Steak and eggs

Eastside Road, March 12, 2011—

YOU'D BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING that we never eat at home. We were on the road again today, driving down to Mill Valley for a years-postponed birthday lunch with an old friend who lives there. She suggested a local hangout for lunch, and I enjoyed it. We sat in a leather-upholstered booth in a corner, the three of us, and caught up on the old old days. And ate.

I had a few leaves of L.'s salad, rather nicely dressed I thought; then went on to “uova fritte con bistecchina,” a couple of eggs fried over easy, served next to a small grilled beefsteak and a handful of asparagus, with “breakfast potatoes” — diced, with red pepper, and sautéed: for this was a brunch menu; I'd forgotten it was a Saturday.

I suppose I ordered it thinking of the marvelous Azores-style beefsteak (with fried eggs) I could have had yesterday at City Gates, but didn't, because the bacalhau called louder. Then too today's menu was in Italian, with English subtitles, and I probably thought there'd be something Italian about the execution of this dish. There wasn't, except for a little “balsamic“ drizzled over the steak. But it was tasty enough, and it's always fun to have beefsteak three times in a single week; it contributes to one's knowledge.

Pinot Grigio; Syrah, Sicily (might this have been Planeta's Syrah? It was very nice, but, poured by the glass, I never saw the label

• Piazza D'Angelo Ristorante, 22 Miller Ave, Mill Valley; 415.388.2000