We didn't want to mess up the flow of the other Palace Family Steakhouse post today with this bummer news, but it seems the place's days are numbered. A commenter on Mission Mission wrote in that the building is for sale, and it's been rumored before that the proprietor is thinking about retiring. We found the sale listing, so it appears the rumor holds water. Better get your steak quick.

3047 Mission St. [SanFrancisco.com]
Palace Family Steakhouse Theme Song [Mission Mission]

We went to Ti Couz on Sunday for crepes because that’s where you go for (real) crepes in the city. While we’ve perfected our favorite crepe combination (cheese, mushrooms, mushroom sauce and a sunny side up egg) we also make it a point to check out the daily specials.

It is our opinion that the salad of the day is always better than any of the salads on the menu and should pretty much always be ordered if it sounds even remotely appealing. The salads are large so a small salad for two is more than appropriate if each person has their own crepe. In fact, we think Ti Couz works well for shared plates in general. For two people, a small salad, a savory crepe and a sweet crepe should feel and taste just right.

Yesterday we had the special savory crepe of the day—grilled prawns, spinach and fresh mango salsa—and we split a Nutella and vanilla bean ice cream crepe with Sweetie. We also have to go on the record and say that we think Ti Couz makes one mean Bloody Mary (except for the fact they put Marcona almonds in the pits of the large green olives—consider the food allergists!) and we happily sucked our down while we waited for our order.

The nice thing about Ti Couz is it can be as affordable or as expensive as you’d like depending on your need for a cocktail or your hunger level. Go with a friend and split your order and you’ll have a nice meal for under $15. Enjoy a cocktail and your own crepes and it could set you back $30. Either way we think it’s worth it. Ti Couz is one of our favorite spots in the city.

Ti Couz Creperie [Menupages]

[Photo via biskuit/Flickr]

One of the best things about living and working in a place like San Francisco is the year-round temperate weather. When we have a nice day it means it's in the upper 60s or low 70s and there's a nice breeze. No stifling dry heat, no uncomfortable wet mugginess to contend with. This makes al fresco dining not only highly sought-after, but also a pretty safe bet most of the time, which is why we're always looking for an opportunity to eat outdoors and enjoy some sun while we enjoy our meals. Even better when it means a liberally extended lunch hour or one of those clever "work meetings."

B Restaurant and Bar, a hidden oasis in SOMA, opened a little over a year ago and you have to know it's there to enjoy it, but once you do it's a great urban retreat. Its smart rooftop location overlooking Yerba Buena gardens gives it a leg up on other patios in the city not to mention the hip yet serene infinity fountain and the abundance of varying outdoor seating arrangements (tables, benches, makeshift fountain-side lounge); it's hard not to have a crush on this place. We asked Paul, our friendly daytime bartender, what to expect of the clientele and he said 1/3 locals, 1/3 working professionals (think suits, not SOMA techies) and 1/3 visitors staying at the surrounding hotels. Interesting crowd, yes? And you can bet it makes for some yummy eye candy between courses or rounds.

Happy hour is definitely the scene, with the somewhat spendy specialty cocktails being reasonably priced. On our first visit during a happy hour one particularly warm Friday, the bar was three people deep. The bar/restaurant itself is situated in an airy, modern glass building which gives you the feeling of sitting outside even if the SF wind is a bit much to take advantage of real al fresco dining.

Other Observations: The sangria is subtle and mellow and most of the cocktails we've tried seem to have a similar low-key feel probably due to the vodka-happy cocktail menu. The food seems to take advantage of the setting with the focus being light, airy, fresh fare--think spa menus and California cuisine. We had the asparagus entree with a poached egg, which was good and fresh, but definitely on the expensive side--4 stalks of asparagus and the poached egg put us $11 in the hole. Our dining companion had the Caesar salad with grilled shrimp, which looked like a considerably larger portion size, but it still put a nice little dent in the wallet considering it was lunch.

Overall, we would recommend B for happy hour. $6 cocktails with all the pomp and circumstance of cocktail lounge darlings Bourbon and Branch and the Orbit Room at half the price and the perfect view. We, personally, couldn't B happier.

B Restaurant and Bar [Official Site]

[Photo via Franco Folini/Flickr]

It’s nice to be back in the City after going away for a while. We were on a much needed vacation on an island far away from tall buildings, traffic and food establishments on every corner. That said, it’s not surprising that upon our return we’ve been hitting up the almost stereotypical SF food staples like they’re going out style. Over-sized carnitas burrito from Guadalajara? Check. Steamed barbeque pork from that one place near the house? Check? Blue Bottle Coffee Cafe…well, we hate to be those people, but yeah we totally just went there this morning and enjoyed the hell out of the experience.

Blue Bottle definitely does not need any more press or publicity, we know they don’t, but this bright, warm, lovely San Francisco morning we walked to work and stopped in for a little pick-me-up and decided that our experience warranted some blogging. Everyone knows that Blue Bottle has fancy coffee makers and fancy coffee, but what’s not so talked about is their pretty amazing iced coffee.

You’ve got two options for iced coffee — Kyoto and New Orleans — which is already setting the bar high. We had the New Orleans this morning because the description was so inviting. Chicory is the secret ingredient, but they also slightly sweeten it and add a little milk. Good choice on a day like today, it was smooth and refreshing. The only hang up came when our sweetie innocently asked for a straw — apparently Blue Bottle does not subscribe to the straw with chilled beverage status quo. They also don’t believe in plastic cups for chilled beverages, but for the sake of the environment (which is so much more important) we quickly got over the concept of a soggy paper cup (which, by the way, never became an issue).

Bottom line: the New Orleans iced coffee is fantastic. It’s been several hours at this point since we finished it and we’re still enjoying the sweet aftertaste. And thanks to fellow blogger Adam Martin, we also now know that it can help prevent heart disease.

Blue Bottle Coffee Cafe [Official Site]

[Photo: Blue Bottle SoMa via [177]/flickr]

All right kids, we’ve got ourselves some sun! What a perfect setting for Bike To Work Day. If you didn’t bike to work today we suggest you do the next best thing, which would be to leave the office early (sick hours don’t roll over), grab your bike and head out to the China Basin and find a table at The Ramp.

The Ramp is the go-to spot for sunbathers and bikers in search of refreshment after touring the city. Situated like a small oasis on the decrepit southern waterfront, the outdoor patio sets the mood with umbrella-sheltered tables and an al fresco bar. They have a full menu that features the kind of things you’d like to eat when it’s hot out: chicken sandwiches, fish tacos, specialty salads and our favorite, stuffed avocado with bay shrimp. Lunch is served until 4 during the week and they serve dinner on Thursdays (today!) from 5 to 8.

Something worth noting for you regular Ramp-goers—word has it that they recently got a new chef and he’s been kicking things up a notch with “Dinner & Music” nights as well as introducing new menu items. What this will mean for this popular, yet somewhat secret watering hole remains to be seen. Nonetheless, we do know that when it’s over 80 degrees in San Francisco, nothing beats an icy margarita, an order of chips and salsa and a sunny patio when you want kick back, chillax and be glad that Thursday’s the new Friday.

The Ramp [Menupages]
The Ramp [Official Site]

Photo: The Ramp by JasonUnbound

Another big-time opening in SoMa today: Following on the heels of Orson and the newly re-worked Fifth Floor, the new tag team of Luce and Bar888 opens today in the Intercontinental Hotel at Fifth and Howard streets.

The menu features Italian/Californian fusion, with two house specialties--a Mediterranean sea bass and an aged cote du boeuf--that serve two and must be ordered 24 hours in advance. There's also a four-course vegetable tasting menu and a six-course version that includes seafood and beef.

Eater SF got a sneak peak inside the design-heavy space, which you can check out on their site.
Also have a look at the menu on Thrillist and, soon, here.

Intercontintental Hotels [Official Site]
Eater Inside Sneak Peek: Luce and Bar888 [Eater SF]
Get With The Menu [Thrillist]
Fifth Floor [MenuPages]
Fifth Floor [Official Site]
Orson [MenuPages]
Orson [Official Site]

Elizabeth Falkner's latest venture, Orson, flings open its doors tomorrow. The SoMa eatery will feature a menu that is, um, whimsical, to say the least. From the Daily Candy:

The focus of the menu: edgy Californian. Dishes like butterfish brûlée with caviar and radish play with technique. Small plates without borders run the globe from Japan to India (tempura egg with shoyu and spice, samosas with chutney and raita sorbet). Desserts, naturally, reach for the final frontier. Try the Pigwich (maple bacon ice cream sandwich) or a Wonka-esque “invisible dessert” (an intense concoction made with transparent ingredients).

Ooh, Butterfish. Well, there seems to be plenty else to choose from. And if the scene at Citizen Cake is any indication, you may want to get on the horn to that reservation line (available on the website) pretty early tomorrow. Check back here soon for the menu.

Orson [Official Site]
Citizen Cake [MenuPages]
Citizen Cake [Official Site]

If you work in the SoMA/Embarcadeo/Rincon Park area, odds are that you've attended one--if not a handful--of Happy Hour celebrations at Palomino. Last Friday a group of drinkers at Palomino had their weekend-kickoff ruined by a shower. The interesting part is that the "rain" wasn't coming from the heavens, but from the brand-new Google headquarters:

The boss says he complained to the waiter, who promptly blamed Google. The search giant, which rented the floors above Palomino for its new San Francisco digs, apparently installed cooling misters on the deck overlooking the restaurant for its own employees-- ostensibly to ward off the heat generated when the SOMA sun meets the patio's slate floor. But Google placed the misting machines in just the right spot to send the moisture cascading off its deck onto Palomino's patio.

Oh, and feel free to insert your "baptism" and/or "golden shower" jokes in the comments field.

Google rains on happy hour parade [Valleywag]
Palomino [MenuPages]
Palomino [Official Site]

Here at MenuPages, we are constantly updating our vast menu database. Every morning, we'll highlight five or so menu updates to bring you the latest in San Francisco culinary upheaval.

Today's updates: Restaurants in Potrero Hill

• Aperto, 1434 18th St (Btwn Missouri & Connecticut St), 415-252-1625

• Baraka, 288 Connecticut St (At 18th St), 415-255-0387

• Chez Papa, 1401 18th St (At Missouri St), 415-824-8210

• Hard Knox Cafe, 2526 3rd St (At 22nd St), 415-648-3770

A week or two ago, one of our favorite blogs, Bay Area BItes, did a little post on the various difficulties afflicting potential San Francisco restaurateurs. Among the hurdles to be hopped: the hefty price tags, the preponderance of food blogs and well, the sacrifice of life as its known.

Tinderbox Restaurant's trio of owners, GM Ryan Russell, Front-of-house Manager Miles Clark and Chef Blair Warsham, are first-handedly experiencing the growing pains--not to mention chaos--of opening an ambitious restaurant in the middle of a major urban city:

Launching a restaurant gets referred to as a high-wire act, but high-wire acts tend to be over within an hour. Russell, Warsham and their front-of-house manager, Miles Clark, haven't worked less than an 18-hour day in as long as they can remember. They have no recollection of their last full meal. There's the optimal refrigerator temperature to settle on, and a system for servers to get what they need without getting in the way of the kitchen, and learning how many dishes to prep for. There are purveyors to call, and menus to send to MenuPages.com, and repairs to make daily, and bloggers to communicate with, and recipes to improve (today, Warsham is adding blueberries to his molé). There's the front of the house to manage, and the large wine list to maintain. And because the staff is already something of a family, there's Kyle's flat tire to fix at 1 a.m.

Can they take the heat? Inside the launch of a San Francisco restaurant [SFGate]
Tinderbox Restaurant [MenuPages]
Tinderbox Restaurant [Official Site]

But in San Francisco, a city known for both its casual culture and obsession with quality food and drink, a visit to a wine bar can be an unpretentious pleasure. The city has long had wine bars — the London Wine Bar, downtown, opened in 1974 and is said to have been the first in the United States. Now, a wave of new wine bars has been opening, often in unexpected neighborhoods.

How long must a trend sustain itself before losing its "trendy" status? Will the wine bar movement ever fizzle?

Snobless Sipping Where a Glassful Is Just a Glassful [NY Times]
Hotel Biron [MenuPages]
Hotel Biron [Official Site]
Yield Wine Bar [MenuPages]
Yield Wine Bar [Official Site]

• The corner of Embarcadero and Brannan is empty once again, as Jocelyn Bulow has closed down his second enterprise in the the 100 Brannan space. Earlier, Bulow's French brasserie La Suite succumbed to the shutter, and this week, the short-lived Pan-Asian project Sutra bit the dust. Despite Sutra's closing and Baraka's sale [note: it's still open], Bulow still has plenty on his plate, with a pair of high-profile restaurants opening in the upcoming revamped Mint Plaza at the end of the month. [Inside Scoop]

• Over in the Castro, Bullshead Restaurant has apparently lost its lease. The buffalo-meat destination's shuttering is surprising, considering its seemingly steady flow of business. According to the Castro Shopper, Bullshead is the fourth restaurant to recently fail in the (apparently cursed) 18th Street location. [Castro Shopper]

The long weekend marked the anticipated debut of Tinderbox Restaurant. It's a very modern New American project from co-owners and co-executive chefs Ryan Russell and Blair Warsham; to be precise, the daring duo describes their little project as "an experimental American bistro with a foundation on sustainable food and wine" that serves a "playful interpretation of American cuisine." And playful it is. In fact, to get an idea of the gamut being run here, look no further than the appetizer section. On one hand, you've got a (comparatively) simple white bean salad; on the other, a peach salad (fruit in a salad? what will they think of next?) with heirloom tomatoes, with aged white cheddar, with walnuts, with pesto, with balsamic. Of course, it sounds delicious, but it's no traditional preparation to be sure. If nothing else, Tinderbox will surely be a topic of conversation in Bernal Heights.

After the jump, the complete menu is revealed, complete with uncapitalized items, because you know, that means it's a modern eatery.

Continue reading "Openings: Tinderbox Restaurant" »

Corbo's food, the spacious interior and the cordial staff all combine to create the type of experience that should entice San Franciscans. Maybe that's why on one of my visits I spotted Willie Brown and lots of other movers and shakers. Ducca is a destination restaurant that, with the exception of the expensive $17 valet parking, overcomes the constraints of being associated with a hotel. It elevates hotel dining to a sophisticated local level.

[Bonus wine coverage: Bauer reports that the wine list at Ducca is a "pleasant surprise." Unlike most upscale hotel dining spots, Ducca offers a wealth of interesting Italian wines with a "reasonable" mark-up.]

Ducca brings back the allure of hotel dining [SFGate]
Ducca [MenuPages]
Ducca [Official Site]

[Photo courtesy: Ducca]

Laura Compton shines the Bargain Bite spotlight on the new location of Belgian-fry sanctuary Frjtz. It's hard to go wrong with fries to begin with, but Frjtz shines in plenty of other ways:

The Mission Frjtz - the original in Hayes Valley is about to close and move next door - is bigger and boasts more Euro style, from the French pop soundtrack, skateboards and glass mosaic art by owner Santiago Rodriguez on the wall to a black-and-white, curvilinear Art Nouveau decor by Natasha Shah Designs.

An order of frjtz, which stop just short of steak cut, costs $3.25 to $4.75 depending on the number of dips. The 19 offerings range from curry ketchup and creamy wasabi mayo to a surprisingly addictive spicy yogurt peanut. Splurgers can upgrade to white truffle oil frjtz for 75 cents more.

Bargain Bite: Frjtz [SFGate]
Frjtz [MenuPages]
Frjtz [Official Site]

Try as we might, we can't track down every single menu in the city. That's where you, dear user, come in. Menu Mission is a feature where we make a plea to our users to send us an commonly-requested menu.

In the underground world of San Francisco dining, Chowhounds and Yelpers reign supreme. It's only the tough, intelligent diners that uncover--rather, are willing to uncover-- the hidden gems beneath the gentrified veneer of the fair city.

One of these so-called diamonds in the rough is the Mariposa Cafeteria. Tucked away somewhere between the cutesy stretch now known as the "Dogpatch" and the not-so-cutesy stretch known as the "projects," the Mariposa Cafeteria is a place you don't just "pass by." It's destination dining.

The Monday special is roast pork. The Tuesday special is also roast pork. The Wednesday special is .... you get the idea, but they actually have a sign that spells it out for you. In other words, opt for the roast pork. They'll pile it in a (now-illegal) styrofoam clamshell over rice and if you can finish it in one sitting, the next one's on us.

But we need a menu for the little dive. Send it our way via email or fax (415.358.5770).

Mariposa Cafeteria, 1599 Tennessee St, (Btwn 25th& 26th St), 415-285-5105

This Sunday marks San Francisco's tentative step into the world of celebrity chefdom as Jack Falstaff hosts the Cook-Off For Afterschool, a food and wine show with a feature event called (say it with us in your best action movie voiceover voice) ... Ultimate Chef Challenges!

The "chef challenges" are two 30-minute competitions that pit some of the industry's biggest names against each other in fun and whimsy ways.

The first contest will pit mankind versus their ancient rival, womankind: Elizabeth Faulkner (Citizen Cake) and Christine Mullen (CAV Wine Bar) will "throw down" (Thanks Bobby) against Joseph Manzare (Zuppa et al.) and Hiro Sone (Ame). Who has the edge? We'd have to go with the laaadies ...

The main event begs you to "see what happens when the cameras aren't rolling!" We don't quite get what that means, but it has something to do with television chefs going up against restaurant chefs: Tyler Florence (Food Network) and Joey Altman (KRON} take on Craig Stoll (Delfina ) and Beard Award nominee Nate Appleman (A16). If Stoll and Appleman blow this one, then our faith in two of the best Italian restaurants in the city country will be shaken. (...though we will undoubtedly continue to frequent them)

Submit your picks now.

Cook-Off For Afterschool [Afterschool Alliance]
Jack Falstaff [MenuPages]
Jack Falstaff [Official Site]

The little business getting jacked is the Java House, a mom-and-pop breakfast and burger joint on Pier 40, just up the street from AT&T Park. It just got served notice that its rent is jumping more than fivefold, from $800 to $4,429 a month, effective this coming Saturday.

"There's no way we can make a go at this rent," said owner Phil Papadopoulos, who along with his wife and daughter has been working the counter for the past 23 years.

From that point, it's a he-said, she-said argument. Papadopoulus says the Port of San Francisco decided to reneg on the deal, and the Port Commission contends that Papadopoulus "dragged his feet" in order to keep the $800 rent as long as possible. Of course, when asked for evidence that Java House stalled the paperwork, the city had nothing to offer. The Port Commission now says that the two sides can begin new negotiations on a new lease, but only after the astronomical $4,429 rent (plus a $8,800 security deposit) is paid this month.

On a totally unrelated note, San Francisco touts itself as a city ready to "support and enhance an environment where small businesses can succeed and flourish." And for the record, here are some of the restaurants on the Embarcadero waterfront around Java House: Palomino, Chaya Brasserie and Gordon Biersch. Yep, all upscale chains.

S.F. waterfront institution Java House faces rent hike on steroids [SFGate]
Java House [MenuPages]
Java House [Official Site]

Every Friday, we provide you with the best--and the worst--user reviews from the week. The following reviews are real, valid, submitted, unedited (except where marked) reviews from our various sites.

This week saw a deluge of reviews for the Mission's new swanky Italian joint and focacceria, Farina. Earlier in the summer, Farina received some harsh reviews upon its relatively well-publicized opening on 18th Street. "Anonymous" merely recommended the Italian-craving diner opt for the nearby Delfina, a sentiment echoed in a longer review left by "render ferguson":

I went here for dinner the other night. I was initially impressed with its quaint location and lack of parking. They seem to have copied the north beach atmosphere with a mexican twang. The food was a step above Olive Garden, with a disagreeable after-taste. I would suggest Del Fina for an authentic mission experience.

Took the excuse of some out of town friends visiting to try this place out and had a simply perfect evening. Each course was even more amazing that the last. All the wines we tried from their selection were lovely, and the grappa selection was an equal match.
If you are one of the few people that responded with a negative review, I highly suggest giving it another shot and enlisting the advice of the staff. The few suggestions they made at our request were great compliments to the choices we had already made. A more authentic genovese meal can not be had in San Francisco! I can't wait to go back.

Being born in Genova, I wanted to try this place. It was great. The food was outstanding and so was the service. We were seated upstairs ( on a Saturday night) and we felt like we were the only people that mattered with all the attention and prompt service we received.If there's a complaint, it would be the background music. Somehow the Latin music was, I almost want to say, annoying. I'm sure there's plenty of Italian music that could be played and I just don't mean "O Sole Mio" and the like. There's plenty of modern Italian music out there. But this was a minnor thing. For those who complained that the portions were too small, they need to know that portions in restaurants in Italy are generelly on the small size, since you just don't order one thing, but a series of courses. For too long Italian restaurants have been what "Americans" thought they should be: huge portion of pasta with globs of runny sauce which you don't know whether to eat or drink it and the biggest no-no of all: meat served on top of the pasta or alongside on the same dish. Not Italian. Besides, if you want a big portion at Farina, order the veal chop, it's huge.Keep up the good work, Farina, we will definetely be back. And yes, the focaccia, just like we had in Recco, buonissima!!

Farina [MenuPages]

The burger craze is officially arrived.

Custom Burger is now serving lunch and dinner on the corner of 7th and Howard in SoMa. As seems to be the requisite with new San Francisco restaurants these days, all ingredients are locally sourced, from meat from Golden Gate Meat Company to buns by Bay Bread (say that five times fast).

Rather than a traditional menu, Custom Burger has a five-step guide to creating "your perfect custom burger." First you select your patty (Angus beef, American "Kobe" beef or Veggie). Then, you encounter a bevy of options, some free and some not. And there are a lot. Uncommon toppings vary from grilled pineapple and hoisin glaze to a fried egg (a la Fat Burger, we presume). Also, an interesting twist comes with the inclusion of one free sauce, and like the toppings, the sauces are very ... eclectic: ketchipotle, peppercorn ranch, Spanish romesco, cucumber raita and more.

Yelp reviews have been pretty positive so far. Anyone have further details to share?

Custom Burger [MenuPages]

[Photo courtesy: Yelp/Ed. U]

With the recent earthquake in Peru in mind, we bring you the following service announcement from Tablehopper:

James Schenk, the chef and owner of ~DESTINO~ is contributing a portion of his restaurant sales to assist earthquake victims in Peru. Schenk mentioned the Consulate General of Peru in San Francisco has initiated an urgent campaign within the Bay Area to support the Peruvian citizens affected by this tragedy. If you wish to contribute directly to this campaign, you can make donations by contacting the Consulate General of Peru in San Francisco: 1-877-490-7378. Donations may consist of: nonperishable canned or bottled foods, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, and air mattresses, plus financial contributions. James has also been accepting donations at Destino—in fact, he just carted a huge truckload of items to the consulate yesterday.

Destino [MenuPages]
Destino [Official Site]

Here at MenuPages, we are constantly updating our vast menu database. Every morning, we'll highlight five or so menu updates to bring you the latest in San Francisco culinary upheaval.

Today's updates: Downtown & the Mission.

• Little Henry's, 955 Larkin St (Btwn Post St & Geary Blvd), 415-776-1757

• Luna Park, 694 Valencia St (At 18th St), 415-553-8584

• Mixt Greens, 120 Sansome St (At Pine St), 415-433-6498

• Mixt Greens, 475 Sansome St (At Commercial St), 415-296-9292

• Rue Saint Jacques, 1098 Jackson St (At Taylor St), 415-776-2002

Shakespeare once wrote: "There’s many a man has more hair than wit." We suppose the same scarcity of wit among men can be applied to wit among restaurants (and their restaurateurs). Even in our supposedly open-minded, free-thinking city by the bay, clever menus and the like are hard to find. Pizza Orgasmica never disappoints, and the menu at both locations of Cafe Gratitude is just, well, special.

But Spork takes whimsy to new heights, with the stellar cuisine to match. It's the brainchild of Neil Jorgensen and Chef Bruce Binn (veteran of Postrio, Delfina, Bix and Slow Club) and once you walk in the new Mission hotspot, there are plenty of little details to make you smile:

Above the door that goes to the old walk-in refrigerator, now used as a service area, is the original KFC sign Binn found in the attic. Old exhaust fans become artwork over the door leading to the kitchen.

And then, of course, there's the namesake utensil that receives top billing in such dishes as Mussels and Pork With a Spork ($15). This hearty bowl of mussels steamed in Belgian beer is accompanied by mounds of roast pork resembling carnitas, smoked chile aioli and a topping of green beans.

A similar sense of whimsy peppers the menu, too. The In-Side-Out Burger ($14) is a deconstructed version of an American icon, designed to be eaten with a knife and fork. (I wonder if someone has ever patented a knork?) Lettuce and tomato are at the bottom, stacked with two patties, a bun, special sauce, Tillamook cheddar cheese and a dollop of onion confit. It's accompanied by irregular blobs of crisply fried smashed potatoes. Fortunately, the results aren't a joke; the flavor is great in that downscale, guilty-pleasure sort of way.

In the end, it's thumbs-up on all around for Bauer. He loves the laid-back atmosphere, the relaxed yet competent service and most of all, the excellent, serious food coming out of Binn's kitchen. KFC it ain't.

Witty Spork follows through on flavor, too [SFGate]
Spork [MenuPages]
Spork [Official Site]

When it comes to reading the Daily Candy, we usually give it a quick skim, being a guy and all. Granted, we're not exactly the target audience, since we're not one for spas et al, but the DC definitely does a great job on the restaurant openings and special events front. Case in point: this morning's Weekend Guide included a very newsworthy tidbit about Barry Bonds' trendy stomping ground, the (supposedly) closed-for-renovations Roe Restaurant:

EAT
Good Fridays at Roe
What: Tuck into chef Alvin San's new El Bulli-inspired three-coursers pre-DJ set.
Why: TGIF.
When: Fri., 8 p.m.
Where: 651 Howard St., at Hawthorne St. Reservations at 415-227-0288.

Roe Restaurant [MenuPages]
Roe Restaurant [Official Site]

Every Friday, we provide you with the best--and the worst--user reviews from the week. The following reviews are real, valid, submitted, unedited (except where marked) reviews from our various sites.

Instead of dedicating this week's edition of The Week In (User) Reviews to the countless funny, ridiculous and/or idiotic reviews that come in every week here at MenuPages, we're going to share two well-written reviews. Since we don't write reviews ourselves, it's really helpful to other users when great reviews appear on the site. So, we encourage you to read the following reviews, find your muse and share your bounty of San Francisco gastronomical knowledge:

"Anonymous" left the following review about Spork, the modern Mission eatery that also got the SF Weekly treatment this week :

We went early, and there were plenty of tables, but the place was full, with several groups waiting by the time we left. Warm, soft bread came with honeyed butter. We shared a starter of lobster on polenta, which was tasty, with big pieces of lobster. Each of the three in my group had something different, and each was excellent: inside-out burger, pork and mussels, and mine: stroganoff, which didn't come as one would expect it, but it was delicious--the kind of meal one thinks about later! We shared a dessert: pot brownie. Ordering coffee gets a French-press pot, that provides about 2-1/2 cups. Tables are close, and there are no table cloths, but the service is good, and the decor nicely minimal. It's not a cheap meal, but definitely worth the money, and, as I said, I'm still thinking about it.

Continue reading "The Week In (User) Reviews: Something Different" »

Some hot restaurants defy logic. While location seems to be crucial in the success - and failure - of many places, there are exceptions. Sometimes when the place is obscure, the location's negative becomes a positive.

At least that's the best way I can explain the runaway success of the tiny Bar Bambino, in the Mission on 16th Street between South Van Ness and Capp.

Slices and sips of Italy at Mission's chic Bar Bambino [SFGate]
Bar Bambino [MenuPages]
Bar Bambino [Official Site]

[Photo courtesy: Flickr/San Fran Annie]

Here at MenuPages, we are constantly updating our vast menu database. Every morning, we'll highlight five or so menu updates to bring you the latest in San Francisco culinary upheaval.

Today's updates: South o' Market.

• 21st Amendment Brewery Cafe, 563 2nd St (Btwn Bryant & Brannan St), 415-369-0900

• Annabelle's Bar & Bistro, 68 4th St (Btwn Market & Mission St), 415-777-1200

• Asqew Grill , 865 Market St (Btwn 4th & 5th St), 415-227-0306

• Bacar, 448 Brannan St (Btwn 3rd & 4th St), 415-824-8210

• South Park Cafe, 108 S Park St (Btwn 2nd & 3rd St), 415-495-7275

Here at MenuPages, we are constantly updating our vast menu database. Every morning, we'll highlight five or so menu updates to bring you the latest in San Francisco culinary upheaval.

Today's updates: Restaurants up and down Mission.

• Cafe InFusion, 829 Mission St (At 4th St), 415-808-0808

• Medjool, 2522 Mission St (Btwn 21st & 22nd St), 415-550-9055

• Roy's, 575 Mission St ( Btwn 1st & 2nd St), 415-777-0277

• Savanna Jazz, 2937 Mission St (Btwn 25th and 26th St), 415-285-3369

• The Blue Plate, 3218 Mission St (At Valencia St), 415-282-6777

• Zante, 3489 Mission St (Btwn Cortland Ave & Kingston St), 415-821-3949

• Wednesday, July 25th: At the W Hotel, XYZ continues its tradition of Sip and Splurge. It's decadent, rewarding and has something for everyone, from rare champagne paired with tuna carpaccio to vin santo paired with chocolate hazelnut cake.

• Saturday, July 28th: Every Saturday, Jack Falstaff's Executive Chef Jonnatan Leiva goes to the Farmers Market, whips up something nice from the day's finds and then shares his bounty. Tastings are a mere $5 and wine pairings are just $3. More information, including reservations, can be found on the official website.

• Wednesday, August 1st: The first Wednesday of the month means wine class at the Fifth Floor. For the August edition, Sommelier Emily Wine (real name) is putting together Wine and Cheese 101. Room in the class goes quickly, so hop to it.

• Saturday, August 18th and Sunday, August 19th: It's a cooking class ... for singles. TWO presents Hot Summer Nights. It's $80 a pop. Saturday is for the straights and Sunday is for the gays. People attending probably won't want to mix up the days. That'd be quite the waste of $80. But it would be a good story.

• And while we're in the area, an FYI: the restaurant at ballplayer haunt Roe is currently undergoing renovations, but the club is still up and running.

Instead of waiting until this afternoon's Blog Roundup, we thought it best to pass along this little tidbit from the folks over at SFist sooner than later.

You can submit entries at SFist for a dinner reception at the Michelin-rated Maverick. The reception, which is tomorrow evening, will celebrate the release of Eric Gower's new book, "The Breakaway Cook." Tickets are $35 for most folks, but if you win SFist's little contest, you can indulge in the prix fixe menu (complete with wine pairings) for free. Feeling luck?

What? More Contests? Win Dinner With The Breakaway Cook! [SFist]
Maverick [MenuPages]
Maverick [Official Site]

TWO--and its prior incarnation, Hawthorne Lane--have been providing neighborhood workers with some of the better Happy Hour offerings and promotions in the entire city for some time now. Last month, the Hawthorne gem tapped into the mid-day market, and TWO-Go lunch boxes made quite the impact on SoMA lunchtime eaters. Today, the good folks behind TWO debut their Gourmet TWO-Go menu:

our Gourmet TWO-Go menu offers many of our house-made specialties for use in your kitchen. Our handmade sausages and smoked fish, our intensely flavored stocks and demi-glaces, our zippy vinaigrettes and our irresistible, ready-to-bake chive biscuits are just a mouse click away.

In any event, we've got the entire TWO-Go menu both on the main site and after the jump...

Continue reading "Introducing The Expanded TWO-Go Menu" »

The city's foremost vegan/organic/shojin-style eatery, Medicine Eat Station, is back from its temporary hiatus with a vengeance. The new, shorter menu has retained some of the greatest hits from past incarnations as well as adding some new items. For the early scoop, here's what Chow had to say on the updated version of Medicine:

Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation, the recently updated San Francisco restaurant, has retained its New Age-y air (the “loving-kindness to your body” motto; dishes with names like “clarity”), but the revised Japanese-inspired menu now includes prawns and fish (the only “animal ingredients” available). We scarfed down our soboro tofu rice bowl (ginger-chile-simmered tofu, seasonal veggies, shiitake mushrooms, and nine-grain rice) on our first visit, and our curry tofu rice bowl (fried tofu, steamed greens and seasonal veggies, curry sauce, nine-grain rice) on our second. But the pickled vegetables pickled our pucker ... Chowhounds ding Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation for its relatively high prices, but they advocate it for something different, a good place for mushroom-seekers and vegetarians.

Take Your Medicine [CHOW]
Medicine Eat Station [MenuPages]
Medicine Eat Station [Official Site]

[Photo courtesy: Medicine Official Site ]

Zuppa has been open a mere two years, yet Joseph Manzare's SoMa Italian joint has gone through (at least) three chefs. With Nick di Arenzo's imminent departure, Manzare--whose empire also includes Globe, Pescheria and Tres Agaves--has decided to take matters into his own hands, at least for the time being:

Instead of hiring another chef, co-owner Joseph Manzare will start manning the stoves himself.

"I love the restaurant so much that I'm looking forward to going in and cooking,'' he said on the phone from Mexico, where he was taking a few days off.

Manzare says he intends to keep the food simple and focus on local ingredients, such as petrale sole roasted in the pizza oven.

Zuppa [MenuPages]
Zuppa [Official Site]
New pub to open near ballpark [SFGate]

As you're probably aware, the stars will be aligned at AT&T Park tonight. If you're heading out for dinner tonight, you probably fall into one of two camps: those who want to soak up the festivities and those who want to avoid the crowds.

Now, just about every bar and restaurant in the China Basin area is sure to have plenty of specials, whether it be $2 beers at Mars Bar or the happiest hour at Tres Agaves, but some of you may want to get out of dodge tonight. And geographically speaking, nothing is farther away from AT&T Park than the Richmond.

You can stop by Sutro's at the Cliff House to sample some of the 17 organic or biodynamic wines offered on their new wine list. If you want, you can continue on a scenic restaurant tour to the Chalets. Tuesdays are Taco Night at Park Chalet; $2.50 tacos, $2.50 beers, 2-for-1 margaritas and live music abound. For a mellow vibe, head upstairs to Beach Chalet and enjoy their Tuesday Jazz Jam Session, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

Looking a bit further into July, we've got two quick tidbits to share: Jack Falstaff will offer "a weekly four-course Farmer’s Market Finds prefix menu served family-style every Saturday evening," beginning on July 21st for $55.

The 8th Annual Farmer's Market Dinner (five courses, $65/person) at Millennium is Wednesday July 25. Check their website for more details, including reservation information.

Here at MenuPages, we are constantly updating our vast menu database. Every morning, we'll highlight five or so menu updates to bring you the latest in San Francisco culinary upheaval.

Today's updates: Business dining in the city.

• Ame, 689 Mission St (At 3rd St), 415-284-4040

• Farallon, 450 Post St (Btwn Mason & Powell St), 415-956-6969

• Moose's, 1652 Stockton St (Btwn Union & Filbert St), 415-821-7652

• The Cosmopolitan Cafe, 121 Spear St (Btwn Mission & Howard St), 415-989-7800

• Zuni Cafe, 1658 Market St (Btwn Franklin & Gough St), 415-552-2522

Bi-Rite Market [MenuPages]
Bi-Rite Market [Official Site]

Several weeks ago, we enjoyed the national exposure given to the heartwarming tale of Cafe Gratitude. Lo and behold, the Times somehow unearthed an even better San Francisco feel-good story: the Mission's La Cocina.

In short, La Cocina is a shared kitchen space with low hourly rental rates "to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs without assets." In full, it's a business incubator that provides women with a business model, career training, and culinary training, not to mention hope:

“There’s an entrepreneurial gene,” said Valeria Perez Ferreiro, executive director of La Cocina. “And we are finding amazing entrepreneurs who are already cooking or have a product that is so promising that it deserves to be seen in the market and that we think has a chance for success.”

[Veronica] Salazar, 32, was one of the first participants in La Cocina and is one of its bigger successes. Her company, El Huarache Loco, makes traditional foods from Mexico City.

Working with intensity, she needed to produce 700 of her trademark huaraches, the bean-filled cakes, for her weekly booth at a farmer’s market and hundreds more for Carnaval San Francisco festivities over Memorial Day weekend. She also prepared fish and shrimp ceviche as an employee stirred 30 gallons of carnitas in a brazing skillet for a catering job for 100 people.

And what better place than the Mission to house one?

For Women, a Recipe to Create a Successful Business [NY Times]
La Cocina, Community Kitchen [Official Site]