 Mission Beach Café might be the quintessential San Francisco neighborhood restaurant; it’s warm and small, with minimalist-yet-chic furnishings. Thomas Martinez, whose cooking skills belie his young age, took over the executive chef role from Ryan Scott, a contestant from Bravo’s "Top Chef." Martinez's seasonally progressive, sophisticated fare balances richness with bright flavors. Artichoke soup with pickled onion and truffle oil, for instance, tastes like springtime. A flatbread with the right sweet-salty combination of Mt. Tam cheese, arugula, dates and bacon makes for a tantalizing starter, while a free-form rabbit potpie (with a light-as-air crust from pastry chef Alan Carter) is pure decadence. Even the brunch menu combines elegance with seasonality: fluffy ricotta pancakes get a dose of tartness from a huckleberry-blueberry compote, while the typical huevos rancheros is elevated with crisp tortilla strips and spicy Prather Ranch pulled pork. Finally, there's one thing that really makes Mission Beach Café seem homey: the selection of house-made pies and cakes for dessert. Peach pie is pure summertime, while ooey-gooey chocolate pecan pie will send just about anyone over the edge---in a good way---and make them ready to call this restaurant their own, no matter where they live.
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Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area. Also, check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.
