San Francisco - Alison Bing [118]
MURACCI’S CURRY Map Japanese $
415-773-1101; www.muraccis.com; 307 Kearny St; 11am-6pm Mon-Thu, to 5pm Fri; 1, 15; California;
On blustery days when the fog barrels down Kearny, warm up from the inside out with a steaming curry-topped katsu (breaded cutlet) or grilled chicken atop rice or noodles. Chipper counter staff take your order, and within minutes call you to pick up classic Japanese comfort-food curry – not spicy or sharp, but gently tingling, only faintly sweet, and powerfully savory.
BREAD AND COCOA Map Cafe, Sandwiches $
415-956-7200; www.breadandcocoa.com; 199 Sutter St; 7am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm Sat & Sun; 1, 15; California;
When’s the last time you actually craved a sandwich? Local, artisanal ingredients add a fresh zing to roast chicken panini with pesto, and tangy Humboldt Fog cheese works similar magic with prosciutto, organic tomato and arugula. These sandwiches may not be huge for $8 to $10, but their flavor sure is.
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UNION SQUARE
RESTAURANT MICHAEL MINA Map American $$$
415-397-9222; www.michaelmina.net; 335 Powell St; 5:30-9pm Tue-Thu, to 9:30pm Fri & Sat; 38, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Powell St
Involuntary shudders can be induced in most San Franciscan foodies by uttering the words ‘hotel restaurant,’ but chef Michael Mina’s exception to the rule at the Hotel St Francis proved so successful, he’s expanded his empire to 15 other restaurants. Mina takes a three-dimensional approach to dining, where each dish is actually three variations on one key ingredient. Though the signature triple tuna tartare starter and lobster pot pie mains have inspired raves and legions of copycats, the seasonal menu showcases innovation and ripe flavors – butter-poached lobster with melon laced with red curry, or foie gras terrine with pickled strawberries. Consultations with your well-versed servers and sommelier to navigate the complex menu options should come with a certificate of completion, especially at $105 to $135 for a full three-course menu, or $60 for three smaller plates in the lounge.
FLEUR DE LYS Map French $$$
415-673-7779; www.fleurdelyssf.com; 777 Sutter St; dinner Mon-Sat; 38, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Powell St
Long before celebrity chef Hubert Keller took his show on the road to Vegas and Top Chef Masters, this was the ultimate over-the-top SF destination. There’s nothing subtle about the swanky sultan’s tent interiors, but it’s oddly suited to princely repasts involving gnocchi graced with chanterelles and hazelnut-encrusted scallops and halibut crowned with rhubarb coulis and truffle, and a king’s ransom of foie gras on every other dish. Prix-fixe options for omnivores begin at $70 for three courses, while vegetarians are entitled to a five-course feast for a surprisingly reasonable $68.
FARMERBROWN Map New American $$
415-409-3276; www.farmerbrownsf.com; 25 Mason St; 5-11pm Sun-Thu, to midnight Fri & Sat, weekend brunch bar to 2am; 5, 6, 7, 21, 31, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Powell St
Half of SF has a crush on this rebel from the wrong side of the block, which dishes up a mean seasonal watermelon margarita with a cayenne salt rim (genius), ribs that stick to yours, and coleslaw with a kick that’ll leave your lips buzzing like an everlasting game of spin the bottle. Chef-owner Jay Foster works with local organic and African American farmers to provide food with actual soul, in a setting that’s rusted and cleverly repurposed as a shotgun shack, with harried service (it’s always busy) and a band banging away in a corner some nights.
KATANA-YA Map Japanese $
415-771-1280; 430 Geary St; 11:30am-2am Mon-Fri, noon-2am Sat & Sun; 38, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Powell St
A glorified closet of a restaurant, Katana-ya is the late-night place for a bite after a show at ACT across the street, or anytime you’re willing to brave a couple of sketchy Tenderloin blocks for steaming bowls of udon and ramen with broth so savory it’s almost dense. Avoid the bland sushi, but if you’re coming here after Tenderloin