My Foodie Recommendations for SF

Current mood: restless Category: Food and Restaurants

So, I was given a 2006 Zagat guide this Christmas by my sister & her boyfriend ... realizing now that I have built up quite a reputation all around - from my family, to friends & even down to random co-workers who I barely speak to or I just speak to them via email or over the phone or the most contact I've had was maybe the 5 second elevator chat b/c you're stuck in there with them so sometimes as a matter of civility you're forced to make chit-chat but, anyway, I've went on a tangent - what I'm saying is, inevitably it's come around now that I tend to go out A LOT when I'm in search of good food & great restaurants ...well, I'm reluctant to spill the beans on where I frequently go b/c I don't want any of these places to be too crowded but in the spirit of giving, I'm going to give out some places I've recently went to & actually, really, really liked & enjoyed - some are oldies but goodies & some are newcomers but I'm sure you'll have a great time...so, in no particular order, here's a list of some of my faves in the City & here's to visiting them from time to time in 2006...patronize them too b/c I want all of them to stay in business!

Mochica - Peruvian restaurant that makes that skirt steak, green, red, yellow bellpeppers & patatas plate with a twist...the atmosphere has some Latin American flair in the air...also, these particular friends that I ate with that night, always love to order calamari if they have it on the menu & the ones they make there have a "secret sauce" with it plus a garnish of red onions & cilantro to top it off...all those flavors in your mouth...well, I'll say it here & I say this outloud when I love the food - "There's a party going inside my mouth!"...ha!

Saigon Sandwiches - My one co-worker & I have been trying to figure out what they put in the meat of these yummers Vietnamese sam'wiches for like a good year now ... everytime we go, we just smile & eat & forget about cracking the code for the recipe & thankful that we can spend our last $5 bucks in our pocket & still get change! Yes, those sam'wiches are like barely over $2 dollahs'...you can't beat a good value like that...

Kokkari Estiatorio - I had about the best lamb there, juicy ("succulent" as some epicurean sort of magazine would describe), the meat just fell off the bone & it was swimming in the tastiest red wine sauce that made the smashed taters taste even better ... the atmosphere is very homey too & our waiter was adorable, he kept saying that my name & the other girls names who I had dinner with all derived from Greece...we didn't argue with him b/c we adored him :)

Americano - I just went here to celebrate the holidays with some good ol' skool friends & it's such an elegant, modern clean looking space...great dress to impress/ date sort of place (definitely, for a long term relationship though b/c it's super fancy schmancy but oh will your date be ever so impressed :>) ... I had a brisket there that was again another winner b/c it was so succulent again...plus they had yummy salads which from summer 2005 til now, I'm eating more & more of...trying to get in my veggies more & more ...anyway, go if you want to dress up & paint the town & start there or stay there, they have a neat bar, too & interesting artwork on the CEILINGS...yes, ceilings...you'll see...

Medjool - I went here on the fly one night when we are having one of those hot, SF summer nights in October...I called my best amiga up & we hightailed it to this Mission spot & got to drink sangrias all night on the roof while munching on yummy Mediterranean appetizers on kabob sticks & eating equally scrumptious hummus ...the crowd around us was pretty cool & mellow, too...it reminded me of being in NYC in the summertime b/c we were on the roof & when the dusk turned into evening seeing the skies above was a sight to behold...I went there a couple of more times afterward because it was near the poetry workshop classes I was taking over the summer - my class would end at 9:00 pm & I would meet a friend or two for drinks there & just enjoy the little summery nights we had here in SF in 2005...

Tres Agaves - This one is owned by the same owner of Tommy's Mexican on Geary btwn 24th & 25th which is near my 'hood in the Outer Richmond, but this one is a big, warehousey venue & is near SBC Park. I went here as part of my work's holiday party & I thought it was very well made Mexican food & they gave hearty portions for our big party to share - so thumbs up on the food if you are with a large group & the margaritas were slammin' b/c the owner (who a co-worker knew) gave us a little tequila "101" class that afternoon saying that tequila should be just as on par as with wine or fine congnac when it's made - he says it's just the general public's perception of which spirits should be regarded as "chi chi"...to prove his point he gave us the best margarita I've had in a good long while ... kudos to them! Now, all you margarita fans go check them out...soon...I mean it...

Tartine Bakery - Two words - "bread pudding" ...I've begged my boss one day to go get some bread pudding for our monthly, marathon staff meetings...at least, while sitting through that one hour (or sometimes two hours! We are "Communications" so we love to talk, talk,talk,talk...), I'm happy with something ...delicioso!

Deep Sushi - I had some raw tuna there that melted in my mouth, like nothing you would believe...I also had some interesting looking crab & salmon rolls that tasted as good as it looked when the friendly sushi chefs presented it to me ...so style & substance is both in high supply at this tiny joint...plus they have a DJ there...you know I love me some good tunes, too...anyway, again, it's a really small space, so try to get there early if you make it up all the way there on Church Street.

Bluejay Cafe - I totally stumbled onto this spot on Divisadero after my friends & I were too lazy to walk to Godzilla Sushi ... we loved the food, one friend got some meatloaf wrapped in bacon, I had a huge piece of catfish with some mashed sweet potatoes & my other friends digged into the fried chicken...it hit the spot b/c we had been doing happy hour & a little dancin' at Madrone Lounge & worked up an appetite...it made me nostalgic for my younger days in Virginia & Florida & driving up & down the Gulf Coast & South with my family when we lived on those Naval Bases...anyway, comfort food done in a young, hip setting & vibe ...there's also fun artwork to look at on the walls, too...

Pizzetta 211 - It's the smallest, gourmet pizza place you will ever be in but it's intimacy is in it's favor especially if you want to just hang out one-on-one with someone...I felt that vibe when I went there for the 1st time this summer...I hadn't seen this friend in a long time when he took me & he helped to cheer me up b/c I was about 3 weeks into my arm break recovery & had just got my cast off...so, he said we should celebrate & told me we have to go to this pizza joint near my apartment (he couldn't believe I never went)...he was so right...I had some spinach & goat cheese thin crust that just had simple ingredients but very delectable...we paired it with some Italian beer & hey, we couldn't go wrong...great night & if he reads this blog, yes, it's one pizza pie for $15.00 is way better than getting 3 Domino's pizzas for the same price ...baha!

Illuna Basque - I've saved the best eating/ dining experience I had recently for last because it was like the classic SF evening eating there - where you just end up staying all night plus I had a beautiful view of Washington Square Park from my seat & I'll admit it I'm partial to Spanish tapas restaurants now ever since going to Barcelona last spring...so, coming here was like reliving my Spanish nights there...we had about 9 dishes there, from squid, to shrimp, to the paella, to some boiled egg dish, to almost all the veggie platters & everything was full of flavor - also, the best part was we had it with some yummy white sangria that tasted just like it was just grape juice going down...dangerous, I tell you...no wonder we were all giddy by the end of the night & we got to meet the young 25 year old waiter, too...Zagat was pretty jaded & smug almost implying that it was some kind of "marketing" tool to warm customers up to the food but I disagree, if he has the good biz skills to know his clientele & wants to know if they're satisfied with the meal, why not??? Especially when it's that excellent ... so thumbs up...I hear he's opening up a lunch spot near Embarcadero either soon or I think it may be up & running now...coolio...I can't wait to head there for lunch this year, then

That's it for now kids...if I have some night time picks that I feel energetic enough to share, I surely will soon ...

Night now,
El -

Currently listening: The Clarence Greenwood Recordings By Citizen Cope Release date: By 14 September, 2004