4 Stars

Red walls create a warm, welcoming interior inside of Dosa, a restaurant located in the Mission district in San Francisco that serves up traditional Indian food to a multitude of guests. This restaurant happens to be named after its specialty: a crepe-like dish that is made with rice and lentils and served with your choice of topping and filling. There are many other traditional South Indian plates served at Dosa, and patrons unfamiliar with this cuisine might benefit from the Seasonal Tasting Menu that offers three courses. Adventurous folks can order from the regular menu, that offers not only Dosa, …

Rustic Italian cuisine takes root on California soil, and shines with a perfect balance of Old World charm and contemporary sophistication. Every aspect of the dining experience Incanto offers is a thoughtful expression of bettering the meal for all involved. The water is filtered and carbonated in-house, and the produce and meats used are sustainably grown and harvested. Also, “odd cuts” of meat are highlighted on the menu to both invigorate the palate and honor the animal. The Warm Pig’s Head Salad is sure to intrigue diners, while the Whole Roasted Local Sardines is a tantalizing prospect, indeed.

NOPA, like the city of San Francisco, is a study in duality. Both are cutting edge yet firmly rooted in the past. This is reflected in the contrast between the restaurant's sleek yet rustic design and masterfully prepared food. The intent at NOPA is to find and procure only the freshest and most seasonal ingredients and serve them in a manner that only enhances their quality. The restaurant is a welcomed addition to its namesake, North of the Panhandle neighborhood, as it has been extremely popular since opening in 2006. The bar is urbane without being fussy, the food is …

As Executive Chef and Owner Staffan Terje says, "You don’t choose who you fall in love with." To that same affect, diners may not have a choice but to swoon over the elegant experience a visit to Perbacco promises. A romantic ambiance is achieved through the restaurant’s showcase of exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and opulent accents of marble. Chef Terje’s menu delights the palate just as the décor treats the eyes, and presents a truly authentic selection of Italian dishes. For example, the Coniglio Al Civet, or Devil’s Gulch Rabbit, is rich and rustic in a spiced red wine …

Monetta White grew up in the Fillmore district during its jazz heyday, when it was known as “The Harlem of the West”. As she grew older, she saw the area’s decline and wanted to give back to the neighborhood that helped shape her. With the opening of their San Francisco restaurant in 2008, she and her husband, executive chef David Lawrence, made it happen. 1300 on Fillmore's jazzy, 1930's theme is very relaxed and entertaining, and its soulful American cuisine makes you feel right at home.

Doing its part to be environmentally sound and organic is Lalime’s philosophy: local farmers markets and small distributers provide the restaurant’s produce, and the availability of such ingredients directly influences the menu. This health-conscious mindset manifests itself in a menu that balances freshness and flavor. Cold appetizers like the Cold-Smoked Scottish Salmon highlight fresh, natural flavors , while the Rack of Sonoma Lamb satisfies the appetite and fuels good intentions. Local regional wines also have a place on the menu, and are balanced nicely between Old and New World varieties.

Classic Roman Italian cuisine is balanced against the modern and sleek setting of Chiaroscuro Ristorante’s dining space, and reflects an artistic appreciation for contrasting visual elements that bring life to otherwise two-dimensional spaces. Chef Alessandro Campitelli ensures that his dishes are anything but flat by combining flavorful and fresh ingredients to compose specialties like the Tagliolini All’Amatriciana, homemade pasta mixed with caramelized onions, imported guanciale tomatoes, and romano cheese, and the Abbacchio Alla Griglia, grilled Australian lamb served with a polenta soufflé topped with a baked egg and gorgonzola cheese.

Heralded as one of the best French bistros in the city, Fringale satisfies the urge to eat with a menu that prizes freshness and flavor. Sophistication and satisfaction are lovingly married by Chef de Cuisine Tripp Mauldin, who melds traditional French flavors with a modern aesthetic. The Dungeness Crab Napoleon is delightfully simple and artistic: crab, avocado, and a tomato confit, are layered in a structured tower of vibrant contrasting colors. The Seafood Basquaise lies at the other end of the food spectrum with its rustic presentation and flavors – the dish is bathed in a spicy roasted red pepper …

Revel in an evening of intimate and flavorful dining at Rue Lepic, in Nob Hill. Executive Chef and Owner Michiko Boccara has constructed a refined menu that showcases her aesthetic for Japanese artfulness and her knowledge of French technique. Two impressive variations of the “Chef’s Menu” offer five courses that give patrons the opportunity to experience Chef Boccara’s range. One menu has you begin with the Seafood Pasta; move on to the Soup of the Day; savor the Garden or Caesar Salad; delight in the Lobster Tail sautéed in a lemon butter sauce; then end on a high note with …

Located in the Hotel Majestic at 1500 Sutter Street, the Café Majestic is a romantic establishment that serves Italian-American cuisine. Chef Efrain Garcia creates magical dishes that are both colorful and flavorful. Favorite dishes that guest’s rave over are their Veal Picatta and Scaloppini, Eggplant Parmesan, and Chicken Cacciatore. Their establishment also includes the Butterfly Lounge, a majestic bar environment that serves classic cocktails and signature drinks. The Café Majestic offers great dishes in a magically environment.

Canteen isn’t your run of the mill diners you see everywhere in San Francisco. They are something new and fresh, providing guests with an old school diner environment and haute cuisine. Head Chef Michael Ruhlman, former head chef of Rubicon, has created a menu for Canteen that is comparable in creativity and exotic tastes to highbrow eateries in San Francisco. Their neon green counter tops and “diner” environment gives patrons the notion that they serve the obvious dishes like runny eggs and greasy bacon. However, Canteen moves against the grain by providing a quality dishes with tastes that are interesting …

Level III is a fresh and inviting space that accommodates many dining preferences. Mingle with friends, strangers, and soon-to-be pals, at the communal dining table, or settle into a booth for a quiet meal and conversation, or snuggle in for an intimate evening at a private table behind a flowing curtain. Vibrant flame-inspired tones invigorate the senses and peak the appetite. The dinner menu is arranged with dishes to share as a group, and with those meant to be individually savored – pass around the Mediterranean Mussels and the Mac and Cheese, but be selfish with the Anchor Steamed Shorts …

Follow the famed explorer, Marco Polo, as he partakes on his epic adventure, and taste your way through the Pacific Rim with Silk’s uniquely inspired menu. The dining space is dressed in rich tones of cinnamon, nutmeg, and persimmon, and celebrates one of Polo’s greatest discoveries: silk. West Coast elements flirt with iconic Pacific Rim flavors to tantalize patrons’ taste buds, and lure them back in time to a smooth find.

When gazing in awe down at the plate before them, many diners at Luce are tempted to ask, “Does art imitate food, or is my meal multitasking as a masterpiece?” The answer to both questions might just be, “yes.” Patrons’ appetites and imaginations are stimulated by Chef Dominique Crenn’s artful constructs that marry the best aspects of local, regional, and international, ingredients to create thoughtful and flavorful dishes. The highly refined and modern décor only contributes to the dining experience, and encourages visitors to make the connection between the orb-like lamps and the Chocolate “Egg,” with hot coco and cookies.

In its new space on Divisadero at Grove, Bar Crudo is a bustling restaurant reminiscent of a hip loft. The focus of the sparse and well-chosen menu is raw fish infused with creative sauces and garnishes with not a grain of sushi rice in sight. There are a few well-executed cooked fish and seafood dishes as well. If you hunger for thick steaks and mounds of buttered carbohydrates, Bar Crudo is not for you. If your dreams, however, are of Butterfish accented with Meyer lemon tapenade or Arctic Char with a drop of horse radish cream, don’t let its overwhelming …

A Cote restaurant is symbolic of Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood--cozy, friendly, and inviting. Jack and Daphne Knowles planned it that way, and their careful choices are reflected not only in the decor, but in the food and atmosphere. Everything in this restaurant reinforces the idea of intimacy, from the family style dishes to the wood fired oven in the open kitchen. Their Mediterranean cuisine is perfect for an intimate dinner for two, or for an after work bite with coworkers after a hard day. This is definitely a place to fill your belly and ease your mind.

If you’re looking for a night complete with adventure, significance, simplicity, and balance search no further than San Francisco’s 231 Ellsworth. Located in downtown San Mateo and just minutes south of SFO airport, 231 Ellsworth provides an intimate dining experience that resonates throughout the restaurant’s décor, atmosphere, and contemporary American cuisine. Infused with global inspiration, Chef Isaac Miller creates unique menus in which sometimes unexpected ingredients converge in harmony. The restaurant tends to use locally grown produce and offers a prix fixe tasting menu nightly with optional wine pairings and a choice of a 3, 5, or 7-course dining experience. …

Located in Hayes Valley, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar combines elements of fine French dining with the laid back atmosphere of a Parisian café. Absinthe recalls an earlier time when food and spirits were homemade and without preservatives, and when one could dine on a fine meal without worrying about all the etiquette. The name itself brings to mind nostalgia of a time long past, but certainly not forgotten. The pressed tin ceilings and copper table tops shine amidst the traditional French design and are an ideal setting for the restaurant’s American-inspired French and Northern Italian cuisine.

If you’re searching for contemporary American fare, look no further than the Salt House. This tavern is housed in an old printing press warehouse from the 1930’s and is equal parts new and old, merging the best of both. The building stays true to its historic charm with original hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, tall ceilings with massive metal support beams, and 12 foot windows—all the better to look in or out of. Salt House is more than just an impressive space though, and true to its “gastropub” label, serves up hearty yet refined ingredient-driven cuisine in a tavern-like atmosphere.

Sozai Restaurant and Sake Lounge is an authentic Japanese Izakaya, or alehouse. Opened in 2007, Sozai is a unique place to enjoy drinks while sharing traditional Japanese tapas with friends. Diners share small yet deliciously prepared dishes while sipping handcrafted sake. Partners Gil Payne and Mira Takahashi, have achieved a chic, modern lounge atmosphere while remaining true to traditional Japanese minimalism. The open kitchen and friendly service create a warm and inviting dining experience without sacrificing style. With the assistance of Master Sake Sommelier Beau Timken, Sozai boasts an extensive sake menu that has been carefully selected and attentively paired …