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Restaurants
Hot off the Printing Press
The guys behind Town Hall and Postrio have done it again. Located in a 1930s printing house, the 75-seat Salt House is a tall, warm space with a lived-in feel, despite its recent opening in October 2006. Notorious for excellent service and haute foodie cuisine respectively, GM Doug Washington and chefs Steven and Mitchell Rosenthal have given the historic building at Mission and 2nd a facelift, providing San Francisco with another solid option for high-end casual dining. More
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Restaurants
Tasty Mod
Co-owners and chefs of St. Helena’s Terra Restaurant, Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani expanded their wine country operations in 2006 by creating a distinctly urban destination: Ame Restaurant in the luxurious St. Regis Hotel. As SFMOMA’s nearest neighbor, Ame’s décor is spare and modern with an austere kitchen that opens to a posh sashimi bar. The teak floors and sleek, comfortable furnishings reflect the best in design, backing up the steep price point while providing a setting that is unfussy and inviting. More
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Restaurants
Savor Sardinia
La Ciccia is a neighborhood Italian place, but like most of the growing community of great little restaurants out at Church and 30th, it comes with a twist. The menu reflects only the cuisine of Sardinia. There is no Fettucine Alfredo, no Veal Parmigiana, no Insalata Caprese -- but trust us when we tell you -- you won't miss that standard fare. More
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Restaurants
Fast Food Taken Up a Notch
The Fall 2006 unveiling of the Westfield San Francisco Centre not only offered up the high-end Westfield Restaurant Collection (reviewed previously), but also revealed a promising upscale food court in the basement level. Previously, fast food options in the vicinity had been so-so at best, leaving shoppers and office workers little choice but to slum it or hop on MUNI to eat at the fancy little delis and ethnic bistros near Montgomery and Embarcadero stations. The Food Emporium at Westfield has answered that need, offering quality food on the go and thus setting a new bar not only for mall eateries, but for Union Square dining as well. More
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Restaurants
Stellar Mall Dining, Vegas Style
No matter how much I claim to be a Northern California girl, you just can’t take the Southern Cal mall rat out of me. So when I first stepped into the new Westfield Centre at 5th and Market in downtown San Francisco, my heart skipped a beat at the excellent selection of boutiques. But this gargantuan, 1.5 million square-foot mall not only tempted the shopaholic in me but also called to my literal hunger with its plethora of dining possibilities. More
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Restaurants
Affordable & Sustainable Dining in the Mission
Open since Fall 2006, Weird Fish has already developed a local following in the Mission. Serving brunch as well as dinner, owners Timothy Holt and Peter Hood have hit on a winning formula with this quirky neighborhood eatery. The menu stays firmly in the vegan-pescatarian range, and emphasizes local produce and responsibly-harvested seafood. Given that many restaurants charge hefty premiums for sustainable dining, Weird Fish's moderate prices ($3-12 for starters and $6-12 for entrées) are a welcome attraction. More
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Restaurants
As a longtime fan of the amazing Vietnamese BBQ pork sandwiches at Little Paris on Clement (R.I.P.) and on Stockton Street (it's still around, and still delicious), I sampled many so-called greats looking for an equal that was a little more central. Finally, I can say without hesitation that Latte Express on 5th at Market blows them all away. The secret? A steaming crockpot keeps the pork dripping with savory meat juice all day. Then you just ask for #4 and a nice little lady lavishes a mini baguette (or, by request, a croissant) with strips of BBQ pork, daikon, carrots, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and mayo. For only $3.80! More
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Restaurants
An overly ambitious menu of global small plates and a luxe, modern interior barely make up for spotty service. On a recent dinner visit we sat in the 1/3 full restaurant without menus, drinks, or even a glance from our waiter for a full fifteen minutes (we timed it). Although a comped flight of champagne softened the blow, we were never presented with a full wine list, and some of the wild boar satay was raw in the middle. While Letterman Digital Arts employees munching Kobe beef bacon cheeseburgers will keep this 2007 newcomer afloat, true foodies may want to bump this one down a few notches on the must-visit list. More
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Restaurants
A Few Rough Edges
Silks in the Mandarin Oriental, once obscured within a sea of hotel restaurants, seemed to garner an unprecedented level of buzz in 2006. After reading so many good reviews of the Asian-influenced haute cuisine, we hesitated to order the same things that had been raved about. We took a chance on the tasting menu ($95), so we could really give the chef a chance to show his stuff. From the moment we walked into the lovely Silk Road-themed dining room, there were subtle signals that the balance was off. More
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Restaurants
Il Mare alla Chiesa
If the light falls just right and one is properly sated and besotted by halibut, polenta and the requisite number of Campari-and-gin's, the southern end of Church street may be magically transmuted into a northern Italian coastal village.
Pescheria, an old Italian noun meaning expensive fish served in relatively unpretentious environments, lives up to expectations. Accordingly, one should come in search of charmingly simple, rather than elaborately haute, cuisine. More
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