|
Lower Haight has a new style of restaurant in its midst: dark, downtown, delicious. The moody room, with its cabernet-colored walls, chain mail curtains and futuristic chandelier, seem to be a magnet for the local celebrities and young-ish big spenders. But you need not have a fat wallet to enjoy the food. The small plates menu allows anything from nibbles with wine to a multi-course feast. Similarly, the dining room allows a few different feels. A tightly packed dining room can seat larger parties (that would be more than two here). Upstairs, a cozy mezzanine has a few tables as well as a couch and a big TV screening old movies. Two counters also serve food, the eight-seater bar and the steel counter that overlooks the open kitchen. Chef Justine Miller (Café Kati, Dine, Globe) creates a list of showstoppers from the perfectly crusted pizzas with alluring California-style toppings like wild mushroom and Fontina cheese or pancetta with radicchio and thyme. A charcuterie plate comes loaded with chicken liver pâté, pork rillettes, salami and pan de mie or grilled bread. Diver scallops are paired with parsnip purée and salads are sparklingly fresh. The interesting wine list has both affordable favorites and tempting splurges.
|
Send to Phone 
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.
