San Francisco Bay Area: August 2023: Day 3: Mission District

San Francisco

August 2023: Day 3: Mission District

Hotel breakfast is crowded on a Friday morning.

Togo's pastrami sandwich brings back memories. And it's still pretty good.

Outside of Osito.

Inside the lobby to Osito and Liliana.

Menu at Liliana.

Menu at Liliana. Al & Monty: Old Pal rye and bourbon, blanc and dry vermouth, bitter rosso, strawberry leather.

Al & Monty: Old Pal rye and bourbon, blanc and dry vermouth, bitter rosso, strawberry leather.

Bluefin tuna belly was amazing.

Toro and a cocktail, who can complain?

Inside Liliana.

Outside Farmhouse Kitchen.

Taking pictures of food.

Deep fried calamari was pretty good.

As were the chicken wings.

Everyone taking pictures of food/using their phones as flashlights for those taking pictures.

Beef rib was quite soft and pulled apart, actually was good.

Simon does the honors.

I think this was basil with meat? It was good.

Branzino was very good.

Crab fried rice was highly nom.

Tofu pad thai. Noodles on the soft side but also very good.

Inside the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom. Sauces.

Sauces.

Selfies.

Getting used to seeing autonomous vehicles everywhere.

Dandelion Chocolate.

Packed inside.

The counter and the kitchen.

S'mores.

Beautiful presentation.

Two house and one Mission hot chocolate. The latter was excellent.

Hot chocolate connoisseur.

S'mores kit. $68 (!).

Second day of remote work, oh-so-fabulous oatmeal from the hotel breakfast, and post-run lunch at Togo's. At least Togo's number 9 (hot pastrami) is still as good as I remember.

After work, up to San Francisco to catch up with the Lai and Lee families for dinner. Turns out I was early, and our chosen place for dinner (Farmhouse Kitchen) was only a few blocks from Osito and Liliana. Actually enjoyed the food more at Liliana than Osito on this very brief visit, although the vibe is definitely more homey at Osito. Going to have to come back for more bluefin tuna belly if they offer it again. *drool*

Dinner was surprisingly good at Farmhouse Kitchen. They were so showy on the menu the quality of the food from this output of the Farmhouse Kitchen chain could have easily been mediocre, skaing by on reputation alone, but instead they were mostly solid to downright legit, partciular the branzino and the crab fried rice. The bathroom decor was even more overboard than their selfie station (as one could have guessed from their extravagantly decorated menu), and inside was just-loud-lough throughout the restaurant to remind you how fashionable they are.

Quick stroll to Dandelion Chocolate completed the night. S'mores there are beautiful if a bit too fancy, the Mission hot chocolate is really good (get this, skip the house hot chocolate), and holy cow they are busy inside. All the chocolate samples were helpful too, so many variations here worth trying (and buying!).