Tag: SF restaurants
Friday Favorites: Eats & Drinks in SF
Who doesn’t love food and re-discovering the great restaurants and bars in this vibrant city? The girls at ABCey Events have compiled a list of some oldies but goodies here in the SF! If you have been to these places, go back and check them out again – you never know if you might wander into a hidden secret room or experience a new menu!
1. Izakaya Yuzuki (598 Guerrero Street): If you have ever lived here in San Francisco, chances are you have heard of Izakaya Yuzuki, one of the top Japanese restaurants. With the welcoming of their brand new chef, Kentaro Ikuta, this is a must stop destination to see what new delights Ikuta has to offer. What better place to bring friends for a great night out?!
2. nopa (560 Divisadero): Looking for organic food with a twist? Look no farther than nopa, a high-end organic restaurant that serves seasonal foods- so the menu is always changing! Not only is this the place to go out for late night dinner and drinks, but also think about bringing a work event here as the community feel is just what you need!
3. Lazy Bear (Cesar Chavez Street): Now, this place is really cool- they only serve dinner to the public about three weekends per month and getting reservations can be crazy but worth it! Unfortunately, Lazy Bear is completely booked for the month of June, but go their website and be the first to know when they open up again. Arguably, the most unique feature of this restaurant is that they never have the same dish served another night. The menu is always changing, so if you really want to impress friends and coworkers, snag a reservation to Lazy Bear!
4. Bourbon and Branch (501 Jones Street): Taking you all the way back to the 1920’s when Prohibition was in full swing, Bourbon and Branch resembles a fine speakeasy and a place where you can truly feel transported in time. This is the epitome of a San Francisco treasure. Step out of the same-old-same-old and venture into Bourbon and Branch and have a night to remember!
5. Dalva (3121 16th Street): This is not your run-of-the-mill bar. Walk to the back room, or to the “hideout” and experience cocktails that will blow your mind! This is a place to bring old friends and meet new ones. This bar is perfect for any occasion, whether it be a casual outing with friends or family, so definitely be sure to stop by and check it out!
Will you be venturing out and re-trying these restaurants? Are you excited for new chefs and places to retreat after work to relax and enjoy food? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
Friday Favorites: Eats & Drinks in SF
At ABCey Events, we live this town – we know this town. The 49 square miles of San Francisco offers a prolific market for shops, parks, restuarants, bars, and more! We know each block, each view, each hidden secret spot and pride ourselves on our knowledge of what’s cool, new, and innovative. With the summer months ahead of us, there is no reason not to branch out and experience new cuisine in the city we love so very much! Consider these top five picks for places to wine & dine or host your next get together with friends & family!
1. Dirty Habit & Bar (12 4th Street): This edgy, sultry bar-centric restaurant is a new hideaway in San Francisco’s Hotel Palomar for those seeking an innovative & sociable drinking and dining atmosphere. The menu is comprised of many shareable, seasonal items that can be enjoyed on the fully heated outdoor patio. Yes, SF another outdoor patio has arrived!
2. The Commissary (101 Montgomery Street – Presidio): The Commissary, the new project from Traci des Jardins (Jardiniére, Mijita, Public House) is a brand new restaurant located in the heart of the Presidio and features Spanish-influenced California cuisine. Driven by sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients, the restaurant offers a mercantile with artisan goods, from batched jam to local cheeses. The restaurant is also equipped with large windows in which guests can look out onto the Main Post Lawn while enjoying a bottle of wine. This location is a unique setting for date night or catching up with friends!
3. Chino (3198 16th Street): The team behind Tacolicious has advanced beyond Mexican food with the opening of Chino, a new Chinese restaurant. The menu spans cultures, drawing in Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and American influences and similar to Tacolicious, this restaurant offers a fun, casual party vibe. The menu of this quirky-cool asian restaurant includes pot stickers, pork buns, three kinds of fried rice, and plenty of noodle options. Nothing on the menu is over $11, making it the perfect spot for a quick snack & drink at the bar or for groups to share a bunch of different plates!
4. Bartlett Hall (242 O’Farrell Street): Located in Union Square, complete with a brewery in the back and a large bar behind the front lounge, Bartlett Hall prides itself on quality, comfort, and craft. This restaurant and bar captures the essence of San Francisco in the form of food, drink, and good times, where guests can sip barrel-aged cocktails, house-brewed beers, and enjoy exclusively crafted bites from lunch to late night (open till 2am!). The menu features approachable, elevated tavern fare with items such as a butter burger and black garlic prawns. Bartlett Hall seems like the ultimate casual eatery to grab a drink & a bite to eat after a long day of shopping in Union Square!
5. Gaspar Brasserie (185 Sutter Street): This French restaurant is reminiscent of a Parisian brasserie with modern mid-20th century flair. There is an intimate bar and banquettes downstairs, as well as a dining room and a long bar upstairs. Located in the Financial District, Gaspar is an exciting complement to the bustling area while offering a dynamic shift in the city’s landscape of restaurants. Gaspar’s cuisine includes popular entrees such as wild king salmon and a stripped bass & scallop duo. With it’s location near the Montgomery BART stop, this restaurant is a prime meet-up location for a workday lunch or an evening rendezvous!
Which of these restaurants will you be trying? Are you excited for another outdoor patio just in time for summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!
Have You Been Missing Out On Lazy Bear?
San Francisco is one of America’s best cities for foodies as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers! With tons of eclectic restaurants in the Bay Area, it can be tricky to decide where to dine. When we heard about an underground fine dining restaurant, we had to find out more!
Lazy Bear, run by David Barzelay, serves dinner to the public about three weekends per month, typically on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Reservations are usually closed, so the best way to snag a reservation is to get on the mailing list. With over 10,000 subscribers, you will be one of many to hear about upcoming events.
Each set of dinners is an all-new menu and no dishes are repeated. Lazy Bear is the highest-rated “New American” restaurant in all of San Francisco according to Yelp.com and has been named one of the best underground restaurants in the city.
This unique restaurant usually has 1,000+ waitlists for 120 spots in one weekend. While the public events are popular to say the very least, Lazy Bear also holds private dinners for groups. The team will craft a custom menu for every event, making each experience at Lazy Bear personalized and special.
Here at ABCey, we love to check out restaurants that stand out among others which is why we find Lazy Bear so fascinating! This underground dining experience gained its popularity from word of mouth, so go check it! Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!
A Drink and A View: The Best Rooftop Bars in SF
When the fog settles in after sunset, the city can get a little chilly for some. We’re thankful that a little fog didn’t stop these five bar owners! If you’ve been looking for the perfect places to spend those warm San Franciscan nights, ABCey has you covered!
1. Jones | 620 Jones Street | You might have overlooked this TenderNob gem, but on Friday nights, you can’t ignore the huge line down the hill! Inside, the bar is futuristically chrome, which opens up to a wooden, earthy rooftop space. Their focus is clearly cocktails, and it would be an injustice to pass up “Tears of a Gypsy” or a “Kensington Zinger,” both made with their house-made syrups!
2. El Techo de Lolinda | 2518 Mission Street | Incredible food, creative drinks, and a rooftop view? We dare you to stop us on our way up to this fifth floor cantina, which translates to “Lolinda’s Roof.” Jazzed-up Latin American street food like chicharrones and ceviche pair wonderfully with the tropical rum, pisco, and tequila laden cocktail lineup. Get ready to be wowed by El Techo’s tapas plating style and the stunning views of San Francisco.
3. Bluestem Brasserie | 1 Yerba Buena Lane | Enjoy Napa Valley’s finest and freshest ingredients in Bluestem’s familiar yet refined brasserie cuisine. And if you’ve come for a drink, there are plenty to choose from! In addition to an impressive selection of scotch and cocktails (who doesn’t want to try a Honey Badger?), they have wine and beer on tap in addition to our Napa Valley favorites.
4. The View | 55 4th Street | Decor and carpeting aside, if you’re looking for incredible San Francisco views through Gotham City-style windows, head down to the Marriott Marquis in the Financial district. They offer the normal array of cocktails and bar food, but on a clear night, the view is remarkable!
5. The Starlight Room | 450 Powell Street | Classic and sometimes kitchy, you gotta love the Starlight Room for its charm as a San Francisco icon. Their cocktail menu is designed to take you through time from the 1600’s to Present Day, and everything from the food to the drinks is done with class and elegance. Where else but San Francisco can you have a Bellini at a Sunday’s a Drag brunch?
What do you think of our picks? Do you have any to add? Tell us in a comment or on Facebook and Twitter!
5 New SF Spots for Baked Treats
With weather like this, it’s the perfect time for a picnic or a walk down the pier with a yummy treat in hand. But you’ve been to your favorite cafe for your usual pick-me-up pastry twice this week and you want to try something different. At ABCey, we’ve scoped out a few places for you to try some deliciously new baked goods and pastries!
1. Heartbaker by Sybil Johnson (406 16th Ave, San Francisco, CA)
2. Beth’s by Beth Setrakian (34 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA)
3. The Mill by Josey Baker Bread and Four Barrel Coffee (736 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA)
4. b. patisserie by Belinda Leong (2821 California St San Francisco, CA)
5. La Luna Cupcakes by Elvia Buendia (Level 1, Store #10, 50 Post St, San Francisco, CA)
Yum! One of the great perks of living in the Bay Area is the plethora of restaurants and bakeries. What’s your favorite dessert shop? Will you be making a trip to any of these places soon? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend Line-up: 3.1.13 – 3.3.13
What better time than now to try out some new SF hot spots and attend some great events? Well…. there isn’t one! Take advantage of the beautiful weekend weather and explore more of our beloved city, or take a cruise to Tahoe for some fun in the snow. ABCey has put together a quick list of what’s in store this weekend!
1. SnowFest 2013 | Fri, Sat & Sun | Tahoe | It’s kind of like Freezing Man as opposed to Burning Man. The Space Cowboys will make your weekend in the snow as epic as that hot week in the summer, but in a different way. Get ready to experience Tahoe as never before with three days of dancing and partying fun. Friday night, enjoy the après ski danceparty under the gondola, complete with fireworks and other excellencies of the like. Saturday there is a day party for those snow bunnies without the requisite skill, desire, or monetary levels to truly hit the slopes. And then there is a fun-for-all on Saturday night as you party like (almost) Tahoe locals behind the Safeway at one of Truckee’s hottest spots, the Lakeside Club.
2. Hand to Mouth: Celebrity! | Friday | The Dark Room | James Fluty and Trevor Hill present Hand to Mouth: a monthly, topic-based comedy show where each edition explores a specific social, cultural or political issue. One show, one topic.
3. UNPLUG SF: Device-Free Drinks Party | Friday | Cell Space | An off-the-grid party to celebrate the National Day of Unplugging. Check your phone at the door and you’ll redefine what it means to truly be connected. It will be a night of Digital Detox goodness – massage lounge, live music, typewriters, arts and crafts, hand-drawn portraits, board games, dancing… you name it!
4. Camp Question Mark’s Silent Disco on BART | Saturday | BART | ZEROdb has taken the music community by storm with their ‘silent’ parties. And they’re back this time with another takeover of BART. Hop on the train at a designated station, receive your headphones (in exchange for your ID), and enjoy the ride. Each DJ set will broadcast on a channel through the headphones, and without them, you will be unable to hear the bass beats of DJs like Rebirth, Megowan, and Stylust Beats. For something out of the ordinary, hop on BART this Saturday.
5. Indie Festival: Noise Pop 2013 | Fri, Sat & Sun | Noise Pop is an indie music, arts, and film festival. Noise Pop has brought early exposure to many emerging artists who have gone on to achieve widespread acclaim. Notable acts have included the White Stripes, Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins, Bright Eyes, Best Coast, and Jeff Tweedy.
Let us know which ones you’ll be attending in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter! ABCey will be up in Tahoe for the SnowFest festivities, so be sure to say hello. Hope to see you all there!
Top 5 Valentine’s Day Apps
Every year, we spend a whopping $17.6 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day. How lucky for Hallmark! ABCey has compiled a list of the most useful V-Day related apps, whether you’re celebrating or single. We hope you ♥ them!
1. Helpful Romantic: Maybe you’re finding yourself a little unprepared, and maybe this app can (definitely) help you. It has last-minute date ideas and suggestions based on your significant others personality. You can even store highlights of your relationship so you never forget!
2. Valentine’s Day Special: This app is chalk-full of V-Day poems, ways to say I love you, love poems, and even the best love making songs (not so sure about this one).
3. Red Stamp: Skip those lame cards this year and send a personalized e-card to your loved one via e-mail or text! You can even go for the snail-mail route for a small charge.
4. Crowded Room: Single this Valentine’s Day? This app is perfect to help you find a special someone. Check in where you are, and where you’re headed that night, and the app will help you meet people with similar interests! Good thing it works for the other 364 days of the year, too!
5. OpenTable: Haven’t made a reservation yet? Fear not, this app will allow you to see what is still available in their database of over 15,000 restaurants across the US, Canada and UK! Keep using the app and earn dining cheques: good at any OpenTable restaurant.
6. Love Scan: Try this super corny app with your loved one for a love match percentage and a laugh (all based on a fingerprint scan).
Let us know which apps you like best and what your plans are for this Valentine’s Day. Leave us a comment below or find us on Facebook & Twitter.
Top 10 Travel Sites
President’s Day Weekend is right around the corner, and wouldn’t it be nice to get away for a quick vacation? There’s nothing better than a well planned and inexpensive trip. ABCey has compiled a list of the best and easiest websites for your travel needs!
1. Kayak scours hundreds of online sources for the cheapest fare available. The more flexible you are on time and destination, the better your chances of finding a great deal.
2. Bing Travel can help you bite the bullet and buy your ticket, or not, with its “price predictor,” which forecasts whether fares will go up or down.
3. Airfare Watchdog works best for travelers ready to take off at the drop of a deal. Their employees are constantly on travel sites waiting for price drops.
4. WhichBudget will help you build an inexpensive, overseas flight plan by using local, budget airlines — a great way to save on international travel.
5. Dishtip organizes the world of eating out in the United States a whole new way. You let it know a specific dish you want to eat, and it will find the best restaurants in the area with that particular item (rated by reviews, etc).
6. Hotels.com lets you search just one site for accommodations at more than 150,000 properties. It’s particularly great for it’s last-minute deals.
7. iExplore offers more adventurous trips (hiking and biking, for example), as well as multi-sport tours. It also boasts expert advice on “experiential travel,” such as a wildlife safari or a culinary tour.
8. Google Flights shows all flight prices on the web on one simple to use page.
9. Yapta tracks fares for you and will shoot you an e-mail or Tweet if the cost of your selected flight drops. After you buy your ticket, if the price falls below what you paid, most airlines and online travel agencies will refund you the difference, usually in the form of travel credits or vouchers.
10. Expats Blog is an extremely useful information tool by expatriates who have lived in a destination long enough to know it intimately, but still maintain an outsider’s perspective.
Do you think you’ll take advantage of these sites? Let us know if you any of these aid in your vacation planning in the commments below or on Facebook & Twitter!
Weekend Line-up: 2.1.13 – 2.3.13
With the Super Bowl XLVII happening on Sunday, San Francisco is sure to be just as spirited and fun as ever. ABCey has compiled a list of events related to and not-related-to the Super Bowl for you to enjoy this lovely weekend!
1. La French SF: Endless Champagne Disco | January 31 | 1772 Market St | $20| Immediately upon arrival, you’ll receive a glass of champagne and enjoy the rest of the night (with more champagne, I’m sure) at this sister party of one of the most popular recurring parties in Paris. Special guests have included Will.I.Am and Mighty Mouse!
2. Wicked | February 2 | The Orpheum Theater | Back by popular demand, this award-winning, nine-year-running musical has set records for the highest single-week gross of any show in Broadway history! It’s truly a cultural phenomenon; don’t miss out!
3. Grand Tasting Event: Zinfandel | Concourse Exhibition Center | February 2 | Use this opportunity to make the quest for your favorite Zinfandel as you sample wines from many different growing regions. The exhibition has hundreds of barrels for you to sample, as well as new releases and premier Zinfandel.
4. Together in Space | Pandora’s Box | February 2 | It’s almost Valentine’s Day and what better way to surprise your sweetie than with the dance of the season. Burning Man kings The Dancetronauts are holding a 3-room, open bar event for the occasion.
5. Big Screens & Craft Brews | Public House | February 3 | One of many bars and pubs that will be watching (and hopefully celebrating) the Super Bowl in the city. Boasting not only one of the largest selections of craft beers, this spot also has 22 flat screen TVs for optimal game viewing!
Will you be attending any of these fun events this weekend ? Let us know in a comment below or on Facebook & Twitter! Go Niners!
ABCey’s Weekend Line-up: 1.25.13-1.27.13
The Bay Area has lots in store these next few weeks. This weekend, keep your eyes peeled for events catering to bargain deals on delicious food. Check out what ABCey has found – it could be the start of a very FULL weekend!
1. SF Dine About Town 2013 | 1-18 to 1-31 | Various SF Restaurants | Dine About Town is San Francisco’s “restaurant week.” Being a city for foodies, one week apparently isn’t enough. The program runs twice a year for two weeks, January 15-31 and June 1-15. Restaurants sign up to offer a fixed price 2-or 3-course lunch option for $18.95 and/or a 3-course dinner option for $36.95. In addition, Dine About Town menus will offer a 10-25% discount off regularly priced menu items. During the period, participating restaurants will offer their Dine About Town menu, sometimes alongside their regular menus, and other times as the only menu.
2. 2013 Oakland Restaurant Week | 1-19 to 1-27 | Various Oakland Restaurants | San Francisco isn’t the only Bay Area city with a thriving cuisine scene. This week, Oakland is also hosting a Restaurant Week which promises to be just as delicious. If the San Francisco scene isn’t enough for you, I think there’s a strong possibility that the Oakland restaurants will be able to round out your palette. Oakland’s pricing works a little differently – restaurants will offer prix fixe menus at $20, $30, and $40. Tickets and special passes are not required, but reservations are strongly recommended.
3. SF Sketchfest Comedy Festival | 1-24 to 2-10 | Various Locations | For two weeks every year in January, comedians converge in San Francisco on the Sketchfest stages to make us laugh, snort, chuckle and chortle. In its 12th year, SF Sketchfest’s lineup includes everything from a tribute to “The Naked Gun” and an event with cast members of television’s “Portlandia” to a female Prince cover band headed by “Saturday Night Live” alum Maya Rudolph. Known for drawing big names while retaining a homegrown feel, the festival will take place in 26 venues, including Cobb’s Comedy Club and the Castro Theatre.
4. Local Tastings SF | 1-25 | Bluxome Street Winery | Enjoy a taste of the Bay Area’s artisan food & wine, and the stories of the locals who grow and craft them! Each tasting event focuses on local food and wine, grown and made entirely within the Bay Delta Bioregion. As you nibble and sip, your host will give a talk on how this local food and drink came to be: from the winemakers to the dairy cows. You will also receive a map to take home, showing the source locations of the food and wine.
5. Brunch Pop-Up: Wine & Waffles | 1-27 | Biondivino Wine Boutique | Chrissy’s Waffles is returning to Russian Hill’s Biondivino to pair waffles with prosecco cordials. In honor of the 49ers making it to the Super Bowl, this pairing is being called the “Waffle Bowl” and will showcase game-time wine pairings. Menu items include a 4505 Meats breakfast sausage & potato crumble waffle with butter & maple syrup, meyer lemon buttermilk donut waffles with marmalade & whipped cream and blood orange prosecco cordials. If our city is going to win the SuperBowl, you’ll need your strength for all the rioting!
Will you be headed to any of these restaurants or foodie events to cash in on the great deals? Let us know your weekend plans in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!