San Francisco - Alison Bing [124]
Return to beginning of chapter
NOB HILL
ZA Map Pizza $
415-771-3100; www.zapizzasf.com; 1919 Hyde St; noon-10pm Sun-Wed, to 11pm Thu-Sat; 41, 45; Powell-Hyde
Sit down and savor that slice, already. You don’t get a gourmet, cornmeal-dusted, thin-crust slice like this every day. Pizza lovers brave the uphill climb for pizza slices piled with fresh ingredients, a pint of Anchor Steam, and a cozy bar setting with flirtatious pizza-slingers – all for under 10 bucks.
SWENSEN’S Map Ice Cream $
415-775-6818; www.swensensicecream.com; 1999 Hyde St; noon-10pm Tue-Thu, to 11pm Fri-Sun; 41, 45; Powell-Hyde
Bite into your ice-cream cone, and you’ll get instant brain-freeze and a hit of nostalgia besides. Oooh-ouch, that peppermint stick really takes you back, doesn’t it? The 16-ounce root beer floats are the 1950s version of Prozac, but the classic hot fudge sundae is pure serotonin with sprinkles on top.
Return to beginning of chapter
JAPANTOWN & PACIFIC HEIGHTS
The Japan Center is packed with restaurants, but some of the more intriguing Japanese restaurants can be found along Post St and in the Buchanan Mall, across Post St. Nearby Fillmore St is lined with restaurants that emphasize style over flavor – it’s a nice place to shop, but you wouldn’t necessarily want to eat there.
TATAKI Map Japanese, Sushi $$
415-931-1182; www.tatakisushibar.com; 2815 California St; 11:30am-2pm & 5:30-10:30pm Mon-Thu, 11:30am-2pm & 5:30-11:30pm Fri, 5:30-11:30pm Sat, 5-9:30pm Sun; 1, 2, 4, 24
Pioneering sustainable-sushi chefs Kin Lui and Raymond Ho rescue dinner and the oceans with sustainable delicacies: silky Arctic char drizzled with yuzu-citrus and capers happily replaces at-risk wild salmon, and the Golden State Roll is a local hero, featuring spicy, line-caught scallop, Pacific tuna, organic-apple slivers and edible 24-karat gold leaf. Compliment your chefs on their sumptuous creations, and they’ll demurely compliment you back on your eco-smart good taste.
NIJIYA SUPERMARKET Map Japanese, Sushi $
415-563-1901; www.nijiya.com; 1737 Post St; 10am-8pm; 2, 3, 4, 22, 38
Picnic under the Peace Pagoda with sushi or teriyaki bento boxes fresh from the deli counter and a swig of Berkeley-brewed Takara Sierra Cold sake from the drinks aisle, and you’ll have change from a $20 for mango-ice-cream-filled mochi (chewy Japanese cakes with savory or sweet fillings).
WHOLE FOODS MARKET Map Groceries $
415-674-0500; www.wholefoodsmarket.com; 1765 California St; 8am-10pm; 1, 3, 22
Watch as locals wise to Whole Foods’ Chilean imports of organic asparagus demand the local stuff instead, inquire after the care and feeding of cattle at the meat counter, and make a meal of free samples of fair-trade chocolate: this is luxury grocery shopping, San Francisco style.
BENKYODO Map Japanese $
415-922-1244; www.benkyodocompany.com; 1747 Buchanan St; 8am-5pm Mon-Sat; 2, 3, 4, 22, 38
Everything you really need in life is within reach of your stool at Benkyodo. The perfect retro lunch counter cheerfully serves an old-school egg-salad sandwich or pastrami for $3.50. Across the aisle are glass cases featuring teriyaki-flavored pretzels and $1 mochi made in-house daily – come early for popular green tea and chocolate-filled strawberry varieties, but don’t be deterred by the savory, nutty lima bean paste.
Return to beginning of chapter
THE MARINA & THE PRESIDIO
The usual Marina dining destinations are on Chestnut St from Fillmore to Divisadero Sts, and Union St between Fillmore St and Van Ness Ave, but some fun, funky fare is found on Lombard St, and Greens makes the hike to Fort Mason worthwhile.
A16 Map Italian $$
415-771-2216; www.a16sf.com; 2355 Chestnut St; 11:30am-2:30pm Wed-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri & Sat; 2, 3, 4, 22, 38
Like a high-maintenance date, this Neapolitan pizzeria demands reservations