 The few blocks that make up Rockridge's gourmet ghetto boasts Oliveto, Citron and Market Hall, making À Côté just one of many culinary hotshots on the stretch. The first interaction one might have with this stylish Cal-Med tapas restaurant is not the gracious host, the roomy granite-topped bar or the warm twinklings from the wood-burning oven. Instead, the mostly walk-in business (reservations are granted for early or late seatings only) translates into a line of exuberant clientele milling outside the front door. Once inside, the room’s warm earth tones surround a mixed crowd enjoying a wide variety of small dishes. Almost everyone starts out with the utterly addictive french fries, salty and crisp served with a dense aïoli. Plump mussels arrive in a Pernod-spiked broth, followed by an evolving menu of salads, flatbreads and fish like seared sturgeon with purple and orange cauliflower, crispy shallots and capers, and a Meyer lemon beurre blanc. Afterward, indulge in the dessert selection, such as a thoughtful cheese plate accompanied by walnut toast, sliced apples and poached figs, or a pear-brown butter tart with pistachio-cardamom ice cream and rum sauce. |
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Set the mood for love by reserving a table at one of the Best Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco, or view our list of Valentines Restaurants to find out which restaurants are offering unique menus just for February 14. Also, see who sets the standard for seductive dining across the country with our Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. list.
