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Archive for San Francisco Bay Area

San Fran – Starbelly

Mar27

Restaurant: Starbelly

Location: 3583 16th street, san francisco, ca 94114. p 415.252.7500

Date: February 11, 2012

Cuisine: Pizza

Rating: Great pizzeria +

_

We needed to seat a party of 13 including two young children in San Francisco at the last minute and so we ended up in this castro new-style pizza joint. This is the kind of reinvented American pizza that came out of New York 7-8 years ago. Fusing Cal pizza back with Neapolitan influences. I have to say it’s a good movement and Starbelly did a great job.


The menu.

An inexpensive Rosso from the list.


“house made chicken liver pâté, buttered bread, sweet onion marmalade & grain mustard.”


“house cut fries with three dips.”


“warm calamari, giant butter beans, onions, cilantro & citrus caviar.”


“butternut squash dumplings, sage, brown butter & shaved bucheret.”


“burrata di stefano, grilled bread, prosciutto and basil.”


“grilled lamb meatballs., dried cherries & pistachio, minted greek yogurt.”


“Pizza margherita – no basil”


“Pizza margherita”


“Pt reyes blue cheese, market pears, roasted onion & arugula.”


“house made chorizo, sunny eggs & cilantro pizza.”


“Pt reyes blue cheese, market pears, roasted onion & arugula with added prosciutto and salami.”


“Prather Ranch burger, house cut fries & pickle, grilled sesame bun.”


The dessert menu.

This meal was straightforward, but immensely enjoyable.

For more San Francisco dining reviews click here.

Related posts:

  1. San Fran – Jardinere
  2. San Fran – Kokkari
  3. San Fran – Nopalito
  4. San Fran – RN74
  5. Eating Milano Marittima – Notte E Di’
By: agavin
Comments (1)
Posted in: Food
Tagged as: castro, Italian cuisine, New York, Pizza, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay Area, Starbelly

San Fran – Feng Nian

Mar01

Restaurant: Feng Nian

Location: 2650 Bridgeway, Sausalito Ca.94965. 415 331-5300

Date: February 10, 2012

Cuisine: Chinese

Rating: Solid

_

Something tells you nothing on the Westside of Los Angeles is decent regular Chinese food. While in the Bay Area I try to take advantage of the bounty provided by Northern California’s Chinese-American population.


A friend of ours from Hong Kong who lives in the area recommended this place for lunch.

The menu big as usual.


“Vegetarian egg rolls.”


Straight up garlic noodles for my picky son.


Sauces.

I can never get enough peeking duck.


Rolled into the usual pancake.


“Vegetarian’s delight.”


House specialty: “honey glazed prawns.” I’ve always had a weakness for this decadent dish.


“Szechwan crispy fish.” Tasty chunks of fried fish. Catering to American pallets this wasn’t exactly spicy, but it was pretty good.

Overall, this is a satisfying if not terribly exotic lunch.

For more San Fran dining reviews click here.

Related posts:

  1. San Fran – Jardinere
  2. San Fran – Kokkari
By: agavin
Comments (2)
Posted in: Food
Tagged as: Chinese American, Feng Nian, Hong Kong, Northern California, peeking duck, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay Area, Sausalito

San Fran – Jardinere

Feb24

Restaurant: Jardinere

Location: 300 Grove St. San Francisco, CA 94102. (415) 861-5555

Date: February  9, 2012

Cuisine: California French

Rating: Solid flavors

_

We left the reservation aspect  of our  San Francisco trip to a bit late. S.F. diners, it seems, make their reservations early. Besides, we were traveling with my 3-year-old, so long involved tasting menus were not an option. Sigh. Coi  even had availability. In any case, we ended up at this overpriced but tasty California French. Although not pictured, the dining room is lovely in one of those ornate between  the wars styles.


“Pierre Gelin, Gevrey-Chambertin “Clos de Meixvelle” 2007.” This turned out to be an excellent example of young Burgundy. Bright notes of berries I soft round charm.


The menu changes frequently.


“Roasted Butternut Squash Soap, herb goat cheese, prosciutto and spiced pepitas.” The specific soup pictured did not  include  the ham.


“mushroom cappuccino.”  One of our diners did not order  the 1st course and  received this as a free substitute.


“Venison Tartare, cara cara orange, celery root and mustard seed.” I’m totally becoming a Tartar addict.


“Carnaroli Risotto, Delta Asparagus, English Peas and Parmiggiano-Reggiano.”


“Liberty Farms Duck Breast, Savoy Cabbage, Preserved Kumquats and Farro.”  Perfectly rare.


Homemade pasta with tomatoes for my son.


And the all-important cheese.


The dessert menu.


“Bonne Bouche Platter. Crème Brûlée, Opera Cake, Petite Tarts, Cookies, Fruit Jellies, Chocolate Truffles and Candies.”  A bit of everything — and in a good way.


“Bearss Lime Cake. Coconut Crème, Margarita Sorbet and Salt Air.”  Basically deconstructed piña colada.

Overall, this was a good meal. The price tag reflected the location near the theater and the ornate dining room. The food was not stunningly guard, but it was on point.

For more San Fran dining reviews click here.

Related posts:

  1. San Fran – Kokkari
By: agavin
Comments (0)
Posted in: Food
Tagged as: California, Chocolate truffle, Crème Brûlée, Food, Gevrey-Chambertin, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay Area
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