Welcome again to our continuing re-assessment of the libations offered in San Francisco. We've been busy... Sniping about restaurants one doesn't like takes energy. And how best to get that but with some sugar and .... drumroll please, yep, you guessed it. Our good friend Al. Cohol.
Awright. Let's get the griping out of the way shall we?
This week's shit list:
A16
Why is that
A. You can never get a reservation via OpenTable unless it's four weeks in advance?
B. Even if you arrive at 5pm on the dot (when they OPEN), you are still put on a 'waiting list' and likely have to cool your heels for 15 minutes?
C. This place is so over-mega hyped beyond belief?
My theories in respective order are: someone is being an asshole and poaching all the available openings on OpenTable just to annoy the rest of the foodies, A16 just likes creating more drama to emphasize their 'happeningness' as a top 10, and oh, I don't know, maybe because of the locale (rather, high density of Marina Shmucks and socialite wannabes in close proximity). The supposed visitation of one Denise Hale every Sunday evening tends to reinforce that sort of thing. While we will admit that the food is probably the best Italian to be had in the city (mozzarella and Monday night meatballs are superb), I can think of more than a dozen restaurants in Boston's North End that would blow this place right off of the top 10 perch.
Falstaff
Yes, the mayor has divested himself of his Plumpjack holdings (supposedly), but interestingly enough, he seems to default to these haunts as a regular haunts. The night we happened to go sample the place, unfortunately we got stuck not only having to deal with the current mayor, but also with da old mayor. You remember. Sleazeball Willie Brown? In force. At the bar. Shmoozing it up as only he knows how. Needless to say, the restaurant was certainly expending all efforts to ensure both political present and past were happy, but at the expense of the diners.
Town Hall
Another 'of the moment' place. No major complaints about wait or being able to book slots, and their cocktails are actually pretty good. The downside? I don't really want to spend my dinner watching Yurie Pascarella make circuits through the place to ensure she's being 'seen'. The scene gets old. The food is tasty enough, but nothing to write home about. Folks, we just want the ambience, the good drink, and the good food. Everything else is just extraneous.
Gary Danko.
No more raspberry martini. Enough said.
Bouchon.
Apparently no one's quite told some of the booking staff that this place is spooled up to Open Table. Couple a mistakenly 'dropped' reservation, with a table outside (not bad) but with a 2 hour wait followed by most of our ordered items being forgotten? Mmmmm... we do have a soft spot in my heart for this place because they really do bistro food well, but it's going to be quite some time before we really feel like going back.
Ok */rant mode off. For today.
We've promised an updated listing of our top 10 libations, and so in that spirit (heh, getit? spirit? oh we are SOOO funny today...):
1. The Sensation
Still number one. Not moving. At this point, we are truly beginning to feel that no one will EVER knock this drink off of its hallowed perch. Of course, we invite all those game (restaurants/bartenders/random mixologists) to try. Come on people. MAKE us something that will blow this right of the top rung. WE DARE YOU.
2. Bubblegum vodka at Voda bar
One of these days, we'll have to go try this as the first drink of the evening, not the last. We have a sneaking suspicion that our judgement is somewhat clouded by the fact that 2-3 martinis and a whole bunch of food precede our intake of this lovely beverage. But be that as it may, number 2 it is. It is pale pink in color (hey it matches most of our CTO's shirts!), and it *really* does taste like bubblegum. Thumbs up.
3. Tinted gimlet at Slanted Door
They use Hangar One Frasier Raspberry. Which is a great start to any cocktail. And then there is the standard issue fresh lime juice. The cute little lime corkscrew garnish. And then they just kinda sneak up on you y'know? Goes really well with the food too.
4. Martinis at Michael Mina
Classic. Done well. Done very chilled, and whether it's with standard issue olives or the twist... you can't lose.
5. Negroni at Florio
Our weekly staple. We attribute our continued health to this drink. Yep. It HAS to be the Campari. Nice and rounded cool bitter taste. I suppose the Guiness enjoying beer faction would understand the appeal here...
6. Watermelon Martini at Chez Binky
We make them the BEST. Fresh watermelon juice. Gin. Watermelon Schnapps, and just a hint of lime juice. As the evening wears on, the recipe takes on slightly different proportions, but in all its variations such a welcome drink.
7. Anything at Cortez
We've pretty much worked our way up and down the cocktail list here. Cuba Libre, Mojito, Martinis. EVERYTHING was well made. What tends to work against this scenario is that if you happen to be with someone who goes into paralysis when presented with too many choices...well, you get the picture. It's best to have your palate set before.. otherwise you may end up going the other route (trying to have one of everything before you leave...)
8. Wine at Trader Joes
No not 2 buck Chuck. The other stuff down in the aisles that's NOT from California. $5 can be a King's ransom when trying to make a choice. So many countries. So many varietals. Cool.
9. The Girl and the Fig at the Girl and the Fig
Fig Vodka + Campari + Mint leaf + 2 fresh figs = unimagineable joy
10. Bloody Maree at Ti Couz
It's not a drink, it's a meal! Tomatoey, worchester-saucy, Tabasco-y, Lemon-y delight. Stuffed with olives and shrimp. Seriously. Who needs the food?
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