SPONSORED: This Heatmap Shows 6 Spots Where You Can Order Secret, Off-Menu Specials In San Francisco Right Now

by Cristina Cerullo Oct 22, 2015, 12:40pm PDT

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by Cristina Cerullo Oct 22, 2015, 12:40pm PDT

The coolest regulars at the coolest restaurants know something other diners don’t: secret, off-menu dishes that the chef is happy to whip up, if you know to ask. We’ve partnered with American Express — who knows how to properly reward obsessive diners* — to uncover off-menu specials at these restaurants around town. Here they are.

Head this way to watch Central Kitchen's Thomas McNaughton and Bon Marché's Mark Liberman create their off-menu delights.

Earn 2X points at US Restaurants with the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. Terms and limitations apply. Americanexpress.com/exploregold

Bon Marché

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With its classic tile floors and brightly colored awning inside Market Square (a.k.a. “the Twitter building”), this French brasserie includes a capacious oyster bar, coffee shop, cocktail and beer bar, even a flower shop. To order a classic that is anything but simple, ask for the off-menu black truffle croque. That’s a croquet monsieur — a French grilled cheese, basically — made with cave-aged gruyere and Bayonne ham and topped with a generous sprinkling of shaved black truffle.

1355 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 802-1700

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Roka Akor

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In a sleek contemporary setting awash in raw and blond wood, a centrally located Japanese robata grill fires up prime cuts of steak, seafood, and vegetables, alongside top-rate sushi, sashimi, and tempura. To order like an insider, go for the off-menu sliced diver scallop sashimi, served with lemon ponzu, ginger blossom, hibiscus, fresh wasabi, and mitsuba.

801 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94133

(415) 362-8887

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Tosca Cafe

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Owners Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield (of NYC’s Spotted Pig) have kept the best elements of this North Beach Italian icon — like the cozy murals, tiled floors and red leather chairs — but revamped the menu to include such standouts as heirloom melon and pluots with speck Americano and ricotta. For an off-menu dose of comfort food, order the restaurant's meatballs and homemade foccacia.

242 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

(415) 986-9651

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A16

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A16 was one of the very first restaurants in the city to serve true Neapolitan pizzas. Since then, they've continued to churn out high-quality, wood-fired pizzas with all the right char. While the pies are, of course, always a stellar choice, you can now indulge in something super special, when you order the off-menu imported smoked Burrata. Every week, the restaurant brings in its Burrata from Nochi — a little town in Puglia — smokes it in straw, and for this dish, serves it with crostini, sea salt, and olive oil.

2355 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

(415) 771-2216

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La Mar

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La Mar is a go-to for those who like to revel in a consistently solid happy hour, as well as equally consistent food. With a heavy emphasis on seafood, you'll find excellent ceviches and other Peruvian classics. The off-menu Trilogia Tiradito is the perfect way to sample the cuisine. An ever-changing dish, if you order it, you'll be presented with three different leche de tigre (the Peruvian term for a citrus-based marinade) and three different sashimi-style cut fish: Tai Snapper in rocoto leche de tigre; king salmon belly in sunchoke leche de tigre; cape gooseberries and rocoto chutney; and Hawaiian white tuna in aji Amarillo leche de tigre.

Pier 1½, San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 397-8880

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Presidio Social Club

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Amid the former military barracks of the Presidio, this revamped vintage spot offers tweaked versions of American comfort classics including chicken noodle soup (with ginger, scallions, and cilantro), herb-roasted half chicken, and beef liver and onions. But, sometimes, a rack of ribs is all you're looking for. Order the off-menu BBQ Beef Ribs, which are smoked for 12 hours in Central Texas barbecue style.