Poleng Lounge - Balinese groove

One of our friends is in a band and was playing tonight at Poleng Lounge on Fulton. We ventured over to the neighbourhood for the second time in a few days and were pleasantly surprised (next to Papolote). The refurbished restaurant come bar come live music venue smells and feels like a brooklyn joint and the crowd matches the bill. It was a full house on a Thursday night, lots of drinkers with a few tables enjoying some of their small plates that are inspired by traditional asian street food. Looking at the website it seems to be a vibrant little spot collecting all sorts of cultural nuggets. If you are in the mood for some small plates and ecclectic beats then off you go to Poleng...

Cheap tasty Indian food?

If that's what you're looking for then Lahore Kahari is your secret find. It is totally non descript from the outside and the inside doesn't offer anymore flair. However as long as you have your booze in tow, this place delivers on the food. Guddu, the owner, runs a one man show, his smiling face greets you as you enter. Four of us ordered everything that caught our eye on the menu, shovelled down all the tikka masala, garlic naan and other treats we could stomach and the bill...? 38 dollars for four, that's probably not too far off a meal back in Lahore proper. Double this place up with a classy cocktail at Bourbon and Branch and you will get extra brownie points.

Did someone say healthy Mexican?

Sunday night post Yoga, friend in town who needs feeding. Hmm, the dilemma, he is an old roommate and I know he has a thing for healthy Mexican joints. I type into my phone, healthy, Mexican, SF and low and behold Google actually delivers and off to Papalote we go. Its bustling outside with limted seating inside. A long open kitchen stretches the length of the restaurant. Everything here is made fresh to order - I went for a selection of tacos, soft corn - chicken, beef and fish. Other people had the veggie burrito and veggie tacos. All delivered to one of the few tables that we were lucky enough to snag. As a bonus they have beer and that Jamaican ginger beer that seems to be everywhere. We left full and happy. If you are looking for an eat in or take out healthy mexican meal, this is your place. (Other location on Valencia).