San Francisco - Alison Bing [129]
Bar bites: catering companies sweeten cocktail hour with gourmet goods. Downsides: food sits out until it’s gone, so arrive early to get the best choice while it’s fresh. Since it’s usually cheap food served to heavy drinkers, the ingredients probably aren’t top quality. Best bets: Ichi Sushi (www.ichisushi.com) serves $6 to $8 sushi rolls made with sustainably sourced fish at Annie’s Social Club and 111 Minna.
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WEIRD FISH Map Seafood $
415-863-4744; www.weirdfishsf.com; 2193 Mission St; 11am-4pm Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm Sat & Sun, 5-10:30pm Sun-Thu, 5-11:30pm Fri & Sat; 14, 26, 33, 49; 16th St Mission;
Jerked, blackened, almond-encrusted, tossed in a tortilla: get your fish as you like it at this tiny restaurant. (It’s also sustainably farmed and under $10.) Adventurous eaters can’t resist the lure of the Suspicious Fish dish, made with the catch of the day and the chef’s inspiration. But the vegan yam, guacamole, and spinach tacos with spicy pumpkin seeds are mighty tasty too – how very Weird and wonderful.
TARTINE Map Bakery $
415-487-2600; www.tartinebakery.com; 600 Guerrero St; breakfast, lunch & dinner; 14, 26, 33, 49, J; 16th St Mission;
Riches beyond your wildest dreams: butter-intensive pain au chocolat, cappuccino with dense foam, and croque monsieurs turbo-loaded with ham, two kinds of cheese and béchamel. Lolling in Dolores Park is the only possible post-Tartine activity, and operating heavy machinery ill-advised without a shot of the organic espresso.
BI-RITE Map Groceries $
415-241-9760; www.biritemarket.com; 3639 18th St; 9am-9pm; 14, 26, 33, 49, J; 16th St Mission
Nemesis of grocery budgets and ally of gourmands whose cooking repertoire is limited to reheating, Bi-Rite is a San Francisco foodie’s version of breakfast at Tiffany’s. Local artisan cheeses and chocolates, organic, seasonal dishes whipped up on the premises, and organic local fruit are displayed like jewels, and the selection of Californian wines is downright dazzling. Across the street is organic Bi-Rite Creamery ( 415-626-5600; 3692 18th St; 9am-9pm), where the salted caramel ice cream and housemade hot fudge are worth the wait in line.
UDUPI PALACE Map Indian $
415-970-8000; www.udupipalaceca.com; 1007 Valencia St; 11:30am-10pm Mon-Thu, to 10:30pm Fri-Sun; 14, 26, 33, 49; 24th St Mission
Tandoori in the Tenderloin is for novices – SF foodies swoon over the bright, clean flavors of South Indian dosa, a light, crispy pancake made with lentil flour dipped in mildly spicy vegetable sambar (soup) and coconut chutney. Don’t miss the medhu vada (savory lentil donuts with sambar and chutney) or bagala bhath (yogurt rice with cucumber and nutty toasted mustard seeds).
OLD JERUSALEM Map Middle Eastern $
415- 642-5958; www.oldjerusalemsf.com; 2976 Mission St; 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat; 14, 26; 24th St Mission
Foodies scouring the Mission for the ultimate taco shouldn’t overlook this outpost of Middle Eastern authenticity, complete with Dome of the Rock poster and pristine hummus – they don’t overdo the tahini or garlic, or put roasted red peppers where they don’t belong. Get the classic felafel, shwaerma (marinated, roasted lamb) or shish taouk (marinated grilled chicken) with all the fixings: hummus, onion, eggplant, potato and tangy purple sumac, with optional hot-pepper paste.
HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE Map Ice Cream $
415-550-6971; www.humphryslocombe.com; 2790 Harrison St; noon-9pm Tue-Sun; 24th St Mission
Indie-rock ice cream may permanently spoil you for Top 40 flavors: once balsamic-vinegar caramel and olive oil have rocked your tastebuds, cookie dough seems so obvious, and ice cream sandwiches can’t compare for decadence to foie gras ice cream between ginger snaps.
TORTAS LOS PICUDOS Map Mexican $
415-824-4199; 2969 24th St;