Restaurant Blog - Chowbaby.com

by Ed Attanasio

FIRECRACKER
107 ½ Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 642-3470
Firecracker serves some of the finest American-Chinese fusion food in San Francisco, featuring legendary dishes like Ying Yang prawns, walnut-tossed prawns, spicy, hot tossed chicken, pot stickers, Mongolian beef, hot and sour soup and spring rolls. Everything is made using less oil and without heavy sauces. An interior made up of soothing pastels and creative lighting schemes makes Firecracker a feast for the eyes.
Service is very helpful and adept at suggesting dishes that will match your particular mood and desires.

by Ed Attanasio

COTE SUD
4238 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 255-6565

This wonderfully little cozy restaurant serving French bistro style food has been one of the best kept secrets in San Francisco for a long time. Nestled in the Castro District, Cote Sud caters to an eclectic crowd of folks who love great food without the crazy San Francisco prices. For just $27.50, you can get a three-course menu that is exceptional. With a wine list consisting of more than 180 vintages, you’ll always find the right vino to accentuate your meal. Specialties of the house include the Medallion de Rotl de Porc, an amazing dish of roasted natural pork medallions with a walnut crust and a tarragon sauce; the Lapin, a braised rabbit with an olive and cream sauce; and the Roasted Rack of Lamb. Everything is superb, memorable and priced right at Cote Sud.

by Ed Attanasio

THE SLANTED DOOR
1 Ferry Building, #3
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 861-8032
Located in the northeast corner of the famous restored Ferry Building, The Slanted Door has a stellar reputation for serving incredibly inventive food in an awe-inspiring setting. It’s a modern Vietnamese restaurant that features local produce and ecologically farmed meat, game and poultry raised at farms throughout the Bay Area. The food is the star of this gig, but the Riesling-driven wine list, the full bar with its unique selection of specialty drinks and fresh squeezed juices, and the hard-to-find Chinese teas, makes this gem a destination for food lovers from all over the world. The specialties of the house include Spring Rolls with peanut sauce; a Green Papaya Salad with rau ram; Shaking Beef stir-fired with garlic and organic onions and a wood-oven roasted whole fish with spicy ginger fish sauce. Every food experience should be just like this – unforgettable and wondrous.

By Ed Attanasio

MICHAEL MINA
Westin St. Francis
335 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 397-9222

One of the hottest young chefs in the country, Chef Michael Minna has fashioned a restaurant that is universally praised for its original concepts in American cuisine — featuring elegantly prepared and artfully presented dishes that emphasize distinct tastes and bold flavors. Signature entrees include lobster pot pie, tuna tartare and fried chicken for two. Also features a caviar cart, dessert bar and over 2,200 wines. A warm and welcoming atmosphere created by well-known California designer Barbara Barry will make you feel pampered, while the conscientious staff will spoil you the minute you walk through the door

by Julie Muller Mitchell

GREENS
Fort Mason, Building A, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 771-6222
Greens, with its airy and spacious interior and views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge, has long been known for its excellent vegetarian cuisine. The restaurant is owned and operated by the Zen Center, and much of its organic produce comes from the Center’s Green Gulch farm in Marin County. The menu changes with the seasons, with specials such as mesquite-grilled polenta, pizza with onion confit, goat cheese and basil, and ricotta and corn griddle cakes. Soups, salads and baked good are also available to go.

ALAMO SQUARE SEAFOOD GRILL
803 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 440-2828

This charming neighborhood grill focuses on seafood with a French flair. Alamo Square operates using a simple concept: in addition to daily specials, diners can choose from one of several fresh fish entrees prepared in one of several ways. Fish selections include salmon, snapper, swordfish and tuna, and each can be grilled, sautéed, poached or blackened. Sauces include Béarnaise, beurre blanc, beurre rouge, Provencale and mousseline with lime confit. The salmon is particularly good grilled with the beurre blanc sauce. Salads and other seafood appetizers such as steamed mussels in a wine broth and house-smoked salmon complete the menu. Other entrees include crab cakes, grilled New York steak and oven-roasted young chicken. Alamo Square is an unpretentious seafood-lover’s haven.

MOOSE’S by Julie Muller Mitchell
1652 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 989-7800

Whether you’re craving eggs with potatoes and sausage or grilled salmon with a risotto croquette, you can find them on Moose’s brunch menu. Other favorites include Brioche French toast with caramelized bananas and toasted hazelnuts, buttermilk pancakes with rhubarb syrup, strawberries and vanilla whipped cream, and even Moose’s version of ‘bubble and squeak’ with poached eggs and gravy