02.15.08
San Francisco List #1
I have been asked by a coupla friends about making a “Top 10 List” of some of my favorite places to go in The City. This is nearly impossible to do because there are sooooo many! But here is the first installment, not in any particular order. They are just cool-ass and you should to check ‘em out:
1) Martuni’s (corner of Valencia and Market) Anyone who knows me, this comes as no surprise. There are all sorts of “girly” drinks, without being overly sweet, complete with fresh fruit garnishes. If you get there during happy hour, you get snack mix with your martini… that can be considered dinner, right? Beware that the place is dimly lit but good for conversation. The only downfall? The choice of music leaves quite a bit to be desired!
2) Golden Produce (Church Street, between Market and Duboce) This place is great. Good choice of seasonal regular and organic produce. Get your T.P. at Safeway, and your veggies here.
3) King Foot Subs (Divisadero at Haight) Okay, be prepared to wait for your sandwich. It takes a few to fire up that chintzy toaster oven and warm your buns, but it will be worth it! My recommendation: your basic pastrami and Swiss, everything on it. Yum.
4) Flax Art and Design (Market Street between Valencia and some other street) I like setting aside at least an hour or so to check out this place. There is A LOT to look at. Bring your credit card though. That shiz adds up…fast.
5) Sun Fat Seafood (Mission Street, I wanna say somewhere near 23rd?) This is a GOOD place to get crabs. Yes, crabs. Get yer mind outta the gutter! You can also get all kinds of fish, which is really, really fresh. Quite often it is well priced too.
6) Delessio (Next to Flax Art and Design…can you tell what neighborhood I live in, yet???) They have unique mini cupcakes that are super cute and tasty. All their pastries and cakes have been pretty good so far. As far as the salad bar and hot foods bar? Those can be hit or miss, but mostly hit.
7) Lovejoys Antiques and Tearoom (Church Street, can’t remember cross street. Just Google it if you want to know) I suppose it was my many years working at a teahouse in Los Gatos but I effing love this place! Super girly and popular for bridal and baby showers, which means lots of women collectively saying “awwwwwww” about ever 3 minutes. That is the only annoying thing. Oh also, if it is a weekend, you better make a reservation or you aren’t getting in. The Queens tea is more than enough food for lunch with lots of variety.
Lehr’s German Specialties (Church Street, down the way from Lovejoys) Ah German groceries! Reminds me of my first job working in a Deli as a teen. There are some GREAT things here including Landjager (cured, dried sausage), kraut, pickles, chocolate ladybugs, marzipan (if you eat that sort of thing), and a bunch of lederhosen! WTF?
9) Conduit (Valencia and I wanna say 15th?) New restaurant I recently went to that rocks! The pork appetizer is amazing. Crispy pork belly, croutons, and house made pork rillette… OMG! Also the oxtail tortellini in an onion broth with a thin Parmesan cracker, oooooohhh! Ambiance is nice and modern with an exhibition kitchen. I definitely want to come back for many more visits.
10) Nijiya Market (corner of Post and Webster) This is your one-stop shop for fresh, inexpensive sushi, bento boxes, fresh wasabi root, pickled veggies, mochi and other Japanese ingredients. I always find something new here. It’s a place you could literally spend an hour in and still not see everything.
