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"Mission"
Lolo, in the Mission, serves up the classic mix of Latin and Mediteranian flavors, or, as they’ll tell you, “we have a lot of fun bringing together the culinary traditions of Mexico and Turkey.” So you’re as likely to find tacos as kebabs, both of which are fantastic here, flavorful but refined. It may seem [...]
The Front Porch, a little neighborhood restaurant just south of Caesar Chavez, serves some of our favorite food with what they describe as a little “southern mission hospitality.” This refined soul food spot, with its high ceilings and elegant design, is somehow both charming and chic, and that same mix of comfort and style shows up in the food. There’s the malt liquor pork belly, which is pork belly braised in king cobra. It’s playful, sure, but it tastes really good.
Monk’s Kettle opened in the Mission back in 2007 on the momentum of the gastropub craze sweeping the nation. San Francisco doesn’t have too many of what are really just bars that offer small batch booze and refined food, but Monk’s Kettle is clearly our best. The intimate space, shiny wooden bar, dim lighting and elegant hipster feel almost isolates the restaurant from the bustle and wildness of 16th Street. There’s a new chef in 2011, and, sadly, gone is the mac and cheese, although the spirit of the menu – flavorful, inspired American comfort food – remains.
Calling Spork an upscale diner doesn’t do the Valencia Street mainstay justice, but there is something dinerish about it – and not just, as is often pointed out, because it’s in a former Kentucky Fried Chicken space. The food is comforting and familiar, but also refined, part of the movement once called slow-food that’s now just expected in town. Still with a pork shop, steak stroganoff and a burger on offer, it’s easy to dismiss Spork as boring and maybe even old fashioned. And yet, everything is done with taste – from the layout to the cooking – and a hint of refined whimsy.
With its seasonal, farm-fresh menu and industrial vibe, Slow Club has been an east Mission food destination for the last 19 years. It’s hard to believe Slow Club is that old, but that’s part of what we love about it. There’s soulful consistency (that would be flavor not texture) about the food, like braised shortribs with cauliflower pure or pan-seared yellowtail with Yukon gold potatoes. Entrees run in the low $20s, so Slow Club isn’t cheap, but the portions are generous, and the cocktails rival any in the city. Their spin on the Blood and Sand is smoky and sweet, while the Aviation redefines a classic.
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