To ring in November, here, now, the newly updated version of the Eater 38, your answer and ours to any question that begins, “Can you recommend a restaurant
” This highly elite group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines and, collectively, satisfies all of your restaurant needs, save for those occasions when you absolutely must spend half a paycheck. Every month or so, we'll be adding pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible, or have stepped up their game. We'll also drop those that are no longer deemed 38-worthy. After reading the comments on the original list, poring over the emails sent to to the tipline, and tuning in to various back channels, we're dropping sentimental favorites/wild cards Allegro Romano, Washington Square B&G and Ocean Taqueria. New to the 38, we're adding Boulevard, Range and now that it's got six months under its belt, the newly-eligible Flour + Water. Welcome to the dance floor, kids.
Think there's a vital omission? Rather than a stage-four, fist-shaking panic attack over your favorite restaurant's exclusion from the list, wouldn't it be more productive to just nominate it for inclusion?
Slanted Door
San Francisco Ferry Bldg - San Francisco Pier 48, San Francisco, CA, USA
Charles Phan broke the mold for modern Vietnamese food when he opened the original Slanted Door in the Mission a decade ago, and his Ferry Building incarnation remains the standard-bearer of ingredient-driven Asian cuisine.
[link]
Boulevard
1 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Nancy Oakes and Ravi Kapur have the ever-popular Boulevard firing on all cylinders nowadays. The Kuleto design is timeless, service is flawless, and the counter/ bar …
is one of the best places to eat in town too.
[link]
Perbacco
230 California St
San Francisco, CA 94111
Mature and stylish, Perbacco has quickly established itself as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Owner Umberto Gibin is a presence in the front of house, …
and Staffan Terje runs the kitchen.
[link]
Tadich Grill
240 California St
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 391-1849
It's the oldest restaurant in San Francisco, but the seafood is some of the freshest in town. Not even a fire can keep the old fella down for long.
[link]
Bix Restaurant
56 Gold St
San Francisco, CA 94133
Tucked away in a random Financial District alley, Bix is a restaurant like no other in the city. Live jazz hums in the corner, classic cocktails flow at the bar and the …
high-ceilinged, two-tiered dining room is alive and popping every night.
[link]
COI Restaurant
373 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
On a lonely stretch of Broadway, Daniel Patterson combines modern technique with the best ingredients from local farms to create a four-star restaurant, proving …
he’s one of the best chefs in the country.
[link]
R & G Lounge
631 Kearny St
San Francisco, CA 94108
It’s step up in price from the typical Chinatown joint, but the cavernous R&G is a favorite of many and the fried Dungeness has become a signature.
[link]
Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Open only for lunch, Polk Street’s old school joint still churns out the best crab, oysters and sourdough in town.
[link]
Big 4
1075 California St
San Francisco, CA 94108
Because where else can you sit in stuffed leather chairs and sip ice-cold martinis and listen to an old man in a three-piece suit play the piano in the presence of a couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary?
[link]
Canteen
817 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94109
His Sentinel offshoot has grabbed more headlines lately, but Dennis Leary—one of the great underrated young chefs in SF—still has a great thing going. Dinner and brunch.
Ryoko Restaurant & Bar
619 Taylor St
San Francisco, CA 94102
A favorite late night stop of many industry folk.
[link]
Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Because nothing complements another foggy evening in SF quite like a bowl of clean pho in the TL.
[link]
Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
398 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102
At the forefront of the artisanal cocktail movement years ago. Dining room might be a bit stuffy these days, but the bar area is still among the best in the city for a …
quick bite (fries, burger, JL’s hot dog) and the aforementioned cocktail program. PS Insert scallop joke here.
[link]
Zuni Cafe
1658 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Sunday afternoon at Zuni, oysters, Balsamic bloody Marys, thin crust pizza. More please.
[link]
Sebo
517 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Those white guys sure know their (sustainable) fish. Sitting at the sushi bar is always a memorable experience.
[link]
DOSA on Fillmore
1700 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115
Many favor the original Valencia location, and perhaps rightly so, but the bigger, shinier version of Anjan and Emily Mitra’s ode to South Indian cuisine has the …
same menu favorites and then some. It’s beginning to hit its stride too.
[link]
Laiola
2031 Chestnut St
San Francisco, CA 94123
It can be loud and Marina-y, but eating at the big copper bar with a spicy beer makes for a great vantage point. The pan con chocolate is in the conversation of best …
dessert in SF.
[link]
A16
2355 Chestnut St
San Francisco, CA 94123
Shelley Lindgren has crafted one of the best Italian wine programs in the country, the pizzas are still spot-on, service is gracious and chef Liza Shaw has kept the …
ever-popular restaurant firing on all cylinders.
[link]
Spruce
3640 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA 94118
SF has never been mistaken for a fine dining town, yet the two-year old Spruce has proved to be an absolute homerun in its ritzy Laurel Heights environs.
[link]
Nopa
560 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94117
In many ways, it’s an updated take on the Zuni formula, with the success to show. Both neighborhood standby and destination restaurant, Nopa continues to grow …
admirably under Chef Jossel. Honorable mention to its little Mexican sis, Nopalito.
[link]
Namu
439 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA 94118
Namu is a family affair and it feels like it. Ingredients are top notch, and it's quickly become one of the best modern Asian places in town. And the Korean tacos are on the menu now.
Aziza
5800 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94121
Mourad Lahlou is a chef that should/will soon be on the national radar. His Cal-Moroccan cuisine is only getting better with three-star chef Louis Maldonado aboard.
[link]
Cliff House
1090 Point Lobos Ave
San Francisco, CA 94121
George Morrone is dearly departed, but the ocean view is still the best in the city. A simple reminder of why you live in San Francisco.
[link]
Magnolia Pub & Brewery
1398 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
Even with the Grateful Dead mural covered up, what restaurant better personifies the Haight? It doesn’t hurt that Dave McLean’s housemade brews are unparallel …
either.
[link]
Zazie
941 Cole St
San Francisco, CA 94117
In the already-charming Cole Valley, Zazie is by no means a secret, but it holds a special place in the hearts of many in the ‘hood.
[link]
Incanto Restaurant & Wine Bar
1550 Church St
San Francisco, CA 94131
Chris Cosentino has revolutionized the way that American chefs treat offal with his work at Incanto, but the restaurant is so much more. His flavors can be complex and …
unconventional, his menu is witty, and owner Mark Pastore and team run the entire operation seamlessly.
[link]
Blue Plate
3218 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Modern comfort food at its finest. And they have a cool sign out front too.
[link]
La Taqueria
2889 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
With all due apologies to Corneta, Cancun and the random Mission taqueria of your choice, there’s a reason that La Taq keeps taking top honors in this category.
[link]
Beretta
1199 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Pizza, cocktails, late night: all familiar concepts, but put together seamlessly by a veteran team of Adriano Pagannini, Deborah Blum and Ruggero Galdadi and you get …
Beretta.
[link]
Range
842 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94110
From the cocktail program to the always solid menu, Range is one of the most consistent restaurants in town. And, for what it's worth, it's got the only Michelin star …
in the Mission.
[link]
Foreign Cinema
2534 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Like Zuni, a onetime trailblazer inspired by the Chez Panisse mantra. And like Zuni, a fully-fledged restaurant on all levels, from food to service.
[link]
Delfina/Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th St
San Francisco, CA 94110
You can make the argument that no restaurant in the last decade has changed the dining landscape quite like Delfina and its pizzeria offshoot next door. And that’s …
a good thing.
[link]
Bar Bambino
2931 16th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Late afternoon rose on the back patio. Salumi to follow.
[link]
Flour and Water
2401 Harrison St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Since it opened in May, F+W has been making waves with its sophisticated pizzas and pasta, but even more impressive is that it's lived up to the hype. Chef Thomas …
McNaughton was made a partner this month and is a surefire bet to get included on the year's rising star chef lists.
[link]
Blue Bottle Cafe
66 Mint St
San Francisco, CA 94103
The gourmet coffee company has been multiplying throughout the Bay, but as charming as the Hayes Valley original garage outpost is, the Mint Plaza location was BB’s …
coming-out party.
[link]
AME Restaurant
689 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani have crafted one of the most underrated East/West dining experiences in town. The space is a looker too.
[link]
Town Hall Restaurant
342 Howard St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Doug Washington and the Rosenthal Brothers have gone on to open Salt House and Anchor & Hope since Town Hall, but the original is still the crown jewel in their SoMa …
mini-empire.
[link]
Zaré at Fly Trap
606 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Chef/owner Hoss Zare defines hospitality. His restaurant is unlike any other in the city with its big, bold, unfamiliar flavors in the historic setting of the Fly Trap. …
[link]








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