San Francisco - Alison Bing [131]
CATCH Map Seafood $$
415-431-5000; www.catchsf.com; 2362 Market St; lunch Mon-Fri, dinner nightly, brunch Sat & Sun; 24, 33, F, K, L, M, Castro St
As in, ‘of the day’ – Dungeness crab, oysters, sole – not necessarily a reference to that silver fox by the fireplace. The crowd consists almost entirely of men in turtlenecks and leather jackets accessorized with same, but, like the menu, the conversation can get unexpectedly saucy. Try the vat-sized cioppino, and maneuver away from the piano to hear the hot dish being served by fellow diners.
ANCHOR OYSTER BAR Map Seafood $$
415-431-3990; www.anchoroysterbar.com; 579 Castro St; 11:30am-10pm Mon-Fri, noon-10pm Sat, 4-9:30pm Sun; 24, 33, F, K, L, M, Castro St
Since its founding in 1977, Anchor has gone sleek, with shiny steel surfaces and men serious about their gym memberships, but it’s never strayed far from foodie classics: local oysters on the half-shell, crab cakes, Boston clam chowder and Bloody Marys. It only seats 20, so you may wind up sitting in your neighbor’s lap – not that that’s such a bad thing.
HOME Map American $$
415-503-0333; www.home-sf.com; 2100 Market St; 11am-midnight daily, brunch Sat & Sun; 22, 33, 37, F, J, K, L, M, Church St;
There’s no place like it, especially if you enjoy your comfort food fireside with a gaggle of gym-fresh men and a $4 Homegirl (aka Cosmo plus champagne) or margarita during the 4pm to 7pm happy hour. Midwestern favorites come with a twist: mac-n-cheese gets sneaky cayenne zing, roasted chicken is spiked with rosemary, and pot roast is slow-cooked, SF foodie style.
LOVEJOY’S TEA ROOM Map Bakery $$
415-648-5895; www.lovejoystearoom.com; 1351 Church St; 11am-6pm Wed-Sun; 24, J
All the chintz you’d expect from an English tea room, but with a San Francisco point of view: art curators talk video-installation art over Lapsang souchong, scones and clotted cream, while dual dads take their daughters and dolls out for the ‘wee tea’ of tiny sandwiches, a petit four and hot chocolate.
SUSHI TIME Map Japanese, Sushi $
415-552-2280; www.sushitime-sf.com; 2275 Market St; 5:30-10:30pm Mon-Sat; 22, 24, 37, F, J, K, L, M, N, Castro St;
Barbie, GI Joe and Hello Kitty make cameos on the maki (sushi roll) menu at this surreal sushi spot downstairs from a bookstore and gym, Tokyo-style. Devour sashimi in the tiny glassed-in patio like a shark in an aquarium, and notice how your munching mysteriously synchronizes with the J-pop on the stereo and exercise bikers pumping away upstairs.
LA MéDITERRANéE Map Middle Eastern $
415-431-7210; www.lamediterranee.net; 288 Noe St; 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat; 22, 24, 33, 37, F, K, L, M, Castro St;
Zesty, lemon-laced Lebanese fare at friendly prices make La Méd the Castro’s neighborhood meet-up spot. The chicken kebab over rice pilaf is pleasingly plump and juicy, the kibbe is a harmonious blend of pine nuts, ground lamb and cracked wheat, and the smoky eggplant in the baba ghanoush was roasted for hours and isn’t the least bit bitter about it.
SPARKY’S DINER Map American $
415-626-8666; www.sparkysdinersf.com; 242 Church St; 24hr; 22, 37, F, J, K, L, M, N, Church St
By day it’s a family-friendly burger joint, but around midnight Sparky’s becomes the unofficial drunk tank of the Mission and Castro, with regulars stumbling through the door in their leather chaps (ouch, that step gets everyone), divas trailing boas demanding home fries and omelettes with Tabasco and ‘extra grease,’ and the occasional impromptu sing-along.
NOE VALLEY BAKERY Map Bakery $
415-550-1405; www.noevalleybakery.com; 4073 24th St; 7am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 6pm Sat & Sun; 24, J
Raspberry croissants beckon at breakfast; seasonal sandwiches on housebaked crusty bread under $6 are just right for boutique-blown budgets come lunchtime; and sympathetic chocolate éclair purchases are in order for friends and family who could use some Noe Valley cheer.
CASA MEXICANA Map Mexican $
415-551-2272; 180 Church St; 11am-10pm;