2 days of culinary adventure in SF
My wife and I are NYC foodies, and she's a chef-in-training. We finally get a much-needed break from our 2 little kids in October for a weeklong trip to SF and Napa. We'll be in SF from a Saturday morning to Monday morning, so we have 2 lunches and 2 dinners we are planning. We don't want any fancy, overpriced meals (Gary Danko-type places). Rather, we want to try some ethnic cuisines and some locally-sourced restaurants that have a fun atmosphere.
I'm new to Chowhound and have read through some of the posts, and here's what I'm considering. We live right next to the Union Square Greenmarket in NYC, and we've heard the market at Ferry Bldg puts it to shame, so we definitely want to check it out. I was thinking Saturday we'd check out the market and then have wine and oysters at Hog Island. For dinner Saturday night, I'm thinking Canteen, Aziza, Zuni, Range, Foreign Cinema, or The House. We want a place that has great food and is a unique experience. A place like Boulevard looks too run-of-the-mill. I may be way off here…
For Sunday lunch, I think trying Burmese food sounds like fun…never had it. Burma Superstar or B Star? Any other unique ethnic lunch spots? For dinner, we could do one on the list I mentioned above, otherwise I'm open to other suggestions.
Much appreciated!!!!
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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Burma Superstar Restaurant
309 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
B Star Bar
127 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
Foreign Cinema
2534 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110
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Robert Lauriston
Jul 25, 2011 08:42 AM
Locally sourced with fun atmosphere, check out the menu at Bar Tartine.
Burmese Kitchen is closed on Sundays.
The food at Mochica and Piqueo's is similar as they have the same chef and there's a lot of overlap between the menus. His newest venture is La Costanera and from recent reports I think that may be where he's most focused.
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Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102Piqueo's
830 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110Mochica
937 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107Bar Tartine
561 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110La Costanera
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA 94037›3 Replies-
re: Robert Lauriston
Windy
Jul 25, 2011 10:22 AM
The food is somewhat better at Mochica and Piqueo's than at La Costanera. Piqueo's has a more interesting menu.
But the view at Costanera can't be beat, and it's a great happy hour destination. It's half an hour from San Francisco though, so requires a car.
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Piqueo's
830 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110Mochica
937 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107La Costanera
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA 94037-
re: Windy
Robert Lauriston
Jul 25, 2011 10:34 AM
A friend I've gone to Mochica with a couple of times went recently and thought it went downhill, haven't been back myself to check. Mochica's the only one that lists my favorite dish, the halibut tiraditos with aji amarillo sauce. Looks like they've cut back on the menu at Mochica and expanded the one at Piqueo's.
http://www.mochicasf.com/Mochica_Dinner_Menu.pdf
http://www.piqueos.com/files/Piqueos_menu.pdf
http://www.lacostanerarestaurant.com/...-----
Piqueo's
830 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110Mochica
937 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107La Costanera
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA 94037-
re: Robert Lauriston
Windy
Jul 25, 2011 11:05 AM
I don't think it's fair to post second-hand downhill reports, based on a single meal. I also heard La Folie was really expensive....
I do agree that having multiple restaurants ensures inconsistency in quality. The same chef isn't cooking at all of them, and he or she is more interested in some projects than other.
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La Folie
2316 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109
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I'd go to Mandalay over Burma Superstar. And while I haven't tried Burmese Kitchen yet myself, I know most posters on this board would rate that far above Burma Superstar as well.
The various BS outposts are fine - and are trendier and more popular - but the food is less consistent (in my experience) and seems toned down: less funk, more catered to Western palates.
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Burma Superstar Restaurant
309 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102Mandalay Restaurant
4344 California St, San Francisco, CA 94118›1 Reply-
re: abstractpoet
Windy
Jul 24, 2011 08:40 PM
Agreed, any of the Burmese restaurants in the city is more authentic than Burma Superstar, which is pretty, pricier, and blander. I like Yamo (the diviest by far with 9 bar stools), Pagan (especially the branch way out by the Legion of Honor), and Little Yangon (in Daly City). Haven't been to Mandalay in a while.
Nopa is a very popular restaurant that serves well-executed American food and great drinks. Given the wealth of more interesting food options in San Francisco, I wouldn't waste a meal on pork chops. Even Nopalito, their upscale Mexican restaurant (with no Mexican patrons) is a better choice.
Aziza is the most interesting of the restaurants you've listed: something you won't find in NY.
You might consider adding a Peruvian restaurant. Lots of great options from classic (Limon, Mochica) to more inventive (Pasion, Piqueos).
If you were up for a splurge, I'd recommend Atelier Crenn. We got 4 courses each for $75; the tasting menu has gone up quite a bit and is now $115.
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Burma Superstar Restaurant
309 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118Nopa
560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117Yamo
3406 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110Legion of Honor Cafe
100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CALittle Yangon
6318 Mission St, Daly City, CA 94014Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123
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That Saturday, be at the Ferry Bldg/farmer's mkt at 8 am -- later you have to fight the crowds. Have coffee and breakfast there .. much to choose from.
I love the crab at R & G Lounge on Kearny (Chinese) and they take reservations. (It's on the edge of Chinatown, near North Beach.)
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R & G Lounge
631 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108 -
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well if you have a car, a stop in Marshall on tomales bay for oysters is a must IMHO
marshall general store, tomales bay oyster co....etc.
BYOB and sit on the bay slurping oysters›2 Replies-
re: AdamD
Robert Lauriston
Jul 25, 2011 08:48 AM
Marshall is way, way, way out of the way if you're driving from SF to Napa. Would add close to two hours to a one-hour trip.
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