KelsEats

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This is part 1 (lunch) of 2 reviews, otherwise it would be too long…

Let me start from the beginning…My love affair with Eleven Madison Park actually began at lunch last Thursday, where I limited myself (and my credit card) to 2 courses, dessert, and a couple glasses of wine. Instead of going into depth about every single course I had, let me say now that the dishes weren’t just delicious, or even great, but that every dish blew me away. Every. Single. Dish.

Tags: california cuisine, fine dining, flatiron, french restaurant, james beard award, lunch, Michelin-rated restaurant, new york city, Relais & Chateau restaurant

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Never having been treated to a full tasting menu (+ wine pairing) at an upscale Italian restaurant, I was quite excited to finally get in touch with my Italian roots and try (what I had heard to be) the best in this field in SF. While parts of the dinner were outstanding, my overall impression was that the food was very hit and miss…

Tags: 100 best of the bay, fine dining, italian food, italian restaurant, Michelin-rated restaurant

Let’s face it, there are some restaurants that a diner can’t help but enter with high expectations. Many of these restaurants live up to said expectations; a select few exceed them. Then, once in a blue moon, you stumble upon a restaurant that doesn’t just go above and beyond, doesn’t just become another entry in the book of memorable meals, but redefines your concept of food. Coi is one of those restaurants…Continue Reading

Tags: 100 best of the bay, california cuisine, Coi, Daniel Patterson, financial district, fine dining, Michelin-rated restaurant, tasting menu

In a sense, Saison is a play of contradiction: a sophisticated restaurant tucked into what looks like the back alley of a Mission warehouse, a French country-side interior with Led Zepplin and Lynyrd Skynyrd serenading diners in the background, and seemingly simple food which, in actuality, requires an astonishing amount of patience and technique to prepare. And when I say patience, envision a chef carefully balancing tiny flower petals, one by one, onto a bite-sized piece of sashimi with tweezers. And that’s just the amuse-bouche…Continue Reading

Tags: 100 best of the bay, california cuisine, fine dining, french american cuisine, Michelin-rated restaurant, tasting menu, the mission, vegetables

Valentine’s Day is next weekend, and if you’re like half of the people I know, you’re scrambling to find that idea that is sure to shock-and-awe that special person in your life. While most restaurants have been booked for weeks, if you’re looking for more than a cozy night indoors watching movies, there are still a couple of fine-dining options.

Please check out my latest Examiner article for all of the juicy details.

Tags: fine dining, special events

One Market. One Michelin star. One hell of a good lunch.

From the outside, One Market resembles many of its Embarcadero neighbors – a conspicuous, sprawling, posh space dotted with white tablecloths and men in suits. But don’t let the exterior fool you. Unlike many waterfront restaurants, which exude a Power Lunch confidence but have little substance, the quality of the food being served inside far surpasses its nearby competitors…Continue Reading

Tags: 100 best of the bay, american food, california cuisine, embarcadero, fine dining, Michelin-rated restaurant, sf examiner review

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Luce, I’m sorry to have to say this, but you’re all about the presentation. You’re that chick who is great to have as arm candy for the night, but good luck getting into a meaningful relationship with her. Great looking decor, great looking bar, beautifully presented food. But, I think you should spend a little less time making the food look pretty and a little more time thinking about the flavors you’re putting on the plate…

Tags: 100 best of the bay, american food, fine dining, Michelin-rated restaurant, soma

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In an era when restaurants are getting cozier and street food is the emerging city-wide trend (read: the economy took a hit), waterbar is a bit out of place.

Let’s not kid ourselves here – much like any other restaurant on the Embarcadero, when you come here you’re paying for the atmosphere. Kuleto’s vision was grand indeed and deserves 4 stars, so, if you don’t care much about how the food tastes and prefer to be surrounded by white tablecloths, glitzy railings, and aquariums, then this is the place for you. This place screams power lunch, and if setting the right mood and landing the deal was more important to me than how the food tastes, then this would be a solid choice. However, as we all know, my bottom line is the food, which is 2 stars tops…Continue Reading

Tags: 100 best of the bay, embarcadero, fine dining, seafood

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As soon as I walked through the revolving doors, I knew it was going to be a special night. To describe the holiday decor as “festive” would not be doing this restaurant justice – garlands, wreaths, and glistening ornaments decorating the ceilings, walls, and walkways make the already beautiful interior nothing short of breathtaking. The whole dining room sparkled like there was magic in the air. I know, I know that’s totally cheesy but hey, I know magic when I see it…Continue Reading

Tags: 100 best of the bay, embarcadero, fine dining, french american cuisine, Michelin-rated restaurant, nancy oakes

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First of all, making reservations a month in advance is like torture because every day you get more and more impatient for the big day to come. As much as I tried not to, after so much waiting I had very high expectations for the meal I planned on having at this restaurant (the full tasting + wine pairing). In a sense, I was setting myself up to be let down. Not only did Jardiniere meet my somewhat unrealistic expectations, it far surpassed them…

Tags: 100 best of the bay, fine dining, french food, french restaurant, hayes valley