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Maven
Fertile, verdant and alive, this cocktail sanctuary in the Lower Haight surprises diners with refined food that picks up on the discerning yet earthy and casual NorCal vibe.
Website: maven-sf.com
Number of seats: 60
Average per-person check: $28
Popular dishes: Chinatown duck sliders with pulled duck meat, Chinese barbecue sauce, shiitake, gai lan broccoli and bacon; Champagne-cured salmon crudo with mustard crème fraîche, deviled potatoes and paprika; Global Warming cocktail with aged gin, Riesling, sake, citrus and absinthe sorbet.
What people come for: Expertly selected cocktail and food pairings, inspired bar program, lively atmosphere with a dramatic living wall above the bar and giant reclaimed California redwood slabs as communal tables.
Address: 598 Haight St.
Phone: 415-829-7982
Website: maven-sf.com
Number of seats: 60
Average per-person check: $28
Popular dishes: Chinatown duck sliders with pulled duck meat, Chinese barbecue sauce, shiitake, gai lan broccoli and bacon; Champagne-cured salmon crudo with mustard crème fraîche, deviled potatoes and paprika; Global Warming cocktail with aged gin, Riesling, sake, citrus and absinthe sorbet.
What people come for: Expertly selected cocktail and food pairings, inspired bar program, lively atmosphere with a dramatic living wall above the bar and giant reclaimed California redwood slabs as communal tables.
Address: 598 Haight St.
Phone: 415-829-7982
Central Kitchen
Marking an expansion for chef Thomas McNaughton of the popular Flour + Water, this new hotspot in the Mission embodies the idea of Northern California as it stands circa now.
Website: centralkitchensf.com
Number of seats: 70
Average per-person check: $65
Popular dishes: heirloom tomatoes with anchovy, black pepper, buffalo milk custard; charred squid with tomato, peppercorn fregola and garum; hen with poached fig, shaved squash, basil and pistachio.
What people come for: retail store, salumeria that turns into private-dining outpost at night; cooking classes; covered patio for year-round outdoor dining
Address: 3000 20th St.
Phone: 415-826-7004
Photo: Eric Wolfinger
Website: centralkitchensf.com
Number of seats: 70
Average per-person check: $65
Popular dishes: heirloom tomatoes with anchovy, black pepper, buffalo milk custard; charred squid with tomato, peppercorn fregola and garum; hen with poached fig, shaved squash, basil and pistachio.
What people come for: retail store, salumeria that turns into private-dining outpost at night; cooking classes; covered patio for year-round outdoor dining
Address: 3000 20th St.
Phone: 415-826-7004
Photo: Eric Wolfinger
Quince
Chef Michael Tusk’s tasting menus offer seasonal fare in a decidedly upscale atmosphere that splurges on elegance and luxury without veering into excess.
Website: quincerestaurant.com
Number of seats: 80
Average per-person check: $130
Popular dishes: caprese with burrata gelato, basil, crisp; lamb with sunflower, huckleberry and cauliflower; squab with ruby beet, pistachio and Niabell grape; berries with mascarpone “bocconcini” and bergamot mint
What people come for: tasting menus, wine pairing program in forms both “traditional” and “blind”; cocktails prepared tableside by way of a cocktail cart
Address: 470 Pacific Ave.
Phone: 415-775-8500
Website: quincerestaurant.com
Number of seats: 80
Average per-person check: $130
Popular dishes: caprese with burrata gelato, basil, crisp; lamb with sunflower, huckleberry and cauliflower; squab with ruby beet, pistachio and Niabell grape; berries with mascarpone “bocconcini” and bergamot mint
What people come for: tasting menus, wine pairing program in forms both “traditional” and “blind”; cocktails prepared tableside by way of a cocktail cart
Address: 470 Pacific Ave.
Phone: 415-775-8500
Hog & Rocks
Aimed toward that fertile cross-section of “oyster eaters, ham fans and whiskey lovers,” Hog & Rocks bills itself as San Francisco’s first ham and oyster bar, and the rest of the menu expands into refined Northern Californian fare from there.
Website: hogandrocks.com
Number of seats: 70
Average per-person check: $60
Popular dishes: “Trotter Tots” with gypsy pepper and bread and butter pickle; barbecue oysters with cocktail sauce and herb butter; fried chicken with smoked potato and chicken jus; roasted pork with summer corn, charred peach and arugula
What people come for: playful cocktail program (e.g. a mini-menu tagged “Pimp My Old Fashioned”); special whiskey dinners
Address: 3431 19th St.
Phone: 415-550-8627
Photo: Nader Khouri
Website: hogandrocks.com
Number of seats: 70
Average per-person check: $60
Popular dishes: “Trotter Tots” with gypsy pepper and bread and butter pickle; barbecue oysters with cocktail sauce and herb butter; fried chicken with smoked potato and chicken jus; roasted pork with summer corn, charred peach and arugula
What people come for: playful cocktail program (e.g. a mini-menu tagged “Pimp My Old Fashioned”); special whiskey dinners
Address: 3431 19th St.
Phone: 415-550-8627
Photo: Nader Khouri
Spruce
This years-standing standby continues to bring discerning diners to Presidio Heights with an ambitious program of offerings, including a new breakfast and lunch café program to complement its regular seasonal menus.
Website: sprucesf.com
Number of seats: 70
Average per-person check: $45
Popular dishes: butter-poached Maine lobster, sweet corn, Tokyo turnips and wild arugula; Kurobuta pork tenderloin, farro spezzato, crispy pork belly and salsa verde; green tomato gazpacho, stone fruit granite and aromatic herbs.
What people come for: extensive wine list, progressive cocktails, various private-dining options; special-event dinners (e.g. “A Tribute to Tomatoes Dinner”); occasional cooking classes
Address: 3640 Sacramento St.
Phone: 415-931-5100
Website: sprucesf.com
Number of seats: 70
Average per-person check: $45
Popular dishes: butter-poached Maine lobster, sweet corn, Tokyo turnips and wild arugula; Kurobuta pork tenderloin, farro spezzato, crispy pork belly and salsa verde; green tomato gazpacho, stone fruit granite and aromatic herbs.
What people come for: extensive wine list, progressive cocktails, various private-dining options; special-event dinners (e.g. “A Tribute to Tomatoes Dinner”); occasional cooking classes
Address: 3640 Sacramento St.
Phone: 415-931-5100
