Where to Eat in December: Liholiho Yacht Club, Aziza, Bombera, Outerlands, and More

After almost three years, the beloved Liholiho Yacht Club is back, refreshed, rebooted, and better than ever. There’s been a slight remodel, which you can read about here, and the many of the classics have returned anew … and then some: tuna poke on crispy nori chips, fluffy poppy seed buns stuffed with homemade spam, swordfish katsu with creamy caper sauce, and so much more.

Once you’ve had hand-rolled couscous, it’s hard to go back. Whether you get it as a side spiked with brown butter, or as a larger plate studded with sunflower seeds, pickled raisins and topped off with roasted squash, it’s a must at Mourad Lahlou’s Aziza.

There’s much to love about Dominica Rice Cisneros’s charming Bombera, her Mexican restaurant housed in an old fire station. Whether you’ve been or haven’t been, consider checking out her book party event this month featuring cookbooks and conversation by an all-star and talented cast: Preeti Mistry, Bryant Terry, Tanya Holland, and James Syhabout. Get tickets here.

Outerlands may have changed owners, but you know what hasn’t changed? It’s still such a special and unique place to its neighborhood. And then there’s the wonderful brunch: Smashed potatoes. Gooey cast iron grilled cheese sandwiches. Dutch pancakes and all the sides of perfect avocados that your heart desires.

Oh, and pro tip: Dinner is back, too.

There’s so much to explore on the menu at San Francisco’s best (and only) Guamanian restaurant, but best to go with the Fiesta Table in where the kitchen will cook for you and you’ll get the best of the bests on the menu: chicken kelaguen, beef and potato empanadas, crispy sweet and sour pork belly, and so much more.

Bar Sprezzatura is helping bring downtown back with its coastal Italian vibes and large menu of cichetti (small snacks) and cocktails. You’ll find crudo and carpaccio, toasts topped with whipped duck liver or uni with nduja, and more. Larger plates include pasta and risotto, and yes there are negroni sbagliatos, too.

Lolo alum Javier Leon is doing things just a little bit different at Al Carajo on 22nd street in the Mission. You’ll find Yucatecan twists on items like pulpo panuchos and an al pastor negro that features thinly slices of pork marinated in an earthy recado negro. Weekend brunch includes hearty specials like breakfast burritos and chilaquile tortas. No reservations.

For what’s possibly the best pastrami in the world (or the Bay Area, at least), you’ll have to head to Solano Avenue in Berkeley where Cash Caris is doing beautifully house-cured smoked and steamed meat that’s thinly sliced and served on fresh-baked rye bread with housemade mustard. You’ll want to get the sandwich “husky,” which includes extra meat — and consider ordering an extra pound (or three) to snack on at home. No reservations.

After a major remodel, Delfina is back. It’s like a brand new restaurant, with a completely remodeled interior. There’s a new bar up front that comes with a full-on cocktail program, and for those who always wanted to have a pizza with their Delfina dinner, you can now do that. Classics make a return, too, like the grilled calamari with beans and the best darn spaghetti pomodoro on earth. For reservations, call (415) 552-4055. 

December is the best time to visit House of Prime Rib — it’s just so festive. Spinning salads, the big shiny meat zeppelin, massive martinis, and the warm buzzing dining room are just some of the reasons that makes this institution special. For reservations, call (415) 885-4605.

It’s not too often you see Bulgarian food in San Francisco, so next time you’re exploring the shiny new Presidio Tunnel Tops, head to the main parade lawn where you’ll find the Kuker food truck. Here, they’re serving up the remarkable street food known as banita, which features a hand-rolled spiral filled with eggs, spinach, and Bulgarian sheep’s milk cheese. It’s buttery, flakey, and pretty darn good.