San Francisco
Gott’s Roadside
With a vision to serve the finest classic American roadside food in a friendly and fun atmosphere, the Gott brothers, Joel and Duncan, began Gott’s Roadside, formerly Taylor’s Refresher, in 1999. Gott’s Roadside is a different kind of burger joint. Serving juicy cheeseburgers, great hot dogs, incredible fries, and hand-spun shakes alongside crispy mahi mahi tacos, Chinese chicken salad, and a renowned ahi burger, their versions of these American roadside favorites and California classics are made-to-order using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. In 2006, the restaurant received the James Beard Foundation Award, the most prestigious food and beverage award in the country, designating them as one of “America’s Classics” and solidifying their iconic status.
farmerbrown
farmerbrown was built from the ground up by owners Jay Foster and Deanna Sison. A true labor of love, the restaurant was created from their passions: hers, community, and his, food. Deanna is constantly driven by authentic and wholehearted connectedness — from the neighborhood, to the city, to the food. This drive is reflected in the restaurant’s charm and hospitality. Jay is more than an adventurous restaurateur; he’s also a deeply passionate chef with roots in the American South. Farmerbrown is a destination where good things gather: West Coast-sourced seasonal ingredients and time-honored recipes reflecting the region’s wide-ranging influences from coastal Carolina to soulful Creole, artful and seasonally celebrated cocktails that blend well with fresh beats. With an ambiance that mixes true southern providence, generosity of spirit, and the spirit of San Francisco, you feel native in an instant — welcomed as a member of the family.
Tacolicious
What started out in the summer of 2009 as a little taco stand at the Thursday San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market with a fittingly frivolous name has become a sit-down, cocktail-driven restaurant, 120 tequilas strong. Founder Joe Hargrave’s love affair for delicious, authentic Mexican food started early: as a child, he spent summers with his family in Baja, where they all fell in love with the local cuisine. When Joe returned as an adult, he was inspired by the tastes of the region to start Tacolicious back in San Francisco. Tacos anchor a menu that extends to dishes such as beet salad with grapefruit and pumpkin seeds, tuna tostadas, grilled squid served Veracruz-style, albondigas, shrimp a la diabla, and toasted coconut flan.
A16
At San Francisco’s treasured A16 , diners pack the house for textbook Neapolitan pizza, vibrant pastas, seasonal vegetables, and meat and fish preparations that take advantage of Northern California’s bounty and the restaurant’s dual wood-fired ovens. To complement the robust, Italy-inspired menus put forth by executive chef Rocky Maselli, owner and wine director Shelley Lindgren is committed to serving Southern Italian wines, instilling in her staff a love for the region’s rich winemaking history and varietal diversity. Shelley’s work has made her renowned in the business, lauded as the recipient of the 2015 James Beard Foundation award for Outstanding Wine Program, the most prestigious beverage recognition in the country.
Sababa
Sababa is where California meets the Mediterranean. Guy Eshel’s take on the lively, kinetic street food he experienced during his childhood is inspired and fresh. Since opening its doors in San Francisco’s Financial District in 2016, Sababa has enjoyed a worshipful following, even being named “Best Fast Casual Restaurant 2017” by San Francisco Magazine. Creamy hummus, hand-baked pita, and crispy falafel steal the show at this popular and delicious San Francisco hot spot. Sababa is so popular that Eshel has since opened two more locations in downtown San Francisco, and all three locations always have lines out the door.
Peet’s Coffee
When Alfred Peet opened his first coffee shop in Berkeley, California in April 1966, he started a coffee revolution. No one had ever seen coffee of this quality, roasted in this artisan manner, in America before. Peet’s hand-roasts its coffee in small batches, focusing on using superior-quality beans and a darker roasting style, producing coffee with depth of flavor, richness, and complexity. For more than four decades, Peet’s has attracted a growing family of loyal, almost zealous customers known as “Peetniks,” for whom a cup of coffee could only mean a cup of Peet’s. Maintaining an unrelenting commitment to quality, Peet’s remains the gold standard by which all other coffee is judged.
Balboa Cafe
Balboa Cafe is a San Francisco institution that has endured for over a century by staying true to its roots. It survived Prohibition, the Great Depression, the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and many other challenging times in San Francisco history by delivering hospitality and a consistent product in a great space. And unlike many dining institutions that have lost cultural relevance or shifted their model to primarily cater to visitors, Balboa Cafe maintains its stature as a neighborhood watering hole and dining room for multiple generations of San Franciscans. Balboa is simply built into their way of life. Everyone’s idea of a warm welcome is unique to them but the convivial atmosphere at Balboa Cafe captures them all. A couple of martinis for Monday lunch? Not an uncommon sight. Celebrating a San Francisco Giants win on Tuesday night? Of course. The legendary Chicken Paillard and a bottle of rosé on a summer Wednesday evening? Yes, please. Weekend brunch with the kids? Sure! And we adults can enjoy an award-winning Bloody Mary (or two).
