mosnow

Zeb, Outstanding report. Having eaten at each of these restaurants, several times, I would say you were right on in your assessment. I was sorry to see that you did not order the tuna tartare at Aqua. It is the best you will ever try. And Slanted Door is not going anywhere. They are staying put in their new, much fancier location. Mosnow

OK, I am open to some suggestions for outstanding Vietnamese in SF. Give me some recommendations and I will try them.

Oh yes the old "when we give you a reservation it is really only a suggested time not the actual time you can expect to be seated policy". Enough to turn anyone off. It is one thing to wait for an epic meal but to wait for a disappointing meal is plenty enough reason to write off a restaurant.

I don't know how you can bash Slanted Door. Not sure what "attitude" could have been thrown out. They are super accomodating and the food is incredible. Ok, so it is not authentic Vietnamese but it is a great interpretation. Your are correct about the Chineses in this town. I have ben looking for a good Chinese restaurant since I got here.

A big No vote on Brandy Ho's. Any casual list must include "Delfina" and "Slanted Door" . SD's new location makes the restaurant much more accessable.

Curious to get your take on Masa's. After spending way too much time at Gary Danko, Fifth Floor and Aqua I was some what reluctant to try Masa's. Just had not picked up any really exciting press on the place and did believe it would be as good as the Masa's of Julien Serrano. Regardless, decided to give it a try last weekend and I am now a full convert to Ron Siegel's food. The four of us all moved Masa's back to our top three list for the "city" of SF. Ron has taken his experiences from Restaurant Daniel and French Laundry and applied it to his menu at Masa's. I am a huge fan of the Foie Gras at French Laundry and no matter where I have dined, I have not been able to replicate Thomas Keller's Foie Gras. Well, Ron's Foie Gras was as close as it gets. When I tasted Ron's chilled Foie Gras with Quince Jam I got lost in Foie Gras heaven. The entire six course meal was outstanding. So curious to know why Ron is has not received the same press as other chefs in the area.