LarkCreekSteak: not quite your Panda Express mall food. [Photo: Yelp/Toro E]
If you thought Spruce, Laiola, Hime, Ducca or any other single-word newcomer would represent our fair city in Esquire's annual Best New Restaurants in America list, then you'd be wrong. The San Francisco inclusions—Cafe Majestic and LarkCreekSteak—are two semi-underdogs that we're happy to see gain some national recognition. Cafe Majestic, while technically not completely new, has undergone a radical facelift with Ian Begg at the helm and really should be getting more attention on the dining scene that it's gotten so far. In fact, we're aboard the Begg for Beard Rising Star Chef bandwagon.
As for LarkCreekSteak, Esquire's John Mariani has got high-praise for the Westfield Centre steakhouse:
San Francisco has finally acquired a first-rate twenty-first-century chophouse, with more than just good meat on the menu and a room easy on the testosterone.We're not sure how Acme feels about that proclamation, but there's no denying that Chef Jeremy Bearman has made the fourth-floor mall location work swimmingly. Other worthwhile reads from Esquire: things you never want to hear or see in a restaurant.
· Best New Restaurants in America 2007 [Esquire]
