Kasa Indian Eatery

3115 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 896-4008
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Prior to the arrival of Kasa Indian Eatery, options for healthy, freshly prepared Indian cuisine in the Marina were scant to say the least. Unlike other Indian restaurants in the city that exude a more ethnic ambiance, I was a bit surprised to see a modern interior space that feels like the Indian version of an upscale quick service restaurant. From the polished stainless-steel kitchen surfaces, industrial coated concrete floors, to the loft-like feeling of the space, the interior is miles from what one may have grown accustomed to when dining Indian.

Specializing in homestyle Indian food, the menu is split between Kati rolls (similar to a taco) and Thali, which features multiple menu items served on a traditional metal platter. Both choices include their handmade roti, which is similar to a buttery tortilla. Dishes include Chicken Tikka, Chicken Tikka Marsala, Lamb Curry, Kebabs, and various vegetarian options. In addition to these menu options, the Thali platter is served with chutney, raita (yogurt), a veggie salad, and daal (lentils). Just be wary of the green pickled pepper relish for it packs a punch. Best of all, Kasa is open late on Fridays and Saturdays, offering a healthier and more tasty option for late-night food than pizza and hot dogs. Delivery is available after 6pm every night. |Kasa Indian Eatery|

Hours of Operation:
Sun-Thurs: 11am – 10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am – 2:30am

Betelnut

2030 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 929-8855
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Named after the natural stimulant that is quite popular in Southeast Asia, Betelnut’s menu of contemporary Asian dishes and selection of crafted cocktails may evoke a similar reaction of mild hot sensations in the body and slightly heightened alertness to one’s surroundings. Located right along Union Street, the street facing windows are often opened up on warm days to encourage people watching while dining and drinking. The interior of this restaurant has one of the cooler Asian-inspired designs, similar in theme to a beer house found in places like Singapore. Design touches from the wooden Chinese paddles nailed to the wall, the sprinkler pipes painted to look like bamboo and the wall art posters all help transport diners far from its Cow Hollow locale.

Betelnut takes a contemporary approach to more traditional dishes from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and China. Their selection of appetizers go great with beer or their list of specialty cocktails. Personal favorites include the dishes pictured below along with the glazed pork short ribs, their noodle dishes, and the fried Red Snapper that is served whole.|Betelnut|

Open 7 days a week:
Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-12am
Sun: 11:30am-11pm

Delarosa

2175 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 673-7100
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From the owners of Beretta comes Delarosa, a modern Italian restaurant that’s conveniently located on Chestnut Street in the Marina district. Though the signage looks more at home on a stainless steel Italian espresso machine, the interior is warm and inviting, with its share of high top communal tables encouraging conversation amongst diners.

Chef Ruggero Gadaldi’s menu features a mix of antipasti, salads, pastas, and Roman style pizzas, all complimented by a large selection of draft beers, wines and cocktails. Best of all, Delarosa is open late until 1 am most nights and also has a weekend brunch perfect for some daytime drinks. |Delarosa|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sun: 11am – 1am
Sat & Sun Brunch: 11am – 4pm

Nettie’s Crab Shack

2032 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 409-0300
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From tables adorned simply with brown butcher paper and a tall shaker of sea salt, to the weathered furniture and inviting Cape Cod decor; one step inside Nettie’s should conjure up memories of a charming seaside village somewhere in New England.

While they do serve some conventional New England fare such as clam chowder with bacon, warm lobster roll, steamers, and crab cakes; the rest of the menu features a diverse selection of comfort foods from various regions of the country. Southern specialties such as the Oyster Po’Boy, Seafood Gumbo, and grilled cornbread appear on the menu alongside a rendition of a Cioppino, minus the messy hands. The beer-battered fish & chips were juicy and flavorful as expected, and the fresh oysters were delicious. I liked the simple presentation of the steamer clams, served in a pale with a steamy herbal broth and a side of clarified butter. The inventive cocktails were tasty and the desserts were decadent and hard to resist. With crab season in full swing, try their Sunday local crab feed and get a whole dungeness crab either grilled, steamed or roasted from 5pm to 10pm. |Nettie’s Crab Shack|

Hours of Operation:
Mon: 10am-3pm
Tues: Closed
Wed-Sun: 10am-10pm

Dragon Well

2142 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 474-6888
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For delicious Chinese food on the healthier side, Dragon Well is an excellent choice. A fixture in the Marina district since 1998; the service is consistently friendly and attentive, and the food is always fresh, delicious and reasonably priced. Dragon Well is a great place for a casual date; the high ceilings give a loft-like feel to the space, while the subtle lighting makes dining here feel more intimate. I really like this restaurant for its clean and contemporary decor; the dark wood furniture contrasts nicely with the cream paint, creating an interior that feels welcoming and warm.

My favorite dishes include the minced chicken lettuce cups, salt and chili pepper calamari, Mongolian beef, lemon chicken, and the walnut prawns with candied walnuts. The noodle dishes are also worth trying. Menu items are served family style, meant for sharing. The large bowl of chocolate and vanilla fortune cookies brought with the bill are a nice touch. On warm evenings try for the table near the front window, which is usually opened up to bring in the cool evening breeze. Dine in and take-out only. |Dragonwell|

Open 7 days a week:
Mon-Sun: 11:30am-10pm