Alden C.
Yelp
Treasure Island certainly wasn't high on my list of destinations for great restaurants and there certainly aren't many options as there is just really Aracely Cafe and Mersea to go to. The views on the outer parts of the island are very scenic and when you drive around the inner part of the area it certainly doesn't appear well developed at all and is run down, but once you walk up to Arcaley Cafe it feels like you're in a completely different world. I was definitely wow'd in every aspect of this restaurant from the ambience outdoors and indoors, to the service, and the food. This place really is a gem and a nice place to even hold events. Whats also great is they don't have menu prices that would make your eyes go wide open and everything is reasonably priced especially for Bay Area standards. We made reservations through their website because we thought it would be busy on a Saturday afternoon, but it was honestly very quiet especially for their indoor seating so reservations weren't necessary. The outdoor seating is also very cozy and aesthetically pleasing as you can see from pictures from other reviewers.
Our waiter was also very nice and welcoming and gave us great recommendations on their menu. All the staff were very hospitable there. The menu was very unique compared to most places and there wasn't an overwhelmingly large number of choices like you're at a Cheesecake Factory which made ordering easier as it's just one page for their food items. In terms of small plates we got the Golden Baby Beets for $7 and six Oysters for $3.50 each. We asked for large plate recommendations and were recommended the Breakfast Bowl which was $18 and Chilaquiles for $17 which we ended going with plus the Croissant French Toast for $14 plus bacon added for an extra $5. I was very surprised with how quickly we got our food as well since we ordered quite a lot. I was impressed by their efficiency. Everything was very fresh as well and you can see kitchen staff walking inside with fresh herbs that they cut from their garden outside. The food was easily the best part of the experience.
Little Plates:
- Golden Baby Beets were really unique and the green onion remoulade and lemon zest complimented the flavors really well. I don't normally like eating beets, but these were very tasty.
- Oysters on the half shell had ginger and kimchi which is a combo I never expected to go so well with raw oysters, but they were delicious. Just beware there might still be tiny bits of sand lingering on the oysters and the shell. For $3.50 per piece it was a solid deal.
Larger Plates:
- Croissant French Toast was SO GOOD. I don't eat croissant french toast often, but Arcaley made them perfectly. Their batter is outstanding and the peaches were so fresh and sweet. The dulce de leche cream cheese was amazing as well. The garrapinadas were also a nice touch as they are peanuts that added a nice crunch to the dish. We also added bacon on the side for an extra $5 and it was worth it because they gave a lot and were very crispy and were not oily either which complimented the french toast's sweetness very well. I believe the fruits they use and other ingredients change sometimes just based on looking at other reviews/photos. The french toast here is a absolute must get.
- Breakfast Bowl came with a flawlessly cooked poached egg, jasmine rice, pork belly, spinach, and other numerous ingredients. This might be an overreaction, but this might be one of the best things I've ever eaten. The pork belly is full of flavor and just melts in your mouth. The egg, rice, and all the other ingredients have such a nice flavor that you just have to try. The egg yolk oozing out of the poached egg and mixed with the rice was heavenly. Definitely would highly recommend getting this.
- Chilaquiles were also unique as I rarely eat beef cheek, but it was tender and delicious. The only con is you have to eat this dish quickly as soon as you get it as the tortilla chips on the bottom will get soggy, but it was still delicious and also unique.
I also got their matcha latte for $5 to go, but it was pretty small. It honestly tasted very watery and I didn't want to finish it. I would not recommend it, but that didn't really affect my experience because everything else was perfect in my eyes.
The service here is awesome and everyone working there provided a positive attitude. The restaurant as a whole has an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're on a vacation and is very relaxing. The food was affordable and an overall pleasant surprise from the flavor to their generous portions. I'm definitely making a trip to Treasure Island to come here again even if getting in and out of this island is a total pain every time. That 80W on-ramp is scary. Aracely and the beautiful scenery makes it all worth it though.