Marin County Dining, Harmony, Benissimo

Cuisine=*(0-20) Ambiance=!(0-5) Price=$(Simple-Full)
Approximate Price per person excluding tax, beverage + tip=$. Simple=appetizer + main course; full= best available multi-course meal.

As We Like It has been serving the gastronomically enlightened community since 1989.

    Mill Valley, Marin County

    Harmony *(14.5) !(3) $(15-40) 415-381-5300  www.harmonyrestaurantgroup.com.  800 Redwood Highway Suite 401 in the Strawberry Town and Country Shopping Center.  Daily= 11:00 AM-2:30 PM, 5:00-9:30 PM
    Clean swept contemporary lines with shellacked wooden tables and substantial wooden chairs make for a comfortable venue to bring the whole family for a fine Chinese meal, and they serve dim-sum all day long in addition to their regular menu. We found the pot stickers to be superb and the harvest spring rolls to have a nice, crispy crust. The glazed lotus pork spare ribs were a bit bland, and the shrimp gow dumplings were tasty, but the outer wrappers were overly thick. We highly recommend the crisp living-butter-lettuce-cups with minced chicken, as well as the Harmony signature beef made with certified Angus reserve meat. Order some broccolini Cantonese and plain jasmine rice to cut the richness of the beef. Desserts include a toothsome banana sesame ball and an underwhelming coconut cream roll. An appropriate though simple wine selection is available, and corkage is $15.00 if you bring your own. Our bottle of 1995 Pol Roger Brut Champagne complemented the dinner quite well. Service is professional, efficient and caring.

    Corte Madera, Marin County

    Benissimo *(14.5) !(3) $(20-45) Tel.=415-927-2316 Fax=415-927-3965.  18 Tamalpais Drive.  Dinner nightly from 4:30 PM.
    Comfortable booths and table placements afford privacy. They have a wide selection of pastas (we favor the fettuccini and penne with bolognese or carbonara sauce) as well as a delightful, thin-crusted pizza Margherita; this combination makes it a winner for our children and grandchildren. In addition, they make a decent osso bucco and a fine fettuccini with prawns in a cream sauce. They also prepare one of the best minestrone soups around, and their green salad is truly fresh. An appropriate domestic-imported wine selection is available, and corkage is $15.00 if you bring your own. Our bottle of 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Frescobaldi Castel Giacondo complemented the dinner quite well. Service is professional, efficient and caring.