Call Pim the Queen of modern Thai food. Named on Esquire’s shortlist of Best New Restaurants in America after opening in 2019, Nari’s chef/owner Pim Techamuanvivit is recently one of five final nominees for Best Chef: California at this year’s upcoming James Beard Awards… Most notably, all five California chef finalists this year are AAPI… two are Thai women. Read more →
Published April 8, 2022, in my The Bold Italic column: With the pandemic closure of local treasures like August 1 Five, SF’s modern Indian options are fewer. Thank God for ROOH. With a name meaning ”soul” or “spirit,” ROOH has been a SoMa “progressive Indian” dining destination since 2017. Open flame, tandoori-focused ROOH Palo Alto location is its totally different, worthwhile sister, having the misfortune to… Read more →
These six spots cover the gamut, from “real deal” New Orleans to Korean fried chicken. Here’s why these six are worth eating at/from now: Read more →
In the back of the cozy Merchant Roots wine shop, chef Ryan Shelton launched his first themed tasting menu in January 2019. I’ve raved about these wildly changing, eight-seat dinners ever since. You could call each playful, whimsical, creative, even intellectual, always blessedly delicious.
Yet still too few of you know about it or have dined there. Certainly, it’s Michelin-worthy. But in a spirited, mischievous, smart way, unlike anywhere else. Read more →
From 2009 to today, chefs/partners Thomas McNaughton & Ryan Pollnow’s beloved Flour+Water just reopened, remodeled and reborn with new space and menus. And it’s on a whole new level. Read more →
An old school temple to steak, San Francisco’s Harris’ Restaurant keeps classic steakhouse, martini and live jazz spirit alive: Read more →
After shuttering amid the peak of the pandemic, Fort Point Valencia opened its doors again in February, with renewed vision as a unique, modern kind of brewpub or beer-centric restaurant. Review here:
From the crew behind beloved Liholiho Yacht Club comes another original, one-of-a-kind restaurant centered around tropical rooftop escape vibes and core values that drive all they do.
Roughly eight years later, why Pabu remains one of our great “whole package” Japanese restaurants, complete with a (rare) master of sake, robatayaki, sushi bar and multi-room space offering a range of options from casual bar visit to full sushi, Japanese feast or robata dinners.
Published January 7, 2022, in my The Bold Italic column and weekly restaurant reviews: 10 years old this month, I revisit one of the world’s best restaurants (and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants), Atelier Crenn.