Who doesn’t love sleeping in on weekends followed by a nice brunch? Located on 4th Street, the neighborhood (on the opposite side of Berkeley from the UC Campus area) attracts the young, urban crowd with its eclectic range of modern boutiques. Upon arrival at Cafe M, a line had already formed at ~12:30pm, but the wait is usually around 15-20 minutes to be seated which was not bad at all. The menu itself comprised of your typical American comfort food, and it reminded me of The Cottage down in San Diego. They both reflect a similar casual ambiance in a yuppie neighborhood.

Joe's Special Scrambler - Fresh Ground Beef, Mushrooms, Spinach & Onions served with Breakfast Potatoes & Toast

I tried some of Jason’s scrambler, and it was decent although there was nothing too special about it. The eggs were cooked soft and fluffy topped with a medley of veggies.

Eggs Blackstone - English Muffins, Grilled Tomatoes stuffed with Fresh Bacon Bits, Poached Eggs, Hollandaise Sauce & Served with Breakfast Potatoes

Cinnamon Twist Stuffed French Toast - Homemade Strawberry Jalapeño Jam & Marscapone Filling, Baked & Topped with Spiced Banana Compote

Tips:
1) There is a parking lot for Cafe M. If it’s full, park in the nearby streets but avoid 4th Street itself since it is usually crowded.
2) There are a couple of tables for outside seating. Perfect for a warm, sunny day.
3) Explore the neighborhood, which is filled with interesting boutique furniture shops.

Address:
(Fourth Street)
1799 4th St, Suite F
Berkeley, CA 94710 (map)
Tel: (510) 526-4429

Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am – 4 pm

Half tapas, half Japanese fusion of an Izakaya, Nojo has been a welcome addition to the neighborhood that has actually stood up to Yelp.

It’s a great place to dash in for a nibble or two (you won’t want to come here to gorge yourself) and dash for dessert like the Nojo Sundae. Humphry Slocombe black sesame ice cream sundae mixed with kumquats and peanut thunder.

Yum.

Food Rating: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Date Visited: February 14, 2012
Price: $89 per person

Hailed as one of the best restaurants in San Francisco, Gary Danko certainly did not disappoint and has earned its stripes as a 2012 Michelin Star venue. I made reservations 2 months in advance at exactly 11 AM when they opened for a spot on Valentine’s Day. After a few busy tones, I got on the phone with the reservationist. There were only 2 choices left after the influx of calls – 4:30 PM or 9:30 PM – so I took the earlier time. Although the restaurant is normally open from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, they were holding special hours specifically for Valentine’s. Side note: the picture on the left was snapped as our waiter was preparing the off-menu dessert Pineapple Flambé right behind us. Flambé is a cooking procedure of adding alcohol to a hot pan to create flames.

Fisherman’s Wharf is an area of San Francisco where parking is near impossible outside of paid garages. Fortunately, Gary Danko has a $11 valet service, which is a fairly small percentage considering your total bill at the end of the night. The moment we walked into the restaurant, we felt very welcomed. All the servers were very professional, wearing a full black and white suit and ready to help with your every need. Because it was only 4:30 PM, we were sat down on a corner table with no other patrons directly next to us. There was only 1 other elderly couple in the entire half of our dining area as we thoroughly enjoyed our 3 hour dining experience.

Tabletop Decor

Everything was set perfectly for a special Valentine’s day dinner with a romantic and elegant feel and sophisticated ambiance. We took a picture outside in front of the Gary Danko sign before placing our orders. Since it was both our first times at Gary Danko, we decided to stick with the suggested Valentine’s Day Prix Fixe menu, which consisted of 4 courses:
1) Crispy Farm Egg with White Polenta, Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Frisée and Pancetta
2) Horseradish Crusted Salmon Medallion with Dilled Cucumbers and Mustard Sauce
3) Seared Filet of Beef with Bacon-Potato “Risotto”, Cassis-Shallot Marmalade and Stilton Butter
4) Baked Chocolate Soufflé with Two Sauces.

We substituted one of the Baked Chocolate Soufflé for a Pineapple Flambé after the elderly couple suggested it to us. And who doesn’t want to see flames burst into the air? We decided to opt out of the wine pairing since I had a bottle of wine prepared for an event later in the evening.

Pre-Course: Appetizer Compliments of the Chef

Before we even start with our set course, the maitre d’ brings out a free appetizer. It was a great way to kick off our savory journey. And for subsequent courses, the maitre d’ did an excellent job explaining each dish.

Course 1: Crispy Farm Egg with White Polenta, Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Frisée and Pancetta

Surprisingly, the first course of the night turned out to be my favorite. It was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted previously. It was fun poking into the crispy egg shell and watching the yolk dribble onto the frisée. The polenta paired perfectly with the other ingredients in the dish. I’m a huge fan of mushrooms so having that on the plate was an added bonus.

Course 2: Horseradish Crusted Salmon Medallion with Dilled Cucumbers and Mustard Sauce

After such a delightful 1st course, the salmon medallion continued to pique my interest. The salmon had a very strong fish smell, which was counteracted by the spicy mustard sauce, giving this dish a well-deserved kick. Hate it or love it, I was indifferent to the crusted bread that laid on top of the salmon. I did, however, love the dilled cucumbers buried underneath, which gave the palate a sense of freshness.

Course 3: Seared Filet of Beef with Bacon-Potato "Risotto", Cassis-Shallot Marmalade and Stilton Butter

After 2 amazing courses, the filet was a disappointment. It was dry and tough to eat, not to mention it wasn’t as flavorful as it could have been. When I come back to Gary Danko, I will definitely opt for another entrée option such as the pork belly or lobster.

Course 4: Baked Chocolate Soufflé with Two Sauces

The soufflé was pure excellence that was light and had the right amount of sweetness. Chocolate sauces were poured into the soufflé when it arrived. A quick tip: eat the soufflé as soon as you can or it will become mushy.

Course 4.5: Pineapple Flambé

As previously stated, we substituted one of the desserts for the Pineapple Flambé after a tip from our neighbors. It was prepared table side (see first pic of the bursting flames) and our server described each step in the preparation of the dish. I’m glad that we opted for the substitution; it was sinfully delicious for lack of a better phrase! The dessert was truly something I’ve never tasted before.

Bonus: Medley of Desserts

Gary Danko sure knows how to put a smile on your face. Unbeknownst to us, the maitre d’ brought us a plate of bite-sized delicacies. We took half a bite of each and shared everything.

Signed Menu

The final pieces to an almost perfect dinner experience – a signed menu by Gary Danko himself and a stalk of rose with a box of chocolates. These little things are what makes an experience memorable. I will treasure the menu forever, which serves as a reminder of my first time at Gary Danko on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2012.

“Within months of opening, the restaurant received the highest accolades possible from both San Francisco daily newspapers, a spectacular listing in Esquire Magazine’s (December 1999) annual “Best New Restaurants” article, and the first of three Mobil Travel Guide “Five Star” ratings. In May of 2000, GARY DANKO won the James Beard Foundation’s “Best New Restaurant” award, and in August of that year Danko was named Chef of the Year by San Francisco Magazine. In January of 2002, the restaurant was selected as a Relais & Chateau property, one of only eighteen such dining venues on the continent. Later the same year, Danko was nominated as Outstanding Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation.”
- Excerpt from the Gary Danko Website.

Tips:
1) If you’re trying to make a Valentine’s reservation, do it 2 months in advance.
2) Valet parking is available right outside for $11.
3) Ask for the Flambé, which is prepared tableside. If you’re substituting from a prix fixe menu, it will cost extra.

Address:
(Fisherman’s Wharf)
800 N Point St
San Francisco, CA 94109 (map)
Tel: (415) 749-2060

Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm – 10 pm

Read on.

9am: Bloody Mary with breakfast at Foreign Cinema. Mission.

Definitely a gem for fancy brunches (don’t believe me? The table of four next to us ordered up a $250 tab in half an hour).

It’s a great place for dates, and to-date one of the best outdoor courtyard fixtures in San Francisco. Hands down.

11am: Second brunch of house cappuccino at Tosca Cafe. North Beach/Red Light District.

A wonderful old-school bar that’s been around for 91 years. This is basically alcohol in hot chocolate; the bartender Paul (the other one’s Ernie as the regular) it was simply a “Prohibition” mask for a glass.

History oozes from this place, a MUST visit for both the out-of-town and city goer.

12pm: Why even bother hiding the fact you have a problem. An Old Fashioned at Alembic. Haight.

Haight has a strew of bars that serve the graveyard workers in San Francisco. Daytime drinking is almost an art form out here in San Francisco. The bourbon went down smoother than I could imagine, but it’s still a heavy drink.

Don Draper would’ve just loled right there.

2pm: This one came late. Nuevo Paloma at Beretta. Mission. 

Tequila with the citrus bitters. It feels very smooth, strangely, something I’m not accustomed with tequila. Great for the summer, and afternoon cruise control.

4pm: Pre-gaming for Happy Hour.  Shanghai Buck at Heaven’s Dog. SOMA.

It’s alcoholic ginger tea! This place was pretty swag, at a price. They were the coolest cats in SOMA before Marlowe and a few other guys started giving them competition.

5pm: Happy Hour with The Laphroaig Project at Rickhouse. Fidi. 

It’s basically a recreation Prohibition-era drink called the Last Word, and if you like your Scotches, this is the way to take it. Scotch normally is pretty abusive, but as The Atlantic would put it, it’s “delicate, robust, and beautiful…like a troupe of linebackers dancing Swan Lake.”

8pm: Classing it up with a Manhattan at Comstock Saloon. FiDi. 

It has all the familiar trappings of a NYC gastropub except it’s a little more eccentric, and it’s got great live music. the menu is simple, yet elegant.

An excellent date escape.

12am: Shady practices with Basil Gimlet at Rye. Tenderloin.

With no sign to tell it’s even a bar, once you’re inside, it’s actually quite a nice lounge with an old pool table out back (but it’s free)! Definitely some yummy interesting alcoholic concoctions to try.

Pay no heed to the crackhead that might be shooting up in the street. Act cool.

Thanks again for reading our edgy, drinking guide to the city! Happy livers equal…hm, there’s a saying there, but I think it’s a lie.

Food Rating: 8/10
Overall Rating: 8/10
Price: $35 per person

Tips:
1) Afternoon tea is served only after 2:30 pm.
2) Make reservations early for window seating!
3) Bring a camera to freeze your memories.

Address:
(Union Square)
150 Stockton St
San Francisco, CA 94108 (map)
Tel: (415) 249-2720

Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am – 4 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am – 5 pm
Sun 12 pm – 4 pm

The sister restaurant of Marlowe, Park Tavern has all the trappings of a FiDi husky, hip restaurant but with space. A great breath of fresh air to the North Beach area.

And oh, the deviled eggs were great, too.

Food Rating: 9.5/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
Date Visited: December 3, 2011
Price: ~$40 per person

The House came to mind when I wanted to go on a nice dinner date. My friends have been raving about it for years as one of the best Asian Fusion restaurants in all of San Francisco. I made reservations for a party of 2 at 6:00 PM on a Saturday. Reservations are a must – this place is small and seats 20-30 people max. The tables are very close to one another too. My date and I arrived 15 minutes late since parking was difficult in the North Beach district. But we were seated within 10 minutes at the table closest to the entrance, even though there was another party ahead of us. My only complaint was the waiting area, which was right behind the first table and very cramped (see photo on the left). And the folks waiting outside would constantly peer inside; a bit creepy and awkward. But overall, the ambiance was intimate with dim lighting; classy and upscale yet casual.

There was one ubiquitous dish that everyone recommended to me – the Sea Bass. So I knew that I had to try it since it was my first time. We ordered 4 dishes in total – 1 appetizer (Seared Sea Scallops Appetizer Served Medium Rare), 2 entrées, (Grilled Sea Bass with Garlic Ginger Soy and Warm Wasabi House Noodles with Angus Flatiron Steak) and 1 dessert (Coconut Crème Brûlée with Passion Fruit Purée) - and paired it with red wine. Everything is easily shared and they provide extra plates for doing so. Service is really fast here; they clear the tables quickly without much delay between courses.

The House truly pays attention to detail. Even their place mats have a subtle outline of a house carved out, which makes you appreciate their efforts even more.

Seared Sea Scallops Appetizer Served Medium Rare

The special of the day! The sea scallops were done just right with a nice golden brown lining deep fried. This appetizer dish comes with 3 pieces with a side of radish and caviar so every bite was savored.

Grilled Sea Bass with Garlic Ginger Soy

Ah, the sea bass. My favorite of the night. Actually, it’s the best damn sea bass I’ve ever had in my life. It definitely met the hype. I literally closed my eyes with every bite; it was perfectly cooked with a buttery, succulent, and rare texture. The fish melted in my mouth and was well complemented by green beans.

Warm Wasabi House Noodles with Angus Flatiron Steak

The flatiron steak was served medium rare. It was a bit chewy and rough, but that’s expected. The wasabi house noodles were pan fried (udon style) and the cabbage gave the bed a nice crunch feeling. You could taste a slight hint of the wasabi, so it definitely wasn’t overpowering. Overall, I loved that there was so much bold flavor in this dish, which gets two thumbs up in my book.

Coconut Crème Brûlée with Passion Fruit Purée

I was so happy to be ending dinner with crème brûlée, especially coconut flavor and passion fruit purée on top. The portion was generous and just right for 2 people. Words cannot describe how awesome it was. Just take a look at the picture; after all it is worth a thousand words.

I will definitely be coming back to The House again. A few tips I learned:
1) If you make a reservation, make sure to cancel if you’re not showing up. Otherwise, you will get hit with a no-show fee.
2) For large parties, bring cash! They only take 2 credit cards per table.
3) Give yourself plenty of time to arrive. Parking will take time. You don’t want to end up losing your table and waiting, which could ruin an otherwise perfect night out.

Address:
(North Beach/Telegraph Hill)
1230 Grant Ave
San Francisco, CA 94133 (map)
Tel: (415) 986-8612

Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Mon, Sun 5 pm – 10 pm
Tue-Thu 5:30 pm – 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm – 11 pm

Chasu Ramen with Miso Base at Katana-Ya. Tenderloin. 

This is probably one of our favorite late-night ramen chows. It’s got one of the deepest ramen menus, and it’s been a historic mainstay for the ramen scene in San Francisco. A must try litmus test for any true ramen fan.

 Tonkatsu ramen at Izakaya Sozai. Richmond. 

I soon discovered that though there are many tonkatsu ramens in the city, not all are created equal. This one is one of the cheaper ones ($8 without the pork belly), but it’s the perfect serving size and wait time. Just get everything with it with the umami-based soup. And all will be well.

Tonkotsu ramen at Kirimachi Ramen. North Beach. 

They offer tonkotsu, chicken miso and plain miso broths with custom-made noodles and quality meats from Marin Sun Farms. It’s the newest addition in our three tastings, but can hold its own ground against the others. The seating is the most generous of the three, so if you want a guaranteed spot to chow with your friends, this would be it.

Keep eating, as always!

Our first Korean food-inspired cheeseburger. Kimchi bacon jam, american cheese, spicy mayo, arugula. The owner of the latest Asian pop-up restaurant Seoul Patch, Eric Ehler, you do us proud.

The argument of “best burger” is relative. There isn’t really the best way to make a burger, there are just bad ways to go about it. And there will always be the local denizen joints that we’ve all come to love; Ganim’s, Sam’s, or Roam Artisan Burgers come to mind. I’m sure I’m forgetting all the other neighborhood bombs in San Francisco.

In my search for the burger, I’ve actually come to learn more about myself. And I hope the list that I humbly present to you may find culinary revelations in each of these masterpieces.*

Honorable Mention: Truffle Burger at Umami Burger. Marina. 

Despite the fact that it’s a chain not from San Francisco, I am personally a fan. It’s technically located in our city so I’m allowed to blog about it. Actually, screw you, I can write whatever I want.

The place secretes the vision of serving you an awesome burger. Despite the raves for their flagship Umami Burger, I believe their best candidate has been the Truffle Burger all along. A 6-ounce patty that’s always done medium rare topped with a mild truffle-infused cheese and glaze, and nothing else allows their master “secret” Umami sauce shine through. The simple trappings of the Truffle allow the beef to come through. As LA Burger describes it:

There’s no lettuce, tomato or anything else to get in the way of experiencing the fifth taste sensation of umami found in truffles – their rich, earthy, full-bodied deliciousness.

I think the house-made ice cream sandwich was the final nail in the coffin. Crowd pleasers, believe.

5. Burger at Fish & Farm. Civic Center/Tenderloin. 

To be honest, this burger would’ve been so much higher on the list if not for the fact a) the spokeswoman for this establishment abhors this burger (she said it brought in and I quote, “a lower class of patrons”), and b) the service has been its greatest flaw.

Strangely, its pedigree is not “gourmet” if you really break it down. It’s probably one of the “wettest” burgers on this list. 7×7 notes:

The Niman beef is not ground in-house and the grilled Acme brioche bun becomes one with an umami-tastic “secret sauce”— spiked with fresh green peppercorns and heady with horseradish—dripping down the sides. The lily is gilded with grilled onions, housemade pickles, melted Cabot cheddar and a steak knife thrust, rather thrillingly, into the center.

Conclusion: come for the “Farm” and not so much for the “Fish” and you’ll be in great hands. I tearfully await the day they remove this beauty from the menu. In the meantime, bring extra napkins. The Seven Years of Plenty just showed up early.

4. Classic Burger at the Street. Nob Hill.

Medium rare with fire roast onions, gruyere cheese with kennebec fries. Do this, and you can’t go wrong. Street has built itself an impressive following of hip patrons, bringing out the louder version of Nob Hill. It’s a local favorite, and considering the kitchen set up this is an even more impressive feat than captured on film.

The gruyere cheese wasn’t overwhelming the burger despite its thickness seeping into the patty, and the onions played a pivoting supporting actor in bring everything together. Truth be told, this burger is my litmus test for all burgers I’ve eaten..and will eat. It’s a good cut above the diner-esque burger, but not super fancy where we get caught up in its sourced, organic DNA.

Definitely a great scene grab of Nob Hill and the transitional state of Polk Street. My unique, ace burger.

3. “Le Grande” Burger at Wayfare Tavern. FiDi. 

Out of all the burgers on this list, it has a lot going on between those buns. A generous disc of roasted onion, the six ounces grass-fed beef that uses a proprietary grind for the basis of its unique flavor, smoky thick-cut bacon, subdued by the rich and mellow tones of the Mt. Tam Brie…oh wait, there’s also a Petaluma egg on top it all.

Amazingly, it never overwhelms the beef, but everything overwhelms your senses. Its girth, the bacon strips lazily sticking out from the sides, and the generous cone of fries sprinkled with parsley flakes in a metal cup with the bed of vegetables fight for your attention as you pass in and out of the different layers of Le Grande.

At a cool $19 (plus $2 more for the egg), it’s the most expensive burger on this list. Disregard this note, and spare no expense.

To boot, this place is a first-class gastropub with delightful cocktails, the detail and final details of this burger craft displays its pedigree. Exceptional.

2. Hamburger at 4505 Meats. 1 Ferry Building. 

Ryan Farr, you beautiful bastard. He uses custom ground grassfed aged beef, cooked perfectly, bastes the homemade Parmesan-scallion sesame seed bun in butter, and in the summer finishes it with a slice of heirloom tomato, Gruyere cheese with secret sauce. I got the egg because who wouldn’t? It’s small, but fits my belly perfectly. They even shot porn with it.

If they had a sit-down version of this, it’d be fighting with the #1 spot right now. However, the experience of taking in the Bay and the bustle of the Farmer’s Market is a human story of its own.

Pound-for-pound, one of the best burgers I’ve had.

1.  Burger and Kennebec potato fries at the bar at Spruce. Laurel Heights.

Frankly, if I played for the NFL, I’d eat at Spruce every week. It’s baller, but the bar burger is an anomaly that equates to possibly heaven manna. Serious Eats breaks it down:

The Spruce burger’s bun is a buttered English muffin that is made in-house. Since it’s on the thin side, the overall effect is not overly bready. The meat is from Niman Ranch and is ground on site. The burger is served plain or with cheese and is accompanied by a complex herbed aioli with capers, house-made zucchini pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce. You also get delicious fries that are fried in duck fat.

Whiskey tango foxtrot ponies. And the venue, service, everything falls into place for you when you eat here. It’s the pinnacle of the modern experience of eating high-class burgers.

Check out this list, try ‘em out, and we’ll keep talking.

*I’ve tried 29 places in alphabetical order: 4505 Meats, Bill’s Place, Bistro Burger, Bistro Gambrinus, Bistro SF, Bix, Buckshot, Custom Burger, Dark Horse Inn, Fish & Farm, Hall of Flame Burgers, In-N-Out, It’s Tops Coffee, Ganim’s Place, Gott’s Roadside, Magnolia Cafe, Mission Beach Cafe, Mo’s Grill, Nopa, Pearl’s Deluxe, Roam Artisan, Sam’s, Serpentine, Spork, Spruce, Street, Super Duper, Umami Burger, and Wayfare Tavern.