pants, we looked up to see quite a line of people patiently waiting at the door and underneath the restaurant's awning outside, which almost shielded the assembly from the wind and rain. This should speak volumes about the attraction of their cuisine. If Old Krakow truly is "the Bay Area's only Polish restaurant" then subsequent visits may have to be on the agenda. This place packs a tasty Polish punch.

Old Krakow Polish Restaurant & Art Cafe
385 West Portal Ave
San Francisco, CA 94127 415-564-4848
www.oldkrakow.us

MATTERHORN RESTAURANT, Cow Hollow/Pacific Heights, SF

We've had a rocky start as a supper club. Although we've popped into a handful of restaurants throughout the Bay Area, our organization has been lacking. Readers beware; this review is constructed through faulty memory. Only recently, have we gotten our heads together to record our culinary exploits.

Last fall, we had the pleasure of visiting Matterhorn Restaurant, which kicked off our European Supping Tour. Parking was thankfully easy in this particular neighborhood and unlike most restaurants in SF; we were able to make reservations, which promptly got us a table. As soon as we walked through the door, we were immediately whisked away to a Swiss chalet. We could imagine snowdrifts sweeping past the windows. A giant map of der Schweiz was sprawled across the very back wall. The ambiance was cozy and dimly lit, lending to a spacious yet intimate affair. The guests were as diverse as they were loud. This is a great place for big parties and hearty eaters. The spirit of Switzerland can lead groups to rousing debates and convivial uproars, so be sure to come with an empty stomach and an appetite for lively discussions.

Before the main event, we were each served a small salad of mixed greens, and, if memory serves, these were not particularly noteworthy. We ordered the "The Spicy One" Fondue Ticinese, which had a piquant punt to the palate. Definitely one of the best. The Original Fondue Valaisanne was heavy with the robust flavors of Gruyere and Swiss. We were disappointed with the mundane cheese-fare of "The Smokey One" Fondue Allemagne, a boring blend of smoked cheeses. Favorite dipping items of choice were the potatoes. How can anyone mess up cheese & potatoes? The bite-sized bread was an excellent accompaniment as well. The mushroom dippers weren't as flavorful and, therefore, disappointing. A quick note let your dippers stew in the fondue for a few seconds so they can truly soak up the savory tastes. We shared a bottle of Swiss white wine, which the wait staff wisely and kindly suggested for us. Overall, the service was gracious and informative. They had answers to questions that were just beginning to form in our collective minds.

For those of us who were uninitiated to fondue, this was definitely the place to be de-flowered by the ultimate melted cheese experience. Although the fondue was extraordinary, unfortunately, Matterhorn Restaurant was not enough to tempt us back. Perhaps fondue just isn't our bag. All the same, this is a must-do-at-least-once.

Matterhorn Restaurant
2323 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 885-6116
http://matterhorn.ypguides.net/