(*Carl Sandberg: "The fog comes in/on little cat feet.")
Its mid-summer and sure enough, the fog is rolling into SF daily, just as everyone assured us it would. Its really cool.
This past Friday evening found us exploring two new/new-to-us places with friends Ian and Sheena...
We met after work at Cantina in Nob Hill. (No sign, keep an eye out for tall wooden shutters and and an ear out for Ozomatli-type music.) Jordan M. was working behind the bar, and he entertained us with stories and mixology, both of which made it difficult to get off our barstools when it came time to move on for dinner.
We've had a reservation at A16 for a few weeks now - 4 people at a decent hour of 7 or 8 (or 8:30) is apparently a hot ticket. And walking into the restaurant is, as Sheena said, like walking into an aviary. Think sorority party din. I haven't lived here long enough to totally pick up on the stereotype of the Marina resident, but I'm suspecting the sort of crowd found in the bar at A16 on a Friday night might just be it. At one point while waiting in line, I was *dared* to use the men's room by a woman trying to impress her date. No catch, just...the men's room. That sort of thing.
Luckily, you make a beeline straight through the bar area and emerge in the restaurant in the back. And, hello, the aroma that greets you on the way in... I'm not a huge meat-eater, but this was definitely carnivorous in a good way (apologies to the vegan readership), reminiscent of Easter dinner (pork, ham, various charcuterie). It wraps itself around you and leads you by your nostrils, just like in the cartoons. We swooned a little as we moved through the main seating area to the outside garden area (lovely).
A16 has had a lot of press in the past few months, and I think we were prepared to be either completely underwhelmed or blown away; I'm going to go out on a limb and say we were pleasantly surprised by a solid showing. Though all of the evening's choices (food-wise) were good, if not super memorable, the butterbean and octopus salad was a clear standout (who knew, right? Good thing Ian was there to order it, because I don't know that we would have). And while that night we weren't totally convinced by the concept of the sweet/salty dessert (caramel/fleur du sel ice cream?), I can't stop thinking about it. Verdict: they've got some potential, that A16. Our experience was solid, occasionally great. Recommended, especially if you go with friends (as we did) who like mulling over the pepperiness of the olive oil and how pizza is really best with an egg on top.
