The Folsom Street Fair will tax the energy of even the most enthusiastic partiers. A boy has to eat! And eat extremely well at that.
So we sought out one of San Francisco’s top food critics: Jay Barmann, SF food editor for Grubstreet.com, who also happens to be GayCities member Jayper to get the lowdown on where to eat during this year’s festivities. Here are his top picks:
Boisterous environment
Good pizza, pasta, and Italian food in a boisterous environment, complete with good/cheap wines on tap and great cocktails.
Brand New Pizza joint opens just in time for Folsom
A transplanted pizza god from New York, Anthony Mangieri, makes the ultimate in wood-fired, traditional, Neapolitan pies.
Manly menu
A manly menu inspired by the Mad Men era, with lobster Thermidor, good steaks, scallops newburg and the like. Also, great drinks.
French food truck
The French food truck operation from Chez Spencer, recently featured on The Great Food Truck Race, which parks at 7th and Folsom, across from Terroir wine bar–Wednesday through Saturday evenings.
Decent but pricey
Decent, straightforward cuisine by a chef who used to work at Alain Ducasse in New York; slightly pricey.
American reinvented
New place at 8th and Folsom attached to Pinkie’s Bakery. American food dressed up and reinvented.
Dirty underwear?
Good place for a burger, fish taco or quesadilla. Bonus: wash your dirty underwear and listen to occasional open-mic nights while you eat.
Good Thai food
Enjoy an authentic Bangkok vibe at either of their SOMA locations: Basil Thai on 1175 Folsom and Basil Canteen on 1489 Folsom.
Chez Panisse of cocktails
New bar and restaurant from a well known cocktail guru, nicknamed the “Chez Panisse of cocktails” for its locally focused drink program, with excellent Italian-influenced food to match.
