theater district

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Though Union Square can feel like a culinary wasteland, this hole-in-the-wall stands as a significant bright spot. Duck through the Japanese curtain and grab a table—they all put you in very close proximity to your neighbor, but no matter. Open late, the Japanese joint makes for a great cheap eat, post-theater; A.C.T. is right across the street.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Although Katana-ya serves far more than ramen, most people here go straight for the excellent noodles. Choose your broth (we like miso, soy or salt) and your add-ins (roast pork being our favorite, but fried chicken and spicy tofu are great too), then slurp to your heart’s content. Drink cold beer now—lots of it.<br /></p>

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2007 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best Restaurant Cocktails

One of a select group of San Francisco restaurants that has passed the 10-year mark, this Hayes Valley anchor continues to bring brasserie style, superb cocktails and Cal-French food to the neighborhood.

 

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Since Jamie Lauren assumed the role of chef last year, the food at Absinthe has only gotten better. Though there are some stalwarts on the menu for the diehards (the croque monsieur and French onion soup, for example), Lauren has infused the menu with smart, satisfying dishes that expertly walk the line between rustic and refined. The menu changes seasonally, but fish dishes are particularly good here, and you can make a meal of larger-than-average “share” plates, such as the rich sautéed mushrooms topped with a poached duck egg.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: Anything with scallops</p>

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Should you be at a loss for a place to go for that pre- or post-theater drink, Sugar Cafe comes to the rescue. The sleek gas fireplaces, cozy lounging area and smart turquoise-and-brown color palette are appealing at all times of day (the cafe is open from morning until night) but it’s at its best after dark.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>During the day, Sugar has all the cafe standards—baked goods for breakfast and sandwiches and salads for lunch (including our favorites, the simple ham-and-cheese panini and irresistible fudgy brownie). At night, order savory bar bites to accompany your cocktail, or go straight for the sweet stuff with a slice of flourless chocolate espresso cake.</p>

Theatergoers and young professionals drop in to this sleek space for cocktails and small plates at the curvy bar outfitted with a tropical-fish tank. Orange and aqua-upholstered banquettes and nightclub-style tables with elegant bar stools are intimately arranged in the elevated dining area—a good choice for dates or larger groups seeking privacy behind the heavy, dramatic drapery. Eats:What's on your menu.: The eclectic Asian menu features such favorites as garlic naan with apricot-peach chutney and cucumber raita, as well as chicken spring rolls served with butter lettuce wrappers, fresh herbs and sweet chile sauce. The protein-focused entrees feature seasonal vegetables and regionally diverse ingredients, such as a Vietnamese seafood stew with lemongrass and tomatoes, and a roasted half chicken with seasonal veggies like shiitake mushrooms and Chinese longbeans.

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High ceilings, elaborate chandeliers and lots of drapery could read as stuffy, but the down-to-earth waitstaff adds a casual charm to this Hayes Valley restaurant. The all-you-can-drink wine accompanying the $49 fixed-price dinner helps, too. If you head towards the back of the restaurant and down the stairs, you’ll find the Crimson Lounge, a speakeasy-type space that’s available for private parties.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>While the list of entrees on the Cal-American menu may be brief—only about seven—it’s definitely well-edited, showcasing nothing but great choices. The menu constantly evolves to accommodate the chef’s seasonal sensibilities—with sweet peas, salmon, and cherry tomatoes appearing regularly on the summer menu. Finally, a longer-than-average wine list highlights nine glasses and upwards of 250 bottles from local vineyards.</p>

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Situated in the lobby of the Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco’s first hotel to meet national “green” building standards, Roots combines an eco-conscious appeal with modern design. Stop in after work, and you may find yourself in a crowd of decked-out theatergoers or suit-and-tie-clad corporate types sipping cocktails like the Zentini (lemon vodka, lime juice and green-tea liqueur) at the bar.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The organic menu—which changes constantly based on what’s fresh—infuses indulgence into its good-for-you-grains, sustainably-caught seafood and grass-fed meats. It’s not rare to find diners eating duck confit with red wine sauce or a Niman Ranch flatiron steak with porcini mushrooms. Add a cheese cart full of local favorites and addictive hand-cut fries finished with Parmesan, garlic and truffle oil, and you’ll see why it’s definitely easy being green.</p>

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A grand, high-ceilinged, cream-and-brown dining room packs in tourists and Union Square shoppers looking for sophisticated but affordable pasta and pizza. For more privacy, opt for a booth in the center of the room, but if you feel like channeling Tony Soprano, request the imposing round black-leather booth that faces out from the back corner.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>You’ve heard of wine flights, but Scala’s is the first place we’ve seen with an olive oil tasting: Guests can sample six selections from around the globe, ending with an emerald-hued oil made by Italian monks. The menu blends traditional dishes from the boot with a California sensibility: Deep-fried squash blossoms are stuffed with Dungeness crab and corn, while a linguine dish studded with shellfish gets a splash of limoncello for a hint of sweet-tartness. A reasonably priced wine list offers the standard Pinot Grigios but also highlights more interesting choices from lesser-known Italian regions.</p>

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At Farmer Brown’s long, copper-topped bar, an eclectic crowd sips mint juleps and potent watermelon margaritas—and, on Thursday nights, taps their toes to the blues bands that often play. Chef-owner Jay Foster has achieved a down-home chic in the olive-and-brown dining room, complete with distressed-copper walls and pillars, high ceilings and striking portraits from Berkeley artist Keba Konte.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Foster has created a “farm fresh” twist on Southern cuisine by using sustainable ingredients and ethically raised meats. And he’s clearly done his homework on the genre: His chicken-and-andouille-sausage gumbo is grounded in a good, dark roux. Entrées, such as crisply fried Fulton Valley Farms chicken served with Tillamook-cheddar mac-and-cheese or bacon-wrapped roasted trout stuffed with garlic and fresh herbs, rely on big, bold flavors. For true Southern sticklers, there’s even house-made sweet tea (served in a Mason jar) and pecan pie.</p>

2007 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best California Cuisine

SCENE: One of the most revered restaurants in SF, Zuni may be over 25 years old, but it still feels fresh. An open, lofty space with huge windows offers Market Street views. On sunny afternoons, the sidewalk tables are abuzz with diners sipping mojitos or the bar’s famous Bloody Marys.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Executive chef Judy Rodgers prepares her food using the best organic ingredients. Her roasted chicken for two—served with bread salad with bits of sweet currants—is legendary, as is the cheeseburger on focaccia, especially with a side of salty shoestring fries. Just about anything will satisfy, from a dozen briny oysters to a nettle pizza or suckling pig.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: Caesar Salad, Espresso Granita</p>

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Although it’s already had its heyday, Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, located in the Prescott Hotel, still remains popular, due in large part to the superb service, excellent location and well-executed menu. The large dining room, with its sweeping staircase and grand flower arrangements, speaks of a time when dining out was a serious event.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The contemporary American fare served here—from a tempura-battered quail with capers, lemon butter and pea tendrils to a duck breast served with Thai eggplant and red curry sauce—is laced with Asian influences. Classics, like a red wine-marinated steak with Stilton and a beet-and-goat-cheese salad, satisfy diners with conservative tastes. Those in search of a casual bite can choose to eat at the bar, where pizzas, sandwiches and the like are served.</p>