San Francisco Restaurant Tips by emilesc

Restaurant Name: California Culinary Academy

I found an ad in the SF Weekly's dining guide for the California Culinary Academy, and my hostess was game to try it out. The Academy has two restaurants open to the public, The Careme Room and Bistro 350. We chose the former, which is right on the premises of the Academy.

Thursdays and Fridays are Grand Buffet days, served in a huge banquet hall. It's all you can eat, and our night began with a cold appetizer table and another with sushi, cheeses and fruits. Students are graded in part for presentation, so we often saw the same appetizers and sushi rolls rearranged in various formations. Afterwards, we were directed to the main kitchen where we were offered bite-size portions of several dishes the students had prepared. Last, was the dessert table - flanked by student displays such as the Headless Horseman (pictured) - featuring pastries and flambé dishes.

Everything is student-run - under the watchful eyes of instructors - from the chefs to the students who serve your coffee (those waiters are part of the school's hospitality program). It's fascinating to watch the students - some of them right out of high school and looking about 12 - navigate their first forays in food preparation and customer service.

And perhaps because it's student-run, the atmosphere is casual, but it's still very nice; it's the kind of place you could take your coworkers, an out-of-towner, your parents or in-laws to impress them with a fancy meal.

Reservations (phone number below) are a must for either The Bistro or The Careme Room. You leave a voice mail, and someone gets back to you with a confirmation. We called that morning for a dinner reservation, and, honestly, I was amazed we got in. It was a Thursday evening, but I'm flabbergasted the tables weren't all booked. This has to be one of the best deals in San Francisco.

Favorite Dish: At $38 (plus drinks) our meal wasn't cheap, but it was a fantastic deal - we got the opportunity to try various foods such as risotto, leg of lamb, butternut squash ravioli and bisque that ordinarily would have been cost-prohibitive - all for a fixed price. And the students are right there to cheerfully explain each dish to you.

The selections won't be the same every night, but you're certain to find a dish, perhaps several dishes, you'll love. Sure, you might find in one dish the meat's a little bit dry or another's too spicy. But the beauty is that out get a little taste of everything, so you're not stuck paying for a meal you don't care for. If something's not to your liking, there'll be another that is, and you can always go back for seconds.

That said, my favorite were the crab bisque and duck confit. I also loved the Bananas Foster. Actually, it was less Bananas Foster, and more whatever fruit I wanted added to the pan. "Sure, whatever, as long as it's on fire." ;->

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-216-4329
Address: 625 Polk Street at Turk
Directions: Take BART to the Civic Center. The school is a couple of blocks north of City Hall.

Restaurant Name: Washington Square Bar and Grill

Washington Square Bar and Grill looks a bit stuffy from the outside but it's fairly casual with a surprising lack of 'tude from the staff; gayot.com called it "casual elegant" dining. Their menu seems to reflect that style with entrees ranging from roast leg of lamb and porcini dusted skate to the burger mentioned below and chicken pot pie.

We went on a Friday night and had no trouble getting a table for two, but reservations might be recommended.

Favorite Dish: We weren't too hungry, having gone to Zachary's in Oakland for deep-dish pizza for lunch (see review), so we split a tasty burger with fries. And I love that the waitstaff didn't give us grief for splitting or try to charge us extra for the privilege.

It was the cheese - gorgonzola if I remember correctly - with grilled onions - that caught our eye. The fries were excellent, and I don't normally go for the fat steak fries.

Interestingly, though, the star of the meal was not the burger, but the mushroom streudel appetizer. Sounds disgusting, doesn't it? But it was so good, we really had to stop ourselves from ordering another. Proof that truffle oil makes everything better! Sorry the shine from the flash makes the streudel look so greasy, because it really wasn't.

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Theme: American
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-982-8123
Address: 1707 Powell St. (Union St.), SF
Directions: It's right on the edge of Union Square near Columbus, so there are plenty of buses and cable cars that go near there.

Restaurant Name: Sophie's Crepes

I wasn't sure how to categorize this: Asian? French? It's a place for crepes with an Japanese touch. There are plenty of places in SF to get crepes (Crepevine comes to mind), but how many serve them with green tea or red beans? And watching the team of crepe experts is pretty fun.

I got this tasty snack served in a cone to go (you can see people with their crepes in the photo). This place is known for "crispy" crepes, but mine was noticeably fairly soft, which suited me fine.

Favorite Dish: I got the crepe with green tea ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate syrup. I had a friend hold my crepe while I was taking my photo and she couldn't resist taking a couple of bites. *shakes fist*

Like most places, you have a choice of sweet or savory crepes.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-929-7732
Address: 1581 Webster St, Ste 275, SF, CA 94115
Directions: In the Kinokuniya Bldg in Japan Center

Restaurant Name: La Boulange

My friends and I had breakfast at this cute little bakery on Columbus, and it was surprisingly good considering it's part of a chain. The food was scrumptious, the ambience was casual and airy and the booths were cushioned and comfy. There are outdoor tables good for people-watching, but it also seems like it would be an ideal place to spend a rainy afternoon.

We went for breakfast, but they also serve lunch items such as soups, salads and tartines (a fancy sort of open-faced sandwich).

Favorite Dish: Look at that bowl of hot chocolate! Big as your head! Worth the price of admission alone.

I had the salmon quiche, but I could have just as easily ordered the french toast my dorky friend ordered (the one trying to get into the second photo).

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-399-0714
Address: 543 Columbus Avenue, SF, CA 94133
Directions: It's on Columbus in North Beach. There are plenty of buses that go to the area.
Website: http://www.baybread.com

Restaurant Name: Noe Valley Bakery and Bread Co.

This bakery is known as one of the best in San Francisco. Breads, scones, croissants, tarts... they even do wedding cakes. I could have bought just about everything, but I limited myself to one little cupcake. All the more reason to go back.

Another thing that strikes you is that the service is friendly, which is becoming a rarity these days. You definitely get that small-town community shop feeling that fits right in with the rest of the stores on Noe Valley's 24th Street.

And I really should have taken a photo of the guys behind the counter because they were all pretty hot.

Favorite Dish: Like I said, I limited myself to one lonely little cupcake. It was called the "Moistess," made to look like - you guessed it - a Hostess cupcake, including the little swirl on top.

I have to say, they really bested the original. It really was moist, the cream filling was fresh and dense - not like it came out of an aerosol can - and sweet, but not overwhelmingly so.

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 550.1405
Address: 4073 24th Street, SF, CA 94114
Directions: You can take the J Church train to 24th Street.
Website: http://www.noevalleybakery.com

Restaurant Name: Tartine Bakery

I am floored this bakery hasn't yet warranted its own category among VT tips, because this one was recommended to me by several locals as the best bakery in San Francisco, bar none. So this will be blasphemy, but I wasn't crazy about the place. Maybe I just made an off choice in picking my sandwich. Overall, however, for quality, freshness and presentation, it was probably the best bakery I visited in SF.

The ambience is one of contradictions: on one hand it's all slick, sterile, stainless steel; but on the other you can choose between tables for two and large tables that seat about 8 people which would seem to encourage a cozier, community atmosphere. Perhaps this schizophrenia of personality is why people end up sitting together but then studiously avoiding eye contact. But I do like the idea of communal tables and I wish I'd see that more often.

The service left a bit to be desired, or perhaps I just lucked out getting the one surly cashier.

Favorite Dish: I ordered a Croque Monsieur, but perhaps I should have gone with the pressed sandwich option, which everyone in the restaurant seemed to be having. This will sound incredibly pretentious of me, but I had better Croque Monsieurs in France.

Now dialing down the pretension a bit and heading straight for the absurd... come to think of it, I liked the one I got at the French place at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles better.

According to the restaurant's official website, the sandwich is made with bechamel, gruyère, thyme and pepper, but I swear there was something ricotta-like in texture in that sandwich that was not to my liking. I've never heard of chunky bechamel before, so I really couldn't tell you what it was.

Oh, by the way, you'll see what looks like a baby carrot to the right of the sandwich in the photo. Avoid it. It's pickled, spicy as all heck and doesn't enhance the flavor of the sandwich at all. Wow, this turning out to be a worse review than I'd intended.

On the positive side, the sandwich was huge and I got through only half of it. And the to-go boxes are set up nicely at a self-service station.

I fared much better with the hot chocolate. There was a sign letting us know where the chocolate came from, and I believe it was Scharffen Berger, since it looks like all the pastries came from there. This is in line with the current local/organic/artisanal fad SF is going through, since Scharffen Berger is in nearby Berkeley. The cocoa was on the bittersweet side, which isn't usually my thing, but this one I enjoyed and ended up wishing I'd ordered the large size.

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415.487.2600
Address: 600 Guerrero Street @ 18th San Francisco, CA 94110
Directions: You have your choice of BART, the J train and the 33 bus to 16th Street.
Website: http://www.tartinebakery.com/

Restaurant Name: The Stinking Rose

I live in Los Angeles, and The Stinking Rose is one of my favorite restaurants. I have never had any desire to go to the one in San Francisco because the line is usually out the door. And frankly, with the same restaurant available in my hometown, I felt like I'd be traveling overseas and eating at McDonald's; why bother?

But my hostess, who is also from LA, was all hyped up to try the SF version. And she was paying, so who was I to argue? Hmmm... I kind of like the LA one better for atmosphere. The LA one is bigger, and the entrance is kind of tucked away so you don't feel like the bustling streets are right there in your face while you're eating, so I think it lends itself to a more romantic atmosphere. And I don't even want to think of what parking's like at the SF one, but the parking lot in LA is huge.

Nevertheless, I had a fun time. If you love garlic, you can't go wrong with either restaurant. Here's a tip, though: we had dinner at 6pm on a weekday, so we beat the rush.

Favorite Dish: I had the popular 40-garlic chicken, which was pretty good, not fantastic. A bit on the dry side and other than the garlic, I can't say it was as flavorful as I would have liked. It needed some other kind of spice to cut through the blandness. I did, however, enjoy the chardonnay the waiter recommended.

Normally, I get the gnocchi in LA, which is probably a safe bet in SF as well. And you should try the garlic ice cream, really. The garlic adds a bit of tang, but it's doesn't overwhelm the sweetness. And of course, don't even think of starting your meal without the an order of oven-roasted spreadable garlic cloves for your bread.

So here's the main tip: after the meal, ask your waiter for a small bowl of chopped parsley and a spoon (pictured). You'll get it free of charge (or you should anyway). In LA, they never bat an eye - in fact they were the ones who suggested I get the chopped bowl when I once requested a few sprigs years ago. In SF, the waiter seemed a bit taken aback, but the chef knew what I wanted, because out came the parsley with two spoons for my friend and me.

It's rough going at first - chopping the parsley really brings out the flavor, and it is STRONG. But it's so worth it - it cuts through the bad breath and it keeps the garlic from reeking from your pores. And it's also been known to reduce any issues one might have with, um, gaseousness, shall we say?

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 781-7673
Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
Directions: It's on Columbus near Broadway, so there are a few buses which will drop you off almost right in front of the restaurant. From Market St., I took the #15.
Website: http://www.thestinkingrose.com

Restaurant Name: Mamas

My hostess and I ended up going to Mama's twice during my trip since I forgot to take photos of my food the first time, and my hostess didn't need much encouragement for a trip to Mama's. In fact, the waiters seemed to know her pretty well even though she hasn't been in SF that long.

I loved the cozy feel of this place. The waitstaff are smiley and courteous not only to customers but to each other, I notice that sort of thing. Mama's intimate and very popular with locals and tourists alike, I think there are maybe 10 tables total. So get there early and beat the tourist rush (during the week, we got there before 10 and we didn't even attempt eating there on weekends).

A couple of important tips: Mama's is cash only. And she's closed on Mondays.

Sorry the exterior photo's a bit blurry. Proof you cannot balance a camera in one hand a chocolate chai in another. When I took the first two photos, my friend, having suffered through my attempts at foodie blogging all week, finally snapped, "Stop modeling your food!" :-D

Favorite Dish: The first time I got the chocolate cinnamon French toast, which was perfectly prepared. I love the taste of French toast, but I can't stand the mushy middle (it's a texture thing, leave me alone). And here, there was no mush. I could have used more chocolate, but I have that kind of sweet tooth. But for someone going for a more subtle taste, this would be perfect.

The second time, my hostess and I shared an omelette - the name was somethign like the North Beach omelette. She'd been raving about this all week, and it lived up to the hype. I wish I could remember exactly all the ingredients since it's been a couple of weeks since I at there, but it had locally cultivated Italian sausage and I want to say guyere cheese and it was perfect and filling and almost felt healthy. As you can see, we also shared a piece of chocolate crumb coffee cake, which was divine.

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Theme: Diner
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415.362.6421
Address: Washington Square @ N. Beach
Directions: The exact address is 1701 Stockton Street. It's off Columbus at Washington Square, so there are plenty of buses and cable cars which will drop off you at or near the Square.

Restaurant Name: House of Nanking

Looking through my SF restaurant tips, it's clear I hit just about every beaten path touristy joint in the city in one week and then some. I blame my hostess for that; having just moved to SF, she's been pretty keen on making sure she doesn't miss out on a single must-see-must-do San Franciscan experience.

It's all good. And of course we went to House of Nanking. I vaguely recall eating there years ago, and doing the wrong thing, which is ordering off the menu and having a decent experience. This time, we let the owner decide and enjoyed a delicious meal.

It's divey but clean. And the owner and our waiter were cheerful and accommodating, a pleasant departure from what I normally find in Chinese restaurant service. Maybe it's not "authentic Chinese" - it's somewhere between Chinese and Asian fusion. But I don't get that whole debate anyway; I'm sure in China they find what we call "authentic" laughable no matter where it's served.

As mentioned in an earlier tip, House of Nanking isn't as popular as it used to be, which for me is a relief because I really don't get waiting an hour to eat. Plus we got there at 3:30 on Saturday in, so we were seated immediately and didn't have to rush. And maybe that's why the service was so much better than expected.

Definitely go with a group (there were five of us) because there will be a lot of food and Chinese food just isn't as much fun alone. And be specific about the type of dishes ("chicken," "fried rice"), you want so you don't get more than you actually wanted.

As far as the prices are concerned, I think they are pretty cheap compared to most of San Francisco, but they are considered significantly higher than most Chinatown restaurants.

Favorite Dish: I ordered the hot tea, which has bits of passion fruit (pictured). It was slightly sweet, so I liked it. One of my friends really didn't care for it, however, calling it "potpourri in a cup."

The only thing we did order from the menu were the onion pancakes in what I think was a honey sauce (pictured). Odd combination, but it's so good. I ended up getting the same thing a week later at Wokcano in LA, and I wonder if this is a trend among American/Asian-fusion restaurants. Okay, I don't know why there's a spoon in that photo, but I can see myself trying to ladle some of that sauce on my rice just because I would try something like that. And I have got to start remembering to take my photos before I start eating. :-P

We also ordered beef with aspargus, orange chicken (they'll laugh at your for ordering it mild, but they'll still do it) and potstickers - all pictured, all scrumptious. I just can't imagine ordering a bad dish at this restaurant.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-421-1429
Address: 919 Kearny St
Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny. There are quite a few MUNI buses that will drop you off close to or in front of the restaurant. And it's not a bad walk from Union Square.