Vault 164

Disappointment is allowed?... right? "Pain makes you stronger." "Pain makes you beautiful." My version, "Bad dining experiences make you appreciate good ones."

To be fair, I never thought that Vault 164 had a chance tonight. We drove almost an hour to get there, (for what should have been a half hour drive), couldn't find parking when we did get there, and then the outside of the building was being painted when we walked in the front door.

Now I have never spent time in downtown San Mateo, and I really had no idea what to expect. I was picturing a slightly larger version of San Carlos, which is very similar to Los Gatos, (without the Santa Cruz Mountains and a much larger street running next to it... The El Camino Real). ((I appreciate the fact that I just used the same word twice next to itself in two different languages... The means El in Spanish, stay with me)). It wasn't. San Mateo reminded me more of San Fransisco. But not the good part of San Francisco, not the part where you are singing on trolley cars after midnight. No, San Mateo reminded me of the San Francisco that exist around 2 PM, when you desperately need to park and find a place to use the restroom. The obnoxious and gross part of San Fransisco. Like I said, Vault 164 never stood a chance.

What made the experience even worse is when we started to eat at Vault 164 the food was average... at best. We started with bacon wrapped dates, and to be honest, it was the culinary highlight of the evening. It was a date stuffed with cheese wrapped in bacon. What made it slightly unimpressive was I had a very similar dish at my friends house a couple weeks ago which was as good... if not better. The main dish was more disappointing. It was suggested that I try an almond crusted Swordfish, served with carrots and a crispy Risotto. The carrots and Risotto were great, in fact after finishing the meal I wished I had just ordered the Risotto. The Swordfish was just okay. I lied, the swordfish wasn't very good. I am an eater, (not a "taster"). Food, like wine, I enjoy when consuming, not putting a little on my tongue and spitting it out. I didn't finish my meal tonight. I can't remember the last time I didn't finish my meal. About half way through the fish I didn't want to eat anymore. Not because it was bad or gross, just because it wasn't good. The whole time I was thinking, "I really don't want to make this dish next week," not a good indication of my enjoyment. I always say, "If I come to a restaurant and the server cannot suggest one good thing on the menu, it is not a place worth going back to."

Anyways, I have to get up early to play a round of golf tomorrow morning, and hopefully it is better than tonight's dinner. Whoops, did it again. I didn't know I disliked tonight's dinner this much.. but I need my sleep, goodnight. Come back next week when I try to replicate a truly forgettable dish... I am soooo excited, (sense the sarcasm). NEXT ROUND'S ON ME.