In our second installment of our series in San Francisco, we are diving right into my favorite past time, present time and future time- FOOD! San Francisco is just like New York City in the sense that it is a melting pot of culture, and that is also very represented in the types of cuisines that are available to the masses. Whether you are looking for an amazing slice of Pizza (Tony’s Pizza Napoletana), a unique take on the Japanese Steakhouse (Roka Akor), or sitting by the water and eating some incredible Peruvian delicacies (La Mar), San Francisco has you covered in more ways than one. Here is part one of our list for what you should eat the next time you are in San Fran.
Top of the Mark, inside The Intercontinental Mark Hopkins- 999 California Street
A good way to start any evening off is with a delicious cocktail, and you really can’t get any better than the quality ones that are served at Top of the Mark, located inside the iconic Intercontinental Mark Hopkins in the Nob Hill area of SF. Top of the Mark has been around since 1939, when hotelier George D. Smith transformed the 19th floor penthouse suite of the Mark Hopkins into a glass walled cocktail lounge with 360 degree views of San Francisco.
Here, you can sip on tasty cocktails and wines while sharing some delicious Tapas and Small Bites with some friends before heading out for the evening. Did I mention how amazing the view is? For the types of drinks we recommend you getting, a simple classic can be good including their Old Fashioned or Lemon Drop, but another good choice lands on their Sunset Sips area of the menu where The Tequila Sunset is absolutely divine. Made with Herradura Reposado, Fresh Orange Juice and Bols Blackberry Brandy, it is a delicious way to start off your evening. The menu does run the gamut when it comes to what you can order beverage wise, anything from Sherry, Ports, Beers and more, so we recommend checking out their menu so you can get a better sense of what you want your lips on upon arrival.
Roka Akor- 801 Montgomery Street
Roka Akor takes Japanese fine dining and elevates it to levels that my whole body wasn’t prepared to experience. Seriously. Located in the heart of the Financial district of San Francisco, this fantastic restaurant, with other locations across the country including Chicago, takes sushi, steak and seafood and turns them into something so fantastic that it almost left me in a food coma upon exit.
The restaurant itself is absolutely stunning, with the main dining room adorned in wood furnishings and the lower level echoing the same sentiment with its focus primarily being on crafty cocktails and delicious drinks. With chef Roman Petry at its culinary helms, and with more than sixteen years under his belt working all around the world at some of top Japanese restaurants, we knew we were in for a treat.
If you really want the full experience at Roka Akor, we really recommend that you go for the Omakase tasting, which some of it is pictured above. Essentially, it is designed for two or more people, and Chef Roman puts together the best of the best when it comes to hand selected and fresh ingredients for you to try. I was amazed at how everything was prepared and sent to us, as visually you want to enjoy what you are eating before you put anything in your mouth. If Omakase means “Trust The Chef”, then we have his full support, and this was wonderful. For more info on Roka Akor, check out their official site.
Harvey’s- 500 Castro Street
It is really good to eat at a location that not only provides delicious food but also has a rich history on how it got there. That can truthfully be said about Harvey’s, which is located right in the heart of the famed Castro district on Castro Street. The location, which reopened in 1996, was originally known as an iconic bar called “The Elephant Walk”, which had been around since the 1970’s. It is named after Harvey Milk, the iconic politician who went above and beyond to ensure gay rights for the people of San Francisco, and to this day remains a huge figure in our own political movement almost forty years after his death.
Harvey’s is a great location to stop by into if you are looking to relax and kick it with your friends for a great brunch or tasty burger. Not that big in size, but doesn’t need to be, and features a great view of how amazing Castro Street really is. I gorged myself on their Sylvester Burger, named after the famed singer from the 1980’s, but they also have a tasty line of wings, wraps, and so much more. This is a place to go to not just for the food, but for the culture, which is incredibly important in my eyes. For more information, check out their official site.
Eureka Cafe- 451 Castro Street
After a good meal, no matter how full I am, I am always looking to finish off with something tasty and sweet. As luck would have it, right after my hearty meal at Harvey’s was a quaint and tasty ice cream place called Eureka Cafe, located down the block on Castro Street. Eureka Cafe has a ton of really fresh and Organic Ice Cream, Cheesecake, Floats, and more and also serves up some really tasty local jams and jellies by Jake’s Castro Kitchen (Pictured below). If you are in the Castro area and are looking to indulge in something sweet, Eureka is the way to go. For more information, check out their official site.
Check back here tomorrow for part two of our epic SF foodie adventure, where we go a little Peruvian with a side of the best damn pizza we have ever had. Stay tuned…