The January Hit List: Abaca, Benu, Family Name, and More

Can’t go wrong with Chef Francis Ang’s Modern Filipino fare at Abacá. For the tl;dr rundown: start with some skewers, don’t miss the scallop pancit, and order all the cocktails and dessert.

Small, charming, family-run Altovino is a nice little spot for pure pasta pleasure — pappardelle with Bolognese, cavatelli with rabbit ragu, and so much more. And of course, have sommelier and owner Calli Martinez pour the wine to pair.

Experience French style and New Orleans soul at the original Brenda’s on Polk. Brunch is served all day if eggs, etc. is your mood. Beignets are also an all-day offering: Opt for plain dusted with sugar, a sweet version filled with Ghiradelli chocolate, or the savory version with crawfish and cayenne — you’ll want all three.

For many, a three-hour meal at three-Michelin-starred Benu warrants a flight to San Francisco. Luckily, us San Franciscans don’t have to trek too far to experience the precision and artistry coming from the kitchen — the destination is here.

Call 415-685-4860 for reservations.

One nice way to warm yourself up during the cold winter could be with a bowl of bouillabaisse at Family Name. Spiced with turmeric and filled with everything under the sea, including marinated black cod, mussels, and scallops, dip in with grilled bread and go to town.

If you haven’t already, now could be a good time to visit Gary Danko, a James Beard Best New Restaurant 2000. Whether you go à la carte or plump for the tasting menu, just know that that the cheese cart is not to be missed.

This Mission district gem features a small menu of simple California/French-leaning fare and a larger, more complex menu of French-leaning wines. However you decide to eat or drink, don’t miss dessert — the pot de crème looks divine.

It doesn’t get much better than a big box of fresh fried chicken. To get the real experience, you’ll have to go straight to the source: the brick-and-mortar on Broadway where you’ll find Christian Ciscle doing the damn thing. Moombah sauce spices it all up, and mochi muffins make a nice sweet finish.

Whether you want fluffy focaccia topped with mushrooms, or crisp-edged Detroit-ish style pizza, all good things come in sourdough squares. But there’s more there too, like Buffalo wings and chopped salad for the health.

This year marks Zuni’s 43rd year in operation. What better way to celebrate than with a good ole roast chicken — the fries are shoestring and depending on where you are in the French fry matrix, rank superlative or somewhere near there.

Call 415-552-2522 for reservations.

Chances are you’ll need to stock up on wine this year, Ungrafted on 3rd St in the Dogpatch has got you. If you stop by and visit, you can stay for a glass, have a bite or two like za’atar pull-apart bread or caviar with blini (or both!), and have the wine experts teach you a thing or two about what’s inside the bottle.