Reviewed in this article:
—Intimate Michelin Star Spot Turns Two Years Old: Anomaly
—Better Than Ever Austrian Treasure: Leopold’s
—Peruvian Brunchin’ with Live Music: Altamirano
—Donuts, Donuts, Donuts: George’s Donuts & Merriment,
—A New Creperie: Bistro La Chaumière
—Ping Pong & Games with Solid Food: SPIN San Francisco Read more →
Bon Délire debuted in October 2024 along the Embarcadero from restaurateur Kais Bouzidi, who owns Sens and Barcha. Whereas his Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants are directly correlated to his North African roots and Tunisian father, this newcomer nods to his childhood on tiny Ile Saint-Louis, the island where Notre-Dame Cathedral sits in the middle of Paris. It also nods to his French mother, who ran a creperie. 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 →
French food hasn’t exactly been trending nationally, but thank goodness for stalwarts like San Francisco’s Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, a craft cocktail pioneer way back in the late 1990s also faithfully serving upscale French bistro fare and beloved brunches. It still draws Hayes Valley crowds as it hits 25 years old this summer… an impressive feat for any restaurant. Though I’ve been dining here over 20 years, post-pandemic I’ve only been in for a couple weekday lunches and brunch (with absinthe cocktails, of course). It has been years since I returned for dinner. So it was time to go back to “Green Fairy” central on a recent mild Saturday night. Read more →
La Société Bar & Cafe, opening August 2022 inside the recently expanded Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA, may seem like a new restaurant for tourists, slowly returning conference go-ers and downtown workers. But despite being inside a downtown corporate chain hotel, this modern French brassiere featuring California ingredients is a worthwhile meal for locals, too. I’ll explain. Read more →
Though I’ve eaten everywhere this month from Adriano Paganini/Back of the House group’s latest, Rad Radish, to the new Arepas Latin Cuisine and Fiddle Fig Cafe in North Beach, these six newcomers (or new menus) stood out in September, covering the gamut, from Brittany-style French crêpes to NY slice pizza. Alongside this month’s full restaurant reviews, I share what’s worth tasting at each, with last month’s standouts here (as always, I’ve vetted, visited and/or ordered from each place reviewed): Read more →
What happens when one of the nation’s greatest pastry chefs opens a restaurant with a chef from a two Michelin restaurant at the height of pandemic in 2020? Apparently, magic. Lots and lots of heartache on their part, but for us, sheer magic. Read more →
During pandemic, our beloved dining and drink communities continue to struggle to survive, so my dining column includes takeout/delivery and outdoor dining standouts, alongside our increasing indoor dining as we move from red to orange tiers. I have vetted, visited and/or ordered directly from each place and all working hard adhering safety guidelines: Read more →
My latest article for The Bold Italic, published February 5, 2021, covers 5 of SF’s best for takeout, meal kits or outdoor dining Valentine’s (or other celebratory dinners) in pandemic: Read more →
My dining column at print and online magazine, Bob Cut — column details and my philosophy here — covers standout newcomers and longtimers we want to keep supporting. During shelter-in-place pandemic times, I cover outdoor dining, takeout and delivery restaurants: