Today is the day of the big Eastwick Move. The agency is moving into its new posh digs in Mountain View from Redwood City. Rather than talk about what a big step this is in the evolution and growth of the agency, I’ve taken this time to reflect upon what matters almost as much — how will this affect my lunch options?

I work out of Eastwick’s San Francisco office, here in (usually) sunny Potrero Hill. My fellow SFers live in the City, love the City, and, were it not for our beloved colleagues down the 280, usually view anything south of the Mission as a no-man’s-land of shopping malls, parking lots, and car dealerships (maybe it’s not that bad, but we are pretty finicky up here). One of the great things about our SF office, apart from being seven minutes from my house, is the myriad lunch options nearby. From french café to Chinese, to fantastic burgers and Middle Eastern, to soul food and sushi, it’s all good and all close.

Sadly, the same cannot necessarily be said for Redwood City. Apart from a fantastic Turkish restaurant and a decent pho joint, Redwood City had little to excite me until Eastwick’s Operations Ninja Ziad told me about El Grullense, just down the street from Eastwick’s office. This taqueria, part of an ever-growing chain, boasts some of the best tacos (real ones, not the crunchy shell-beans and guacamole-nonsense you see too often) I’ve ever had, and I consider myself something of an expert. It is their sopes, however, that are transcendent. These sopes, small round disks of masa with meat and other toppings, probably are the best in Northern California. This guy, writing two years ago, had it just right. I’d say that I lunch at El Grullense just about every time I make the trip down to our Redwood City office.  The staff is nice, it’s always crowded with a good mix of workers and families, and the jukebox is always jumping. This will be a hard habit to break.

I understand our new office is beautiful and just a nerd’s throw away from the Googleplex and other impressive tech businesses. I’m sure there will be plenty of good dining options nearby, but if all the food is geared only toward the Dockers brigade and Judd army, then I will shed a tear.

el grullense, measurement, mountain view, moving day, potrero hill, redwood city, san francisco, sopes, taco truck