benu is the long awaited new restaurant in SF from French Laundry Alum and James Beard Award-winning chef Corey Lee. His old boss Thomas Keller is a partner in this new venture and has a wine locker by the front door. benu is housed where Hawthorne Lane used to be. We dined early on, during their 3rd week of operation. benu is a small product driven restaurant focused on contemporary American cuisine. benu is an Egyptian word and that stands for the phoenix, a symbol of something constantly renewing.

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Marlowe Restaurant is a market driven neighbourhood bistro near ATT park, just across the street from the Cal train station. Chef du Cuisine: Jennifer Puccio was formerly of Cortez. The focus here is on American comfort food. We decided to try this place because Michael Bauer raved about its burger. Read the rest of this entry »

Prather Ranch Meat Company is a boutique firm that raises grass fed and pastured cattle in North California’s Mt. Shasta area. Read the rest of this entry »

Alice’s Restaurant is located in the San Francisco coastal mountain range at the intersection on Highway 35 Skyline Blvd, and Highway 84. They are “Home to the best specialty burgers in the world”, as they put it. Lots of motorcyclists stop here on the weekend as well as hikers, bikers, and those touring the area. We have eaten here several times, the last time in June 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

Prospect is a long-awaited new restaurant from the Boulevard restaurant team – Nancy Oakes, Pam Mazzola, and Kathy King – located in the posh residential Infinity Tower complex of San Francisco’s Financial district / SOMA district. They named it with anticipation, expectation, and looking forward. Prospect mirrors restaurant RN74 and its place under the nearby Millennium tower.

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Frances is run by Melissa Perello, formerly of Charles Nob Hill and Fifth Floor, was winner of several accolades including San Francisco Chronicle’s rising star chef in 2002. Her California Cuisine Castro district restaurant, named after her grandmother, is one presently of the hardest reservations in town. We didn’t have a reservation and went early for bar counter seating before the restaurant opened. (some seats here are pretty tiny) Frances never answered the phone when we called, but they did return our message. They use local, sustainable and organic products when possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Wayfare Tavern is a new restaurant from celebrity chef Tyler Florence that opened earlier in the week. It is located in Rubicon’s old Financial District location. He is also opening Rotisserie & Wine in Napa and El Paseo in Mill Valley. Michael Thiemann is the chef de cuisine by way of Merriman’s in Hawaii and the Hapuku Lodge in New Zealand. They focus on local and sustainable ingredients for their American cuisine. Read the rest of this entry »

Restaurant.com sells discounted Certificates for this restaurant.

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Jeffrey’s Hamburgers is a popular burger joint in downtown San Mateo open since 1997. They also have a location in Menlo Park. They serve American fast food including burgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, salads, fries, and shakes. Seems like every town has a place like this, San Francisco has its Mel’s Drive in. We have been here several times over the years. Read the rest of this entry »

Lobster Shack Redwood City

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Baker and Banker took over the space vacated by legendary Quince restaurant in 2009. They focus on upscale dishes using local and sustainable ingredients from nearby farms at reasonable prices, in an easy & comfortable setting. Husband and wife team, Lori Baker is the pastry chef, and Jeff Banker is the chef. He most recently worked at Home, Acme chophouse and Bix, while she has been the pastry chef at several restaurants. This restaurant requires a credit card when making reservations.

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Il Cane Rosso is a casual rotisserie and sandwich shop inside the ferry building. It is run by Daniel Patterson who also runs the well-respected Coi restaurant. Read the rest of this entry »