The Bay Area Restaurants We Loved in February

The perfect lunch…

… might just be Flour + Water Pizzeria’s $20 Power Lunch special. We got a Caesar salad, a pepperoni square slice, and a salted caramel-and-vanilla soft serve swirl. And of course, we had to add an order of mozzarella sticks to start. It was great — nothing like simple, elevated classics to brighten our midday.

— Randi W., Bay Area Restaurant Success Manager

There’s something special and indulgent…

… about a nice Friday lunch out and about. For me, Popi’s Oysterette fits that bill perfectly. Maybe it’s the seafood platter, chock full of oysters. Or maybe it’s the heaping plate of avocado and Dungeness crab that consist of the Crab Louie salad. It’s the kind of place you can feel good about going big.

— Paolo Lucchesi, Resy Editorial Director

When a buddy of mine said he was on a quest to discover the best burger in San Francisco…

… I knew I had to jump in and assist him.

Our first stop was Causwells in the Marina, where almost every table had a burger on it. We were taken aback by its size: a double patty with cheese oozing from the sides, with a very nice bun-to-burger ratio, shredded lettuce (on the bottom, I may add), and shaved onions. This first burger set the bar high. (Pro tip: Spend the few extra dollars to upgrade the side salad for fries or crispy onions.)

Next stop: the infamous Sam’s over in North Beach, which Anthony Bourdain crowned as one of his all-time favorite burgers. The place only has six stools at the counter and a single gentleman behind it, tending to the burgers on the charcoal grill. We decided on the double cheeseburger with a side of fries. The buns were slightly smashed, the condiments just thrown on, and the cheese not completely melted. But as soon as we took our first bite, we were quickly taken back to our childhood — like I was at a barbecue at my grandparents’, with my uncle standing over the grill. It was the nostalgia burger you didn’t know you needed. We left with smiles on our faces.

For our final burger, we went to a place that’s on every “best burger in San Francisco” list we found: Marlowe, located in Soma. This was a picture-perfect burger, with a horseradish aioli that gave it a nice, spicy bite. But the real winner were the fries. Perfectly seasoned, sprinkled with fresh herbs, and served, again, with that horseradish aioli. My ideal of a french fry.

After downing three burgers in three hours, we were craving something sweet, and what better way to end the day than with some soft serve from Bi-Rite Creamery in the Mission. Their salted caramel and vanilla twist will always be a winner in my book.

— Daniel Stephan, Implementation Specialist

The service was incredible…

… at 7 Adams — the best I’ve had in a long time. We came in for the $87 five-course tasting menu and splurged on the caviar, truffle, and Wagyu add-ons. I really loved the cauliflower risotto and the Wagyu with green garlic relish and leek ash courses. The ambiance was perfect, but ultimately, the top-notch service paired with the food made it one of the best dining experiences I’ve had.

— Randi W., Bay Area Restaurant Success Manager

My new favorite ritual…

… is trying each and every bento box that comes from Rintaro. The beloved Mission izakaya remains one of my all-timers for a memorable sit-down dining experience, but for those nights in, the seasonal bento boxes are an incredible way to bring the Rintaro magic into your home. The midwinter edition featured generous chunks of Dungeness crab buried in cured roe, and so much more. Can’t wait to see what springtime brings.

— Paolo Lucchesi, Resy Editorial Director