Sushi San

location: 1434 lombard (at van ness), the marina

j and i wandered into sushi san when it was too hot to be in our apartment and we wanted to eat something cold (aside from miso soup, which i can never turn down). it was an unexpected surprise. i'm always looking for cheap, quality, fresh tasting sushi and this place really hit the spot. they had a lot of vegetarian roll options which is always something i'm mindful of since i'm often eating with a veggiesaurus. the roll selections they had were classic, nothing too over the top or zany but also not boring. and they don't cover their rolls in fish eggs which is huge plus in my book. i really hate that.

i had the meal that included soup, salad, and a couple of different rolls. the salad was a little heavy on the dressing so i didn't love it or even finish it. the soup was great. and had those cute, long japanese mushrooms floating around the top, which i had never seen before. my rolls were perfect portion, tasted very fresh and left me full and satisfied. the prices were really decent and the restaurant serves beer & wine.

the wait staff was super friendly and attentive, even letting me take a picture of the roll preparation. they also deliver!

recommendation: don't wait until it's too hot to check this place out.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Unwind

location: 1875 union (at octavia), the marina

unwind is a new restaurant on union that is really good but seems like it has a lot of room for improvement. it's trying hard to be a certain kind of spot but i don't think it really knows what it wants to be. the inside feels really warm. big window looking out on union, wood paneled walls, bar eating right where the food is being prepared and a lot of tables. the back patio area is very open, with a glass cover so you can sit outside but not be outside. there's an outside bar and a lot of table seating and about 5 too many televisions (i think there were 7). it doesn't scream "place i want to get rowdy and watch sports" so it seems like a waste to have so many tv's up, especially in one medium sized spaced.

the menu is inventive with different categories for selecting food. the cuisine is mostly traditional american dishes, some with a new spin, but ultimately pretty classic. you can taste from the "mingle" portion of the menu where everything is served a la carte and you can select just one or many, great for sharing. the "relax" section offers salads and sandwiches and the "unwind" section is the bigger portioned entrées. it all seems a little cheesy, like they're onto something and they haven't quite figured it out.

i had the mac 'n' cheese which was absolutely wonderful. 4 kinds of cheese with bacon bits and breadcrumbs. you can't go wrong. the classic steak and caesar roll surprised me. i thought it would come on bread, like a roll, but it was literally meat wrapped around a piece of lettuce. it was ok but i don't see what is so classic about it. i've never really seen anything like it before. i had the chicken capellini pasta which was really good but a little bland. all of the flavors of the pasta worked well together (olives, tomatoes, garlic, & capers with a little olive oil) but the chicken was boring. it was just grilled and didn't have much flavor.

the bar makes signature drinks that are classic with a twist. i had the original creamsicle which was probably the best i've had when trying that drink and a new american classic cherry coke which made me wish i had ordered another original creamsicle. the prices for all of these treats were decent. i thought some things were priced better than others. the mac 'n' cheese was shared by three people and was cheap but the entrée i had seemed a little overpriced.

the wait staff is friendly but i think still they're all still trying to figure out their shtick. it just opened so i'd like to give it a little time and see what changes they make in the next few months.

recommendation: give it some time before you unwind.

tastiness: okay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Dosa

location: 1700 fillmore (at post), lower pac heights

everything smells good at dosa. from the second you walk in until the moment you leave, your sense of smell is overwhelmed. the drinks at the bar are garnished with pieces of trees and fruits that are flavorful and smell amazing. and the dishes are filled with some many different flavors and scents and they all come together in amazing dishes that look like art and taste like heaven. maybe that's a little overboard but i haven't tried anything i haven't like at dosa. i don't eat a lot of indian food and dosa makes it easy to decide because everything is good.

the dosa, which is a thin, bubbly crepe like bread, filled with various ingredients like potatoes and/or onion, is the main staple of the menu. you can order from a variety of different dosas and each comes with a bowl of lentil dipping soup and two different different sides, one is red and tomato-y and i'm not sure what the other is, something similar to hummus. i don't know what it is but i'll still eat it, it's that good.

dosa also serves various entrees and starters, two of which we tried on this visit. the vada pav, a vegetarian slider, was a a real hot potato. patty that is, mixed with onion, chili powder and other hot flavors. and the dahi papadi chaat which was a cool, creamy blend of yogurt and mint-cilantro chutneys mixed with potato on a hard crispy flaky bread. we were full from the appetizers before our food showed up.

dosa is a great food sharing experience. the restaurant is set up with many communal dining tables and food is intended for sharing. the dishes come in huge portions and everything is worth trying. the lighting is dark, almost too dark in some parts of the restaurant. the wait staff is attentive and very helpful in selecting and explaining dishes (and helping with pronunciation). the wait here can be long but it's worth it. the bar is pretty big and they serve exotic drinks with combinations you wouldn't see in most bars.

the prices at dosa are high. but in my opinion you really get what you pay for. a satisfying and fun meal that's more of an experience than most places. plus left overs that are almost as good the next day. tip: reheat your dosa in the oven.

recommendation: make a reservation and save your pennies.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: yay!

Soluna Cafe

location: 272 mcallister (at larkin), civic center

soluna cafe is right next door to hastings so it makes it pretty convenient to pop in here for lunch, even on a busy day there's enough time for a sit down meal. the menu has a variety of gourmet bar eats and is fresh and mostly local ingredients. they serve a variety of salads, sanwiches and hot entrees like mac 'n' cheese (which is fantastic). i've had the same sandwich both times i've been for lunch because i loved it so much the first time. it's a crispy chicken caeser sandwich served on a ciabatta roll. the chicken has been perfectly crispy yet moist both times i've had it and the lemon slices and caeser dressing help it maintain it's juiciness. accompanied by the truffle fries and a glass of homemade limeade and this is one of my favorite lunches. it's a little bit more expensive than what i would typically expect to spend on lunch in civic center but it's very good. they have some really great options on the dinner menu that i would like to check out. there's a full bar and a happy hour that goes until 7.

recommendation: if you're looking for somewhere to eat in civic center, look no further.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Pier Market

location: pier 39 (fisherman's wharf)

i recently marked pier market off of my list in my ongoing search for the best clam chowder in san francisco. if you can handle pier 39 on a freezing day in the summer at the height of tourist season, i suggest checking it out now. for those of you less interested in the spectacle that is pier 39, wait. i went with l on a thursday night trip to the wharf so it was pretty crowded but the restaurant was able to accommodate us with a really nice window seat inside, instead of under a worthless heat lamp. i already knew what i wanted when i got there so i didn't really peruse the menu, particularly because based on the prices listed i had no interest in over paying for something i guessed would be mediocre. the clam chowder & salad combo is probably the best deal they offer. at $10.95 it's the same price as some bowls of chowder down in that area and it comes with a nice side salad. it did not top my list, but i wasn't expecting it to. the chowder had a low potato ratio which is important to me, it tasted fresh and the sourdough bread bowl was the perfect size.

recommendation: if you're already at pier 39 i recommend. may not be worth travelling a far distance for.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Citrus Club

location: 1790 haight street (at shrader), the haight

c has been raving about citrus club for a while and i finally had a chance to check it out for dinner with her. from the outside it looks like it could be a run down little hole-in-the-wall but once you're inside it's spacious with low lights and wooden decor.
the food is mostly thai noodle and soup dishes. i had the shanghai noodles which came on a plate bigger than my head. the portions, most likely meant to be served family style, are large and inexpensive. the shanghai noodle dish included both beef and tofu with a mixture of veggies and a delicious sauce. i like any place where i can spend less than $10 and have enough food for two meals, in this case it was dinner and lunch the next day. i would like to go back with a bigger group and sample more from the menu. my experience this time was great. the wait staff was friendly and quick, the food was delicious and the company was great.

recommendation: take the family!

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: yay!

Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe

location: 566 columbus avenue (at union), north beach

mario's is not a cigar store. it may have been at one point. it's kinda boho but it's mostly just amazing. this cafe on the corner of columbus and union has a spectacular view of washington square park and st. peter & paul church (my fave in sf). it's small, the people that work there are nice and they serve delicious hot foccacia sandwiches made with bread from liguria bakery, which is just around the corner.

i've been here a few times and i'm always waiting for my next trip back. i went with l & j and we split red & white house carafes and ordered sandwiches. i had the hot foccacia with turkey and melted pepper jack cheese. it also has onions and dijon mustard. just 4 simple ingredients that make up one of the best sandwiches i've ever had. and it's cheap.

the menu is mostly sandwiches, a few dinner entree options, and some salads. the service is quick and it's a great atmosphere while you're waiting. usually feels like it's mostly regulars sitting at the bar, most likely talking about yesteryear.

there is limited seating outside, which makes it perfect for a sunny north beach day. they serve food until about 9 or 10 and beer and wine even later.

recommendation: if you haven't been, go. now. bring me.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: yay!