*********************************************************** This is the second part of my second day in San Francisco. To read about day one, go here. To read part one of my second day, go here. *********************************************************** For dinner, we hit up Fish & Farm, a relatively new restaurant in the city (opened June 2009 near the Civic Center/ Tenderloin, according to Yelp) that focuses on sourcing local, sustainable seafood and artisan meats in a upscale yet casual atmosphere. FYI, this restaurant was named to have the best burger in the entire city. Reason enough to dine here. Can I just say what a big I am of these upscale yet casual restaurants that are popping up everywhere? Fish & Farm is definitely an upscale, casual setting, with dim lighting, comfortable leather seating and dark wood everywhere. I hate feeling like I’m stuck in a stuffy, pretentious dining room. The more comfy you can make me, the more expensive food I will buy. Sit me in a booth, and you’ve made my freaking day (and get a fatty tip)! Reason #1 to like Fish & Farm: they start you off with homemade chips and horseradish dip to eat while you read the menu. Like hanging at your mom’s house, only cooler, and with much better liquor and food!
We were dining with a large group of adventurous eaters, so there were five people to order and share dishes with–one of my favorite parts about dining out.
Interesting little gastronomical tidbit: back in the days of the cavemen, only people who shared food with other people tended to survive. Those who hoarded food for themselves were never given food by others, so when they were out, they starved. People who shared their food with others had the same kindness gifted onto them when they were out of food. I was so happy to learn this in grad school, because it explains why I always hate being friends with people who don’t like to share their food. It’s like instant indication that the person is a tool. I’m just sayin. We tried four appetizers in all, the first of which was the house made potato gnocchi with smoked ham hock, peas, fava and Parmesan.
This was one of my favorite appetizers. The gnocchi were light and fluffy, like gnocchi should be, and the smoked ham gave the dish an irresistible flavor that made it impossible to stop eating. The flavors were classic–basically potato, bacon and cheese, but the presentation was killer and creative. This being a sustainable seafood restaurant, we had to try out their oysters on a half shell with malt vinegar mignonette sauce and house made cocktail sauce.
If you start with good seafood, it is hard to ruin this dish, and this was some damn tasty seafood. I really dug the zip of horseradish in the house made cocktail sauce. The third app was the slow roasted pork ribs with honey harissa bbq sauce and vinegar slaw. A perfect combo of sweet, spicy pork with tangy slaw to cut the fat and richness of it all.
I was so in love with this dish. Pretty sure I licked this plate clean when no one was looking, and then put it in front of my husband to make it look like he had done it. Alls fair in love and food! The fourth app was a daily special, a tomato salad with Point Reyes blue cheese dressing and croutons, but my photo looked like horse crap and no one was really impressed by the salad. I mean, it was tasty enough, but not really special enough to justify the high price. The mains were killer. You could really tell this restaurant focuses on artisan meat by the selection we had. Cari started off with the Niman Ranch country pork chop with spinach and potato puree. Look at this bad boy:
I heart pork, and this was a tender, huge ass hunk of it. As Cari noted in her review of the restaurant, this was more steak than hog! Another diner went a bit lighter with the halibut, and I can confirm that was delicious and very fresh tasting.
My husband Adam chose the grilled natural ribeye with creamed chard and crispy fried onion strings.
. Much like it sounds, it was freaking delicious. Proof positive that a good dish doesn’t need to have a bunch of fancy sauces or side dishes. Simple can kick-ass too. I had to try their cheeseburger, which was named best burger in the city recently. It was made from Niman Ranch beef, and was topped with grilled onions, white cheddar, house made pickles, Hobbes bacon, and a special secret sauce.
By the time dessert, we were all too full, but we made our best effort. Adam tried their Goose Island Special Reserve Dessert Stout, which they claimed tasted like port. I love me some port. This was NOT like a port. I think beer drinkers would like it, but I am not one. That being said, kudos to them for carrying a unique dessert beer on their menu, and a Chicago brew at that!
We had two desserts, and the first one was adorable: cheesecake in a jar with house made ricotta, fresh figs and graham cracker crumble.
The second dessert was a play on a Whatchamacalit candy bar, which just so happens to be my very favorite candy bar. It had a chocolate peanut butter mousse with salted caramel, peanut brittle, and chocolate ice cream. Yeah. It was really rich, but hot damn, I could eat it every day and not get sick of it.
At the end of the night, we all had to be rolled out of the place. What a great meal! And when you consider their seafood and meat is locally sourced and sustainable, this could easily become one of my favorite restaurants in the city. ~LTG! *************************************** Fish & Farm 339 Taylor St San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 474-3474 www.fishandfarmsf.com
