B44

B44 Restaurant Review:

Just walking down Belden Lane can make one feel transported to a European country. The festive energy of the alley is alive along B44's chic bar, which pours pitchers of sangría and specialty cocktails to the stylish downtown types that roll in for after-work drinks. The smells from the open kitchen, full of saffron and chorizo, will confirm that you've reached a tiny outpost of Spain smack dab in the middle of San Francisco. And this isn't any ordinary tapas bar; instead, chef Daniel Olivella turns out authentic Spanish cuisine similar to that of his hometown, Vilafranca, in Spain. Eight different paellas are offered nightly; the B44 is loaded with chicken, shrimp, mussels, clams, chorizo and vegetables. A grilled pork chop comes glazed with honey, mustard and pimenton and paired with a hearty portion of roasted potatoes, while the flat-iron steak arrives with a vibrant chimichurri sauce and home fries. Among small plates, the mussels steamed with sofrito and the jamón Serrano top the list. The restaurant is known for having one of the best collections of Spanish wines in the city.