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| | Located at the prime lower corner of North Beach’s Washington Park, Avenue G has the potential to be the local haunt for those seeking something other than straight up Italian. While there are a few pizzas, appetizers and mains roam the globe from Korean short ribs to a classic Cioppino, and further to that special Brazilian stew, feijoada. A definite plus is the late night menu offered until 12am on weeknights and until 12:30am on weekends.More | | | As the name suggests in its Italian translation, Chiaroscuro displays in its ambiance, and in its fare, a contrast of light and dark, simple and complex. The team that created this establishment hail from different corners of Italy, bringing influences that vary from Rome to Sardinia with a long menu that adds variety to regional cooking. You can’t resist the Italian casual charm that has given new life to the former home of Elisabeth Daniel and the angular Tartare.More | | | Open less than a year, Perbacco has already earned its name on the Chronicle’s Top 100 restaurants of 2007 with its house-cured meats and delectable pastas and an emphasis on flavors from the Piemonte and Liguria regions. There are plenty of options for dining on the well thought out items on the menu, whether it’s the inviting marble bar upfront, a cozy bar table, or the communal seating.More | | | In a warm, dimly lit space, La Provence carries a romantic, timeless vibe, just right for a date, although service has been sorely lacking at times. Balancing traditional Provencal cuisine with a California sensibility for local ingredients (the vegan salad, for example, is a fresh, satisfying delight), dishes are elevated with fresh herbs rather than butter and cream. Smoked salmon comes on a plank with a smoking pine branch for a rustic/exotic touch. Entrée prices are extremely reasonable, topping out at $24 for a grilled lamb filet dressed with thyme jus.More | | | A popular spot amongst the business suit set, Mixt Greens offers flavorful salads slightly pricier than your average lunch spot, but is well worth the extra change when salads include coriander-encrusted seared ahi over butter lettuce and a mélange of veggies, or the herb marinated grilled chicken over greens, asparagus and white-truffle potatoes. If that’s not enough to get over the guilt of spending $12 on lunch, then helping conserve the environment will -- Mixt Greens was constructed following green building guidelines, and all take-away packaging is made from corn and is compostable.More | | | Newly opened Nua Restaurant feels like a charming secret spot you happen upon wandering some street in some chic European city. With a Mediterranean bent, this sleek new restaurant and wine bar offers up some solid fare in a sexy, but overlit interior. As the restaurant opened early 2007, some details still need to be worked out. While focus has been placed on presentation, portion sizes need more attention – some appetizers are overwhelmingly large, while others fall more on the skimpy side.More | | | If the brunch line at Pomelo down the street is too long, Toast is a great greasy-spoon alternative with a small, modern space with a counter and a few tables outside. Pick and choose amongst the tasty brunch plates of chicken fried steak, corned beef hash, scramblers, and omelets. For the sweet tooth, opt for the croissant French toast or Nutella Belgian waffles. There’s also a small, equally tempting selection of burgers, made with Niman ranch beef of course.More |  | Let the Summer Cookouts Begin Once that familiar San Francisco fog rolls in, you can't help but think that Bay Area Indian summers are just around the corner. And then the visions of backyard, rooftop, and beachside cookouts come to mind. The timing couldn't be better to get into gear and shop for those wonderful gadgets and accessories for dining al fresco. Large chain stores like Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn are practically giving away outdoor-themed merchandise in order to make room for the fall back-to-school season. Bay Area residents are just beginning to dust off those beach chairs and picnic blankets...More |  | Brunch Around the World There’s nothing like brunch on a rainy, lazy Sunday in the neighborhood. It’s even better when brunch is at Pomelo and the neighborhood is the hip-to-be-square Noe Valley. It would be easy to pass right by the 38-seat boite if it weren’t for the huge, plump yellow pomelo hanging over the café’s awning.More |  | Cooking From Scratch to Success It’s Saturday morning at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. Amidst the sea of local produce and meat purveyors, one booth in particular has become the darling of them all, just two months after its introduction to the market. Walk into La Cocina's booth, and you will find unique and delicious prepared foods that range from South African meat puffs to homemade plantain chips to Brazilian honey cakes.More |
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