The Drake Jolly Roger

French Toast at Two Bird Cafe Lauren Antone | JR

The quaint Two Bird Café is the epitome of a home-style restaurant. Located in San Geronimo, this cozy eatery adjacent to The Valley Inn offers a wide array of dishes and a comfortable, at-home atmosphere for its guests, many of them locals.

Over the past 15 years, the restaurant has remained popular, keeping its menu fresh and changing. When I sat down for a Sunday morning breakfast, the Café was packed with families, couples and teens as the wait staff moved from one table to the next, presenting the day’s specials on a whiteboard. Unconventional as this method seemed, the guests didn’t seem to mind.

After sitting down in one of the café’s three small dining areas, an attentive and polite waiter was by my side offering me and my companion coffee and juice. The fresh squeezed orange juice (small $3.95, large $5.00) was deliciously sweet and thick with pulp, expensive but a definite for those who have not yet enjoyed it.

Our waiter returned immediately, bringing with him the large breakfast menu and the specials whiteboard. The breakfast prices on the menus ranged from $10.50 to $13.50, but were reasonable in terms of the large portion sizes and high quality of food. One of the waitresses told us much of the restaurant’s produce was grown on the property.

Seasonal dishes like Fresh Trout with a pumpkin seed crust ($12.95) or Miwok Pancakes ($10.50), a dish served with two fluffy pumpkin pancakes and pork-apricot sausage, were made with organic pumpkin and jumped off the specials board. But I was enticed by the French “French” Toast (10.50) with organic, fresh seasonal fruit.

Sitting near the glass doors in the sun-brightened dining room, time seemed to fly. The fireplace crackled and classical music hung in the air, but those sounds were mostly drowned out by the customers’ laughter. The wait staff was impeccable; my glass never went empty and my coffee was refilled twice.

The appeal of the restaurant was undeniable. As one group of customers left, another group filtered in, and everyone seemed to know one another.

Two Bird Café has all the intimate ambiance of an upscale restaurant, but without the longer wait you’d expect. The cook and wait staff had our food to us in less than 15 minutes, as quickly as a diner staff.

My beautiful plate of French toast was topped with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, powdered sugar and simple syrup. I didn’t add maple syrup because the flavor of the French toast was already so sweet. For those with a sweet-tooth, this is your dish. The French bread was crunchy but warm and had a lasting cinnamon taste.

My companion ordered the Eggs Benedict ($11.95) and claimed it was the best she had ever had. The hollandaise sauce was thick and creamy, draping over two poached eggs, two crunchy English muffins and two slices of Canadian bacon that were layered in between. It was served with scrumptious potatoes, perfectly seasoned, and a fruit salad of organic fruit, mostly melon.

“I love the food here,” said Two Bird Café employee and junior Mika Kakin. “The Eggs Benedict is one of my favorites.”

Two Bird Café is open not only for breakfast, but also for brunch, lunch and dinner. It has an extensive lunch and dinner menu, offering salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, chicken, fish-of-the-day and more.

According to Kakin, Two Bird Café is a great place to be Friday and Saturday nights because live musicians perform on the stage, located in the bar.

Even though I only sat down for breakfast, the great flavors of the food, coupled with the friendly staff and bright atmosphere, has convinced me to come back for most likely delicous dinner.

After months of bated anticipation, the empty building that was once a Jack–in-the-Box has been replaced by Chinese-Japanese Fusion, Edo Grill.

Located on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. near Red Hill, Edo Grill has a tasty, yet cheap menu that is perfect for students looking for an alternative to Hot Wok.

The food at Edo Grill is made to order right in front of the customer, and takes less time than it takes to make a burrito at Burritoville.  Edo Grill has many upsides compared to nearby Hot Wok.  Since you can actually see how your food is prepared, you aren’t left to imagine what is happening in the back room, or allowing them to serve you food that’s been sitting in a tray for hours.

Edo Grill’s menu is fairly small, and revolves around meat, rice, noodles, and sushi. I had the Beef Yakisoba Noodles for $7, so much food I actually couldn’t finish it. The Yakisoba Noodles are very similar to the Chow Mein that you would expect to get from any other Chinese restaurant. The Yakisoba Noodles also come with Chicken, as well as just by themselves. Most items that include meat also come with vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and zucchini stir fried in.

If noodles are not your thing, Edo Grill also has rice options, which include orange and teriyaki chicken, and beef. These are all served on plain white rice, but there is also Chicken Fried Rice available.

Say you do not want Chinese Food, Edo Grill also has Japanese dishes like Chicken Udon Soup, as well as two sushi choices from the menu: a California roll and a mixed sushi roll. These two items are reasonably priced at $4 and $5 respectively.

For those who don’t want a huge lunch, you can also get the kid’s portion of chicken and rice or the kid’s chicken and noodles. The only difference between these two choices is that they are about half the size of the normal versions and can save you about $2 per dish.

If you have a car available to you, or you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, Edo Grill also utilizes the old Jack-in-the-Box drive-through. The food is prepared in an efficient grilling process and is still healthy, despite its speediness.  

Edo Grill is about the size of Burritoville, but you do not feel cramped even though it is not a large space. There is plenty of seating – unlike the three small tables in Hot Wok – and the tables are new. The kitchen is in the open, and the large windows on three sides of the restaurant brighten it up. This makes Edo Grill feel open and spacious even though it isn’t that big.

While Edo Grill is a slightly longer walk than the other places at Red Hill, it is well worth it, and the amount of food that you can get for $6 or $7 makes it a good value. Even though Hot Wok sells its most popular combination for just under $5, Edo Grill is well worth the extra few bucks because of its quality and freshness.

Tony and his ice cream truck. Lauren Pey | JR

With summer coming to a close, take advantage of your final opportunities to enjoy a frozen treat from Tony’s ice cream truck. Instead of heading off campus to the gas station or home to grab a sub-par popsicle, visit Tony during lunch just outside of the Saunders parking lot to satiate your craving for a ice cream.
Tony offers a wide variety of popsicles, ice creams, and candies to satisfy your sweet tooth. Some of our favorites include:

Strawberry Shortcake ($ 2.00)
Always a familiar classic, a Strawberry Shortcake popsicle is the perfect marriage of creamy vanilla and tangy strawberry ice creams. The ice cream popsicle has a unique solid characteristic which prevents it from melting all over your hands and clothes, convenient if you have a crush on the T.A. in your 5th period class.

Snowstorm ($3.00)
For cookies and cream fanatics, Snowstorm is the way to go. The cookie to ice cream ratio is ideal: the generous amount of Oreo cookie is enough to give the ice cream a chocolate flavor, but doesn’t overpower the dominant vanilla ice cream. Although it is one of the more costly items at Tony’s ice cream truck, as a small bucket of ice cream, it is large enough to share with a friend.

Spongebob Bar ($2.00)
In case you were wondering what flavor this popsicle is, it’s simply sugar. If you’re in the mood for something colorful, cute, and reminiscent of your favorite childhood TV show, opt for the Spongebob Popsicle. Bonus: Your tongue will undergo intense color change. Note: This applies to all other character popsicles, so feel free to choose your favorite one if eating a yellow square with beady bubble gum eyes creeps you out. 2 hooks

Choco Taco ($3.00 )
One of the most unique type of ice creams offered at Tony’s, the Choco Taco comprises a chocolate-coated taco-shaped cone filled with vanilla ice cream. If you need a cone to go with your ice cream, this is the way to go, as it is the only cone-endowed option at Tony’s.

It’s-It ($3.00 )
It’s always hard to choose whether to go for delicious chocolate chip cookies, or a satisfying bowl of ice cream. Now you don’t have to choose, as the It’s-It ice cream sandwich combines both of these delectable treats splendidly. If you’re looking for even more cookie flavor that what is offered by the Snowstorm, go with the It’s It.

Double Lemon Chill ($3.00 )
If the idea of a zesty cup of lemon ice entices you, go for the Double Lemon Chill. The citrus flavor is unmatched by any other ice cream of its kind. It is an especially good choice on an especially hot day. Warning: Your mouth will taste like a lemon for five hours after consumption.

As the colder weather approaches, ice cream may not seem as appealing, so take advantage of the remaining good weather and head over to Tony’s ice cream truck for a delectable dessert.