“There’s a cute place called Bar Bambino in the Mission. It’s in a not-so-nice neighborhood, but the interior makes you forget all that.” So that was the email from a friend of mine, making the pitch for us try this two-month-old cafe and wine bar — conveniently located just one block from the 16th Street BART station.

She was definitely right about the decor; it’s a gorgeous spot. At the front of the restaurant is a communal table with a cool glass-bottle chandelier above it. Parallel to the bar seating is a handful of small tables. Go down the hallway and you’ll come to another haven within this haven: an outdoor patio, perfect for weekend brunches.

On a recent visit, my dining companions and I ordered: the salumi plate (a must!), grilled asparagus, sausage panini, pork shoulder (slow braised in milk with sage and lemon — yum!), and boiled fresh sausage with lentils. Everything was delicious.

Somehow, we managed to squeeze in a little dessert as well: a platter of cookies (the cranberry/chocolate biscotti was my favorite) and the olive oil cake with grilled peaches. Good stuff.

I came into Bar Bambino not really expecting much, but I was totally impressed by the place. It has the trifecta going for it: excellent ambiance, food and service. Our water glasses were never empty (they carbonate their only sparkling water here!) and the entire staff was always so friendly.

Bar Bambino definitely warrants a repeat visit. Maybe next time I’ll bump into you at the communal table?

Bar Bambino
2931 16th Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 738-VINO (0444)

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If this place had been around back when I lived in Oakland, I might never had moved away! When you walk through the bakery’s doors, you may be tempted to order one of every freshly baked item available. And this woudn’t be a bad idea, because everything is yummy here — especially the banana bread.

What makes the banana bread so superior? The honey and, perhaps more importantly, the cinnamon crumb topping (it’s not just for coffeecake anymore!). You may think you can’t possibly eat an entire loaf, but you can. It’s that good.

My husband, a big scone fan, loves their seasonal options. And the lemon bars are deliciously tart. Oh! And the sticky date pudding, and the brownies … I could go on and on here. But really, get yourself to Betty’s and sample the treats for yourself. Just don’t try to visit the bakery on a Sunday or Monday (they’re closed both days). On Sundays, you can find Betty’s represented at the Temescal Farmers’ Market in Oakland, as well as the Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market.

Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA
(510) 985-1213

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This entry is long overdue — because The Slanted Door is an oldie but goodie. Despite being around for over a decade, the place still manages to be a scene. As soon as the doors open for dinner, there’s a line at the hostess stand and plenty of people at the bar/lounge waiting for a chance for a table.

And these people — as well as those of us who plan ahead and book a reservation — will be well-rewarded. Even though I’ve dined here dozens of times, there’s always something fresh/new on the menu that impresses me. During my most recent visit, I loved the manila clams and the abalone appetizers.

And perhaps the restaurant’s most popular dish, the shaking beef, is a must-order. The lamb rack is also delicious. And the claypot chicken and caramelized shrimp remind me of my mom’s Vietnamese cooking, so I recommend these entrees as well. (Psst … There are a good number of tasty, veggie options if you’re not big on meat.)

With everything served family-style, that means you get to sample plenty of dishes. But do save room for dessert. I usually favor the ice cream or sorbet trios; they were recently offering mint, ginger and chocolate scoops of ice cream and peach, mango and strawberry sorbets. If you do fill up on other menu items, you can still order a pot of Blue Bottle coffee or — my personal preference — a Vietnamese iced coffee. Then sit back and enjoy the view of the bay, with the sailboats and ferries passing by.

The Slanted Door
1 Ferry Building, #3
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 861-8032

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