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The TenderloinBy Nina Wu with contributions from Elan Schmitt and Karen Solomon |
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Walking by Borobudur (700
Post St.,
http://www.borobudursf.com) will make you stop and pause, as there’s
a miniature replica of a temple in the window. Borobudur, named after
the site of a Buddhist temple in Java, is both an Indonesian restaurant
and an art gallery. The |
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Vegetarians and vegans will be content with Golden
Era (572 O’Farrell),
which offers a wide selection of spring rolls, fried rice, wonton soup,
and noodles. There’s also a selection of "meat dishes," with
a pretty convincing soy substitute taking the chewy place of beef, fish,
and chicken. The interior is spacious and quiet, offering a respite from
the urban mess outside. Service is kind and attentive. While you’re
there, they are happy to offer visitors reading materials and videotapes
with the message of their spiritual leader. Naan’N’Curry (336 O’Farrell, also 642 Irving) is another easy place to feed your vegetarian friends, and as the name would indicate, they specialize in good, cheap, Indian food. It is a popular destination for students on a budget, as the food is filling but inexpensive. Try lamb, chicken, seafood, and vegetable curries, or a tandoori. The palak paneer (spinach cooked with homemade cheese) is always good. Diners order at the counter, then find a table, and procure their own silverware, plates, and water (located in carafes stored in the refrigerator). Don’t forget to ask for the daily special. You can begin your meal with a mango lassi or save the sweet drink for dessert. |
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A neighborhood rival for the best Indian and Pakistani
food is Shalimar (532 Jones), another inexpensive
and informal chain spreading throughout the City. They
offer kebabs, naan, and other dishes cooked with expertise and to order.
The enticing aromas from the open door make it hard for anyone to pass
by without stopping, and the copious portions fill anyone with a big
appetite. The naan bread is the best we have ever tasted—fluffy
and bubbly on the outside with a hint of crispiness, and it tears apart
with ease. Try a mixed plate of spinach, tandoori chicken, and tikka masala.
The whole place is so fragrant with smoke and spices; your clothes will
carry the smell after you leave. |
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| If you want to try something different, say, a cross between Thai and Chinese food, try Indonesia Restaurant (678-680 Post). Indonesian food is a complex combination of Indian, Chinese and Thai flavors. Open since 1982, the Indonesia Restaurant feels authentic and the dishes are inexpensive. Try the lumpia semarang, Indonesian style egg rolls stuffed with chicken, fried tofu, carrots, bamboo shoots, and green onion served with spicy peanut sauce. Or sample one of the noodle dishes, like mie goreng, or rice plates like nasi goreng. Also good are the soups (beef balls and vegetables) or satays (marinated meat on bamboo skewers). For dessert, try the jelly in syrup with shaved ice, with durian or longan fruit on top. Sweet, tropical heaven. | ||
Truly a diamond in the rough, Olive Bar
and Restaurant, (743 Larkin)
is a find!  And
the
happy hour specials are a steal: $5 cocktails and $7.00 pizzas. The wild
mushroom and truffle oil pizza is one of the most popular items on the
menu, and the raspberry-infused gimlet is to die for. If you're not a big
cocktail drinker, you'll convert after tasting a mojito or the watermelon
martinis. The place is jumping, the staff is family-oriented, and the clientele
is mostly local. The hip yet not-stuffy hangout turns into a popular Saturday
night hot spot featuring no cover, soulful music, and a fun crowd. We may
just make this a once-a-week dining-out occasion. |
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Dwayne Scott, Associate Instructor at the California
Culinary Academy (625 Polk), opens the doors to the cooking
school to the bargain-hunting public. Scott teaches production, culinary
technique, safety, and kitchen mathematics. Over 1,500 students have
studied at this highly acclaimed school of cooking every year since its
inception in 1977. Formerly the German Social Club of San Francisco,
the gorgeous interior design and detailed work of the ceilings, along
with the marvelous balconies, are a perfect match for the restaurant
that’s open to the public. For more information
on their dining room, call 415-354-9198 or visit www.baychef.com. |
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Pastry and Salad Chef Amy Pearce is constantly busy
in the kitchen of the all- vegan
restaurant Millennium (580 Geary). "The cuisine
is more interesting because you have to get the full and true flavors
of what the chef is cooking", says Pearce. Executive Chef Eric Tucker's
interpretive and adventurous style allows for a unique dining experience.
They've been vegan since the first day they opened in December 2002,
so if you want milk with your coffee, you will have to bring your own!
Some dishes to try are the Tamarind Tempeh with Shiitake Quinoa Pilaf
and Peanut Satay, or the Seitan Marsala with Seitan Medallions and Rosemary
Almond Cream. |
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Dottie's True Blue Café (28
Sixth Street)
captures the essence of San Francisco's unique and original style. Mugs
with blue logos litter every table, and photographs of divas and movie
stars from the 40s and 50s adorn the walls. The breads are all homemade,
and breakfast is traditional country-style. Manager/owner Kurt Abney cooks
in the tiny space just behind the breakfast bar. Serving satisfied customers
for over a decade, Kurt has designed the restaurant with a true eclectic
touch. Make sure to check out the salt and peppershakers; there are different
sets on every table. Have any old snow globes that you don't want? Bring
them in, as Kurt would love to add them to his collection. |
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House of
Thai lives up to its name. Quick
and delicious Thai food, surrounded by  modern
décor and the paintings
of local artists, makes this American-Thai, nouveau-style restaurant an
interesting combination. Located at 901 Larkin St. at Geary, it's ideal
for the on-the-go eater. The cafeteria style seating, along with the many
solo eaters during lunch, adds to the informal atmosphere. The prices are
inexpensive. On each table you will find a colorful array of chopsticks.
The American influence is easy to spot: bright fake flowers, a plastic
Halloween pumpkin holding the To-Go menus, and Whitney Houston doing "How
Will I Know" in the background. Yet Thai influence abounds from the
Thai staff to the food. Thai Express is a nice casual lunch stop or good
for an informal dinner. |
The Time of Your Life in San Francisco
Roti
Prata (#9 on the menu) is a must-have. It’s grilled Indian bread served with a
golden-colored curry dipping sauce. It's served piping hot from the oven,
ideal for tearing apart with your hands to dip into the sauce. Other offerings
include steamed coconut rice served with fried chicken spicy tofu, fried
honey beef, scramble egg & shrimp crackers. The degree of spiciness
which comes from the chain of 17,000 islands (which were dubbed spice islands
by European traders) is indicted by chili peppers next to the dishes, though
of course, spicy really is relative. The waiter will say, “Oh, it’s
not spicy…” but it all depends on your tolerance level. Borobudur’s
tropical drinks can help cool your mouth down, with offerings such as
Es Teller, mixed sweetened fruits with coconut milk, or Es Alpokat, iced
avocado with condensed milk and chocolate syrup.