The weather outside may be frightful, but if the rain, wind, and chilly temperatures send you on the hunt for comfort food, you're in luck.
Rich, creamy, juicy, buttery, or carby, the newest restaurants in San Francisco have just what the season calls for, from a humble and inexpensive roast pork sandwich to an exquisite chicken cooked "en croute" with truffles. They also happen to be perfect for sharing. So, cuddle up with someone special and indulge.
Dungeness Crab Brioche Arquet
(Joseph Weaver)
The Ferry Building is lucky to have Arquet. Not only does the menu have tantalizing options in categories like "garden," "land," and "sea," it's also a carb lover's delight for the sheer number of breads they make in-house. Two standouts amongst the starters are the Dungeness crab brioche and the scallion fry bread. The soft and fluffy toasted brioche spread with a tangy and creamy Meyer lemon béarnaise and topped with a generous layer of everyone's favorite winter treat, crab, comforts with a richness and plush texture that’s bliss at first bite. Tear into the impossibly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside scallion fry bread and dip to your heart's content into a heap of creamy ricotta topped with sweet figs, honey, and spicy salsa macha.
// 1 Ferry Bldg. (Embarcadero), arquetrestaurant.com
Mashed Potatoes at Chicken Fried Palace
(Amy Sherman)
With a name like Chicken Fried Palace, it's not surprising that practically everything on the menu screams "comfort food!" Our favorite at this spot run by Michelin-star chef Seth Stowaway and team is the most humble of dishes, mashed potatoes. But here's the deal: you have to order a side dish to get the supremely creamy, insanely buttery mash topped with a ridiculously luscious cheddar mousse and sprinkled with crispy bits of garlic. Other incredibly cozy favorites include the somewhat wacky yet scrumptious salt cod pancake, which consists of a cornmeal pancake doused in syrup and topped with a quenelle of pimento cheese and sweet-and-spicy "cowboy candy" (candied jalapeno). The sweet potato pie, with its streusel-crumbly top, is the best we've ever had. This place is where diets go to die.
// 2240 Mission St. (Mission), chickenfriedpalace.co
Welsh Rarebit at Dingles Public House
(Jesse Cuddworth)
What was once a popular Swedish restaurant tucked into the Inn at the Opera is now a dark and clubby restaurant serving the most classic of British dishes. Executed by chef George Dingle, it's also probably the best British food in San Francisco. The Welsh rarebit begs to be shared. Piled high with the gooiest burnished topping of Jasper Hill No. 5 Cheddar, it's rich, chewy with a bit of crunch from the crust, and simply a must-order dish. If you’re visiting on a Sunday night, it doesn't get much cozier than Dingles’ Sunday roast, either pork belly or prime rib served with Yorkshire pudding, vegetables, and various sauces on the side.
// 333 Fulton St. (Civic Center), dinglespublichouse.com
Whole Roasted Branzino at Equal Parts
(Courtesy of Equal Parts)
Equal Parts has such a dramatic and long entrance, it makes you feel like you've discovered a secret hideaway the moment you step inside. While the name refers to the cocktail formula, it could also symbolize the equal importance of food and drink at this very cozy restaurant-cocktail lounge combo. Seafood magician chef Melissa Perfit wows with a variety of creative takes including our favorite, the roasted whole branzino—a relatively humble fish she’s turned into something you can't stop digging into. The herbal hit of basil, the rich brown butter, and the sweet yet earthy blood orange combo is destined to become a classic.
// 478 Green St. (North Beach), equalpartssf.com
Roast Pork Sandwich at Jerry's Roast Pork
(Courtesy of @jerrysroastpork)
By the time you find Jerry's Roast Pork hidden at the top of the escalator on the second floor of Embarcadero Center Building 2, you'll be ready to reward yourself with a spectacular roast pork sandwich. The perfect, crusty sesame hoagie roll comes from Pacifica's Rosalind Bakery, and the aged provolone, juicy hot pork, and chile-, garlic-, and wasabi-infused broccoli rabe meld together in a surprisingly delicious combination. It's a no-frills kind of spot, but at $13, this sandwich big enough for two is a true bargain that’s guaranteed to make you feel cozy inside.
// 2 Embarcadero Center (FiDi), jerrysroastpork.com
Zaru Soba at Sora Soba
(Courtesy of Sora Soba)
Did you know that soba is a winter dish in Japan that’s supposed to bring good luck when eaten on New Year's? Next door to sister location Hinodeya, Sora's noodles are made locally from buckwheat flour and our moderately hard water, which is apparently perfectly suited to making soba from scratch. Diners are encouraged to enjoy the cold, earthy, chewy noodles plain before dipping them into broth and slurping them down. It's a casual spot that’s a more than welcome addition to Japantown. Gluten-free, high in protein, and a prebiotic, these are noodles you can feel virtuous eating.
// 1731 Buchanan St. (Japantown), sora.com
Gnudi + Sformato at Via Aurelia
Sformato
(Courtesy of Via Aurelia)
The newest swank Italian spot in Mission Bay has some extremely cozy alcove-style booths with stunning views of the bay and a menu full of refined versions of rustic Tuscan food. Many of the dishes are good for sharing, though frankly, they’re so divine you may not want to. The seasonal gnudi and the sformato, in particular, should be considered instant classics. The winter version with honey nut squash, Castelmagno cheese, and a drizzle of balsamico is a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors that’s soft, soothing, and spoonable. So too is the sformato di funghi, a porcini custard with sunchoke, red walnut, and parmigiano reggiano. Both dishes are so delicate they feel like they could float away from the plate with the lightest whisper.
// 300 Toni Stone Crossing St. (Mission Bay), viaaureliasf.com
Hen en Croute at Wolfsbane
(Albert Law)
The tasting menu at Wolfsbane costs $248, but there are seven exquisite bites, each between $5 and $10, on the à la carte menu served at the bar table. You can easily put together a repast of small dishes before indulging in the shareable showstopper, Hen en Croute, for $120. It consists of an heirloom hen baked in a sourdough loaf, with black truffles under the skin, bread sauce, thigh croquette, and hen consommé. The aroma when the bread is sliced open tableside to reveal the bird is a memory you won't soon forget.
// 2495 Third St. (Dogpatch), wolfsbanesf.com
