Hot Cajun Seafood

The Mission district is one of San Francisco’s premier dining destinations.  Original occupant The Slanted Door has long moved away, but Delfina and Foreign Cinema have plenty of company today.  Just how popular is dining in the Mission district?  In the fall of 2012 it was reported that 1000 restaurant seats were added in a three-block area by 16 restaurant openings in an eighteen-month period. Many Mission places are so popular that they are hard to get into; for example, Flour + Water typically requires 60 day advance reservations and is infamous for having turned Steve Jobs away.  This is our list of five fine dining establishments in the Mission that don’t require advance planning and often have same-day reservations available. Locanda (557 Valencia St. | http://locandasf.com/) Chef Anthony Strong creates excellent Roman-inspired fare in the heart of the Mission at this Delfina team destination.  It just might have overtaken its older sister in terms of popularity, due largely to their excellent cocktail program.  The daily-changing menu is comprised of antipasti, snacks, pasta and grill specials.  Fried foods are a Roman specialty, and their Jewish-style artichoke splayed out like a sunflower has become a fixture.  Make a point to start with the cheese-stuffed fried Castelveltrano green olives prior to any of their excellent pasta or grill dishes. Commonwealth (2224 Mission St. | http://www.commonwealthsf.com/) Chef Jason Fox and Chef de Cuisine Ian Muntzert are putting together some unique market-driven menus that change frequently, evolving through the seasons.  Their 6-course Chef’s Tasting Menu is just $75 -- it is a wonder that they can offer such a complex tour for so little. Plus, $10 from every prix fixe is donated to a local charity.  Also available is the a la carte Modern American menu, where most items are priced between $12-$16, featuring pristine seasonal ingredients all artistically plated. Range (842 Valencia St. | http://www.rangesf.com/) This is the epitome of a great neighborhood restaurant: a bar serving amazing artisanal cocktails, a classy candlelit interior, a smart seasonally-oriented menu and efficient service.   The focused menu of ten items offers something for every palate, with fish, poultry, meat and vegetarian items.  Their daily aperitif hour runs from 5-6pm, serving low-proof sherry and vermouth cocktails along with bar bites like their excellent chicken liver mousse. Certainly worth checking out to get the appetite going for the rest of the evening! St. Vincent (1270 Valencia St. | http://www.stvincentsf.com/) Owner David Lynch, often referred to as a Sommelier’s Sommelier, had a compelling restaurant concept and named it after the patron saint of vintners.  Every non-sparkling wine on the extensive list can be ordered as a half-bottle, giving the opportunity to explore and greater flexibility in pairing with courses.  This is not your typical wine bar, as Executive Chef Bill Niles’ seasonal menu complements the diverse offering of wine and craft beers.  Starters can include pickled beets or house-made pretzels, but make sure to save room for the spicy fried chicken –- and yes, the server will know exactly which wine to serve with that. Lolinda (2518 Mission St | http://lolindasf.com/) This Argentinian-inspired Steakhouse by the Beretta and Starbelly team transformed the cavernous Medjool space into a dining mecca.  Thanks to the excellent bar program, a cocktail, wine or beer pairs easily with the Latin-infused menu, which is broken up into cold and hot starters, mid-size dishes and proteins cooked a la vara (on a stick), asador (grilled) or as full-sized platos.  It’s a great place for a date night, but come with a larger group to share more Latin flavors.

As the air in San Francisco gets a little crisper, the fog starts rolling in a bit thicker and the lights of the Embarcadero buildings begin to twinkle as evening approaches, you know the holidays are on their way. And there is nothing like the approach of the holiday season to make one nostalgic. It is the perfect time to get retro with some of the city's time-honored classics, after all, these dishes are classics for a reason. If you are constantly on the look out for the latest and greatest but are beginning to have FOMO (fear of missing out) fatigue, check out some of San Francisco's tried and true culinary delights which have all stood the test of time. (Find even more restaurants in San Francisco.) Cioppino at Tadich Grill A classic dish at a classic restaurant. Tadich Grill, located in the Financial District, is the oldest continuously running restaurant in San Francisco and they have been serving cioppino since the restaurant opened in 1849. The dish itself was created in the 1800's by a North Beach Italian who used the leftovers from the fishing boats with a few Dungeness crabs thrown in. The signature dish at Tadich includes clams, prawns, scallops, bay shrimp, mussels and fresh white fish along with crab in a tomato-based broth. You will eat every bite of the fresh seafood and sop up any remaining broth with garlic toast that is provided.  If you save room for one more dish or can convince someone to share, don't miss ordering the sand dabs as well, they are another local specialty.  You'll be served San Franciscan classically prepared dishes by white-jacketed waiters  in a gorgeous art deco environment in the same way it has been for more than 160 years.  Tip: Plan ahead as the restaurant does not take reservations. Clam Chowder (and oysters) at Swan Oyster Depot If you can hack the long line to grab one of the 20 bar stools in this legendary spot on Polk Street then you will be warmly greeted and made to feel like family.  Serving seafood classics since 1912, Swan Oyster Depot has a limited menu that includes fresh Dungeness crab, shrimp, oysters, clam cocktails, a few types of smoked fish (get the salmon!), and clam chowder.  Most regulars grab a bowl of chowder, a few oysters and a beer and then dash out; they are cognizant of the hoards of people trying to get in.  The best times to go are 11 (they open the stools at 10:30) or after 4:30.  Tip: Bring a coat, it can get cold, especially if you are sitting near the door. Prime Rib at House of Prime Rib If you are a red meat kind of person then look no further than House of Prime Rib, or HOPR for short.   It is the quintessential beef restaurant. There is no other spot in the city that measures up when it comes to ambiance, service or food. Your only decision is how big do you want your slice of heaven.  The beef is so tender you can cut it with a fork and it does melt in your mouth.  Tip: Skip the salad and save room for the creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Irish Coffee at Buena Vista Cafe This is a date night classic.  Or likely your parents or grandparents date night classic. Doesn't matter, there is something distinctly cool in a retro kind of way about getting an Irish coffee here.  It took awhile for the owner of the Buena Vista Cafe to get the recipe for this signature elixir right, but with the help of various partners in crime, the Buena Vista Irish coffee was born in 1952 and the recipe which includes Irish whiskey and coffee with frothed cream aged for 48 hours remains unchanged.  The restaurant originally served as a meeting place for fishermen and handlers who worked for the nearby Sardine Cannery and has always been a spot of friends and strangers alike to get to know each other over a warm drink. Tip: Just go for the drink, don't eat there. So there you have it. Four San Francisco classics to check out. Whether it is alone or with friends you'll quickly see why these spots have been fan favorites for decades.  While these locations are great all year round if you have family in town for the holidays you'll earn brownie points with all the generations if you take them to any one of these. Photos by: Leslie Wong, Shalbs, Jun Seita, and Julie Blaustein respectively. 

North Beach, also known as San Francisco’s Little Italy, has managed to walk the fine line between a hot touristy spot and an area beloved by native San Franciscans. And with it’s high density of authentic ristorantes, cafes, and Old World delicatessens, it’s a prime foodie spot as well! Here are 5 must-eat restaurants in the heart of North Beach: #1: Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. Hands down, one of the best pizza places in all of North Beach, maybe even in all of San Francisco. And it’s all thanks to owner Tony Gemignani, an award winning pizza maker. Tony’s specializes in Napoli pizza and their ingredients are actually imported from Napoli! All of their pizza and pasta dough is made in house, and they even have whole wheat and gluten free versions for the more health-conscious. Just a heads up though: since everything is made fresh in-house daily, sometimes they run out of certain menu items.  Be prepared for a long wait as well, this restaurant is amazingly popular and doesn’t take reservations. Leave your phone number at the host stand and then head to a nearby bar for a drink while you wait! #2: Mama’s on Washington Square. Mama’s is another San Francisco institution that doesn’t take reservations and also requires you to stand in line until they are ready to cook your order, but the long weekend waits are worth the brunch that awaits you. Menu items to try include the Monte Cristo, Eggs Benedict, and their 10 types of French toasts (you can choose from sourdough baguettes, banana bread or wheat bread). The homemade jam on each table is also to die for. #3: Cafe Jacqueline. This unique restaurant serves only souffles as a main course, with a choice of non-souffle soups and salads to start. Dinner souffles serve two: choose from asparagus, spinach or lobster - each with a cheese base. Dessert is, of course, a souffle - which must be ordered at the same time as dinner and is not to be missed! The ambiance is super romantic, small, and candlelit, so it’s perfect for a date night or a special night out. #4: Victoria Pastry Co. This bakery is one of the city’s oldest -- in business since 1914. It’s best known for its cakes, and specializes in wedding cakes. They even have bite-sized cake creations for a single-serving taste of heaven. Their specialty is their mini tiramisu - served ready to go in it’s own takeout cup. #5: L’Osteria del Forno. This tiny restaurant is famous for its fresh-baked focaccia (sandwiches and pizzas), and is one of the top authentic Italian restaurants in SF. For meat lovers, hope that the milk braised pork is the special roast of the day - it is divine. Their menu also features a variety of pizzas, salads, soups and fresh made pastas. Small baskets of warm focaccia arrive at your table until your entrees are served. For as tiny a restaurant as this is, they still have a full bar with a wonderful selection of wines and grappas. You can also get their pizza by the slice for folks on the go. Not in the mood for anything here? Explore all our San Francisco restaurant deals.