I’m no expert on food, but I like to think of myself as someone who knows where to get a great deal on some good eats. So I was psyched when I saw Luna Park, a fairly inexpensive place, ranked among the top 100 restaurants in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle recently (which, by the way, pays little attention to food prices in its overall selection process).
     But I have to say, my experience there was not up to par with the numerous raves I have heard about the restaurant. While I found nothing really wrong with the food, it was still difficult to find dishes that really stood out. Sure, their goat cheese fondue with apples and toasted chunks of bread ($6.95) was appealing; I thought it was a little romantic that a tea light kept the fondue warm. But I found the apple slices were better munched sans cheese, so I limited my dipping to the bread.
     As for the main dishes, I found the popular “pot on fire” ($13.75) disappointing-no matter what you call it, beef stew is still beef stew. I expected a surprising twist in flavor, or at least a clever presentation, but all I got was a hunk of beef (which I’ll admit was slow-roasted to perfection), some carrots, potatoes, and leek in broth. Nothing more. Also, the grilled half chicken ($12.75) was very edible, but not worthy of a spot on my list of favorite meals.
     If there were anything at Luna Park I would recommend, it would be the fish. The oven-roasted sea bass ($14.25) was by far the best dish on the menu (although the portion was smaller than the other dishes). Resting on a bed of spinach fused with garlic and accompanied by sliced potatoes, the flavors meshed perfectly. The mahi-mahi with mashed potatoes (also $14.25) was also noteworthy.
     While Luna Park’s overall taste is not fantastic, my compliments go to the chef for his minor yet tasty accents to the plates: the sea bass came with a few roasted red chilies, which packed a flavorful punch perfect for the dish. Also, the pecan chocolate cake for dessert ($6.25) wasn’t bad either; it was hearty and brownie-like. The twist: it came with a scoop of mint chip ice cream instead of traditional vanilla.
     I probably wouldn’t go back to Luna Park for dinner. Rather, I would choose a nearby taqueria instead, and probably save a few bucks in doing so. But Luna Park is still a great place to get an after-dinner cocktail. Their specialty is a “mojito” ($7.50). It’s a minty concoction, filled with actual mint leaves. Warning: it’s not for the faint of heart; and it will probably clear your sinuses!