Restaurant Review

All together now

Communal dining spirit enlivens new spots: Mission Bowling Club, Mozzeria, Castagna, and Claudine

04.25.12 - 10:20 am | Virginia Miller |

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APPETITE Incredible burgers in a bowling alley, SF's deaf community gathering over Neapolitan pizzas, brothers serving food from their hometown of Nice in a tiny restaurant, dining around a U-shaped counter off a FiDi alley... each of the restaurants below opened within the last 6 months, providing a unique communal experience (and, most important, fine food to go with) that makes one feel like actually engaging with, rather than ignoring, fellow diners.

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Gourmet fresh (and cheap)

Warm muffaletta, chicken meatball Reubens, fizzy Kvas ... Market and Rye, Anda Piroshki, and All Good Pizza hit the spot

04.17.12 - 6:16 pm | Virginia Miller |

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Restaurant 1833

Irresistible spot lights up Monterey with ghosts, Negronis, quality fare -- and tableside Absinthe service

04.03.12 - 8:24 pm | Virginia Miller |

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Southern obsession

Comfort comes a-callin': down home delights (and some tasty battered chicken) at Hops and Hominy, Hog and Rocks, and Front Porch

03.28.12 - 11:15 am | Virginia Miller |

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virginia@sfbg.com

APPETITE Southern food has a profound hold on me. No, I'm not a Southerner — but few cuisines the world over elicit in me such yearning and comfort. Finding the real deal in the Bay Area is tricky, although a recent Southern trend has helped. Aside from my beloved Brenda's and delightful Boxing Room, the following spots fulfill cravings.

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Lunch hour, part 2

Great new midday meals at Wise Sons, Square Meals, Seoul Patch, and New England Lobster

03.20.12 - 7:08 pm | Virginia Miller |

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virginia@sfbg.com

APPETITE Last week we covered four notable new lunch spots. This week, we round off the list with four more.

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Lunch hour

Pheasant hot pockets, beef cheek ramen, and inventive veggie fare -- your mid-day meal just found flair

03.13.12 - 4:49 pm | Virginia Miller |

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virginia@sfbg.com

APPETITE Lunch-hour quality advances around town with a slew of notable openings or recently launched lunch menus. In a two part series (click here for part two), here are some of the best new mid-day meals.

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Gitane

Gypsy-spirited Gitane continues to be the Bay's go-to for adventurous cocktails and sexy atmosphere

03.06.12 - 7:29 pm | Virginia Miller |

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virginia@sfbg.com

APPETITE While I miss the sophisticated, out-of-the-box cocktails of former bar managers Carlo Splendorini and Alex Smith (they both continue to craft excellent drinks, Splendorini at Michael Mina, Smith at Honor Bar), I am pleased to say Gitane, one of the sexiest spots in all of SF, is still a drink-worthy location. I'd be remiss not to likewise return to the Moroccan and Spanish-influenced menu that chef Bridget Batson has been rocking for years.Read more »

Maven

Superb cocktails and eclectic, well-paired dishes at this new destination restaurant in Lower Haight

02.28.12 - 9:12 pm | Virginia Miller |

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Ice Cream Bar

Step into the Wayback Machine: this new Cole Valley spot serves a panoply of delicious soda fountain treats

02.21.12 - 6:24 pm | Virginia Miller |

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virginia@sfbg.com

APPETITE I was born of another time. As much as I wouldn't trade the rights and access of today, I hunger for the romance, artistry, and intellectual pace of eras gone by. As a child, I grew up on classic films and whitebread shows like Father Knows Best, where youth hung out at soda fountains listening to the jukebox. Naturally, I was delighted upon hearing a retro-inspired soda fountain was opening near my home.Read more »