fine dining

Restaurant Website: http://www.saisonsf.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2124+folsom+st.,+san+francisco&sll=37.778825,-122.394065&sspn=0.006606,0.009484&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2124+Folsom+St,+San+Francisco,+California+94110&z=17

Foodies looking for an experience that they'll never forget come here to see what happens when a fine-dining chef takes over an informal kitchen and gallery space in the Mission District (directly behind Stable Cafe) on weekends. Huddling outside the outdoor heat lamps while waiting for your table inside in the compromise you might have to make. On warm nights, take advantage of the garden patio.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The "restaurant" put on by Mina (as in Michael) Group alumnus chef Joshua Skenes and sommelier Mark Bright is casual when it comes to service but the food is star quality, with a new menu each week, with such food as sublime uni soup, beautifully presented liver mousse and honey-roasted squab. If you choose to reserve a seat at the chef's table—an affair that puts you two steps from the stoves as well as the dishwashers—you might even be served by Skenes himself.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.cliffhouse.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1090+point+lobos+ave.+San+Francisco&sll=37.782638,-122.401836&sspn=0.009277,0.013304&ie=UTF8&ll=37.777516,-122.511914&spn=0.009277,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

From a wall of windows, diners at this sweeping restaurant set at the site of the historic Sutro Baths are treated to one of the most stunning ocean vistas in the city—a true amuse-bouche. A mix of diners (heavy on the tourists, but increasingly more locals) come for special occasions. Time your most romantic dinner reservation to coincide with the sunset. The view also comes cheaper at brunch.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Although Sutro’s has never cultivated the foodie set, the decision to place veteran chef George Morrone at the helm is changing that. Morrone, who famously started Aqua, has his delicious signature tartare on the menu, but you’ll also find “New American” dishes such as citrus-and-coriander cured Loche Duarte salmon with beets, crab bisque and a thick cut of veal prime rib with marsala sauce and roasted parsnips.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.zareflytrap.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=606+Folsom+St.+San+Francisco&sll=37.753751,-122.407608&sspn=0.00928,0.013304&ie=UTF8&ll=37.786216,-122.396944&spn=0.009276,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

Those who remember the original Fly Trap, that bastion of classic San Francisco cuisine, will recognize this dining room; little has changed, decor-wise, since chef-owner Hoss Zaré took over. Walls are still a brilliant red and botanical prints still decorate the walls.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>While the interior design may not have changed much, the menu has been given a complete overhaul. Gone are the liver and onions and the Hangtown Fry, replaced by Hoss Zaré’s masterful Persian techniques and ingredients, such as braised lamb shank with pickled grapes, oversized meatballs stuffed with myriad delights and silky eggplant in a sun-dried yogurt sauce with walnuts</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=luce,+++sf&sll=38.056742,-122.365723&sspn=0.776381,1.722107&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.817921,-122.406578&spn=0.103603,0.215263&z=12&iwloc=A

The in-house restaurant of SoMa’s new Intercontinental hotel, Luce (Italian for “light”) takes advantage of its corner location with floor-to-20-foot-ceiling windows that flood the spacious room with sunshine. Modern silver pendant lights and white leather booths add to the airy feel.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Chef Dominique Creen (named a “chef to watch” in 2007 by Esquire) recently returned to San Francisco after stints in Indonesia and L.A; the Frenchwoman has created a menu for Luce that showcases her global experience while taking advantage of the best locally sourced products. Lamb (chops and cheeks) is served with a Moroccan-style apricot tagine; a pristine piece of John Dory is accompanied by classic French artichoke barigoule—a kumquat escabèche adds a nouveau twist. For dessert, order the signature “study of chocolate,” a five-way variation on the theme, paired with a glass of grappa off of a (100-plus bottle) list.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Yoshi's+,++sf&sll=37.839886,-122.44812&sspn=0.097336,0.215263&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.801375,-122.415161&spn=0.048693,0.107632&z=13&iwloc=A

Adjacent to the jazz club of the same name (and, yes, a sibling of the Oakland Yoshi’s), this vast restaurant, seating nearly 400, has soaring ceilings, a second-story lounge and an elegant private dining room, separated from the main room by panels of frosted glass. You can’t miss the open kitchen—take a look in for an impressive behind-the-scenes peek at the mastery behind the meal.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Refined Japanese is the order of the day at Yoshi’s, where chef Shotaro Kamio offers a veritable treasure trove of unusual ingredients, including fish selections flown in daily from the Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji fish market. Spare, elegant presentations and delicate flavors are the defining features of the offerings, which go far beyond the typical sushi rolls. Sparkling-fresh sashimi and meats cooked in the wood-fired oven are particularly special.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3199+Clement+St,+San+Francisco,+CA&sll=37.802731,-122.463913&sspn=0.049642,0.107632&ie=UTF8&ll=37.78625,-122.493482&spn=0.012413,0.026908&z=15&iwloc=addr

This less-than-charmed location on the far reaches of Clement Street has housed its fair share of Asian restaurants over the years. The latest reincarnation is the best yet: The room has been renovated, making it bigger and brighter, and the walls are a warm orange. The charming servers are eager and friendly.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Owned by a Burmese couple who came to San Francisco by way of a lengthy stopover in Thailand, Pagan offers a menu neatly divided in two: half Thai dishes, half Burmese. Fans of Burma Superstar will recognize the tea-leaf salad, samusa soup (which fiercely rivals the one at Superstar) and pumpkin-and-pork stew. From the Thai side of the menu, the crispy tofu and lime-drenched larb are good choices.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=369+The+Embarcadero,+San+Francisco&sll=37.787745,-122.398768&sspn=0.011836,0.019312&g=83+Minna+St.,+San+Francisco&ie=UTF8&ll=37.78915,-122.394562&spn=0.011836,0.019312&z=16&iwloc=addr

The sister restaurant to Waterbar, Epic Roasthouse is Pat Kuleto’s homage to meat. The dining room, made to look like a pump house, is outfitted with deep leather banquettes, giving the room a clubby feel. Almost every seat offers spectacular views of the Bay.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>As you would expect at a self-described “roasthouse,” the focus here is on the beef. The usual suspects (filet, prime rib and porterhouse among them) are on the menu, joined by hearty lamb and veal chops. Sides are à la carte and include cream-rich scalloped potatoes, sautéed spinach and the requisite macaroni and cheese. Epic also serves what may well be the most expensive hamburger in town—a full three-quarter-pound, $25, ground-daily version. The chocolate soufflé, topped with caramel ice cream, is among the best in the city.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: The macaroni and cheese</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Waterbar+sf&sll=37.788488,-122.413015&sspn=0.007614,0.01339&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.799883,-122.399712&spn=0.028891,0.053558&z=14&iwloc=A

2009 EDITOR'S PICK: Best New Restaurant

One half of Pat Kuleto’s megaproject on the Bay, Waterbar has floor-to-ceiling windows that take full advantage of the gorgeous view of the water and the Bay Bridge beyond. The restaurant’s design centers on two 19-foot-tall aquariums (stocked with fish found in our local waters) and a raw bar.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Naturally, the focus of the menu is on seafood—both raw and cooked. The kitchen, headed by Farallon alum Parke Ulrich, has a knack for restraint. Shell-on prawns are simply roasted in the wood oven and accompanied by lemon wedges; petrale sole is set on a bed of shredded brussels sprouts. Even those richer, more elaborate dishes—such as bone marrow topped with Dungeness crab, black truffle and cream—aren’t overwrought. Desserts, such as the pineapple tart (pineapple custard in a buttery pastry shell), are homey and satisfying.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1300+fillmore+sf&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=37.783384,-122.43207&spn=0.007377,0.013518&z=16&iwloc=addr

The arrival of 1300 on Fillmore (along with Yoshi’s next door) heralds the revitalization of the part of town formerly known as the Fillmore Jazz district. The lounge is hung with vintage sepia photographs depicting the glory days of the neighborhood, and spotlights complete the theatrical effect. The crowd, a mixture of ages, race, families and couples, is refreshingly diverse.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Elements of soul food permeate the menu, including grits, cornbread and fried chicken, but they’ve all been given an upscale twist. The grits are enriched by mascarpone and topped with wild mushrooms; cornbread is accompanied by house-made pepper jelly; and crispy fried chicken has a dash of cumin in the crust and, on the side, whipped potatoes perfumed with truffle oil.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Sens++,+sf&sll=37.776821,-122.418594&sspn=0.052644,0.106087&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.812903,-122.407608&spn=0.052619,0.106087&z=13&iwloc=C

The cavernous space that has played host over the years to Monte Cristo and, before that, Splendido, has been reborn (again) as Sens. The rustic room, with wooden doors, heavy beams and a vaguely Mediterranean feel, also has a brilliant only-in–San Francisco view of the Ferry Building’s red neon sign.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The food here is Cal-Med by way of North Africa—hot spices and robust lamb preparations, from foie-gras-stuffed meatballs to skinny merguez sausages and Flinstonian chops, are well-represented—we’re also fans of the flatbread topped with long-cooked greens and crescenza cheese. Desserts employ savory ingredients to great effect—chocolate cake is surrounded by a silky chocolate sauce and a scoop of cardamom ice cream. A bit cerebral, maybe, but sweet just the same.</p>