THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Maven

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Maven Restaurant Review:

Among the first San Francisco venues to successfully grant elevated food and craft cocktails equal billing, Maven has remained a staple of lower Haight Street since its 2011 open. Naked concrete walls and a lofty hanging garden evoke an earthy, tranquil mood that belies the lighthearted energy of the dining floor. A svelte menu of five starters, four mains, six shared plates and two desserts are flanked by exactly 17 unique cocktails, often offered as a pairing. Sturdier dishes excel, and we ordered second rounds of crunchy Kennebec fries in juniper salt and crispy Brussels sprouts tossed in apple gastrique. The grilled cheese favorably embeds a rich piperade, and the mainstay Chinatown duck sliders incorporate a light blend of bok choy, hoisin and whole shiitake. Cocktails lean heavily on food-friendly whiskeys, brandy, gin and rum. While we liked the Bourbon-forward “Hometown Vixen,” with its sultry orange and pistachio infusion, and “Mr. Wiggles,” an appealing Manhattan alternative, purists will find classic cocktails equally rewarding. Arrive early to sample the extremely popular angostura-infused hamburger.