Went here last night for a friend’s bday - first time. I hadn’t even known it existed - it sits a few blocks above the main retail/restaurant area of 24th Street. Truly a neighborhood kind of place. Space is very pretty, cozy yet elegant, with a beautiful large bar that you can eat at too, and an impressive wine selection. Food is kind of elevated Americana, with a few twists and turns, heavy on the vegetarian options.
My friend had been there once before and said we had to get the cheesy buns made with parm and cheddar and served with onion jam and arugula/walnut pesto:
Fantastic. They may not look like much but they were served warm, and the cheesiness went so well with the sweetish onion jam, especially, but both spreads were great. I could have eaten a basket of these.
My friend had tasted the vegetarian Provençal bouillabaisse previously, with these beautiful little risotto croquettes to soak up the broth, and loved it, but sadly last night the dish was under-seasoned. She asked for salt, which we hadn’t noticed was on the table already, and proceeded to salt every few bites. She said it tasted great after that. The server came by and my friend told her about the salt issue but that it was fine now that she had the shaker. The server apologized, then came back almost immediately and said it had been taken off the bill without our asking. I was impressed because my friend was clearly eating her way through the entire bowl, albeit salting multiple times.
I had the most fantastic piece of furikake-crusted ocean trout with tahini/miso rice noodles, and garlicky bok choy with chili crisp.
So many flavors and textures. The trout was almost creamy but with a crunchy topping. The rice noodles were especially wonderful, and my friend asked if they would consider serving it as a side if she asked next time (she’s a vegetarian so she wouldn’t order the trout.) They said yes, of course, they often did that type of thing to accommodate their customers. Everything in this dish worked together well. Really top-notch.
We finished with a lovely almond/olive oil cake with candied cara cara oranges. (It was my friend’s bday so they brought it with a candle, nice touch.)
I might have a hard time ordering anything but that trout next time, but they also have fried chicken and biscuits, their apparently famous meatloaf, gumbo z’herbes, moqueca, and so many wonderful-sounding vegetable starter dishes and salads.
Very friendly, casual, yet warm, service, too. I asked how long they’d been there - 30-plus years! - and was told they don’t like to brag about themselves too much, they like to keep it low key and be a real locals-type of place. It’s certainly that, and living in the Mission, I think I’m close enough to become a regular here too.
