FOREIGN CINEMA
Read moreMore than a restaurant, it's a concept. Sitting in the pretty courtyard for the evening session, you'll enjoy fine food while sneaking glimpses of auteur films (Fellini, for example) projected on the large raw concrete wall. If you choose to stop by before dark, you'll enjoy the room's concrete and fireplace decor, very post-industrial chic. On the menu, local oysters and fish served in a spicy sauce have a special place. A unique atmosphere.
PALM HOUSE
Read moreA very nice, trendy place in Cow Hollow, with a pleasant glass roof overlooking refreshing plants, banquettes with pretty, comfortable cushions. The à la carte menu offers excellent breakfasts and brunches at weekends, as well as a range of healthy dishes and more substantial specialties at lunchtime (salads, sandwiches, vitamin-packed bowls). Cocktails are also among the most popular after-dinner specialties. As a café, restaurant and bar, the Palm House offers a great atmosphere at any time of day.
KISMET
Read moreKismet is one of the landmarks of East L.A. hipsters. We can prove them right, because these little plates to share are simply perfect. Inspired by Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, lemon and sesame chicken, falafel vegans, hummus with pesto and fresh onion and eggplant salads are modern, creative and exquisite. The blond wood decor is refreshing and the minimalist atmosphere enhances these well-crafted dishes. The restaurant is small, so a reservation is essential in the evening, unless you are only two guests: in this case, you can try your luck at the last minute.
1601 BAR & KITCHEN
Read moreHere's a restaurant that's out of the ordinary on Californian menus. Chef Brian Fernando, who spent many years in Sri Lanka, offers an inventive and daring cuisine that combines the island's traditions with Californian avant-gardism. This means, among other things, that the dishes are not too spicy, but are infused with exotic flavors. The modern dining room, with its intimate lighting, lends itself perfectly to dinners for two. To round off the evening, the owner, who is very Francophile, plays local music. A chic and expensive table.
THE POST ROOM
Read moreThe lobby of the Beacon Grand Hotel's Art Deco skyscraper is home to this restaurant-lounge bar. Chandeliers, mirrors, high ceilings and retro furniture lend an incredible Roaring Twenties majesty. Californian specialties with a Mediterranean accent, French nouvelle cuisine style. On our visit, the avocado tuna Ahi Tuna with sumac lime sauce was divine, as was the whole sea bass roasted with artichoke and pesto. The counter comes alive at the end of the evening, as the cocktails are as refined as the dishes. Concerts at weekends.
THE SPINNAKER
Read moreA water restaurant with panoramic views over San Francisco Bay. We really feel like being in a boat. The kitchen is refined with specialities of fish and seafood. An excellent address for dinners in lovers.
BLACKWOOD
Read moreBlackwood is an elegant new Thai-American restaurant on Chesnutt Street in Marina. Two inviting communal tables can be found by the fireside on the terrace, while inside there are more cosy banquettes with marble cushions and tables. Classic Thai dishes, such as pad thai, oyster mushroom egg rolls and crispy-crusted tiger prawns, coexist with American dishes twisted with Thai flavours, such as the BW Burger, wagyu seasoned with white cheddar, coriander aioli and Thai sesame salad on a brioche bun.