Where to Celebrate Special Occasions on a Date in San Francisco

When you're ready to signal to someone that you're serious about the relationship, it's time to head to a special occasion spot that shows your intentions through delicious food and top-notch hospitality. Note: these are not — we repeat not — places to put a ring on it. Lock it down at one of these 17 restaurants ideal for standout evenings, scattered throughout the city and the East Bay for location ease.

Evening go well with your new partner? Here's where to go when the two of you need a date night, grouped separately for moderate prices and slightly fancier spots.

1 Acquerello

This white-tableclothed, Italian fine dining temple may not be the hippest thing around, but you're going to get treated real right and eat some delicious pasta with incredible wine. And this is a special occasion, right? So put your khakis and your dresses on and act like it.

Acquerello/Facebook

1722 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA 94109

2 Beach Chalet Soccer Fields

Beach Chalet, on the second floor of the Golden Gate Park Visitor’s Center on the Great Highway, is member of a very small club of SF restaurants where you can eat dinner while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Make reservations accordingly. You can splurge on classics like raw oysters, Maine lobster, or New York steak, or stick to basics like burgers and fish and chips. Wash it all down with one of the restaurant’s house brews or a selection from the full bar.

Beach Chalet/Facebook

1500 John F. Kennedy Dr.
San Francisco, CA 94121

3 Californios

Californios is the most underrated tasting menu destination in San Francisco; taking someone here will make you seem very in the know. The Mexican food is surprising (when's the last time you had aerated beans?), the decor is stylish, the service is spot-on. Make sure you get the inventive wine and beer pairings, too.

Patricia Chang

3115 22nd St
San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 757-0994

4 Chez Maman East

It's not the most expensive restaurant in the neighborhood, but it's romantic and homey in that French bistro way. Share escargot and beef tartare, and wash it all down with Champagne as you plan a trip to Paris together.

Chez Maman/Facebook

1401 18th St
San Francisco, CA 94107

(415) 655-9542

5 Chez Panisse

Not only is Chez Panisse a Berkeley classic, it's also the birthplace of California cuisine. Alice Waters' prix-fixe restaurant in the Gourmet Ghetto is still serving up pristine Bay Area produce, amazing wines, and impeccable ambiance. Make sure to take a peek into the gorgeous kitchen before the night is over. 

Chez Panisse/Facebook

1517 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94709

(510) 548-5525

6 Commis

The only two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the East Bay is an obvious choice, and one of the grander gestures available. It's a relaxed vibe with super precise, flavorful food — make a reservation at the chef's counter for a memorable experience and a first-hand look at the action. 

Timothy Y./Yelp

3859 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611

(510) 653-3902

7 Frances

Chef Melissa Perello has created one of the city's most beloved Californian restaurants. The cozy space makes your table feel intimate, and the dreamy food will give you a break from swooning over each other. 

Frances

3870 17th St
San Francisco, CA 94114

(415) 621-3870

8 Greens Restaurant

In a neighborhood without a ton of special occasion spots, the vegetarian Greens is your best bet. And it's a good one, with solid food and a seriously killer view of the Bay. Make sure you get a window seat to alternate views of the Golden Gate and your brand-new SO's eyes. 

Greens/Facebook

Building A
San Francisco, CA 94123

(415) 771-6222 

9 Ijji sushi

Ijji has quietly become one of the best spots for sushi in the city, with friendly chefs and a lighthearted, approachable atmosphere, despite a serious focus on the fish. The attention to detail and mouthwatering bites — and $200 to $300 per couple price tag for omakase, depending how baller you go — make this a definite special occasion restaurant, so make it count for when you're ready for this next-level celebration. 

Ijji/Facebook

252 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94117

(415) 658-7388

10 Kokkari Estiatorio

Kokkari is a special occasion classic for a reason: It consistently nails the restaurant holy trinity — food, service, and atmosphere — with its wood-fired Greek food and attentive staff. 

Eater Archives

200 Jackson St
San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 981-0983

11 La Ciccia

No restaurant in the city has more charm than La Ciccia, where a husband-and-wife team have put their love into the space for the last ten years. Let wife Lorella Degan settle you into your table and a great bottle of wine, after which husband Massimiliano Conti will delight your taste buds with the traditional Sardinian fare. It all leads up to a special evening free of some of the pretense that can infuse SF dining. 

Eater Archives

291 30th St
San Francisco, CA 94131

(415) 550-8114

12 Mourad

Amid a town that flaunts its casual fashion, Mourad offers a luxe and elegant setting for its Michelin-starred contemporary Moroccan fare. Large slabs of gleaming white marble, reclaimed branches, huge mid-century modern chandeliers, sweeping ceilings, and its flawlessly executed tasting menu provide the swoon-worthy atmosphere to cinch the deal. If tasting menus aren't your thing, you can go a la carte or — better yet — create a shared memory by ordering the la'acha, a family-style dish to share with a choice between a whole chicken, a whole fish, a whole lamb shoulder, or 72-hour short ribs with four decadent sides. 

Patricia Chang

140 New Montgomery St
San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 660-2500

13 Nico

A hidden gem in Laurel Heights, Nico's inventive, five-course prix fixe menu changes nightly but always feels like a special occasion. Intimate and familiar, yet always fresh — the perfect spot to show you're serious about somebody, without adding the unnecessary gravitas of a big destination dinner. 

Nico/Facebook

3228 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA 94115

(415) 359-1000

14 Petit Crenn

Queen bee/SF chef Dominique Crenn's second, more casual venture is a dinner party of a restaurant, where the kitchen takes you on a journey to Crenn's French hometown Brittany. Go along for the multi-course, wood-fired meal ride, being sure to pair it with a few bottles of wine from the all-natural list. Crenn knows how to do it right, so though the restaurant has a more low-key vibe than her original fine dining temple Atelier Crenn, you'll still walk away feeling wowed. 

Patricia Chang

609 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 864-1744

15 Wako

Omakase is on the menu at this tiny Clement Street restaurant, but Wako offers more than your average sushi restaurant. Chefs Atsushi-san and Tomo-san send out a parade of Japanese small plates, like housemade sesame tofu and mountain yam with spicy cod roe, followed by sashimi, tempura, and dessert; the whole thing is an elegant study in textures and temperatures. The sushi bar is small, so reservations are recommended. 

Wako/Facebook

211 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118

(415) 682-4875

16 Waterbar

The view from luxe seafood spot Waterbar is all you need to signify serious. Located at the base of the Bay Bridge, the best time to go is at sunset, sitting on the heated patio while watching the sun go down and the bridge lights start to dance in front of you. 

Waterbar/Facebook

399 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 284-9922

17 Zazie

Celebrate the fact that you and your new beau actually enjoy each other's company with a romantic patio brunch for two at this relaxed longtime neighborhood favorite. Besides, if you're going to wait that long for gingerbread pancakes and challah french toast, you might as well make it official. 

Zazie/Facebook

941 Cole St
San Francisco, CA 94117

(415) 564-5332

Article and images sourced from http://sf.eater.com/maps/special-occasions-date-spots-restaurants-san-francisco-east-bay

28 restaurants, chefs and bars in SF make the James Beard Awards semifinalist list

The 2016 James Beard Awards semifinalist list came out this morning, and San Francisco scored an impressive 28 nominations. There were plenty of familiar names—Belinda Leong, Michael Mina, Trick Dog—along with a few newcomers like Liholiho Yacht Club and Aatxe's Ryan Pollnow. Check out the full semifinalist list below:
Best New Restaurant: Cala, Liholiho Yacht Club
Outstanding Baker: Belinda Leong and Michel Suas (B. Patisserie), William Werner (Craftsman and Wolves)
Outstanding Bar Program: Bar Agricole, Trick Dog
Outstanding Chef: Nancy Oakes (Boulevard), Michael Tusk (Quince)
Outstanding Pastry Chef: Melissa Chou (Mourad), Juan Contreras (Atelier Crenn)
Outstanding Restaurant: Acquerello, Foreign Cinema, Restaurant Gary Danko
Outstanding Restaurateur: Michael Mina
Outstanding Service: Quince, Saison
Outstanding Wine Program: Benu, Nopa
Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional: Lance Winters (St. George Spirits)
Rising Star of the Year: Sara Hauman (Huxley), Ryan Pollnow (Aatxe),
Best Chef (West): Matthew Accarrino (SPQR), Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn), Mourad Lahlou (Mourad), Corey Lee (Benu), Melissa Perello (Octavia), Joshua Skenes (Saison), James Syhabout (Commis)
For a complete list of semifinalists, check out the list here. Stay tuned for the final nominees list to be released on March 15.

Article and images sourced from http://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/blog/28-restaurants-chefs-and-bars-in-sf-make-the-james-beard-awards-semifinalist-list-021716

Bauer Give Mourad Three Stars, Feels the Heat at Hawker Far

Patricia Chang

Mourad 

Plus: Dosa is still pretty good, and Elmira 

Rosticceria has rustic charm.

For his Sunday review, Michael Bauer thinks 

Mourad is the bee's knees, though not yet fully 

realized: "Many diners will feel that the food is 

fantastic — and on several levels it is — but 

it’s only scratching the surface of what I 

know is in Lahlou’s soul...It feels as if the 

intent is still a little fuzzy." Additionally, he 

found that "Mourad is an ambitious project 

with equally ambitious aspirations, and seems 

destined to have national impact. But whereas 

Aziza is more modest in its ambition, it feels 

complete. Mourad is a beautiful house, but 

not quite yet a home." Three stars. [Chron]

In honor of its 10th anniversary, Michael Bauer 

updates his opinion of Dosa's Valencia Street 

location: "The food under new chef Dinesh 

Kumar is good, but I wished for a little more 

finesse. For example, the seasonal vegetable 

uttapam ($13.50), which resembles a thin 

pancake, was so doughy that the batter actually 

stuck to my teeth." Some dishes, like the lamb 

korma were winners, but must of the menu "

was hit and miss." Ultimately, Bauer concluded 

that "while it’s still a popular stop, it seems as if 

the kitchen and some of the staff at Dosa is on 

autopilot. Yet with all the components and 

complexity that goes into preparing Indian food, 

it’s hard to be truly disappointed." 

Two stars. [Chron]

For his Thursday Update, Michael Bauer 

experiences the culinary equivalent of "Fifty 

Shades of Grey" at Hawker Fare: Chef-owner 

James Syhabout's recent leap across the bay 

elicited a visit from Bauer to Hawker Fare's new 

Mission location. "At the San Francisco branch, 

he’s created a similar, but expanded, menu. 

Often with an expansion, the soul is lost, but 

Syhabout has maintained the food’s vibrant 

nature." Things got real when Bauer had a 

taste of Syhabout's authentic and liberal use of 

spice: "By the end of one of my three visits, it 

felt as if flames had scorched my tongue, a sort 

of culinary equivalent of Fifty Shades of Grey." 

Even the dishes that aren’t as spicy have an 

assertive earthiness, such as vegetables stewed 

with knobs of pork rib ($13), Thai eggplant and 

still-crunchy long beans." Three stars. [Chron]

Luke Tsai time-travels to 1982, finds vegan 

sandwiches galore at Analog: The tiny, new bar 

from owners Arianna Alcala and Sean Asmar 

(proprietor of Bender's Bar and Grillin San 

Francisco) is a cozy place where carnivores and 

vegans can enjoy sandwiches side-by-side, 

along with a selection of craft beers and a 

healthy dose of vinyl-fueled nostalgia. "You 

don't have to be vegan to bow down to the 

glory of a sandwich Asmar has dubbed 'The 

Young and the Breastless,' probably the finest 

vegan sandwich I've eaten in recent memory."

 [EBX]

Wendy Hector loves Italy, and Elmira 

Rosticceria:  "At first glance it might look like a

 café, but the food coming out of Elmira’s 

kitchen is anything but pedestrian coffee shop 

fare." In fact, "It’s obvious from every bite of 

food that an immense amount of love has been 

put into each dish, and while they might not all 

be flawless, they all exhibit thoughtfulness and 

honest, rustic charm. Fresh, flavorful ingredients 

prepared with care — sometimes that’s all it takes 

to make the day better." [SF Examiner]

Mourad: A Welcome Addition to downtown San Francisco

The interior of Mourad. Photo: Russell Yip/The Chronicle

By former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown:

I stayed in my neighborhood the other night and went to Mourad, the new restaurant opened by Mourad Lahlou in the Pacific Telephone building — and it turns out to be really good.

Diners can either go for the $150 nine-course tasting or an a la carte menu that’s in a fairly straightforward format.

Duck Liver with Pistachio, Herbs and Cocoa Gel is seen at Mourad. Photo: Russell Yip/The Chronicle

We had 11 items among four of us—oysters with preserved lemon, eggplant with cucumber and pepper marmalade, chicken wings with persimmon and mustard and duck liver with cocoa, pistachio, turnip and Satsuma mandarins.

They served our appetizers in two waves. Then we had two entrees: snapper with saffron ($34), and beef with fregola, nettle, celery root and mushrooms ($36).

They also sent us all five desserts on the menu and they were excellent.

I always like to eat at the bar and I’ve already been back, but just for cocktails. It’s a better space than where I live at the St. Regis, and it’s only a block away.  I saw at least four couples from the St. Regis residence there. We are all longing for a neighborhood restaurant that’s not fast food or Ame, which is in the hotel. I think Mourad may become the neighborhood restaurant, and with the upcoming reopening of the modern art museum, the restaurant will be the first choice for dining after viewing the exhibits. I think the location is probably better than anyone originally anticipated.

The restaurant is pretty, and it’s pretty interesting the way architect Olle Lundberg has done it. Lahlou obviously brought all of his personal and kitchen help from his other place, Aziza on Geary, because there was nothing that indicated this was a brand new restaurant.

It was a pleasant dining experience and the restaurant is big so you can actually have a conversation that no one can record without being aware they are recording it. In my opinion, Mourad is a welcome addition.

Article and photos sourced from:  http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2015/02/27/mourad-a-welcome-addition-to-downtown-san-francisco/