THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Betelnut

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Betelnut Restaurant Review:

Often buzzing with Union Street locals and other beautiful people from San Francisco and beyond, Betelnut's idea to re-create a Southeast Asian beer house was a hit from its 1995 start. The slowly undulating fans, the black, red and gold lacquer décor and a spicy martini or two help to complete the image. The open kitchen puts out Pan-Asian cuisine with European-style and small-plate execution. Start with the short ribs or the sun-dried anchovies wok-tossed with peanuts, chilies and garlic. Next, a lighter entrée like the oven-smoked sea bass comes to the table fragrant with ginger and cucumber while the Seoul Kitchen chicken arrives atop crispy noodles in a creamy sauce that belies its spiciness. There's a whole range of delightful drinks, and the wine list matches the firecracker flavors of the food, offering a good example of what can be done with serious wines and Asian food.