San Francisco Restaurants : Russian Hill

Gary Danko

Address: 800 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map) - Tel:(415) 749-2060

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.

La Folie

Address: 2316 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map) - Tel:(415) 776-5577

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.

Frascati

Address: 1901 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map) - Tel:(415) 928-1406

With its yellow walls and bright interior, Frascati fosters a sense of joy within its doors. Multiple levels allow a more open and welcoming dining room with plenty of space for diners to enjoy the Mediterranean inspired coastal cuisines available at this restaurant. In the spirit of appreciating the seasons, Frascati’s menu changes seasonally, with an emphasis placed upon paying homage to the freshest ingredients. Guests can still enjoy the staple ingredient of many popular dishes; however, they come paired with the vegetable superstars of the season. Because of an ever-changing dinner menu, many wines are only available seasonally as well. Frascati matches up dishes and wines together with care in order to find the best-tasting complements. Many unique dishes grace the menu of this veteran restaurant, such as the Grilled Octopus Salad and the Foie Gras Torchon. Family-owned and operated, this joyful restaurant will brighten up even the cloudiest of San Francisco days.

Ristorante Milano

Address: 1448 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map) - Tel:(415) 673-2961

Checkered floors and quaint, indoor flower boxes set the stage for traditional northern Italian cuisine in a comfortable, family-like atmosphere at Ristorante Milano of Nob Hill. Brightly painted walls capture light from the large windows to help create a bright and welcoming space. With an owner and executive chef that was born and raised in Rome, it is no wonder that this restaurant has gotten a reputation for the authenticity of its dishes. Ristorante Milano is particularly hailed for its Tiramisu dessert and Gnocchi con Salsa Aurora, a dish that consists of fresh, homemade gnocchi with fresh tomatoes. Many of their menu items can be found consistently throughout the year; however special dishes are created every day to take advantage of the freshest ingredients available. Bottles of wine contribute not only to the décor, but also add a little something extra to an already special meal.

Luella

Address: 1896 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Map) - Tel:(415) 674-4343

Well worth the detour, this stylish neighborhood eatery is tucked away on a tree-lined block in Russian Hill. Run “mom and pop” style, owner/chef Ben de Vries reigns over the kitchen while his wife, Rachel Lewis de Vries, oversees the dimly lit dining room. Hues of green and rust wash over everything from the walls to smaller accents such as the hanging drum-shaped lamps, giving the busy interior a warm and soothing ambiance. The rotating Mediterranean-inspired menu highlights the season’s freshest ingredients, and boasts specialties such as the Coca-Cola Braised Pork Shoulder and Strawberry and Crème Fraîche Tart with red wine syrup for dessert.