5 Days in Downtown San Francisco

[percyn]

How could I spend 5 days in San Francisco without checking out the local restaurant scene?

Day 1: Dim Sum, Mexican

On my first day, I strolled along the financial district to the Ferry Plaza where they had a farmers market over the weekend. The had great little stands selling nuts, fruits and this award winning olive oil.

On the way I passed the Mexican place which seemed to be getting ready for the lunch crowd and I popped in to grab a shrimp taco

Later on that day, I went to the famous Yank Sing for Dim Sum. The dumplings with shrimp were very fresh and had generous portions of the shrimp.

Their special pork (filled with broth) dumplings.

Day 2 : Coffee, Pastries, Hot Dog and Greek

My second day started out with an amazingly good cappuccino and almond tart

Lunch was a Fatt Dog

Dinner was at Kokkari Restaurant, a greek place which is quite popular and usually packed. Appologize for the lighting in advance.

Grilled octupus

Grilled lamp riblets

Delicioussss pork with beans

Day 3: Basque cusine

Started the day with walnut bread and coffee

Early dinner at Piperade, which is famous with foodies for its basque cusine.

Dungeness crab salad

Warm piquillo peppers with goat cheese

Warm sheep's milk cheese and ham terrine

....more to follow....

Edited May 24, 2006 by percyn (log)

[spaghetttti]

Ooooh, Percy....spectacular as always.

[ludja]

Great photos so far; thanks for sharing!

Was the mexican place in the Ferry Buidling? If so, I guess it would be Tracy des Jardins' newish Mexican restaurant, Mijita. (One of her other restaurants is Jardiniere, a high end place a few block west of the opera house.)

I'm glad you had a nice meal at Piperade. Coupled with Carolyn Tille's recent good experience I guess that means all is still well there. I haven't been there recently. Kokkari doesn't get mentioned much on the boards here, but I've had good, comforting meals there.

Edited May 24, 2006 by ludja (log)

[docsconz]

Great photos so far; thanks for sharing!

Was the mexican place in the Ferry Buidling?  If so, I guess it would be Tracy des Jardins' newish Mexican restaurant, Mijita.  (One of her other restaurants is Jardiniere, a high end place a few block west of the opera house.)

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If that was Mijita I don't remember them having a shrimp taco when I was there. Wherever, it looked good.

I'm looking forward to the rest!

[annachan]

Great photos so far; thanks for sharing!

Was the mexican place in the Ferry Buidling?  If so, I guess it would be Tracy des Jardins' newish Mexican restaurant, Mijita.  (One of her other restaurants is Jardiniere, a high end place a few block west of the opera house.)

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If not, it could be Pancho Villa, next to the Ferry Building....

[eje]

[...]

Was the mexican place in the Ferry Buidling?  If so, I guess it would be Tracy des Jardins' newish Mexican restaurant, Mijita.  (One of her other restaurants is Jardiniere, a high end place a few block west of the opera house.)

[...]

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Doesn't look like mijita, salsa's wrong and tortillas aren't homemade.

I remember one of the other Mission taquerias was opening a new branch near the ferry building. The El Toro/Pancho Villa folks maybe?

Certainly looks like their salsa and steam table set up.

edit - annachan got there first. I actually didn't know they had already opened.

Edited May 24, 2006 by eje (log)

[rancho_gordo]

As a vendor at the farmers market, I was pretty excited to see Pancho Villa's opening up. There's a lot of good food at the ferry building but after several years, the thought of a regular taqueria is pretty great. I'm sure Mijita is fine but the portions seem so off from the price and Mexican food should be gracious and abundant, not miserly and stingy.

But Pancho Villa's is bizarre. A regular burrito ends up over $7. They wrap it so tight that it seems like work. And there's something sterile and anti sceptic about the flavors that make me not want to repeat the experience. Plus, they steam the tortillas, rather than grill them, which at the price is pretty lame.

The shrimp taco looks good but I fear the price!

[Nancy Berry]

Was the mexican place in the Ferry Buidling?  If so, I guess it would be Tracy des Jardins' newish Mexican restaurant, Mijita.  (One of her other restaurants is Jardiniere, a high end place a few block west of the opera house.)

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Those look like tacos from the Primavera stand right in the outdoor farmer's market.

[percyn]

Day 4: Chinatown and the Fifth Floor

Went to a Chinese bakery in Chinatown to get a BBQ pork bun

and a rose black bean moon cake (only had a bite)

Look what else I passed by...the (eGullet) famed Wok Shop !! Had to stop in and take a look....ohhh I wish I had more space to lug a wok back.

For lunch, I stopped by Taqueria El Zorro (308 Columbus Ave) and got a

Fish Taco and Beef taco - This is a hole in the wall, but probably the closest thing to homemade Mexican food I have tasted.

Later that night went to the Fifth Floor in the Palomar hotel and had the Seasonal Tasting Menu consisting of

Amuse Bouche #1 - English pea and asparagus puree (?)

Amuse Bouche #2 - Lobster and shrimp mousse with tarragon (?)

ZUCKERMAN’S FARM ASPARAGUS

BUTTER POACHED LOBSTER

TRUFFLE GLAZED SQUAB BREAST

RIB-EYE OF PAINTED HILLS BEEF

(Meyer Lemon?) SORBET

WARM VALRHONA CHOCOLATE CAKE

Had the wine pairing too but still waiting for the Sommelier to email me the list of wines.

Day 5 - Thai and French

Lunch was at a Thai BBQ place across from Mascone West, from where I got Thai BBQ pork and a Thai iced tea.

Dinner was at Fleur de lys on 777 Sutter. I appologize for the poor light quality, but I was seated in the middle of the room and didn't want to disturb the other dinners with my flash.

I got the 4 course tasting menu and wine pairing

Amuse Bouche - Eggplant gratin

Degustation of

- Chilled Salsify Vichyssoise and osetra caviar

- Warm oxtail consumme glazed with foie gras

- Hot maine lobster bisque with sweatbread "croutons" (the best lobster bisques I have had and the "croutons" were extremely crispy).

2004 Trimbach Riesling

Hawaiian pink shrimp with fennel pollen

2004 Clos Saron Tickled Pink Rose

Colorado lamb sadle

1999 Chateau de Lamarque

Grand Marnier Souffle

2003 Domaine Lafarge Muscat

Edited May 25, 2006 by percyn (log)

[percyn]

As a vendor at the farmers market, I was pretty excited to see Pancho Villa's opening up. There's a lot of good food at the ferry building but after several years, the thought of a regular taqueria is pretty great. I'm sure Mijita is fine but the portions seem so off from the price and Mexican food should be gracious and abundant, not miserly and stingy.

But Pancho Villa's is bizarre. A regular burrito ends up over $7. They wrap it so tight that it seems like work. And there's something sterile and anti sceptic about the flavors that make me not want to repeat the experience. Plus, they steam the tortillas, rather than grill them, which at the price is pretty lame.

The shrimp taco looks good but I fear the price!

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Unfortunately I don't remember the name of this place, but Pancho Villa's sounds about right (its right off the pier a block or so north of the Ferry Plaza).

While nothing is San Francisco is particularly cheap, I think these shrimp tacos were like $8.50 or so...if memory serves me.

[Ling]

How did you like your meal at Fifth Floor?

[percyn]

Fifth floor was good, but I prefer the meal at Fleur de lys. Though the pace of the Fifth Floor was better....Fleur de lys took too long to send the dishes out.

[Jeff L]

Percy, of all your meals, I was most impressed with Piperade, particularly that dungeness crab salad. Man that looked tasty.

Just curious, any business in between all that feasting or was it just vaca?

[percyn]

Jeff, Piperade was pretty cool. Its a bit out of the way, but worth the trip.

I was in SFO for a conference and then stayed a few extra days as a vacation - so it was both. Couldn't get to Sanoma/Napa on this trip, but plan to on the next one.

[docsconz]

Percy, what did you think of Kokkari? I am heading to S.F. for business this fall and that is on my list of places to try.

[percyn]

Percy, what did you think of Kokkari? I am heading to S.F. for business this fall and that is on my list of places to try.

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Thumbs up - simple ingredients cooked well. Dining room can get a bit loud. Get the octopus and lamb.