Wine geek foodie nirvana in SF?

B

Bill Buitenhuys

Bill Buitenhuys
Where should one go for a memorable wine-foodie dinner in SF? I've been reading reviews from places like Aquarello, Danko, COI, Mina, La Folie, etc but figured that a recommendation would be best coming from someone on here.

Also any suggestions for not-too-be missed more casual fun places would be appreciated as well. Slanted Door and Terrior are definitely on our short list. Tartine? A16? Delfina? Zuni Cafe? others?

And finally, Lill and I will be staying in SF and are available for jeebusing on 3-6Aug (see the often ignored Jeebus page)
 
Chez Panisse?

The list at Zuni is not up to the food.

Consider Aziza.

Danko is a bore, but has a good list.

Camino.
 
Don't do Camino on a weekend, Tartine has gotten it done everytime I have gone but make sure to pack along wine. Really late night burgers at NOPA if you get busy.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Chez Panisse?

The list at Zuni is not up to the food.

Consider Aziza.

Danko is a bore, but has a good list.
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... which is about as hideously overpriced as has ever been my misfortune to see. Seconds on the Chez Panisse and Aziza. I'm interested in visiting RN74 on my next trip out as I know the Chef there slightly.

Mark Lipton
 
My love for Aquerello is well-recorded elsewhere, but I haven't been in a long while, and not since they got stars and stuff. Tartine is all shades of awesome, but it's casual. I enjoy Delfina, very much enjoy A16. Joe's right about Zuni; I like it for oysters in the bar if Hog Island is closed. Terroir hardly needs another recommendation, but I'll give it one anyway.

The food at Aziza isn't quite up to the wine list, but the people have been wonderful to me, so I feel slightly churlish saying so. If you do go, though, be sure to have the basteeya with whatever auslese Mr. Ellenbogen is recommending (unless he's moved on to something else).

Over the bridge, Bay Wolf is good, and so is Caf Rouge (again, I haven't been to either in a long while).

If you're bringing, Chapeau! is a hoot. I was very slightly disappointed with Quince.

(The problem is that at most of these places, we've been with local wine geeks, who refuse to purchase wine off the list...so in some cases, I've never even seen said list. SD/Aziza and A16 being notable exceptions.)

I know nothing about the newer places, alas.
 
Thor,

when did you last go to Aziza? I think the food is only getting better there, though I don't make it as often as I'd like.
 
when did you last go to Aziza? I think the food is only getting better there, though I don't make it as often as I'd like.
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A few years ago. Three, maybe? I'm glad to hear it, though.
 
I'll second Aziza. For high-end, Acquerello, for sure. Bar Tartine and A16 are terrific.

Another place I'd recommend is Presidio Social Club. Sandi and I had a lovely meal there a month ago. The beef short ribs bourguignon was stellar. Not much of a wine list to speak of, but BYOB isn't a problem.
 
RN74 is very pricey. Don't get me wrong, it is good. However, for the same money, Acquerello is much better, food-wise.

I haven't been to Chapeau! since Philippe bought Clementine and started cooking there. I'm not sure which would be the better choice these days.
 
I was at Aziza last week and it was great...just make sure you get a table in the dining room and not in the back. Burma Superstar is great and amazingly inexpensive. I love the squid at NOPA. I'm down with Acquerello too....I gave Giancarlo a budget to work with and they came up with a fantastic menu that kept us there for nearly 3 hours, service is exceptional too.
 
originally posted by Bill Buitenhuys:
originally posted by MLipton:
I'm interested in visiting RN74 on my next trip out as I know the Chef there slightly.

Mark Lipton
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That's a Mina restaurant, right? I've read good things about it as well.
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I've been to RN 74 just once, but found the food ho-hum (competent, but not exciting). The place has a Las Vegas, conspicuous consumption atmosphere that I found very off-putting. The list is lengthy (nearly all Burgundy), but there are very, very few deals under $300. If you want to buy a $1000+ wine, then the list is impressive, with many older, rare wines at prices not too far above auction. But the wines for mere mortals are pricy.
 
originally posted by Brad Widelock:
A16 is a fabulous place for a meal. The list has all kinds of gems. Check out the wines under $40.00.
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I agree and might even say that A16 has the most interesting list in San Francisco. The focus is on southern Italy, and there are many obscure, cool wines to try.
 
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by Brad Widelock:
A16 is a fabulous place for a meal. The list has all kinds of gems. Check out the wines under $40.00.
Click to expand...

I agree and might even say that A16 has the most interesting list in San Francisco. The focus is on southern Italy, and there are many obscure, cool wines to try.
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i strongly disagree with you jim,
la ciccia, a sardegnan restaurant on 30th and church (noe valley) is the finest italian (ok, sardegnan) food in the city, with a wine list of over 200 wines, all very well selected... some natural ones like dettori/gravner/vodopivec and so on. No other italian restaurant in the city comes close to the quality that these guys are providing, foodwise and winewise.
 
Forgot all about La Ciccia! I've eaten there a few times and loved it each time. Bill, that would be an excellent choice. Guilhaume, glad you qualified your finest Italian statement. It isn't fair to compare La Ciccia, A16, and Acquerello.
 
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