Shuggie’s front dining room. Photo by Virginia Miller. Truthfully, San Francisco never stopped being fun, but these four restaurants are next-level. Two are brand new, one is recently remodeled and reborn, the other opened January 2025. All are whimsical, even funky, sometimes brazenly colorful and daringly flavorful. Chicken Fried Palace. Photo by Virginia Miller. If Waffle House Were Gourmet: Chicken… Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
—Modern Afghani Gamechanger: Jaji, Oakland
—Next-Level Sports Bar (and I’m Not into sports): Splash
—Ferry Building’s Latest Delights: Lunette, El Porteno, Ocean Malasadas
—Honduran-Yucatecan Heartwarmer: Catrachita Yucateca
—Glitzy Korean Steakhouse: AB Steak
—New Vegetarian Dishes Delight: Tiya
—14 & (Still) Fabulous: State Bird Provisions
—Tiny Cajun & Creole Go-to on The Hill: Po’Boy’s Kitchen Read more →
In this article:
—Steakhouse Extraordinaire: Niku Steakhouse, SoMa/Design District
—Playful, Modern Soul Food: Burdell, Oakland
—Thai Noodle Love: Khao Soi Shop Pop-Up at Nari, Japantown
—Michelin-Recommended Abura Soba Noodles: Kajiken, San Mateo Read more →
Published October 11, 2024, in my Medium column: For a lifetime I’ve been in love with American Southern food. Its ranges and its comforts, from Low Country to Creole or Cajun, and don’t even get me started on barbecue. Over two decades, I’ve taken countless road trips and repeat visits across the South to study its cuisines and its music. So it… Read more →
Indonesian, Fried Chicken, Plant-Based Filipino, Pizza & More: 7 SF Restaurants Standouts of the Month Bar Jabroni sesame pancakes. Photo by Virginia Miller. These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from fried chicken to rare Indonesian food, plant-based Filipino eats to pizza. Alongside this month’s full restaurant and bar reviews — Starlite, Stookey’s, 5 fine dining spots, Mother’s Day brunch guide — these seven are… Read more →
These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from Sebastopol (Sonoma County) treasures in Thai and pizza to SF gems in Creole/Cajun, Japanese and elevated bar food. Alongside this month’s full restaurant reviews of these exceptional spots, these seven are also worth visiting, with last month’s standouts here (as always, I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from each place reviewed): Read more →
Kowbird chicken wings (Photo: Courtesy of Virginia Miller) COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/july-eats-checklist-6-standout-newcomers These six newcomers (or new menus) cover the gamut, from Ukrainian dumplings to Nigerian food, Detroit-style pizza to hefty salads. Alongside this month’s full restaurant reviews — Gozu, Eight Tables at China… Read more →
FRIDAY FIVE Photo: Courtesy of Canela (@canelasf) While we await the reopening of unique, queer-owned favorites like The Bull Valley Roadhouse in the East Bay, we savor Humphry Slocombe’s good-time Pride flavors, like the current Harvey Milk & Honey Graham. 5 Places in the Castro to Check Out This WeekendSan Francisco’s gayborhood is a mecca for all the things — each with… Read more →
Because you deserve a cocktail with pancakes Brunch on the rooftop of 25 Lusk. Photos: Virginia Miller Brunch is a respite, recovery, church, and nourishment, all at the same time. San Francisco has long been lined with brunch and breakfast treasures by the hundreds, whether dim sum feasts or classic American breakfasts. After this beloved weekend activity was stripped from San Franciscans… Read more →
Friday Five State Bird Provisions. Photos: Virginia Miller Once dining became an option in San Francisco again mid-pandemic, it was outdoors or nothing. While the rest of the state (and country) moved ahead, we’ve only just now entered 25% indoor dining capacity as of September 30. And even though that’s an option, many still prefer outdoors. That’s okay in the Bay,… Read more →