Boulevard

(Embarcadero)
1 Mission St.  
415-543-6084 Map it
www.boulevardrestaurant.com

E + D Award Winner
$$$$
California
business lunch, dine at the bar, fine dining, good for groups, great desserts, lunch, notable chef, notable wine list, open 7 days, private dining or party space, romantic, view

2008 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best Classic

SCENE: Located in the historic Audiffred Building—one of just a few structures downtown that survived the 1906 earthquake—Boulevard itself has become something of an institution. The Pat Kuleto–designed interior, with its art-nouveau accents and sweeping views of the Bay, draws every type of diner: suits making deals over lunch, tourists and couples splurging on a romantic dinner.

EATS: Chef Nancy Oakes’ award-winning contemporary American cooking has led to Boulevard’s consistent popularity. Seasonal starters might feature squash-blossom gnocchi with lobster and sugar snap peas, while entrées include a wood oven–roasted Berkshire pork-loin chop or grilled wild Pacific white sea bass with roasted prawns, roma tomatoes, white beans and chorizo. Desserts lean toward the classics, such as a Valrhona chocolate cake and a caramel-bottom vanilla crème brûlée.