Published by Where Traveler (my other Where articles here) in May 2019, my article on 10 affordable, standout new neighborhood restaurants around the Bay Area, from SF to Oakland to Marin: Beit Rima, The Brixton on 2nd, Sasa at Japantown Mall, Alley House, Benchmark Oakland, Ungrafted, B&B: Bahn Mi & Boba, Le Trio, Tony’s Seafood in Marshall, Sam’s Anchor Cafe in Tiburon. Article… Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, my top openings of the month join other standout newcomers for a top 15 on where to eat now (article here). Merchant Roots’ Fire course in the Elements dinner: a delicious dry-aged ribeye, sunchoke coals, red wine reduction, horseradish cream and leek ash And in recent years, more and more people are having these days.… Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, my top 5 openings of the month join other standout newcomers for a top 10 on where to eat now (article here): Sorrel — Time Out Review 3228 Sacramento St., SF; 415-525-3765; sorrelrestaurant.com. Tuesday-Saturday 5-10pm. The former Nico transformed to Sorrel this May, finely balancing neighborhood comfort with ambitious touches from CIA-grad chef Alexander (Alex)… Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, my top openings of the month join other recent standout newcomers for a top 10 on where to eat now (article here): Che Fico 838 Divisadero St., SF, 415-416-6959; chefico.com. Tuesday-Thursday 5:30–11:00pm, Friday–Saturday 5:30pm–1:00am. Che Fico is the new “it” spot (and one of the toughest reservations) in town, garnering national press and celebrity… Read more →
Trying well over 100 dishes in July alone — from San Francisco to Albuquerque, New Mexico — here are my 7 standout dishes of the month. 1. Duna’s Farmer’s Cheese Spatzle Here’s my review and details on brand new Duna from the ever-talented Bar Tartine chef duo of Nick Balla and Cortney Burns. Their near perfect spatzle doused in fresh… Read more →
Here are my top 10 June dishes and new openings, some newcomers, some established spots. 1. Saison’s Special Nigiri Menu Joshua Skenes’ Saison is known the world over for endless accolades and some of the priciest meals in the nation. Now, there is a restaurant-within-a-restaurant, a hidden dining room that is a collaboration between Skenes and Chef Jiro Lin. Lin… Read more →
Here are my top 10 dishes for May, from new openings and established spots. 1. Montesacro’s Margherita Pinsa Open in April, the new Montesacro is like a quick flight to Italy, transported to Rome itself from the moment one walks through the door off of rough-and-tumble Stevenson Street and is greeted by the Italian owner and staff. As I detail… Read more →
From my 15 articles/posts a week as Zagat Editor, I summarize and link to just some coverage highlights here – you can sign up for Zagat’s weekly newsletter for highlights here and follow along on Twitter @ZagatSF, where I post daily. As I have been for over a decade, I’m on the ground daily looking for early standouts at each… Read more →
My Top Food Recommends, New Openings & More: June 1-15 From my 15 articles/posts a week as Zagat Editor, I summarize and link to just some of this coverage here – you can sign up for Zagat’s weekly newsletter for the Bay Area here and follow along on Twitter @ZagatSF, where I post daily. As I have been for over… Read more →
As if the Neapolitan, artisanal, wood-fired pizza wave of the past decade weren’t enough, pizza openings continue to come on fast and furious. A recent interview I read with a New Yorker said they couldn’t live on the West Coast because they’d have to miss pizza. Having grown up in NJ (near NYC) and California both, and as a frequent… Read more →