Seven To Try: Wine and Small Plate Restaurants
Cynics of the world blame the rise in popularity of tapas style dining on a growing fear of commitment in singles. Examining the evidence, it does seem that tapas allow diners to sample the menu without committing to a single dish. Luckily we are not that cynical - not that there is anything wrong with that. We love tapas and small plates because they pair nicely with European wines. Whatever your preference, enjoy these seven San Francisco tapas and small plate restaurants with abandon. Cav Wine Bar & Kitchen With over 250 wine selections from around the globe, it is hard to ...
Arlequin Wine Merchant
The retail wine extension Absinthe Brasserie and Bar, Arlequin Wine Market offers 800 selections of carefully chosen labels. With prices beginning at the $8-to-$16 price point and ranging upwards to rare selections of high value, Arelquin offers something for everyone. The shop features a wide selection of domestic, French, Italian and Spanish varietals, including many small-production wines. A zinc-topped tasting bar at the entrance offers shoppers the chance to sip and sample, and hosts weekly, themed tasting events every Thursday evening from 6-8pm for approximately $10-$20. The Arlequin Monthly Wine Club ($59 per month) features two themed wine packages shipped ...
Six to Try: BYOB
The economy is in recovery, so say the nightly news pundits, but that doesn't mean those of us on Main Street should burn through our bi-weekly paychecks like it's 1999. To help you conserve cash this winter, we've compiled a list of dining venues which feature wine deals hefty enough to save you enough dough for dessert. If you do opt to go the BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) route, please observe these points of etiquette to save yourself the embarrassment of having to carry your bottle back home with you. 1. Corkage policies change from time to time, so be sure ...
10 Questions for Anthony Dias Blue
As a contributor for prestigious magazines such as THE WINE SPECTATOR, GQ, TRAVEL & LEISURE, ELLE, FORBES, THE NEW YORK TIMES, and CIGAR AFICIONADO, Anthony Dias Blue has established himself as one of the most influential food and wine personalities in the U.S. Additionally, his coverage can be found online at www.epicurios.com and www.bluelifestyle.com and www.wcbs880.com. Now read about Mr. Blue's background and his assessment of the wine and media industries. How did you first become interested in the food and wine business? I became interested in food and wine first. My mother was a wonderful home cook and my father adored Burgundy. Dinnertime was usually ...
Tastemaker Hani Desouky
At Medjool Restaurant and Lounge located in San Francisco’s Mission District—a multilevel space featuring a contemporary dining room, lounge, and a stunning rooftop terrace that affords 360-degree views of the city, the only spot like it in San Francisco. I am currently a Manager and recently took on the role of Wine Director. WHERE TO FIND HIM: HOW HE GOT THERE: Ever since college, I’ve worked in various fine dinning establishments. I have always loved the energy and atmosphere of the restaurant scene and the type of ambiance that good wine can bring to the dining experience — it can make all ...
The California Wine Merchant
The California Wine Merchant, owned by Greg O'Flynn, has been a neighborhood staple since its opening in 1974. It's part wine store and part wine bar, and is one of the liveliest wine bars in San Francisco. With 35 to 50 wines by the glass the prices range from $7 to $20 per glass. Cheese plates are also available. The California Wine Merchant 2113 Chestnut St. San Francisco, CA 94123 Neighborhood: Marina Phone: 415-567-0646 Hours: Monday - Wednesday: 10AM - 12AM Thursday - Saturday: 10AM - 1:30AM Sunday: 11AM - 11PM Website: www.californiawinemerchant.com [mappress]
Tastemaker Debbie Brown
WHERE TO FIND HER: PlumpJack Wines on Fillmore Street where she serves as General Manager and has worked for 10 years. HOW SHE GOT THERE: A former Junior High School P.E. teacher, Debbie first discovered her passion for wine while working part-time as a restaurant server in Colorado. She got her first taste of California during a trip she won as a contest prize. Debbie's been working the California wine scene ever since. ON CUSTOMER SERVICE: "The first time a customer enters the store, I make a big deal out of it," Debbie explains. "I want to make them feel comfortable and make ...
Tastemaker Drew Spaulding
WHERE TO FIND HIM: At PlumpJack Wine Shop on 24th Street in Noe Valley, where he has been working for 8 years and serves as the General Manager and Wine Director. HOW HE GOT THERE: "I began working in restaurants when I was 15," he says proudly. Indeed, Drew took on many high-level responsibility at a young age. At 22 he earned his first job as a Wine Director after the Cellar Director in his restaurant quit and he lobbied successfully to assume the role. WHAT MAKES HIS STORE UNIQUE: "First and foremost is our willingness to try anything," he replies. ...
Tastemaker Scott Pritikin
WHERE TO FIND HIM: I am co-founder and CEO of GoCoffeeGo.com, the ultimate destination to buy fresh roasted Specialty Coffee on the Internet. HOW HE GOT THERE: I have a really diverse background and it impacted all that I bring to GoCoffeeGo and the website. I worked in the hospitality business, the restaurant business as a Sous Chef, in the film industry directing music videos, as a real estate investor and developer – throughout coffee was a constant – then GoCoffeeGo was created. WHY HE DID IT: Would you drink the same wine over and over again? Then why do we allow ...
Tastemaker L.J. Brimfield
WHERE TO FIND HIM: At Piazza Market in North Beach where he serves as wine Buyer/ Manager. HOW HE GOT THERE: Working in Aspen Colorado, L.J. developed a taste for wine - an interest which led to his eventual relocation to California. "I made a list of 5 wineries I wanted to work for and started calling. One month later, I packed up and went to Napa." His first wine job was in the lab at Cakebread Cellars. "I have always approached wine in a very scientific way. Cakebread cultivated that and helped me realize which direction I wanted to go in." WHY ...
Tastemaker Elise Papazian
WHERE TO FIND HER: I am co-founder of GoCoffeeGo.com, the ultimate destination to buy specialty coffee online or anywhere, bringing together the who's-who of specialty roasting onto one site with one checkout. Our starting lineup are all award-winning roasters, and include many of Roast Magazine’s Roaster of the Year Award winners: PT’s, Klatch, Higher Ground, Zoka and Metropolis Coffee, and the hottest in the 3rd wave coffee roasting movement: Ritual, Novo, Johnson Brothers, Barefoot, Atomic, Cuvée and Verve Coffee. We have more to come. HOW SHE GOT THERE: I have had a very diverse background. Out of school, I worked in a ...
Bin 38
The international wine list includes many small productions wines from New World regions such as Argentina, Australia, California, Chile, New Zealand, Oregon, South Africa and Washington. The wine and beer pairings suggested for each seasonal, local, and organic dish on the menu work surprisingly well. With many indoor alcoves and an outdoor patio and fireplace, there are a variety of settings to suit your mood. The Scene: On the one hand it is generally crowded. On the other hand, there are plenty of opportunities for people watching and mingling. Inclusion worthy notes: The 56 wines by the glass are the perfect wing-man. Bin ...
Tastemaker Jerry Cooper
WHERE TO FIND HIM: At Swirl, the wine shop he owns on Castro Street in San Francisco. HOW HE GOT HIS START: Having spent 15 years in various roles in the restaurant business, including a six year stint as Wine Director for The Kimpton Group in San Francisco, he began his retail education at a small shop in North Beach. When he stumbled upon the vacant space which Swirl now occupies, all of the elements from his background came together and allowed him to create something new from the ground up. THE ATMOSPHERE HE CREATED: "Sleek, modern with a little retro vibe. ...
Tastemaker Zach Pace
WHERE TO FIND HIM: I've worked at Foreign Cinema for four years, currently as Manager and Wine Director. I have worked numerous positions here: Sommelier, Server, Foodrunner, Bartender, Private Dining Manager, Maitre'd. I handle menu design, implementation, purchasing, inventory, education, and floor management. HOW HE GOT THERE: It started as a means to an end, waiting tables to make a living, and go to school, but through selling and tasting wine, it quickly became a passionate topic for me and one I took naturally to. I turned into a career for me upon moving to SF from New Orleans and pursuing educational credentials ...
Piazza Market
The only wine store/bar in North Beach, Piazza Market relishes its new kid on the block status. Patrons who like their North Beach institutions rustic and long in the tooth may look past this new upstart, but the friendly staff is sure to win over any detractors. Dominique, who works the retail floor and the bar, is charming and approachable. Both Dominique and L.J., the Wine Manager, offer more knowledge of wine than their years would suggest. In sum, the lack of staff pretension allows wine neophytes and experts the opportunity to relax, enjoy their wine, and maybe even ...
Tastemaker Paul Birman
WHERE TO FIND HIM: At PlumpJack Wines on Fillmore Street where he has worked for 14 years. His business card proudly lists his title as "Wine Drinker," but he is actually the Wine Buyer for the store. HOW HE GOT THERE: "I've been a Wine Buyer in San Francisco for over 25 years, but I originally started working in hotels and restaurants," notes Paul. Eventually, his experience in the dining room ("the front") and the kitchen ("the back") allowed him to become a Wine Buyer. And, the rest is history. WHY HE LIKES IT: "Everyday is different and it's really exhilarating and fun ...
Blush
Blush wine bar, located in the heart of the Castro, is a sensible and low-key alternative to the noisy bars which surround it. We're all for a good time, but sometimes you just want to relax and have a good conversation. Enter Blush wine bar. The wine list offers few surprises and the service can be slow, but after wandering the busy city, Blush offers a tranquil setting to casually wind down the day. The Scene: The mostly male and gay clientele are the comfy sweater and horned rim glasses wearing variety. Inclusion worthy notes: Whether you are perched at the bar ...
Swirl on Castro
Welcome to Swirl, one of our favorite wine shops in San Francisco, owned by resident oenophile Jerry Cooper. Located in the heart of the vibrant Castro neighborhood, the intimate store offers a wide selection of wine from around the world, as well as gifts and wine accessories. Although the wines are selected for primarily for their high quality, many also posess funky labels derived from obscure stories. A case in point is Owen Roe's Sinister Hand. The label illutrates the macabre story of a land grab in which the winner literally severed his hand to touch land first. The store layout and wine bar are ...
PlumpJack Wines (Fillmore)
Established in 1992 by Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty, PlumpJack Wines still adheres to the priciples of community, affordability, and accessibility on which it was built. Although the name PlumpJack hails from the Queen Elizabeth's nickname for fictional Shakespearean character, this Fillmore wine shop is decidedly well grounded. General Manager Debbie Brown welcomes customers with charm and compassion while Wine Buyer Paul Birman demonstrates his vast knowledge of wine with aplomb. In addition to the PlumpJack Group's PlumpJack and Cade labels, the shop features a variety of delicious and unique wines from all over the world. Paul likes to visit foreign wine regions and learn about ...
Zuni Cafe
This local favorite offers over 20 wines by the glass and over 100 wines by the bottle. The Cal/Med menu seamlessly blends Italian and French influences. Though the seasonal and locally inspired menu changes daily, the House-Ground Hamburger on Rosemary Focaccia, Shoestring Potatoes, and Roast Chicken for Two regularly satisfy us. One recent addition to the Wine Menu is a Zuni labeled Pinot Noir created exclusively for the restaurant by Mount Eden Vineyards. The Scene: An eclectic mix of S.F. urbanites line the exquisite copper bar which overlooks the historic Market street. Inclusion worthy notes: The beautiful and modern space, solid wine ...
TOP LISTS AND CORKAGE DEALS
NEW REVIEWS
SAN FRANCISCO TASTEMAKERS
L.J. Brimfield serves as Wine Buyer/ Manager for Piazza Market in North Beach.
As Wine Director and Manager of Medjool, Hani Desouky is proud of the unique environment he has helped to create in the heart of the Mission.
