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Less is More Some of SF’s best food is at restaurants the size of your studio apartment. |
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posted on January 29, 2008 |
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While SF has its fair share of mega-menu, reservations-required dinner spots, some of the tastiest and most interesting meals can be had in spaces that are less than 1,000 square feet. These teeny, tiny restaurants don’t have a Napoleon complex; they try that much harder. Here are seven matchbox-sized places that are as intimate and friendly as the food is tasty. Art’s Café With just 14 seats at the counter, this snug diner has Inner Sunset residents lining up out the door. Brunch classics get a dose of Korean flair (i.e., a side of bulgogi comes with the pancake-and-egg breakfast), making Art’s a true original. Try the hearty hash-brown sandwiches, either stuffed with sausage and onions or smothered in cheddar cheese. 747 Irving St., 415-665-7440 Bar Crudo Next door to the Tunnel Top bar, this neighborhood nook is a bit of Nob Hill chic combined with the warmth of home. Snag a seat at the tiny bar to catch up with friends over a dozen oysters and a Belgian beer. 603 Bush St., 415-956-0396 Café Jacqueline Romance is in the air at this petite storefront space, where pale green walls, small candlelit tables and unhurried service set an intimate mood. The menu contains exquisite, if pricey, soufflés, all of which are meant for sharing. 1454 Grant Ave., 415-981-5565 Canteen With a small pea-green counter and a few snug booths, this former coffee shop is where you’ll find Dennis Leary (formerly of Rubicon) dishing out lunch and dinner. Everyone from foodies to curious lodgers from the adjacent Commodore Hotel comes to watch the talented chef cook up a storm from the minuscule open kitchen. 817 Sutter St., 415-928-8870 Chez Maman With only a sleek bar plus a few tables, this tiny space allows diners to get intimate while peering into the theatrics of the open kitchen. Expect French casual: Start with baked Camembert and roasted garlic, then move on to entrées, which range from authentic croque monsieurs and salade niçoise to smoked-salmon panini and juicy burgers with Brie. 1453 18th St., 415-824-7166 Maverick Owners Scott Youkilis and Mike Pierce, who previously waited tables at Sociale, have made over these tiny digs into the image of an ultraluxe lodge. Refined American classics dominate the menu, which changes daily. Crab cakes get a sophisticated update in the surprisingly light “Baltimore Crab Fluffs,” made with deep-fried lump blue crab and served with a tangy tartar sauce. 3316 17th St., 415-863-3061 Swan Oyster Depot This seafood-market-cum-oyster-bar founded in 1912 is an SF institution. People line up to sit at one of just 12 stools. A pint of Anchor Steam and a dozen oysters on the half shell is a no-fail order, but there’s also thick and creamy clam chowder and a crab salad drizzled with Louie dressing. 1517 Polk St., 415-673-1101
While SF has its fair share of mega-menu, reservations-required dinner spots, some of the tastiest and most interesting meals can be had in spaces that are less than 1,000 square feet. These teeny, tiny restaurants don’t have a Napoleon complex; they try that much harder. Here are seven matchbox-sized places that are as intimate and friendly as the food is tasty. |
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