Kevin Koss

I’d rather point out the good than the bad, so here they are. Front burner means they are newer to me and I want to frequent them more. Back burner means they are solid fall backs and always on the list. Some of these are because they are in my hood. Also, not focused on fancy night out places. Just value and goodness.

Front Burner

Limon Rotisserie
Neighborhood: Mission
1001 S Van Ness Ave
(between 21st St & 22nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 821-2134
limonrotisserie.com

We went here because we love the flagship restaurant, but it has been closed for so long. We had a half chicken, steak, a bunch of sides. Everything was delicious, including the four sangrias we had. When the bill came, it was around $44 bucks. So this is a seriously good bet.

Pizza Nostra
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
300 De Haro St
(between 16th St & 17th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 558-9493
pizzanostrasf.com/

This is a true gem. The guys from Chez Papa and Chez Mama dragged the pizza chef from the streets of Italy. When I heard the story, I started to get worried “What if he hates San Francisco, what if he decides to go back, what will we do?” Well, everytime I go in to order the Fritto Misto and the pizza with egg on it, I ask if the chef is still loving living here and so far so good.

Anchor Oyster Bar
Neighborhood: Castro
579 Castro St
(between 18th St & 19th St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 431-3990
www.anchoroysterbar.com

You know, what can I say? This isn’t a new place. I just can’t eat enough oysters lately. And as winter rolls in, what could be better than some chowder at Anchor? What the tourists don’t realize, is this is the place to go in San Francisco for that seafood experience they are dreaming of. Has, is and will always be bomb-diggity awesome goodness.

Back Burner
These are all the restaurants I haven’t been in a while but are always on the list.

• DelFina – Simple, delicious Italian
• Range – Still the best chicken anywhere
• SPQR – Brussel sprouts are awesome
• Beretta – Makes me want to go to Italy right now
• Jardiniere Restaurant – $$$ but we love the chef and the sommelier

The North of Market/Tenderloin Community Benefit District has created a restaurant guide to the Tenderloin. Very cool. Is the Tenderloin the new Valencia St “Gourmet Ghetto”?

Just saw the movie Julie and Julia. Pretty great, Meryl Streep is excellent. You forget it is her playing Julia. Whilst watching the movie, they mentioned a few books, one of which I recognize from my days at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park: Larousse Gastronomique

These guys are SF locals.

In your book “The Foodie Handbook” you say one of the top 10 ways to know a restaurant is bad is if they serve dishes with black truffle in the summer. We were just in Paris and went to Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon’s  L’Atelier, both of which had black truffle on the menu in June.

So they are not foodies then?

Opening

Mazu: 3809 Geary Blvd. at 2nd Ave.
PIZZERIA AVELLINO 2769 Lombard St. at Lyon

More unrestaurant twitterness: http://twitter.com/kungfutacos

More

If you haven’t been to Pizza Nostra in Potrero and had the pizza with the egg on it……what are you waiting for?

The NY Times just ran an article about all the Peruvian restaurants in SF. They probably needed to give Limon more credit for solidifying this trend. They mention the Pisco Sours at Le Mar. If you haven’t had one, you need to get down there and sit at the bar and enjoy!

So what is up with Tony Bourdain’s San Francisco episode? Some are interesting, but some are like….say wha? Has he been here before?

Opening:

Sunflower – Potrero Hill
Starbelly – The Castro
Naked Lunch – North Beach
Parkside Tavern – Sunset

More

The Market Spoke to Me and Said:

Some nibblely things…

Tuna Tar Tar

Bruschetta

Fruit/prosciutto

Pasta course

I have a really great smoked Pheasant we got while back in Wisconsin visiting the Bacon Mecca.

It will have tons of Parmesan.

Main

Some kind of roasted of grilled meat (pork loin??)

With a summery veg heavy salad with an herby vinaigrette — Italian style (some fruit, pine nuts, herbs, maybe some sweet balsamico)

Want to join the fun and go to an unrestaurant? Start following these on twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/cremebruleecart
http://www.twitter.com/leftcoastsmoke
http://www.twitter.com/chezspencergo
http://www.twitter.com/sexysoupcart
http://www.twitter.com/magiccurrykart
http://www.twitter.com/wholesomebakery (vegan)
http://twitter.com/carte415
http://twitter.com/AmuseBoucheSF
http://twitter.com/urbanectar
http://twitter.com/GobbaGobbaHey