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California Cuisine: 33 Restaurants Found

Narrow Results By: Popularity | Name | Price

Displaying: 1 - 20 of 33 Page: 1 2 Next

Gary Danko

Address: 800 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map)

Dinner at Gary Danko is as titillating as a night at the opera, from the dramatic 69 page wine list, to the choreographed service of the staff, to the series of complex acts that come streaming from the kitchen and the carefully calibrated intermissions between them. Gary Danko’s combination of artfully crafted food and service turns a meal into an event. World-class Executive Chef Gary Danko uses his classic training to reinvent French, Mediterranean and regional-American cuisine, and the numerous awards he has won reflect the quality of his food, placing him at the forefront of America’s best chefs.

Foreign Cinema

Address: 2534 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 (Map)

Foreign Cinema, located in the heart of the Mission, is a novel concept restaurant specializing in fine California/Mediterranean cuisine and a unique entertainment offering of nightly foreign and independent films at dusk. Since its fruitful beginning under executive chef duo Gayle Pirie and John Clark, visitors and celebrities from all over have been captivated by the restaurant’s innovative menu and reels of atmosphere. The restaurant has garnered rave reviews from critics coast to coast and remains a favorite dinner and weekend brunch destination among locals.

Zuni Cafe

Address: 1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (Map)

When it comes to restaurants, Zuni Café is a San Francisco institution. Its warm and inviting space, unpretentious feel, and delicious food are reasons to come back again and again. Judy Rogers cooks the way mom might if she had access to all the best produce and hours of time. Whether it is the classic Chicken-For-Two with a side of bread salad, a perfect cut of meat, or the heavenly Ricotta Gnocchi, the dishes are all wonderfully executed and mouth-watering. It’s near impossible to sample everything San Francisco has to offer, but if you’ve had a chance to dine at Zuni, rest assured that you’ve got a head start.

NOPA

Address: 560 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 (Map)

NOPA, like the city of San Francisco, is a study in duality. Both are cutting edge yet firmly rooted in the past. This is reflected in the contrast between the restaurant's sleek yet rustic design and masterfully prepared food. The intent at NOPA is to find and procure only the freshest and most seasonal ingredients and serve them in a manner that only enhances their quality. The restaurant is a welcomed addition to its namesake, North of the Panhandle neighborhood, as it has been extremely popular since opening in 2006. The bar is urbane without being fussy, the food is complex yet simply prepared, and the service is precise without being intrusive.

1300 on Fillmore

Address: 1300 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (Map)

Monetta White grew up in the Fillmore district during its jazz heyday, when it was known as “The Harlem of the West”. As she grew older, she saw the area’s decline and wanted to give back to the neighborhood that helped shape her. With the opening of their San Francisco restaurant in 2008, she and her husband, executive chef David Lawrence, made it happen. 1300 on Fillmore's jazzy, 1930's theme is very relaxed and entertaining, and its soulful American cuisine makes you feel right at home.

Horizon Restaurant and Lounge

Address: 498 Broadway Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 (Map)

Everything about Horizon Restaurant & Lounge in North Beach goes straight to the point. Not to say they are a restaurant without frills, because the comfort level, service, and ambience at Horizon are great. What I mean by that is they like to stay out of your way. Distractions are kept to a minimum. They make sure that the object of desire, their food, is your main focus at all times. Executive Chef Christopher Lee’s menu of fresh California cuisine is irresistible; and because of this and a lot of other reasons, an evening at Horizon will surely be a great time.

The Moss Room

Address: 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118 (Map)

For a truly unique San Francisco experience, there are few options that offer a better example of California's cutting edge design and cuisine than at the Moss Room at the Academy of Science, in Golden Gate Park. Hidden below the museum like a rare gem is a restaurant dedicated to producing extraordinary cuisine with ingredients from local sources and a nod to classic French preparation. The dramatic dining room with its namesake living wall of moss and fern is an ideal choice for a dining destination unlike any other in the Bay Area.

BayWolf

Address: 3853 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611 (Map)

BayWolf Restaurant in Oakland has been one of the key players in creating and leading the Bay Area dining revolution for over 34 years because of the care, creativity, and inventive approach it takes to provide outstanding food in a relaxed setting. Their monthly menu specializes in French and Italian cuisine with a California attitude. BayWolf has always used local ingredients at their peak with a focus on wonderful duck preparations. The restaurant itself is a comfortable, old house whose modern art collection charms the dinner guests. BayWolf provides a memorable dining experience for romantic dinners as well as family celebrations.

Campton Place Restaurant

Address: 340 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94108 (Map)

Farallon

Address: 450 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (Map)

Step inside Farallon and feel yourself being whisked away to a mermaid’s paradise. Designer Pat Kuleto’s interior design is so stunning it looks like an art nouveau underwater palace, and may very well be a destination in its own right. Taking cues from the natural beauty of the underwater world, Kuleto fills the space with artful details like jellyfish lamps with graceful trailing tails, and conch-shaped rooms with booths that follow a natural spiral. While the décor is quintessential whimsy, the cuisine is very much rooted in reality, with the elegant, multifaceted creations of Chef and Owner Mark Franz. Franz’s menu of elegant coastal cuisine changes daily, but look for creative dishes such as Pan-Roasted Walleyed Pike with English pea ravioli, braised endive, and mint pesto.

Jardiniere

Address: 300 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (Map)

Jardiniere exudes the sultry decadence of a 1920’s era speakeasy. Pat Kuleto’s décor is the height of opulence, with marble and mahogany accents illuminated by warm, amber lighting and cloaked in lush velvet drapes that seem to seclude the restaurant’s revelry from the outside world. With an inverted champagne glass dome, and champagne buckets adorning the Art Deco-style balcony railings, Jardiniere drips with bubbly excess. Chef and co-owner Traci Des Jardins’s French and California-inspired menu is as improvisational and lavish as the Jazz-era décor, changing regularly according to the season and the chef’s own culinary whims. Nightly live jazz completes the stylish ambiance, adding to an atmosphere that is both nostalgically classic and unfailingly hip.

Masa's

Address: 648 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108 (Map)

Masa’s has mastered elegant simplicity. Executive chef Gregory Short continues the Masa tradition of exquisitely prepared and well-paired contemporary French dishes presented in a select assortment of tasting menus. Masa’s menu is trimmed of excess fat, leaving only the most succulent and high quality of dishes organized into overwhelmingly indulgent six and nine-course dinners. Like its pared-down menu, Masa’s décor exudes a confident and precise minimalism. Dark chocolate walls contrast with stark white tablecloths, while vases filled with pink and white roses and black and white toile chairs add notes of pastoral charm. The overall effect suggests Masa’s is a study in the ease and sophistication of culinary expertise at its best.

Daffodil

Address: 665 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108 (Map)

Daffodil Restaurant radiates the sunny charm of its namesake. Located in the Orchard Hotel, this sun-swept restaurant emphasizes the art of culinary balance and communal feasting. Executive Chef Russell Rummer creates imaginative and seasonal small plates designed for sharing, which when masterfully paired with wines from the restaurant’s extensive and exquisite collection, achieve a dining experience that is as transcendent as the restaurant’s décor. For those with heartier appetites, larger plates are also available, complete with their own wine recommendations. A bright and airy glass-walled private wine room enables diners seeking a more intimate gastronomic affair to focus on their own sensory adventure.

Coi

Address: 373 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133 (Map)

Although Coi’s décor exudes a soothing calm in shades of earthy minimalism, its cuisine is a jolt of culinary electricity. Chef Daniel Patterson’s tasting menus take diners on a sensuous adventure reflective of his diverse culinary background, which includes a stint at the infamous El Bulli. A meal at Coi is an exercise in the revelry of the unexpected: a starter might include the application of essential oils to the wrist, while a dessert might be couched in smoked yogurt. The result is an experience that embodies the doe-eyed wonder of childhood with the poise and refinement of haute cuisine.

Piperade

Address: 1015 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 (Map)

Named after one of the Basque region’s signature dishes, Piperade combines accomplished Chef Gerald Hirigoyen’s robust and unique native cuisine with the Bay Area’s fresh and bustling vibe. Nestled between Telegraph Hill and the Financial District, this warm, chic restaurant attracts a lively crowd. Piperade’s menu focuses on fresh, savory seafood and gourmet touches, and even offers daily prix fixe lunch specials. The Cold Poached Foie Gras with black pepper, sea salt and apple compote as well as the Piperade with sautéed serrano ham and poached egg are promising selections that make this menu stand apart. With an inviting outdoor patio, full bar, and elegant dining room, this restaurant is well-suited for occasions as diverse as a family gathering and a night out on the town.

La Folie

Address: 2316 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map)

With colorful flower boxes, large picture windows, and a sunny saffron-colored sign, La Folie exudes a charming Frenchness. Inside, a luminous dining room in warm hues and lush fabrics is an elegant canvas for the presentation of Executive Chef Roland Possat’s French and California-inspired creations. The prix-fixe menu whimsically explores the interplay between tradition and experimentation: classic French ingredients like foie gras, frog legs, and snails mingle with dishes featuring lobster vanilla sauce and oxtail stuffed calamari. While, as its name suggests, La Folie has a playful streak of madness, it is more the result of a masterful and supremely enjoyable mad genius.

Circolo

Address: 500 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 (Map)

Stepping into Circolo Restaurant, you know you’ve arrived. This uber-chic restaurant and lounge is splint into four distinct spaces that aim to cater to every social occasion. Subdued lighting and contemporary plays on Asian architecture provide the backdrop to an equally sophisticated menu. Signature dishes include the Pan Seared Sonoma Artisan Farm Foie Gras and the Six Hour Braise Short Ribs. Other Asian Fusion favorites include the Coconut Black Tiger Shrimp and the Shichimi Togarashi Lamb Racks. When enjoying a signature dish, we suggest sampling a signature dink or two as well: the Hibiscus Angel Margarita might be a nice place to start.

Saha

Address: 1075 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map)

The sultry Middle Eastern ambience of Saha’s windowless dining area creates a secluded scene for diners to enjoy their meals. The name comes from an Arabic toast meaning “to good health,” and the warmly welcoming staff clearly cares about your comfort too. Saha offers unique Arabic fusion cuisine that combines traditional Yemeni food with both Californian and French influence. The dishes are as complex in execution as they are creative in origin, and include some vegetarian and even vegan standouts. Be sure to finish with the infamous Slap Ya Mama, a dessert known both for its devious name as well as its phyllo-wrapped chocolate and marzipan goodness.

Spruce

Address: 3640 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94118 (Map)

Simplicity is bliss: local ingredients, fresh flavors, and charming surroundings, converge to offer a truly blissful experience at Spruce. This communal watering hole encourages diners to dine, socialize, and relax, with the help of a menu that highlights the very best of contemporary American cuisine. The in-house temperature controlled curing room caters to the impressive charcuterie selection, and up to 80% of the produce used at any time may come from the restaurant’s own private farm. Savory delights include the Hot and Cold Foie Gras, the Buttered Main Lobster, and the Charred Berkshire Pork Tenderloin.

Americano

Address: 8 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 (Map)

Located in San Francisco's Hotel Vitale, Americano's menu is deeply rooted in Italian tradition. Using only market fresh ingredients, Chef Paul Arenstam entices diners with handmade pasta and bakers pies, while still showcasing locally grown, seasonal products. Americano is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner while also providing a trendy spot for an after work drink. The cocktail lounge's unique circular design coupled with the dynamic panoramic bay view creates a strikingly modern atmosphere. In contrast, the dining room's natural wood and dramatic arches create a comfortable and alluring dining atmosphere. Americano also provides an outdoor patio with a full bar and bar menu.

Narrow Results By: Popularity | Name | Price

Displaying: 1 - 20 of 33 Page: 1 2 Next

San Francisco Restaurants : California Cuisine

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California Cuisine: 33 Restaurants Found

Gary Danko

Foreign Cinema

Zuni Cafe

NOPA

1300 on Fillmore

Horizon Restaurant and Lounge

The Moss Room

BayWolf

Campton Place Restaurant

Farallon

Jardiniere

Masa's

Daffodil

Coi

Piperade

La Folie

Circolo

Saha

Spruce

Americano