 Mission Beach Cafe Restaurant Review: 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. Martinez's seasonally progressive 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 crisp tortilla strips and spicy Prather Ranch pulled pork elevate the typical huevos rancheros. 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 chocolate pecan pie will send just about anyone over the edge---in a good way---leaving them ready to call this restaurant their own, no matter where they live.
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