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Patricia Chang

11 Inflation-Proof Prix Fixe and Tasting Menus Around San Francisco

Ball out on a budget

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It’s not hard to find an excellent restaurant with an enticing tasting menu in a city like San Francisco. After all, the Bay Area can proudly lay claim to the highest concentration of three Michelin-starred restaurants in the country — and whether you’re craving refined California-Mexican cuisine or upscale Chinese served in a stunning space, there’s pretty much something for any taste on the list.

Of course, if you’re looking to spend a little less on your night out, well, things get a little more tricky. But never fear: there’s an ever-growing number of restaurants around the Bay Area offering multi-course menus that don’t necessarily break the bank. Here’s a list of more affordable tasting menus and prix-fixe options around the Bay Area.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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MAMA Oakland

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The Chronicle’s food critic called Mama one of Oakland’s best dining deals, which makes sense because for about $36.95 they’re serving a full meal including a salad, pasta, and dessert. You can choose from two options for each course, for example between MAMA’s Sugo and Pappardelle and Lemon Ricotta Rigatoni. The menu changes weekly, and the wine list highlights small-production wines for about no more than $16 a glass. 

Emma K. Morris

Hilda and Jesse

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Retro-fabulous Hilda & Jesse is here to break brunch expectations in North Beach and that includes with its rare brunch tasting menu, which costs a cool $49. You’ll have to get the whole table to participate but you’ll get a taste of unexpected breakfast options – and there’s always the option to add-on a double stack of the fan-favorite buttermilk pancakes. 

Cassava

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After making the move from its Richmond District home, Cassava is settling into new North Beach digs. But just because the restaurant has an expanded new space doesn’t mean the menu has changed. You’ll still be able to select four courses from a menu featuring plates like buttermilk fried chicken, slow braised lamb belly, and summer squash rigatoni for $48. The new space has both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a bar where you can belly up to enjoy the expanded wine options.  

Albert Law

Trestle Restaurant

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Trestle’s $39 three-course prix-fixe has made it a San Francisco favorite for affordable dining ever since its debut back in 2015. And after the pandemic ensconced in the Vault Steakhouse space, it’s now back on Jackson Street offering roasted rock cod or citrus brined pork loin for a dinner that’ll be bookended by salad or soup and dessert. 

Trestle
Trestle
Patricia Chang

Routier

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Brought to life thanks to a partnership between pastry chef Belinda Leong of B. Patisserie; business partner Michel Suas of Thorough Bread and Pastry; and chef John Paul Carmona, formerly of Manresa, Routier brings elegant French comforts to a sunny corner of Lower Pac Heights. Get a taste of both sweet and savory via the Formule Routier, which encompasses a soup, entree, and dessert for $57.  

A table of plates from Routier. Albert Law

Sushi Sato

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With restaurants including Tamashisoul in the Marina to Sushi Hon in the Mission, the Mins group has established a reputation for bringing quality fish and good value to the table, and the group’s latest is no exception. At warm and minimalist Sushi Sato, which opened in October in the Tenderloin, there are three options for tasting menus that all come around $50 including the Exclusive Sushi Tasting, which includes five pieces of nigiri with truffles and caviar for $55. 

Automat

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Former Lazy Bear sous chef Matt Kirk snuck open this all-day restaurant in late 2021, and these days it’s a popular neighborhood spot for coffee, fresh pastries, sandwiches, and, at night, an exceptionally thoughtful menu of small and large plates. The Automatic Menu costs $65 per person and includes a choice of entree and a selection of sides chosen, automatically (get it?), by the kitchen. 

A burger with fries and a side of sauce. Lauren Saria

Handroll Project

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This more casual restaurant from the team behind Michelin-starred Ju-Ni joined the crowded Mission Dolores restaurant scene in May, bringing exquisite hand rolls to the neighborhood. Choose from a set of five ($36), seven ($55), or 10 ($98) rolls, each of which arrives wrapped in thick sheets of nori, nestled with pristine sushi rice, and topped with combos like creamy scallops, avocado, and crunchy tobiko.

A creamy scallop handroll. Patricia Chang

Mijoté

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Chef Kosuke Tada comes from the world of technique-driven kitchens including Le 6 Paul Bert and Restaurant David Toutain in Paris. Now he’s applying all that skill to seasonal and local ingredients like radicchio, pear, and golden beets. The menu changes frequently — so frequently it’s not available online — but no matter the specifics, the four-course meal will cost you $84. Expect an amuse bouche, followed by an appetizer, seasonal vegetable dish, main course, and dessert — all of which can be paired with a list of natural wines. 

Lauren Saria

Mr. Pollo

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After a long pandemic pause, Mr. Pollo took up the roost once again in the Mission. This time it’s 

chef Graham Bellefeuille in the kitchen but he’s still kicking out four-course meals for $45. Fans can count on the second course being an arepa, an homage to the space’s previous life as a South American restaurant. Beyond that though, Bellefeuille rotates the menu every week to highlight what’s growing fresh. 

The sign outside the Mr. Pollo restaurant on Mission Street. Will McGuire

Marlena Restaurant

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Since opening in August 2020, this mom-and-pop restaurant has quickly become a darling of the San Francisco dining scene. And it’s not hard to see why. Husband-and-wife team chef David Fisher and pastry chef Serena Chow Fisher offer Michelin star-worthy plates that spotlight local ingredients in a simple tasting menu format. Diners choose between two options for each of four courses; dinner costs $65 per person with the option to add beverage pairings and a selection of supplements if you so choose. 

Patricia Chang

MAMA Oakland

The Chronicle’s food critic called Mama one of Oakland’s best dining deals, which makes sense because for about $36.95 they’re serving a full meal including a salad, pasta, and dessert. You can choose from two options for each course, for example between MAMA’s Sugo and Pappardelle and Lemon Ricotta Rigatoni. The menu changes weekly, and the wine list highlights small-production wines for about no more than $16 a glass. 

Emma K. Morris

Hilda and Jesse

Retro-fabulous Hilda & Jesse is here to break brunch expectations in North Beach and that includes with its rare brunch tasting menu, which costs a cool $49. You’ll have to get the whole table to participate but you’ll get a taste of unexpected breakfast options – and there’s always the option to add-on a double stack of the fan-favorite buttermilk pancakes. 

Cassava

After making the move from its Richmond District home, Cassava is settling into new North Beach digs. But just because the restaurant has an expanded new space doesn’t mean the menu has changed. You’ll still be able to select four courses from a menu featuring plates like buttermilk fried chicken, slow braised lamb belly, and summer squash rigatoni for $48. The new space has both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a bar where you can belly up to enjoy the expanded wine options.  

Albert Law

Trestle Restaurant

Trestle’s $39 three-course prix-fixe has made it a San Francisco favorite for affordable dining ever since its debut back in 2015. And after the pandemic ensconced in the Vault Steakhouse space, it’s now back on Jackson Street offering roasted rock cod or citrus brined pork loin for a dinner that’ll be bookended by salad or soup and dessert. 

Trestle
Trestle
Patricia Chang

Routier

Brought to life thanks to a partnership between pastry chef Belinda Leong of B. Patisserie; business partner Michel Suas of Thorough Bread and Pastry; and chef John Paul Carmona, formerly of Manresa, Routier brings elegant French comforts to a sunny corner of Lower Pac Heights. Get a taste of both sweet and savory via the Formule Routier, which encompasses a soup, entree, and dessert for $57.  

A table of plates from Routier. Albert Law

Sushi Sato

With restaurants including Tamashisoul in the Marina to Sushi Hon in the Mission, the Mins group has established a reputation for bringing quality fish and good value to the table, and the group’s latest is no exception. At warm and minimalist Sushi Sato, which opened in October in the Tenderloin, there are three options for tasting menus that all come around $50 including the Exclusive Sushi Tasting, which includes five pieces of nigiri with truffles and caviar for $55. 

Automat

Former Lazy Bear sous chef Matt Kirk snuck open this all-day restaurant in late 2021, and these days it’s a popular neighborhood spot for coffee, fresh pastries, sandwiches, and, at night, an exceptionally thoughtful menu of small and large plates. The Automatic Menu costs $65 per person and includes a choice of entree and a selection of sides chosen, automatically (get it?), by the kitchen. 

A burger with fries and a side of sauce. Lauren Saria

Handroll Project

This more casual restaurant from the team behind Michelin-starred Ju-Ni joined the crowded Mission Dolores restaurant scene in May, bringing exquisite hand rolls to the neighborhood. Choose from a set of five ($36), seven ($55), or 10 ($98) rolls, each of which arrives wrapped in thick sheets of nori, nestled with pristine sushi rice, and topped with combos like creamy scallops, avocado, and crunchy tobiko.

A creamy scallop handroll. Patricia Chang

Mijoté

Chef Kosuke Tada comes from the world of technique-driven kitchens including Le 6 Paul Bert and Restaurant David Toutain in Paris. Now he’s applying all that skill to seasonal and local ingredients like radicchio, pear, and golden beets. The menu changes frequently — so frequently it’s not available online — but no matter the specifics, the four-course meal will cost you $84. Expect an amuse bouche, followed by an appetizer, seasonal vegetable dish, main course, and dessert — all of which can be paired with a list of natural wines. 

Lauren Saria

Mr. Pollo

After a long pandemic pause, Mr. Pollo took up the roost once again in the Mission. This time it’s 

chef Graham Bellefeuille in the kitchen but he’s still kicking out four-course meals for $45. Fans can count on the second course being an arepa, an homage to the space’s previous life as a South American restaurant. Beyond that though, Bellefeuille rotates the menu every week to highlight what’s growing fresh. 

The sign outside the Mr. Pollo restaurant on Mission Street. Will McGuire

Marlena Restaurant

Since opening in August 2020, this mom-and-pop restaurant has quickly become a darling of the San Francisco dining scene. And it’s not hard to see why. Husband-and-wife team chef David Fisher and pastry chef Serena Chow Fisher offer Michelin star-worthy plates that spotlight local ingredients in a simple tasting menu format. Diners choose between two options for each of four courses; dinner costs $65 per person with the option to add beverage pairings and a selection of supplements if you so choose. 

Patricia Chang

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