Top 10 Innovative Restaurants in San Francisco

San Francisco is a food destination–the James Beard Foundation recently released their list of nominees for best restaurants 2009, with half of them in San Francisco. Here’s a hot list for the top 10 established or up & coming restaurants in San Francisco, in no particular order:

Bar Jules

Seasonal, light, cute and in an excellent shopping district (Hayes Valley), you will never have the same meal twice at Bar Jules. David Lebowitz cited this small cafe as one of his very favorite restaurants in San Francisco; it will charm you just as well with its hand written menu on butcher paper, lovingly placed in the window daily.

flour+water

A group of fine young Mission chefs hailing from past lives at Quince, Gary Danko, EOS, Scala, and other local favorites came together in 2009 to create Flour + Water, which has now past its growing pains and produces some really fine cuisine. Innovative Italian.

Nopa

The best of a trattoria atmosphere with the quality of a fine restaurant, Nopa offers a seasonal and frequently changing continental menu featuring well executed dishes such as flatbread, roast chicken, spare ribs, hand made pasta and more. A popular favorite are the “little fried fish” whole little fish served with a delicious aioli. They boast a wood oven, an excellent wine list, and finely crafted cocktails such as blood & sand, pisco sour, and others.

Quince

Arguably the best formal restaurant in San Francisco, Quince’s current chef, Michael Tusk, recently moved the restaurant to a new space in North Beach and continues surprising guests with seasonal and curious combinations. While they offer a somewhat continental menu, Quince’s home run is most certainly its pasta courses. Menu changes daily.

The Alembic

Quirky, dark, tiny, old-school American and delicious, the Alembic is also a notable and sophisticated stop for a cocktail in the Upper Haight neighborhood. The Alembic does some great things with economy cuts of meat–sweetbreads, pulled pork, fried pork skin–they certainly do love pigs. Handcrafted old-style cocktails and bartenders lacking pretension but with plenty of talent, it’s a great local’s place to have an unusual light meal and a finely crafted beverage.  Check out the owner’s other concepts in the Haight such as Magnolia Brewery.

Salt House

Poutine. This is the signature dish of Salt House, whether they’d like to admit it or not. It’s like chili cheese fries, for adults. Salt House actually offers a sophisticated menu including some excellent seafood (scallops?), and is one of the best dining options in the downtown/SOMA area.

Acquarello

Do you enjoy fine dining? Love foie gras? Truffles? Italian food? Done.

Masa’s

French fine dining in a local limelight–9 course tasting menu, a la carte, you can have it any way you like. After more than 25 years in business, Chef Gregory Short has taken over and is continuing the tradition of excellent cuisine at Masa’s. Attracts an older crowd, but service is excellent for everyone.

Fringale

At Frigale, there is a habit of wrapping things in bacon and making really excellent desserts. More traditional than our other contenders, but could not resist including. Check their website for a heck of a deal on a pre-fixe menu.

Frances

A play on Mediterranean with French techniques, you can find gnocchi with duck confit, bacon beignets, and slow roasted beef on the menu and most certainly on regular diners’ tables. Chef/owner Melissa Perello offers up well executed, fine quality dishes in a more casual, neighborhood-friendly atmosphere. Cited in several sources as one of the best restaurants in SF.  Seasonal & local menu.