648568 Sat Aug 29 23:41:47 -0700 2009 11 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 4989740 A big birthday is coming up for my wife & I want to give her something memorable. Specifically, I want to take her out once a month over the next year, for her favorite foods at great Bay Area restaurants. I want to put together a string of 12 restaurants, kind of like a foodie equivalent of an ipod playlist. I'd really appreciate any help I can get it selecting them. Here are the criteria: 1. A few can be fancy (she loves Coi and Chez Spencer, for example) but most restaurants must be less of an event. 2. She loves salty, fried foods, but generally not too heavy. 3. Some of her favorites are Range, Suriya Thai, Cindy's Backstreet (in St. Helena), & Beretta. 4. Any cuisine 5. San Francisco, close-in East Bay, or Napa county area only 6. Loves martinis and unusual cocktails 7. Not the obvious restaurants; she loves trying new places. 8. Favorite foods include five spice roast chicken, whole fish, grilled vegetables; not a sweet-tooth kind of person. I'd really appreciate any help compiling this playlist - which 12 restaurants, and why? Thank you so much, Matt Sat Aug 29 23:41:47 -0700 2009 259989 mattchanoff 1 4989749 01. Coi 02. Ubuntu 03. Wexlers 04. Commis 05. Perbacco 06. The Refuge 07. Conduit 08. Piperade 09. Sushi Ran 10. Murray Circle 11. Camino 12. Jai Yun Sun Aug 30 00:06:42 -0700 2009 4989740 11277 Paul H 2 4991669 I think this is a pretty glorious list, but I suspect The Refuge is too far out of range. I'm sure it was added for the salt of the pastrami, but what about Town Hall to balance in the American - I would add Oghane, especially if you'd consider Korean "different". The little plates (panchin? whatever you call them) are excellent. Even with the lack of cocktails. Sun Aug 30 20:55:31 -0700 2009 4989749 54804 bbulkow 2 4992700 Since I omitted the "why" I'm reposting with short comments: 01. Coi (most sophisticated- and arguably the best food in the City) 02. Ubuntu (marvelously inventive and tasty vegetarian) 03. Wexlers (upscale BBQ. A marriage of Northen California and essential American food) 04. Commis (sophisticated, modern and delicious. Like The French Laundry in a local cafe) 05. Perbacco (Superb salumi and Northern Italian expertly prepared in an exciting venue) 06. The Refuge (The best pastrami in the Bay Area - maybe the world - worth a visit!) 07. Conduit (Modern American food in stunning and clever surroundings) 08. Piperade (super tasty and value-priced Cal/Basque food) 09. Sushi Ran (excellent sushi and very creative Japanese cuisine) 10. Murray Circle (Michelin starred chef cooks in a resort with great atmosphere and views) 11. Camino (Food and atmosphere matching what Chez Panisse must have been like 30 years ago before it got so "important") 12. Jai Yun (Masterful Chinese banquet meal (go with another couple 4 to 6 folks is optimal) Mon Aug 31 09:36:10 -0700 2009 4989749 11277 Paul H 1 4989768 One thing that's missing from Paul's list is Peruvian. How about Piqueo's? Sun Aug 30 00:53:36 -0700 2009 4989740 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 4989778 How about a trip around the world type of thing: 1. Start in the US with Blue Plate or Nopa. 2. Then down to Mexico and Poc Chuc 3. Then on to Peru and Inkas 4.Argentina - El Raigon 5. Cross the Atlantic to France Clementine or La Charm 5. Down to Italy and Incanto 6. Eastern Europe? 7. Morocco and Aziza 8. Ethiopia? 9. Mediterranean - Cafe Troya 10. China - China Village 11. Vietnam or Thailand - Bodega Bistro or Los Ros 12. Japan- Sushi Ran Sun Aug 30 01:12:51 -0700 2009 4989740 13300 Civil Bear 2 4991524 For Eastern European, I like Chopin Cafe in Walnut Creek (don't know if that's too far east for you). Very casual, home-cooked type food. For Ethiopian, I like Cafe Colucci in Berkeley. For Chinese, personally I would suggest either Great China in Berkeley (for Peking duck especially) or Old Mandarin Islamic (for northern Chinese) instead of China Village. The latter would be particularly good for the winter, if you're planning it out month by month. For Italian/Sardinian, La Ciccia is my favorite. Sun Aug 30 19:46:30 -0700 2009 4989778 21142 abstractpoet 1 4989812 Dunno what "the usual places" are but... Fancy/fancy-ish: Coi La Folie Ame Others: Perbacco Piperade A16 NOPA Aziza Delfina Laiola L'Osteria del Forno Fringale (but new chef since I was last there) Lots of Italian on my list, but that is what SF is good at. If I had to drop one of the Italians, it would be Delfina as there is significant overlap in type of food they serve with Perbacco, which I have a slight preference for. A16, L'Osteria del Forno and Perbacco are all completely different types of food and experiences. I hear great things about Ubuntu, I've just never been there. FYI: great cocktails at Laiola and, I believe at NOPA (at NOPA, though, I've always had wine.) Sun Aug 30 03:01:33 -0700 2009 4989740 50041 whiner 2 4991181 Thanks so much to whiner, civil bear, ruth, and paul for your great suggestions. Thanks especially to civil bear for the around-the-world idea. We've just eaten twice at Lers Ros by the way - terrific I'm going to search the blogs for more info on the suggestions I don't know about, and put something together. Sun Aug 30 17:24:33 -0700 2009 4989812 259989 mattchanoff 1 4991518 Hong Kong Lounge is my new favorite dim sum place in the Bay Area. I've now been there three times and am putting it right up there with Koi Palace (at half the price) with no apologies to any detractors. Ame would be great for one of your higher end dinners. Bushi Tei for lunch doesn't break the bank but is a lovely overall experience: food, dessert, drinks, ambiance, and service all shine. My husband just surprised me with a trip to brunch at Le Garage in Sausalito. The food was delicious and the restaurant is right by a beautiful marina, but it's really the experience of getting out of the city to a tucked away Sausalito gem that made the day fun. Paul H's list is great, btw. I especially love Perbacco and Piperade. Sun Aug 30 19:44:55 -0700 2009 4989740 11577 Pei 2 5004123 Thanks Pei, I'll try Bushi Tei, not familiar with it. Agree on Piperade. Thu Sep 03 23:34:09 -0700 2009 4991518 259989 mattchanoff 1 5007095 What a hard tast after seeing all these suggestions! Because I read the fried, salty preference--- Ad Hoc on a Monday for fried chicken dinner came to mind. And their veggies, salad, sides are great too. Decadent to go to Napa on a Monday for fried chicken. Also love the Aziza on here. If she hasn't been, the cocktails are good along with the good food. And Ubuntu. Delicious, creative. Great idea. Enjoy. Sat Sep 05 08:01:21 -0700 2009 4989740 11302 rln