PRRP installment 16: Efrain's (and Chocolaterie Stam)

From our few remaining dinner places, we drew Efrain's. This is probably the best-known restaurant on Public Road and also the longest-lived except for the Fortune Cookie and Ting's. We vaguely remember the restaurant that was there before Efrain's, which had a name that started with a T and an eclectic menu that included things like roast duck, but we can't recall the name--or the place that was there before that one. At any rate, we hadn't been to Efrain's in several years. 

We walked up at 5 p.m. to avoid the long waits that are typical of weekend dinnertimes there. We enjoyed our meals, and the service was brisk, friendly, and competent. G had chicken fajitas, and I had the tamale plate. The tamales came from the kitchen very hot and were smothered in a flavorful red chile sauce. 

Afterward, we walked across the street to Chocolaterie Stam for dessert (a truffle for G and gelato for me). It was quiet when we first got there, as it was still only 6:15 p.m., but several groups were coming in when we left. And there was a piano player!

I thought the  margarita was pretty.

The tamales were hot and tasty, especially because I liked the red chile sauce. G liked the fajitas but thought the meat should have come on a sizzling plate accompanied by grilled onions and peppers. 

Photo of me and the restaurant in the mirror that we were seated next to. 

Dessert at Stam: cookies and cream gelato and a dark chocolate truffle. You can see the piano player waaaay in the background.

Stam has the most beautiful counter.