664145 Mon Nov 02 12:16:09 -0800 2009 0 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 5149678 I ate a hangtown fry at Serpentine yesterday that was one of the best things I've eaten in months. Their version was based on a perfectly browned dice of pancetta, with a generous number of briny hama hama oysters all mixed in to some deliciously tender, rich, and salty scrambled eggs. There might have been some savory supporting elements like sauteed shallot, but I was honestly so distracted by the intensity and balance of the flavor that I just sat back and blissfully enjoyed the food. The crispy potatoes also deserve mention--these were no-shortcut potatoes, fluffy and delicate enough that my guess is they cut and soaked the potatoes, then fried them in stages 2-3 times to achieve a perfect salty crispy golden exterior and a fluffy tender interior. Apparently, there are two schools of thought on the hangtown fry: one type is something of an omelet, with bacon embedded on the outside and breaded fried oysters on the inside. The other is more of the mixed scramble that Serpentine serves. An orange creamsicle cocktail, while not necessarily the best match in the world, was absolutely delicious. Vanilla infused vodka, a not too sweet orange liqueur I hadn't heard of, and some supporting elements like a splash of fresh juice, bitters, and soda water made for a delicious adult soda. I was also envious of the chicken fried steak I saw in front of other diners, with sausage gravy and biscuits. We ordered a side of the biscuits and gravy, and I can report that they are pitch-perfect. The dishes above are from the weekend Brunch menu. Serpentine is open for lunch on weekdays, but I don't know what the menu looks like. Mon Nov 02 12:16:09 -0800 2009 17221 SteveG