Santa Rosa Subs

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.

While most people think of San Franciscans as pretty healthy, we do like our burgers. Luckily there are options to satisfy just about any kind of craving.  There are so many excellent hamburgers out there it is impossible to list them all, but here are a few of the stars. Great Burgers from Burger Joints When it comes cooking anything in this town, the natives want the finest ingredients possible.  That’s why many of the best burgers in the city are joints that got their start in the city, because they chefs and owners know what hits the mark in this town. Places like Super Duper Burger where the name delivers. Adriano Paganini, who also runs Starbelly and Beretta in San Francisco uses local meats like Niman beef, Petaluma chickens, as well as Strauss cream. The burgers, fries and shakes (and soft-serve cones) are deliciously decadent. They are well known for their garlic fries – but make sure your entire party eats them, they are potent! Free homemade pickles are a bonus too! Deluxe may be in the name at Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers but they have burgers in all sizes including a popular mini burger. After you make your burger decision you’ll struggle with the fries as they offer a full fry and onion ring menu as well. For a real treat try the Spicy Sly created by Korean American owner Sylvia Park. It’s got sauteed red and green peppers, caramelized onions, cheese, a little mayo, and a Spicy Sly sauce, which has habenero chiles and ground pumpkin seeds – irresistible! Gott’s Roadhouse may have got it start in Napa, but it has found its real home in the Ferry Building.  Classic Niman beef burger and other organic ingredients make this spot a must-try.  Lines don’t lie and there is always one here.  If you are lucky they will appease your wait with samples of their Strauss farm soft serve ice cream.. One taste and it will have you reconsidering your order to fit in dessert.  However don’t skip out on the main star – any one of the burgers on the menu, including the highly regarded ahi burger are well worth the wait. Southern Invasion For years the city’s only southern invader was In-N-Out Burger whose double-double or animal version hamburger keeps many a crowd at Fisherman’s Wharf satisfied, but for a local, you've got to really want that burger to brave the tourist zone!  However, in the last several months we have seen the openings of two other LA-based burger giants: Umami and Smashburger. Umami came first with Umami Union in Union Square.  They have the classic Umami offerings, decadent burgers meant to hit every taste bud on the tongue and their specialty burger just for this location the bacon-wrapped scallop burger with a hand-chopped scallop patty with crispy pork belly, sweet chile sauce and yuzu-garlic aioli is something to behold, particularly if you don’t eat me.  Go with a friend to try it without missing out on a beef burger – order both and split them so you can enjoy the full range of burger possibilities! Smashburger made its debut in Portrero Hill.   They came into town with their smashed, seared and seasoned-to-order beef burgers and proclaimed themselves to be a burger joint with a soul.  Like Umami they offer a uniquely local spin to their menu including the Bay Burger with arugula, sauteed portabella mushrooms, aged Swiss cheese, and truffle mayo on a ciabatta. bun. They also do a darn good milkshake. Awesome Burgers on Regular Menus There is no shortage of amazing restaurants in San Francisco, so it should be no surprise that many of them have really awesome burgers. Spiced pickled onions and the house-made ketchup seal the deal on the burger at Nopa, a hard to get into spot near Alamo Square known for its rustic food.  This is an upscale spot with impeccable service so you can have your grass fed hamburger in style with one of the city’s best wine menus. There is no shame in ordering a burger at a steak place. Especially at Epic Roasthouse where they use a half pound of Wagyu beef ground fresh daily. There may be nothing better than eating a hamburger with a view of the Bay Bridge at night. With caramelized onions, horseradish aioli, bacon, and cheddar Marlowe’s burger is consistently on many of the city’s top ten lists. Skip the fries and go for the fried brussel spouts and then wash it all down with a brew from their beer menu. This is just a small sampling, the quarter pound version, of what San Francisco has to offer when it comes to hamburgers. No matter what the mood, classic joint or refined surroundings; simple or piled high, there is a burger in this city with your name on it – and probably some fries and a shake too. Photos by: Luca Ohman, Michelle Koh Potts, & Jennifer Yin respectively. | Discover even more San Francisco restaurants.

The Embarcadero is San Francisco's eastern waterfront along the bay.  Derived from the Spanish word embarcar (to embark), it dates from the early 1900s as the center of trade and transport, and served as a Pacific logistics center during World War II.  The construction of the Bay Bridge rapidly reduced the use of the ferries and ports, leading to construction of the Embarcadero Freeway in the 1960s.  For three decades the double-decker eyesore separated the waterfront from the rest of the City. It was permanently torn down in 1991 after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake deemed it unsafe. The aesthetically pleasing waterfront redevelopment began with a wide palm-lined boulevard replacing the freeway, and the Ferry Building, pedestrian walkways and piers have since been restored to their former splendor. Starting at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, the Embarcadero carves a walkable path past the piers and ends at Fisherman’s Wharf.  There are many eating options along the way, especially in the Ferry Building and nearby Piers 1-1/2 through 5, where several high profile chefs have opened premier restaurants.  Below are our top five picks along one of the city's newest dining destinations. Coqueta  | Pier 5, The Embarcadero Coqueta means “flirt” in Spanish, and the restaurant embodies celebrity chef Michael Chiarello’s infatuation with, and exploration of, the cuisine of Spain. The menu is divided into sections for cured meats, cheeses, pintxos, bocadillos, tapas, and larger plates (including paella for two), all served family-style. With such a wide selection, it would be wise to come with a larger party, or stick with smaller plates, to sample more of the menu.  As you peruse the menu, open with any of the bite-sized pintxos offered on a tray of skewers, accompanied by one of bar manager Joe Cleveland’s generous and aromatic cocktails. Fog City   | 1300 Battery Street Dropping the ‘diner’ designation, Fog City’s recent renovation revealed an all new interior centered around a much more spacious V-shaped bar.  The open kitchen is outfitted with a wood-fired oven and a BBQ grill that raises and lowers with a wheel. Partner/Executive Chef Bruce Hill, who also heads the kitchens at Bix and Zero Zero, has updated the menu with a focus around the grill and wood-burning techniques.  Smoke comes in many forms but never dominates the flavor profile.  Most of the items are meant to be shared, whether they are small plates like a salad, or the meatier large plates such as the Wood Oven Whole Chicken. Slanted Door   | 1 Ferry Bldg Marketplace #3 Owner/Executive Chef Charles Phan revolutionized upscale modern Vietnamese cooking when he opened the original Slanted Door in the Mission in 1995.  Now located in the Ferry Plaza, it is an institution and one of the City’s most popular restaurants. You can’t go wrong with anything from the extensive menu, which includes items from the raw bar, papaya salad, fresh spring rolls, roasted Dungeness crab and the popular grass-fed Shaking Beef. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide beautiful bay views, making it worth a visit for lunch or dinner. Just don’t look for an actual slanted door: it remains in the Mission. Hard Water   | Pier 3, The Embarcadero The Southern focus of Hard Water was a surprising departure for The Slanted Door’s Charles Phan. It was an instant success, offering excellent fried items such as alligator, pork belly cracklin’ and chicken with pepper jelly.  A raw bar and items such as gumbo, grits, albacore salad, pork chops and braised rabbit complete the menu.  Measuring a mere 1300 square feet, the cozy space includes a wall of whiskey with over 150 of the best bottles the American South has to offer, available in flights or as one- or two-ounce pours. Waterbar (399 The Embarcadero South | http://www.waterbarsf.com) Five years ago, restaurateur/designer Pat Kueleto and his partners opened the seafood-centric Waterbar together with its sister steakhouse Epic Roasthouse next door. An ambitious bay-front project, both restaurants were built from the ground up with specific design elements in mind. Waterbar has an excellent raw bar with over a dozen different oysters to choose from, along with great seafood-centric fare cooked by Partner/Chef Mark Franz and Executive Chef Parke Ulrich. Their daily $1 oyster specials ($2 after 6pm) make for a reasonable lunch or brunch, especially with the spectacular views. Dinners are more of a splurge, but well worth it, especially since it’s one of the best places to watch the Bay Lights Sculpture on the Bay Bridge. Explore even more culinary delights with our San Francisco restaurant deals.