stephenkyr's Profile
Mas, Aureole, wd~50, Allen & Delancey or Savoy for Birthday Dinner?
Hey, thank you guys so much for your responses.
Some of my (and my girlfriend's) favorite restaurants are Gramercy Tavern, Babbo, Lupa, Prune, Anthos, The Stanton Social, The Spotted Pig, Blue Hill, Essex, Supper/Frank/Little Frankie's.
Kind of all over the map. I'm definitely looking for a "special occasion" type place, though, but also one that is unique. I brought her to Gramercy for her birthday very recently (to give you an idea of what I mean by "special occasion" type place").
I think I've got it down between Mas and Aureole, and maybe wd~50.
Any other thoughts or comments would be very, very appreciated!
Mas, Aureole, wd~50, Allen & Delancey or Savoy for Birthday Dinner?
The girlfriend gave me these to pick from for my birthday dinner. I know the chef just abruptly left A&D, but not sure if that means avoid it indefinitely or to rush there before some new chef gets in there and changes everything. Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
-Steve
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
I've been crazy busy with school stuff since the day we got back from CA, but it was an amazing trip. I'll write up a longer rundown of everything later, but for now, here is the rundown of the very best stuff we ate, and what I would put on the absolute dream menu if I could pick and choose from everything that stood out that week. *'s denote the absolute best dishes.
The Perfect Menu From Our Trip:
First Course
*Zuni Caesar Salad from Zuni Cafe
*Little Gems Lettuces with Green Goddess Dressing from Chez Panisse Cafe
Second Course
Pizzetta from Chez Panisse Cafe
Third Course
*Memphis Style Pulled Pork Sandwich from Barber's Q
*Memphis Style Vande Rose Baby Back Ribs from Barber's Q
Fourth Course
Seared Sonoma Foie Gras with Caramelized Red Onion and Peaches from Gary Danko
*Alaskan Halibut with Gnocchi, Twelve Vegetables and Herb Butter from Redd
Fifth Course
*Seared Filet of Beef with Potato-Leek Napolean, Cassis Glazed Shallots and Blue Cheese Butter from Gary Danko
Vietnamese Shaking Beef with Sweet Onions & Lime-Black Pepper Dipping Sauce from Sushi Ran
*French Fries with Bearnaise Sauce from Bistro Jeanty
Sixth Course
Summer Berry Sherbet from Chez Panisse Cafe
Citron Givre - Lemon Sorbet in a Lemon from Bistro Jeanty
Seventh Course
*Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Golden and Red Raspberries from Delfina
*Steamed Lemon Cake with Blueberry Compote from Slanted Door
Thanks again everyone so much for all your help!!
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
I thought about it because of how unique it seems and how famous it is, but the girlfriend vetoed.
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
Found this:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/531782
...and think I'm going to go with Terra.
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
All points taken. We're still going to do Bistro Jeanty because it seems like a nice lunch spot and I for some reason am rather intrigued by it, but I'm definitely going to drop Bouchon for dinner on night #1 in Napa. The question, then, has now become: Terra vs. Martini House. Thoughts?
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
So, do we think Bouchon should still be a go over Martini House, Terra, Cole's Chop House, or Press? Is it same to presume they're back in top form?
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
Also, I'm going to drop Bouchon. Kept it there because I had been hoping that the remodel wouldn't carrry through into mid-August. Recs for other Napa joints (and what's good there) would be fantastic, I'll be checking out Maria's suggestions now. Thanks!
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
Sorry about the address snafu - it's 5th and Howard, just below Market, the new Intercontinental. All these places sound great, I'm going to start checking them out now - especially Murray Circle and Sentinel.
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
Oh, I forgot to mention that I double-booked Bouchon with Ad Hoc, as well as Laiola with Canteen. Since both are pre-fixes, I wanted to have backups in case I didn't like the pre-fixe menus on either given day (Canteen is apparently only a pre-fixe on Tuesdays). Thoughts on Ad Hoc or Canteen would be greatly appreciated, as well.
"San Francisco/Napa Trip Next Week: What to Order?" or "Guide Me Through Your Culinary Wonderland!"
So I'm taking my first trip to SF/Napa next week and am planning on checking out a slew of what promise to be amazing restaurants. I've been searching around CH for ideas on what the "must order" dishes are at all the different establishments, and have had great luck with most places (Chicken for Two, Caesar Salad and Burger at Zuni, Foie Gras at Gary Danko, etc.) but still have some question marks. (NOTE: after writing all this and coming back to spell-check, I think I have more question marks than I first thought)
The lineup is listed below, as are what kind of information I am in need of for each place. Please feel free to chime in wherever and on whatever you like (I know it's long and somewhat rambling), and, of course, any info above and beyond what I'm curious about would be greatly appreciated and thoroughly considered. Also, I have no idea what to do for desserts from any of these places, so any idea of the "must-have desserts" at any of the dinner places would be fantastic.
Also, and sorry if this is overkill for a single post, but any late night spots, cheap eats, great burger joints or spots in chinatown would be great to know - particularly a cheap, quick place for lunch in SoMa on the first day, after we check into the hotel (which right below Market Street, on Howard).
Here's the lineup, thanks everyone, and I'll be sure to report back on everything in this thread after the trip!
Monday (dinner)
Delfina - I know the Calimari, Campo, and Tripe are all supposed to be great, but what about entrees?
Tuesday (lunch and dinner)
Zuni Cafe - I'm good on this one - chicken and burgers, and the caeser
Laiola - The menu apparently changes constantly, but is there anything I should be on the lookout for?
Wednesday (lunch and dinner)
Sushi Ran - Looking for particularly great pieces of sushi and also curious about what they cook well...if I've had Nobu's miso-glazed black cod, should I pass on that here and go for the Shaking Beef? Or is the Shaking Beef better at Slanted Door?
Chez Panisse Upstairs - changing menu, I know, but are there any constants that are particularly good?
Thursday (lunch and dinner)
The Slanted Door - dumbfounded and looking for any help
Gary Danko - Definitely getting the foie gras, but what are their best entrees?
Friday (lunch and dinner)
Bistro Jeanty - I'm thinking Pork Belly and Entrecote Frites but could be swayed
Bouchon - I'm clueless, other than that the mason jar full of foie is supposed to be phenomenal (probably won't get it, though)
**I don't want steak twice on this day, am I better off with Entrecote Frites at Jeanty or with Steak Frites at Bouchon and something else at Jeanty?
Saturday (lunch and dinner)
Barber's Q - I'm all set here, doing the pulled pork and the ribs
Redd - totally clueless
Thanks again everyone!!
San Francisco/Napa Itinerary for Your Perusal/Approval
My girlfriend and I are going to San Francisco and Napa/Yountville for a week in mid-August. We're both from New York and go to law school there, but she's been working in South America all summer, so when she comes back to the States, we are going to meet up in Cali for a week before interview week starts. We've been apart for like three months, so suffice it to say we're both really looking forward to this trip.
More than anything else, we're looking for great food, with a good variety between cuisines, though with more Californian than anything else, and with most places ranking in the "moderately priced" to "somewhat expensive" range (no TFL this time around, unfortunately). We're trying to do lunch and dinner every day, and are also looking to dine at a variety of places, but I think we both tend towards enjoying places that are a little on the loud and bustling side, which seems to be what a lot of SF restaurants are known for -- that being said, a quiet, romantic meal or two would be lovely.
Any comments on the places we have lined up so far, or any recs for other places, would be greatly, greatly appreciated.
Itinerary below:
Monday
L: Cliff House (mostly for the views, not sure what to think about the food...)
D: Delfina
Tuesday (I'm particularly on the fence with the three restaurants on this day)
L: One Market
D: Canteen or Zuni Cafe
Wednesday (Driving to Sausalito in the morning/afternoon, Berkeley in the afternoon/evening)
L: Sushi Ran (I've never tried sushi and my girlfriend is obsessed with it, so I said I'd try it for the first time with her here)
D: Chez Panisse
Thursday
L: The Slanted Door
D: Gary Danko
Friday (first day in Napa)
*breakfast from Tartine Bakery for the drive
L: Bistro Jeanty
D: ad hoc or Bouchon
Saturday
*maybe Taylor's Automatic Refresher for breakfast
L: Barber's Q (I NEED to go to one great barbecue place on this trip, and am thinking this is it)
D: Redd
Places we were considering but then opted against:
-Boulevard
-Quince
-SPQR
-Ducca
-Range
