Isa
3324 Steiner Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415 ) 567-9588
Cuisine: French small plates to be shared
Pluses: the food, outdoor patio dining, one of the city’s best cappuccinos
Minuses:
Don't Miss: superlative mussels, sauteed sweetbreads
Prices:
Overview:
Credit cards accepted
Street parking or in nearby lots
On a restaurant row littered with lots of tempting options, Isa stands out above the rest. Earning a James Beard award for Rising Star Chef of 2002 and honoring plenty of acclaim from Food and Wine magazine chef Luke Sung prepares French-style small plates. His mussels are exemplary, simply steamed with white wine, garlic and parsley, the dish sings of the sea. Buttery toasts of baguette accompany the dish to sop up the succulent juices. Many restaurants attempt this dish, but none of them execute it so well. By contrast many restaurants avoid sweetbreads, but Sung sautés them to a slightly crisp exterior encompassing a tender center and sets them atop creamy mashed potatoes, a luxurious combination. With a kir in hand, and a series of fine dishes to come, sitting on the heat-lamp warmed deck in the back garden outside is a gorgeous way to pass an evening.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the businesses in question before making your plans.
Earn a chance to win a free cookbook every week: Get Sally's eNewsletter!