Summer of Food, 2010 Edition

We've continued our tradition of spending July in San Francisco.  That's also meant we've continued our tradition of a month of complete excess on the food front.  As we spend more time here, I really need to learn once again how to indulge with moderation,  but this month saw barely a glimmer of said moderation.   What it did see was some great eats (and three notable chocolate desserts - a nice departure from the ubiquitous and boring warm chocolate souffle).  We were able to mix it up with some new restaurants along with old favorites. Here are the July 2010 SF food highlights (in no particular order):

Wayfare Tavern:  Had a great evening here with friends - good homey food - favorite dishes were grilled calamari, burger, chocolate cupcake (I am not generally a fan of the cupcake trend.  This one was remarkable.)

Tacolicious:  In contrast to Ryan, I'm not generally a huge fan of Mexican food.  I got tacos to go so haven't yet tried their other menu items (though I'll be back!) but the carnitas taco won me over.   Quite the scene.

Marlowe:  Had a great night here - liked but didn't love the food.  Would definitely go again if I needed a pre-Giants game meal, wouldn't make the trek down there otherwise.  Burger was quite good.

Roam burgers: While still not health food, as healthful as you're going to get for burgers, fries and shakes.  Nice to see a restaurant that's going for the healthful fast-food angle actually have grass-fed beef and a great vegetarian burger

A16:  Perennial favorite.  I could eat their Margherita pizza and tuna conserva all day.  Also enjoyed a roasted calamari app and a great seasonal salad with nectarines.   I've long been a fan of the chocolate budino, so I can't believe I'm saying this, but, think it's time for a new chocolate dessert.  If you're only going to serve one chocolate dessert (which I totally disagree with, btw), it should certainly change at least every few years.

Luella:  Nice neighborhood restaurant.  Loved the tuna tartare tacos and the coca cola braised pork shoulder

Spruce:  Always love sitting at the bar for a burger and mussels.  The standout item for me on this visit was the chocolate bread pudding  (though I disagree with the choice of the basil/olive oil ice cream that accompanied it)

Anchor and Hope: A new restaurant for us, we ended up going here twice.  Good vibe, great beer list, good menu, uncomfortable chairs.  Favorite dish was the spice crusted scallops with curry sauce.  Going with the trend of comfort foods, the chocolate brownie with cherry ice cream and nut brittle was a nice ending to the meal

Sushi Ran (Sausalito) - Always amazing. Everything.

Pizzzeria Defina: another perennial favorite;  their seasonal pies are standouts -  this time we had a cherry pie with marinated cherry tomatoes

Pizzeria Picco (Larkspur): You can't go wrong with any of their pizzas, but I'm particularly partial to the margherita and the son of yeti (hen of the oods mushrooms, leeks, fontina, mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino, garlic and thyme).  I also love that they offer an El Rey chocolate shell for their Straus Creamery soft serve ice cream (like Dairy Queen, but actually good). And they have flash-frozen pizzas you can take to have later at home - they actually are quite good when re-heated.

Yank Sing - favorite dim sum in SF - the steamed shrimp with chives dumpling is my favorite

Bi Rite Creamery - my birthday cake came from here - a fine reinterpretation of the Baskin Robbins cake I loved as a kid - chocolate cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream

Other neighborhood favorites we enjoyed this month: Out the Door and Three Seasons for great take out Vietnamese, pastrami sandwich at the Grove, mussels at Rose's Cafe, bread and croissants at La Boulange

Places I want to try but didn't get to on this visit:  Tony's Pizza Napoletana,  Zero Zero, Cafe des Amis, Flour+Water, Prospect, Barbacco, Mr and Mrs Miscellaneous (ice cream), Quince

Comments

[Jvaleski]

Wayfare was indeed fun/good! Roam was great (would like one in Boulder)! La Boulange was deadly good (would like one in Boulder).

Not sure how you refrain from true gluttony considering you spend a month out there.

[laurie]

i'm dying to try the cherry pie @ delfina!! i am busy mentally tallying your choco desserts....here's to NEW PIZZA in October