Local links: New Thai spot on Clement, Doyle Drive, Kumquat

Zaab Northeastern Thai opens on Clement
SFWeekly has a review of the new Zaab Northeastern Thai restaurant at 908 Clement (at 10th Avenue). It took over the space from Golden Deer, an underwhelming Vietnamese restaurant. Zaab means “tasty” in the northeastern Thai dialect and the restaurant features “two dozen salads, a handful of seafood dishes, and several recognizably Thai-traditional dishes like pad thai, gai yang (grilled chicken), and tom zap (spicy hot and sour soup), as well as many lunch specials.” Read the full review at SFWeekly

Doyle Drive ramp closures leads to big backups for commuters
I know I’m missing the Doyle Drive ramps that have been closed and apparently I’m not the only one. CBS 5 reports that bridge authorities have figured out why traffic is so backed up on northbound Doyle Drive heading towards the bridge:

Mary Currie with the Golden Gate Bridge District says the primary culprits seem to be drivers themselves who are cutting through the visitor parking lot at the south end of the bridge to detour under the freeway and get on Park Presidio. That’s backing up the parking lot exit, all the way back to Lombard Street sometimes.

I do it, do you? Apparently, their solution is to “get the state to funnel drivers down Van Ness to Geary Blvd instead, and then out to Park Presidio, instead of having them all get stuck on Doyle Drive.” Uh yeah, good luck with that one.

Profile of Kumquat Art boutique on Clement
You gotta love the shops that span the first few blocks of Clement Street. There are some great gift shops like Park Life, the new Seedstore, and Kumquat which NBC Bay Area recently profiled. Hard to believe it’s been there 13 years already, but if it’s been awhile since you’ve stopped in, see what the article has to say about their collection of goods from California vendors including games, ornaments, art, bags and more.