There haven’t been a ton of openings for Mr. Bauer to cover lately, but he’s been doing a thorough job of updating his reviews prior to the Top 100 update. Flora in Oakland, it seems, is no better than it was when he last reviewed it in 2012, and it’s only gotten more expensive since then. He’s appalled at a $25 dish of fried chicken that is a paltry portion at best, and the grilled pork chop, $8 more than it was three years ago, “didn’t live up to the pricing.” The service is still good, though, and so are the cocktails, including his favorite Corpse Reviver No. 2, which he says is the best thing on the menu. “Next time I think I’ll drink my dinner,” he quips. All told: two stars. [Chron]
Meanwhile, Nicholas Boer reviews Lungomare in Jack London Square, where things aren’t exactly perfect. He says his first meal there “was every bit as good as the menu looks,” but on the second go, “nothing seemed to click.” There was a lamb dish that “looked like mutton,” and at a subsequent brunch, he had a “disappointing egg panini,” too. In the end, though the lounge is sexy and the atmosphere gets three stars, the service and the food missteps bring things down to two stars overall. [Chron]