As of April 19, 2022, Velvet Cantina is (dramatically) reborn as Shuggie’s Trash Pie & Natural Wine, no longer dim and dusty but colorful, loud and playful in bold yellow and green. Given the deteriorating nature of the front room, it had to be gutted and rebuilt, now all yellow and white, lined with yellow disco balls, lip-shaped sofa and cheetah mural, centered around an open kitchen with bar seats over a glittery gold countertop. Read more →
Tag: Pizza
Buzzy (Yet Hit-or-Miss) Marina Italian at Norcina
We weren’t exactly short on Italian restaurants serving Neapolitan pizzas and housemade pastas. But chef Kaitlynn Bauman’s Norcina, which opened in August 2021, is a sunny, tiny slice of Marina real estate that doesn’t feel like other countless restaurants serving similar food. In the same neighborhood, there is already popular local chain Delarosa focused on Neapolitan pizza and antipasti, a similar pizza focus at new Napizza, intimate, old school, pasta-centric Roma Antica, and, of course, pioneering A16. And that’s just within the same couple of blocks.
Review here: Read more →
6 New Restaurants Worth Visiting This Month — February 2022
These six notable newcomers cover the gamut, from Mexican pizza and Jewish deli pop-ups inside established restaurants, to a food hall nailing cuisine from Africa to the Middle East. Alongside this month’s full restaurant reviews — Good Good Culture Club from Liholiho Yacht Club, Automat from Lazy Bear, Chuck’s Takeaway from Charles Phan, Fort Point Valencia and 6 newcomers cafe & food truck edition — these new restaurants are worth eating at now: Read more →
5 New Restaurants of the Month: December 2021
Published December 31, 2021, in my The Bold Italic column and weekly restaurant reviews: These five notable newcomers cover the gamut, from fine dining pop-ups to Peninsula food halls housing Michelin-starred chefs:
Top 5 Hit List of the Month: Restaurant Newcomers + Better-Than-Ever Favorites
Published October 7, 2021 at The Bold Italic: From two notable newcomers to three tried-and-true greats (one just reopening, one just gaining its first Michelin star) plus one bonus new bar, these are five top places to eat, feast and support now?.
5 Newcomers and Tried & True Restaurants to Feast At Now
From three notable newcomers to two tried-and-true greats (one just turning a year old in pandemic), these are five top places to eat, feast and support now?-?plus three bonus eats for delivery or takeout. I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from every restaurant reviewed here:
7 New Openings Worth Visiting Now
My latest article for The Bold Italic, published August 6, 2021 (my regular Bold Italic articles here), covers seven of the top new Bay Area restaurants worth visiting now. Article here:
February 2021: Top 10 Bay Area Restaurants of the Month
During the pandemic, our beloved dining and drink communities continue to struggle to survive, so my dining column includes takeout/delivery and outdoor dining standouts. This month we cover the gamut from Argentinian empanadas to Japan-worthy sushi. Read more →
January’s Top 10 SF Restaurants 2021
During pandemic, our beloved dining and drink communities continue to struggle to hang on, so my dining column includes takeout/delivery and outdoor dining standouts. Here are the best of this month (great to try anytime): Read more →
April’s Best New Bay Area Restaurants & OG Alternatives To-Go
My dining column at print and online magazine, Bob Cut — column details and my philosophy here — covers both standout newcomers and longtimers we want to keep supporting.
During shelter-in-place pandemic times, the column is in takeout/delivery mode: