The Other Critics

Bauer Says Txoko Is Improved, But Still ‘Growing’

Txoko
Txoko Photo: Brian Smeets/Grub Street

Mr. Bauer kindly returned to Txoko in North Beach recently to do an update review after dinging them with a middling two-star review in which complained a lot about the lighting and the ambiance. Though not much has changed there except for cloth napkins, he now says “the speakeasy feel of the place” is an asset, and tries to open on a positive note talking about the “balanced and never heavy handed” cocktails. He doesn’t mention the lamb tongue salad we liked (it may not have been on the menu), but from the new menu he enjoys a “rustic” braised lamb shoulder and a potato soup with green garlic. He notes that there was a Basque couple sitting near him who had trouble understanding how the menu was at all Basque, and the server couldn’t really tell them either. And he leaves his verdict at two stars, same as before, with two and a half for the food. [Chron]

Bauer Says Txoko Is Improved, But Still ‘Growing’