The October Hit List: AL’s Place, Rintaro, Rich Table, Cassava, and More

Aaron London, a.k.a. AL, is back at AL’s Place. Ingredient-driven, globally-inspired, vegetable-forward mains and small meat sides are the vibe here. Plenty of options and routes to choose on the menu, but the pro move is to just let the kitchen cook for you with the family-style menu — and definitely go for the pairings. Reservations open for outdoor dining and starting 10/9, indoor dining.

Sylvan Mishima Brackett’s excellent Rintaro is open for bento carryout and outdoor dining in their cute courtyard and new sidewalk booths. The seasonal set options includes a small sashimi plate with fresh and local fish, fried and grilled tsukune, your choice of hand-rolled udon or soboro gohan, and more. Open for outdoor dining and takeout.

The menu at Rich Table can be frustrating because what happens is that you want to order the entire thing, and it’s just physically impossible. It’s clearly a good problem to have. But a good strategy is to order every Bite (sardine chips and porcini doughnuts are a must) and then whatever else calls your name, maybe a pasta, maybe a ribeye. You can’t really go wrong. Open for outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery.

Outer Richmond’s neighborhood gem Cassava is open for takeout, delivery via their own service, meal kits, meal subscriptions, and brunch and dinner service on a beautiful parklet. Basically anything you need, they’re there to feed you. From hot dogs to tamales to Korean fried rice to Japanese breakfast to fried chicken—they’re doing everything and everything they can to feed you. Help them help you. Reserve below, and see more info here.

Sarah Kirnon of Miss Ollie’s is her bringing goat curry, salt fish and ackee, and other Caribbean fare to Elda, where she’s doing a three-month residency. She’s also doing her wonderful herby skillet fried chicken with cornbread, honey butter and collard greens. Pair with a couple of Elda’s piña coladas on their patio, and you’ve got a solid meal.

Open for outdoor dining and takeout. 

Nari is back! They built a full on patio outside Hotel Kabuki where you can pair perfect cocktails to go with Thai fare with a California flair. Gaeng rawaeng — a whole cornish game hen curry with roti — is a showstopper, but the entire menu is worth exploring time and time again. Just be sure to room for Sean Ehland’s excellent desserts.

Open for outdoor dining and takeout.

The Ormeño family has opened up their second location of El Porteno, which specializes in Chifa cuisine – the foodways originated by Chinese immigrants in Peru. So you’ll find special dishes like lomo saltado (a sirloin soy stir fry with French fries and rice), duck fried rice, and tallarin de carne (chow mein with your choice of beef, pork, or chicken) along with rotisserie chicken and ceviche.

Open for takeout and delivery.

Trick Dog has reopened and transformed to Quik Dog, offering a takeout window of hot dogs, hamburgers that look like hot dogs, Quik nuggets, perhaps our favorite french fries in the city, their famous oversized kale salad, large 750ml batched cocktails, and more.

Open for takeout,and delivery

One fun thing you can do a take a trip up to Tomales. Highway 1 will take longer, but it’s worth it. Grab some oysters and bubbles at Hog Island, and then stop by for a burger and beer and sardines at William Tell House, which houses one of the oldest saloons in Marin. Then drive down to Dillon Beach, and hang out for a while. Stop by the General Store for some soft serve and thank us later.

Open for outdoor dining and takeout.

The San Francisco institution at the corner of Stockton and Filbert hasn’t changed much in its 111 years: still got the same oven, still got a small menu of focaccia. But now they’re offering bread and pizza dough, too. Across the park, you can grab other pizza provisions at Giovanni’s — they’ve got all the sauce, cheese and pepperoni you need.

Takeout only.