Nopa

(NoPa)
560 Divisadero St.  
415-864-8643 Map it
www.nopasf.com

E + D Award Winner; Dinner only
$$-$$$
California
bar scene, dine at the bar, good for groups, late-night dining, open 7 days, open kitchen

2008 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best Late Night
2007 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best Newcomer

SCENE: This restaurant has made what was once just an unnamed stretch of Divisadero the place to be. Its cavernous space with massive windows has been given plenty of rustic touches—a stack of firewood near the open kitchen, dishtowels for napkins—but a sweeping mural by local artist Brian Barneclo imparts a sense of urban cool. A lively crowd gathers at the bar to sample Nopa’s signature cocktails.

EATS: You’ll see plenty of homey favorites on the compact, daily-changing dinner menu. The food is simple and mostly organic, with starters such as a flatbread topped with caramelized onions, kalamata olives, anchovies and parmesan and mains such as a Mediterranean fish stew or herbed rotisserie chicken. Desserts also play it safe with crowd-pleasers: persimmon pudding with cognac cream, pecan tart with salted caramel ice cream and sopaipillas, small pillows of fried dough topped with honey butter.