Published September 16, 2022, in my The Bold Italic column:
Those of us who have been in dining, cocktails and spirits a long while know the importance of Bar Agricole since it opened in San Francisco’s SoMa district in 2011. Not only was it nominated every year since 2012 for James Beard Outstanding Bar Program in the nation — finally winning in 2019, but founder and bar vet Thad Vogler (who helped open pioneering bars like Bourbon and Branch) wrote an intriguing and definitive book on farmhouse-distilled and naturally sourced spirits, By the Smoke and the Smell: My Search for the Rare and Sublime on the Spirits Trail…
Article here: https://medium.com/@virginiamiller_29308/purity-on-the-plate-the-glass-the-new-bar-agricole-f3bea74db8a0
Previous Bold Italic Restaurant reviews:
— Hayes Valley’s Buzzy New Neighborhood Hang
— Vietnamese Food Haven (with Cocktails)
— Upscale Chinese with a View in SF Chinatown
— New, Blissful Temple to Seafood in the Mission
— From Louisiana to Jordan, One Restaurant Showcases Rotating Global Chefs in SF
— (Yet Another) Pizza Destination
— New Neighborhood Standout Where Dinner & Dessert Shine
— July Eats Checklist: 6 Standout Newcomers & New Menus
— An Ode to Japanese Wagyu… Sans the Steak
— Chinese Fine Dining Unlike Anywhere Else
— Sonoma County Vegan from Three Michelin Team
— Our #1 New Restaurant of 2021, Over 1 Year In
— Live Music from Conservatory Students with Food from Chef Legend Loretta Keller
— Two Female Bartenders & New Bars With A Perspective You Can Taste in the Glass
— June Eat & Drink Checklist: 5 Standout Newcomers
— Michelin-Starred SF Great 10 Years In
— One of the Best Restaurants to Come Out of 2020 from Chef & Pastry Masters
— Raising the Handroll Game from a Michelin-Starred Sushi Restaurant
— May Eats Checklist: Korean BBQ to Mexican Brunch
— Refreshingly Audacious, Bold Newcomer for Pizza & Natural Wine
— New Modern Korean Needs Honing But Shows Promise Where It Matters: On the Plate
— Ideal New Neighborhood Hang Serves 99 Flake, Heartwarming Food & Cocktails
— Retro-Chic Lounge with Secret Cocktails & Stellar Food
— Buzzy (Yet Hit-or-Miss) Italian in the Marina
— Turkish Time (raki to Turkish tea) in SoMa
— Unexpected Tasting Menu Delights in Petaluma
— Tributing Thai Cuisine, Women, Culture & Bold Deliciousness
— Modern Indian Food (Still) Inspires
— A Modern Russian Oasis in Noe Valley
— Themed Tasting Menu Releases Your Inner Child
— 5 New Bars & Bar Menus to Drink (and Eat) Now
— Pasta Heaven at a Newly Reborn Modern Classic
— Old School Steakhouse Keeps Classic SF Spirit Alive
— 8 Places to Eat & Drink Now, East Bay Edition
— Buzzy New Rooftop Spot Transports to Peru
— Beer Restaurant of the Future
— 6 New Restaurants Worth Visiting This Month: February 2022
— Vietnamese Chef Legend Charles Phan’s New SF Sandwich Shop
— Tropical Rooftop Vibes & A Team Centered Around Core Values
— 6 New Spots Worth Visiting: Cafe, Bar & Food Truck Edition
— Childhood Whimsy and Gourmet Goodness north of the Panhandle
— 5 New Restaurants Worth Visiting This Month Around the Bay Area
— This Japanese Restaurant Casually Schools Patrons on Sake & Sushi
— When Two Michelin Italian Masters Open A Casual Italian Spot
— Live-Fire Cooking Like You’ve Never Experienced Before
— One of the World’s Best Restaurants Turns 11 Years Old
— Reimagined a Decade Since Opening, a Slice of Comfort in Downtown SF
— TBI’s Top 12 New Restaurants (+ Bars) of 2021
— Your New Music, Wine & Bites Hangout
— Mid-Market’s New Tapas Slice of Spain But With Art Deco Vibes
— Female Indian Chef Goes Vegetarian
— Castro’s Newcomer Imparts a Festive, Collaborative Vibe The Space Hasn’t Exuded in a Decade
— ‘California Washoku’ On Full Display
— (Experimental, Creative) Breakfast for Dinner
— Flour+Water’s New Italian Sister Restaurant
— Among the Best Moroccan Food in the Country
— This New Sushi Club Is for Nigiri Fanatics & Novices Alike
— SF’s Only & Most Authentic Portuguese Restaurant
— SF’s New Escape to Mykonos from Michael Mina
— A Rotating Showcase for Top Global Chefs
— SF’s Ultimate Gastronomic Escape to Roma
— New Modern Filipino Destination From Chef Francis Ang & Bartender Kevin Diedrich
— New Traveler Menu Offer Jaunts Around the World
— The Bay Area’s Best Indonesian Restaurants Is In … Redwood City?
**All my food, drink & travel Bold Italic articles here