Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [70]
230 California St. (btw. Battery and Front sts.). 415/955-0663. www.perbaccosf.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $15–$28. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 11:30am–10pm; Sat 5:30–10pm. Valet parking $10. Train: F, J, K, L, M, N to Embarcadero.
Moderate
Barbacco ★★ ITALIAN If the much-touted Perbacco (see above) is out of your price-range, drop into this more casual cousin of the popular Italian eatery. Barbacco is all about small plates—lots of ’em—with an emphasis on flavor-packed house-made cured meats, bruschette, pastas, salads, and sandwiches. Favorites include ascolane (pork-stuffed fried olives), farm eggs (so fresh, their yolks are brilliant orange) broiled in a skillet with nduja and rapini, and polpette (perfect little pork meatballs with raisins, pine nuts, and chard). It’s inspired by the urban street food scene in cities throughout Italy, so think portability. Hours for calling in for carry-out are 8am to 2pm. Tip: Enjoy a most excellent picnic lunch or a private dinner in your hotel room—without the exorbitant cost of room service.
220 California St. (btw. Battery and Front sts.). 415/955-1919. www.barbaccosf.com. Reservations recommended. Small plates $3–$14. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 11:30am–3pm; Mon–Sat 5–10pm. Carry-out available. Valet parking $10. Train: F, K, L, M, J, or N to Embarcadero.
Bocadillos ★★ SPANISH/BASQUE TAPAS The sister to Piperade is flat-out fabulous if you’re in the mood for tapas or Spanish-influenced small plates and a seat at the communal table. Executive chef Gerald Hirigoyen celebrates his Basque roots with outstanding offerings such as warm octopus with confit potatoes and piquillos, scallops “mole cortado” with sherry and orange, cold poached foie gras with calamari and grape salpicon, and astounding warm chocolate cake with sautéed bananas. Just watch your budget—at up to $12 per plate the tab can creep up on you. You might also want to check out their breakfast, which includes baked eggs with chorizo and manchego cheese. Don’t come anticipating a formal dining environment or a cocktail: This small Financial District space is cafe-casual and serves beer and wine only.
710 Montgomery St. (at Washington St.). 415/982-2622. www.bocasf.com. Breakfast items $2–$6; lunch and dinner small items $7–$15. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 7am–10pm; Sat 5–10pm. Closed Sun. Bus: 15, 30X, or 41.
Café Claude ★ FRENCH Euro transplants love Café Claude, a crowded and lively restaurant tucked into a narrow (and very European-feeling) side street near Union Square. Seemingly everything—every table, spoon, saltshaker, waiter—is imported from France (on my last visit they even imported some of that famous French l’attitude). With prices topping out at about $27 (and most dishes well under that), the bistro features classics like steak tartare; steamed mussels; duck confit; escargot; coq au vin; and the always-fashionable croque-monsieur and -madame. There’s live jazz on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7:30 to 10:30pm, and atmospheric sidewalk seating is available when the weather permits.
7 Claude Lane (off Sutter St.). 415/392-3505. www.cafeclaude.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $8–$12 lunch, $14–$27 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon–Sat 11:30am–10:30pm; Sun 5:30–10:30pm. Bus: 30. Cable car: Powell–Mason line.
Hana Zen ★ JAPANESE Even most locals don’t know about this Japanese restaurant, mistaking it for just another touristy sushi bar. Sure, they serve good sushi, but what makes this place special is the yakitori bar, which cranks out savory skewered and grilled meats and veggies cooked over 500-degree charcoal that we can never seem to