The March Hit List: Prubechu, Pearl 6101, Rintaro, and More

Even in California, it’s rare to encounter a Guamanian restaurant. And there’s only one in San Francisco: Prubechu. Run by chef-partner Shawn Naputi and set in the former Commonwealth, the stylish Mission spot uses top notch ingredients to bring the complex Chamorro cuisine to diners. Go with the fiesta table, a $60 10-item, family-style menu that will allow you to taste through the vast, varied, and complex cuisine of Guam.

Pearl 6101 is a supremely finessed neighborhood restaurant, worth a visit even if you don’t live in the Outer Richmond. Oysters and crudo are always great starts here, especially with their creative, rotating accompaniments. The excellent chicory Caesar salad features salty, crispy prosciutto and enough parmesan umami to balance the bitterness. Portions are generous, and every dish is under $30.

Some restaurants have really great names. This is one of them. Nopalito translates to “little cactus” in Spanish, but the restaurant is also from the same folks who brought you Nopa, so it’s also like a “little Nopa.” Brilliant, right? Chef-partner Gonzalo Guzman sources the same top ingredients from local farms to make his menu of regional Mexican hits. The carnitas are particularly special here.

Walk-ins only.

Some things are worth the wait, and Plow is one of them. A true brunch destination, Plow does brunch simply and superbly. There’s really nothing more satisfying than the signature Plow brunch, which features two eggs, two lemon ricotta pancakes, a pile of exceptionally crunchy potatoes, and your choice of sausage or bacon.

Walk-ins only.

From the folks that brought you Ju-Ni comes Hina Yakitori, a 16-course, $110 tasting menu centered around its namesake chicken skewers. And it’s completely worth it according to Chronicle critic Soleil Ho. But there’s much more than pure poultry: there’s Wagyu tartare with Hokkaido uni, and caviar on chicken chicharron. All the skewers are expertly cooked over binchotan (Japanese charcoal), and there are only 12 seats with two settings. Set the Notify now.

Rich Table remains a modern classic. The menu changes often, but is always playful and inventive. Perhaps you want to order a cocktail, a few snacks like the famed sardine chips, and a couple of the housemade pastas. Or perhaps you want to go all in on the chef’s tasting menu. Either way you’re in for a good time. Pro Tip: The full menu is served at the bar, too.

Sometimes you just need to grab drinks with a big group of friends and can’t be bothered to fight for space — this is where Elda can help. You can now book reservations for six or more on Resy. And once you’re there, the cocktails are top of class, like the Vampiro, made with mezcal, lemon and cinnamon. Order some sikil pak crudité (pumpkin seed dip) with plantain chips so you can order another round.

For years, San Francisco didn’t necessarily define itself as a pizza town, but how things have changed in the last decade. When Tony Gemignani opened his North Beach destination in 2009, he helped usher in a new era of pie in the city. At Tony’s Pizza, you can sample over a dozen different pizza varieties, from Sicily to St. Louis. Tony does it all — and does it remarkably well.

Walk-ins only.

Rintaro is the ultimate Japan-meets-California izakaya. Chef-owner Sylvan Brackett gets the best local produce and proteins (even the fresh wasabi, which comes from Half Moon Bay), while he sources much of the dry stuff, like konbu and bonito, straight from Japan. Dinner is a great time to go, but the lunch (served Friday-Sunday) is an incredible deal. There are several delicious sets to choose from, like cheese-stuffed chicken katsu or fresh fish with rice, all served with a collection of side dishes.

There isn’t another restaurant quite like Angler. (Besides its location in L.A., that is.) Joshua Skenes has created something special at this bayside blockbuster. Everything will be delicious, but order as much from the vegetable side section as possible. And if you’re going to splurge on caviar, this is the restaurant to do so — the price per ounce is actually one of the best deals you’ll find.

For reservations, call the restaurant at 415-872-9442.

There’s no better time than now to support your local Chinese restaurant. There are tons of options in San Francisco, but if you have a hankering for some Peking duck, Five Happiness dishes out one of the finest in the city. This Cecilia Chiang-approved restaurant has been around for over 40 years, and is easily one of the best mature restaurants in the city.