|
|
|
|
Le Charm
The Top List of Delicious Hideaways - San Francisco, CA
There are some excellent dining spots off the beaten path in the City by the Bay.
by Edmund Attanasio & Julie Muller Mitchell
One of the best things about San Francisco is that you're never far from a great restaurant. While many of the city's most famous chefs and highly acclaimed dining sports are reviewed frequently, there are loads of lesser-known but just as wonderful restaurants tucked away in quiet neighborhoods or even down the street from bustling superstars. And you'll frequently find a more intimate atmosphere and super attentive service to go with your meal. It just takes a little knowledge and perhaps some good parking karma for an excellent dining experience off the beaten path in the City by the Bay.
PANE E VINO
1715 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 441-2111
Hours: (Mon-Thurs) 5:00 pm-10:00 pm; (Fri & Sat) 11:30 am-10:00 pm; (Sun) 5:00 pm-10:00 pm
Since moving in December 2004 -- from the busy end of Union Street to its current location at the quiet end – Pane e Vino is a little harder to find but always worth the effort. The food here is authentic Italian; the portions are generous; the service is prompt and professional, and the menu has a little something for everyone. From fresh fish and meats to great thin-crust pizzas, all the way to some of the best pasta dishes you’ll find anywhere – Pane e Vino is a whole lot more than just bread and wine. Specialties of the house include the Pesce Fresco del Giorno, a whole fresh fish with garlic and herbs; the classic Penne alla Puttanesca; and the Salsiccia con Polenta e Pepperonata, with sausage, peppers and grilled polenta.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $30 - $40
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
ALAMO SQUARE SEAFOOD GRILL
803 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 440-2828
Hours: (Mon-Thu) 5:30-10pm; (Fri-Sat) 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm; (Sun) 5:00 pm-9:30 pm
This charming neighborhood grill focuses on seafood with a French flair. Alamo Square operates using a simple concept: in addition to daily specials, diners can choose from one of several fresh fish entrees prepared in one of several ways. Fish selections include salmon, snapper, swordfish and tuna, and each can be grilled, sautéed, poached or blackened. Sauces include Béarnaise, beurre blanc, beurre rouge, Provencale and mousseline with lime confit. The salmon is particularly good grilled with the beurre blanc sauce. Salads and other seafood appetizers such as steamed mussels in a wine broth and house-smoked salmon complete the menu. Other entrees include crab cakes, grilled New York steak and oven-roasted young chicken. Alamo Square is an unpretentious seafood-lover's haven.
Estimated Cost Per Person - $28 -$40
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
ANJOU
44 Campton Place, San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 392-5373
Hours: (Tue-Sat) 11:30 am - 2:30 pm; (Tue-Sat) 6:00 pm -10 pm
When the shoppers who frequent San Francisco's Union Square, home to Sak's, Macy's, Neiman's and the city's other finest stores, find out about Anjou, there's no doubt they'll return. Tucked away in an alley, walking into this cozy French bistro is like being transported to Paris. Modern art and brick walls add to the ambiance, and the food and service are delightful and comforting. Chef Pierre Morin offers a "Lunch Express Menu" featuring a cup of soup or salad and a light entrée such as sautéed prawns with linguini in a tomato-orange zest sauce or shredded smoked chicken with wild mushrooms, poached leeks and mixed-herb polenta. Dinner specialties include tournedos of filet mignon with black peppercorn and Cognac sauce, broiled Chilean sea bass marinated in whole grain mustard, and confit of duck leg with sautéed chanterelle mushrooms, frisee salad and sautéed rousset potatoes. Don't forget to try Chef Pierre's signature dessert of warm Anjou pears in Cointreau sabayon or one of the other yummy homemade desserts.
Estimated Cost Per Person - $35 - $45 (The "Lunch Express Menu" includes a choice of soup or a small green salad and a choice of one of ten small entrees for $14.00.)
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Closed
BAKER STREET BISTRO
2953 Baker Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 931-1475
Hours: (Tue-Sun) 7:00 am - 2 pm; (Tue-Sat) 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm; Sun) 5:00 am - 9:30 pm
In the heart of one of the city's quietest residential neighborhoods, Presidio Heights, owner Jacques Manuera opened Baker Street Bistro in 1991 after working as a chef in France and Washington, DC. Start your meal with the warm goat cheese salad with walnuts on a bed of mixed greens or a mousseline of scallops with sautéed prawns, and then move on to the bistro's signature dish of Sonoma rabbit in a light Dijon mustard sauce served with pasta and fresh vegetables. Or you can opt for lamb stew Printanier, a ragout of lamb cooked with basil and tomatoes. Desserts are decadent-save room for crème caramel, crème brulee or a rich chocolate cake. Baker Street Bistro is offering prix fixe dinners for both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve this year. Reservations are recommended.
Estimated Cost Per Person: $33 - $45
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
BRANDY HO'S HUNAN FOOD
217 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 788-7527
Hours: (Sun-Thu) 11:30 pm - 11 pm; (Fri-Sat) 11:30 am - midnight
San Francisco is known for its Chinatown and the abundant Chinese restaurants that can be found all over the city. Brandy Ho's is a good example of a fabulous Hunan spot that's located on the edge of North Beach, home to many of San Francisco's Italian restaurants. Nevertheless, Brandy Ho's is authentic, with some of the spiciest, most flavorful Hunan-style cooking you'll ever taste. Forget about the cramped quarters and rushed service; order the fried dumplings (pot stickers) with sweet and sour sauce and savor the complex flavors of ground pork, fresh ginger, garlic and veggies. Then try one of Brandy Ho's specialties such as Brandy's Dinner featuring stir-fried beef, scallops and shrimp with wine sauce, bamboo shoots, onion, ginger, garlic and bell pepper. The restaurant smokes its own meats using almond wood from Modesto, and many of its signature dishes are highlighted by the smoky taste found in the ham, chicken, duck and pork. The smoked duck Hunanese cooked with bell pepper, sliced bamboo shoots, garlic and hot pepper is awesome. Just be sure to tell your wait person how hot you really want your food and order plenty of ice-cold beverages-beer works especially well to quell the heat!
Estimated Cost Per Person - $25 - $35
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
HYDE STREET BISTRO
1521 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 292-4415
Hours: (Tue-Sun) 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
You can catch a cable car to this recently renovated, exquisite bistro; in fact the parking in this Russian Hill neighborhood is so daunting we recommend it! But once inside, your senses will be piqued by the tangerine walls and spring-green banquettes, softly lit by wall sconces, and the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen. Chef-owner Fabrice Marcon's touch is everywhere as it has been since opening the restaurant with his wife, Betty, in 1998. The menu is typically French. Starters include tarte Alsacienne, tartare de salmon, escargot, and galette de pomme de terre et de Roquefort, huile de noix, or warm potato Roquefort cake with walnut oil. Entrees range from steamed mussels with white wine and herbs to a honey-glazed duck confit with carrots, potatoes and green olives, Bouillabaisse, and a veal stew Marengo. The fish of the day might be a heavenly salmon in red wine sauce.
Estimated Cost per Person - $35 - $45
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
LE CHARM FRENCH BISTRO
315 5th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 546-6128
Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:30 am- 2:30 pm; (Mon-Thu) 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm; (Fri) 6:00 pm - 10 pm; (Sat) 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Located in San Francisco's starkly industrial South-of-Market Street area on a gritty urban block, Le Charm radiates a warmly Parisian glow, with soft yellow walls and a copper-topped bar. There's even patio dining for those rare warm days. The restaurant features rustic bistro fare including traditional French onion soup and house-made duck rillettes, alongside more contemporary items such as an Heirloom tomato salad with basil vinaigrette. Main courses are hearty and satisfying; go for the roasted salmon with mashed potatoes, the pan-roasted rabbit with mustard sauce and pasta or the chicken Chassuer with pomme fondant and tarragon sauce. For a rich treat, there's Parisian gnocchi with wild mushrooms and sauce soubise. And try to save room for a delicate orange-scented crème brulee or a tarte Tatin with caramel sauce.
Estimated Cost per Person $30 - $38
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Closed
TRATTORIA CONTADINA
1800 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 982-5728
Hours: (Fri-Sat) 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm; (Sun-Thu) 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
This congenial, family-run trattoria has been part of the North Beach Italian dining scene since 1983. But since it's around the corner and up the hill from some of the better-known spots, it's somewhat of a hidden gem. But not to the locals who pack the small dining room with its crisp white linens, dark wooden walls, and hand-painted dishes. They know that Contadina's grilled meats, poultry and seafood and especially its pasta, won't disappoint. The fusilli Pavarotti, corkscrew pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, prosciutto, chicken and zucchini in a cream sauce is to die for as is the ravioli Correnti-fresh meat-filled ravioli with porcini mushrooms, also in a cream sauce. This is not the place to count calories, although a lighter choice is the angel hair pasta with fresh-diced tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Meat lovers should sample the grilled lamb chops marinated in a wine and herb sauce with fresh vegetables and soft polenta or the veal scallopine, and seafood fans will love the scampi alla Cala Di Volpi- sautéed jumbo prawns in a spicy saffron broth. Open a bottle of Chianti Reserva and relax in one of the city's most unpretentious yet excellent Italian restaurants. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Estimated Cost Per Person for Dinner - $28 - $40
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
YABBIES COASTAL KITCHEN
2237 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 474-4088
Hours: (Mon-Thu) 6:00 pm - 10pm; (Fri-Sat) 6:00 pm - 11 pm; (Sun) 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
A real neighborhood hideaway on Russian Hill, Yabbies will satisfy those craving seafood whether they're hankering for an old-fashioned New England fish dinner or a more sophisticated California dining experience. Snuggle back on a comfortable banquette and sample selections from Yabbies raw bar such as oysters and littleneck clams, always the freshest available. Signature entrees include seared King salmon with artichoke hearts, English peas and fava beans in a horseradish buerre blanc, grilled local halibut with black olive risotto and grilled asparagus or miso-marinated Chilean sea bass with baby bok choy and shrimp-fried wontons.
Estimated Cost Per Person for Dinner - $42 - $55
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
WOODWARD'S GARDEN
1700 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 621-7122
Hours: (Wed-Sun) four seatings each evening at 6:00 pm. 6:30 pm. 8 pm and 8:30 pm
Truly an urban oasis, Woodward's Garden is hidden away under a freeway underpass at the edge of the city's Mission District. Hardly a neighborhood where one would expect to find a supreme example of innovative North American cuisine. Yet the dishes that come out of the restaurant's tiny kitchen are wonderful, and so is the ambiance. The L-shaped dining room is gently lit and quite romantic with small, candlelit tables. Start with a salad of baby greens with roasted beets and toasted walnuts or the smoked trout appetizer and move on to a main course of salmon served on a bed of white beans or baked with an olive-oil-and-pine-nut crust. The dessert menu is sparse but everything on it is worth tasting.
Estimated Cost Per Person for Dinner - $45 - $60
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
|
|
|
|
|
|