San Francisco
By Monica on May 7th, 2008
This week I have an excuse for being AWOL - I was in San Francisco! So prepare yourselves for a slew of dark, blurry restaurant photos and commentary from a visitor who wasn’t quite ready to come back home to the very opposite state of Illinois yet:
The Boudin sourdough bakery on the wharf was a stone’s throw away from our hotel, so the smell of fresh bread lured us in more than once, and we even succumbed to a sourdough turtle.
The “California Veggie” sammich, sans cheese, and the roasted tomato soup bread bowl. I’m still skeptical, but the cashier vehemently insisted the tomato soup was vegan.
In China Town we stopped at Lucky Creation Vegetarian for lunch. It was a tiny place, absolutely packed, but the food was incredible and lunch for two only cost us about $20! Spring Rolls:
Ray’s fungus platter… (technically it was the mixed veggie platter, but contained more varieties of mushrooms than I knew existed.) As an avid mushroom hater, it was hard for me to watch this being eaten, but Ray said it was excellent.
And my Sweet & Sour Imitation Pork, which was gluten based. I hadn’t had a sweet & sour dish since I was a kid and this was like a nostalgic return to the Chinese take-out of my youth, except much, much better. I loved this place!
Saturday morning we literally stumbled across the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market. I saw the tents from our passing streetcar and we abandoned our plans and jumped off at the next stop. Given that my hometown farmer’s market is open for 3 months per year and features 6 or so vendors mostly selling sweet corn, you can understand my excitement over a real farmer’s market.
I would kill to have fresh herbs like this available locally, much less for a buck! Consider me thoroughly envious.
What I was not expecting was that we’d spend hours here, literally eating our way through the farmer’s market aisle by aisle! In addition to all the vendors offering samples of their produce (which we bought a ton of to snack on at the hotel), Alive! was there with some tasty raw selections:
I opted for the cucumber spritzer and Ray had a strawberry chocolate parfait:
And just to make sure we left good and stuffed, Asparagus Tempura:
Dinner was at Herbivore on Divisadero. Sadly, Herbivore is getting a pretty poor review from me. The service was horrendous; never before have I had a meal served in the order of entree, then salad, then finally the drink you ordered 45 minutes ago, then dessert with no silverware until the adjoining table of strangers takes mercy on you and gives you their unused forks. The food gets a solid C, unfortunately everything was extremely bland including this Gnocci with Basil Pesto:
And the Red Curry. Maybe it’s me, but I don’t expect “bland” out of any kind of pesto, nor any kind of curry?
Strawberry Rhubarb pie, my personal favorite variety of pie. Good, but nothing noteworthy.
And finally, the German Chocolate Cake which we also found disappointing. The saving grace of our Herbivore meal was the ice cream that accompanied dessert, made locally by Maggie Mudd. We agreed it was the best vegan ice cream we’d ever had - kudos to you, Maggie!
Lunch the following day was at Las Margaritas on Fisherman’s Wharf. After walking up and down the San Francisco hills for a few days, sometimes something quick and close to the hotel is appealing, even if it’s just a veggie burrito:
Or some veggie fajitas. Actually, Las Margaritas had a decent vegetarian menu selection for being in the middle of a tourist trap, and more importantly, they offer a 60 ounce margarita!
The last night we were in town, we trekked out to the Mission District and ate at Weird Fish, which could perhaps be described as a pescatarian restaurant? They serve only vegan food and seafood. Weird Fish, indeed! However, the service was great, the restaurant is quaint and comfortable, the food was phenomenal, and they even get bonus points for having the Joy Division discography playing in the background.
Buffalo Girls Wings. I am confident in saying that these are the best seitan ‘wings’ in the history of the world. Ever. (Also, I again apologize for the shameful photos.)
The Tofu Fish & Chips with Sesame Ginger Sauce. Note to potential patrons, the two piece order is plenty, three was obscene! (But we still ate it because it was amazing, heh.)
And lastly, Cheezecake with Raspberry Rhubarb Sauce. The trip to Weird Fish is worth it if for this alone. I never thought I’d say it, but they even have the Chicago Diner beat on their cheezecake.
I won’t bore everyone with the obligatory sea lion pictures and whatnot, but we had a great time. It is such a treat to visit progressive, green, veg-friendly places like San Francisco, but it does make it a bit hard to come home. While I re-adjust to the culture shock, I promise to catch up on all your blogs this week!
VeggieGirl says:
So glad that you had a wonderful trip to San Francisco - I don’t blame you for finding it hard to return home!
Ahhh, so much food porn!!! I’m loving that sourdough turtle, especially - too cute! :0D
May 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Romina says:
WOW!!! Look at all that food porn. I’m so so jealous! I’ve had a mad craving for chinese food. Mmm!!!
Your trip looks like a success. =)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:24 am
jessy says:
oh my goodness! i wish i were there right now! sounds like your trip was glorious - and full of some tasty vegan foods! hooray! i would have had to succumb to a sourdough turtle, too - and those tofu “fish & chips” looked fantastical! welcome back! glad you two had fun!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Jennifer says:
Looks like you had an excellent trip.
All that food looks so good! I just got finished eating lunch, but after looking at these pictures, I think I could eat again!!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Vegyogini says:
I’m so glad you had a great time in SF! Too bad you didn’t get to visit LA while you were in CA. I would’ve shown you around!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Bouncy says:
Dooode! I need to see some sea lions or something, this looks like you guys went for some extreme restaurant hopping!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Wheeler's says:
Wow that food looks awesome! I really need to make it out to San Francisco soon …
May 7th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
amey says:
what a fun post!!!
I live about 1 1/2 hours south of SF. We should have met up! I agree with all your reviews… It’s great that you went to Lucky Creation, I love that little spot!! And, I’m in your camp regarding Herbivore. I really don’t care for it. “Weird Fish” is totally new to me, so I’ll check it out next time I’m up in “The City.”
May 7th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
nousha.com says:
Never been crazy about “Boudin” food. This chocolate cake looked though!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
thedalyn says:
Funny, I was in San Francisco about 5 weeks ago and had the exact opposite experience. Herbivore was fantastic (though the service wasn’t, as you pointed out) and Lucky Creation was a disaster. All three of us barely touched our food because it was bland, underseasoned, and completely unappetizing. It was the worst food I’ve ever had in SF. But, all this food looks amazing. SF is food heaven!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
bazu says:
Ahhhh! Those pictures are lovely, the food seems awesome, and I totally identify with the feeling of not wanting to come back. I can smell the bread from here! Man, I miss S.F.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Animal-Friendly says:
I loved reading this post because my family and I are hoping to plan a trip this summer to San Francisco! The sourdough turtle is absolutely adorable, and all of the food looks great! It must be so exciting to go to a “real” farmer’s market since the ones here in Illinois are repetitive (corn, peaches, berries, corn, tomatoes).
Aw! You reminded me of the seals in San Francisco. Last time I went there, I spent hours watching them just lay on one another- so cute!
May 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Jess - The Domestic Vegan says:
Giiiiiirl, this could not have come at a better time. My boyfriend & I are going to San Fran exactly two weeks from today! I am definitely taking notes on this post!! You’re making me even more excited than I was already. Yay! I’m glad you had such a great trip. That farmers market is totally on our list of things to do, so I’m really happy to see such gorgeous pictures & a good review from you.
I want to eat my way through the aisles! And wow to those herbs!
Also, I don’t think you are at all alone with your impression of Herbivore. I’ve heard that from several people, which was disappointing to me, but I’m glad to know it so we don’t waste our money on shitty service & a so-so meal… It looks like there are far more delicious places to be enjoyed!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
marleah says:
Hi from a fellow rural vegan - I am in western KS. I LOVE San Francisco, and I plan to move there one of these days. I am bookmarking your post so that I remember to check out some of these restaurants next time we are there!
May 8th, 2008 at 9:36 am
VeganTickles says:
SF is the best city in the world.
I am so jealous of you, but I so glad that you got to try all this new restaurants.
Did you get to try MILLENNIUM?
May 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Veggie says:
I wouldn’t want to come home either.
All the food looks amazing especially the cute sourdough turtle and the tofu fish and sesame ginger sauce (wow, that sounds so good!).
May 8th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Chocolatecoveredvegan says:
What an adorable sourdough turtle! And color me VERY jealous—especially of that strawberry parfait and the German Chocolate cake. Ah, if only San Francisco were closer to Dallas…
May 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Liz² says:
what a trip! you may be jealous of native san franciscans, but I’m jealous of non-natives who get to go and have tofu fish and cheesecake and bread-turtles! :p
May 9th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Vegan Addict says:
Wow! That bread turtle is so cute. The cheesecake looks yummy. I have yet to try a vegan cheesecake, and my boyfriend keeps demanding I make him one…we’ll see about that! Thanks for the honest reviews too. San Francisco is a place I’d like to visit someday!
May 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Erin says:
Geez, I knew San Fran had amazing vegan food, but this is out of hand! I was trying to pick a fave to comment on but I really couldn’t. If I were forced to choose I’d have to say the tofu fish & chips or anything from the farmers market.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Tori says:
I wish I lived there. For the food and the weather. It looks so amazing! Especially all of that lavander. for only a dollar! I am so jelous.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
melody says:
Wow.. everything looks amazing!…
and that farmers market is to die for.. omg..
May 9th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Chocolatecoveredvegan says:
Ooh I so agree– frozen peaches are yummy… but there’s nothing like fresh, ripe peaches! Yay for summer!
May 10th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Lori- the pleasantly plump vegan says:
yay! san francisco!!! are you kidding with that asparagus tempura?
May 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Monika K says:
Why haven’t I been to SF already? Actually, my bro went there for his honeymoon last year and told me I would love it. Now I’m even more convinced (tempura asparagus? Yes please!). And now I must wipe the drool off my chin and try to make it through the rest of my evening without dreaming of little fried asparagus all night… (-:
Hey, I just tried your One Pan Cake and loved it - you received some well deserved props on my latest post.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Cakespy says:
I think someone else said “Food Porn” and it’s right!! I love that bread. Touristy perhaps–but I LOVE the turtle bread!! And the asparagus tempura–to die!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Melisser says:
That’s it, you’re fired! I live in San Francisco & would have given you the run down & it definitely includes “Don’t go to Herbivore!!”. I’m glad you made it to Maggie Mudd though. Next time, check out Cha Ya!
May 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Taymer says:
It is hard for me to enjoy tofu
I can only eat it scrambled.
How was the texture on the tofu fish?
Tay
http://barbadianvegan.blogspot.com/
July 20th, 2008 at 12:41 pm