Where I Eat & Drink

A San Francisco-centric slice of my eating and drinking. I either go to these places regularly, get excited to go when I can or have had an exceptional meal there and would love to go back.

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Dinner Out

Montesacro Soma: Roman-style pizza (pinsa) and a small but strong wine list. They make their dough with a blend of soy, rice and wheat flour and it has a soft and pillowy texture. I love the Cavolfiori appetizer and their House red, an ever so slightly fizzy Barbera blend. Small and rustic, the space has a NY feel that I Iove. Menu | Map

Ragazza: Little California Italian spot on Divis that’s also our go-to for takeout pizza. It’s been one of the most consistently good places I’ve eaten over the past 10 years. There’s a small patio in the back where you can drink a glass of wine while you wait for a table, and their Baby Kale Salad with farro and green goddess dressing is repeat-worthy. Menu | Map

Nopa: This has always been my spendy local, and we always sit at the bar. The bartenders are amazing, service is pro and the menu is creative and satisfying. I miss when their burger was $18, but so it goes. I’ve spent more elsewhere and felt much less satisfied. Menu | Map

Mandalay: There’s a small stakes battle for the best Burmese place in SF, but this one is it for me. I should order something besides the Tea Leaf Salad and the Mandalay Special Noodle with Tofu, but I never do. Also great for takeout. Menu | Map

Besharam: The Gujarati Indian vegetarian menu is delicious and satisfying, but it’s the bar that’s a revelation for me. I tend to stick to the classics with cocktails, but I drink the Lata here. Menu | Map

Bar Agricole: House-made spirits and delicious seasonal plates in one of the most gorgeous spaces in SF. Their spacious bar area makes it a go-to cocktail spot that’s good for groups, and I often stay for dinner because it’s so good. Menu | Map TEMPORARILY CLOSED, THEY’RE MOVING TO THE MISSION!

Pearl 6101: I don’t want to move to the Richmond, it’s too foggy. But if I did I could eat at Pearl every week and that would make me very happy. It’s everything I want in a very good neighborhood restaurant — great bar, relaxed atmosphere and wonderful food. And while eating out is a financial indulgence, Pearl’s prices don’t make me want to stay home. Menu | Map

Abu Salim: Spot in the Upper Haight with a simple and filling Palestinian menu and some of the most friendly people I’ve encountered at a restaurant. You can dine in (no alcohol) or they are a great takeout option. They open the falafel bags so they don’t steam on your walk home! That’s quality. I especially love their stuffed falafel with sumac, pine nuts and onions. Menu | Map

Lazy Bear: I’m not big on fixed price dinners at a blowout budget (and I don’t think this counts as blowout relative to others), but we went here to celebrate an anniversary and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. It felt like being at a giant and very special dinner party. Menu | Map I READ RECENTLY THAT THEY SEAT INDIVIDUAL TABLES NOW INSTEAD OF THE BIG COMMUNAL TABLE. KUDOS FOR EVOLVING, BUT I PREFERRED THE DINNER PARTY VIBE.

Chisai Sushi Club: I’ve only been here once for a special occasion, and I was blown away by their vegetarian Omakase. I am a sake beginner, so I appreciated their help navigating the choices. Casual and approachable while still feeling special. Menu | Map

PizzaHacker: Excellent pizza with a low key vibe in the Mission (their Mill Valley spot is great too). They have wine on draft, and I always order the Intermezzo salad and the Rocket Man or the Summer Fave (in season). Good for small groups. Menu | Map

Lunch Dates

I pick places differently for lunch. I like spots that are low key (i.e. easy to get a seat), very affordable and have fresh options since I usually want something lighter.

Reem’s Mission: If I were picking one cuisine for all time (never make me do that), it would be Middle Eastern, and the food at Reem’s is the extra California version of what I ate at my grandparents’ house growing up, so I love it. Za’atar Man’oushe, Labneh with a six-minute egg and chili crunch (Some Like It Harra) and that Chocolate Chip Halawa Cookie for dessert. Menu | Map

Yo Tambien Cantina: The food here is what I would make for myself if my only job was to make lunch for myself. Gorgeous brothy beans, soft and rich tamal, perfectly jammy eggs, and all the herby/pickled/crunchy/fresh things that makes each bite perfect. Their ingredient sourcing is some of the best in the Bay Area, and that’s saying something. Menu | Map

Dumpling Home: No frills dumplings spot in Hayes Valley. It’s both lucky and silly that there are so many dumpling spots in SF and all of them have “Dumpling” in the name. I do have a hard time keeping track of the ones I really like, and this is one of them. I especially love their yuba noodle salad, garlickly cucumbers and many vegetarian dumpling options. Menu | Map

Mostly for Drinks

Lost Resort: Mission drinking and snacking spot with excellent bartenders. Pick a warm evening and get there before six to drink on the sidewalk in the sun. I usually order the Lost Resort or a Mezcal Negroni. Menu | Map

The Interval: I went here once and asked for a cocktail with gin and fernet, not too sweet. They made me a Hanky Panky and I’ve trusted them ever since. Pleasantly dark and relaxed space at Fort Mason, if I lived closer it would be my top spot. Menu | Map

Cole Valley Tavern: We just started going here for drinks, and when I found out that they use Contratto instead of Campari in their Negronis I was hooked. Easygoing neighborhood vibe and great bartenders. Menu | Map

Birba: Little wine bar tucked out of the way in Hayes Valley with a lovely back patio. I gravitate toward their vermouths, but the wine list is also great. Good snacking but not a full dinner. Menu | Map

Drink Well at Home

Bi-Rite Wine Club: The best value on wine in town. Six bottles a month with incredible variety, all with a focus on high quality producers — a mix of classics and natural wines. What I love most about it is that I’m drinking wine I never would have picked out myself, sometimes from lesser known (for wine) countries like Georgia and Greece, and other times things like Riesling that I don’t normally favor. Only once in three years has there been a bottle I didn’t like. Details

Cocktail Codex: In reality most of the cocktails I drink I make at home, and this is the only cocktail recipe book you need. It breaks the world of cocktails down into six fundamental recipes and riffs on them with classic and new recipes. Details