San FranCelia

Happy hour is a tradition that’s as celebrated as, well, baseball – as it should be, I say.  There is nothing better than heading to a local hot spot after a long day at the office where the order of the day is dealing with bosses and people you’d rather forget – preferably over a vodka tonic.  Recently, I headed over to B Bar downtown, and while Financial District bars can sometimes be a bit staunch in décor as well as clientele, B Bar was airy and fresh, with a great mix of people and good service.  In these long summer days, it’s an especially great spot as the entire place is comprised of floor to ceiling windows, and there’s even an outdoor terrace. 

This light infused spot has a friendly staff that greets you at the door and again at the bar.  They did lose track of the reserved area we had claimed for our party, but once I talked to the host, they made it right within minutes.  They had our section cleared and our

appetizers rolling out so fast, you almost didn’t even realize there was an issue at all.  While a bit slow sometimes due to the busyness of this spot (busy, not crowded, to clarify), they are super nice and with the easy crowd, it’s not a problem – why rush at happy hour, right?  The outdoor terrace is also completely charming.  It looks over Yerba Buena Gardens and the buildings of Downtown, bringing a taste of nature into the heart of the City.  Very cool.  Everything is in shades of white with elements of silver and wood, and it’s modern but not so modern as to be uncomfortable.  Sometimes I think trendy places take the modern kick to a level that not even Picasso would support. 

The crowd there is definitely of the Downtown variety – some people were in suits while others were in tee shirts and tennis shoes.  The nice thing about this spot is that it gives off an air of quality, but you still feel that you can be a pretty casual without causing any heads to turn.  I think it’s nicer when people dress a little better than they would, say, for a hike, but that’s just me.  It’s downtown San Francisco people, not some poe-dunk little town, so it’s great, I think, when your style is reflective of that.  Makes you feel better, too.

Definitely check out B Bar for a great happy hour or even a small meal.  We grabbed a bunch of the appetizers, and the seasoned French fries and cheese spread were especially tasty.  Prices are normal – not too expensive, but not especially cheap.  It’s a great central location that’s easy to get to from most anywhere in the City or even outside of the City, as BART is nearby.  It’ll definitely melt away those office blues in more ways than one. 

Peace and love Xo

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If you are interested in experiencing a little taste of Northern Italy right here in San Francisco, and you don’t want to make the trek to North Beach – which boasts great food but horrible parking – I suggest heading over to Presidio Heights (my favorite neighborhood these days) for the taste and feel of Italy at its best.  I wanted to try somewhere new, and decided the locally celebrated – but hidden – spot, Sociale, would be perfect. I had heard good things, but being so

tucked away and “alone”, so-to-speak, amidst the throng of Italian restaurants in the City, I hadn’t ventured there – until now.

When you first walk up to this little treasure, you are greeted with a long pathway that is covered with a flowered veil, and home to a small florists shop on your right. If gives off a delightful aromatic fragrance that instantly calms and makes you feel relaxed. As you get to the restaurant, there is a small veranda to the right with people sitting outdoors under twinkle lights and heat lamps. Classic. I only glanced inside, as I requested somewhere romantic and, thus, was placed on the terrace, but it seemed romantic and lush with hues of yellow and gold with some dark mahogany thrown in for effect. The service here is exceptional – just enough face time with your server, but plenty of alone time. Starting off with a glass of red wine and some bread, it was the perfect temperature outside, even in this balmy San Francisco climate. Thanks God for heat lamps! We had the Ricotta Gnocchi and the Grilled New York Steak cooked rare, and each was unique and savory. The steak was perfectly cooked to our order, and was placed on a bed of greens with a cardoon and artichoke galette. The gnocchi, while very different than the sauce lathered variety that you’ll often find on the Italian restaurant circuit, was amazingly fresh and light, with veggies that seemed to be picked from the garden – scrumptious! For dessert, we split the beignets, and while I have had better at other places, they were a great way to end the meal, being paired with a blackberry glaze that you could dip them in.

The biggest highlights for this place, which I touched on briefly, are definitely the atmosphere and ambiance. You walk in off the street, and are instantly calmed and relaxed, as the actual restaurant looks to be as picturesque as a restaurant would be in the Italian countryside. It’s a converted Victorian, so it gives you the feel of being intimate, but is also spacious in contrast. The décor is so romantic and fun, with twinkle lights and flowers decorating every nook and cranny of the patio. Even with the staff in more formal wait clothes, it still seems to give off an air of comfort with understated elegance – not too flashy as to make you feel uncomfortable, and no snobbery, which is something I cannot tolerate in a restaurant, no matter how high end. I highly recommend this place for a different take on Italian cuisine that will convert into a perfect date night. You will be taken to a new world with this one, so definitely check it out.

Peace and love Xo

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Every time I am Downtown, I am surprised at the lack of good, cheap eats.  It seems that with the influx of tourists comes pricey menus that are not usually worth it.  Not only that, but they also always close super early, as if people only need to eat during the day and if, God forbid, at night, only before 9pm.   I was with some friends, one of whom lives right in the heart of the Downtown

shopping district, and we, like most people, wanted to get something to eat, only it was past 8:30pm…  Imagine my pleasure then at discovering a great little sushi spot nearby that’s open late and has tasty sushi, for reasonable prices.  Perfect.  Dojima-Ann, on O’Farrell St. between Cyril Magnin St. and Powell St., has lovely service and delicious sushi – a real treat in an area that doesn’t usually boast a lot of affordable fare that’s also high quality.  While not much to look at externally or internally, the people are both efficient and friendly, and again, it’s yummy, so décor is the last thing you think about.  There was a short wait here, so be prepared to hang out and talk for about 10 minutes – other than that, no complaints.

We ordered a variety of rolls, from the Spicy Tuna (which was actually really hot and spicy, wonderfully enough) to some flavorful salmon Nigiri.  Everything was fresh and smelled fantastic (which is always a test for me at sushi places).  The dining area was packed, and because of this, proved to have a lively atmosphere and fun ambiance, despite the lack of frilly decoration.  It’s an eclectic Downtown crowd, which is always an interesting mixture of tourists and local inhabitants. 

Prices range from $5 – $10 per roll/entrée, so it’s easy to have this place as one of your regular spots if you’re in Downtown often.  If you’re like me, it’s good to have a few of these in each neighborhood, that way if you have friends from out of town visiting (which, since we live in such an incredible city, happens more often than you would think) you have some spots in mind at all times that everyone can afford and are also tasty and fun.  Two key things when hosting friends in the City. 

Enjoy this ‘cheap eats’ spot – just because we’re a little broke as a nation, doesn’t mean we in the City have to stop pursuing the hunt for great cuisine!

Peace and love Xo

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