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

Farina

3560 18th Street
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 565-0360
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One of my favorite restaurants in the Mission for its sleek and modern design, Farina’s ambiance is so inviting it just exudes cool. The curved curtain of glass that wraps around the frontage is beautiful yet functional, able to slide fully open to allow the breeze to circulate through. Skylights help keep the space bright with natural light, while the comfortable designer furniture helps to define the setting.

Chef Paolo Laboa relies on seasonal and fresh ingredients to bring out the best from his rustic yet elegant dishes influenced from his upbringing in Liguria, Italy. Freshly prepared pastas with their signature Genovese Pesto is a popular favorite here, as well as their Neapolitan pizzas. With so many delicious choices, it’s always fun to sample a bit of everything, just leave room for some of their amazing desserts. |Farina|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thurs: 5:30pm-10pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-10pm
Sun: 9am-3pm, 5pm-10pm

Jardiniere

300 Grove Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 861-5555
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If a night at the theater is in your plans, then so should drinks and dinner at Jardinière. Conveniently located across the street from both the War Memorial Opera house and the Davies Symphony Hall, it is a perfect place to come for a cocktail and a bite to eat before a show.

For my last visit, I found myself at the self-seating section called the J Lounge, prior to seeing the San Francisco Ballet’s production of Romeo & Juliet. The lounge is on the first floor of the restaurant, surrounding the beautifully ornamented bar, and offers a smaller version of the menu as well as an array of festive cocktails. There is also a curtained off area available for private events. The beautiful, curved staircase leads to the main dining room, which overlooks the lounge area. If you’re in the mood for a fun cocktail, be sure to try one of Jardinière’s original concoctions. For dessert, my favorite is the Bonne Bouche Platter, which comes with a variety of cookies, cakes and tarts. A bit of a warning though, dining here can get a bit pricey. |Jardiniere|

Open 7 days a week:
Sun-Mon: 5pm–10pm
Tues-Sat: 5pm-10:30pm

Perbacco

230 California St
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 955-0663
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Italian for “by jove”, “wow”, or just sheer astonishment, Perbacco strives to pleasantly surprise the senses with their take on regional Italian cuisine from Piedmont and Liguria. Chef/Owner Staffan Terje utilizes seasonal, local ingredients to drive the diverse and well-balanced menu, enabling patrons to experience new dishes with every visit. With so many enticing choices on the menu, sharing is encouraged especially with the pasta tastings and cured meat platters served family-style. Perbacco is a perfect place for a fancy business lunch or a date to impress, the best seats in the house being the booth tables located upstairs. |Perbacco|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-10pm
Sat: 5:30pm-10pm
Sun: Closed