Sarah SungSF Station Writer |
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| | This family-run Italian restaurant offers a welcome break from the rustic wine country menu and sleek service that prevails in and around Sonoma. Specialties are the spit-roasted meats and fresh-made pastas. Try the gnocchi followed by one of their homemade desserts. The outdoor garden patio which features a fountain and a vine-filled overhead trellis is the ideal setting for a late lunch and bottle of wine, while the inside area is reminiscent of a homey dining room, albeit one that's crammed with tables. More » |  | | | Opened in 1999 by two sons of farmers, ZIN is a Healdsburg favorite. Since opening, chef Jeff Mall and partner Scott Silva serve meals made from the freshest local, organic ingredients, including produce picked from their Zingarden. Paying homage to it's name, the extensive wine list showcases roughly100 labels, half of which are zinfandels. This eatery, a block off of the square, features notable dishes, including the beer-battered green beans, applewood-smoked pork chop, and hamburger served with homemade catsup, mayonnaise, and pickles. More » | | | | The menu at Willie's runs the gamut from New England-style rolls and small plates to ceviche and skewers. Even though it's billed as a seafood and raw bar, diners can satisfy beef, lamb, and chicken cravings. The menu also features a hefty representation of cheese-infused dishes such as cheese fondue with Fritos. The well-chosen wine list is appropriate for its wine country locale, but its bar showcases a handful of cocktails that offer respite from the wine. If the weather's nice, a spot on the patio can't be beat. More » | | | | A rustic menu, generous portions, and local, seasonal cuisine are a few aspects of Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen that earned it a Michelin star (one of 28 restaurants in the Bay Area). Chef Michael Ellis balances his flair for modern cuisine with comfort food accents. Stellar dishes include the red kuri squash agnolotti and the roasted chicken with mushroom fried rice. While service can be a bit formal and slow at times, the food is outstanding and the décor, like the cuisine, blends modern and country without skipping a beat. More » | |  | A Rose by Another Name Next to a bike shop and across from Rose's Café on Steiner, Terzo is the latest restaurant of Laurie Thomas and Nice Ventures (owners of Rose Pistola and Rose's Café). The appropriately named small plates spot is Italian for "third" and represents a gathering place that's neither home nor work. If you want to gather here though, come early and snag a spot at the communal table or make reservations well in advance. More » | |  | Noe Valley Newcomer Noe Valley locals have a new dinner spot in Bistro 1689, which opened its doors in July 2006 on 1689 Church Street in the space that was the Long Island Chinese Restaurant. Joining restaurants like Incanto, Fresca, and La Ciccia as well as the new Pescheria, this 45-seat bistro is quickly making a name for itself in the neighborhood. With fresh, Bay Area ingredients prepared in a rustic, French style and a well-priced wine list, Bistro 1689 has a textbook recipe for success. More » | |  | Get Wined and Dined As the latest home to Pamela Busch, former owner of Hayes and Vine, and Tadd Cortell of The Public, it's no surprise that Cav would boast an exceptional wine list (upwards of 300 bottles) covering a broad spectrum of tastes and regions (roughly 70). But what might be a shocker is that this year-old nook of a wine bar also serves a Cal-Mediterranean-comfort food-inspired menu that might tempt you away from what could end up being a liquid-diet-kind-of-night. Cav has even been known to lure folks away from next-door Zuni and nearby Hotel Biron. More » | |  | Creative Small Plates That Highlight Organic Mexican Ingredients Gourmet tamales, an eclectic wine selection, and tasteful sangria are just a few reasons to check out Tamal Tapas and Wine Bar in SOMA, chef/co-owner Moaya Scheiman's new restaurant on the not-so-busy corner of Howard and 12th Street. Maybe it's the abundant parking, but the 49-seat spot already has a steady following -- from lunchtime loyals and neighborhood diners to foodies on the quest to stay ahead of the Bay Area dining scene. More » | |  | A Likely Local Secret A red lantern and lit-up tree on Guerrero at 22nd Street are the only landmarks that identify Kiji, a Japanese restaurant that replaced La Foccacia last fall. Although it's not likely to attract foodies from far and wide, it exudes a friendly, neighborhood charm. Enter through the red door and, like many Japanese restaurants, the sociable sushi chefs will belt out a warm, enthusiastic greeting. More » | |  | Organic Cuisine in a Sleek, SOMA Setting (Leave Your Birkenstocks Behind) Jack Falstaff, the hip, new SOMA restaurant, is the latest PlumpJack Group endeavor that features organic, ingredient-driven food just blocks from the SBC Ballpark. It's easy to miss the unassuming entrance, but once you step inside you'll notice how designer Stanlee Gatti contrasts the bar's sleek, modern lines with the dining room's cozy, rich upholstery. Dark wood ceilings and plush cushions create a fetching ambience that's irresistibly inviting to a varied clientele of eager foodies, loyal PlumpJack followers from the Marina, neighborhood couples, and coworkers meeting for dinner and drinks. More » | |
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