A.W. Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar
November 14, 2024
Your table is waiting!
Your table is waiting!
A brief word to start… You will undoubtedly note that many of the reviews by Ralph Pancetta listed on this website are bit on the “older” side – some were written many years ago. I have been involved in the restaurant business for a very long time, much of it spent writing reviews. I won’t bother you with the longest part of the story, which is how I found myself – after growing up in Southern California – in the Fox River Valley of Northeastern Illinois.
That part of my “journey” has meant much to me. But in addition to Southern California, Lauren and I traveled to the northern part of the state. Starting at Santa Barbara, some of our fave spots were places like San Jose, San Francisco, Big Sur, Palo Alto, Sausalito, Muir Woods, Half Moon Bay, Wine Country (places like Sonoma and Napa), Mount Tamalpais & Stinson Beach and so many more. It would be an impossible task to try to name them all… However, our most favorite place was Carmel-by-the-Sea. We could stay there forever!
Join me now on that journey of many stops across the country that have led me to myriad cities and restaurants…and hundreds of reviews. It would be awesome if you could join me on a nostalgic trip down memory lane! But also, I have once again started to tell the stories and write the reviews. Currently exploring the state of Wisconsin, Lauren and I have started anew with reviews of some very interesting places and restaurants! I hope you will follow along and enjoy those reviews, too…
Ralph
In honor of National California Day (February 22nd), we’re highlighting our reviews from the Golden State! This featured section highlights the best of California’s diverse restaurant landscape, from the bustling cityscapes of the Bay area to the charming coastal towns and idyllic wine country. Discover hidden gems, savor local specialties, and embark on a culinary adventure through California’s diverse and delicious offerings!
In my career are twenty-five-plus years learning the restaurant business – from top to bottom – and six years in a Midwest university learning and polishing my writing skills. I have spent a good number of those years (just how many yet to be determined) on the road and authored well over 150 reviews & articles – and still counting.
I’ve traveled from Maine to Florida, from Boston to San Francisco, from Seattle to San Diego, and from Dallas to way north of Duluth, sampling and writing about food. And Yes, I love restaurants, I love preparing, writing about, and eating, food. I hope you enjoy reading what I have written!
