San Francisco-Ca Food-Restaurants

San Francisco-Ca Food-Restaurants information

American

Boulevard *** 1 Mission Street Tel:+1 (1)415-543-6084 Set in the historic Audiffred Building along San Francisco's waterfront district, Boulevard's dazzling Belle Epoque(hand-blown glass chandeliers, mosaic tiles, and views of the Bay Bridge) matches the restaurant's excellent food. Chef Nancy Oakes creates American cuisine with ethnic influences, such as the sautéed halibut with mismo glaze served with shiitake mushrooms, asparagus and pea tendrils sautéed with ginger shiso broth, daikon, enoki and radish salad. The restaurant also features the only wood-burning oven west of Chicago, used to serve oven-roasted organic chicken, rack of lamb, and Niman pork loin, among other dishes. Bix ** 56 Gold Street Tel: +1 (1)415-433-6300 Tucked in a tiny alleyway in San Francisco's financial district, Bix has been a favourite among the after work crowd for its food and bar scene since first opening in 1988. Soulful paintings by local artist Mark Stock don the walls, while the food is American with a dash of elegance. Popular starters include Bix's summer organic heirloom tomato cart, dressed tableside, while the chicken hash a la Bix and roasted natural pork loin are dinner faves. As for the bar, which runs the length of the restaurant, Bix serves speciality cocktails and is known for its martinis. Cozmos Corner Bar & Grill ** 2001 Chestnut Street Tel: +1 (1)415-351-0175 Since its opening in November 2001, Cozmos has been steadily gaining popularity as a Marina hangout. The brick walls and large central bar give Cozmos a casual feel in this upscale region of town. Entrée choices change daily. Some of the specialities include rare seared Ahi with a sticky rice cake and stir fried Chinese long beans and wasabi aioli, or fettucine with spring vegetable primavera and roasted tomatoes. It's also possible to order small snacks to accompany drinks, such as fried green olives filled with Gorgonzola. There is an extensive local wine list. Reservations are recommended for weekends.

French

Jardiniere *** 300 Grove Street at Franklin Tel: +1 (1)415-861-5555 Jardiniere's exquisite interior manages to be elegant without pretension. At its centre stands a circular mahogany and black marble-topped bar and staircase leading to a mezzanine. The dome is in the shape of an inverted champagne glass. California-French entrees such as Niman Ranch red wine braised short ribs with horseradish mashed potatoes or the duck confit salad starter with pomegranates and toasted pistachios dominate the menu. Jardiniere belongs to restaurateur Pat Kuleto, responsible for both Boulevard and Farallon, and is popular with the symphony and opera crowd because of its location. Gary Danko *** 800 North Point at Hyde Tel: +1 (1)415-749-2060 In the few short years Gary Danko has been around, it has become one of San Francisco's premier dining retreats. Winner of the James Beard award for best new restaurant in America a couple of years ago, Gary Danko attracts high-end tourists, business suits and moneyed locals. Its windows are darkened outside, while inside the atmosphere is sleek and sophisticated. The California-French cuisine is creative and always hearty, with appetisers like lobster salad with mango, avocado, watercress, and lemon-curry vinaigrette, and entrees like Moroccan spiced squab with chermoula and orange-cumin carrots. Fixed-price menus are popular but diners have choices within each category. The wine list is considered one of the best in the city.

Italian

Rose Pistola */** 532 Columbus Avenue Tel: +1 (1)415-399-0499 Smack in the heart of North Beach, Rose Pistola is a favourite for its lively atmosphere and quality food. The menu is Ligurian, a coastal region of Northern Italy, which translates to a variety of seafood options. The Cioppino (Dungeness crab with rock cod, calamari and mussels) is a popular choice, as are the inventive pizzas. This is also one of the few North Beach restaurants that serves Grappa. Reservations are recommended. There is live jazz music Thu-Sun nights.

Asian

Slanted Door * 1 Ferry Bldg, Embarcadero Tel: +1 (1)415-861-8032 Slanted Door has made quite a name for itself on the San Francisco dining scene. Its wide selection of California fresh Vietnamese cuisine garnered such a steady following since opening in 1995. Some of the favourites are the fresh spring rolls, caramelised shrimp, and lemongrass tofu. All produce is organic. Save room for one of the mouth-melting desserts. The very reasonable prices are a bonus. Dinner reservations are recommended. Khan Toke Thai House * 5937 Geary Street, near 24th Ave Tel: +1 (1)415-668-6654 Of all the Thai restaurants in the city (and there are a lot), Khan Toke offers the most relaxing, enjoyable atmosphere. A host or hostess takes everyone's shoes at the door and visitors sit on cushions at low tables. Though the menu does not differ that much from other Thai restaurants in the city, the wood panelling, carved wood tables and a glass atrium filled with orchids add a romantic touch. Entrees such as chicken in yellow curry with sweet potatoes are very reasonably priced. The only drawback is the location, far out in the Richmond District. House of Nanking * 919 Kearny Street at Jackson Tel: +1 (1)415-421-1429 House of Nanking packs the crowds into its tiny interior. The restaurant is very basic and not overly concerned with decor, but the food is worth the long lines. Try the imperial rolls, tofu with curry, or hot and sour chicken in garlic sauce or even better, ask the waiter for recommendations. This restaurant does not take reservations. Ebisu * 1283 9th Avenue Tel: +1 (1)415-566-1770 Continuously voted best Japanese restaurant in San Francisco in local polls, Ebisu is known for its creative special rolls. The Swamp Roll, for example, has spicy albacore tuna, yellow onion and seaweed salad, and the Arch Deluxe, combines soft shell crab, crab, isowabi, cucumber, green onion, mayo and garlic. The food is excellent, but the restaurant can get loud. Be prepared for long lines, especially on weekends. Special rolls are priced daily, while most sushi a-la-carte costs around USD6. AsiaSF ** 9th Street at Howard Tel: +1 (1)415-255-2742 AsiaSF takes the concept of dinner theatre to another realm. Elegant drag queens are the entertainment as well as the waiting staff. The menu is mostly California-Asian cuisine, with choices such as grilled shrimp and herb salad, and sake steamed mussels. AsiaSF's signature drinks are named after the "ladies", such as Leilani's Chocolate Martini and Ginger's Sake Cosmo. The bar is also known to have the best sake selection in the city. There are three lip-synch performances an hour by the "gender illusionists". Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends when the old-style nightclub can get crowded.

Mexican

Maya ** 303 2nd Street Tel: +1 (1)415-543-2928 Maya serves great Mexican food in a unique atmosphere with the interior of the restaurant decorated with Mayan masks and other folk art accoutrements. The food is much lighter than normal Mexican fare - easy on the cheese and not nearly as greasy. Maya adds spice to its seafood plates, such as the camarones azteca - shrimp flambé with tequila, served with a huarache stuffed with black beans and goat cheese with chile-chipotle salsa. The desserts are excellent as well. La Taqueria * 2889 Mission Street at 25th Tel: +1 (1)415-285-7117 La Taqueria, which has been serving more than 28 years, is located in no-man's land in the Outer Mission, but for the adventurous, this is worth the stop. Considered by many locals to be the best Mexican in the city, La Taqueria uses fresh ingredients, unlike many of the other small taquerias that leave the food sitting out all day. Portions are not quite as overstuffed as the other Mission-area taquerias, and the prices are a bit higher, but the quality of the tacos, quesadillas, and burritos is worthwhile.

Seafood

The first place most tourists head for seafood is to Fisherman's Wharf. The Wharf is fine for takeaway seafood cocktails, soup, or crab, but the restaurants that line the Wharf tend to mass-produce mediocre fare, often for a pricey sum. There are few that do seafood entrees better than others such as A Sabellas. But unless eating at the Wharf is a high priority, there are better seafood options in the city. Aqua *** 252 California Street Tel: +1 (1)415-956-9662 After ten years in business, Aqua remains one of the best seafood restaurants in San Francisco. The floral displays lend a comfortable feel to this white linen restaurant. Chef Michael Mina is still creating inventive dishes such as tapioca crusted Tai snapper, imported white anchovy and asparagus salad, and truffled sweet corn and carrot soup. Aqua is noted for its chef's tasting menu, which costs USD85 per person. Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner. PJ's Oyster Bed ** 737 Irving Street, between 8th and 9th Ave Tel: +1 (1)415-566-7775 Though it's far from the city centre, PJ Oyster is well worth the trip. The environment is upbeat and loud, and the menu varied, with an emphasis toward New Orleans Cajun and Creole spices. Popular dishes include the jambalaya and stuffed chile campana, Creole shrimp smothered with trout catahoula, and calamari and habanero penne roast. PJ's is also known for its soups, namely its New England clam chowder. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, when there is always a wait to get in.

Vegetarian

Millennium * Savoy Hotel, 580 Geary Street Tel: +1 (1)415-441-2700 Millennium is not only the best vegetarian restaurant in the city, it serves some of the tastiest fare, period. The gourmet dishes are completely animal product free, meaning no dairy or eggs are used. Organic produce is used whenever available, and the menu touts that all dishes are cholesterol free. Tofu and other soy products are staples in many dishes. The menu often changes, but entrées are always inventive, such as the Asian Style Napoleon, with oyster mushrooms, Japanese eggplant, smoked tofu, Asian vegetables, sesame sauce, crisp filo, jasmine rice and kaffir lime coconut sauce. Save room for the irresistible vegan desserts such as the Chocolate Almond Midnight mousse cake. Reservations are recommended.

Bars

Though San Francisco isn't a super late-night city like its counterparts on the East Coast (i.e. New York), it does have a spirited nightlife in certain sections of town. The most concentrated selection of bars and nightclubs are located in an area called SoMa (South of Market), where locals come to see live shows at venues like Slim's or hit the big dance clubs. Several dance spots are located along Folsom Street downtown, while 11th Street is a good spot for live music and bars. Another area for drinks is in the Mission, around 16th and Valencia. Bars like the Casanova Lounge and Dalva are local hangouts during the week and crowded with bridge and tunnel crowds on the weekends. Further out on Valencia, and into the Outer Mission, there are some eclectic bars and clubs, such as El Rio, known for its Sunday afternoon salsa parties, and 26 Mix. Lower Haight features some grittier bars such as Noc Noc and Nickie's BBQ, which is always packed for its weekend funk DJs. Meanwhile, North Beach is the spot for outdoor cafés and late-evening people watching. If you fancy something a bit out of the ordinary though, there are more than enough to suit. These are just a few from San Francisco's eclectic bar community - check out the nightlife section as well for some truly weird and wonderful venues to enjoy a drink. Harry Denton's Starlight Room 450 Powell Street, on the 21st floor of the Sir Frances Drake Hotel Tel: +1 (1)415-395-8595 Offering some of the best views of Union Square and downtown San Francisco, Harry Denton's Starlight Room draws an upscale crowd of swanky drink sippers. The hostesses are garbed in formal black gowns while R&B, Motown and jazz music add to the ambience. There is live music Tuesdays and Thursdays through Saturdays, and a DJ on Sunday and Monday nights. Speciality drinks at Harry's include the Star Struck - Remy red, crème de banana, galliano, and orange and lemon juices (USD8). The drink menu includes a large selection of aperitifs as well as an extensive wine list. Harry's serves gourmet appetizers and pizzas. Hurricane Bar 950 Mason Street Tel: +1 (1)415-772-5278 Considered by many magazines and critics to have the best happy hour in San Francisco, the Hurricane Bar, located in the Fairmont Hotel's Tonga Room, is a lively, playful stop after a day of shopping in Union Square. The happy hour, weekdays from 17h00-19h00, includes an all-you-can-eat buffet with Polynesian treats for just USD6. Every half-hour the tropical setting is inundated by simulated thunder, rain, and lightning. The seating is in a square around a pool, and each night a live band comes out to the stage by boat. The bar is set up like a galleon, with the deck of the ship its dance floor. Top of the Mark 1 Nob Hill Tel: +1 (1)415-616-6916 Top of the Mark, set on the top floor of the Mark Hopkins hotel on Nob Hill, boasts 360-degree views from any table in the room. Some locals come for the live music Thursdays to Saturdays, including the Thursday night swing session, but this is mostly a tourist bar. The bar is known for its Top of the Mark Martini with a vodka and gin mix. Martinis are about USD9.50 while appetisers range from USD10 tortilla chips to USD115 Russian caviar. Sunday champagne brunch costs USD49 per person. There is a USD5 cover charge for the live music after 20h00 Thu and USD10 after 21h00 Fri-Sat. Buena Vista Café 2765 Hyde Street Tel: +1 (1)415-474-5044 Since opening in the 1890s, the Buena Vista Café has become renowned for its Irish coffee, serving an average of 2000 glasses of it a day. This is the perfect resting spot for those visiting Fisherman's Wharf, and an Irish coffee the perfect elixir for those cold, foggy nights. The café's mahogany bar looks out onto the San Francisco Bay. Vesuvio Café 255 Columbus Avenue Tel: +1 (1)415-362-3370 If there is one spot in San Francisco to connect with its Beat Generation past, Vesuvio Café is it. The wood and stained glass bar opened in 1948 and is filled with photos and other