Favorite Restaurants in the Mission

[gidget1234]

I'm game for any type of food, but would like a place with atmosphere.

[shellie]

Beretta (Buretta?) is also a favorite of my son who lives in the Mission. He and his friends go there regularly as well as Maverick, Universal Cafe, Pizzeria Delfina, Range, and Luna. I don't think I've seen Beretta and Luna mentioned yet.

[Atomica]

Luna I'm guessing is Luna Park. I'm sure it's been discussed a lot in the past. Beretta has only been open for a couple of months, but it has been mentioned quite a bit. Making a big splash among people who are interested in good cocktails.

[Robert Lauriston]

Beretta (newish, former Last Supper Club) report:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/505470

Luna Park (been around since the dot-com days) topics:

http://www.chow.com/search?search[que...

[bigwheel042]

Minako is very good Japanese food. The atmosphere, while a far cry from that described in most of the places upthread, is warm and welcoming. It feels to me like eating in someone's home. It's a two-woman operation, so it can be quite slow, but it's worth it.

[sfcitygirl]

I guess we must have similar tastes since many people have already mentioned my favorite places:

Delfina/Pizzeria Delfina
Pauline's
Walzwerk

I also love Dosa, but it does get a little loud at dinner. I like to go for brunch. It's pretty quiet and I've never had to wait.

Ti Couz is also great - one of my old time favorites.

And I love the pupusas and delicious salsa at Panchitas #3.

[Robert Lauriston]

Pauline's is one of the few pizza places with great desserts.

[bdl]

And pretty decent and interesting salads as well. But having not gone there for a couple of years, I tried it again last week and found the pizza to be nothing like I remembered it. No crispy, cornmealy crust, too much bland cheese and no real finesse. I used to love their pizza and the one I got last week could have come from Mr. Pizza Man.

[Robert Lauriston]

I don't remember anything cornmealy about Pauline's crust. It's normally both crunchy and chewy, with a slight nutty flavor. I haven't been there since last fall, but on that visit the only thing that had changed in the 20 years I've been going there was that the desserts had improved dramatically.

[bdl]

Nothing crunchy about the crusts on the two pies I had. Granted, I haven't been there in maybe five years, and although memory can play tricks I found nothing remarkable (or even likable) about the pizzas I had, except for maybe the stated integrity of the ingredients. No argument on the desserts. I do distinctly remember, however that their pies were made with a cornmeal crust.

[SteveG]

I'm with Robert here, no memory of cornmeal crust. I would have noticed, because I don't like how cornmeal bits stick in my molars and I think they're a crutch for people who can't handle a properly wet dough. This seems to be a good reminder however to specify how done you want the pizza to be; there isn't much that's worse than a decently fermented dough that's cooked to limp blond and no further.

That said, my personal prohibition against cornmeal on the bottom of thin crust pizza and breads does not extend to its use in the dough itself for a deepdish, which I think Little Star does very well. The cornmeal has a chance to absorb the water and oil in the dough, and it works for me.

[Atomica]

"With its crispy chewy crust with a dusting of cornmeal for extra flavor, Pauline's sets the standards for this style of pizza."

Article from January 2008.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/s...

[Atomica]

Don't know why I wasn't allowed to add the link I just added, but it shows that they dust the bottom of their pies with cornmeal.

[Robert Lauriston]

In that video, it looks like they sprinkle a little cornmeal on the peel so it won't stick. The dough itself is handled with flour.

Michael Bauer's not a very reliable source, especially in his blog.

[Atomica]

What kind of "atmosphere"? That can mean many different things to many different people.

[gidget1234]

Sit-down dinner place, not quickie fast-food. I'd also like a place that isn't so loud that I can't hear the other person. Other than that, I'm open...

[Atomica]

Maverick isn't loud at all. Range can get really loud. I don't know about Foreign Cinema--you can sit outside, which may decrease the noise level. La Provence--not great, but good, and never full, so not noisy. Bar Tartine is apparently very loud, according to the article below. Delfina might be medium to loud when full. I don't know about Slow Club, but it seemed pretty loud even at breakfast. (For most of these places, you'll need a reservation, by the way.)

Oh, and Walzwerk. One of my favorite places--just had dinner there the other night again. Medium noise level.

The Mission is full of the young-ish and exuberant, so you're much more likely to find loud crowds than not.

The Chronicle includes noise ratings in its reviews, and I just found a timely article that might be of help.
http://www.rimag.com/index.asp?layout...

[gidget1234]

Thanks. Interesting read!

[Robert Lauriston]

I like Bar Tartine. Didn't find it loud.

Angkor Borei
Delfina
Old Jerusalem
Pauline's
Poc-Chuc

[singleguychef]

I like Maverick's as well. Foreign Cinema is great for brunch when it's not loud. Can't say what it's like at night. It has high ceilings so sound may carry. Maybe outdoor seating at night will be less loud. But food is good.

Another favorite of mines is Spork, which has fun and tasty food. But I would classify it as loud. Unless you're willing to go early when it's not as crowded, then it's not loud.

Pizzeria Delfina is another favorite for casual sit down.

[mariacarmen]

Foreign Cinema is not loud if you sit outside, and weather is perfect for it now. i probably wouldn't eat inside, it gets so loud. Range is excellent, can be a tad loud, but not ridiculous. Second Spork, have never found it loud, but i too tend to go on the early side, before 7:30. Andalu is not great, but good.

[bbulkow]

When I ate at Foreign Cinema a few months ago, we sat inside, upstairs, at the edge overlooking the big room. I don't remember any extra noise whatsoever - we had excellent conversation all night. Food was good, too.

It was a rainy saturday night so everyone was eating inside.