Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
150
dining on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights always stay past 7pm, when the belly dancer
arrives.
5800 Geary Blvd. (at 22nd Ave.).
&
415/752-2222.
www.aziza-sf.com. Reservations recommended. Main
courses $17-$26. MC, V. Wed-Mon 5:30-10:30pm. Muni: No. 38-Geary bus to 22nd Ave.
Café Gratitude
VEGAN Those eschewing meat in the family and the merely curious
may enjoy trying out Café G ratitude. Here, it's about more than all-vegan, mostly raw,
food. I t's about an entir e life attitude. The unusual philosophy her e is called “B eing
Abundance” and it 's pr esented none-too-subtly. Tables featur e the “ Abounding Riv er”
board game, and you don't just order a plain salad. It's the “I am Dazzling” Caesar salad,
the “I am P rosperous” tr opical salad, and the like. P izzas ar e made using buckwheat
sunflower-seed sourdough flatbread topped with B razil nut Parmesan; fruit juices come
with names like “I am S ucculent;” and the o verly relaxed service might make y ou start
glancing at your watch. But you can play the board game while you wait and sip on the
tasty, if pricey, “I am E ffervescent” ginger ale. The Thai coconut soup—ahem, I mean
the “I am Thankful” Thai coconut soup—is a good choice, as is the “I am A ccepting”
sushi bowl with kale, cukes, and av ocado. Teens interested in alternative cuisines might
be impressed with lunch at Café Gratitude, but be prepared to pay for their appreciation,
since a large fruit juice costs $8 and the entr ees are all $15.
1336 9th Ave. (at Irving St.).
&
415/683-1346.
www.cafegratitude.com. Highchairs. MC, V. Daily 10am-
10pm. Muni: N- Judah str eetcar t o 9th A ve., then walk nor th. M ission: 2400 Harrison St. (at 20th St.)
&
415/830-3014.
Daily 9am-10pm. Muni: 12-Folsom/Pacific or 27-Bryant bus, or BART to 16th St.
Park Chalet
AMERICAN Opened in A pril 2004, the P ark Chalet has the best
outdoor dining ar ea in the city . Located on the gr ound floor behind the G olden Gate
Park Visitor's Center, it opens onto a lo vely garden framed by the park's tall trees. With
a glass ceiling, r etractable glass walls, a stone fir eplace, and upscale furnishings, it feels
like a European countryside restaurant. The menu is essentially American, though, fea-
turing classic salads, sandwiches, and meat dishes like barbecue por k ribs or shepher d's
pie. The most inventive options are the individual pizzas, such as one with wild mush-
rooms, roasted garlic, goat cheese, tr uffle oil, and thyme. O n weekends, you may ev en
find a “brunch pizza,” topped with artichoke, pancetta, mushrooms, and poached egg. If
the Dungeness crab B enedict is on offer , you're in luck. Kids get their o wn menus and
crayons. Once your little ones have polished off their cheese pizzas or corndogs, let them
run around on the well-tended lawn while you finish your meals in peace. There'll be lots
of other kids out there as well.
1000 Gr eat H wy. (bt w. F ulton St. and Linc oln Way).
&
415/386-8439.
w ww.beachchalet.com. K ids'
menu, highchairs , boost ers. Reser vations r ecommended on w eekends. M ain c ourses $10-$17 lunch,
$10-$24 dinner; kids' menu $5.25. AE, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm; F ri-Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 10am-
9pm. Muni: No. 5-Fulton, no. 31-Balboa, or no . 38-Geary buses, or N-Judah streetcar and transfer to no.
18-46th Ave. bus.
Pizzetta 211
Finds
PIZZA When you arrive at this miniscule stor efront on an
otherwise residential street far from downtown, you'll feel like you've come upon a hid-
den gem. You have. The cozy pizzeria, with but a handful of indoor and outdoor tables,
serves up thin-crust, wood-oven-fired
pizzette
from a weekly changing menu. Whenever
possible, organic pr oduce, dair y, and grains ar e used to make delectable, crispy pizzas
with inspired toppings like oven-dried San Marzano tomatoes, prosciutto, and local goat
cheese, or r oasted cauliflower, garlic, and br ead crumbs. Salads and I talian desserts are
also available. This is gourmet stuff , and the staff takes itself seriously , so at dinner time
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