eat & drink in san francisco
Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop, Photo By Justin Bernhaut, April 2008
- san francisco restaurants
- Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop
- 3692 18th Street
The Mission
(415) 626-5600 Two of the owners of this cult favorite are also pastry chefs. They bake the cookies for the amazing ice-cream sandwiches, as well as the fixings that go into the flavors, ranging from rocky road with homemade marshmallows to salted caramel—all creamy, creamy!
- Boulange de Polk
- 2310 Polk Street
Russian Hill
(415) 345-1107 San Francisco has a very European feel, and one is reminded of it at this authentic boulangerie—bowls of latte, croque monsieurs. Out of the corner of our eye, we saw a perfect fruit tart being boxed for a customer. If you need to take a dessert somewhere, stop by.
- Caffe Trieste
- 601 Vallejo Street
North Beach
(415) 392-6739 An espresso is a requisite after all those dumplings. Caffe Trieste, a bit of North Beach history, makes a superior cup. Mind you, the scene here can seem straight out of central casting (We were fascinated by an old Tibetan man in a beanie and gold leather lace-up shoes).
- Delfina
- 3621 18th Street
The Mission
(415) 552-4055 It's almost impossible to eat badly in San Francisco—but everyone sings Delfina's praises. Popular with the thirtysomething crowd, the place has an Italian bent. For example, Wolfe Ranch quail (all meat has its source identified) with polenta, house-made fennel sausage and vin santo.
- Gold Mountain
- 644 Broadway Street
Russian Hill
(415) 296-7733 You can't leave San Francisco without having dim sum; it's part of daily life here. I adore the trolleys bearing steaming bamboo baskets—the ultimate in fast food. Don't be put off by the tired decor.
- Spruce
- 3640 Sacramento Street
Pacific Heights
(415) 931-5100 Spruce is one of the city's finest restaurants. Set in a storied warehouse, it has walls in Coca-Cola-hued mohair—quite sexy. We ordered wine and the signature charcuterie plate at the bar, which is saved for walk-ins.
- Tartine Bakery
- 600 Guerrero Street (at 18th Street)
The Mission
(415) 487-2600 At this establishment, coffees are made in something akin to a DJ booth, where a fetching girl produces lattes in bowls like you get in France. Nothing beats the croissants: We got a full steam facial when we pulled one open.
- The Candy Store
- 3067 Sacramento Street
Pacific Heights
(415) 922-7276 Your childhood dream—and the realized one of Diane Campbell, who specializes in "nostalgic candy" and can tell you the history of Peanut Chews, Cherry Mashes and so on. There is a serious selection of licorice, caramels and jawbreakers. Among the steady stream of "kidults" was a dentist craving a quarter pound of Lemonheads.
