63 favorite restaurants
The Bay Area restaurants FOUND subscribers love the most
Since our inception, FOUND has been asking new subscribers to tell us their favorite restaurant right now. Now, a year and a half in, we present six Nines of FOUND subscriber favorites, starting with restaurants grouped for discoverability and building to — brace for the subscriber-only big reveal — the TOP 9 and NEXT 9 most named spots.
As you cast your eyes over these lists, remember: every single one of these restaurants is some FOUND subscriber’s favorite place to eat out. Got feedback or your own favorite to add? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundsf.com.
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES • The Nines
French
Zazie (Cole Valley), worker-owner bistro, brunch destination, dreamy back patio
B. Patisserie (Pacific Heights), modern salon, all the viennoiserie, daily tartines
Routier (Pacific Heights, above), B. Patisserie owners’ fine dining collab w/ chef John Paul Carmona, lavish takeout menu
L’Ardoise Bistro (Noe Valley), traditional and cozy classics from former Fringale/Le Charm chef
Brenda’s (Tenderloin), self-described ‘French soul food,’ jam-packed brunch, all-day beignet service
The Morris (Potrero Flats), endless wine list, notable smoked duck, rabbit terrine
Le Central (Union Square), 51-year-old pre/post theatre pick for house cassoulet, steak frites, escargot
Verjus (Jackson Square), cave à manger from Michael and Lindsay Tusk, weekly-shuffling marquee menu
Cafe Jacqueline (North Beach), unrivaled souffles made by Jacqueline Margulis for 40-plus years
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES • The Nines
Italian
Original Joe’s (multiple locations), family-owned red sauce icon w/ North Beach and Walnut Creek locations, Westlake spot (above) is an MCM masterpiece
La Cicca (Noe Valley), Sardinian menu, tiny dining room, beloved by Mark Zuckerberg
Penny Roma (Mission), Flour + Water’s traditional pasta spin-off, indoor/outdoor courtyard, whole-album playlists
Itria (Mission), handmade pasta and crudo, under ubiquitous Omakase Restaurant Group umbrella
A16 (multiple locations) Chestnut St.’s 21-year-old Neapolitan pizza spot has spawned Ferry Building, Oakland, and Napa outposts
Norcina (Marina), Thu-Sun brunch, stellar short rib, kid-friendly pizza, pasta
Seven Hills (Russian Hill), family-run, eternally busy traditional spot, in-demand private dining venue
Cafe Zoetrope (North Beach), Francis Ford Coppola’s cafe inside his historic Sentinel Building
Trattoria Contadina (Washington Square), 41-year-old white tablecloth pasta, tank tops, flip-flops, hats all forbidden
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES • The Nines
Seafood
Hook Fish Co (Sunset, Mill Valley), surfer-cool, catch of the day burritos, poke, fish & chips
Woodhouse Fish Co. (Fillmore), nautical decor, walk-in only, lobster rolls, shrimp-stuffed artichoke
Swan Oyster Depot (Polk Gulch), cult-fave no-frills counter raw bar, 8a-230p only
Rintaro (Mission), bleeding-edge izakaya, local and rare sashimi plates
Pabu Ikazaya (FiDi), Michael Mina’s sushi and sashimi spot for power lunch, delivery
Pescatore Trattoria (Fisherman’s Wharf), Cal-Italian seafood inside Hotel Zoe
Angler (Embarcadero), high octane Saison spin-off, wood-fired, sustainably sourced
Hog Island Oyster Co. (multiple locations), five oyster bars from Napa down, Ferry Building outpost boasts postcard view
Sotto Mare (North Beach), cioppino and clam chowder in Prohibition-era setting
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES • The Nines
Neighborhood favorites
Pacific Cafe (Outer Richmond, above), Geary gem for half century, walk-ins only (but free wine while waiting), simple fresh seafood
San Tung (Inner Sunset), Northern Chinese favorites, dry fry shrimp and chicken, gigantic lazy susans
The Progress (Fillmore), State Bird spin-off, favorite for family-style group dining
The Brixton (Cow Hollow), gastropub for the Soul Cycle crew
Robin (Hayes Valley, Menlo Park), contemporary omakase from chef Adam Tortosa (1760, Akiko’s)
Octavia (Pacific Heights), a la carte or (full table) tasting menus, California cuisine, global wines
Side A (Mission), spinning vinyl and Midwestern-inspired food
Rooh (SoMa, Palo Alto), progressive Indian from Microsoft engineers turned restaurateurs Vikram & Anu Bhambri
Quince (Jackson Square), Lindsay and Michael Tusk’s celebrated multi-course restaurant, not the fast fashion company
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES • The Nines
Classic
House of Pancakes (Parkside), Taiwanese, 3ft-long hand-pulled noodles served w/ scissors, savory-stuffed rolled pancakes
Foreign Cinema (Mission), outdoor Cal-Med since 1999, films at dusk, private dining fave
Yank Sing (2 SoMa locations), family-owned dim sum since 1958, 100s of menu items, unbelievable Peking duck
Tú Lan (SoMa), favorite of Julia Child’s for pho and noodles, cash only
Tadich Grill (FiDi), oldest continuously run restaurant in California, newest server’s been there 16 years
House of Nanking (North Beach), intentionally bad service, remarkable peanut sauce, Neo’s favorite noodles
Sodini’s Green Valley (North Beach), century-old red sauce joint, Rat Pack atmosphere, parms and steaks
Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store (North Beach, above), 55-year-old Liguria green onion focaccia sandwich hot spot, Graffeo coffee, Italian sodas
Gary Danko (Fisherman’s Wharf), Cal/Med/French prix fixe or tasting since 1999, legendary cheese cart, impeccable service
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES • The Nines
FOUND 9
Subscriber favorites 1-9