Gary Danko Restaurant - San Francisco

Continuing its winning streak, Gary Danko again secures a place in the Zagat Guide charts as the most popular restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is indeed quite a feat for a restaurant on the high end of the cost spectrum. This quaint restaurant located on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco downtown serves Californian and French Cuisine, and attracts not only locals, but foodies from around the world! Plantation shutters, dark wood and warm earth tones create a soothing setting for his seasonal fare. Impeccably dressed waiting staff adds an air of elegance, along with an excellent wine list and cheese service. The fixed-price menu definitely ranges on the higher end, yet the award-winning food draws huge crowds every single day.

James Beard Award-winning chef Gary Danko presides is the heart and soul of this restaurant. Reflecting the white-glove formality of fine dining, Danko offers impeccable cuisine and perfectly orchestrated service in an untraditionally spacious environment. The two adjoining rooms are elegant without being stiff, and the banquette seating provides both luxury and comfort. Taupe-toned walls are the perfect backdrops for museum-quality modern paintings from artists Hunt Slonem, Erin Parish, and Angelina Nasso. The wooden panels and shutters combined with well-spaced tables create an intimate yet open environment. Even their bathrooms are spa-style!!:)

The food at Gary Danko centers on lively, seasonal dishes prepared with classical french techniques. The 3-5 course seasonal menu is freestyle, and offers several seasonal ingredients paired with meats and veggies. You definitely have to try their trademark buttery-smooth glazed oysters with lettuce cream, salsify, and Osetra caviar; seared foie gras, which may be accompanied by peaches, caramelized onions, and verjus (a classic French sauce); horseradish-crusted salmon medallions with dilled cucumbers; and adventurous Moroccan spiced squab with chermoula (a Moroccan sauce made with cilantro) and orange-cumin carrots are other attention grabbers. For strict vegetarians, salads might be your only option, but the chef was kind enough to accomodate our special requests. The items on the menu range from $50-80, so be prepared to lighten your pockets!

The wine list is stellar, but expensive, and holds over 1,500 wines including an exceptional selection of grand vintages. They also boast an extensive cheese collection, and diners can take a glimpse of the spread through a handsome cheese case. For desserts, a plate of petit fours, Baked Chocolate Souffle or the Pineapple Consomme will be perfect to end a memorable meal!

On the whole, Gary Danko offers a pleasing dining experience, albeit expensive, and hence reserved for special occasions. Reservations are strongly recommended, unless you are prepared for at least half-hour wait! The quality of food and service is unparalleled, and you have to hand it to the chef for maintaining the standard as Gary Danko moves to its 8th successful year. They are also opening a new branch in the Napa Valley, so look out for more great food in the romantic city!!



Address
800 North Point St. (at Hyde)
San Francisco
(415) 749-2060
Gary Danko Restaurant

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The Myth Restaurant and Lounge (French California Cuisine) - San Francisco CA

A restaurant that wants to hold its ground in the competitive town of San Francisco needs to be something different, and Myth seems to be just that. It features eclectic French/California cuisine served in casual yet elegant surroundings. Located in San Francisco's Historic Jackson Square area, it provides a dining experience inside a landmark building constructed more than 120 years ago, and is conveniently situated next to the Financial District, North Beach and Chinatown. The landmark space has been transformed into a contemporary yet inviting space containing several dining rooms, including a special eight-person chefs table, a bar and lounge areas. Chef Sean O'Brien puts his years of training at Gary Danko to good use, crafting a menu with an upscale pedigree but with a more casual sensibility.

The restaurant can be described as homey but stylish, with a hip-elegant 60-seat interior. At the entrance diners are greet by a host stand in front of wooden shelves with a perfectly framed and lit live orchid; and you can see the seating arrangement to her right and the bar on the other end. The banquettes are covered in Japanese-style prints, and add to the color. The interior looks intimate with walnut-lattice partitions and low ceiling adorned with shimmering waves of gossamer fabric. There are also some private dining spaces for romantic evenings, and of course a central dining area in front of the open kitchen for a more action-oriented crowd.

Unlike other French restaurants, the menu here has a lot of deelectable options for vegetarians, and not just salads.The Asian Pear salad and the Peeky Crab Toe salad were great; the main course features some exotic entrees (Menu below). From the famous Salmon and Trout to the amazingly flavored Veal and Scallops, to the Rigatonni, New York Steak or the Stuffed Quali with Arugula, every dish speaks of culinary excellence. The portions are small (french-style:)) compared to the price, especially if you are used to Buffet-style dinners, so be prepared. The waiters know their stuff and are well-trained, but they are not always friendly!! Though our waiter was pretty helpful, the people on the next table seemed not to be so lucky.

The cocktail and the Wine Menu is so comprehensive, there's hardly a wine you might not find in there! The cocktails are wonderful, and desserts are sure to leave an impression long after you have left the place, Garganelli with foie gras cream and Marsala did just that! The entire menu is flavored with intriguing spices and flavors like fennel, lemongrass, cheese, pistachios and pomegranates, mushrooms and greens, and the dishes come together quite well; full points to the Chef on this!

On the whole, The Myth in San Francisco sounds similar to Gary Danko, except for the lack of quality service every time. Reservations are highly recommended, and the food is a great experience! I would definitely urge you to give this place a try.



Address:
470 Pacific Ave
Financial District (SFO)
(415)-677-8986
The Myth Restaurant

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Teatro ZinZanni - The Ultimate in Dining Experience

When we think of splurging a fortune on food, lights and dazzle, we think of Las Vegas. The spectacular shows and the electrifying atmosphere that this city offers is truly amazing. But what if I tell you that now you can experience these at a place closer to you, and without spending a whole lot of fortune? That will get you interested, right! Welcome to the world of Teatro ZinZanni and prepare to be enchanted! A world where dreams and reality converge, magic and mystery are believable, and all your senses are bound to be satiated in a period of 3-4 hours!! Launched in 1998 by One Reel's Norman Lagill, Teatro ZinZanni now has 2 permanent locations, Seattle's historic Belltown District and the Waterfront location of Pier 39 off Embarcadero in the glittering city of San Francisco. Choose either of these, and you are promised an evening of adventure, sensuality, european cabaret, cirque and excitement, all under a large and gorgeous Belgian "Spiegeltent", and served with a sumptous 5-course meal.

Teatro ZinZanni breaks new artistic territory with a unique and intoxicating blend of interactive theater, spectacle, fine arts and fine dining. Once you enter the tent, it looks like you are attending a family wedding. The soft mood is created by beautifully placed circular tables, adorned with simple tapestry, flowers and flickering candles. The seats are pre-assigned, but you can request to have a table closer to the center of the tent, and right next to the performers. The gourmet-style 5-course Menu(link attached below) keeps changing, but there's plenty to choose from, even for vegetarians or vegans, starting with Appetizers, Soup, Salad, an Entree, followed by the Dessert and a house-special, custom-roasted Caffee Vita! You can inform them in advance about your food allergies and they'll prepare a special meal just for you! Yes, everyone here takes an extra step to make your experience a truly memorable one. Some of the highlights include Baked Ravioli-Filled with Roasted Autumn Vegetables Cashew Basil-Pesto, Roasted Chicken Breast with Pork and Mission Fig Stuffing and desserts like Molten Valrhona Chocolate Cake.

Describing a little about the shows, it's like a bewitching evening of European Cabaret and Cirque, Divas and Madmen, Spectacle and Sensuality combined with Live Music. The Cirque is as splendid as the actual Cirque De Soleil in Las Vegas, and they have the best artists in every field, be it dance, acrobats, comedy or cabaret. We were spellbound by the theatrics, and seriously, I think I've used all the superlatives that I know of and yet nothing can capture the essence of this experience as witnessing it live! It's truly one of the best dining and theater experiences in San Francisco.

And now for the price that you pay for this experience. The general admission costs $104 per person (which includes the show and the gourmet meal), with a little more for Premium Seating and Special Holiday Performances. I think it's a small price to pay for a lifetime experience, and definitely the best way to spend a special occasion. Reservations are strongly recommended, and you can get all other details on their website. I would not recommend taking your kids with you as some of the content may not be suitable for them. Also, it is advisable to attend this on weeknights and non-holiday periods for a better value for your money! It can get really over-priced during the holidays.

Locations:
222 Mercer St,
Seattle (Belltown)
(206)802-0015

Pier 29/Embarcadero
San Francisco
(415)238-2668
Teatro ZinZanni

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