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State Bird Provisions – Almond muffins with Foie Gras
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Tosca Cafe
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Hog Island Oyster Company – Clam Chowder
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Rich Table – Porcini Doughnuts
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State Bird Provisions – French Baguette with Burrata and Pepper
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State Bird Provisions – Smoked Trout with Avocado and Potato Chips
As a foodie and an explorer I knew that when my family and I talked about a trip out west 6 months ago, I needed to brush up on where to eat and things to do.
I put my research hat on and took to my regular food websites and blogs to find out the best spots to visit/eat/drink. (see below for my complete list)
Once I compiled a list of my top places to stop, I attempted to make reservations, not realizing that most of the places in San Francisco now require reservations 1-2 months in advance, or are walk in only. I soon had lots of calendar alerts popping up over the course of the summer.
Here is the final list of everywhere we visited, as well as a few other places that I have been to throughout the year on various trips.
Hog Island Oyster Company – Lunch
Hog Island has a few locations, but we chose to eat in the Ferry Building. If you are looking for simple food and good oysters, you can’t beat this place.
Note: No reservations accepted, so try and go at an off time during the week. The weekends almost guarantee a long line.
Other places I recommend in the Ferry Building are Gotts for a burger, Slanted Door for Thai food, and Humphrey Slocombe for ice cream (the Harvey Milk is my favorite!).
Li Po – Drinks
My friend was recommended this dive bar by a friend and it did not disappoint. What I thought was a hole in the wall, is actually a bar that has been endorsed heavily by Anthony Bourdain. Get a Chinese Mai-Tai for a night on the town or a pineapple and Malibu for a more low key night. Note: It’s cash only.
Oriental Pearl – Dinner
If you are looking for traditional Chinese food at a good price point in Chinatown, Oriental Pearl is it. This was a great find recommended by our concierge. Get the sampler platter to start and the Mongolian beef.
Presidio Social Club – Brunch
Presidio used to be an army base and they have completely revamped the barracks and halls into various businesses, restaurants and misc. venues. Definitely off the beaten path, but worth a visit. Our brunch consisted of a variety of foods from many cultures including, Thai Chicken Noodle Soup, Chilaquiles, and Beignets with hot chocolate. With a view of the Presidio area and an outdoor patio, it was the perfect start to our trip.
Redwood Room in the Clift Hotel – Drinks
The entirety of the bar was created from the Redwood trees that Northern California is known for. We grabbed a quick drink and some deep fried blue cheese olives and absorbed the rich room and our surroundings. They have some good happy hour deals, so go there between 4 pm and 6 pm.
Rich Table – Dinner
I saw this restaurant listed on every San Francisco foodie list and had to try it. They are well known for their porcini doughnuts and now I know the secret. They serve them with a bechamel sauce that I proceed to lick out of the bowl. The doughnuts and everything else that we ate was incredible, including soft shell crab, ribeye, salmon tartar and chocolate cake.
*Note that you can only make reservations up to a month in advance, but if you are just seeking out their doughnuts, they have a stand at AT&T park.
Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay – Lunch
We decided to take a day trip down to Half Moon Bay, specifically to the Ritz Carlton, for the perfect lunch with a view. The hotel is situated right on the edge of the shore and is breathtaking. Their main restaurant, The Conservatory, has a wall of windows so make sure to get a spot near one.
We had a simple lunch of quinoa with lemon and Parmesan, pita with hummus and crab salad.
**State Bird Provisions – Dinner **
This was unlike any dining experience I’ve ever had. San Francisco is known for its variety of dim sum restaurants, but SBP was the “gourmet” version. We came here for my dad’s birthday since it is frequently rated the number 1 restaurant on the guides. If you are looking for a unique and entertaining meal, this is it.
Upon looking at their menu initially I couldn’t understand the hype, but when you experience it, it makes sense. They do three seatings each night at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 and you have to make reservations two months in advance or wait outside for a few hours before it opens to put your name on the list.
Each seating has a combination of dim sum carts and ordering off the menu, although we learned that the dim sum was so good, we barely ordered from the menu.
Our choices consisted of smoked trout with avocado and potato chips, dashi potatoes, a marinated oyster, lamb sausage with cucumber and tzatziki sauce, chile marinated melon, smoked salmon with heirloom tomatoes, elotes, pork belly, The State Bird, almond muffins with foie gras (yes, yes, yes), and french bread topped with burrata and pepper.
If you haven’t figured out yet, this was my favorite meal in San Francisco.
Tosca Cafe
I originally found this restaurant in the first season of Mind of a Chef (If you haven’t watched it, sit down and binge) and knew with an upcoming trip, I wanted to go here. I went here during a business trip, therefore I ate by myself, which is almost better sometimes because you can really absorb what is happening in the restaurant around you.
I had a root vegetable salad to start and then I had something that made me rethink the way I ate pasta. They had a special of homemade rigatoni with pine nuts, edamame, golden raisins and slow cooked beef. It was incredible and I need to find a way to recreate it at home.
Restaurant Sources
www.eater.com
www.opentable.com
www.zagat.com
This past weekend I attended a bachelorette party and was put in charge of the Jello Shots. I had planned to try out a few variations, but inevitably ran out of vodka and the syringes that were used to “shoot” them. The standard cherry version and Moscow Mule won out, but I had wanted to attempt the Arnold Palmer recipe.
Sam's Handle 