Best food and wine experiences in San Francisco right now

Original post by dmcker, Jun 6, 2010.

A bunch of people are gathering in San Francisco for a conference this week, and I was wondering what any of you think are the best food and wine experiences in the City right now. Am interested in bars, cafes, proper restaurants, what have you, and locations as far as southern Marin, the East Bay and Palo Alto or other spots on the southern peninsula (but not Napa or Sonoma because that's a bit too far), though with preference for closer to town. Oldskool, new hotspot, whatever. Any budget range is OK. Bring it on, but please provide as much explanation as you can for why you think the establishment is good....

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Replies

6 370: Reply by StevenBabb, Jun 10, 2010.; yeah, aqua closed... and it looks like minna is going to move in their... and if he can't come to an agreement with the st. francis, he's going to pull out of there...

not sure about the spanish place you went to... but there's perbacco next to tadich, it's cool, and they opened next door with barbacco, and that's a nice bar to sit at...

around the corner on sacramento st, tyler florence is opening up an urban tavern concept... wayfare tavern (i think is the name).... i've been inside, and it's gonna be pretty awsome once it's finished....

6 370: Reply by StevenBabb, Jun 15, 2010.; wow.... new recomendation... FIFTH FLOOR!!!!

ate there lastnight, and it was AMAZING!!!!!!!! they earned thir first micheline star for 2010, and for good reason.... they've extended their Dine About Town menu to go through June.... 3 courses for $35 is an unbelievable bargain for a restaurant with a star! service was seemless, food was well thought out.... simply AMAZING!!!!!

20 5326: Reply by dmcker, Jun 15, 2010.; Sounds good, though my people are now back in Tokyo. Definitely next time will give 5th Floor a try...

6 370: Reply by StevenBabb, Jun 17, 2010.; hey dm, where did your people go while they were here? what did they think of our fair city?

20 5326: Reply by dmcker, Jun 17, 2010.; They were at Apple's WorldWide Developer Conference at the Moscone, and pretty much got locked into that world from morning to late night. They commented more on seeing 'Mafia Wars' ads on buses (something surprising to people in the offshore development world who consider it a ridiculously small game), the Apple iPad ads everywhere that were covered up with cardboard by guerillas then uncovered by police in the morning, than on the food, though one of them is a true food and wine connoisseur.

He found a cigar bar that he thinks is one of the best in the world, on Montgomery and Pacific, called The Cigar Bar and Grill. A 'private club' that you have to pay a few dollars to immediately join, open courtyard for the smoking with the bar and restaurant part all around the courtyard. Quite decent food, apparently, and they even have Cuban cigars. Important to him because he's been a two cigars a day guy for a long time when he's working hard, all around the world. He did take some developers to a monster porterhouse meal at Morton's on Post, with a Silver Oak cab as accompaniment. All the developer geeks were quite happy there, it seems. ;-)

The other places up this thread will have to wait for his next visit, which will likely be before too long. I may have to ride shotgun with him on one or two visits, just to make sure he does well on the food and wine front (and maybe on a deal or two, too)....

135 1373: Reply by napagirl68, Jun 21, 2010.; I know your trip is over, but wanted to give kudos to Masa's and the Slanted Door.. expensive but nice.

20 5326: Reply by dmcker, Jun 21, 2010.; Thanks, napagirl. Good to see you back. Haven't been to Masa's for years....

41 1361: Reply by outthere, Jun 21, 2010.; Hey napagirl, have you eaten at ABC downtown? A friend recommended it the other day. Said it was the best breakfast in Napa. How's their lunch? I'm never there that early but for lunch every other week and would love to try it out.

135 1373: Reply by napagirl68, Jun 23, 2010.; Hey outthere... I do not live in Napa.. within an hour or so, but I LOVE napa cabs! Sorry can't help, but will try the next time I am there...

41 1361: Reply by outthere, Jun 23, 2010.; An hour east, west, north, south? I'm about an hour northwest. Just getting my member bearings in tune.

135 1373: Reply by napagirl68, Jun 23, 2010.; Tri-valley area, east bay... are you in Russian River?

41 1361: Reply by outthere, Jun 23, 2010.; Yup. Forestville.

41 1361: Reply by outthere, Jun 23, 2010.; Where the vineyards meet the redwoods.

476 1138: Reply by John Andrews, Jun 24, 2010.; Love Forrestville and Mosaic especially. :-)

41 1361: Reply by outthere, Jun 24, 2010.; Mosaic rocks! We have a new place in town across the street in the Old Forestville Inn called Sarah's Forestville Kitchen run by chef Greg Hallihan formerly of Stella's Cafe. Great breakfast and lunch with dinner coming after the liquor license goes through. Organic menu offerings. Moderate pricing.