The April Hit List: Parche, SPQR, The Morris, and More

There aren’t a ton of Colombian restaurants in The Bay, let alone contemporary ones; Parche is changing that. Owner and operator Paul Iglesias has brought chef Saul Valdes from Colombia to help execute a menu of small plates like arepas with shredded beef and fried quail eggs, crispy patacones (hand-smashed fried plantains) with an assortment of dips, empanadas filled with blue crab, and so much more. Larger shared plates round out the menu, as does a large menu of cocktails by bar director Eric Syed.

Got a case of the Mondays? Head to SPQR, which is now open on Mondays. Come with a friend and share the menu — stagger courses so you can taste your way through as many of the Cal-Ital offerings from the talented Matt Accarrino as possible. Handmade pasta with black truffles are an excellent supplement, as is a nice piece of Japanese A5 wagyu with beef and foie sauce.

Ungrafted has recently hired chef David Aviles, who previously worked at the two-Michelin starred Arcadia in Chicago. He’s now offering $45 prix-fixe menus with finesse, with things like squash with white mole, almonds, and black garlic for your first course, and potato pave with coconut spaetzle, maitake mushrooms, and a tom kha sauce for your second. Half-bottle flights will ensure the rest of your day is will be a-OK.

To many, Beyond Café’s Greg Poon might be the maker of the Bay Area’s best bowl of Hong Kong-style wonton noodle soup. Each wonton, filled with the perfect ratio of pork and shrimp, is a plump delight; the thin egg noodles are plentiful and provide a toothsome, al dente bite. And the broth is piping hot, light and nuanced. It’s comfort and simplicity in a bowl, perfect on a rainy S.F. day.

Find more info here.

If you’re like us, by now you’ve surely been to The Morris a few times.  You’ve had your fare share of Chartreuse Slushies and the divine smoked duck for two (If you haven’t—now is a good time as any).  But now they’re doing a French-inspired Saturday pre-fixe lunch of poulet frites. There’s a buffet at the back bar of charcuterie and market vegetables to start, roast chicken and fries for the main event, and dessert to finish.  They’ve done a few already, and are doing them weekly on Saturdays. Reserve on Resy, of course.

It’s been noodle soup weather lately, but let’s be honest, noodle soup is always a good idea. Ramen at Ramen Shop? Now that’s a great idea. Noodles made in-house and inventive versions like beef shoyu ramen with braised brisket and beef neck ragout or spicy black sesame tantanmen are just some of the delicious reasons why. Don’t forget a highball.

After five years of operating as a pop-up, chef Mike Lanham has opened up his modern Californian tasting menu restaurant Anomaly on Sutter St. Here he’s doing an 11-course menu, with each dish acting as a study on technique, texture, and temperature. Pro tip: Add the scallop supplement. It’s a big boy from Maine that’s poached and topped with a black truffle panade submerged in a sippable sauce fortified with yuzu and tarragon.

Find more info here.

Contemporary Thai restaurant Nari never holds back on flavor and spice. Everything is so powerfully delicious, balanced, complex, and layered. Crab curry with local Dungeness in a spicy Southern curry with betel leaf and garlic noodles is just one example. Consider going with the chef’s pick so you can try more things. Restrictions kindly declined.

Fourteen years later, pop-up turned multi-Michelin-starred communal fine dining OG Lazy Bear is still going strong in The Mission. Treat yourself to chef David Barzelay and team’s delicious approach to modern Californian cuisine in a wildly delicious, multi-hour, multi-course affair. Whether you splurge on the reserve pairing or simply grab a bottle, it’s worth chatting with beverage director Jacob Andrew Brown — they’re up for a James Beard award for outstanding wine program for a reason.

Find more info here.

Berkeley is arguably the best pizza city in California — there’s just so much here. And now, award-winning pizzaiola Laura Meyer is helping the scene grow even stronger with the opening of her Pizzeria da Laura. Her specialty here will be square pan pizzas: fluffy Sicilians, thin grandma, and crispy, cheesy Detroit style, of course.

Find more info here.