San Francisco Journals

Culinary Journal of San Francisco

A January 2005 trip to San Francisco by CBKovarik

Quote: My wife and I love living in the Bay area. One of the top reasons is the food. Here are some of our culinary journeys.

Ritz-Carlton Dining Room

Restaurant | "Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton"

Quote:
Chef Ron Siegel (formerly of Masas) made this simply one of the finest meals that my wife and I have ever enjoyed together. And we've eaten at around 500 restaurants together! Without question, this is an expensive meal. Three of us spent approximately $450 for three tasting menus, but it was worth it. First, the basics. Service is perfect. The wine list is enviable (with many affordable options as well), and there's even a surprisingly excellent (and affordable) Scottish whiskey menu. But the food stole the show. The sampling menus are the best way to go about it. Several of the dishes that we still talk about are the foie gras (pure sin), lobster tail with concord grape sauce,...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on August 8, 2005

Ritz-Carlton Dining Room
600 Stockton Street
San Francisco, California 94108
(415) 296-7465

Aqua

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
This is expensive, but several things are well worth it. First, consider coming just for the appetizers (without reservations, just sit at the bar – it can be crowded, though.) My boss and I do this twice a year. And we always get the same thing: trio of foie gras and tuna tartare with quail egg. The foie gras is one of my favorites in the world. It is fun and filling, with three completely different flavors. Make sure to order extra toast points immediately, as we are always running out. The last time we were there, we tried the new tartare (Moroccan flavors), and while interesting, we both agreed that the classic (which they will prepare) is better. As far the entrées, we've had mixed re...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 8, 2005

Aqua
252 California Street
San Francisco, California
(415) 956-9662

Asia SF

Restaurant

Quote:
This is a unique experience in San Francisco, regardless of whether you are a local or tourist. First note: This is for adults only. Second point: Watch out for all of the bachelorette parties. Third point: The wait staff is made up of transgender "illusionists." Frankly, this is a great place for a unique experience and a fairly decent meal. The menus are set from $37 to 57. We had the asia-dilla (average) and ahi burger (quite good) and black noodles and orange lamb for entrées, with miniature ice cream cones for dessert. The "transgender illusionists" will make you look twice. It really is amazing how authentic they are! Approximately every hour, several will get up on ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 8, 2005

Asia SF
201 Ninth St
San Francisco, California 94103
+1 415 255 2742

Restaurant Gary Danko

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Gary Danko"

Quote:
Gary Danko and Alice Waters are who really put San Francisco on the culinary map. I had anticipated our trek to Gary Danko's for a year before we went. Frankly, although I know everyone raves about it, we had a mixed experience. We ate late, and I definitely understand that restaurants cannot control this, but we had to wait approximately 45 minutes to get our table. We felt a little underappreciated--a glass of wine from the house or something simple would have been nice for the wait, but nothing (except what we paid for) was forthcoming. We also had trouble with our order--we opted for the five-course meal (several selections are available for each course) and asked for an extra appetizer (whic...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 8, 2005

Restaurant Gary Danko
800 North Point At Hyde Street
San Francisco, California 94133
(415) 749-2060

Burger Joint

Restaurant

Quote:
I just read that Burger Joint made the list of the top 20 hamburger joints in the US. I must agree. The Burger Joint (There are two SF locations, but the Mission District one is my fav - look for the neon on steel) has a very limited menu, organic burger, chicken breasts, and veggie burgers, but the size and quality are huge. Simply pick the type of cheese you want to go with them. Oh, and the fries and shakes are absolute musts. Burger Joint proves that simple, high-quality ingredients apply to burgers as much as fine dining. It is a wonderful family place.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 8, 2005

Burger Joint
700 Haight St.
San Francisco, California 94117
(415) 864-3833

Acme Chop House

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
Can you get a wonderful meal at the ballpark? Absolutely, thanks to Tracy des Jardin, owner of the famous Jardiniere.This is Tracy's second restaurant, and it is exceptional for a straightforward steakhouse with a few twists. I hear that it is quite packed on ball nights, but it was a wonderful, productive place for a business meeting the night we were there.The steaks are excellent, all featuring grass-raised steak from Niman ranch. Starting off with the nightly special soup, a pumpkin creation, did not disappoint. We had the fillet ($37) and rib eye ($39), both perfectly cooked. We were pleasantly surprised when ordering sauces for the steak—after deciding between the five, the waitre...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 12, 2006

Acme Chop House
24 Willie Mays Plaza
San Francisco, California 94107
(415) 644-0420

Rubicon

Restaurant

Quote:
Rubicon is one of the hallmarks of California cuisine since 1994, and is backed by celebrities and chefs as well as numerous awards including the James Beard award—quite impressive, almost as impressive as the 1600 selection wine list.We had a large group here, which the staff accommodated well. Except for the tasting menu—while a bargain at $37—which was distributed to us and then promptly whisked away. We were ten presented with full menus—no option to save money with the tasting menus!For our first course, my associate and I shared a wonderful portion of foie gras, delicately seared, and served with sauces just as delicate. We also had the garlic soup with crab—a nice comp...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 12, 2006

Rubicon
558 Sacramento St
San Francisco, California 94111
(415) 434-4100

About the Writer

CBKovarik

CBKovarik
Los Gatos, California

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