Maverick, Copita, Dixie—Reviewed

Chicken-fried Bauer pays a return visit to seven-year-old Mission standby Maverick, where new chef Emmanual Eng has helped it evolve into "a more refined kind of place." The appetizers "provide the most interesting eating," and his favorite entree is the lobster bread pudding. 2.5 stars. [Chron]

El Hirsch puts on his sombrero and heads to Copita in Sausalito, deeming it "a handsome, well-designed spot to breeze in for cocktails and $14 tacos." He finds most of the menu—save for shrimp tacos and chicken tacos—falls short in one way or another, but "there’s a palpable good vibe at Copita...And let’s not forget: the margaritas alone may justify a visit." [Examiner]

SF Weekly's Matthew Stafford likes Dixie's take on Southern fare, despite its refinement: "[Chef Joe] Humphrey and his staff serve up terrific food that satisfies both belly and palate." There are several misses though, and he steers diners towards the beets, fried quail with garlic waffle, deep-fried rice balls, black cod, grass-fed Marin Sun Farms beefsteak, and "our favorite" roast duck with turnips. After all that, "Dessert is the best part of the meal, of course" [SF Weekly]

Maverick. [Photo: Eater SF Flickr Pool/foodwoolf]