Sticky Rice Chinese Bistro and Bar - Fairfield, CA

Sticky Rice Chinese Bistro and Bar
5030 Business Center Dr. #100
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 863-7500
stickyricebistro.com



Sticky Rice Chinese Bistro and Bar is located off I-680 at Green Valley Road in Fairfield, just a couple of minutes off the freeway and next to the public library. The restaurant is not very big, although it has table seating inside and outside. Too bad the outside seating area is not lit, but at least Sticky Rice Chinese Bistro and Bar is a nice spot for lunch.



It was fairly busy at Sticky Rice in Fairfield for a Thursday evening and the bar was almost full, probably due to happy hour. We had a couple of drinks while waiting for the rest of our party to arrive, a margarita on the rocks and a Napa Smith Amber Ale.



Here's what we ordered at Sticky Rice in Fairfield for dinner...and btw, I wouldn't order any of these items again (except the lettuce wraps) if we ever decide to eat here a second time. On a more positive note, service at Sticky Rice was wonderful.

Minced Chicken Lettuce Wraps $9 - good

Asian Chicken Salad $9 - meh

Steamed Sea Bass $19 - small portion and overpriced!

Hong Kong Crispy Noodles $10 - salty

Crispy Scallops in a Spicy Garlic Sauce $16 - too much breading

Lemon Chicken $11 - overcooked

Orange Beef $11 - okay (but I've had better...way better!)

Pineapple Coconut Sticky Rice Dessert - yuck

Fuzio - Dublin, CA

Fuzio
4930 Dublin Blvd
Dublin, CA 94568
(925) 833-7124
fuzio.com

Tonight was our first visit to Fuzio and they have an "April Pasta Frenzy" on Wednesday nights, offering 18 different Universal Pasta dishes at 50% off (regular prices range from $8.50 to $12.95)...what a SUPER DEAL! I think this is the best-kept secret in Dublin this month.

5 stars for our server Lisa...she's everything you'd expect from a great server with a cheerful, happy-to-be-here attitude. It's refreshing to meet someone like her! :)

5 stars for the VALUE of our meal. Fifty. Percent. Off.

Fuzio Firecracker Pork Fusilli: Ginger-braised pork, firecracker-hot habanero pesto and sour cream---give it a stir to mingle heat and flavors together. $5.13 at 50% off.

Cambazola Rigatoni: Grilled chicken breast, garlic cream, cambazola cheese, caramelized button mushrooms and basil. $4.75 at 50% off.

I was a little disappointed at first to see such small portions when the dishes arrived...but the bowls must be very deceiving because I could only finish half! DH absolutely LOVED his fusilli and even ordered another one to go for lunch tomorrow...at 50% off. Now we both have "leftovers" for lunch tomorrow! :)

Three pasta meals (four if you consider mine a "double" meal) including tax and tip for $21.46 + Super Server Lisa + I'm feeling generous tonight = 5 stars.













Fuzio Firecracker Pork Fusilli $5.13 at 50% off


Cambazola Rigatoni $4.75 at 50% off

Claude and Dominique's Bistro - Pleasanton, CA

Claude and Dominique's Bistro
210 Rose Ave
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 462-0100
claudeanddominiquesbistro.com

We were greeted, seated and served by Irina, a lady from the Ukraine. Peeking through the small window to the kitchen while waiting to be seated, we saw a Mexican chef. I lived in Paris for almost 3 years, so I had high hopes in discovering a French restaurant I liked right in downtown Pleasanton.

DH ordered the Venison Grand Veneur plus a side of potatoes and veggies. I ordered a new entree on their menu, the Seafood Risotto which was supposed to come with garlic bread.

Venison: it was "okay" quality and one of the petite medallions had a chewy inedible piece. Potatoes were delicious and so were the veggies.

Risotto: the shrimp and scallops were disappointingly overcooked. When I asked if my garlic bread was coming, Irina said it didn't come with it but she would bring me some if I wanted. I said I thought the menu included garlic bread and she checked the menu and apologized, saying it was a new dish and the chef forgot. She brought two huge slices of garlic bread and DH was happy that I gave him one! :)

If you're looking for an authentic French restaurant, I wouldn't come here. If you're looking for an overpriced wannabe-French restaurant, perhaps C&D Bistro might live up to your expectations...but don't expect an intimate dining experience, as there was a party of four dining across the room while we were there and it sounded like we were all at the same table.







Venison Grand Veneur $28.95 + Potatoes $2.95 + Veggies $2.95


Seafood Risotto $15.95


Dinner for two including tax and tip: $36.89
(courtesy of a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate)