Nopa

560 Divisadero Street @ Hayes
San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone (415) 864-8643

Mecca is both great for a martini as well as a civilized meal.

Here, here!

Nopa has really settled into its stride. What a wonderful restaurant both for hip and happening atmosphere as well as for tucking into some tummy-pleasing food. It's a young Zuni. As a neighbor, I can guarantee you Nopa has become a neighborhood restaurant. As a neighbor who comes often and finds the restaurant buzzing, it's a destination restaurant for the entire city's inhabitants and so is always full and humming. And as it seems like there aren't many restaurants where this is the case, Nopa is really a lot of fun to enjoy whether you're alone or with others. There's a friendly communal table where you can enjoy your dinner and meet others that I particularly like sitting at both on my own and with company. The crowd is entertaining and a bit of everything.

Fortunately for us, unlike Zuni, Nopa has a long bar where you can actually sit down and savor their thoughtful drinks and food menu. There are about half a dozen "regulars" on the cocktail menu that sit put month by month (my favorites, The Elderflower Gimlet and the thirst-quenching Dark and Stormy), as well as tipples that feature the month's alcohol. This month it is absinthe where the Old Growth Swizzle makes a statement with vodka, cassis, absinthe and ginger beer. The bar staff are to-the-point and both friendly and serious about their drink. As they should be.

The food has come a long way since the restaurant opened, and I can now say as a regular who's eaten all the dishes, there really isn't anything on the menu that disappoints. Some favorites on the starter menu that would be criminal to not try include the Salad of Home Smoked Bacon, Poached Egg and Chicories which is absolutely divine. The bacony bits are big and chunky and not hiding behind any runny egg yolk. Good for sharing with a group because for one it is rather rich is the Warm Goat Cheese with Pickled Beets and Crostini. You'll be glad for those beets as they help cut the cheese in your mouth. Really more of a main course though it makes its appearance on the starters is the flatbread of the moment which changes often. Essentially it's a very thin-crusted topped with piles of things .. currently on the menu is a flatbread with fennel sausage (lots of it!), ricotta and escarole. The Wine Braised Calamari is served on a big toasted piece of grilled bread and is delicious and messy with the aioli that is served on top of it. The Fritto Misto came with a surprise, and that wasn't the little sardines but satsumas that had been lightly breaded and fryed - delicious and surprising!

For mains the Grass Fed Hamburger is always a mouth-watering option for those who can't decide, very tasty (ask for all possible toppings) and the fries are particularly finger-lickin' good if you ask for some aioli to go with them. The chicken I like so-so but often I think it could do with just a little bit crispier skin. Sure it's bad for you, but at least make it bad and good. Plus, the size, it's too big! The Baked Pasta dish is a solid dish, and impossible to not like given the bacon and cheese burbling throughout it as it leaves the oven. It's very, very filling, one that after about three bites I'm fully sated. The Roasted Cod tastes good but I can't quite warm up to the pairing with lentils. Sure, it tastes good but on the eye appeal front, not a favorite of mine. The Country Pork Chop is large and pleasing.

On the dessert front I always stick with the trio of sorbets. Mostly because they come with a couple of sesame shortbread cookies and I can get enough of them.

Cost for two people is around about $100. One big eater, one smaller eater.

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