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Constantly crowded and buzzing with Union Street locals and other beautiful people from San Francisco and beyond, Betelnut's idea to re-create a Southeast Asian beer house has been a hit from the day it opened almost a decade ago. The slowly undulating fans, the black, red and gold lacquer décor and a spicy martini or two help to complete the image. The open kitchen puts out inventive Pan-Asian cuisine with European-style, small-plate execution. Start with sun-dried anchovies wok-tossed with peanuts, chilies and garlic or the short ribs. Next, a lighter entrée like the oven-smoked sea bass come to the table fragrant with ginger and cucumber while the Seoul Kitchen chicken arrives with atop crispy noodles in a creamy sauce that belies its spiciness. There's a whole range of delightfully sinful drinks, and the wine list matches the firecracker flavors of the food, offering a good example of what can be done with serious wines and Asian food. |