So it's been almost a year since I tried to start this blog and miserably failed. I'm going to try again anyway. Since then, I've been to Spain, Morocco, Sonoma and around norcal (lots of times), Hawaii, Ohio, and moved permanently to San Francisco (bought my first condo!). Still I have failed to blog. Quite a waste of all those interesting events. I will blame my tiring job, lack of motivation, the thousands of piles of paperwork required to get a mortgage, the underwear gnome, but no more! I will take back my evenings from watching re-runs of 80's sitcoms and falling asleep at 10 (I'm way too young for that!), and attempt to re-build the habit of writing consistently about the interesting experiences I encounter in my charmed life.
I now live at the top of a hill in San Francisco. My life consists of going to work, coming home, cooking or going out to dinner with my lovely boyfriend (to wherever we can stand to walk), and coming up with exciting weekend activities like hiking, eating out, or sitting on our deck if the weather graces us with a moment of sun. In our time since we moved to the city in March, we have had quite a food odyssey that has left me with so many yelp reviews to write that I just haven't been able to start. I will start here by brainstorming a list of restaurants that I've eaten at since moving to San Francisco with some initial thoughts that may or may not be extrapolated on later. I will start today's list with my favorites.
Zazie (Cole Valley)- favorite local place, go about twice a week despite the relatively pricey menu, "French" themed but more california in style, have tried almost every menu item, always a long wait at brunch but dinner is equally good, recommend the lamb tagine, trout for something light, braised chicken, Mediterranean vegetable cold platter, Ottimino 2005 Zinfandel (while it lasts), hilarious British waiter named Aidan - favorite quote- "That's your bread plate!!!" when caught using our bread plates instead of appetizer plates- how many places will someone point that out?
Limon Rotisserie (Mission)- best deal in SF, no question. For $30 you can get peruvian beer, the most delicious rotisserie chicken, 3 peruvian sides like tacu tacu, sweet potato fries, and grilled vegetables, while dining in a restaurant with the same ambience of the sister restaurant - Limon, which is good, but why pay 3 times as much? (Limon has a full cocktail bar while Limon Rotisserie relies on the soju cocktails like many-a-cheap SF restaurant who doesn't want to buy the full liquor licence but wants to have "cocktails"). Extra special tip - both Limon and Limon Rotisserie have delicious ceviche, so if you have a craving, limon rotisserie is easier to get a reservation on Open Table and has overall much better prices.
Lulu (SOMA) - stumbled upon this gem after visiting the SFMOMA. Good food - triple bonus points for a menu that is designed for sharing/sampling, including wine flights that feature tastings of french varietals produced around the world (for example, there is a "bordeaux" tasting which includes a real bordeaux, and then bordeaux blends from California, Australia, etc.). Labelled "French provencal" I would label it "california with a french flair." Still, delicious.
Bistro l'Ardoise (Castro) - Lulu gets described as "california" because it has to compete with L'Ardoise, which absolutely takes the prize for the most French restaurant in SF (under $500 per meal). The atmosphere is a small Latin Quartier bistro, with French people at half the tables (all bringing their superior french wines and paying a corkage to do so), french waiters, long waits even with a reservation, and tiny tables that can bring you back to a smokey, intimate vibe from the 5th arrondissement (even with no smoking in SF - it still feels like you should feel smoke in the air). Even with their true french flair, they still delight with local ingredients prepared in French styles, including some delicious artichoke dishes. Braised Quail and desserts are worth the long wait.
Aziza (Inner Richmond) - Moroccan/Spanish/California fusion - all cuisines I love. Tapas style, interesting cocktails, delicious and unique dishes, great for a group. Also features a tripel Karmeleit on tap if you're more in the mood for beer. Can't miss the duck confit pastille. Moroccan decor adds to the loungey, semi-exotic atmosphere. Worth the trek over to the Richmond, but relatively pricey.
More to come (it appears that I eat out A LOT):
- Bisou (Castro)
- Kezar (Cole valley)
- Cebicheria Peruaiana (Embarcadero)
- Crepes on Cole (Cole Valley)
- La Mediterranee (Castro)
- Fresca (Noe)
- Chan Chan (Noe)
- La Poesia (Castro)
- Starbelly (Castro)
- Bistro Central Parc (Hayes Valley)
- Absinthe (Hayes Valley)
- Foreign Cinema (Mission)
- Schmidt's (Mission)
- Dosa (Mission)
- EOS (Cole Valley)
- Bambino's (Cole Valley)
- Bankok 900 (Cole Valley)
- Kamekyo (Cole Valley)
- Burger Meister (Cole Valley)
- Cafe Reverie (Cole Valley)
- Catch (Castro)
- Harvey's (Castro)
- Nirvana (Castro)
- Home (Castro)
- La Ciccia (Noe)
- Bar Tartine (Mission)
- Limon (Mission)
- Beretta (Mission)
- Heirloom Cafe (Mission)
- Farina (Mission)
- Luna Park (Mission)
- Andalu (Mission)
- Esperpento (Mission)
- Universal Cafe (Mission)
- Medjool (Mission)
- Espetus Churrascaria (SOMA)
- One Market (SOMA)
- Alexander's Steakhouse (Embarcadero)
- Straits (SOMA - in the Mall)
