How to Eat San Francisco
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge celebrates its 75th birthday with fireworks and a host of fun events this Sunday. Planning to celebrate by climbing, hiking or biking Cali’s biggest icon? You’ll need to calorie load first. Jess Blumensheid finds a world of food within a few miles of the bridge — and for where to stay and play, see our deals below.
Where: Design District
What: New American
Twenty Five Lusk caters to a SoMa crowd that’s as swanky as its exposed brick, wooden beams and glass-encased show kitchen. After gnocchi and a side of cauliflower crème brulee, stir up a Blood and Fire cocktail in the sunken lounge where leather seats surround a 360-degree metal fireplaces.
Where: Hayes Valley
What: Gumbo
Opened during last spring’s restaurant boom in the fashionable Hayes Valley, the Creole-style Boxing Room has a Louisana-native chef and Pacific dishes given a creative Cajun spin. Don’t miss the Cajun-boiled peanuts, Louisiana seafood gumbo and New Orleans stuffed artichoke.
Where: Jackson Square
What: Pizza
San Fran’s newest food truck, Del Popolo, is a bi-level beast that serves spot on Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza from a 5,000-pound Stefano Ferrara oven shipped from the motherland. Find it near Jackson and Front streets and follow on twitter @pizzadelpopolo
Where: Lands End
What: Seafood
Snag a windowside seat at the Cliff House’s lower-level Sutro’s for the pistachio-crusted scallops and a glass of Napa Cab. On a cliff near the start of the Lands End Trail, the restaurant is particularly romantic at sunset.
Where: Sausalito
What: Sushi
The tuna tartare at Sushi Ran is flown in from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market at this foodie and local celeb favorite a block from the bay in downtown Sausalito, a crevice of a town at the other end the Golden Gate. Saddle up to the wooden sushi bar and splurge on brussel sprout kimchee and moriawase combo (of blue fin tuna, blue prawn shrimp and albacore).
Where: The Mission
What: Ice Cream
Family-owned Mitchell’s Ice Cream in the Mission is known for its exotic handmade flavors, from Cantaloupe to Grasshopper Pie, made in small, 10-gallon batches. Be prepared: It’s the richest, most indulgent ice cream you’ll ever have the good fortune of tasting.
Where: The Embarcadero
What: Vietnamese
At Slanted Door, Executive Chef, Charles Pan, experiments with traditional Vietnamese and NorCal ingredients in his Mission test kitchen before fusing them in his glass-fronted Embarcadero restaurant. The organic chicken clay pot is almost as good as the bay views.
Where: The Mission
What: Tacos
There’s no shortage of hole-in-the-wall taquerias in the Mission district, but Cancún is a stand out for its vegetarian burrito (as superb as the carne asada) and endless chips and salsa supply. Bring both hands and a wad of cash. 2288 Mission St (415-252-9560).
