A Vistor's View

[drapes]

Just back from a four-day trip to SF from Toronto. This discussion board was very helpful in finding a reasonable path through the many foodie options in SF.

Early Friday lunch at Hog Island - very pleasant. Seafood, nice view and Anchor Steam is a near perfect combination.

Late lunch at A16 - Terrific. My favourite of restaurant of the trip. Borrata, green salad, Margherta pizza and walnut cake. Would go back many times. Fun to watch the dinner prep. Tempted to stay.

Saturday morning market at the Ferry Terminal - very impressive. Top grade everything. Toronto is a good food city, but we certainly don't get January produce like this. Humbolt Fog cheese from Cow Girl Creamery and bread from the place next door was a fine walking around snack.

Light lunch/drink at the Top of the Mark - food nothing special, but worth it for the view and friendly service.

Dinner at Barbacco. I hope this place does well. The service was extremely attentive and friendly. The wine list was excellent, the menu interesting and the food prices extremely reasonable. Had a nice salad, the small chef's selection charcuterie platter (excellent), brussel sprouts in duck fat (standout), Sicilian meat balls and a squid stew. I have seen some references to oversalting. That was only true, in my view, of the squid stew.

Sunday lunch at Bodega Bistro. Extremely pleasant with good, not great, food.
City Hall farmer's market - nice, but not nearly the quality of the Ferry market.

Sunday dinner at Zuni - as advertised, impeccable service and food. Opted not to do the chicken for two, so got to try a number of things, all excellent - fried sardines, duck breast, leg of lamb and a pasta dish.

In addition to the great food, very impressed with the arts scene. So much public art and was blown away by the MOMA. Also saw a very good production of Wozzeck at Yerba Buena and Classical Revolution - Schubert being played in a bar!

Will be back.

[Ruth Lafler]

Thanks for reporting back -- glad you enjoyed your trip. Yes, in many ways the Ferry Plaza market is more impressive in January than it is at midsummer, when everywhere has lots of produce. For reference, the "place next door to" Cowgirl is Acme, the father of the modern artisan bread movement in the Bay Area.