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 →
Japan is a land that perfects each native dish with restaurants entirely devoted to one item, from comforting okonomiyaki to delicately fried tempura. And often at a handful of seats in a tiny space. Enter Sobakatsu, a closet-sized restaurant with a max of 11 seats, no reservations and a sole focus on cold and hot soba, Japan’s silky, thin buckwheat noodles that are friendly to all gluten-free-ers. Read more →
Raving about Merchant Roots’ wildly-changing, eight-seat dinners since chef Ryan Shelton launched the first themed menu in January 2019, I’ve felt this magical team and concept should have a Michelin star and more, though they are Michelin-recommended, thankfully. But it’s a whole “new bag” for the clever restaurant as they’ve just moved to a far larger, 4,500-square-foot space in SoMa, debuting August 23, 2024: Read more →
Little Original Joe’s in the Marina has been a full house from the get-go in May. This is the latest outpost from siblings John and Elena Duggan, who have carried on the family’s long-standing tradition of Italian-American comfort food with a modern twist. Known for running the iconic Original Joe’s and its spots in North Beach, Daly City and West Portal, the Duggans have turned their focus to this stylish Marina location, bringing the same warmth that’s kept their other spots buzzing. What’s the “secret sauce” making the Duggan’s restaurants beloved? Read more →
Published August 19, 2024, in my Medium column: There are few things more comforting than brunch, feasting with friends and cocktails, or bringing home donuts and coffee to devour in bed. Here are three top-notch spots for breakfast. One is an uncommon donut shop, two are beautiful brunch spots with a view or high design. As always, I’ve personally vetted and visited… Read more →
IN THIS ARTICLE:
—At 10 Years, Better-Than-Ever Neighborhood Gem: Causwells, Marina
—House of Prime Rib Pop-Up Tribute: Primebird at Nightbird, Hayes Valley
—Uber-Reasonable Prix Fixe Tasting Menus: Foliage, Precita Park
—Classic French & Classic Cocktails: Le Parc BistroBar, FiDi
—Spritzes, Pizza and Pasta: Fiorella Noe Valley Read more →
Published August 16, 2024, in my Medium column: We’ve lost some of our best modern Indian restaurants in recent years in San Francisco, like August 1 Five and Taj Campton Place. Thankfully, we just gained the brilliant new TIYA in San Francisco’s Marina District from chefs and brothers Sujan and Pujan Sarkar. ARTICLE: https://thebolditalic.com/new-indian-gem-tiya-opens-in-sfs-marina-district-a167258d0af1 Read more →
Opening May 3, 2024, in San Francisco’s Japantown, Hed 11 is a unique entré in a city rich with incredible tasting menus and a neighborhood rightly dominated by Japanese food. The exception a couple blocks away is Michelin-starred Nari, one of the nation’s great upscale Thai restaurants. Hed 11 is the refined sister to Hed Very Thai in the FiDi (Financial District), which I reviewed after Bangkok native and owner Naruephon “Billie” Wannajaro opened it in 2023. Read more →
To meet Sung Park of Kothai is to meet a true restaurateur. This humble but light-filled restaurant in the Inner Sunset belies the creativity on a menu where Korea-meets-Thailand in San Francisco skin. Park is not just a first-generation SF native, but has lived in the Sunset district his entire life, and in the Inner Sunset roughly 36 years. Read more →
A six-day-a-week modern Mediterranean waterfront restaurant that serves quality food, cocktails, wine and is open for lunch and dinner on the Embarcadero? Open at the tail end of January 2024, Alora fits that bill… and fits it with surprising affordability compared to the average downtown newcomer. Amid a number of mezze (shared small plates), only a duck liver mousse exceeds $20, while larger plates hover $25 to $39 and only two beef dishes above that. Read more →