The Bay Area Restaurants We’re Loving Right Now
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If there’s one thing you must know about the people who work at Resy and Tock, it’s that we genuinely love restaurants …
This month, Team Resy and Tock delighted in housemade pasta, celebrated at a Thai trailblazer, trekked to Sonoma for an exciting new opening, and have been keeping tabs on an incredible Mexican-inspired pop-up.
On a beautiful Friday night…
… I decided to treat myself to dinner at a place I’d bookmarked a while ago. I walked up to Pearl 6101 and was able to snag a seat at the bar. The dimly lit space, lively buzz, and a fully cranking open kitchen made for a wonderful experience. I landed on a hamachi crudo (I’m a sucker for a raw fish appetizer to start a meal) and asked for the bartender’s preference between the four housemade pastas. I settled on the lamb radiatori, which is such a unique and fun pasta shape. I wasn’t planning on dessert, but as a big fan of pluots, I couldn’t resist the pluot crostata. It was the perfect ending to the meal.
— Daniel Stephan, Implementation Specialist
Pop-ups often portend…
… the city’s next generation of great movers and shakers, and right now, Good Bird is crushing it. I’ve been going to chef Brenda Landa’s Mexican-influenced dinners at Outerlands for much of the year, and it’s exciting to see her grow and evolves. She makes everything in-house. The tortillas and fried chicken have already become can’t-miss signatures; the cold noodles with salsa macha were a personal favorite; and the seasonal ingredients are pristine. For end of summer, we got Jimmy Nardellos, romanos, squash, and the last gasps of Early Girls. Good Bird always feels very much like San Francisco.
— Paolo Lucchesi, Resy Editorial Director
Everything was so incredibly delicious…
… at Kin Khao. We went for an anniversary and they had a card for us set out on the table when we got there, which was such a thoughtful touch. The nam tok beans were a great place to start — they had a really nice kick to them — before going into the caramelized pork belly, Khun Yai’s rabbit green curry, and the Yaowaraj noodles. The curry and noodles were probably my favorites of the night.
— Campbell Affleck, iOS Engineer
For an amaro tasting…
… and some snacks, head to Brucato Amaro, where everything is delicious. The Cornlandish (chaparral, mezcal, Brentwood corn, and lime, with a salted corn rim) was one of my favorite cocktails I’ve had all year. The gribenes (baked chicken skins) were super crunchy and a great snack to have with the housemade hot sauce. And the lamb meatballs were perfectly cooked and paired with an umami-packed chickpea purée. I loved it, and everyone we met here.
— Amanda Lewis, Account Executive
We loved the happy hour menu…
… at Good Good Culture Club. We started with some strawberry hibiscus highballs and ordered some market veg with jaew (a dipping sauce), Lao beef jerky, and salt-and-pepper popcorn chicken. But we couldn’t resist ordering from the regular menu, too. Highlights included grilled oyster mushrooms with fermented soy garlic, sprouting cauliflower, and sizzling beef.
— Randi W., Bay Area Partner Success Manager
If you’re looking for a sushi spot…
… that’s neither a hole-in-the-wall nor wildly expensive, Kuma Sushi is the spot: dimly lit, soft tones, fresh fish, and delicious rolls. The standout dish of the night was a special roll called The Golden Boy. Pro tip: They also have an expansive sake list that boasts local sake out of Oakland.
— Daniel Stephan, Implementation Specialist
Bonus: When in Emeryville…
… head to Secrets of Tiger. We were a group of four and split the yellow curry, the pad see ew, a crispy veggie salad, and the moo hong (a pork belly stew). The yellow curry and pad see ew were my favorites, but my friends really loved the moo hong. And definitely add an extra bowl of rice on the side for the curry, especially if you’re going with a bigger group.
— Campbell Affleck, iOS Engineer
Bonus: You can trust the newest Italian restaurant…
… in Sonoma County: Stella comes from the folks behind Glen Ellen Star, after all (a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner year after year). Our group was treated to fresh sourdough (made famous at their sister restaurant) with burrata, meatballs, homemade pastas, and a curated wine list of local producers in the Italian style.
— Bree Swineford, Product Management Director
More Bay Area staff picks, right this way.
The views expressed in this article reflect personal experiences of American Express employees at the applicable restaurants — not American Express — and do not constitute professional business advice.
