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Not From These Parts? Eat Here! (Bay Area Edition)
Places worth checking out in or near SF, if you're from out of town, or have visitors coming into the area.
49 Places
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Johnny’s 4-star review: I've passed by their Mission location multiple times, but, due to some ill-conceived notion that they primarily dealt with bread, I never felt compelled to drop in. After realizing they (more than) dabble with pastries, and seeing a lull in the line after brunch at Park Chow, I stopped in to pick up one of their renowned pecan rolls, as well as their scone of the day (a blueberry raspberry one), for $5.50. Heading home and popping them into the toaster oven for a bit, I can say that both were quite delicious. The pecan roll, albeit a little too sweet (black coffee would have been great), had some great flavor, along with a crunchy exterior and soft interior. The scone was tasty as well, with much more subtle flavors than the pecan roll, and would have been even better with some butter or jam - it was, however, a bit dry, as most scones I've had are (which is a major reason I'm generally not a fan). While I think I'm still a bigger fan of Tartine's pastries, Arizmendi offers up a different selection of things, and is certainly worth checking out. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - While the bakery is pretty accessible, the layout of the interior could have been better thought out. As you enter, you'll come across their pastries in three separate display pantries, two along the left, with the second and third forming a corner (which turns out to be a bit of a bottleneck). Some of you may also have some difficulty reaching pastries on the upper shelves, but with so many people around, I'm sure someone will be willing to help. Bathroom - I suspect there aren't any public restrooms, given the size of the place. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: *** In Short *** SF takes on Eggslut with these fantastic breakfast sandwiches! *** In Depth *** For three years, I've known about Eggslut. For three years, I've visited SoCal and still not managed to eat there. But hey, with Bandit now serving up some amazing breakfast sandwiches up here in SF, am I really missing out? One of these days, I'll find out, but until then... Bandit offers up a hefty selection of breakfast sandwiches, burgers, and various sides, in a tiny little shop in the middle of the TL. And while they're a bit on the salty side, their breakfast sandwiches pack great flavor and fluffy eggs, all inside an AMAZING brioche bun (the part I find most lacking in burgers I try). ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Small shop with a tiny window hightop counter, and some stool seating, so not super accessible if you plan to dine in, but doable. Bathroom - They don't have any, but you can pop into the coffee shop next door and use theirs, apparently. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: It was 9pm on the third night of my interviews in SF, and my options for (relatively) cheap, tasty restaurants in the area were limited. Barbacco was near the top of this list, and fortunately, turned out to be an awesome find. Again, going against the voice of reason, I went for a full three course meal, late night indigestion be damned, getting a shaved asparagus salad, rustic pork ragu, and panforte, for a grand total of ~$25 after tax and tip. The salad, served with spring onions and parmigiano reggiano, was a light, tasty, and surprisingly filling salad - the citrus flavors went a long way towards making it a great dish. The ragu, served with al dente paccheri (a fat tubular pasta), was also equally awesome, with an incredibly soft and flavorful pork. The panforte, a spiced fruit and chocolate bar, was probably the least interesting of the three, but was still good - not overly sweet, and reminded me of a fancy KIND bar. Great food, excellent service, reasonable prices, and generous portions make Barbacco one of my list-toppers. I just hope I can ask the chef for softer pasta the next time around - I don't care much for anything prepared al dente, traditional or not.
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Johnny’s 4-star review: *** In Short *** Sexy Spanish food in an equally sexy venue. *** In Depth *** After hearing endless praise about Bellota from my friends, I finally took it upon myself to confirm or deny their assertions, and, I can say that, without a doubt, Bellota is the best new restaurant I've been to this year. To be fair though, I love seafood, and I adore paella, so I might be a little unfairly biased here, but everything my friend and I tried, from the frontera cocktail, to the almeja and cruda snacks (even though we messed up with the latter), to the salmon collar special and the fideua paella were ON. POINT. And lest you think the paella is overpriced, be forewarned that it is a massive serving of food, easily feeding at least two or three, and that's without ordering anything else. So, don't be like us, where you wanted paella and to try the tower of land and sea snacks but couldn't, and show up with some more friends to share with. Or, you know, just visit again and again. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Spacious venue with wide open areas and plenty of accessible seating. The main entrance, however, is not accessible, so you need to go through the office building atrium that Bellota is part of, and go in through their back door. Bathroom - Accessible!
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Johnny’s 5-star review: *** In Short *** Fantastic, fiery, fried fowl. *** In Depth *** With Monday being one of the unfortunate days where my company doesn't provide lunch (#firstworldproblems, I know), and photos of the fried chicken sandwiches from The Bird haunting me from my Instagram feed the week prior, the decision on where to eat was an easy one, for once. Showing up right around noon, I was faced with a very short line of four or five people ahead of me, managing to order and receive my spicy chicken sandwich all within the span of ten to fifteen minutes. And by god, what a sandwich it was! Crispy, juicy (expect to make a mess), and flavorful chicken, a bit on the salty side, but offset by the pickles and slaw, all on a fluffy, toasted bun. And lest someone tell you otherwise, they aren't joking when they call it spicy: I have a pretty high tolerance level for spicy things (ghost pepper candies what what), and this definitely still had me sweating a bit. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Seating primarily consists of high tops here, unfortunately, there there is a bit of lower, accessible counter seating by the front windows, as well as regular two tops outside. That said, during lunch time, seating might be somewhat limited, so you may be better off taking your food to-go and eating somewhere else. Seating area aside, getting around the rest of the venue should be fairly easy, though you may have to maneuver past a number of people, depending on the time. Bathroom - Didn't try them. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Dropped in one night after a nearby photo shoot, because my model friend loves Southern food, and was craving chicken and waffles (strange contrast, I know). So the two of us ordered their burger, chicken and waffles, garlic fries, and chiccarones, and brought it back to my place since Box was literally a hole in the wall without any seating available. And, well, everything was damn tasty! The burger and the garlic fries were the stars of the bunch, while the other two were good, but more interesting than anything else: the chicken and waffles were actually more chicken IN waffle batter, and the chiccarones could be likened to the shrimp chips you sometimes get at Thai restaurants, but, crispier, saltier, and tangier. I suppose it's a good thing that they don't have proper seating, because I'd be coming here a lot more than I should otherwise! Great for a normal meal, but stellar for those of you who get the munchies after a late night of drinking. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - There's not really much of an accessibility issue with Box, because it's nothing more than a hole (window) in the wall. Grab and go, unless you want to hang out in the alley with whatever other characters are there at the time. Bathroom - Pretty sure they didn't have one, unless you count a dark corner in the alley. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: So, Causwells was first recommended to me by a girl from OkCupid last week. Then, I came across it again while looking at Yelp's new businesses. And then, my friend and I happened to be getting ice cream sandwiches down the street, and figured we should probably eat a proper meal too. So, call it celestial guidance or whatever that led me here, but I'm glad it did! Still being a bit full from our breakfast dessert (okay, fine, it was 4pm), we stuck with their small plates, which honestly sounded more interesting than their entrees anyway: * Rye Parkerhouse Rolls & Cultured Butter - I never order bread, because I feel like it's something that should come with the meal, so this was a bit of a luxury. The rolls came in a set of four, with a simple glaze on top, and what I think was sea-salted butter. Tasty enough on its own, but even better once I realized I could make mini sliders with the brisket! * Housemade Ricotta & Lavash - I'm not usually one to order cheese plates, given the lactose intolerance and all. The ricotta was nice and smooth, with a tasty lemony zing to it, and went well with the fresh lavash crackers. If you run out (and you will, because there's a lot more cheese than cracker), bear in mind that you can ask for more. * Steak Tartare - Having tried tartare at more and more places across the city, I've found that most of them share similarities in taste. Causwells', though, was pleasantly different: not as savory or (overly) salty as most places I've been to, but lighter and fruitier instead. This definitely needs to be eaten before the brisket, because the flavors of the tartare are subtle enough that the latter will have dulled your taste buds with the in-your-face flavor. * Smoked Brisket - The star of the dishes we ordered, with great flavor (similar to corned beef) and a nice, tender texture. Be sure to eat it with all the extra sauces and accoutrements provided in the dish. I definitely see myself coming back here, if not only because I want to try their deviled eggs and octopus! ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Another venue with mixed counter and regular table seating. Of the latter, some are placed in such a way as to not be accessible, but the majority should not prove to be an issue. Bathroom - Didn't check them out, but given their location in the back, you may have to ask the nearest table to get out of their chairs in order to squeeze by. I also seem to recall a divider that may make opening the door a little difficult. -
Johnny’s 5-star review: One of two Chez Mamans across the city (three if you include Gamine), this location serves up the same great food as the Potrero branch, but in a larger, nicer, and more accessible venue. Coming in for a late lunch today, my friend and I ended up ordering off their dinner menu instead, getting their carbonara and truffle mac n cheese [ http://instagram.com/p/ZzDpA1QftL/ ]. Needless to say, the carbonara was just as tasty (and rich, and heavy) as their other joints. The mac n cheese I hadn't tried before, however, so I was a little surprised that it beat out the delicious truffle mac n cheese that I've been eating over at La Fusion lately. While I can't comment on their breakfast options, their pastas are certainly among my favorites in SF, if not the favorite. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Like the Potrero location, there's bar seating here that runs the length of the restaurant. Unlike the Potrero location, however, there's also a good amount of regular tabled seating, and much, much more space. So, while you still have the option of sitting outside (and not on a slope!), you can also sit indoors at this particular location as well. Bathroom - Didn't check them out, so no comment. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Chez Papa Resto for my birthday last year, and Chez Maman this year - unintentional birthday tradition? Showing up with May I two weeks ago, we were taken aback by how small the restaurant was: indoor seating consisted entirely of bar seating, with two actual tables outside, under some heat lamps. After a short wait (because no one wanted to sit out in the cold), we ended up ordering their: * Baked Camembert ($8) [ http://flic.kr/p/cQ7LyJ ] - My first time trying this, it consisted of some toasted baguette slices for you to spread the Camembert and roasted garlic onto, along with a side of salad. Being lactose intolerant, I usually try to avoid these types of dishes, but it was definitely enjoyable. * Fettucini Carbonara ($14) [ http://flic.kr/p/cQ7LZN ] - This dish was stellar. I haven't had enough carbonara to make fair comparisons, but this was some of the tastiest pasta I've had to date. Creamy, rich, but not overly seasoned or salty - at first anyway, because once taken home as leftovers, it becomes a little too heavy and salty. * Basic Burger with Brie ($11 + $1.50) - While not the best burger I've ever had (the honor of that goes to the now-closed Thermidor), it was definitely very good. My main issue with it was that the proportion of bread to meat/substance was a little bread-biased, which ended up subduing the meat flavors. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - As mentioned previously, indoor seating is entirely elevated bar seating, and thus, not accessible. However, there are two tables outside that are perfectly accessible, albeit situated on the slope that is 18th Street. Bathroom - I didn't check them out, and I'm not even sure they had one, but I'm skeptical either way, given the inaccessibility of the restaurant proper. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Always insisting on trying a new restaurant whenever we meet up for dinner, and with some Savored credits to spare, Alice L and I ended up here at Chotto several months back. For those who aren't familiar with Savored (http://svrd.co/oCOhwV), reservations booked through their site get an automatic 30% off of the bill, with a refundable $10 booking fee, if you save less than this. And while we didn't order much due to our small appetites, given the small portion sizes, that discount can go a long way here. We ended up ordering the bacon mochi ($8), kurobuta ($6), karamiso tonkotsu ramen ($12.5 - we needed something filling, after all), and sweet potato doughnuts. While the ramen was okay, it was the dish that stood out the least, with a decent broth, but slightly lackluster noodles. The kurobuta was small, at three thick cuts of pork belly, but good; while the bacon mochi, also small, was super tasty: pan-fried mochi wrapped in bacon, further wrapped in some nori, served up with some shichimi, and combining a bit of sweet, savory, and spicy, all in one bite. And the doughnuts, served up with some tasty black sesame ice cream, were awesomely fluffy and crunchy. The parking hell that is Marina aside (it took a good 20-30 minutes of circling the area to find a space), it's worth trekking out here to try at least once. And another plus? You can bring a date here (it's pretty swanky inside), get your discount, and not look tacky while doing it, busting out a phone or any paper coupons! -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Due to my inability to find the Pie Fridays cart two weeks back, I had the good fortune of finally stumbling into this fantastic (not-so-)little chocolate shop that I'd completely forgotten I desperately wanted to try. My friend and I end up getting their: * House Hot Chocolate - Ever since winter started settling in, I've been ordering hot chocolate almost every time I see it at a cafe. Dandelion's hot chocolate has probably been among the best I've had in recent memory, striking a great balance between sweet and bitter. Served on a little plate with a shortbread cookie and a few small pieces of their chocolate as well. * Frozen Hot Chocolate - This one I was a little less fanatical about, only because it was on the darker, more bitter side of things. And I'm not even talking bittersweet, but more of a dark chocolate kind of bitter. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable, but, unlike my chocolate, I definitely prefer my drinking chocolates a bit on the more sugary side. Like the other hot chocolate, this was also served with a cookie and chocolate. * Dulce de Leche - From the shop's description, you already know this dessert bar is going to be on the sweet side. So, I was admittedly a little hesitant to order this along with the house hot chocolate. but they actually made for a great pairing, as the hot chocolate was bittersweet enough to offset the tasty decadence of this dessert. * Smore - The smore was to the frozen hot chocolate as the dulce de leche was to the house hot chocolate: just okay. The flavors weren't bad, but the entire thing would have benefited greatly from being heated up to give the marshmallow that gooeyness one would expect from a campfire smore. In addition to their cafe portion, they're also a regular chocolate shop with bars and other things for purchase (and sample!), and hold events and factory tours fairly frequently. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - A huge space comprised of their chocolate factory, with limited regular seating towards the front, and bar counter seating along the "kitchen." The former is perfectly accessible, the latter, as expected, is not. Bathroom - All the way towards the back, and also quite accessible. -
Johnny’s 5-star review: *** In Short *** Finally, a restaurant that manages the holy trifecta! *** In Depth *** Okay, so, that summary probably means nothing without some prior context, but the trifecta here refers to appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I've long been a believer that restaurants excel, at most, in some subset of the three: usually appetizers and dessert, appetizers and entrees, or just one of the three. Heck, after the hundreds of places I've eaten at, I didn't even believe it was possible for any one restaurant to do all three well! That is, until my dinner at Frances last night, where they killed it in every one of these courses (with some caveats). Items worth trying? Everything, probably, but specifically, the panisse (chickpea) frites, sakura pork chop, dark chocolate pudding, and lumberjack cake. Honestly, even the dish with the aforementioned caveat, their bavette steak, was super tasty, with the only problem being that we were unaware that it'd be such a chewy, sinewy cut, preferring something a bit more tender. But even that blemish was countered by our fantastic waiter, who continuously asked and offered to swap out that dish for another, since he'd noticed my mom wasn't super in love with it. And when she insisted that it was okay, and that she was enjoying the taste, he still went as far as giving us a slice of their lumberjack cake to take home by way of apology. Great food, and amazing service? Yeah, I'll be back. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - The entrance has a short and slightly steep incline, which can make opening the door a tad difficult, especially since the automated open didn't seem to work when I went. The inside of the restaurant, while narrow, is pretty accessible, with a combination of bench and chair seating. Reservations are recommended, so just be sure to leave them a note when booking. Bathroom - Didn't try them. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: I occasionally get this nagging feeling that Yelp has deleted a few of my reviews, as I swear I've left one for Frascati before. Having been a while since my dinner experience here, forgive me for any misinformation, or lack there of. The main takeaway is that the food here was quite tasty, so, never mind the particulars and give it a shot! Coming in for dinner with my dad several months back, we ordered (I believe) a blood orange tuna carpaccio, flat-iron steak, roasted half chicken, and chocolate bread pudding. While the carpaccio wasn't particularly interesting to me, one must consider I'm not a huge fan of raw fish - that said, it was still a bit too sweet, and the slices were still a bit too thick to captivate me. And while my dad's steak was enjoyable, the chicken was where the meal truly shined: moist, tender, flavorful, and just overall amazing. By the time we got around to dessert, I was already painfully full, so it was a _little_ unfortunate that the dessert was as hefty as it was. But, that said, it was pretty tasty, and surprisingly, not as horrifically sweet as I had feared it would be. I can't remember what the bill came out to, but I believe it was roughly $90 or so after tax. A bit hefty at first glance, but, not so bad once you consider that we ate enough to feed three (or possibly four). Decor was a little bit more upscale than I was expecting, so I was taken aback a little, but Frascati would certainly make for a nice dinner date. Just be prepared, because trying to find street parking here is ridiculous - we eventually settled for a garage, after almost 20 minutes of circling the area. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Experienced another "why did it take me this long to come here?!" moment while getting lunch with Cindy A last weekend. But better late than never, and hoorah for finally crossing this off my list (and adding it to another)! The two of us ended up sharing the: * Braised Duck w/ Wide Egg Noodles, Dry - While this normally comes as a soupy noodle dish, apparently most of their noodles can be ordered "dry", with the broth coming in a separate bowl. A simple, solid, and tasty dish, although I think I would have preferred the normal soupy version more, and with the ho fun noodles instead. * Hai Ky w/ Thin Egg Noodles - Basically a combination noodle soup dish, with a variety of meats and seafood. While the duck noodles were good, these were fantastic, with the various proteins lending more complexity and richness to the dish. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Spacious restaurant with plenty of accessible seating. Bathroom - Didn't check them out. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: My go-to joint in the neighborhood, easily serving up some of the tastiest Southern food I've come across in the Bay Area thus far. Coupled with the friendly service, affordable prices, generous portions, and reasonable waits (I've yet to wait more than 15 minutes), I've been here more times than I'd like to admit since moving to Dogpatch. Of the various dishes I've tried [ http://instagram.com/p/VSSyMXwfsT/ ], their country fried steak tops my list, followed by their fried chicken (you can get their standard breast-thigh-drumstick combo, or specify the parts you want), and their braised oxtail (which is amazingly tender). Most entrees come with their tasty corn muffins (corn bread in muffin form, basically, which can also be purchased separately for a quarter or so per), as well as your choice of two sides (which have been mostly enjoyable, except for the mac n cheese, which I find far too cheddar-y for my tastes). ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Aside from the fairly steep incline up the front door, Hard Knox is actually a fairly compact space, having only three or four seats near the entrance that are easily accessible, with the rest of the seats either being too hard to get to, or booth seating. Bathroom - Didn't check them out, so I can't comment. -
Johnny’s 5-star review: Oh god, all I remember is the hours of pain proceeding dinner here. Well, no, that's a lie, but it was the predominant thought and sensation running through my body, until I was finally able to pass out at 4am. But, surely, that says something about the food here! Coming for dinner with my team last week to celebrate Q3, the food presentation (menu, options, metal carts) immediately reminded me of Lawry's down in Southern California. Choosing one of four cuts (five if you include the children's size), each around $37, you get a multi-course meal that consists of their thousand island house salad, bread, and, of course, the prime rib, served alongside Yorkshire pudding, baked or mashed potatoes, and creamed corn or spinach. Opting for the English cut along with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach, I made the mistake of following it all with an order of the English trifle for dessert. For myself. But, overeating aside, the salad was tasty, the creamed spinach was super tasty (bacon!), and the prime rib was excellent. And while the Yorkshire pudding and mashed potatoes were a bit lackluster in comparison, the dessert, as painful as it was to consume, was also tasty enough to push those criticisms aside. And while we were seated almost 30-40 minutes after our reservation due to our entire party not arriving until 15 minutes in (at which point they may have given away our table), service was good. The owner, Joe Betz, even came around to chat with us: once while we were waiting up front, and once towards the end of our meal. The initial greeting was apparently prompted by him thinking I'd been to his restaurant before -- yes, it would appear I have a doppelganger in the Bay Area as well! Lastly, if you're not in the mood to hunt for street parking around these parts, they'll valet for a cool $8 (granted, that's an $8 that could go towards a dessert instead). -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Ever making a point of checking out new restaurants on the rare occasions I make it out to Berkeley, my friends and I detoured from Kirala to Kiraku, turned off by the the long waits and lack of reservations at the former (that said, Kiraku only allows reservations up until the day prior). After waiting a good half hour or so for a four-person table to open up (the wait is significantly less for parties of two), we ended up ordering: * Agedashi Tofu - Prepared a bit differently than others I've tried (but using silken tofu!), their tofu is more deeply fried (aka crispier), and with a thicker, starchier sauce than I'm accustomed to. Nevertheless, good flavors, and enjoyable. * Roast Duck [ http://flic.kr/p/doKYDv ] - I think this used to be paired with foie gras prior to the ban, but don't let that stop you from ordering this tender, flavorful, and oh-so-tasty dish. * Osaka-Style Taro Potato (aka Taroyaki) [ http://flic.kr/p/doKYrr ] - Okay, I made that name up, but it describes this dish incredibly well. Imagine all the standard toppings and flavorings of takoyaki, but with balls of simmered taro instead. And while I'm not really a fan of taro, even I enjoyed this dish, though I would have preferred the taro simmered a bit longer. * Grilled Jumbo Squid [ http://flic.kr/p/doKZfX ] - I'm not usually a huge fan of grilled squid due to its somewhat rubbery texture, but I suspect that is mostly a result of overcooking it. Kiraku did a great job preparing theirs, resulting in great flavor, and a mostly unrubbery, tender meat. * Oyakodon - Among one of the better (or best) preparations I've had of this, it was neither too sweet, nor too salty, with just the right balance of flavors. I was a little concerned because some of the chicken looked a bit pink, but I'm fine, so, either the chicken was fresh, or it's just an artifact of how it's prepared. * Buta-kim [ http://flic.kr/p/doKZ1P ] - Kimchi is another one of those things I'm picky about, and something I enjoy far more hot than cold. They serve theirs up in a cast-iron skillet with some slices of pork, and an egg cracked atop, making for an incredibly hearty and flavorful (albeit rather salty) dish. Went great with the oyakodon, to balance out some of the excess salt. * Beni-otome (Sesame Seed) Shochu - I'm a sucker for trying shochu distilled from things I haven't tried before, and this was definitely new. One of my favorites to date, you can definitely taste the sesame seeds, making this a nice, smooth, shochu with great toasty, nutty flavor. At $24 per person after tax and tip, pricing was not bad for an izakaya, especially considering how incredibly full we were afterwards. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Not only is the venue rather small, the seating arrangements are rather compact, leaving only about a third of the available tables easily accessible, so make sure to mention the need for accessibility if calling in for reservations. Bathroom - I didn't use them, so I can't comment, but I have my doubts about their accessibility. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Delicious New Latin cuisine in a quaint, modern restaurant in the FiDi (which would probably make for a great date spot). Been here twice since I first found out about it, having tried two of their ceviches, their rotisserie chicken, truffle mac n cheese, and, of course, their sangria [ Photo: http://instagram.com/p/XoRzEvwftG/ ]. Their prawn ceviche, truffle mac n cheese, and sangria are delicious, while their rotisserie chicken is pretty tasty, and their ceviche de atun (which has a slightly more Asian flavor profile) isn't bad. For those who can't decide on a particular ceviche, get the sampler of three! A solid 4.5 star restaurant that I'll definitely be coming back to time and time again. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - A somewhat small and narrow restaurant, comprised mostly of smaller tables and bar seating. Seating towards the front is your best bet. Be warned that La Fusion is in the middle of a fairly steep slope though! Bathroom - Didn't check them out, so no comment. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: La Note was one of those places that I couldn't bring myself to go to during my time as a cheap college student here. A shame too, now that I know what I missed out on all those years. This was actually a second attempt at eating here, after I was foiled several months back by a flat tire and lack of time. And I got lucky this time - while the wait for indoor seating was an hour long, we were seated immediately because we opted for the back patio, which people were avoiding due to the rain (I've mentioned this before, but I hate waiting very long for food). My friend and I were incredibly bummed to find that they'd run out of pain perdu au chocolat by then, but he ended up opting for the regular pain perdu, while I got a single of the lemon gingerbread pancakes with poached pears, the oatmeal raspberry pancakes, and a salade paysanne - obviously, being overeager led to over-ordering. But, keeping things short, all of the food was delicious, including the salad that I took to go and finished hours later. Prices here certainly are not cheap, with our order coming out to $45 after tax and tip for brunch. That said, the serving sizes here are pretty generous - to be honest, I was actually full after the first pancake I had, so there's value here, both in terms of quality and quantity. So, worth the price? Certainly. Worth the wait? No, but I don't think anything is worth an hour wait. I'll definitely be back, but only when I can be quickly ushered towards the back again. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: After missing my first opportunity to try the food here with some friends due to unfortunate gastric distress, I found myself here on a lunch date a week later, not realizing that their lunch and dinner service menus were quite different. Fortunately, like many others, they'll still allow you to order off the dinner menu, even at lunch! We ended up getting their [ http://instagram.com/p/YFCSFeQfhc/ ]: * Sea Bass - I was a little surprised that the bass came out fried, but, the sweet and savory flavors, balanced out by the bitterness of the brussels sprouts made this my favorite part of the meal. * Beef Carpaccio - The first time I've had raw beef before (despite being presented with various opportunities in the past), and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it! Like the sea bass, the predominant flavors were sweet, savory, and, well, tasty. * Shaken Beef - While enjoyable, it's up against some pretty stiff competition with Newport Seafood's preparation of this dish down in SoCal, and falls a bit short in the tenderness department. But certainly still worth trying! ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - A large, spacious restaurant with plenty of seating, accessibility should not be a major issue. Bathroom - The particulars a little fuzzy now, but I do remember theirs being accessible. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Okay, okay, this update is long overdue, considering I've had Lers Ros four more times, in the last month or two alone: thrice for delivery, and once at the restaurant proper. And boy, what a difference it makes when you have someone who knows what to order! My defaults now include their green papaya salad with prawns, crispy pork belly, pad thai, and crab fried rice, with a few new dishes here and there just to explore their ridiculously extensive 11+ page menu. The defaults are defaults, because, well, they're pretty damn good: the papaya salad is nice and refreshing, yet with a fairly strong kick to it; the pad thai and crab fried rice, while being fairly typical dishes, are done very well, with the pad thai not made as sweet as at many a Thai restaurant; and the pork belly is simply awesome delicious. Other dishes I've tried, and recall, include their tom yum soup (also quite good), their sweet and sour chicken, and their fried tofu, both of which were a bit lackluster in comparison. Their free delivery within SF is certainly a huge plus, usually delivered within 45 minutes to an hour after you call in. And if it tastes this good delivered, it can only be better in person right? RIght - especially for things like the pork belly and tofu, where their crispy skins suffer from being steamed in the take-out boxes. So, if you can, go in person. And either go on an off-night, early, or with reservations, because, as my previous review will tell you with painful repetition, waiting for a table sucks. And if you really don't want to wait, and are familiar with the menu, you can even call in your order so it's ready by the time you're seated!
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Johnny’s 4-star review: Having been a fervent follower of Ravi & Co from their LYC pop-up days in the State Bird space, to their nights as Paniolo Social in the Bloodhound space, I was ecstatic when they finally opened up a permanent shop in the city. Even if it meant having to fight all of you now, just to get a reasonable reservation a few weeks out! Of course, I HAD to go opening night to celebrate with everyone, and was fortunate enough to be able to do so - as for my hopes of being first to review, well, can't win 'em all right? ;) I won't bother highlighting the dishes, as I often do, because it's pretty hard to go wrong with anything you order here. Instead, I'll talk a little more high level. The menu is composed of appetizers, small dishes, and large entrees: and by large, I don't mean large single person servings, I mean large family-style entrees. And this highlights the philosophy behind LYC, ever since their pop-up days: ohana means family, and family is all about eating together and sharing. As for the dishes themselves, while most of them are new, a few are carryovers of very popular items from their early days, or variations thereof. In particular, the poke nori chip, and the Cornish game hen. Again, to highlight the earlier point, yes, you're getting an ENTIRE hen. The prices are higher not (just) because they're a higher end restaurant, but because they're meant to feed multiple people. Oh, and they've upped their dessert game, so make sure to save room for that. The baked Hawaii especially, if you've never had warm meringue. It's like eating a fluffy marshmallow... in any case, a solid 4.5 stars! ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - A pretty massive space, as far as restaurants go, with an area towards the front for walk-ins, an open kitchen, and then reserved seating in the back. While not everything is accessible, as some of it's booth and bench seating, a good third or half are removable and totally accessible. And, given the space, there's no concern about cramped or tight spacing. Bathroom - Didn't try them. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: It's been a year since I last visited Little Sheep, but it's probably still my favorite place for hot pot in the Bay Area for one big reason: great, flavored, soup broths. I've never been a huge fan of simple water/chicken broth-based hot pots where you're dependent on sauces for flavor. Little Sheep completely sidesteps this problem by providing two soup bases that are highly seasoned and flavorful: a clearer, lighter broth, and a spicier, heavier one (albeit mild when compared to Sichuanese mala hot pot broths). As for hot pot ingredients, variety is the name of the game here, as they have a very healthy selection of quality meats, seafood, vegetables, and starches. Serving sizes are decent, but probably a bit less compared to other hot pot places. What this means: you get to try a few more things, but you also order (and spend) more to fill up. With a minimum per-person charge on top of all the individual dishes, you're probably looking at close to $30 on average for dinner here (which can land you AYCE at a number of other places). Services is friendly, albeit a little inattentive when things get really busy. We were seated well after our reservations (although I think this was because they won't seat you until your entire party arrives, as was the case with us), and it took them another 10-20 minutes to come by and take our actual orders. And while ventilation is pretty good (you won't have to deal with smoke and humidity everywhere), still expect to have your clothes smelling like hot pot once you leave! -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Having been back several times now, I maintain my stance that Little Star is far tastier than Zachary's over in East Bay. But, I will admit that the cornmeal crusts are a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing. I find them reminiscent of croutons: airy, crunchy, and almost cookie-like in texture. Personally, I like this more than I do regular crusts (which I'll often toss away), but I know a fair number of people who dislike it, and/or consider it too "healthy". Not that they don't suffer from a slight saltiness problem though. While the flavor is great, and the first slice is usually fine, the salt starts creeping up on you by the time you hit your second or third piece. Fortunately, I'm usually comfortably full after a single slice, so this becomes a somewhat moot issue for me. Waits can be a bit long around dinner time, with my longest having been almost 45 minutes. Pro tip: order in line about 30 minutes before you're to be seated. That way, your deep dish pizza will be there to greet you by the time you sit down at your table! If you'd rather wait, or manage to be seated quickly, and want an appetizer, the garlic bread is a popular, and interesting, choice: a loaf of sourdough is served alongside butter, and an entire glove of roasted garlic, resulting in a DIY garlic bread of sorts. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: Having continuously mourned the lack of quality New American restaurants in SF since leaving Seattle, I stumbled upon this (not-so) little gem last week - and now, at last, I can rest easy knowing that I won't have to wait for my infrequent visits back North for great tasting New American. My friend and I ordered the Anson Mills polenta and grilled Niman pork chop for entrees, the smoky cauliflower gratin as a side, and the upside-down peach crisp for dessert. The polenta, something I've become a big fan of in recent months, while lacking in meat, was still delicious, albeit a bit salty when not eaten with the polenta itself. The pork chop was also tasty, with a tender interior and a nicely seared and crispy exterior. Likewise, the cauliflower gratin, almost like a mac & cheese, was good as well, tasting mostly of cheese and prosciutto - certainly not a bad thing. The only thing that was a bit lacking was the peach crisp - served in a mason jar, it was by no means bad, or even mediocre, but the ice cream lacked bourbon flavor, and the caramel sauce easily overwhelmed the rest of the dessert. Oh, and service, while not terrible, could have been a tad more polite/patient. But, overall, a restaurant I'll be coming back to, and with friends in tow! -
Johnny’s 5-star review: *** In Short *** One of the best ramen joints in the city? The hours-long waits certainly suggest as much! *** In Depth *** I have a deep seated dislike for long waits when it comes to food, with a rage that starts to simmer around the 30-60 minute mark, depending on the quality of the company I'm with. For this reason, despite hearing all the wild raving about how amazing Mensho was, I refused to come during prime dinner time, what with the purported 2-3 hour waits. But, it so happened that on one chilly night several weeks ago, after a date that ended earlier than expected, and that I hadn't eaten prior to, Mensho was still open, and screaming my name. So along I came, waiting for a meager 20 minutes* before being seated, having my order taken, and my toripaitan served, all within the span of another 10 minutes. And, I mean, what else is there to say? It was amazing: a rich, creamy, tasty chicken broth, and one of the only I've actually felt compelled to finish drinking; ramen noodles that were cooked to just the right springy consistency; and overall, a perfect combination of amazing flavors. Definitely plan to be back, schedule permitting, because, amazing as this may be, I still refuse to wait with the masses. * See venue accessibility for additional notes on this ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - The place itself is pretty small, with some lower counter seating that fits four, and two long high top townhall style tables. Because of this, if you're in need of accessible seating, waits may be even longer: while I reached the front in 20 minutes, it was another 20 before a counter seat opened up. Bathroom - Didn't try them. -
Johnny’s 5-star review: ***COVID-19 Update*** Still open, albeit only for Saturday pre-orders. Listings for the week go up on (most) Wednesdays around 3pm, usually with some partners, like bread loaves from Avast Bakeshop or savory packages from Dear Inga, and are available until they're sold out. The sweet and savory packages come in boxes of 9, and change from week to week, so keep an eye out! Order online at https://www.neighborsf.com/preorder, and you can specify a pickup time as well. Later (after noon) is better if you'd like to avoid long lines. -
Johnny’s 5-star review: *** In Short *** Another amazing pasta shop, SF?! *** In Depth *** You're treating me and my lactose-intolerant self far too crue-- kindly, San Francisco. As if a Mano and Corridor weren't enough, now you go and open up yet another drool-worthy pasta shop! A somewhat recent addition to North Beach, Pasta Pop-Up is, contrary to their name, not REALLY a pop-up, according to staff I spoke with, but more of an experiment that's likely to stick around depending on how things go, since the space does seem to actually be their own. With a full menu of apps, pastas, and desserts to choose from, there's quite a bit to explore, but the arancina and calamari appetizers, along with the lamb pappardelle and sausage gnocchi are noteworthy standouts. If you had to choose just one dish though, the gnocchi is to die for, and highly recommended. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - The restaurant itself is plenty accessible, with your standard four tops and plenty of room to maneuver around in, but the surrounding area is comprised of your typical North Beach hilliness, so visitor beware. Bathroom - Didn't try them. -
Johnny’s 5-star review: Finally made it out to this year old bookmark a few weeks back, and holy balls there's so much cake here (some 20-30+ varieties of cakes, by the slice, and whole). Always on the prowl for the perfect cakes, it's a rare occurrence to come across a bakery that serves up these tasty pastries without making them so heavily laden with sugar as to be inedible, or only enjoyable in small doses. Even more rare is the non-Asian bakery that manages to do this, with Asian (Taiwanese, in particular) bakeries being known for making the lighter, fluffier, and often fruity varieties of cake. But, Schubert's actually manages all of these! While they certainly have the richer options, they also offer up a variety of what I consider Asian-style fruit cakes. Coming after a lunch date down the street, the two of us ordered a mango mousse, strawberry shortcake, and a fruit tart [ Photo: http://instagram.com/p/YFCknHQfhp/ ]. The tart, which I had a day or two later, was definitely among some of the tastier ones I've had, with a deliciously smooth custard center. The cakes, which we devoured on-site, had that exact fluffy lightness I associate with my Taiwanese bakeries, so, needless to say, I was a fan. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - It's a little narrow in here, so when it's busy (which I imagine is almost always), things can get a bit crowded. Their display cases also run the length of their counter, so expect a bit of difficulty and the need to reach as you're paying, or getting your cakes. Best to come with someone (or ask one of the many people around you), lest you drop your cake! Bathroom - Didn't check them out, so I can't comment. -
Johnny’s 4-star review: SBP's been on my list for quite some time now, long before they were named Best Restaurant in America by Bon Appetit. Of course, with my mile-long list of bookmarks, I never made it out here until reservations became notoriously difficult to book (pro-tip: check every morning, as they're on a rolling 60 day schedule - and once you're booked, don't cancel!) For those unfamiliar with the theme at SBP, their modus operandi is, "eat with your eyes." Think of it as New American food, served dim sum style. The waitstaff wander about the restaurant with little trays of freshly made dishes, each carrying a little price tag on them: simply ask for whatever catches your eye. That said, there are a handful of entrees that are actually only available as orders off the menu, so make sure you don't miss out on those. Our group of three ended up ordering their [ http://instagram.com/p/ReuH-SQflI/ ]: == Tasty! == * Shrimp, Avocado, Nori * Steak Tartare with Poblano & Sunchoke == Good == * CA State Bird with Provisions * Kimchi-Pork Belly with Tofu * Fried Green Tomato, Eggplant, Spanish Remoulade == Okay == * Guinea Hen Dumplings * Duck Liver Mousse with Almond Biscuit * Sweet Corn & Garlic Chive Shortstack So, overall, while nothing was terrible, nothing was mind-blowingly delicious either. Still, the experience is unique enough, and some of the dishes are tasty enough, that it's worth trying at least once. Not to mention that the service is great, and the owners are awesome folks :) ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Fairly spacious, but more length-wise than evenly, with table arrangements that are a little bit tight, but still maneuverable. Be sure to let them know your situation beforehand though, and they should accommodate you at some of the slightly more accessible tables. Bathroom - It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, their bathrooms were absolutely accessible.
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