Never settle for a boring sandwich again.
Aquitaine
Savvy staffers pull from a memorable selection of wine and dish out bistro fare beneath chandeliers fashioned with wine glasses. // 175 Sutter St., aquitainesf.com
B44
You don’t have to be European to feel continental at this alleyway restaurant, with its awning-shaded tables outside and a kitchen inside turning out some of the best Spanish food in the city. Everything on the menu tempts: We love the tapas, which include shrimp sauteed with garlic and adobo. All of the paellas, including one made with squid ink, are great. // 44 Belden Place, b44sf.com
(The amazeballs meatballs at Barbacco. Photo by Erin Kunkel)
Barbacco
Located next door to its big sibling, the well-regarded restaurant Perbacco, Barbacco is as slick as a new Vespa. The wine-centric food at this spot is meant for snacking. Barbacco executive chef Staffan Terje’s renowned house-made charcuterie makes a good start. // 220 California St., barbaccosf.com
Boxed Foods Company
The secret of Boxed Foods is its outdoor patio on Claude Lane, accessed through a door at the back of the (mostly) take-out lunch spot. Boxed Foods Company distinguishes itself from nearby lunch locales with its inspired sandwiches and salads loaded with fresh ingredients. Vegetarians have plenty of options, including a tempeh sandwich or lettuce wrap with kalamata olive tapenade. // 245 Kearny St., boxedfoodscompany.com
Café Claude
A little bit of Paris hidden in a FiDi alley, this cafe is decked out with a zinc bar and vintage Parisian tables. On sunny days, the crowd sits outside under an awning. Enjoy a night out and dine on their prix fixe dinner menu. // 7 Claude Lane, cafeclaude.com
Caffè Macaroni
Open since 1990, this family-run trattoria recreates the boisterous vibe of a Neapolitan eatery—with Italian shows playing on the TV, a clamorous chef cooking in the kitchen, and a soundtrack of contemporary Italian hits. Pastas may include a ribbon pasta, topped with wild boar ragu, red wine, and pecorino. The meat dishes can go beyond beef and chicken to feature ahi tuna and baby octopus. Dessert’s not a must, but a meal here should include an obscure bottle from the exhaustive list of Italian wines. // 59 Columbus Ave., caffemacaroni.com
(A plate of pates at Claudine. Photo by Brant Ward)
(The upstairs dining room at Gaspar. Photo by R. Brad Knipstein Photography)
Gaspar Brasserie
This very retro-style French restaurant is all dark wood with red leather seating and a burnished tin ceiling. Downstairs offers restaurant seating as well as is a bar and lounge area. Upstairs sip on a tasty libation in their upstairs bar, The Cognac Room. // 185 Sutter St., gasparbrasserie.com
Gitane
The first impression you’ll have when climbing the stairs from Gitane’s festive, high-ceilinged bar up to the mezzanine’s cozy dining room is darkness. However, once your eyes adjust, you see exposed brick walls, polished wooden tables, and a gorgeous maroon lacquered ceiling. Given all the hard surfaces, the noise level is pleasantly subdued. Under the brand new instruction of Chef Kenny Fox, enjoy tasty menu items and don’t overlook the sherries on the Mediterranean-focused wine list. // 6 Claude Lane, gitanerestaurant.com
The Golden West
Nothing but an alley takeout window marked by a neon sign lit with the periodic symbol for gold, the latest project from Dennis Leary—who’s closed his long-running Canteen to focus on his ever-expanding empire—is a happy stopover for hungry FiDi lunchers content to eat at their desks (or on a nearby park bench). The early standout on the menu was the barbecued short rib sandwich, but the other offerings—from trout salad with fennel and apples to a hot lunch, which might be their daily special—are all a cut above workaday fare. // 8 Trinity Alley, theauwest.com
(Photo by Ethan Kaplan)
Hakkasan
Cantonese cuisine gets a very luxe, modern makeover courtesy of the London-originated concern: think black-truffle roasted duck, or tea-smoked beef short ribs. (This is, by the way, one of a dozen Hakkasans worldwide, spanning from Miami to Mumbai to Dubai.) After a $7 million build-out, chinoiserie chic is the look inside this second-floor spot, with carved lattice screens that divide sleek dining rooms and sweeping views of the street below. The azure-lit bar takes center stage, tapping into a clubby vibe. // 1 Kearny St., hakkasan.com
The Hidden Vine Wine Bar
The plush couches and a roaring fire encourage a long visit to this place, as do the wine selection, small plate menu, and the bocce ball court. // 408 Merchant St., thehiddenvine.com
Irish Bank Bar & Restaurant
This dark alley nook, with its well-worn wooden floors and faintly glowing bottles of single malt whiskey, might induce you to order your Guinness with a bit o’ brogue. In warm weather, snag a table outside. The fish and chips—fortified with large hunks of Alaskan cod fried to a perfect crisp—are among the best in the city. If you must have meat, try the burger with your Harp. // 10 Mark Lane, theirishbank.com
Jai Yun
At this fixed-price Shanghai-focused restaurant, don’t expect your server to speak much English or even offer a menu. Rest assured, however, that you’ll leave satisfied with the authentic Chinese specialties. Reservations are required for dinner. Set aside at least two hours for a dining extravaganza showcasing, at minimum, eight cold and eight hot dishes. Instead of ordering from a menu, you’ll name your price and leave everything to chef Nei Chia Ji. The lineup varies depending on what’s fresh at the market. Standouts to hope for include a deep-fried eggplant and egg-white scramble topped with abalone. It’s BYOB with a corkage fee. // 680 Clay St., 415-981-7438
Kokkari Estiatorio
A roaring fireplace and heavy ceiling beams make this romantic, refined Greek restaurant an inviting spot for couples, as well as groups. Chef Erik Cosselmon spit-roasts baby lamb over wood, serves traditional filo pies, and cooks up an exceptional egg-lemon soup with chicken and rice. The restaurant also offers a generous platter of spreads—eggplant, tzatziki, taramosalata, and more—with housemade pita and a brilliant moussaka. Finish the meal with baklava and vanilla-praline ice cream. // 200 Jackson St., kokkari.com
(Wagyu Nigiri at Kusakabe. Photo by Sierra Hartman)
Kusakabe
The sleek lines of this modernly appointed space are hallmarks of high-end Japanese dining. Former Sushi Ran chef Mitsunori "Nori" Kusakabe leads the kitchen, and diners must buy into his pricey omakase menu. Chef Nori experiments with lesser-known sushi styles, including an a-la-carte cedar-barbecued white eel done up the bou style with sansho pepper. // 584 Washington St., kusakabe-sf.com
Michael Mina
One of the biggest names in the food world had a homecoming in 2010, when Michael Mina’s namesake flagship moved from its original digs in the Westin St. Francis hotel to the former Aqua space, where Mina came of age in the early ’90s. The return is a welcome one—and a departure as well. The eclectic menu at the polished space nods to Japan and includes a tasting of Japanese fish. Mina classics remain, including the famous tuna tartare and herb roasted lamb chops. // 252 California St., michaelmina.net
Natoma Cabana
A huge, brick-walled warehouse with a wood-beamed ceiling, Astroturf carpet, and tropical foilage, Natoma Cabana serves Southern cocktails and house-made fireballs to be enjoyed from the patio. // 90 Natoma St., natomacabana.com
Palio D’Asti
Named after an ancient horse race still run annually in the town square of Asti, a city in Italy’s Piedmont region, Palio D’Asti is decked out with medieval flags and painted murals. Suits from nearby offices drop in at lunchtime for upscale Italian eats. Try the restaurant’s delicious fedelini con granchio, spaghettini with Dungeness crab meat and chilies. // 640 Sacramento St., paliodasti.com
Perbacco
This gorgeous restaurant—in an old Gold Coast space—is decked out with the building’s original exposed brick, long mirrors, and marble floors. It’s classy enough to impress your clients but still inviting enough for a more intimate experience. The front bar is hopping with patrons after work. Chef Staffan Terje combines influences from Piemonte and Liguria for rustic yet refined dishes. // 230 California St., perbaccosf.com
Plouf
Tasteful nautical elements dominate the interior, from decorative hanging fish to the heavily accented French waiters in striped sailor shirts. On a nice night, snag one of the outdoor seats. It’s hard to spot a table at Plouf that hasn’t ordered mussels—they’re prepared six different ways by Plouf’s kitchen and served in huge cast-iron bowls. Don’t miss with traditional marinière (shallots, white wine, and parsley), and be sure to order a side of pommes frites for dipping. There are also plenty of bistro-inspired meat and fish entrees. // 40 Belden Place, ploufsf.com
(You’ll find tako (octopus), sliced thin for nigiri and sashimi, on Pabu’s menu. Photo by Aubrie Pick)
The Ramen Bar and Pabu
Michael Mina's 2014 project is actually two establishments, with a more casual ramen bar adjacent to the high-end Pabu, which features incredible Japanese cuisine along with an inventive cocktail list featuring drinks such as their sake sangria, which includes sake, white wine, ginger, and seasonal fruit. // 101 California St., pabuizakaya.com
Rickhouse
Rickhouse is a temple to libation, be it artisanal cocktails, local brews, fine spirits, or boutique Cali wines. Only fresh juices and seasonal produce are used. // 246 Kearny St., rickhousebar.com
Schroeder's
After an extensive renovation, this formerly tourist-heavy German restaurant and beer hall has made a comeback with both formal dining and huge communal tables, perfect for enjoying a large boot of beer. // 240 Front St., schroderssf.com
Tadich Grill
The old-school, storied atmosphere—mahogany walls, 20-foot ceilings, and efficient waiters clad in white coats—attracts singles in suits during the week and born-and-bred die-hard locals on the weekends. Make the trip to Tadich Grill for its house special—it’s a classic cioppino brimming with crab, clams, whitefish, scallops, and bay shrimp. // 240 California St., tadichgrill.com
Wayfare Tavern
Bay Area chef Tyler Florence’s flagship restaurant, Wayfare Tavern, has brought both the Financial District crowd and tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the Food Network star—though considering how busy Florence is opening a million other things, we’d guess that your chances are rather slim. The food at Wayfare Tavern is rustic American with a hat tip to the Barbary Coast. The interior is dark and handsome with tufted brown leather booths, taxidermy, and wood floors. // 558 Sacramento St., wayfaretavern.com
