Where to Eat in September: Hi Felicia, Automat, Hotline, and More

In case you haven’t heard, the popular supperclub Hi Felicia just launched a new family-style format.  Two seatings per night over seven courses, lots of wine and a grand old good time. And the kicker: Chef-owner Imana has brought on the talented Selasie Dotse on board as the chef de cuisine to execute the menu of California comfort food with flair and finesse.

Thai noodles with barbecue brisket? Shrimp mousse toast? Pork laab burger? If all these are new to you, then waste no time and head straight to Jo’s Modern Thai. And if you know what we’re talking about, now is the time to revisit, because chef Intu-on Kornnawong’s food is so fire.

Automat is all that and then some. We particularly love dinner at the all-day restaurant right now, where the fresh-baked bread program’s soft and squishy buns shine on the double smashburger, and the “Wondermat” bread is perfect on the grilled cheese sandwich. Don’t miss desserts either, especially the birthday cake twinkie, complete with sprinkles, toasted marshmallow and peaches. Pro tip: There’s also a $65 prix fixe family-style meal.

Liliana — the sister cocktail bar adjacent to Seth Stowaway’s live-fire tasting menu restaurant Osito — serves fare with just as much intent, featuring items from the ocean (cured halibut with watermelon and strawberry honey), ranch (pork belly with pistachio pesto and peppers), and farm (sourdough frybread with white wine roasted grapes and fresh cheese).

The modern Japanese izakaya in Berkeley gets bustling during dinner. Sit at the bar, and order a few things off the large menu: a sushi set, sea beans with corn and tempura, chicken katsu curry with rice. Pair with a couple cocktails and you’re set.

The team behind Korean superette Queens has transformed its Taraval Street restaurant, Hotline, into a junghwa bistro. Here you’ll find all sorts of Korean-Chinese comfort foods, like jjajang myeon (thick noodles with minced pork and black bean gravy) as mapa dubu, made with silken tofu, shiitake, and fermented chile. Pro tip: Don’t miss any of the. fun and funky natural wines on hand.

No reservations; click here for more info.

Stone fruit season is a perfect time to visit Mourad Lahlou’s Michelin-starred modern Moroccan spot on New Montgomery. Why? Beefy short rib with summer squash, gypsy peppers, sweet nectarine and a thick and glossy bone marrow reduction.

For a taste of Sonora in the Bay Area, visit Tacos Mama Cuca, where you’ll find Maria Marquez’s carne asada grilled over mesquite and served on flour tortillas made by hand. She pops up in plenty of places, most recently at Korner Kitchen & Bar in Fruitvale on the weekends, so check her Instagram to find out where to find her next.

La Societe is a new, modern French brasserie on the bottom floor of the Hyatt in SoMa. Running the kitchen is Alexandre Viriot, whose impressive culinary CV includes time at Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon spots, as well as working under the legendary chef Alain Ducasse. On the dinner menu, you’ll find things like dutch crunch gougeres, steak frites with duck fat frites and au poivre, and much more.

Click here for more info.

The San Francisco pizza scene just got a hot newcomer: Empire Pizza on Mission and Third in SoMa. It is pumping out hot, thin, and crispy NY-style slices and whole pies, as well as light and fluffy square slices that’ll easily go head-to-head against the best of east coast slice shops.

Click here for more info.