With half of the 2010 nominees for the national James Beard Best New Restaurant award residing in San Francisco, it’s not hard to find a great new place to eat in the City By the Bay. So today we present you those three restaurants (RN74, Frances and Flour + Water) plus two other dining options to put on your radar.
Interior of RN74
RN74
We have previously raved about the charcuterie at RN74, the newest restaurant from haute restaurateur Michael Mina. Located in Millennium Tower, the sleek new high rise that many of Silicon’s leading tech titans call home when their in San Francisco, it’s quickly become the favorite dining spot of the young, wealthy, South of Market crowd that expects the best in life.
RN74 is located at 301 Mission St., 415.543.7474; rn74.com
Chef Melissa Perello of Frances. Photo by Jennifer Yin
Frances
The slow-roasted beef with creamed winter greens had a reviewer from London’s Financial Times visiting Frances every night for a week. Owned by its chef, Melissa Perello, Frances has become the new darling in a town with some major competition. With its comfortable atmosphere, homey feel and Castro location, you might be tempted to think of it as another “neighborhood restaurant”, but Frances is a world class dining establishment.
Frances, 3870 17th Street; 415-621 3870; frances-sf.com
Interior of Flour + Water
Flour + Water
Since the day it opened, Flour + Water has been packed every night with the kind of eclectic mix one would expect in restaurant located in the Mission. Families, date-night couples, and celebrities such as Michael Pollan and Rosario Dawson have been drawn to it for its unassuming Italian fare. Created by David White and David Steele, with rising star chef Thomas McNaughton, Flour + Water is probably the best place to go for impeccably prepared Italian food in San Francisco.
2401 Harrison Street; 415.826.7000; flourandwater.com
Interior of Fang
Fang
Chef Peter Fang’s new southeastern Chinese restaurant is a spinoff of his tiny House of Nanking, which he opened over 20 years ago. Fang, which has been praised for its lively, personal creations, is in an excellent location for downtown San Francisco visitors — next to the W Hotel, near the Museum of Modern Art, Moscone Center and the Yerba Buena Gardens. There’s a fabulous drink menu with custom cocktails and Chinese wine.
660 Howard Street; 415.777.8568; fangrestaurant.com
Interior of Quince. Photo by Jennifer Yin
Quince
While Quince restaurant has long been one of the top 10 restaurants in San Francisco, the relocation to Pacific Avenue, giving it twice the space, is new, and very haute. Happily, the Jackson Square location hasn’t disrupted the magic of Quince, as it continues to receive the most enthusiastic reviews for its Italian-inspired dishes, elegant atmosphere and incredible service.
470 Pacific Avenue; 415.775.8500; quincerestaurant.com
