Silks
San Francisco Chronicle Datebook has called the Mandarin Suites restaurant, Silks, "one of San Francisco's hidden treasures." Silks also has been recognized as one of the Top-100 Bay Area restaurants by the San Francisco Chronicle, and was in the 2008 Zagat Survey categories of top cuisine, top decor and top service rating in San Francisco. Silks Chef Rick Bartram's cooks up California cuisine with Asian inspiration and the dining establishment uses local organic and sustainable produce and has a selection of biodynamic wines. The interior, on the second floor of the hotel, is inspired by the journey of Marco Polo to the court of Kublai Khan--an ancient Mongolian ruler. This inspiration is reflected through hand-painted silk chandeliers, carefully placed antiques, and splashes of cinnamon, nutmeg and persimmon coloring.
Silks
222 Sansome Street #2
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 986-2020
mandarinoriental.com
Grass Land Hot Pot
Between Golden gate park and the Presido Golf Course, on Clement Street, Grass Land Hot Pot serves fresh seafood, such as shrimp, mussels and squid alongside traditional Mongolian Pot meats like beef, lamb and chicken. The restaurant's all-you-can-eat standard meal comes with unlimited beer as well, so even if the night is dull and the soup is off, you're bound to get something out of the deal. Not to worry, Grass Land is considered one of the best pot restaurants in the city. Its food isn't always fresh--they do use frozen meat on occasion, and it charges extra for sauce, but the menu is filled with items you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere else, like fish lips and goose intestines--if you're feeling brave, Grass Land will sort you out. Additionally, it's often compared to the Little Sheep Mongolian Grill in San Mateo, but it's not nearly as far if you're already in the city and one-hour parking is validated in the lot right across the street.
Grass Land Hot Pot
2239 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 666-1818
grasslandhotpot.com
The Pot's
In the sunset district, just south of Golden Gate Park, the Pot's began to gain a name for the best Eastern food around. It's close competitor, the Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant, just can't seem to match quality and cost--the Pot's is cleaner, and offers a bigger selection. As of January 2010, the Pot's all-you-can-eat meal was $22 dollars on weekdays and $25 during the weekends, and a few other specialty items were available for a small extra charge. The service is friendly and the Pot's doesn't get too crowded, so there's no need to make reservations. The quiet brown building, with a pub sharing the space is in a fairly quiet area and parking is usually quite easy to get.
The Pot's
2652 Judah St.
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 682-7889
