New on Resy: Mister Jiu’s, Beretta, The Snug

Mister Jiu’s is a new classic in the pantheon of San Francisco restaurants since opening in the spring of 2016 to a surge of critical acclaim. Housed in a former Chinatown banquet hall that chef-owner Brandon Jew once frequented as a kid, Mister Jiu’s serves up a revitalized take (read: locally-driven, ingredient-obsessed) on family-style Chinatown fare. The dramatic and elegant dining room, which borrows inspiration from the past and the present, sets the stage for menu mainstays like Dutch crunch bbq pork buns, half or whole roast duck, and, for dessert, sesame balls.

An early pioneer in the Mission District’s restaurant boom, Beretta has been a long-time industry favorite since its opening in 2008. The tall, dark, and handsome restaurant features an all-encompassing menu of Italian comfort food, inclusive of antipasti, salads, thin-crust pizza, risotto, and mains, plus inventive cocktails. Hot tip: get the walnut bread with burrata and mushroom-truffle honey. Or the squid ink risotto with calamari. Or both.

Whether you’re looking for a cool and casual place for a cocktail or a multi-course meal, The Snug has you covered. Founded by a team of four industry veterans looking to share their passion for great food, strong drinks, and the best beer California has to offer, the restaurant boasts a modern, woodsy design and cozy vibe. Food here means elevated bar snacks (think shishito peppers with sweet corn and togarashi dip) and plates like sesame naan & shitake hummus and beer-brined half chicken with peach mostarda. As for drinks, there’s a margarita on nitro, an aviation on draft, and a raspberry Negroni sbagliato, to name just a few.

Specializing in the food of Naples, Italy—where the owners, Salvatore and Maria Aversa, are from—La Ginestra serves classically-rooted cuisine comprised of high-quality local ingredients. The signature dish at this inviting family-run establishment is spinach-and-cheese ravioli, accompanied by crowd-pleasers, such as handmade pasta and gnocchi, insalata Caprese, and house-made tiramisu. All served in a warm environment, complete with paintings that depict the landscape of their hometown, Sorrento.

Just across the bridge in Sausalito, Osteria Divino offers authentic Florentine cuisine inspired by seasonal California bounty. Here, house-made pasta is the specialty, which ranges from lasagna verdure to spaghetti vongole, penne arrabbiata, and bucatini alla Norma. The quaint eatery is homey and laid-back, with the welcome addition of live music, evenings from Tuesday through Sunday.

Traditional Japanese cuisine, otherwise known as “washoku,” is the focus at Yuzuki, where everything is made from scratch using time-honored methods and ancestral recipes. Koji, a natural fermentation process that makes food more palatable, is a key element of Yuzuki’s offering. Delight in dishes like house-made tofu, miso-marinated black cod, and chawanmushi (a savory egg custard with uni).

At Nom Burger, ingredients reign supreme. So, the simple menu of burgers, fries, and drinks relies heavily on premium local and sustainable ingredients: hormone- and antibiotic-free beef is procured from a nearby sustainable ranch, and patties are made in-house daily. The brioche buns are made from scratch and baked on-site multiple times a day. In addition to burgers, fries, and milkshakes, Nom Burger curates a commendable list of 12 craft beers on draft with a concentration of local breweries in the greater Bay Area.

Anaviv’s Table is a gathering place for people who want to experience real California food sourced from local farms and ranches, prepared simply, and served with joy and appreciation. The restaurant serves one, weekly-changing tasting menu from Wednesday through Saturday and chef Ed Vigil’s cuisine remains true to organic produce, sustainably-raised meats, and sustainably-harvested seafood. The communal table, which is crafted of recycled wood from the old Cal Stadium, comfortably seats ten for an intimate meal.

Located in Palo Alto, Protégé is a casual, fine-dining restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine. A collaboration between master sommelier Dennis Kelly and executive chef Anthony Secviar, the restaurant features refined dishes such as ricotta dumplings with summer squash, sweet 100 tomatoes, and almond pesto and Alaskan King crab with sweet corn, celtuce, lovage, and espelette—best enjoyed with something from the comprehensive wine and spirits program.

Millennium specializes in globally-inspired, plant-based fare in an inviting Oakland setting. Working with small farms, the kitchen showcases local, sustainable, and organic produce at its peak, resulting in vibrant plates such as cornmeal fried squash blossoms and barbecued maitake mushroom. Cocktails from the bar are comprised of house-made infusions and fresh juices, and served alongside craft beers and an internationally-recognized wine list.

Owned and operated by the Cortteni family for over 30 years, Trattoria Contadina is a North Beach staple where unpretentious fare is served with familial warmth. To get a sense of the place, note that the average employee clocks in fifteen years. Order some bruschetta, the chopped salad with Prosciutto and Pt. Reyes Bay blue, and a bowl of the spaghetti and polpettine. Or go a different route; here, whatever you choose will comfort and satisfy.