Friday Five
Once dining became an option in San Francisco again mid-pandemic, it was outdoors or nothing. While the rest of the state (and country) moved ahead, we’ve only just now entered 25% indoor dining capacity as of September 30. And even though that’s an option, many still prefer outdoors.
That’s okay in the Bay, where al fresco dining works year round. Barring bad air days from the ongoing tragedy of fires ravaging our dear neighbors, this season is ripe for outdoor dining with mild nights and hot days.
So many of our beloved local restaurants have had to scramble to get parklets, patios, sidewalks, and any bit of outdoor space they can. They’ve done an amazing job of doing the best with what they can get, and now, our city is full of some incredible outdoor dining options as eateries are falling into the rhythm of the outdoor flow.
It’s hard to choose the best outdoor dining in the Bay, but we’ll start with our five favorite ones at restaurants known for either dramatic dining rooms (Ettan, Palette, Town Hall) or Michelin-starred perfection (State Bird Provisions, Sorrel). Here, we look at these five restaurants that have nailed the outdoor dining “pivot” with unique, magical experiences.
Don’t forget to help restaurants stay open by wearing masks (including when servers walk up to the table) except while eating and drinking and keeping distanced and respectful of all staff and fellow diners.
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1. Ettan — Palo Alto’s elegant Indian patio oasis
Modern Indian restaurant Ettan opened in Palo Alto back in February, only to be quickly closed in March. Now, it’s back as destination-worthy Peninsula dining. What was once a strip of outdoor tables has now evolved into an expansive patio lined with benches, plants, and a private garden vibe. Chef Srijith Gopinathan (of SF’s two Michelin-starred Campton Place) is cooking vibrant food more casual here than at Campton, yet still upscale and gratifying. Spice-roasted hamachi collar in coconut curry is a must-order. A green pepper comes stuffed with grilled corn and summer veggies, accompanied by basil roti. Then there are the breads: coconut-dusted monkey buns with eggplant chutney or killer jalapeño kasundi-stuffed kulcha dipped in kale chutney. Don’t miss rock star Italian bartender Massimo Stronati (of Palo Alto’s Vina Enoteca)’s elegantly playful matinee cocktail (Avua Cachaca Amburana, Chartreuse, popcorn, lemon, bitters).
518 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
2. Terrace at the Palette — Art gallery and dinner
Palette in SoMa has branched out from its roomy indoor space to open their long, chic parklet this September, showcasing their art-meets-cuisine ethos. It sports a black-and-white mural from SF artist Nathan Richard Phelps, rimmed with greenery along the tables. To-go meals are a treat in themselves, with boxes and bags covered in their vegetable artwork, and dishes remain fresh at home. But the new outdoor dining is where you fully experience the beauty of chef Peter J. Hemsley’s food and bartender Trevin Hutchins’ cocktails. Late summer is celebrated with a salad of Full Belly Farm tomatoes, K & J Orchards plums and pluots in tomato vinegar, and salsa macha. A whole, fried, local rockfish dotted with harissa, Jimmy Nardello peppers, cabbage, cucumber, and red onion is a feast for the table. Take a (masked) peek in their art gallery where the Flavors of Photography exhibit just kicked off.
816 Folsom Street
3. Sorrel—Sidewalk dining under string lights and an olive tree
This summer, Laurel Heights’ Michelin-starred Sorrel went from an intimate dining room to one of the best sidewalk settings in the city. SF winds sweep through at times, but their outdoor setup rivals the inside experience as they bring out sleek indoor tables and chairs under strung lights shimmering off a lush olive tree. They just resumed indoor dining October 9 at 25% capacity, with $115, five-course tasting menus inside and the regular a la carte menu outdoors. We hope they keep that sidewalk magic flowing long term, ideal for enjoying dynamic dishes by executive chef Alex Hong and new chef de cuisine Kirsten Shaw (from Crenn Dining Group). Hong smartly turned all the ducks they were left with as SIP rolled out into smoked duck prosciutto accented with red beets, chrysanthemum, and umeboshi plums. Another recent standout? A variation on summer squash: fried squash blossom to squash custard (Japanese chawanmushi-style) accented with strawberries and tomatoes.
3228 Sacramento Street
4. State Bird Provisions/The Progress: Colorful street party vibes
Since opening in 2011, Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski have ensured State Bird Provisions — and its subsequent sister restaurant, The Progress — have remained not only two of SF’s best restaurants, but two of the best in the country (with many accolades and waits to get in). Now that the cozy, formerly indoor-only spaces have a parklet, they’re back in action as a duo outdoor menu. As always, book ahead to snag a table. Colorful, clean artwork marks each rustic wood section of the outdoor dining space, giving a vibe of a street-art party with high walls ensuring each table is private and protected. Changing specials include the likes of black cod in mole rojo with yellow-eye beans and habanada peppers, while to-go/delivery addictions include the likes of creamy sweet corn cheese dip served with La Palma blue corn tortilla chips.
1529 Fillmore Street
Town Hall—A New Orleans tribute in SoMa
Since 2003, Town Hall and chef/owner Mitchell Rosenthal (of currently-closed Anchor & Hope and Jersey, which he runs with brother, Steven) return to a New Orleans focus they began with. They tribute legendary NOLA chef Paul Prudhomme and his K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, which tragically just closed due to Covid-19 after 40 years. Prudhomme famously popularized Cajun/Creole cuisine to the mainstream via his restaurant, cookbooks, and TV shows since the 1980s and was a mentor to Rosenthal. Town Hall’s brick-walled, chandeliered dining room and sweeping bar were the centerpiece of the space, but their just-opened patio and plaza are magical and expansive with numerous pockets for distanced dining, while the spacious dining room is back at 25% capacity. Southern joys like pimento cheese and fried okra line the menu. But also try a nod to Prudhomme’s unforgettable jalapeño cornbread or a rarity (outside Louisiana) of proper, authentic jambalaya. Brunch also kicked off in September.
342 Howard Street (at Fremont)
