New on Resy: Delfina, Rich Table, Mission Chinese Food

This isn’t your typical trattoria; Delfina is no less than a decades-old institution, doling out the kind of simple and rustic Northern Italian fare that makes everyone from nonna to national critics beam. Warmth is central to husband-and-wife duo Craig and Anne Stoll’s venture, and it’s felt in the beautifully sauced, daily-changing plates (tripe alla Fiorentina and spaghetti are highlights), cozy interior, and gracious staff. You’ll feel like a regular in no time.

Behind its rather inconspicuous, neighborhood haunt façade (read: simple furnishings and wood accents), Rich Table hides a genius kitchen. Fronted by married chefs Sarah and Evan Rich, this Michelin-starred eatery imbues California bounty with fine-dining flair, resulting in dizzying preparations. The sardine chips are a good place to start, but if it’s your first time at this Hayes Valley stunner, treat yourself to the Chef Picks menu—you’ll get the full range of the duo’s masterful chops, from porcini doughnut to uni pasta.

When Mission Chinese first opened almost ten years ago, Danny Bowien completely shattered the perception of what Chinese-American cuisine could be. Now a cult hit known for its Sichuan heat, the very first locale continues to craft bold and inventive dishes that are fittingly devoured amidst festive paper lanterns and blasting music. The move here is to go family-style and order as many as the mouth-numbingly delicious dishes as possible: Bowien’s food is as crazy good as when it all began.

As Delfina’s Roman-inspired little sister, Locanda has more than a few pasta tricks up its sleeve. And this Mission osteria delivers, lacing the house-made dough with peak-season ingredients, which are best slurped with something from the Italian-leaning cocktail and wine list. We’re talking luscious tonnarelli cacio e pepe and an Aperitivo (Campari, lemon, orange, and prosecco), or an ice-cold Peroni. Alla vostra salute!

Chef Thomas McNaughton put a lot of thought into the flour and water (the sacred duo of pasta-making) at his buzzy Mission establishment. And that’s because meticulously handmade pasta shines at flour + water, which brings the very best of regional Italian traditions with a decidedly Northern Californian twist. Opt for the pasta tasting and you’re bound to happen upon an unknown shape and exciting combination—asparagus and green garlic doppio with curry butter and mint, anyone?

A beloved Thai institution that packs on the heat, Lers Ros is a haven for diners seeking fiery, flavor-packed pleasures. And you can thank chef Tom Silargorn for the beautifully complex dishes at this Mission locale (Lers Ros counts three), painstakingly churning curry pastes and sauces from scratch. Get tantalized by papaya salad brimming with crab (som tom poo), glistening pork belly with crispy rings (pad kra prow moo krob), and tender beef with fresh chilies (nuer pad prik).

At Little Gem, a pair of Thomas Keller alums unleash their inventive and superbly healthy casual fare on the Hayes Valley masses. You’re here for organic food that’s all dolled up, from a generous butter lettuce to the savory maitake mushrooms on beans bowl. One thing’s for sure: whether you’re keto, paleo, gluten- or dairy-free, Little Gem will have something just for you.

Pair the sea’s freshest bounty with the most sophisticated sake selection on the West Coast, and you’ve got yourself Tsunami. As the city’s first designated shochu bar, this boozy NoPa destination doesn’t disappoint, pouring over 100 varieties of the rice liqueur, alongside Japanese single malts and seafaring preparations—ceviche, poke, and oysters—flown straight out of Japan.

A lofty wood- and brick-accented space drenched in natural light, Almond & Oak is one stunning restaurant. Helmed by chef Rico Rivera (a Gramercy Tavern alum), the Oakland haunt is anchored by a wood-burning fireplace, which spits out Rivera’s delectable flame-kissed fare. Expect daily grilled flatbread, potato gnocchi, pork shoulder chop, and barley-mushroom risotto.

Dreamt up by fine-dining chef Mark Liberman (AQ), Mägo is a gem of a bistro nestled in Oakland. Wood-fired fare and farm-fresh plates make up the ever-changing Californian menu, while seasonal cocktails, local beers, and global wines round out the neighborhood-friendly offerings. Get ready for focaccia slathered in seaweed tapenade, halibut with salted rhubarb, and cherry clafoutis.

When the vegetable dishes are as enticing as the carnivorous ones, you know you’ve got yourself a winner. Billed as the “greenest” building in the East Bay, Gather Restaurant sources its produce exclusively from local and sustainable farms, highlighting foraged and heirloom ingredients. Simply put, this Berkeley mainstay is one of the Bay Area’s quintessential farm-to-table eateries.

Handsome and sleek, Nihon Whiskey Lounge spruces up the izakaya format for a more elegant affair. You’re here for fresh sashimi and sushi rolls, accompanied by your choice of whiskey: Nihon boasts the largest single malt collection on the coast, with no less than 400 varieties from Scotland, Japan, and beyond.

This sky-high lounge is as close to a San Francisco icon as it gets, and once the elevator jolts up to the very top of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, you’ll understand why. With its panoramic views and old world glamour, Top of the Mark is like taking a step back in time, when jazz ensembles reigned supreme and martinis flowed. Lucky for you, brunch is up for grabs, so get to it, and make a Resy for their lavish display of smoked fish platters, raw bar, prime meats, dim sum, and more—unlimited Champagne and OJ included.

Dressed up in mid-century chic, Nob Hill Club is cozily tucked in the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. The lounge-like locale is an ode to continental dining that’s rooted in Californian produce, so settle into the plush setting (think walnut floors, crimson-hued walls, dripping chandeliers), and order from the old-school menu—we’re talking Jidori chicken roulade, rack of lamb, and one of the best Caesar salads in town.

La Note has a way of whisking diners off to the French countryside. It could be the lush and sunny backyard, or the charming farmhouse décor, or the delicious Provençal cuisine, straight out of some dotting French grandma’s kitchen. But La Note shines brightly in the mornings, when the tables are piled high with pillowy viennoiseries of all kinds, and some of the best pancakes and pain perdu (that’d be French toast) around.