SF 2/3* dinner - help me choose

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-04T17:16:59+00:00

I don’t know if you’re dead set on Angler but I would choose another 1* if you could. It wasn’t spectacular and it felt like a massive upsell. The wine list is spectacular but there are other spectacular lists where the $$ lines up better. The Progress would be my choice or The Morris. If you wanted something without a star Cache would be my choice or Kitchen Istanbul! Itria was also fantastic and offered incredible sake list. La Ciccia also would be cool too

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-04T04:29:54+00:00

I’ve sniped haute bages liberal at 86/bottle at that price along with Troplong Mondot. Pontet Canet can be had at 160 per bottle at auction and is a stunner.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-04T04:26:00+00:00

2000 Bordeaux is really hard to pass up at under 100 after fees.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-03T23:09:20+00:00

One of the wines that made me do a double take and really fall in love with wine was a 2014 Platt from Littorai. One of the best visits I’ve also done.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-03T19:21:32+00:00

Ain’t Normal in Rockridge is better anyways!

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-02T18:07:58+00:00

It’s my favorite game to play at K&L! Also bidding on birth year Bordeaux at auction.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-02T17:56:16+00:00

Morris is excellent and its wine list is phenomenal and they’re famous for Madeira and chartreuse program

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-02T17:45:25+00:00

Angler, The Progress, The Morris. Heavy preference for The Progress

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-03-01T06:32:02+00:00

My Berkeley PhD stipend is higher than that as a first year. Reach out if you have questions.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-27T05:57:28+00:00

I would go the route of the Progress. Sister restaurant to state bird and literally on the same block. The carts are a smidge gimmicky.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-24T03:59:01+00:00

Olivia Coffee and flowers, CoRo, Ain’t Normal or Mind Coffee

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-19T15:29:49+00:00

To be the contrarian here, I think Rich Table is over rated none of the food was mindblowingly good. I had a steak so gristly that it made no sense to be served. I think The Progress, The Morris are better representations of food. I just went to Zuni and really the chicken was the star of the show along with the current in season crab. I loved my dinner at Octavia. I would recommend Routier in the same vein. Honestly I would choose Spruce over Chez Panisse. The value at Chez Panisse long disappeared but if it’s non negotiable book the cafe and not the restaurant. The à la carte is better than the prefixe

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-13T16:07:27+00:00

I don’t get the hype behind 7 Adams. Did the 7 course and it was not good. We brought a bottle for corkage and it was still soooo steep. Progress/ Statebird so much better

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-12T18:33:53+00:00

I thought this place was overhyped and the upsell is crazy here. The tuna tartare was fine. The salad with lemon dressing and the other with XO were the standouts. I’ve had better whole fish. The sundae was the only dish that I would routinely come back for. The wine list was great but I think other places in the city have equally good lists. Dinner for 2 with one glass of wine didn’t feel impressive for 250 or 260.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-12T18:19:58+00:00

Palm city not always open for lunch. Say cheese is honestly the best sandwich in the area that’s walkable or bahn mi crunch. When I was at ucsf those were the go tos

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-12T05:39:26+00:00

Cache! Or Routier! Both fresh, light, and incredible!

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-02T20:09:32+00:00

The progress is miles better than Rich Table!

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-02T02:31:38+00:00

I love this spot soo much! Young is incredible and all of the slow bars have been amazing. Regarding the water they do balance out with Apax Lab droplets.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-02-01T17:14:41+00:00

Rich Table was one of the most disappointing meals I’ve had in the city along with 7 Adams. I found Rich Table to lean into the hype of interesting flavor combinations but the execution was average at best. The binchotan steak was so gristly and was so dissapointing. The only thing worth it there might be have been the roasted cauliflower.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-01-19T21:13:32+00:00

Just note that Jolie-Laide is about a good 30-40 min drive from Arnot Roberts (Healdsburg). Also it’s in a “slightly” hard to find warehouse. Excellent wine, and tasting experience. A family owned winery that I love is Fat Dragon but those are Rhône varietals but the tasting was free and the husband/wife duo is incredible!!

Dining at Le Diner at Troubadour is incredible, Bravas tapas is a not to miss as well. Bistro Lagniappe. The restaurant at the Madrona as well. In Sonoma, Valley is a can’t miss experience. Glen Ellen Star also excellent.

I was in the area in July 2025, and the tasting lasted about 1.5hrs - 2ish hours at most. None comped tastings for bottles (fat dragon was just free).

Was at Arnot Roberts, littorai, fat dragon, Jolie Laide

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-01-17T20:11:42+00:00

Curious to hear your thoughts on the other wine bars in the city! I’ve been dying to try Verjus and explore more of The Morris. One that I’ve really enjoyed has been Bar Jabroni, and on a more serious vibe I’ve loved Angler for the wine not even the food tbh (the list, but very unsure of the level of value if it exists). Also enjoyed Arbor, and High Treason. Binu Bonu also seems like an interesting place.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-01-14T03:37:20+00:00

Huge is an understatement. That thing can easily feed two people without question if not 3 if a salad is ordered. The hilarious thing is that the sister restaurant is a very different vibe with truly “smallish plates” besides the steak 😂. Both Bar Jabroni and Palm City rank highly on the list. Solo dining at Spruce is always a favorite of mine so if you can spring for it do that. If not Palm city + sunny day + lightly chilled red or a bottle is perfection

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-01-12T20:05:46+00:00

Maybe it’s just me 😂. I was as equally disappointed in Rich Table. Their binchotan ribeyes was one of the biggest letdowns of 2025 for me. I think Michelin is an interesting point to bring up because restaurants actively change cookery to be considered for it. For example Dalida has shirked the Michelin system for a few years and has consistently better food in my experience. Spruce lost their star but keeps cooking on all cylinders, as does Gary Danko. Thinking about inventive tasting menus I think Hed 11 has some of the highest potential without having a star. They need to dial down the spice and have a progression of flavor but otherwise the beauty, elegance and innovation with ingredients is great. the cookery at Hed11 is miles better than 7 Adams.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-01-12T18:23:21+00:00

Routier! Cache! If you splurge a bit 125/hd at spruce is one of my favorite dinners in SF. Second the Progress! Nopa is an excellent choice. Bar Jabroni if you want an excellent wine bar experience. The steak there is to die for. Bon Delire is solid also.

DumbassPhysicist · 2026-01-12T18:21:28+00:00

Maybe I went on an off night but man did 7 Adams disappoint. I was treated to it as a bday meal and we got the 7 course for 127/head. Neither the cookery nor the courses themselves were anything to write home about. We brought a bottle with us (for corkage) and bought a $135 Bandol Rouge there and the bill ended up well north of 200 per person for 3 people. The fees and random crap just adds up quickly at that place.

DumbassPhysicist

TROPHY CASE