Opening a restaurant specializing in Mexican cuisine was something of a no-brainer for Chef Matt Gandin. "This is the food that speaks to me, it's soulful. It's not tweezer cuisine," he said when we stopped in at Comal, his new restaurant in Berkeley. "The tradition in Mexico is to go to the market every day, and to cook what's there. That's the way I want to cook." More
Is it considered meta for a sandwich shop to have a kind of separate sandwich pop-up? Because that's just what Deli Board is doing with 1058 Hoagie, an all-hoagie pop-up available for pick-up and delivery (watch their Twitter or Facebook for dates). I'll say this—I stopped wondering as soon as I tried them, fittingly, at last week's Giants vs. Phillies game. More
"People don't necessarily expect great cocktails in Napa Valley," Michael Pazdon said. He runs the bar program at the newly opened Goose & Gander in St. Helena, together with partner Scott Beattie. "They'll come in and be like, 'Anything but another glass of wine, please!' And I've got your back." More
I have something of a problem with the trout salad sandwich at The Sentinel—namely, that I can't seem to stop ordering it. This is a problem because every sandwich available at The Sentinel is, well, awesome. More
The park has some great food choices inside its palm-tree lined walls, but it's also in San Francisco, meaning there are all kinds of good eating options nearby. The SOMA neighborhood really does step up to the plate (sorry, had to) when it comes to a delicious, varied selection of game day food. Whether you're looking for the best sandwiches, beers, or sit-down dinners before or after the game, here are our favorite spots, all within blocks of the ballpark. More
At the recently revamped Burritt Room and Tavern, a cocktail destination in the Mystic Hotel, bar manager Josh Trabulsi is able to put his passion to work. Named after Burritt Alley (as featured in the classic San Francisco film noir, The Maltese Falcon), the space and the cocktails evoke the quiet glamor of old-school San Francisco. More
When word got out that Charlie Palmer was opening the Mystic Hotel near Union Square in San Francisco, news that the hotel would include one of Palmer's signature restaurants was a pretty big deal for the neighborhood. We checked out a number of the menu's staple items like the fried brussels sprouts salad. More
There are a lot of things to love about Mimi's Hummus in Ditmas Park, but their excellent weekday lunch special may be at the top of my list. For just $9, you can get a sizable, seriously delicious pita sandwich and a generous side serving of any of their vegetable salads. More
When Namu, the restaurant by the Lee brothers (Dennis, David and Daniel), closed in the Richmond neighborhood, the people of San Francisco reacted strongly. Where else could we get a killer burger topped with kimchee relish? Or such a great pile of Korean fried chicken? Never fear, San Francisco. Namu Gaji, which just opened on the 18th Street power-block flanking Dolores Park, will fill your cravings for Namu favorites. More
The catfish po'boy ($9.75) was a study in perfectly fried fish: the crisp, cornmeal exterior wasn't greasy, and the fish itself was flavorful without being too oily or funky. Topped with a spicy chipoltle remoulade, Brenda's po'boy is a Southern sandwich that San Francisco can be proud of. More
If you've ever stood in line for Richie Nakano's Hapa Ramen, you get what all the fuss is about. Since he started slinging noodles at the Ferry Building's Tuesday and Thursday Farmer's Market, the demand for his innovative and deeply satisfying dishes has steadily grown. In addition to being a fixture at the Fort Mason Off-The-Grid on Friday's, Nakano will be opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Fillmore this summer. More
I first dug Slightly Oliver when I tried their punch, but had yet to make it back to sample their menu of hearty, homey, gastropub-inflected food. After trying the grilled cheese and tomato bisque ($14), I'm thinking I may have to make another trip. The grilled cheese itself is a study in buttery sandwich decadence: sharp, pungent cheddar is melted between thick slices of rich brioche that flakes apart with every bite. An added bonus is the sizable bowl of tomato bisque—it's got a good, creamy, smoky flavor on its own, but (of course), is even better when used as a dip for the sandwich. More
When you get me started on places to eat in Philadelphia, I get excited pretty quickly. When you ask me about brunch in Philadelphia, you'll be hard-pressed to shut me up. Going to college in this fine culinary city meant I was an expert on brunch; specifically, the places with brunches that could really cure a hangover. There were plenty of solid greasy spoon options (Bui's food truck, I'm looking at you), but White Dog was a little more classy—and right near campus. More
Starbelly's Dungeness crab cake po' boy ($15), available at lunch and brunch, is as fresh and produce-oriented as a sandwich involving fried fish can be. Couched in a warm, fresh roll, the sandwich is certainly smaller than its New Orleans' cousins, and seems to have tomato slices as thick as the red pepper-laced crab cakes. Still, the flavor of the crab most certainly shines through, and an ample dollop of Old Bay aioli keeps the sandwich from feeling too healthy. More
The folks behind Tenderloin speakeasy Bourbon & Branch and Financial District punch destination Rickhouse have become synonymous with serious cocktail-making in San Francisco. So when word got out that the purveyors of some of the city's best drinks were opening a new bar downtown, we were all ears. More
Marcello's bills itself as serving New York-style slices, and the large, foldable cuts speak to this. But, I didn't spend two years in Brooklyn for nothin'. I know what my California pizzas are great for: the toppings. More
The California burger is certainly a good attempt at an interesting veggie burger, or sandwich as the case may be. Blood-red in hue, the veggie patty is a housemade creation of lentils, mushrooms, beets, cashews and bulgur wheat. The California version is topped with grilled onions, white cheddar, and avocado, on your choice of bread (go with the sprouted wheat bread). More
When he opened The Beagle in New York's East Village last May, owner Matt Piacentini was definitely not interested in serving brunch. "At first, I was adamant that I didn't want to do daytime stuff—I really wanted to focus on the cocktails," he said. "But seeing the clientele, I started to think, 'I bet these people would drink just as many cocktails at brunch.'" More
Brunch service at The Beagle hasn't been too crazy since its debut in early March, but don't expect to go wait-free for long. After opening last May, The Beagle has been turning out a brand of thoughtful, flavor-packed dishes, focusing on seasonal produce and nose-to-tail approaches to meat. Their brunch dishes, courtesy of Chef Garrett Eagleton, are no exception. More
Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurants have long been culinary destinations in New York. But they weren't necessarily the spots that came to mind when seeking out a killer cocktail—until now. West Village restaurant Perry Street's extensive new bar menu reflects a new focus on seasonal cocktails. The menu has increased from seven to fifteen different offerings, and reflect a new creative approach—in addition to working with seasonal ingredients, look for twists on classics and a brand new ice program. More
Many years ago (okay, four), back when I was a spry young undergraduate, I called the wonderful city of Philadelphia home. As a fledgling serious eater, it was quite a place to explore—BYOB restaurants! Epic brunches! Food carts! Admittedly, I ate a lot of late night pizza, and curly fries, and Wawa hoagies (though, for better or worse, maybe four cheesesteaks over four years). But when I wanted to class it up with some good cheese and a good glass of wine, Tria was the spot I would go. More
This bang-for-your-buck breakfast sandwich ($5) is, thankfully, served all day. It all starts with the biscuit: freshly baked, buttery, flaky, and supersized without having that bad-biscuit pasty consistency. Even better, it manages to hold together the pile of scrambled eggs and molten cheddar cheese oozing from the bottom, top, and middle of the egg's folds. More
A combination of roast chicken, broccoli rabe, garlic confit, caramelized onions, and smoked mozzarella (the menu listed fresh, but smoked was all they had available and worked nicely). As a vegetable enthusiast, I was pretty psyched to see a rather high broccoli rabe-to-chicken ratio, and further pleased by the lovely combination of bitter garlic-laced rabe with sweet onion. More
Peter Hoffman didn't have to look far for ideas when he set out to revamp his Soho farm-to-table institution, Savoy. Drawing the style and name from his East Village restaurant Back Forty, Hoffman is opening Back Forty West for breakfast and lunch tomorrow (February 29). Both breakfast and lunch are available to go, with breakfast options including house made pastries and Terroir Coffee. More
In the realm of not-surprising-developments, a spot serving sandwiches on waffles opening in Williamsburg. I mean, sweet and savory options? Hangover-curing potential? Uh huh, I think you're gonna like it here, Waffle and Wolf. More
I like to think of it as "constantly good soup weather." Or, as I grow older, "constantly good bourbon weather." :)
@gargupie - a lot of indie bands over at indieshuffle.com, and when I have a spare moment, longer features on whatever strikes my fancy over at my blog, laurenslinernotes.wordpress.com. I used to play piano and sing (decently). Now, I sing in the car, with friends, and certainly less well... but with enthusiasm :) @bicoastcurious - no complaints here!!
While I certainly respect Ed's assessment, the San Francisco burger scene is nuts. Seriously, guys, Rosamunde's Tuesday burger! With a beer at Toronado, there is nothing better. Not to mention the 4505 Meats burger. And agreed with the previous comments regarding the sandwich front. The pastrami gut bomb may be a New York classic, but give me warm, fresh Dutch Crunch (or sourdough!) and great produce any day (oh hey, avocados). I'll give New York the pizza, though. SF's got the fancy pies down, but nothing can beat a New York corner slice.
Oh man, how I long for the turkey delight a petite deli! Seriously, nicest woman in the world. Great round up :)
@tamenezes, I didn't try the tapioca cuscuz, but did try a couple wonderful tapioca based desserts (check 'em out here http://sweets.seriouseats.com/2011/11/snapshots-from-sao-paulo-10-great-sweets.html). All the more excuse to make a return trip!
@grumblekitty - they are dadinho de tapioca (tapioca dice) from Mocoto (http://www.mocoto.com.br/), a great Sao Paulo restaurant specializing in Northeastern cuisine. They have a recipe available on their site (http://www.mocoto.com.br/receitas.html); it is in Portuguese, though. Hope that helps!
@Smileyface - sweet and buttery. It's much creamier than flan, and doesn't have that eggy firmness (at least the ones we tried!). @jazzinx, Bike Basket Pies is, sadly, no more! Check out this post here - http://bikebasketpies.com/moving-on/
@Burger365 - Pearl Jam was one of the headliners two years ago, when I happened to enjoy that particular box of chicken and waffles. I wanted to give them a shout out, since I simply didn't have the stomach room to include them this year!
Great recommendations, all! @django04, I'm a huge Cheeseboard fan, just about everything they put out is excellent! I always associate them with savory cheesy things (hence their not being on my list for this round up), and will have to try this cheese roll.
@David Kover, Rhea's is fantastic. Look out for a sandwich write-up from there in not too long!
@alienrobot, they actually use havarti on their class "mousetrap" sandwich! http://theamericansf.com/ So delicious, especially paired with their tomato soup.
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@Carrie/Carey -- YES. Soup, bourbon, Acme sourdough (ooh or green onion slab, or both!), Cowgirl Creamery Cheese, and Full House. And these cookies.