Zuni Cafe is a popular American restaurant on Market street near Hayes Valley. Judy Rodgers has served classic fare that stays timeless since their inception in 1979. Menu changes daily and they use sustainable and humane ingredients. They are packed most of the time. Bar tables are available first come first serve.

Decor, Vibe - Odd, pie shaped building with exposed brick, large windows, large bar area and oyster bar. Lots of folks in their 30’s to 50’s, better dressed, a bit of a scene.

Menu Pictures

Dessert Menu

Picks:

Zuni Caesar Salad ($9) is a classic dish. Fresh greens and classic dressing.

Chicken for two ($48) roasted in the brick oven, warm bread salad with scallions, currants, and pine nuts is their signature dish. Order it as soon as you sit down, as it takes an hour. Some of the best chicken around, it was juicy and tender. Bread was crispy. It is good reheated.

Oysters ($12) Wescott Pacific, Hog Kumamoto, and Olympias were fresh and served with champagne vinegrette.

Piccolo fritto ($11) deep-fried radicchio, onions, and lemon with balsamic vinegar was crunchy and satisfying. How could deep fried food not be?

Pistachio ice cream cones ($8.75) with chocolate sauce were small but the ice cream was smooth and creamy. Yes, it was someone’s birthday.

Espresso granita ($6.25) with whipped cream was a refreshing dessert. Caffeine and zingy coffee flavor balanced with cream.

Wills Ranch Pork Chop ($25) roasted with cardoons, chickpeas, and almond green garlic picada was cooked just right, tender, and juicy. Good beans.

Farro soup ($8.25) with 3 greens and one egg was excellent. Good broth and fresh greens.

OK:

Tomales Bay Mussels and Hog Island Manila Clams ($10) with saffron, coriander seed, orange zest and harissa was only fair. Fresh shellfish combined with good sauce. Good dip for bread.

Serrano Ham with Twin Girl Farm cherries and fennel ($11) was fair. Too simple, we guess. The other appetizers were better.

Polenta ($5.25) with parmesan cheese was fair. A litle on the hard side.

Pans:
None

Zuni Cafe had above average service that was friendly. All food came out paced well. Classic food that is very accessible, no wonder they are always packed. Be sure to try the Burger during lunchtime or late night time.

Cocktails like the Mojito and Margarita were strong and well made.
They add a 4% San Francisco Health Surchage to your bill.

Be sure to check out the Zuni Cafe Book

Sushi Ran is a popular Japanese restaurant in Sausalito. They describe their food as “vibrant fusion of traditional Japanese and Pacific cuisine”. Since 1986 they have been serving up top notch Japanese food in Marin. They have the standard Japanese fare you would expect, including Omakase (Trust the chef) plus lots of dinner specials and cooked items. They have an extensive wine and sake collection. You can eat in the main dining room or in the sake and wine bar next door that has an outdoor patio.
Decor, Vibe - Understated Asian decor and artwork with sushi bars on both sides of their restaurant. Some tourists but lots of locals 30+, and some families were taking in the good food.

Menu Pictures

Picks:
California Roll ($7) - 6 pieces with real crab and no mayo. As good as it gets.

Tentacles ($4.50) of Calamari (10) were grilled just right and had an aoili sauce that was not really necessary.

King Trumphet ($9.50) mushrooms were delicious but it was a tiny dish. Very nice texture and flavor though.

Boiled Spinach Salad ($6.50) with sesame seeds was simple but delicious. Organic of course.

Cooked shrimp ($7.50) or simple and great. You could really taste the fresh shrimp.

Hirame Sashimi ($6) or Halibut was fresh and chewy. Very good.

Sake Sashimi ($5.50) was also very good. Clean and fresh.

Dragon Roll ($16) with avocado, shrimp, fish was big and satisfying. High quality ingredients and not too much rice.

Hamachi Kama ($18.50) is the grilled cheek of the Yellowtail. Classic tender goodness and more. Very good stuff. Well matched dipping sauce.

OK:

Salt and Pepper Shrimp ($12) for shrimp with garlic and chiles was not as good as the pure simple shrimp

Clam Miso soup ($6) was regular miso soup with a couple clams. A little salty but not very special.

Pans:
None

Sushi Ran had above average service with friendly waiters. Food came fairly quick. This is definitely a place we would come to when we were in the area. Not many places in the Bay Area can match their quality and variety. There is more to this place than sashimi or sushi. The place is very busy, but a good way to eat here is to show up near opening time and get a table on the bar side.

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We were near Pizzeria Picco and were always up to try another pizza place, especially one that is recommended by a foodie god and run by famed chef Bruce Hill. Pizzeria Picco was rated as a top pizza place by Michael Bauer in August 2008.

This restaurant is located in Larkspur just a couple blocks from the original Lark Creek Inn. They have their main high end Picco restaurant next door.
They have high end Straus Dairy soft serve for dessert. Their pizza’s are named after bike companies. Someone is really into biking here.. Flash Frozen pizzas also are available.

Decor, Vibe - Modern decor with lots of wood showing. Counter seating inside and some tables outside. Families and friends in their 40’s were dining at the time.

Menu Pictures

Website menu

Picks:

Margherita ($10.95) tomato, basil, mozzarella, parmesan and De Padova extra virgin olive oil had a super crunchy Neapolitan style thin crust and even a crisp center. Quality cheese and olive oil. Better than the other pizza we had.

OK:

Specialized ($13.50) Hobbs’ pepperoni and house made sausage, tomato, mozzarella and basil looks great but did not have the crunchy crust of the Margherita even though it looked the same. Crush was more chewy and mushy. The sausage was a little zesty. Pepperoni and house made sausage were in plentiful quantity and tasted good. Not much cheese on this pizza.  Note: We took the got the pizza to go and ate it 2 minutes after we got it.

Pans:
None

The pizza came in about 15 minutes, pretty quick. Service was good. If we were in the area and wanted pizza, especially margherita pizza, we’d come back. We wouldn’t drive all the way out here just for the pizza.
Compared to our favorites, we’d rank this place below San Francisco’s top places including Gialina, A16, and Paulines. Reasonable wine prices with glasses from $6.

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