Published August 17, 2024, in my Medium column: These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from classic French to a neighborhood comfort food and cocktail classic that just turned ten. Alongside my full restaurant reviews, these five are also worth visiting, with last month’s standouts here. As always, I’ve personally vetted and visited each: ARTICLE: https://medium.com/@virginiamiller_29308/neighborhood-gems-to-classic-french-6-sf-restaurants-standouts-of-the-month-5f4c4b18bbe6 IN THIS ARTICLE:—At 10 Years, Better-Than-Ever… Read more →
Tag: French
Absinthe turns 25, retaining old school French spirit with refreshed lightness
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 →
There Is A Time for Modern French Fare: Visiting The New La Société
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 →
September Eats Checklist: 6 Standouts of the Month
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 →
One of the Best Restaurants to Come Out of 2020 from Chef & Pastry Masters
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 →
March Top 10 Bay Area Restaurants
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 →
5 Magical Dining Options to Celebrate a Pandemic Valentine’s
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 →
September’s 10 SF Bay Area Restaurants for Outdoor Dining, Takeout or Delivery
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:
The 14 Top New Bay Area Restaurants of 2019
As with the past decade plus, here are my top 14 new Bay Area restaurant openings of 2019: Read more →
6 San Francisco Neighborhood Gems
Published by Where Traveler (my other Where articles here) in August 2019, my article on 6 San Francisco neighborhood gems, from modern Turkish/Middle Eastern or Indian food to classic French: — Noosh (Mediterranean/Middle Eastern/Turkish)— Cassava (New American)— Besharam (Modern Indian)— Presidio Social Club (American/Comfort Food)— Cafe Boho (French/European Bistro)— Cafe de la Presse (French Steakhouse) From a modern Middle Eastern escape to old school French,… Read more →