Every month I cover the top new openings out of all restaurants and bars that have opened that month in the Bay Area (as I visit almost all of them — recent months here). Often these are mid-range or affordable, but sometimes a new opening is a “cheap eats” kind of gem but not necessarily one of the top 2-5… Read more →
My article was first published here on our national Table8 blog where I am national editor. Despite what seems like a limited category at first glance, there are many a Middle Eastern gem hidden around San Francisco, some of the best places having been around for years. There is the ever-fantastic Afghani dishes at one of our great food treasures,… Read more →
Per usual, I’ve been dining up a storm at newcomers like Matador (tacos and tequila near Union Square), Cuban food in Oakland at Casa Cubana, French-inspired cuisine at Antoinette in the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley (from Dominique Crenn) or bagels at the new Wise Sons Bagel & Bakery. I’ve returned to established favorites, like vegan goodness at Nourish Cafe or… Read more →
It’s been another month of excellent food from the 10 plus meals I eat out a week, ever hunting for the best. Prime example: I’m as in love with Chubby Noodle as ever — from its early days in the back of Amante (when I dubbed it one of the top openings of 2011), to its rowdy, packed Marina restaurant… Read more →
August was quite a month for notable new openings from Oakland to SF, including restaurants like The Keystone in the Mosser Hotel (my Zagat feature on the opening here). I also visited months-old spots, like the solid-though-not-overwhelming Buttermilk Southern Kitchen, or savored old school torta comfort (a steal with massive tortas) at Tortas Boos Voni. On the cheap eats front,… Read more →
Here are three newcomers I’m loving, whether for a quick lunch or take-out, each with some notable dishes. KITCHEN ISTANBUL, Inner Richmond Just open in December 2014 in the former Troya space (the Fillmore Troya location is thankfully still going strong), Kitchen Istanbul is my new, go-to Turkish spot, ideal for eat-in or take-out. As with my longtime Iraqi favorite,… Read more →
South San Francisco may not be (even close) to a Bay Area town you think of for dining — but this newcomer (opened March 9) is worth a trip. In fact, even during our recent rush hour visit, it was only a 15 minute drive from SoMa — and is a short jaunt from SFO airport Read more →
New Chefs, New Menus, New Openings February has rushed right past in a blur. And with it, three openings of note. Mourad opened in the last couple days of January so I am including it among February’s top openings: my Zagat feature article on Mourad here. AL’s Place, from a chef whose cooking I’ve long missed, opened early in the… Read more →
From my many articles a week as Zagat Editor, I summarize and link to some coverage highlights here – you can follow along on Twitter @ZagatSF, where I post daily, or on my own @ThePerfectSpot via Twitter or Facebook. New Bay Area Openings BURMESE fare & BRITTANY-style CREPES arrive at Upper Haight’s SECOND ACT MARKETPLACE First Look at HUXLEY in… Read more →
Farm-Fresh Dining FARMSHOP, Larkspur (2233 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415-755-6700) A modern day farmshop… the beloved LA restaurant, Farmshop, opened in 2010, and then, to be closer to the farmers from which they meticulously source much of their produce in Northern California, they opened a Larkspur location in May 2013. It’s suburban-chic, set in an open air, upscale shopping mall with outdoor… Read more →