The Other Critics

Bauer Updates Dosa on Valencia; Boer Visits Ocean Bliss in Pleasanton

Mr. Bauer returned to give an update to the smaller of the two Dosas in town, on Valencia Street, which he says has always been his favorite. He’s pretty into the new decor, and doesn’t say much about the recently added cocktail menu (which borrows from the one at the Fillmore location). But he says the kitchen still “knows how to fry” and he’s a fan of all the dosas, as well as the chile-marinated fish fingers and the Chennai organic chicken. He’s not so into the Tamil lamb, but the prawn moilee is a winner, “where the flavor of coconut played off fenugreek and ginger, creating a golden sauce that boosted the sweet flavor of the prawns.” He gives it two and a half stars, but says, “Under [chef Paul] Raj, that food is moving toward three-star status.” [Chron]

Nicholas Boer is on East Bay duty this week, and visits a new Japanese place called Ocean Bliss (600 Main Street) in far-off Pleasanton. Amusingly, he notes that chef Yunli Zhuang decided to settle in Pleasanton because it was “the Bay Area town that most reminds him of the America he discovered while watching ‘Growing Pains’ in Shanghai.” Zhuang does most of the hot food, including beef teriyaki donburi and “pleasantly chewy” nabeyaki udon. And sushi chef Sally Yu handles all the cold stuff, which Boer appears to be a fan of as well. Bento boxes, however, are “more boring than blissful.” All told: two stars. [Chron]

Bauer Updates Dosa on Valencia; Boer Visits Ocean Bliss in Pleasanton