Dining in San Francisco

[ustreetguy]

Heading to San Francisco next weekend for a friend's b-day. Dinners are already set at the Cortez [Purchased by Ron Silberstein in 2008, Closed Aug 10, 2009], at the Hotel Adagio and at Lemongrass. Can anyone recommend anything I need to order at these places? I'll also have Sunday evening to myself so is there a not miss restaurant open on Sunday night for someone who just plans on ordering at the bar?

[DonRocks]

On 8/20/2005 at 1:28 PM, ustreetguy said:

Heading to San Francisco next weekend for a friend's b-day. Dinners are already set at the Cortez [Purchased by Ron Silberstein in 2008, Closed Aug 10, 2009], at the Hotel Adagio and at Lemongrass. Can anyone recommend anything I need to order at these places? I'll also have Sunday evening to myself so is there a not miss restaurant open on Sunday night for someone who just plans on ordering at the bar?

Forget the cookbook-chicken; I don't know that I've ever had better oysters than at Zuni Cafe. Sit at the raw bar and get a dozen, six pairs from the Pacific Northwest - an expensive little primer, and worth it, too. Absent that, I'd go to Delfina and squeeze into the tiny bar area for a full meal. Except for the raw bar at Zuni Cafe, I'm not sure I've ever experienced two more similar menus back-to-back than my consecutive meals at Zuni Cafe and Delfina last month (I had a slight preference for the cooking at Delfina). As giuinha noted, Slanted Door is a great family lunch place in the Ferry Building, but the warehouse-like bustle and crank-em-out kitchen would leave me a bit cold were I to dine solo at night, despite the outstanding wine list. (It serves many hundreds of covers per day, and the slapdash food is not carefully executed or controlled).

Cheers,

Rocks.

[Sthitch]

In the "for what it's worth category" Zagat gives Gary Danko a food rating of 29 and the French Laundry 28 in its 2005 guide reversing the food ratings from earlier years. This is the link:

"Gary Danko" on zagat.com

Danko is a great restaurant, but the likelihood of getting in at this short a notice is nil. When I was in San Francisco in June, I had an amazing meal at Frisson [Closed in 2008]. I would not begin to tell you what is good on the current menu since it changes with the season, but if they have the horseradish mashed potatoes, I would not miss this dish. I became a big fan of Chef Daniel Patterson when I ate the best meal I have ever had in the United States there, it is just too bad it closed. Frisson has a laid back, loungy feel to it. There is a large selection of small plates to share, or for easy foraging. The wine by the glass selection is long extensive, but very well thought out, and the only place I have seen that offers Grande Dame Champagne by the glass.

I would also recommend having at least one drink in the bar at the top of the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel. The promo shots for this bar were made by Ansel Adams, and the view is unrivaled in the city.

[crazeegirl]

I will be in San Fran later this week...any recommendations for solo dinners? Must go places?

---

Dining Solo (booklovingbabe)

[tanabutler]

crazeegirl said:

I will be in San Fran later this week...any recommendations for solo dinners?    Must go places?

What is your budget, what are your tastes, and how open are you to low-end and high-end things?

My #1 recommendation, as ever, is DO NOT MISS the Ferry Plaza Marketplace. It is a Mecca for foodies.

Will you have a car? What are your dates? Where are you staying? (Need a rec on that? )

[crazeegirl]

tanabutler said:

What is your budget, what are your tastes, and how open are you to low-end and high-end things?

My #1 recommendation, as ever, is DO NOT MISS the Ferry Plaza Marketplace. It is a Mecca for foodies.

Will you have a car? What are your dates? Where are you staying? (Need a rec on that?  )

Money is not an issue...cheap or expensive...good food is all I care about.

No car. This weekend starting Thursday. Union Square.

Thanks.

I called Gary Danko yesterday to see if there were any last minute cancellations...no luck. I am thinking about dining at the bar.

---

Ana Mandara (dcpolicywonk)

[crazeegirl]

DonRocks said:

I don't know that I've ever had better oysters than at Zuni Cafe. Sit at the raw bar and get a dozen, six pairs from the Pacific Northwest - an expensive little primer, and worth it, too.

I echo DonRocks' comments about Zuni Cafe. I tried a dozen pairs from the Pacific Northwest and each bite was heavenly. I would definitely recommend this place for solo dinners: very conducive to conversations with strangers...or not so strangers.


My sister and I tried Michael Mina They had a table for two w/o a wait!! By that time, with all the crap work I had to do all day long, I went ahead and took it with a heart beat! (I realized I came to the wrong place--not Gary Danko's--once we sat down...!!???!!! I couldn't remember the name so I asked the taxi driver whether he knew a nice popular restaurant with a male chef's name...michael mina was the first one mentioned, and it somehow seemed right ).

To our pleasant surprise each dish was very well executed. End of the meal, I felt like I didn't miss out on Gary Danko's. After all, a girl needs an excuse to go back to san fran.

Seared Diver Scallops ~ Chilled Ceviche
Meyer Lemon, Osetra Caviar
Yellow Corn, Black Truffle
Scarlet Beet, Maine Lobster

Butter Poached Maine Lobster
Corn Crepe, Citrus Jalapeno Reduction

Six Hour Butter Poached Prime Rib (for two)
Seasonal Creamed Vegetables, Trio of Potatoes

Root Beer Float
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies

[Skysplitter]

So has anyone else been to San Francisco lately? I'll be going in March for 3 days (in San Jose before then) and have been trolling Chowhound, here and elesewhere to see where to eat. I'll be eating alone, I don't eat shellfish and am not looking to go home broke But I am staying at a hostel for a reason.

That said, I'm plotting my sightseeing around- Gary Danko (at the bar), Zuni Cafe, Aziza [Closed May 22, 2016 "for two months of renovations"], Coco500 [Closed Jul 9, 2014], the Tartine Bakery, possibly the coffee place Tom mentioned in his chat today (Graffeo), and maybe Dottie's True Blue Cafe for breakfast.

If anyone has any other notes, comments, what have you, I'd love to hear it

[giant shrimp]

Skysplitter said:

So has anyone else been to San Francisco lately? I'll be going in March for 3 days (in San Jose before then) and have been trolling Chowhound, here and elesewhere to see where to eat. I'll be eating alone, I don't eat shellfish and am not looking to go home broke But I am staying at a hostel for a reason.

That said, I'm plotting my sightseeing around- Gary Danko (at the bar), Zuni Cafe, Aziza, Coco500 [Closed Jul 9, 2014], the Tartine Bakery, possibly the coffee place Tom mentioned in his chat today (Graffeo), and maybe Dottie's True Blue Cafe for breakfast.

If anyone has any other notes, comments, what have you, I'd love to hear it

the coffee place in north beach is strictly for beans is my recollection, and dark and light roast is the choice. it's well worth carrying some home.

you can easily take the bart to berkeley and visit chez panisse, which always is a mandatory stop for us even though the food isn't exactly cutting edge these days. the cafe upstairs is a good alternative if you can't get a reservation and you want to select things from a wider menu. however, i have succeeded in landing a table downstairs at the last minute, and i don't know how easy it is to get into the cafe now that they accept reservations, which is something they didn't used to do.

i would be interested in finding out what quince is like these days. it's on octavia street heading into pacific heights. we had a memorably delicious italian-ish meal there a couple of years ago, and found the place based on one of tom sietsema's postcard recommendations, which have always panned out for us.

i am also interested in the restaurant that is being opened by the chef who wrote the recipe on cooking eggs in water that appeared in the new york times magazine the first or second weekend in january. i can look him up if you're interested, but am not sure that the restaurant is yet in business.

[Skysplitter]

giant shrimp said:

you can easily take the bart to berkeley and visit chez panisse, which always is a mandatory stop for us even though the food isn't exactly cutting edge these days. the cafe upstairs is a good alternative if you can't get a reservation and you want to select things from a wider menu. however, i have succeeded in landing a table downstairs at the last minute, and i don't know how easy it is to get into the cafe now that they accept reservations, which is something they didn't used to do.

i would be interested in finding out what quince is like these days. it's on octavia street heading into pacific heights. we had a memorably delicious italian-ish meal there a couple of years ago, and found the place based on one of tom sietsema's postcard recommendations, which have always panned out for us.

I thought about going to Chez Panisse, but my time in San Francisco is very limited. It's more like 2.5 days (driving up from San Jose Monday morning) so I'm trying my best to stay in the city (I don't have car access after that ride up from SJ). The more I read about the city and the food, etc, the more I'm sure I'll be back, so I'd like to save it for another trip when I have more time.

From the SF Chowhounds, Quince seems to be doing well. I saw that in Tom's postcard as well, and not to be rude to Quince, but with Notti and Dino [Closed Jan 12, 2014] in DC, I don't feel the need to travel across the country to get Italian I'm sure they're using local ingredients in interesting ways, but Aziza's Moroccan I believe, Coco500 [Closed Jan 9, 2014] has an interesting menu (formerly Bizou), etc, etc, and for me, that's more of a draw.

I'll be sure to report back wherever I go... too bad I have to wait another few weeks

[Jonathan]

from what i have read about quince; it cannot be even put in the same sentence as dino or notti when talking about its food quality. i am looking forward to going there when i head to sf.

as for chez panisse, i believe the cafe upstairs is not as difficult to get into.

and thirdly, campton place's chef of two or so years (daniel humm) has left and is in nyc at 11 madison park. the new chef is melissa perillo, i think.

[Skysplitter]

Well I just got back from San Francisco and thought I would offer up my .02.

I did not make it to Danko since I blew threw alot of money in San Jose. I did however end up at Dottie's True Blue Cafe in the Union Square area and Aziza in the Richmond district.

Dottie's was a place I had started to read about- greasy spoon diner place with alot of character and great food. There were words of caution about it being in the Tenderloin, but balderdash I say. Easy walk from Union Square. As with most popular breakfast places, Dottie's was a little pricey, but damn it was worth it. For $11 you can get 2 big pancakes (I got the blueberry cornmeal), 2 eggs, bacon, potatoes and fresh squeezed OJ. THe coffee's also pretty damned good. I've eaten at alot of diners and breakfast joints in my time (I LOVE breakfast foods) and this was clearly in the top 5 places I've eaten at. Bintiff's [now Bayside American Cafe] in Portland, ME also comes to mind as does a place in Waterville, ME that I can't recall the name of right now.

Anyway, they also bake muffins, cinnamon rolls, several breads, all available there or to go. I left with one of their legendary cinnamon rolls, which was a sugar shock experience, but quite good all the same. Lots of walnuts and brown sugar = yum.

Onto Aziza, which is very popular over on the Chowhound board (reserve comments for the *other* CH thread ). Aziza serves Moroccan food, which I'd never had, but made a reservation for 1 and trekked on out to the Richmond area. Easily accessible via bus and on the main drag, the outward appearance is deceiving. I wondered what I was walking into (dive?!) and was treated to one of the most beautiful interiors I've ever dined in. Dark blue walls, candles all around, alcoves with plastered arches, red glass chandeliers- stunning really. But what really impressed me is that I was just a 1 top, got a prime seat in an alcove clearly meant for 3 or 4 people, and the service was outstanding. I started off with a lemon-basil martini which set the evening off just right. I found out after the fact that Aziza is becoming well known for their mixed drinks, and the martini was just proof in the glass. I ordered the lentil soup and the guinea hen. The soup was quite good, but when I got the guinea hen dish, the first words out of my mouth were in fact "holy shit!". It's served with a saffron, lemon and I think red pepper sauce, along with a purple potato mash. The last time I'd had such a reaction I was at Corduroy. A deceptively simple dish, all the flavors meshed well together. I had to tell myself to eat slowly. Dessert was a simple malted milk ice cream with chocolate chips and 2 cookies. Difficult to finish, but quite good.

Damage for 1 drink, soup, hen and dessert with tip was about $60. I would definitely go back. And if you're in town, you have to try and get there. (I would actually order you to RUN not walk, but to each his own.) This restaurant is doing everything right. Not a single misstep the entire evening. I'm already looking forward to the next time I can eat there.

I want a Chef Power and Chef Lahlou face off now

[Jonathan]

just got back from gorging in the bay area.

quick words, not one for long posts....

boulevard---over-priced and average.

quince---cheaper, tastier, better. very cute restaurant, with a interesting menu doing the local, seasonal, italian thing. great pastas.

zuni---great space, very small lunch menu, just setttled on a simple plate of house-made salami with olive oil dressed green beans and a glass of rose. it was a nice dish, that would make me want to go back for diinner. but unless you want the burger or chicken, dont go for lunch.

best deal in town: 50 cent pork buns in chinatown at the bakeries. DELICIOUS.

[synaesthesia]

Just got back from SF recently.

Miette in Ferry Terminal Building - macaroons (not the coconut type), particularly pistachio and rose geranium - hazelnut was okay, small jar of sea salt caramels at the cashier

Ciao Bella [Closed in 2010; now retail only] - great blood orange and campari granitas

Chez Panisse Cafe - got in just by walking upstairs and asking if there were openings - though I have to say high-quality ingredients, well-prepared, but flavors weren't memorable

Beard Papa - Mission St. across from Yerba Buena Gardens near Convention Center - YUM! Awesome cream puffs

---

Olivetto (TSE)

[goldenticket]

Highlights of a recent visit:

1550 Hyde Cafe and Wine Bar - I remembered seeing a mention on this thread as I caught a glimpse of this place while riding by on a cable car. They came up with an opening for 2 that night, so we took it and I'm really glad we did. I loved that the menu read like a directory of the vendors from the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Terminal Building that morning.

I started with the panzanella with salsa coniglio (rabbit liver sauce) - the local tomatoes and bread were topped with a chopped rabbit liver sauce. I wasn't sure what to expect, but what I got was a wonderful, light, decidedly un-liverlike flavor, firm but slightly soft texture set off by a touch of oil and balsamic. My main was a lamb moussaka accompanied by a small Greek salad. He got panko-crusted sardines and the suckling pig - both were very tasty and nicely prepared. Affogatto - espresso-drenched vanilla ice cream - was a perfect shared ending. A really nice meal in a cozy space (a bit too cozy when adjoining table's conversation veers toward marriage counseling ). A fantastic wine list; we shared a gewurtztraminer flight while waiting for our table and shared a (forgotten name) half-bottle, of which there was a large selection, for dinner.

A16 - in the Marina district. Great pizza in a wood-fired oven, a ricotta gnocchi that was like an Italian matzo ball soup - clouds of gnocchi in a wonderful chicken broth with all the usual chicken soup components. House-cured salmon - yum. Nice wine selection - a little slow getting to us, but the place was slammed and it was 9pm on a Sunday!! Not something I've ever seen in DC. Dessert - Chocolate budino tart with sea salt and extra virgin olive oil - ultra rich shell, but the olive oil and salt tempered some of that richness. [Thanks for the recommendation Todd!]

Citizen Thai - Tasty Thai food in North Beach (yeah, I know that's the Italian area - we had a cappucino at Caffe Trieste). 2 levels, 2 menus - one more formal dining, the other more of a street food, small-plate concept. Grilled sirloin with green curry and the (warm) Fresh Garden Roll were both really good. Serene setting and not at all crowded later (9:30ish) on a Friday night.

The Favorite - Swan Oyster Depot - we went there twice. Getting one of those 18 coveted seats at the counter is worth the wait. A cold Stella, a crab (Dungeness) cocktail, or a combo cocktail - what a treat. Sicilian sashimi - fresh sardines, fileted and thinly sliced, topped with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, capers and finely chopped red onion. I don't like canned sardines, but I'm a new convert to raw ones! We also had fresh scallop sashimi, their unbelievable house-smoked salmon, clam chowder.... it was a seafood orgy (I feel like StephenB ). [celebrity sighting - Scott Ian from Anthrax was in picking up something from the seafood counter - I wouldn't have had a clue but some nice locals we'd chatted with in line pointed him out.]

The Ferry Terminal Market is a wonderful market - we also went there twice. It provided picnic fixins and healthy snacks - cherry tomatoes, grapes, apples, etc. etc. And the permanent, indoor vendors are pretty amazing too, as I think has been mentioned previously.

Lowlights: New King Tin and Great Eastern - both in Chinatown, both fairly mediocre. New King Tin was cheap* and open late (*except for the Chinese greens - why are these always twice the price of anything else??) and packed with locals. We probably could have ordered better - one of those places with lots of specials posted on the wall in Chinese and tables of Chinese people with all sorts of great-looking dishes. Great Eastern dim sum was pretty boring - mostly dumplings - I found the selection kind of limited. My Peking duck-loving +1 didn't find any that he liked very much at the few places we tried.

[qwertyy]

Has anyone been to Town Hall? Experiences to share?

As part of my farewell tour, I'll be going there, Cyrus, and Zuni in a couple of weeks. No other questions. Just bragging.

[TSE]

Has anyone been to Town Hall? Experiences to share?

My mom went there right after they opened and thought is was a bit scene-y and the food was passable but forgetable. She said that a couple of friends have been since and raved about it, so bascially I have nothing notable to say.

[silentbob]

I'm looking to get a gift certificate for my friend and her husband at a restaurant that offers a top-notch vegetarian tasting menu.

From having looked around on the other boards, my understanding is that Greens is horribly overrated. But I've read some good things here and there about Fleur de Lys and Millennium. Anyone have thoughts between these two, or is there an even better option out there?

[tanabutler]

I'm looking to get a gift certificate for my friend and her husband at a restaurant that offers a top-notch vegetarian tasting menu.

From having looked around on the other boards, my understanding is that Greens is horribly overrated. But I've read some good things here and there about Fleur de Lys and Millennium. Anyone have thoughts between these two, or is there an even better option out there?

I have eaten the food of Millennium chef Eric Tucker at an Outstanding in the Field farm dinner: it was ]the worst food of any of the more than three dozen such dinners I've attended/photographed. I wouldn't go to Millennium with a gun to my head. The staff (and several guests) were obnoxiously, toxically preachy and holier-than-thou about the vegan menu. They were really not pleasant, and really not fun.

When I did my own research on high-end vegetarian tasting menus, the suggestions I got favored: the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Fleur de Lys, and Masa's. I would pick one of the first two, from having read the menus.

[qwertyy]

While I didn't make it to either Zuni or Town Hall when I was in San Francisco, I batted nearly 1.000 at the places we did get to. I [heart] San Francisco.

Frascati: Russian Hill, Italian. Warm, cozy setting. Lovely wine list, tight food menu. Stars included pork chop, chocolate bread pudding, bread salad (hooray for a lightly dressed yet flavorful salad!) and--man, oh man--the black truffle gnocchi, a dish I'd happily fly all the way back there just to eat again.

Bong Su: SOMA, Vietnamese. Oh-so chic decor and oh-so useless service. (A tip: if I have to pour my own wine because my glass has been empty for five minutes, don't fly over to the table and deride me for doing your job.) (I could go on.) By and large very good food, though, and a terrific drink list (kaffir cocktail!). Menu items are marked by region (north, central, south), and go heavy on the fish. I can't recommend the pork noodles more highly. Yum.

Absinthe: Civic Center, American/California. Been there three times now (brunch on this visit) and never get sick of the place. Best. Cocktail List. Ever. The polenta (with maple syrup, mascarpone, bananas, and walnuts) may be the pinnacle of brunch concoctions.

Zushi Puzzle: Marina, Sushi. Best sushi I've had in a long time. The nigiri is, basically, perfect, and the rolls have interesting and delicious flavor and texture combinations. Efficient service.

Annabelle's: Union Square, American/California. Full disclosure: my brother's the GM. Widely assumed to be a tourist joint (and widely patronized by tourists), it's now home to the former Rose Pistola chef, who put together an amazing 9-course dinner of regular menu items for we special guests. Clean cooking, very product-based. The scallop carpaccio with almonds and the bacon-wrapped dates were my faves. Delicious wine list.

We also got to Cyrus in Healdsburg, which I'll post a review of in the Wine Country thread as soon as my brain can think of something more intelligent to say than "wow." In short: maybe the best restaurant in America.

[Cooter]

Absinthe: Civic Center, American/California. Been there three times now (brunch on this visit) and never get sick of the place. Best. Cocktail List. Ever. The polenta (with maple syrup, mascarpone, bananas, and walnuts) may be the pinnacle of brunch concoctions.

I accidentally lit the napkin in the bread basket on fire with the table candle the first week this place was open. The strange thing was our waiter said that this was the third time it had happened.

[JLK]

Any thoughts on Crave or Lime?

[JLK]

I had a tasty, hearty inexpensive lunch at the bar at Umbria on 2nd Street today. The service was friendly and prompt; when I said I had a meeting in an hour, they paced my meal accordingly. I had the rigatoni amatriciana and it was delicious. When the pasta was gone, I asked for an extra roll with which to sop up the ragu of pancetta, onions, tomatoes and white wine. Nothing to knock your socks off, but pretty darn good just the same.

The pizzas looked good, as did the panini and an antipasti of soppresata, salami, etc., etc.

[JLK]

Mamacita = the best Mexican food I have had in many years. Marina.

Although my two friends and I were offered a table by virtue of dining early, we opted to eat at the bar. Over the course of the meal, the restaurant went from about 60% full and relatively calm and quiet, to overcapacity and LOUD.

Still, the food was great and reasonably priced. We had good cocktails and wine, and friendly shockingly efficient service for how crowded the place was.

While we waited for our other friend to arrive, first friend and I shared delcious guacamole ($7). For me, pretty much any guacamole makes me happy, even when it is just this side of sucking. But this guac most definitely didn't suck. Given the season, it was tomato-less (a good thing!), but did feature a red jalapenos and a light dusting of queso fresco. Unlike some guacamoles I have had, it was light on the onion too, instead coming with a side of salsa fresca. The chips were warm and fresh. When we got through the first batch of chips, the bartender brought us more without us having to ask. Nice.

For drinks, my friend had a glass of wine and I started off with a prickly pear caipirinha. Tasty, but I couldn't have dealt with a second rather sweet drink, and switched to wine.

When our #3 arrived, we ordered entrees including bistek del guero/skirt steak with chorizo-yukon gold gratin (mine), shrimp tacos and chicken enchiladas. Although my steak was great and quickly polished off between the three of us, the real winner were the enchiladas. I have a bad mental image of enchiladas as gloppy, sloppy cheesy messiness. At Mamacita, the dish was served in a cute crock and although there was an adobo sauce and sour cream involved, the enchiladas were oven-crisp and pretty damn fantastic tasting. I would order that on a repeat visit, for sure.

I can't say enough about the service we received either. The two women working the bar somehow managed to balance a crowd two or three deep getting drinks while also serving people like us dining. Our total pre-tip bill was just $105 with two drinks each.

[DC in DC]

We will be in SF on Xmas Eve (arriving in the afternoon) and staying through the 26th. After making half-hearted attempts to call a few places to see if they were both open on a Sunday and on Xmas Eve, and had availability, I have come up empty so far. I would appreciate any suggestions for those who are familiar with the SF scene. I am thinking ethnic (Mexican, Chinese) or hotel restaurants will be our best bets. We don't celebrate xmas, so it doesn't need to be particularly fancy or special. At the same time, we don't get out to SF every day, so I want to make the most of every meal (as with any vacation, of course).

Thanks!

ETA: I just got a reservation at Gary Danko on Xmas eve at 9:30pm. We will be totally beat with the time difference and flying in that day (on a ridiculous route designed to maximize FFM for gold/elite status). Will it be worth it? I don't know if Xmas is like V-day or NYE in terms of days to avoid eating out.

[Joe H]

We will be in SF on Xmas Eve (arriving in the afternoon) and staying through the 26th. After making half-hearted attempts to call a few places to see if they were both open on a Sunday and on Xmas Eve, and had availability, I have come up empty so far. I would appreciate any suggestions for those who are familiar with the SF scene. I am thinking ethnic (Mexican, Chinese) or hotel restaurants will be our best bets. We don't celebrate xmas, so it doesn't need to be particularly fancy or special. At the same time, we don't get out to SF every day, so I want to make the most of every meal (as with any vacation, of course).

Thanks!

ETA: I just got a reservation at Gary Danko on Xmas eve at 9:30pm. We will be totally beat with the time difference and flying in that day (on a ridiculous route designed to maximize FFM for gold/elite status). Will it be worth it? I don't know if Xmas is like V-day NYE of days to avoid eating out.

You got into Danko? And you are asking if it is worth it? Are you serious? For most, including myself, this is the best restaurant in the Bay Area and I am including the FL in this statement.

GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A post of mine about Danko from several years ago: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/165051?que...&user_name=

[DC in DC]

You got into Danko? And you are asking if it is worth it? Are you serious? For most, including myself, this is the best restaurant in the Bay Area and I am including the FL in this statement.

GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A post of mine about Danko from several years ago: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/165051?que...&user_name=

JoeH you are too funny! I suppose I have outed myself as a rube (I hadn't realized it was THAT difficult to get a reservation)! I told my husband that we'll take a nap before we go...

[dcdavidm]

Mrs. dcdavidm had a business trip to SF last weekend and I was able to tag along for some good eats. We started with an early evening dinner at the old-fashioned Tadich Grill, which I guess has been around in some form since the middle of the 19th century. The place has a reputation for surly waiters and indifference toward non-regulars, but we did not experience that. It is large enough and the turnover is frequent enough that the non-reservation policy did not result in too long a wait for a table. It was nice having a decent $5 cocktail rather than the double-figure drinks that seem to characterize many DC places. My cioppino was intensely flavored with a good selection of seafood; Mrs dcdavidm's shrimp and avocado Diablo, however, was merely okay. The sort of place I would try once if I was in the neighborhood, but probably not return.

The next night, we braved a deluge and made our way to Berkeley for dinner at the Café portion of Chez Panisse, which we had not been to for a few years. It still had a comfortable hominess and friendliness that made up for our damp clothes. The menu had a predominately Italian theme. We started with a glass of prosecco and a glass of carpano antico, a recreation of an 18th century flavored vermouth that was a new taste sensation for me. The first course was a half-dozen local oysters that tasted of the sea - excellent - and a terrific thin-crust pizzette topped with thinly sliced roast potatoes dabbed with an arugula pesto. I could live on both dishes. Next came grilled squid accompanied by grilled artichokes and potato, and a plate of cod and crab (Dungeness) cakes with beets and a celery remoulade. Both dishes pointed up the notion that excellent fresh ingredients simply but carefully cooked creates a worthwhile eating experience. For desert we shared a dish of quince and pear sorbet with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds, which made for perfect seasonal flavors.

The last evening we had dinner at Quince, which Mrs dcdavidm had been to but I had not. It is a small, elegant, Italian-themed restaurant with perfect professional service. After prosecco, we started with a wild nettle sformata, which had the most intense green color and the freshest green flavor that smooth texture that I have tasted in a cooked vegetable dish, and a Dungeness crab salad with satsuma mandarin and radicchio, which also was excellent. Quince is known for its pastas, so we made our main course out of four of the ten or so pasta dishes on the menu. Agnolotti del plin were unbelievably delicate thumbnail-sized pastas filled with a veal, pork, and rabbit mixture; papparadelle with olives and a rabbit ragu was a savory contrast. Gnocchi with castelmango cheese melted in the mouth; casamelle (small, ravioli-like shapes) filled with celery root and dressed with balsamic vinegar made for a nice counterpoint. A "terrine" of gelati finished the meal. We judged that Quince's reputation for pasta was well-deserved. Each was impeccably formed, perfectly cooked, and with flavors and textures that were really satisfying.

Ferry Terminal is a good place for lunch munchies and to wile away the time at the wine bar. Try the Saigon Roast Pork Sandwich at Open Door (the Slanted Door Restaurant's take-out facility).

Oh, and on a whim one afternoon we took a tour of the Scharffen-Berger chocolate factory, which was fun. Wish we could have bottled up the smell of the factory and taken it back with us!

[JLK]

Dinner at Lime in the Castro was fun. The food? Not so impressive. I like the hyper modern interior, and as a venue, it was great for the group of people with whom I gathered. There were six of us, including two people who had only met one of the others. Drinking caipirinhas, mojitos and wine before dinner might have helped us bond.

We sampled the majority of the menu including miniburgers (fine, but nowhere near as good as others I have had including Matchbox's), shrimp skewers, grilled cheese sandwiches with a tiny tureen of tomato soup for dipping (good sandwiches, weird "soup"), tuna tartare (probably the best dish we had), pork quesadilla (a messy, gloppy iteration; we didn't finish it), lamb chops (the one dish I didn't get to taste). Desserts truly disappointed me, but my non-food crazy friends thought they were great: chocolate cake, and bananas foster.

Overall, just kind of eh. At least it was inexpensive - I believe the bill with tip worked out to $35 per person.

[mhberk]

The last evening we had dinner at Quince, which Mrs dcdavidm had been to but I had not. It is a small, elegant, Italian-themed restaurant with perfect professional service. After prosecco, we started with a wild nettle sformata, which had the most intense green color and the freshest green flavor that smooth texture that I have tasted in a cooked vegetable dish, and a Dungeness crab salad with satsuma mandarin and radicchio, which also was excellent. Quince is known for its pastas, so we made our main course out of four of the ten or so pasta dishes on the menu. Agnolotti del plin were unbelievably delicate thumbnail-sized pastas filled with a veal, pork, and rabbit mixture; papparadelle with olives and a rabbit ragu was a savory contrast. Gnocchi with castelmango cheese melted in the mouth; casamelle (small, ravioli-like shapes) filled with celery root and dressed with balsamic vinegar made for a nice counterpoint. A "terrine" of gelati finished the meal. We judged that Quince's reputation for pasta was well-deserved. Each was impeccably formed, perfectly cooked, and with flavors and textures that were really satisfying.

Mrs mhberk and I ate at Quince when we were in S.F. in August and we were VERY impressed with everything from the service and astmosphere to the creativity and preperation of each dish! We ordered the tasting menu (which was a bargain at $75) and were amazed with each dish we were served. Mrs mhberk even said that she would rate it higher than Eve . I wish that I could remember each dish that we were served, but I do remember that the pasta creations were spectacular and the showcasing of the fresh local ingredients made us wish that we were at home, where we could lick our plates.

The food was, IMO, on the level of EVE or Palena and the service was equaly impressive. We had told our server that we were from the D.C. area and that we'd heard a lot about the restaurant (I read several posts on eG). I then assured her that everything lived up to our expectations. As we were leaving, our server told us that the chef would like to meet us and then she led us back to the small kitchen were the chef (I can't remember his name) and his kitchen staff greeted us.

Because of the size of the restaurant (perhaps the size of Palena's back room), it took us a few weeks to get the reservation for a weekday. I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend the restaurant to anyone traveling to S.F.

[MugZ77]

I'll be in San Francisco for work next week. Might anyone recommend a good spot for a solo diner for dinner? I'm not averse to making a reservation for one via OpenTable and sitting at a table, but I'd prefer to sit at the bar somewhere. I'll be staying close to the Embarcadero. Thoughts?

Already on the agenda for the trip are Ame (Friday night) and Cyrus in Healdsburg (Sunday night).

Thanks,

Michael

[JLK]

I neglected to post about my brunch at Home. It's funny: I didn't love what I personally ordered, but overall I just really liked the place. Before I forget, we dined at the Union Street location (Marina).

I just wasn't crazy about my French toast; thick slices of brioche were coated with tiny bits of something very crunchy (semolina? I didn't ask). YMMV but I didn't like it. But our server was great, the setting (we were seated in a glass-enclosed front room with a view of the street) was comfortable, I had a good latte, and the mac & cheese we ordered to share among the three of us was fan-freakin-tastic.

[MeMc]

Went to Cav next door to Zuni on Saturday. I know-- we could have trekked the five feet to the institution. But we had been eating too much all day at the Ferry Building and wanted just a charcuterie and wine. Needless to say, Cav was really great. The chef cures her own meats and served boar pate, honey poached quince with foie gras, and pig trotters with garlic confit, pickled shallots, and creamy mustard. I never thought I'd eat pigs' feet and love them, but these were phenomenal. Maybe it has to do with the fact that they're braised for 9 hours.

We also went to Whisky THieves in the Tenderloin. Since its is a co op, the bar can skirt the smoking law. If you don't mind grit and smoke, the selection of scotches and bourbons were amazing (and really cheap). Sort of has the feel of the punk-ish beer bar, Toronado, but not as divey and some references to Austin-- musician posters of Austin bands, etc.

[Halloween]

If all goes as planned, I'll be in the bay area (staying in Berkeley) the first week of May. Right now, based on what i've read in this thread and the napa valley thread, i've got reservations at Aziza and Cyrus, and i'm on the waitlist at the French Laundry. Here's my question. What do I do if a miracle happens and I get into FL? Should I cancel my other reservations and go to FL, or should I stick with what i've got, and try to do FL some other time. Yes, I could do all three, but i'm not trying to blow my budget (not to mention the fit for summer challenge), and i'll be having many other meals on this trip and maybe a glass of wine or two . What say you?

[DameEdna]

If all goes as planned, I'll be in the bay area (staying in Berkeley) the first week of May. Right now, based on what i've read in this thread and the napa valley thread, i've got reservations at Aziza and Cyrus, and i'm on the waitlist at the French Laundry. Here's my question. What do I do if a miracle happens and I get into FL? Should I cancel my other reservations and go to FL, or should I stick with what i've got, and try to do FL some other time. Yes, I could do all three, but i'm not trying to blow my budget (not to mention the fit for summer challenge), and i'll be having many other meals on this trip and maybe a glass of wine or two . What say you?

No one ever asks me an question and expects a rational answer. I think you should improvise at decision making time,and expect something wonderful to happen. Above all, do not give in to "great restaurant stress". I'm sure you will have an unbelievably good time.

[Robert Rymarz]

If all goes as planned, I'll be in the bay area (staying in Berkeley) the first week of May. Right now, based on what I've read in this thread and the napa valley thread, I've got reservations at Aziza and Cyrus, and I'm on the waitlist at the French Laundry. Here's my question. What do I do if a miracle happens and I get into FL? Should I cancel my other reservations and go to FL, or should I stick with what I've got, and try to do FL some other time. Yes, I could do all three, but I'm not trying to blow my budget (not to mention the fit for summer challenge), and I'll be having many other meals on this trip and maybe a glass of wine or two . What say you?

If given the opportunity I would not pass on the French Laundry. Everybody should experience it at least once in their lifetime. With that said if given the chance I would also never pass on Manresa.

[qwertyy]

Boy, do I envy you! While I haven't been to the French Laundry, Cyrus is absolutely not to be missed too. Check out Michael Bauer's review here, in which he says, "It's a totally different experience than the French Laundry, but it deserves to exist in the same star-studded stratosphere."

I also just noticed that SF Chron just posted its top 100 restaurants for 2007. Find it here.

And going to San Francisco and not expecting to gain weight is a disappointment waiting to happen. Walk yourself up some of those insane hills a few times a day to ensure that your clothes continue to fit throughout your trip, but otherwise, enjoy, and repent with celery and water on your return home.

[Cooter]

The San Francisco Chronicle has published its yearly list of the top 100 restaurants:

http://sfgate.com/food/top100/2007/

I haven 't lived in the Bay Area for seven years and was in school when I was there, so I don't have too much to say. I love both the Chows for informal, cheap and good food. Also, I went to high school in New Jersey with the Chef/Owner of Dopo in Oakland. Haven't tried it yet, but my parents and sisters claim that it's excellent, and reasonably priced, Italian.

For what it's worth, the wife and I had a great time at Gary Danko. The food was great, but it was the absolutely flawless service that really put it over the top.

[youngfood]

Anyone been to Hog Island Oysters? Tom's postcard from SF touted it, but its gone unmentioned here. I'm making my maiden voyage to N.Cali at the end of May and welcome any tips. FL is already booked (and price prohibitive even for the occassion this will be), so I think Cyrus will be the big splurge meal (also hitting Sonoma). Also if anyone has tips on decent cheap spots to stay in SF, Sonoma or in between, please PM. Thanks!

[Cooter]

Anyone been to Hog Island Oysters? Tom's postcard from SF touted it, but its gone unmentioned here. I'm making my maiden voyage to N.Cali at the end of May and welcome any tips. FL is already booked (and price prohibitive even for the occassion this will be), so I think Cyrus will be the big splurge meal (also hitting Sonoma). Also if anyone has tips on decent cheap spots to stay in SF, Sonoma or in between, please PM. Thanks!

My wife and I have made a tradition of spending a night or two in Sonoma when visiting my parents in the East Bay over the holidays. Each time, we've stayed at The Sonoma Valley Inn. Yes, it's a Best Western, but we've paid around $100 each time and rooms have been large and feature a fireplace. Plus, it's only a block or two from the town square and Mission. For dinner, I can't reccomend the Girl and the Fig enough. It's sort of upscale comfort food with a fantastic selection of rhone and rhone inspired wines. Plus, the bar is great.

[synaesthesia]

Anyone been to Hog Island Oysters? Tom's postcard from SF touted it, but its gone unmentioned here.

Hog Island is great. It's not formal at all though, in the Terminal building. I really enjoyed getting the mixed plate, which allows you to sample three different types of raw oysters. They were really nice to me, gave me an extra type since I was a noob. They really took care of me, and the oysters were really great. But I don't know what the recommendation is since you're going in May, unless you're going for cooked. I think the rule is only have raw in months with the letter 'r'.

[synaesthesia]

Like dcdavidm, went to Tadich Grill, since it was the closest place open for lunch at 2pm. Service was actually pretty nice. Although I have to wonder if he thought I was my boss' young paramour. We had fried calamari, which was a bit on the flavorless end. Then I had a grilled branzino lunch special. It was cooked rather nicely, and was moist. However, it too was lacking in flavor, and seemed to be missing the "lemon drizzle" promised in the description.

This morning headed to the Ferry Terminal Building. Tuesdays and Saturdays they have the outdoor farmers market. Fresh, organic strawberries. The best is the nut lady, who was giving me handful upon handful of samples. One of the really yummy things was dry roasted almonds in the shell. She also gave me some almond butter for my apple sample from the apple guy. I wish I could have had more time to stick around for burgers and some of the other good stuff. Inside, Miette has their excellent macarons, and hopefully soon will have their fleur de sel caramels, which they have allegedly been selling out of like crazy.

More to report back later...

[synaesthesia]

Went to Ame last night. Allegedly this place is supposed to be pretty good. I suppose it has to do with the only ordering stuff from the sashimi bar. The first was hamachi with ponzu and wasabi tobiko. This was decent, but watching it getting prepped at the bar made me nervous. I know that a lot of stuff needs to be preprepared, but I saw them take it out of the mold that had been sitting in the fridge. This stuff had already been seared. Something about that just seems a little bit wrong. Still, it tasted pretty good, but the other ingredients overpowered the yellowtail itself. The second was avocado and tuna tartare with some kind of foie gras shavings. A little overegging the custard there. And all of it was too salty. When I complained the server pretty much didn't care. Oh well... you've been warned.

Zuni Cafe this afternoon. The atmosphere is gorgeous, despite it being in a slightly odd, slightly scary area. Wished I could have found another person to come along, so I could have ordered the roast chicken, which smelled amazing. I ended up getting a hamburger with grilled onions. Very yummy with aioli, although the ciabatta could have been slightly heartier to stand up to the juicy burger. Nice pickles and pickled onions. Shoestring fries or potatoes, I can't remember what they were called, but they were closer to potatoes than fries, since most of them were fried til they were entirely crisp.

There's a pretty cool newsstand on Market St., Fog City News. They sell over 250 types of chocolate bars - a number of them I've never seen before. Worth a visit if you're at Ferry Terminal Building, since it's about two or three blocks away.

[crackers]

youngfood said:

Anyone been to Hog Island Oysters? Tom's postcard from SF touted it, but its gone unmentioned here. I'm making my maiden voyage to N.Cali at the end of May and welcome any tips. FL is already booked (and price prohibitive even for the occassion this will be), so I think Cyrus will be the big splurge meal (also hitting Sonoma). Also if anyone has tips on decent cheap spots to stay in SF, Sonoma or in between, please PM. Thanks!

Forget the Ferry Building! That's just for folks who can't get to the source. Drive from Sonoma out to the Marin coast and get the oysters right out of the water at Hog Island Oyster Company ---> click here

You reserve a picnic table, bring some charcoal and have an oyster roast right there (they'll give you the shucking tools) or take them to a beach at Pt. Reyes and have your picnic there. It's also very near Pt. Reyes Station and the original Cowgirl Creamery. And if you have a chance, think about going to one of the most amazing farmers' markets in the country, the Marin County Farmer's Market at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed San Rafael Civic Center, twice a week ---> click here.

Can't really help with cheap accomodation recommendtions - I stay with my family and it doesn't get any cheaper than that.

[youngfood]

Culinary highlights of a recently completed week in SF/Napa/Sonoma. We ended up enjoying some of the cheap eats more than the highly touted and more expensive spots. The real highlight of the week was Cyrus, which I will post about in the Sonoma thread.

Dim Sum at Yank Sing. Their special shang hai ginger pork dumplings are amazing. These are full of juices and are properly eaten on a chinese soup spoon and dipped in ginger sauce with little pieces of pickled ginger placed atop them. I'd never had them before, but was talked into trying them as they seem to be the house speciality. Wow! Also, probably the best and most interesting shu mai I've ever had. Pork rice noddles were quite good too and came with cilantro bits, which was an interesting delight.

Super Burrito at El Farolito in the Mission District. Super cheap, enormous, flavorful hunks of carne asada, with all the fixins including a half avocado that you watch them slice with a spoon directly onto your burrito.

Fresh made individual cup of coffee at Philz in the Mission District. I'm a murky coffee enthusiast, but this was really something else. They take your order from about 20 different types of coffee (tasting notes posted on a board to help you select), put several scoops of the beans into a milk shake can, grind them into the can, and then pour them into a little individual drip canister into which they pour the hot water to brew your individual cup. Ok I admit I'm partial to the name and this is basically how all coffee is made, but it was pretty neat seeing my individual cup prepared for me. They also mix in cream and / or sugar for you. I had the ambrosia and was blown away. http://www.philzcoffee.com/

Breakfast at Dottie's True Blue Cafe. Ok this is in a kinda sketchy part of town, but its not too far from the better parts and the food is worth it. Fresh baked goods, tons of daily specials, fresh squeezed OJ, amazing french toast, and interesting fresh ingredients to go in your omlette, frittata, or strata. Picture a place the size and ambience of Jimmy T's (or your local tiny dive) serving really awesome, gourmet breakfasts.

We were somewhat less enthusiastic about our experiences at: Chez Panisse Cafe (I think I wanted to be wowed and that doesn't seem to be their style. Also sitting next to extremely loud classless individuals can be distracting and unfun); Zuni Cafe (admittedly didn't try the chicken and the burger was unavailable - limited to lunch or late night menu); and Hog Island in the Ferry Building (they were out of a couple of types of oysters, no longer run happy hour all week long, and I should have taken Crackers advice and tried their farm on the seacoast).

Cyrus, on the other hand, was simply amazing.

[mhberk]

Fresh made individual cup of coffee at Philz in the Mission District. I'm a murky coffee enthusiast, but this was really something else. They take your order from about 20 different types of coffee (tasting notes posted on a board to help you select), put several scoops of the beans into a milk shake can, grind them into the can, and then pour them into a little individual drip canister into which they pour the hot water to brew your individual cup. Ok I admit I'm partial to the name and this is basically how all coffee is made, but it was pretty neat seeing my individual cup prepared for me. They also mix in cream and / or sugar for you. I had the ambrosia and was blown away. http://www.philzcoffee.com/

We stumbled upon this place while we were staying with friends in The Mission. It could, quite possibly, be the best cup of coffee I've ever had! The individual canisters were a nice touch and really proved to be the difference. But from what I remember, it wasn't just coffee grinds in that cheesecloth (or whatever it was that they used to strain the coffee). I could've sworn I saw Phil's son put in cardamon pods and mint leaves. Whatever it was, It was the best I've ever had and I wish there was something like this closer to me.

Incidentally, his son told me that his father was looking to franchise the business. I would LOVE to see one of these pop up around here!

[sparkycom]

Check out this blog on restaurants and bargains in and around San Francisco, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Berkeley, etc.

VirgoBlue Blog

I went with VirgoBlue and Mr. VirgoBlue to Tamarine last week in Palo Alto (VB reviewed this restaurant earlier in her blog) and had the clay pot cod, hamachi tartare, lunar duck (duck in pomegranate sauce, yum!) and the buttermilk panna cotta in a strawberry/mint sauce. The cod had a generous sprinkling of spices and was so moist. At the bottom of the pot were tiny, tasty bits of pork that matched incredibly well with the cod. Sounds simple, but this was one of the most thoughtfully executed dishes I've had in a while. In all, a very satisfying and sensory experience that I highly recommend.

[Pat]

My husband is arriving in SF for a couple of days and looking for restaurant recommendations for tomorrow and Saturday near the Embarcadero. I do not know SF geography, though I guess this is where the ferry building is. In addition to breakfast spots, he needs a casual lunch place and finer dining but not super upscale places for dinner. He's been on a month-long bike trip and doesn't have dressy clothes with him. (Saturday is his birthday, so recommendations for a good birthday dinner spot would be appreciated.) Thanks for any suggestions I can pass along, as well as apologies for his late request .

[Lydia R]

Pat said:

I guess this is where the ferry building is. In addition to breakfast spots, he needs a casual lunch place and finer dining but not super upscale places for dinner.

In June, a Saturday in SF at the Terminal Ferry Building included: a nice cup of Peet's Coffee and shopping through the Farmer's Market. It's on the side and in the Plaza behind the building facing the Bay. There are 4+ prepared food vendors and I had a great Mexican meal (tamales & beans) on a shared picnic table looking out on the water. Inside are several carryout options. Luckily I had a kitchen, so I purchased farm fresh produce, visited Cowgirl Creamery and took my bounty up Nob Hill via cablecar.

On a weekday I walked into Slanted Door at 11:15 and had lunch solo at the not-yet-crowded bar. My +1 and I went back the same evening and couldn't get near the place because it was so full - the walls throbbed. Dim Sum is always a good idea - Yank Sing for lunch today (Friday) might be considered finer dining.

If DH has an interest in the back alleys of Chinatown, I greatly enjoyed this tour and the splinter group that went restaurant hopping afterwards. The community service group charges double the $18 fee for "last minute" reservations, but the tourguides are their scholarship students and the funds go to maintaining the alleys.

Another nice option for a walk & Little Italy dining would be to send your DH on a coffee purchasing errand for you at Graffeo (yes, Tom S's fav) in North Beach. I got both the dark & light roast (your only choices), but preferred the dark. It's just a walkup counter (no prepared coffee) manned by the roasters -- so the experience was definitely not chain-like and the guidance was spot on. I'd never had occasion to stroll Columbus and there were several eateries open to the sidewalk that looked appetizing.

If your DH likes Sam Spade/Dashiell Hammet, he might enjoy this.

[synaesthesia]

Zuni Cafe is a straight shot down Market St. You can easily take the BART or a bus to Van Ness from the Embarcadero. If he has a friend with him... roast chicken is the way to go. I went during early lunch time and it was pretty empty, and seems relatively casual. I'm not sure what the dress is in the evening. If you look upthread MeMc also recommended a place next to Zuni that sounded pretty good.

If you're in North Beach, I'd visit Tosca. It's an Italian bar/coffee bar. And while their coffee is pretty blah, the atmosphere is amazing. High ceilings. Older-style red leather booths. Opera, and Rat Pack standards on the jukebox.

There's also Vinopolis which is near Moscone Convention Center, if you want wine tastings. That's also a short bus ride on the BART or depending on where in the Embarcadero about 7 or 8 blocks from Ferry Terminal. It's next to the SF MOMA as well.

[Pat]

Thank you, Lydia and Jamie . I spoke to him a little while ago and gave him your recommendations.

[tanabutler]

I ate last week with Suvir Saran (Indian chef in NYC) at Bocadillo's, which is a few blocks from the Embarcadero. I would highly recommend it for lunch, even though a couple of our dishes were not spectacular.

Bocadillo's

My review at Yelp:

I am pretty sure they're capable of five stars, based on the report my chef friend and his fiance gave me after they went here for dinner. (They utterly RAVED.)

We came in for a late lunch, and maybe some of the dishes were a little past their prime. I was with a chef who is fond of ordering a LOT of dishes, to sample everything, and that's what we did.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: the patatas brava (!!!!!), the roast beef bocadillo with goat cheese and onion marmalade, the salad with Green Goddess dressing, the cheese plate (four artisanal cheeses, all very well balanced), and the daily special soup (tomato basil: absolute perfect July soup). Their flan was, without question, perfect. The best I've ever had, and my chef friend praised its structure, flavors, and all the elements of perfection. I loved the "warm chocolate cake with sauted bananas crme Catalan," he, not so much.

Medium okay: the bean salad with pickled onions (needed some salt to balance) and the pineapple bread pudding.

Would not order again: the pistachio ice cream with macaroons. These disks were as hard as bricks, seriously, and were inedible. The pistachio ice cream was preternaturally green and, well, "eh."

Would not order again: the spinach with pine nuts and golden raisins. It looked good on paper, but failed in execution. It was just too tasteless. It could have used a shot of something tangier than a few raisins: some kind of vinegar and even some salt.

Would not order again: either the serrano ham bocadillo (WAY dry, WAY WAY WAY not enough of the supposed tomato sauce stuff they said was on it...barely a rub of it, and the bread, by 3PM was a little too stale), or the roasted vegetable bocadillo, in which the olive flavor simply overwhelmed everything else. The eggplant tasted like olives, the zucchini tasted like olives, and the bread tasted like olives.

Overall: great place, great service, and not a shred of that self-conscious "look how cool we are" vibe, even though it is a very cool place. The waitress's recommendation of cava over champagne was a good one, even though the cava was cheaper. I love when they don't upsell you for a couple of bucks. I thought the value for the dollar was quite high, and would recommend Bocadillos to anyone. I'll be back soon.

Pictured: patatas brava, salad with Green Goddess, flan, nice interior, cheese platter, and The Best Flan I've Ever Had.

Very good stuff.

[Pat]

I ate last week with Suvir Saran (Indian chef in NYC) at Bocadillo's, which is a few blocks from the Embarcadero. I would highly recommend it for lunch, even though a couple of our dishes were not spectacular.

I let him know about this too. I don't know what he'll do for lunch today.

Last night he went to The Globe, on the recommendation of someone I know in SF. It was pretty full, but he was able to get a seat at the bar and enjoyed his meal. (Hearts of romaine with buttermilk dressing and hand-cut egg pasta with duck ragout, citrus and almonds.) It's odd that the web site makes it look like they don't do Friday or Saturday dinner, but they do .

Thanks again for the responses.

[synaesthesia]

I spent some time in Berkeley and the Oakland area.

The Cheeseboard across from Chez Panisse on Shattuck is a classic. Bought two scones, the classic with currants and the scone of the day hazelnut chocolate. These aren't those crummy dried out scones that you find at most coffee shops. These are the traditional British scones, moist and tender, almost biscuity. Also some very good hazelnut shortbread.

If you're looking for a nice occasion restaurant, my friend's rehearsal dinner was Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood in Emeryville. It is on a narrow peninsula that sticks out into the Bay, so that you're pretty much surrounded by water on the sides. The seafood was also pretty tasty, and the Peking duck was flavorful though maybe a little sparse on the meat. Yummy lobster, shrimp and other things.

[goldenticket]

Anyone with recent experiences to recommend? Heading back out west for a few days next week and wondering where to go (aside from my already planned and much-anticipated return to Swan Oyster Depot)...

[Keithstg]

Anyone with recent experiences to recommend? Heading back out west for a few days next week and wondering where to go (aside from my already planned and much-anticipated return to Swan Oyster Depot)...

I was out last month for business and ate at SPQR, Range, Ame, and Zuni. Zuni was by far the worst meal, but I would not hesitate to recommend SPQR for a great, casual dinner in Pacific Heights, or Range for an extremely well priced "new american (ish) meal with one michelin *. Ame was also excellent, but probably qualifies as a splurge for those not travelling for business (with a generous per diem).

[food.fiend]

Was in San Fran last weekend for a wedding, and thought to give a quick report... Since it was a wedding, though, and we were busy both Friday and Saturday night with that, we only had breakfast and lunch... sigh... need to get back!

Ferry Building - spent an entire morning here wandering around and loved it... Why can't Eastern Market be more like this? Had the oysters from Hog Island, which were delicious and the people were very friendly. Had some wine and chocolates at the wine bar, and fish tacos at another walk-up place... Free chocolates too. ) Though, I must say, the fish tacos were not as good as to be hoped for.

Tartine Bakery - Oh so good. Giant gougeres, candied orange zest cinnamon buns, light-fluffy asparagas quiche, and another item I am blanking on were all tried, and loved. Very good, and one hopes they win the Beard award finally this year! But go early, there is a line out the door, and only a few tables inside.

In-n-out burger - I know. But I just had to try one after all the hype. And it was "fine," but I guess I couldn't say that it was phenomenal as my Californian friends seem to think it was.

City View - Dim Sum on the outskirts of Chinatown. And I really enjoyed it. Lots of locals, and the waiters barely spoke English, and the place was bright and airy! Favorite was the sticky rice. And maybe the pork bun.

Red Blossom Tea Company - also in Chinatown. Not a restaurant, but an amazing tea shop with small tables and chairs for you to try any of their many teas before you buy them. And so you can be shown proper brewing times and temps for each one. And I somehow walked out with multiple cakes of pu-erh. Oops.

Oh, and a delicious new cupcake shop near Ghiradelli Square. Moist-as-anything cupcakes. With a perfectly fluffy, and not too sweet, frosting.

[JLK]

Home is now known as Palmetto. Nothing appears to have changed though. Similar menu and the web site [for Home] is still live. Weird.

I neglected to post about my brunch at Home. It's funny: I didn't love what I personally ordered, but overall I just really liked the place. Before I forget, we dined at the Union Street location (Marina).

I just wasn't crazy about my French toast; thick slices of brioche were coated with tiny bits of something very crunchy (semolina? I didn't ask). YMMV but I didn't like it. But our server was great, the setting (we were seated in a glass-enclosed front room with a view of the street) was comfortable, I had a good latte, and the mac & cheese we ordered to share among the three of us was fan-freakin-tastic.

In other meals...I greatly enjoyed dinner at Poggio in Sausalito. When I picked it, I was merely trying to steer my friend (who lives in San Francisco and spends a lot of time in Marin County) away from taking me to a touristy spot with a water view. Water views are nice and all, but I know that views often equal overpriced, undistinguished fare. Plus it was getting dark.

Poggio was a complete treat. I really didn't know what to expect. At the "could be bad" end of the spectrum, I noticed the aging crowd and huge dining room. At the "could be good" end, we noticed the bustling crowd and cheerful staff, as well as a menu with lots of appealing choices. We put our name in with the host and was told the wait could be 90 minutes for a table for two. Hmm. We made our way to the far end of the bar, near the door to the kitchen, and were pleased when two bar stools opened up.

Deciding to dine there instead of the dining room worked out very well for us. We chatted with various members of the staff as they visited the bar area, as well as our fellow bar diners, all of whom were very welcoming, cheerful locals. By the end of our meal, we felt like part of the crew of regulars. To start, we shared the burrata appetizer with sun dried tomato pesto and grilled bread (not the burrata preparation presently noted online). My friend's entree was the perfectly al dente bucatini alla amatriciana, and mine was the polpettone, a terrific braised meatloaf that I'm going to be trying to replicate for the rest of my life.

We passed on dessert, intending to get ice cream at one of the two shops we had seen on our way in. Sadly, both were closed by 9:30. I suspect businesses close later during the summer--Sausalito was a ghost town as we walked to my friend's car.

[JLK]

And just like that, Palmetto has closed.

[SrtaJRosa]

I was looking for a deli to grab a sandwich, but imagine my delight when I found a restaurant that was still serving breakfast at 1pm. I didn't have to wander the streets of San Francisco very far from my hotel when I happened onto the Taylor St. Coffee Shop today, where the walls are adorned with photos of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Audrey Hepburn.

The kitchen is placed in the front of the restaurant, where ten tables await hungry patrons. The portions are plentiful, and I especially enjoyed an omelette bursting with mushrooms, cheddar cheese, green onion, avocado, and sausage accompanied by a fruit medley: delectable morsels of juicy strawberries, canteloupe, honeydew, banana, apple, grapes, watermelon, and orange.

Prices are reasonable, and their product is delicious. This was the perfect spot to dine solo and plan the rest of my day in the city by the bay.

Taylor St. Coffee Shop

375 Taylor St.

Open 7a-2p every day

[sturm]

I'm looking for some recommendations: I'll be in SF in December and am looking for someplace utterly delicious for a decadent lunch with one hitch: we'll have a six month old baby with us. My friend and I are staying in Nob Hill but we're both very familiar with the city and won't mind traveling a bit.

[hmmboy]

Zuni Cafe. The restaurant really shines in the winter months. Braising, root vegetables and roasting are what makes this place so awesome.

Good choice Justin - A16 would also do you well.

[sturm]

I love both of these suggestions. Thanks so much! I'm going to see about a reservation @ Zuni since I love the idea of abundant root vegetables.

[qwertyy]

I've just returned from a veritable bacchanalia in San Francisco over the weekend. Before I retire to my bed for the next week to dry out and detox with water and celery...

Sociale in Laurel Heights was described to me as a "little old lady restaurant," and the tiny interior is indeed quiet and cozy and sweet. But there's nothing "little old lady" about the food, which is both interestingly conceived and thoughtfully executed. I would be a happy woman if I could start every meal with the fried olives, served breaded and stuffed with fontina, and the Berkshire pork chop is the best pig I've had in a while, topped with a unique salsa rosa. If the olives are the best way to start a meal, the chocolate chip cookie--baked in a ramekin like a little cake and served with vanilla ice cream--is the best way to end one.

In my humble estimation, the Slanted Door in the Ferry Building has lost some of its edge. The table service is still quite good (and the room is still deafening and factory-like), but the legendary shaking beef and noodle dishes, while good, just aren't what they used to be. Perhaps the kitchen is becoming a bit scattered, as they start to open up takeout branches around the city (named Out the Door), but whatever the reason, it is a bit disappointing. The jicama, cabbage, and grapefruit salad with candied nuts, however, is da bomb.

Yank Sing, on the other hand, hasn't lost a step. Dumplings, dumplings, dumplings. Szechuan chicken. Chinese broccoli. Dumplings, dumplings, dumplings. Schedule a long walk and a short nap immediately after your meal.

Epic Roasthouse on the Embarcadero specializes in dry-aged steaks, but they also offer an interesting range of raw fish and charcuterie starters and fish, fowl, pork, and sausage entrees. The heirloom apple salad with cashews, cranberries, aged cheddar, and greens vies with Sociale's fried olives as one of my favorite starters of the year (and is large enough to split). The bread basket includes some fabulous gougeres, which are pretty dangerous because you can have as many as you want as long as you can manage to flag down the bread dude. I ordered the petit filet, mostly because it was the only steak on the menu that was less than 20 ounces, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of meaty flavor, which you just don't get anymore in a tenderloin. My friend's New York strip was also a top-notch model of that cut of beef, gorgeously earthy and flavorful. Sides of caramelized brussels sprouts and mac and cheese were very nice. If you can only make it in for a drink, do. The bar is a warm, leather-and-wood kind of place on the second floor that has a stunning view of the water and the Bay Bridge.

But I'm saving the best for last: Yum Yum Fish at 23rd and Irving has to be some of the best sushi I've ever had. This joint looks so divey and sketchy that there is no way in hell that I would ever even think about eating raw fish there if it weren't recommended so strongly by people I trust; even with the recommendation, we hesitated. It's really a fish market that happens to serve sushi; there are only three tables and a sushi "bar" that is actually a ratty old, bent metal table with three mismatched chairs adjacent to where the fish is prepared. And the fish is flawless, expertly sliced at the perfect temperature and of the highest possible quality. My dining companion, a sushi nerd from his time in Japan, who is usually endlessly talkative, was speechless throughout the meal. After every piece, we could only mutter something like, "Dear God. THAT'S what that's supposed to taste like." I haven't been able to stop thinking about the hamachi toro ($2 a piece!) or the red snapper that tastes perfectly of the ocean. Three rolls, ten pieces of nigiri, pot of tea, $36. Go. Now.

[Sthitch]

Epic Roasthouse on the Embarcadero

Thank you for this tip in particular, I was looking for a lunch spot in this area, and this looks like it will hit the spot. I am sorry to read that you feel like Slanted Door has slipped, I have reservations for the first evening that we will be there, hopefully your experience was simply a fluke.

[qwertyy]

Thank you for this tip in particular, I was looking for a lunch spot in this area, and this looks like it will hit the spot. I am sorry to read that you feel like Slanted Door has slipped, I have reservations for the first evening that we will be there, hopefully your experience was simply a fluke.

Don't fret too much. It hasn't gotten bad, and you will still have a good meal; it just doesn't have that edge or oomph that it used to. I'd like to think it was a fluke, but a few San Franciscans said that my impression was not off-base.

I hope you enjoy Epic--let us know what you think!

[synaesthesia]

I'd forgotten to note this before, but Fog City News is one of my favorite stops in SF. They have one of the most interesting and diverse collections of chocolate bars I have never seen before. One of the most interesting is Zotter, which has flavors that are unique even compared to the Vosges bars, and were doing them much earlier. I was always too caught up in perusing the chocolate to notice that it appears they also have a number of interesting old fashioned soda pops. I will definitely have to check it out again on my next visit.

[Sthitch]

Don't fret too much. It hasn't gotten bad, and you will still have a good meal

Well, umm it was not very good, more on that in a minute.

I had originally planned on going to Slanted Door for dinner on my first night in San Francisco, but when my wife's aunt bailed earlier in the week I decided to change the reservations to A16. First I have to say that I love the cork flooring, but it held nothing on the food. I started with a plate of prosciutto and speck, which was OK, but was far too lean, could someone please explain to me the recent fascination with over trimming of the luscious fat of prosciutto, that shit needs to stop' Anyway, my wife had roasted sunchokes with caramelized onions, arugula, and pecorino, they were by far the best sunchokes I have ever eaten, with a creamy texture, and the onions, and greens really matched well with the nicely prepared tubers. For entrees we split a margarita pizza and the meatballs that were on special. The pizza was a bit flat flavored, but a touch of salt really brought it to life. This was one of the best Neapolitan pizzas I have had on this side of the Atlantic. The meatballs were flavorful but a tad dry, the delicious tomato sauce really helped negate the dryness. The meatballs came with a side, having just read the recipe for the Cannellini beans in the newest Gourmet I figured I would give them a try. The beans were a mixture of whole and mashed beans with some sort of crust on top. The flavor was exquisite, hell, I am not even that much of a fan of beans, but this is a dish that I could eat several times a week.
For dessert, I choose a chocolate budino tart with olive oil and sea salt, and I am convinced there could not have been a better choice on the menu. The only sweetness in the dish came from a dollop chocolate mousse on an intensely chocolate yet savory filling. My wife's gelato was not a highlight, the cherry and lemon was too tart, and the hazelnut crunch reminded me more of decent chocolate gelato than hazelnut. All-in-all this is a place I would love to have in my neighborhood, and if there were not so many different places to eat in the Bay area I would make it a must visit on each of my future trips.

We decided to bypass the free continental breakfast at our Inn, and instead get coffee and pastries at Stella's in North Beach. The coffee was quite good, but I drink about a cup a month so I am by no means an expert on that subject. But what I really loved were the croissants, these have a buttery yeast dough flavor and the crust has delightful crunch, each bite reminded me of the best croissants I have had in Paris.

We spent the morning tooling around the Ferry Terminal Market wishing I had a kitchen where I could cook some of the wonderful fresh produce and meats. After a morning of mostly window shopping, we went to the Slanted Door for lunch. I should have been a bit leery when I noticed that there were only two Asian people working in the restaurant, but I figured at the worst it would be a decent meal. We started with the Slanted Door Spring Rolls and the Hue Rice Dumplings. The spring rolls were memorable only because of how bad they were. Every element of the actual rolls were dry and flavorless, had it not been for the decent peanut sauce these would have been completely inedible. On the other hand the rice dumplings were the dish of meal. The only issue is that you must eat them whole, if you bite them in half the texture is rather unpleasant, but eating them whole allows the mung bean puree and the rice wrapping to meld in a delight way. My wife decided to go with the Niman Ranch Flank steak noodles for her entrée, a very forgettable dish. I decided to give the Caramelized Tiger Prawns a try. The shrimp tasted like they were right off the farm, and the chili oil was visible on the plate, just not on the palette. By far the best part of this dish were the delicious onions, too bad nothing else on the plate were its equal. I just wish that the Vietnamese gentleman that sat down next to us as we finished our meal had done so before we started, because he looked at them menu and said to his daughter "this is Vietnamese?" He did not look pleased, and I am willing to bet his lunch did not get any better.

For dinner we splurged and went to Aqua in the Financial District. This was the meal of the trip, not only because of the quality of the dishes, but service on par with some of the best in the world. We were greeted with an Amuse that included three elements; a fresh sardine (one was more than enough), a small cup of turnip cappuccino (a soup that would have been right at home at Corduroy), and a small dungeness crab cake. For an appetizer my wife had more west coast crab, this time wrapped in painfully thin slices of cucumber and topped with a curry poppy seed vinaigrette. Not only was this was a beautifully looking dish, but was equally as tasty, the pop of the meyer lemon cucumber caviar went very nicely with the crab - when is faux caviar going to be moved to the trite list? My appetizer is the never trite, at least not when done well, Tartare of Ahi Tuna, and this was done very well. The plate arrived with a small quail egg yolk perched on top with pureed lemon confit and a harrissa like spice mixture on the side. After showing me the plate the waiter mixed it before me, and what he left behind was simply sublime. The slight heat of the spices, and the meatiness of the fish matched quite nicely with the slightly off-dry German Riesling recommended by the Sommelier (I don't have the name in front of me). For an entrée my wife had Warm Scottish Salmon that was served with a delicious rye gnocchi, and crispy yet gelatinous piece of pork belly. I think that I liked her fish more than she did, it was cooked perfectly medium rare, something that she is still getting used to with fish. My entrée was John Dory that had been poached in goats milk, and served with Serrano ham, pickled vegetables, and a smoked paprika vinaigrette. The milk added a nice coating of fat to what is usually a lean fish, and the vinaigrette cut right through it. My wife finished the evening with a peanut butter My wife finished the evening with a peanut butterclair, a small strip of pate choux topped with dollops of peanut butter mousse. The dish was not very sweet, but was incredibly flavorful, a dessert that I put up with the chocolate tart at A16 as being the best desserts of the year.

Our last meal in San Francisco was at Yank Sing. It was a mixed bag from the sublime (the soup dumplings) to the mediocre (the crab claws), to the just not very good (the flabby and flavorless Peking Duck). Actually, to be fair, the only misses were the last two, I particularly liked the summer roll which is basically the components of a spring roll kept whole, the wrapped, and fried. But nothing touched the soup dumplings.

We spent Christmas and the intervening days until we left in Sausalito visiting my mother-in-law. When I had to run an errand I decided to grab a burger at the Mill Valley In & Out. It has been some years since I have had one of their burgers, and either this was an off day, or my tastes and expectations have changed, but this was not a good burger. It was simply a flavorless grease bomb that was no better than any other fast food joint. To make matters worse the fries became hard when they cooled.

If you do find yourself in Sausalito looking for something non-touristy and not so "California" I recommend Thai Terrace. It is a small family owned and run Thai place across from the Marina, but away from the tourist area. They have a short menu, something my wife's pain-in-the-ass aunt was complaining about, but once we started eating she kept raving about the freshness of the ingredients, and how it was better than her neighborhood place.

[edenman]

5 days in SF/Napa.

Day 1: breakfast at Swan Oyster Depot of six Kumamoto oysters and six cherry neck clams. Walked up and saw the view from Coit tower. Light lunch at Yank Sing To Go. I didn't read the the comments above closely enough...the takeout was ok, but clearly I should've spent the time and gotten sit-down dim sum. 1 steamed pork bun, 1 potsticker, 1 siu mye (also spelled shaomai, among others). Started the beer afternoon at 21st Amendment, with their 563 Imperial Stout (nicely balanced at 7.8%, on nitro) and a Brew Free or Die IPA (sticky cascade hops, quintessential west-coast IPA). Met up with a friend at Hotel Utah, a cool little dive bar, and had a Speakeasy White Lightning (simple american wheat). Followed with wine tasting at Press Club, an swanky multi-winery tasting facility. Large, underground, interesting. Tried wines from Montelena Estate, a Riesling, a Zin, a couple Cabs, and a Cab Franc. Takeout burgers from a mediocre joint out in Oakland, and that was that.

Day 2: lunch at Zuni Cafe before leaving SF. Mini-sandwiches of preserved tuna, hard-boiled egg, capers, pickled veg and two Olympia and two Kumamoto oysters with a dry-ish Italian white wine whose varietal escapes me. Burger with house pickles with a Granache/Syrah blend. The first course(s) vastly overshadowed the greasy, slightly overcooked burger. Out to Berkley, where stops at Jupiter and Triple Rock brewpubs yielded two very nice IPAs (18 barrel and IPAX, respectively). Bought some big bottles at Ledger Liquors, lots of Port Brewing, some Russian River, weird Anderson Valley stuff, etc. Good beer shop. Then off to Napa.

Day 3: Napa.

Day 4: Napa. Drove down after dinner to SF, and hit Monk's Kettle, a new-ish beer bar in the Mission neighborhood. Lots of good taps, with a mostly Belgian focus, but unfortunately super-crowded. Had a Port Hop 15, the most over-the-top hoppy beer of the trip, just incredible aromatic, sticky, citric. Might need a little age to settle it down a bit, but still delicious. Walked over to the Haight to Toronado, which proved once again that it is the best place to drink beer in the US. It's a bit dive-y, cash only, and doesn't serve food. The bartenders can be more than a bit surly. These things somehow make it even more dear to me, and the beer list is just stupidly good. They were coming off a Stout festival and thus still had several of those great beers on draught in addition to the wide range of west-coast, Belgian, and German stuff. I had a 13oz Deschutes Abyss for $4.50. 'Nuff said.

Day 5: Back to Napa, then back to SF. Beers at Thirsty Bear brewpub, a curious bar that has 9 house beers, a stellar liquor selection, and an extensive tapas menu for food. Only in SF. Enjoyed their IPA, and to a lesser extent, a Sweet Baby Jesus (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Averna Amaro, Maple Syrup, Meyer Lemon....great flavors, but the barkeep didn't strain too well and the drink had big chunks of ice floating on top). Walked over to the Bourbon and Branch speakeasy, where showing up just after 6pm (on a Friday, nonetheless) meant we were able to score two barstools. Being prime-time on a Friday probably didn't help our bartender's demeanor and openness, but the drinks were still delicious. A Rye Fizz, Bols Genever Old-Fashioned, and a Rolls Royce (Perfect Martini w/a bit of Benedictine). Trekked back out to Oakland to hit the Trappist, a great little neighborhood Belgian beer bar. I stuck with the west-coast beers, enjoying the hell out of a Drake's Denogginizer and a Lost Abbey Serpents Stout.

Fin.

[Lydia R]

Light lunch at Yank Sing To Go. I didn't read the the comments above closely enough...the takeout was ok, but clearly I should've spent the time and gotten sit-down dim sum.

After reading the recent posts on this thread, I went over to the Chronicle's website and found, as part of a "reorganization," the 28th was their last Wednesday Food Section. Fortunately, the final edition had Amanda Gold's dim sum roundup for all time detailing favorite restaurants across the Bay Area and complete with Craig Lee's photos:

I have to admit I'm posting this here as a bookmark for my next Bay Area trip.

[bettyjoan]

Whew. We crammed so much into our short trip to California, it took me a whole week to recover and even THINK about posting. We did go to The French Laundry, and I'll post a menu/report in the Napa thread one of these days, but we also ate at some good places in San Francisco proper.

After our flights landed (at about 10 PM), we were definitely ready for cocktails and snacks. Enter Absinthe, a cool little brasserie in Hayes Valley whose executive chef is Jamie, from this most recent "Top Chef" season. We were too late for full dinner service, but they have a fairly extensive bar menu and a VERY impressive selection of spirits. I opted for the Croque Monsieur (with an added egg, of course), with black forest ham, gruyere, and Dijon mustard. Served with a large green salad, it was a LOT of food for $12.50, and it definitely hit the spot. The house-made hot dog with Guiness mustard, chili ketchup, and sauerkraut, was just fine--but the yogurt-dill potato chips were crunchy, full of flavor, and the star of the plate. The fries were just okay, but the cocktails were all really interesting and tasty. Service was attentive and friendly. Our experience was somewhat marred by our fatigue and the incredibly loud and annoying middle-aged women cackling at the bar, but I still left with a positive impression of the place.

Lunch the next day was dim sum at Yank Sing. We tried a LOT of stuff (which resulted in a LOT of numbers on the bill), with the highlights being the soup dumpings, the pork sticky buns, and the sauteed green beans. I did not care for the chicken feet or the turnip cake, but all of the other offerings (we had a few types of dumplings, spring rolls, and Peking duck) were tasty. The tea was actually surprisingly good as well. Not a cheap lunch outing, but we didn't have to eat for the rest of the day.

I had to get a little bit of regional fast food while I was out west, so we stopped at In 'N Out Burger on our way back into the city after our wine country jaunt. I tell you what, for my money, In 'N Out kicks Five Guys' ass. That was a tasty burger! The fries were just meh (Five Guys does have most joints beat on that count), but I really enjoyed my double double, animal style. The sauces and toppings had lots of flavor, but I could also taste the meat (which was surprisingly non-greasy). And the bun was fresh and soft! I don't know if I would take In 'N Out above Whataburger (tough call), but I'd definitely take it over anything we have here in GA.

Toward the back end of our trip, we had lunch at Monk's Kettle, a cute little joint in the Mission with a great beer selection and an interesting take on bar food. We had wanted to visit on a Friday night, but we were told that it was WAY too small for four people to get in during busy times. It IS really tiny, with a maximum occupancy of no more than 50 or so, but it was lunchtime on a weekday and we practically had the place to ourselves. We started off by sharing a soft pretzel, served with house-made beer cheese sauce (really good) and stone ground mustard; it was a chewy, salty, perfect start to the afternoon. My fiance opted for the grilled chicken sandwich with house-cured pepper bacon, herb aioli, and brie. It was HUGE, but it was so tasty, it disappeared in no time flat. I chose the lamb burger, which came with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and a cucumber tzatziki sauce. YUM. The meat must have had some cinammon in the seasoning mix, as it had a sweet-salty-spicy taste that really wowed me. The fries that came with both sandwiches were excellent--crispy, hot, tender, and well-salted. We really enjoyed our experience, and we had a great time talking to the bartender about the various beer offerings. No wonder this place gets so crowded on the weekends!

On our way back to the airport after a lovely trip, we had to stop for some tacos and burritos in the Mission. Every San Franciscan has his or her preferred Mexican joint, and I find that folks are pretty loyal to their favorites. My sister and her boyfriend swear by Taqueria Cancun. The first time I went, I really didn't enjoy my burrito--I asked for a lot of modifications (my fault), and most of them got screwed up (their fault). This time, I opted for marinated pork "super" tacos, served on corn tortillas and topped with salsa, sour cream, fresh avocado, and cilantro. Much better! The meat was tender, the salsa was spicy, and the balance of flavors was spot-on. I don't usually love corn tortillas, but these were obviously homemade and delicious. What I found was that, unlike a burrito (which can get stuffed in such a way as to segregate ingredients), the taco allowed me to taste every component in each bite. I enjoyed it mucho.

[synaesthesia]

I've done some serious eating while in San Francisco. Here are some of the highlights:

I started off at Sushi Sam in San Mateo - a recommendation from a good friend, and a favorite of my cousin. It isn't too far from SFO, and is the only sushi place in SF that does the more interesting type of omakase. Most places usually just serve up the pieces of fish, while here each piece of sushi had its own sauce. She said that for more of this style it is better in LA. This was also the first time that I understood why tuna is held in such high regard - I've always found it slightly mushy and bland. Great blue shrimp with fried shrimp heads alongside are fantastic. The seared toro with a sauce of yuzu and great little bits of sea salt was amazing. A fish that was new to me - alfonsino - was excellent. This was also the first time I tried monkfish liver. It wasn't really my favorite - a bit like firm tofu in some sauce. The sushi chef's daughter is a pastry chef, and I had a great almond tofu in lychee syrup, and my cousin had a brown rice panna cotta with brown rice pate de choux.

Dinner was at House of Curries in Berkeley (has other locations), where the chicken tikka masala and tandoori chicken were standouts. Vindaloo, biryani and chole chicken were less memorable.

Another dinner was at SPQR - a new Italian place from the folks behind A16. The best dish of the bunch was the fried sweet potato chunks with pancetta. The other dishes I tried were fairly unremarkable. I tried the maccheroni with artichoke hearts, fava greens and pecorino - a Calabrian dish.

After we headed to Bi-Rite Creamery where I tried their salted caramel ice cream. Though a bit salty I found the caramel more notable for its burnt flavor. The malted vanilla with brittle was also fantastic.

I met up with ferment_everything at the Ferry Terminal Building for lunch. We had some oysters at Hog Island, and then made our way to Boccalone, the new characuterie spot by Chris Cosentino of Incanto. We got a platter of five different types of charcuterie - lardo, brown sugar and fennel salami, head cheese, prosciutto, and something else that I can't remember. It comes with grissini and a small tub of marinated olives. The lardo was fairly subtle, and it's hard to imagine anyone eating all the pieces they provide - we left behind two slices of the five or six. The brown sugar and fennel sausage was sweet and lovely. The head cheese was beautiful - you could see bits of the ears interwoven and little bits of herbs wedged inbetween bits of meat and cartilage. The prosciutto was way too salty and a little disappointing. We really needed real bread to break up some of it.

Later that night we were joined by a friend at Incanto. Despite a downward trend in Yelp ratings, we were wowed. The menu changes constantly and was fantastically seasonal.

We shared all the plates and started with strawberries, fava beans and pecorino. Nice, light and fantastic way of taking some nice in-season ingredients and keeping it simple. We progressed to a half portion of spaghetti with cured sardinian tuna hearts and a full portion of rabbit liver ravioli. Tuna hearts were too small to be noticed, and had nice little bits of fried bits of garlic. And rabbits beware, because I want to shove grain down your throat for your delicious livers.

Entrees were asparagus risotto with parmesan, whole sardines with chili, capers, and parsley, and Arctic char with cardoons. Asparagus was maybe a little overwhelmed by the risotto, but was good risotto by itself. The sardines were yummy salty delights with a nice contrast from the other ingredients. Arctic char was a pleasing little seafood dish.

[Kibbee Nayee]

Just enjoyed a week in San Francisco wrapped around a big conference at the Moscone Center, and despite all the parties and bashes associated with the conference, I still got out into foodie land. I'll be brief, because the story I want to tell is at the bottom of this post.

Swann Oyster Depot -- Outstanding Combination Salad, with sides of oysters and calamari salad.

Takara (in the Miyako Mall in Japan Town) -- Incredible sushi, especially the Rock-n-Roll (Eel and Avocado).

Scoma's (Fisherman's Wharf) -- Best Cioppino I've ever had, in a bowl that probably holds about a half-gallon.

Medjool (2522 Mission) -- Hip, trendy, "Mediterranean Tapas" with very good baba ghanouj and excellent grilled meats.

Allegro Romano (1701 Jones St.) -- A gem, a real foodie destination, some of the best Italian I've ever eaten.

But here's the story. For lunch one day during the conference, I wondered past the Taste of San Francisco right off Yerba Buena Gardens on 4th St. It's a little mall called the Metreon, with a few restaurants. I stopped into Buckhorn Grill for a sandwich and ordered the Big Buck -- 6 oz. of perfectly grilled tri-tip, sliced thinly, served with au jus, for $7.95. Oh....my....God....! I have eaten sandwiches all over this country, and nothing compares to quality and heartiness of these babies. Best lunch nosh I've had in memory, and I'm definitely going to check into franchising this place for the Washington DC market.

[synaesthesia]

I forgot to note this before... but the San Francisco airport See's candy shops have all been replaced by Ghirardelli. You can still find See's in some of the newsstands, but the selection isn't nearly as good. They have some of the standards, but the more interesting stuff like pecans with vanilla caramel (kinda like Almond Royals) are in the regular stores.

[ol_ironstomach]

My friend Cameo has been hard at work building (and blogging about building) an urban beekeeping / bee info / bee products store in SF's Mission district. It's worthy of mention if only because I think she's given it an awesome name.

Her Majesty's Secret Beekeeper opens in another week or two at 3520 20th Street.

[ktmoomau]

Recent trip to San Fransisco for the first part of our honeymoon just thought I would post some thoughts:

R&G Lounge- So I am trying to get into Chinese food, when I was little I had a couple really bad reactions and it has taken a while, but we ordered a bunch of stuff and I had a good time trying things. I had XO chicken with snap peas (I know pretty tame but again you walk into the pool before you dive in) that was very good. And I have to admit I ordered spring rolls as they are pretty safe in my book, and found the ones there very fresh and crispy and not huge in a good way. Unfortunately with all the other stuff we ate I can't remember all the dishes. I know we started with a bit of bbq too (again safe) and it was served with these beans that were brown and a little hard in a good way I really liked those. I am trying to remember what hubby got it was more adventurous but I tasted some and liked it... I should have taken notes or more pictures. I wish I had more people with us for the meal so I could have tried more things because the plates flowing to the tables around us all looked good and I just wanted to go around and sample to see what I liked.

We also had gone to a Chinese Bakery on Grant St. Golden Gate Bakery (I found out later this place is normally packed but jetlag had us up early that morning) we got a moon cake, pineapple bun, egg custard and a bbq pork bun. I liked all of those very much. Those are things I could get more used to.

Top of the Mark- we arrived pretty late our first evening and stayed at the Fairmont so this was across the street and kind of romantic for a first night honeymoon. On our way up a nice gay couple told hubby that my rings were gorgeous and he did a great job so he was in a very good mood. We ordered cocktails- I just got a gin and tonic, he got a martini. The view was really nice. We had seared tuna there that was very good- seared perfectly nice crust of sesame seeds, nicely but not overly sauced. It was a nice late night snack. We also had the cheese plate, which didn't have very adventurous cheese and two blues of which hubby isn't a fan of so I had a lot of cheese, but it was nice for a late night just to unwind after a huge wedding and flights. I know it is a touristy thing to do, but it is nice and rather relaxing and they don't make bad cocktails so I am not complaining.

The next day we headed to the ferry building and did some nibbling- The roast beef sushi from Delica rfi was really good, good marks to cowgirl creamery of course. We were on an off day so it was a little slow and we were leaving to go to Napa for the French Laundry so we just wanted to graze some. We sat down at the Market Bar because my puppies were tired had charcuterie, dugenese deviled eggs and smoked salmon bruschetta with goat cheese. The deviled eggs were so-so, meat was very good and the smoked salmon bruschetta stole the show. The salmon was almost creamy and wasn't so smokey that it overwhelmed the fish. The goat cheese had nice balance with the relish and it was toasted so that the textures and flavors came together quite well. I had wanted to go to the slanted door but life's a compromise.

We then headed out to Napa and Sonoma. Dinner at the French Laundry was worth it. It was an experience not just a dinner. I browsed the garden across the street and sat in the lovely flower garden waiting for them to order as we had 5:30 reservations. We were greeted with Champagne and congratulations. We ordered the tasting menu alternating the choices. What was incredible is that they incorporated flavors from individual things hubby and I are not crazy about into dishes in ways that we liked them (beets, caviar, mushrooms- mostly hubby dislikes but I am not huge on beets). Every dish was memorable in a different way. The pearls, oyster and caviar was rich with a tiny tang and the texture in your mouth with the salty and savory flavors really came together to make this exotic dish almost homey. The salad of hamachi was cool, crisp and refreshing while the fatty fish had nice texture and flavor as it melded in your mouth. The lobster with leeks and beets was rich but the texture of the lobster was perfect and the beet used here just added a fresh flavor and cut a bit of the salt flavor to make it very balanced. The beef dish gave you the perfect portion and in each bite I tried to get a bit of everything as it was just very balanced. The chocolate dessert was decadent and hubby had a very fruity dessert that was a good combination of sweet and tart. We were then overloaded with a whole box of other assorted goodies and then sent home with shortbread cookes that made the plane to Australia very tastey. I won't go through every dish there is no use anyway someone else I am sure has. I know some people say it is overrated, but for us the balanced flavors and perfection of smell, texture, taste and balance paired with absolutely impeccable service that was in no way over the top really made the experience for us. We both commented that we had as much fun as we did at Minibar, which in essence is a fun food experience where the French Laundry just doesn't try to play up the fun as much. So if you get a chance do go. We were lucky Amex plat called as soon as they started taking calls at the first day out they would take reservations for our date we needed so it worked out. I think if you are contemplating going, don't rule it out because other people say it is underwhelming. But I wouldn't go to see something you have never seen before. It is still food on a plate. It will taste like the ingredients in it. But I do think the almost science of perfecting flavor if you really taste it is quite nice.

Anyway those are my thoughts. Hope this may come in helpful for someone.

[alan7147]

I have an impromptu trip coming up. Any recent recommendations for dinner? Not too worried about price. Thanks.

[edenman]

I have an impromptu trip coming up. Any recent recommendations for dinner? Not too worried about price. Thanks.

1550 Hyde or Nopa for classic seasonal Cali cuisine. Jai Yun for fantastic fixed-menu chinese (caveat: I've only been for lunch). Incanto for offal.

[Sundae in the Park]

I forgot to note this before... but the San Francisco airport See's candy shops have all been replaced by Ghirardelli. You can still find See's in some of the newsstands, but the selection isn't nearly as good. They have some of the standards, but the more interesting stuff like pecans with vanilla caramel (kinda like Almond Royals) are in the regular stores.

I KNOW!!!! I was so sad when the change happened and especially miss the full-service create-your-own-box store in the United terminal. It's where I always got my sorry-I-abandoned-you-for-a-week-of-fantastic-eating guilt present on the way home. If I want Ghiradelli, I swing by the factory to get check out the bulk seconds (and sometimes trials!) in Oakland, but everything else you can get pretty much anywhere.

[mdt]

A16 or SPQR, if you had to choose one or the other for dinner?

[seanvtaylor]

We did A16 last year and really enjoyed it, but I read that Nate Appleman left and moved to New York.

[mdt]

We did A16 last year and really enjoyed it, but I read that Nate Appleman left and moved to New York.

Damn, he left! Click

[Keithstg]

Sounds like your decision has already been made since Nate left, but I'd recommend SPQR.

[synaesthesia]

A16 or SPQR, if you had to choose one or the other for dinner?

Dunno if it's too late to respond, but I didn't love SPQR the last time I was there.

[edenman]

Dunno if it's too late to respond, but I didn't love SPQR the last time I was there.

Also worth noting: they just re-opened with a new chef. I haven't been since he took over.

[UStifosi]

Also worth noting: they just re-opened with a new chef. I haven't been since he took over.

I was at A16 last month for lunch. I think Nate Applemnan had just recently left that establishment to focus more on SPQR which i last visited two years ago and wasn't as impressed. I would look at RN74. That was a lot of fun.

[Sundae in the Park]

Also worth noting: they just re-opened with a new chef. I haven't been since he took over.

Hmmm, looks like I'm late to the party. Should I still try it? I'm in town next week and really like the menu. Also it's more more per diem-friendly that my usual one-dish-or-maybe-two at the bar at Gary Danko.

If not, where to go? Apparently not A16, either.

[mdt]

Hmmm, looks like I'm late to the party. Should I still try it? I'm in town next week and really like the menu. Also it's more more per diem-friendly that my usual one-dish-or-maybe-two at the bar at Gary Danko.

If not, where to go? Apparently not A16, either.

I just got back from my trip here is a list of places that I visited with a quick comment for each:

Incanto -- very good overall, offal is a specialty here

Flour+Water -- apps and pasta were excellent, mains less so

Delfina Pizzeria -- some of the best pizza we have eaten anywhere, yes JoeH anywhere

BiRite Creamery -- excellent (across and down the street from Delfina, Tartine is very close too)

Dottie's (breakfast and lunch) -- fun and worth the wait in line

Bourbon & Branch (speakeasy across the street from Dottie's)

Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market street food -- I wish our markets had that kind of food available

Zuni Cafe (that chicken is damn good!)

Toronado -- beer! many taps and 4 on cask

[Lydia R]

The SF Michelin Guide was released yesterday complete with links to Open Table.

Warm memories of a past birthday dinner at Cyrus.

http://www.michelinguide.com/us/sf_stars_2010.html#

[Sundae in the Park]

The SF Michelin Guide was released yesterday complete with links to Open Table.

Warm memories of a past birthday dinner at Cyrus.

http://www.michelinguide.com/us/sf_stars_2010.html#

Hmmmm, thanks for the suggestions. There are so many choices in SF! I still want to try SPQR (unless someone can warn me off!) or A16 (ditto!), and maybe I'll actually get the chicken at Zuni (have only stopped in there for a quick bite once before). Will report back!

[cjsadler]

Delfina Pizzeria -- some of the best pizza we have eaten anywhere, yes JoeH anywhere

BiRite Creamery -- excellent (across and down the street from Delfina, Tartine is very close too)

I joined mdt at both places and man were these great picks. BiRite had some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted.

Liked Luce. I wasn't aware of it until I saw a poster at the restaurant, but chef Dominique Crenn is one of the chefs on the current The Next Iron Chef.

Wish I would have avoided Fish & Farm.

[Sundae in the Park]

Lunch the next day was dim sum at Yank Sing. We tried a LOT of stuff (which resulted in a LOT of numbers on the bill), with the highlights being the soup dumpings, the pork sticky buns, and the sauteed green beans. I did not care for the chicken feet or the turnip cake, but all of the other offerings (we had a few types of dumplings, spring rolls, and Peking duck) were tasty. The tea was actually surprisingly good as well. Not a cheap lunch outing, but we didn't have to eat for the rest of the day.

We were in the mood for some exquisite Chinese food, but then found out that Yank Sing is lunch only !!! So a quick trip to google and a quick confirmation from a local food-loving friend, and we headed out to Koi Palace in Daly City (started south of the city, so not very far at all). OH MY GOD. Fan-freakin' tastic food. Chinese banquet food, indeed. Every other dish is abalone this and shark's fin that. The assorted seafood swimming/inching around in the front all look remarkably perky and large. We had the pea shoots (adult, not baby, with garlic, still very tender), xiao long bao (soup dumplings - so cunning, they serve them steamed in wee tins that catch the soup should it break open before reaching your month), pan fried noodles with chicken and scallops (kid food, really, but perfect - crispy, generous with the noodles, light brown and rich gravy), this ABSURD dish with what tasted like BEEF BACON (actually short ribs and enoki mushroom spicy clay pot casserole with a sauce based on Korean red bean paste) that somehow managed to be seared done with all the FAT IN. SO GOOD. We had a plate of extremely tender jellyfish and funky as its suppoed to be thousand year old egg. They started us off with dishes of pickle and peanuts tossed with salted dried tiny fish, and finished us off with slices of melon and these ridiculously eggy-rich, yet incredibly light, airy, fried dough puffs rolled in sugar. Positively a magical ending.

It's a typical banquet hall, with lots of round tables and rich drapery, and there were only a couple of caucasian faces (none on their own) swimming in a sea of Chinese (mostly older) folks. It's pricy for Chinese food, but amazing. They serve dim sum for lunch (at least one local thinks their dim sum is better than at Yank Sing). We're going back tomorrow.

[qwertyy]

As tough as it was to top Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's house (three words: foie gras stuffing), we were in San Francisco, so we damn well had to try!

How do you bypass the two-hour wait at the uber-popular Burma Superstar? Walk three blocks to Mandalay--you'll get seated in five minutes and your meal will be ten times better. Seriously, this place is phenomenal. I could not stop eating the tea leaf salad, despite it being spicier than I'm comfortable with and the knowledge that it was just one of about 12 dishes we ordered. The fish chowder (with ground catfish? I'm in!) is one of the best Asian soups I've had, full of fish flavor and not a whiff of fishiness. The half fried chicken was crisp, greaseless, and tasty (though a bit dry). And the Mandalay special noodles with shrimp were a tiny wee-bit gummy, but again, the flavor was glorious. Inexpensive, lovely service, nice room. Highly recommended.

I don't usually enjoy brunch because the omelet/pancake offerings bore me. But Maverick actually has some different choices on the menu. I had the sauteed wild mushrooms and fried bread cubes with arugula and goat cheese served over a bit of soft scrambled egg. JUST what I wanted--a bit light but substantial, creative enough to keep me interested but comfy enough for brekkie. The andouille benedict was also seriously tasty and is just what the doctor ordered if you happen to be laboring under a touch of cocktail flu.

Despite Annabelle's losing its freaking awesome GM (AKA my brother), it's still the best casual restaurant in the area. After a few hours of Black Friday shopping (what was I THINKING??) I stopped in for a late lunch. The salad with tuna confit, arugula, carrot vinaigrette, and carrot chips with a side of broad beans totally filled the bill after the insanity of the previous evening (three words: foie gras stuffing)--light, filling, balanced, and way tasty. And though I drank beer with lunch, I happen to know that the bartender is an excellent mixologist. (He is, in fact, the reason I had to start slowly with beer that afternoon...)

Jackson Fillmore? Meh. Really don't bother.

Drinks at Michael Mina Clock Bar? HOMINA. Relampago, Uptown Manhattan, Sage Advice, and something special made with habanero (!)--all were off the freaking HOOK. (And NO, my memory isn't all that fuzzy. I only drank the first two and traded sips on the other two.)

I left my heart in San Francisco. Because by the end of the weekend, my arteries were too clogged to fit in my luggage. God I love that place.

[qwertyy]

Huh. It's telling, I think, that I completely forgot that we also went to Chez Panisse (cafe) for dinner. It was perfectly fine (the bread was excellent, as was the pizzetta with tomato sauce and [not bacalhau, but that saltfish-potato combo whose name is completely escaping me at the moment]). But, aside from the history, there's really no compelling reason to travel across the bay for it if you're not already there.

[SeanMike]

Okay, places I went while visiting last week:

John's Grill - I had the lamb chops. One of the rare times I didn't feel ripped off by them, and they were $30. My coworker had some kind of SF specialty seafood stew and loved it.

Alembic - My coworkers and I all loved our food. Two of them got rockfish sandwiches which surprised them as to how good they were; another was very happy to see his banh mi came out in newspaper and thought it delicious as well. I had duck hearts and some smoked-salted peppers which were quite tasty. Drinks were great. The bartender was a bit distant.

Smuggler's Cove - Went there twice. Kicked butt.

Annabelle's - Across the street from our hotel they have a 'second happy hour' from 11-12:30 at night. $5 appetizers such as a small olive-laden pizza, roasted pork tenderloin skewers, and others were quite tasty and $3 beers.

4th Street Bar and Deli - hit it because it was basically sort of in our hotel. Meh. Food wasn't good.

[jiveturk21]

We were in San Francisco for three days back in August. And, while in this food mecca, I can pretty much say that we didn't spend a lot of time or attention on what we ate while we were there. For me, this is an outrageous statement, even when I get sent to Timbuktu for a day for work, I always try to find the best place to go eat, but since we were headed to Napa for four days after our time in San Fran, I figured that we would just play it by ear while in the city.

With that being said, we still stumbled across some pretty great places to eat. The first of these places was Pizzeria Delfina. Very affordable, especially the wines, with perfect pizza and a very good pasta special. I equate this place to 2 Amy's without the maniacal children and more consistency (although it is tough for me to say that since I only went here once). I also have to give HUGE props to the Ferry Building Marketplace on Saturday morning and all of the amazing vendors that are there. I relate it to Reading Terminal Market in Philly, one of my favorite places in the world, but better. Granted, the amazing weather and the by-the-water location gives it a major advantage, but I really loved the variety of vendors that they had there. Obviously, the varying climates in California make this possible, but I couldn't imagine living there and not trekking down to the market every weekend, it was simply that good.

[Kibbee Nayee]

I hate to bury this so deeply in a mega-thread, but the opportunity of two conferences in San Francisco has me out here for two weeks. I contacted our fearless Board leader for advice, he introduced me to a DC star who used to work out here, recommendations were made, and my interim report follows.

First, I hit Luce last night because it was in the hotel I where was staying. It received a Michelin star and Chef Dominique Crenn has appeared on the Next Iron Chef and a few other TV shows. I had the beef marrow appetizer and followed it with the pork three ways -- jowl, belly and tenderloin. It was simply an excellent meal, and I am returning with a small group on Sunday night to provide a more thorough commentary.

Today, girlfriend and I hit La Taqueria for lunch. Based on Chef's recommendations, we had the beef head quesadilla and the tongue taco. They were honest, fresh, genuine, flavorful and just plain good. And because I mentioned to the guy at the cash register that we were from DC and had never been there before, out came a complimentary carnitas pork quesadilla. Again, this is darned good fare, and quite inexpensive. I would wreck this menu on regular occasions if I lived out here.

Merely five or six hours later, we were in San Mateo at Chef's recommendation for the finest sushi meal this side of Koji at Sushi-Ko. The place is called Sushi Sam, and we sat at the counter in front of Sam. We ordered omakase, about 14 plates, and from start to finish it was frikkin' awesome. From the impeccable seafood and precision preparations, to some unusual items like baby shrimp and wataniya beef, or lightly seared toro, or sea urchin and baby squid, all the way to the green tea tiramisu and blood orange soup, this meal was a no-holds-barred feast. Of all the sushi restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area, this is the one Chef recommends and this is the one I would travel cross-country to eat at. And on either side of us for at least two seatings, there were hard-core foodies with stories about the French Laundry (and pictures on the iPhone of each course there) and adventures to Boulud and Robichon in Vegas and all manner of recommendations for the SF foodie scene, yet each one would take Sushi Sam over any other meal in the Bay area. After tonight, so might I...

[Kibbee Nayee]

Next day report ... perfectly forgettable lunch in Chinatown. Rule no. 1, never eat at a place where they have the hawk the place with flyers a few blocks away, and never eat Chinese in Chinatown when you're in San Francisco. Next topic.

Dinner at RN74 on a Saturday was OK. It's the newest of the Michael Mina group restaurants and boasts the best of the wine lists. We arrived for a 9pm reservation and were seated by about 9:20, poured water and then forgotten for a while. The place was packed and noisy, and I really loathe a dining experience where I cannot hear the people I am dining with or I have to scream to be heard over the din. The din was magnified by the all-too-trendy techno-throb music in the background. We placed orders by about 9:45 and were eating appetizers by 10:00. I must say, the food was pretty good. I tried girlfriend's beet salad appetizer and my own Manila clams with pork belly, and both were quite good. My girlfriend's grilled loup de mer was nicely done as was my free range chicken breast. Really nice chicken flavor on the latter. So I have to sum this place up as being too noisy, with spotty service but an excellent wine list and very good food. I would probably recommend it on a Tuesday evening....

[Kibbee Nayee]

Last night featured a return to Michelin one-star Luce, where four of us cruised the menu a bit deeper. We learned that Chef Crenn was in New York cooking for a large group, so the kitchen was in the able hands of the under-staff.

I decided to taste my way through the appetizers, so I ordered my own tasting menu of four of them. In pairs, I had the following:

Local Sardines, Babe Farm Baby Beets, Chickpeas and Basil $14

Sweetbread and Beef Tongue, Egg, Pancetta Jus and Potato “Espuma” $15

Black Ink Trofiette “Carbonara”, Baby Squid, Smoked Pancetta, Slow Cooked Organic Egg $16

Bone Marrow And Gnocchi, Lobster $16

All were good, but the sardines tasted a bit too "fishy"....the Black Ink Trofiette was incredibly good, and in all dishes the combination of flavors, textures, mouth-feel and presentation were precise. This is most definitely one-star cooking.

Girlfriend had the Thai snapper with baby shrimp, and declared it one of the best meals she has ever eaten. One other companion devoured the venison like he hadn't eaten in days, and commented that it was tender and flavorful.

This is a restaurant worth placing on a can't-miss list of San Francisco restaurants. I would like to try it again when Chef Crenn is in the kitchen, and the tasting menu that runs from Sunday through Thursday and requires the entire table to participate would be my next adventure here.

[Kibbee Nayee]

At one-star Quince last night, we had a simultaneously spectacular and disappointing meal. The spectacular part was the food, but the disappointing part was that it was s-l-o-w....we were seated at 8:15pm and didn't get out of there for a good three and a half hours. Yikes. We were completely worn out by the end, and I had to get up and stretch a few times toward the end.

But the food was superb. We went with the Chef's Spring Tasting Menu, and everyone agreed that the highlight was the lamb three ways. It was really incredible. The service was worthy of a one-star restaurant as well, with coat-and-tie waiters marching out of the kitchen in lockstep and placing the plates for each course down in front of the diners in a precision sequence.

But after four courses, a few of us went with a cheese course -- nicely artisanal, including a blue goat cheese and a really runny and stinky one I enjoyed a lot -- and were pretty much finished at that point. But then out came a pre-dessert palate cleanser, then a dessert, then a plate of finishing sweets, all about 15 minutes apart. Talk about overkill....

This is a beautifully appointed restaurant, with a precise staff and wonderful ambiance. But it overdoes the California 'slow food' concept a bit too much, and it can be a tiresome experience. Nonetheless, the food here is quite good, and if it weren't for the slow pace, this would be the meal of the week so far.