Exploring the Bay Area

  The Melt The Melt is a fast-food chain with multiple locations across California and Arizona. It takes a high-quality spin on the classic notion of an American fast food joint. As the name suggests, they take some pride in their melted cheese. It's fast food, but they take care to provide a uniquely tasty product. When I first walked in, I was mesmerized by the salty smell, and then I became baffled by all the possibilities on the menu.   The menu features cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheesy chicken sandwiches, and mac and cheese for all the cheese-lovers out there. They also have a selection of soups, salads, drinks, and desserts (including some delicious hand-spun shakes).  The menu denotes several items that are vegetarian. It has a selection of add-ons, extras ($0.99), and premium extras ($1.99), which, for a small price, can be used to personalize the menu items. You can opt for an impossible burger patty for an additional $3.00 as well. I opted f...

Cafe Tibet Cafe Tibet specializes in Tibetan cuisine. Everything is both vegetarian and vegan, and it has many gluten free options.  It is a small hole-in-the-wall lovingly decorated with Tibetan artwork and souvenirs. I particularly admired the paintings on the wall that depict life in Tibet. I also liked the photo of the Dalai Lama and the flags on the wall. It is a family-owned restaurant, and the proprietor is a friendly man who waits the tables himself.  From the decorations and the attitude of the owners, I could tell that this small restaurant is a labor of love, born out of a pure desire to share their own delicious take on authentic Tibetan cuisine.  They have a selection of starters, salads, soups, gluten-free noodles, gluten-free entrees, noodles, momo (Tibetan dumplings), curries, and other entrees, as well as some interesting drink options. Nothing on the menu costs more than $20, making it one of the more affordable restaurants in the area.  We tried t...

La Mission La Mission is a popular small restaurant in Berkeley that sticks to authentic and delicious Mexican cooking. La Mission keeps the food affordable without sacrificing authenticity or quality. This restaurant is no secret. Crowds come back again and again to dine in or get takeout.  The menu is made up of elaborate, traditional Mexican recipes that they can whip up in a jiffy. They serve a variety of appetizers, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches, other entrees, soups, salads, and desserts.  We have been here more than once and have sampled several of the items. Below, I will describe some of our favorites, but honestly, it's hard to go wrong.  First of all, the spicy chile colorado burrito with chicken is a real hit. It is very spicy but very good! The spices from the chile de arbol and the chile colorado mix beautifully to make an intriguing flavor of their own. It makes for a satisfying and filling meal. Next, the ceviche is always light and summery. It ...