Restaurants
Wednesday March 10, 2010 Updated 2:43 AM PST
Quirky name, great food
Boot and Shoe Service, the new Oakland spot from Pizzaiolo's Charlie Hallowell, offers simple, quality pizzas and antipasti.
A garden of dim sum
Owned by brothers Willy and Ron Ng, Koi Garden in Dublins's Ulferts Center does simple dishes best, like the sesame-laced Shanghai dumplings, but beware the weekend crowds.
A merger made in heaven
Baker & Banker, in the old Quince space, may sound like a stodgy financial institution, but Jeffrey Banker and Lori Baker, the couple behind the restaurant, really cook.
I'll have the cheese, please
From Perbacco to Madrona Manor, these six restaurants offer an extensive selection of cheeses and accompaniments.
Sisterhood of success
What began as a tiny, no-frills spot on Geary Street, Osha Thai has grown into one of the best-known ethnic restaurants in San Francisco.
2009's top 10 new restaurants
From blockbuster openings to notable neighborhood spots, 2009 brought with it a number of new, quality restaurants.
Dinner and a show
A Bay Area innovation, the open exhibition kitchen still ignites particular interest at these six local restaurants.
S.F. dining goes unconventional
With the increasing popularity of family-style dinners and food carts, it's clear that S.F. diners are tired of starchy, white tablecloths.
Tapas spots worth the visit
While Spanish-inspired menus have become increasingly trendy, these six restaurants rise above with noteworthy nibbles and good wine.
It's all about trout
With salmon scarce and pricey, Bay Area restaurants are turning to a more economical and sustainable fish.
Playing with fire
It's not just for pizza; around the Bay Area, chefs are loving the primitive pleasure of their wood-fired ovens.
Restaurants with a view
These six Bay Area restaurants promise a gorgeous view served alongside a satisfying meal.
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- Coffee & dessert Saturday night after R&G Lounge
- Crusty-Plate Duty
- The Best Air I Ever Huffed
- Are Dry-Farmed Wines Better?
- Caviar at the Kids' Table
- The Basics: How to Make Chocolate Mousse
Lower wine prices means more business at Bottega
The Chronicle 2006 Chef Michael Chiarello, also a grapegrower, gives diners a break on wine prices at Bottega...
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Farmstead restaurant and Long Meadow Ranch Winery now open
This highly-anticipated St. Helena restaurant sits on a 2 1/2-acre property with a seasonal farm stand and organic nursery.
Mythos
Offering Greek cuisine with a California take, this San Mateo spot promises dishes that are well-prepared and satisfyingly simple.
Gather
The Age of Aquarius has finally come to food at this Berkeley restaurant, which embraces vegetarians like few other spots.
Meadowood
Chef Christopher Kostow artfully marries opposing textures and flavors, giving each luxury ingredient star treatment.
Nombe
Chef Nick Balla of Nombe in the Mission may not be Japanese, but he knows the cuisine and proves so with a stellar menu.
Yeti
Since early 2008, chef-owner Narayan Somname has been cooking up a storm of South Asian specialties in Glen Ellen.
Solbar
Chef Brandon Sharp could have been limited by resort dining, but his 3-star cooking proves otherwise.
Manzanita
The satisfying fare at Traci Des Jardins' Manzanita makes the restaurant good enough to be its own ski-weekend destination.
Cafe Altano
Cafe Altano still needs some fine-tuning, but once you learn your way around the menu you'll find this Italian spot has some nice touches.
Frances
Chef Melissa Perello's Frances may seem more SoHo than Castro, but this casual spot has already won over the neighborhood.
Delarosa
From the owners of the Mission's Beretta, Delarosa in the Marina shares the former's popularity, but not the kitchen's consistency.
Chop Bar
Chef Delany of Chop Bar in Jack London Square practices a culinary merry-go-round, with a revolving cast of ingredients.
Bardessono
A study in Zen luxury, the lounge at Bardessono in Yountville features plush couches, a pond view and an innovative, seasonal menu.
Marzano and Garibaldis
Both Garibaldis and Marzano are housed in the same Oakland building, but each has its own original menu and vibe.
La Costanera
Located in the long-vacated Chart House space in Montara, La Costanera offers Peruvian food with a spectacular view.
Caffe Baonecci
Pizza is sold by the slice at this small North Beach spot, but go for the whole pies, which feed two and have a crackery thin crust.
Taps
A basement pub with a "Cheers" vibe, Taps in Petaluma is all about the beloved combination of beer and hot dogs.
OTD (Out the Door)
With a menu that includes both dishes from the Slanted Door along with new plates, upscale OTD in Pacific Heights is a real treasure.
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