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San Francisco

By Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives

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Urban Tavern near Union Square in San Francisco has been open for over three years serving California Cuisine using seasonal, fresh and local ingredients. We had heard that they had a new menu and new Executive Chef and decided to get a CITY fix on a Tuesday night. The restaurant looks just as "cool" as when it opened. The "Gastropub" as it is known is stylish but casual and draws from both locals and tourists and was packed on the Tuesday night that we dined. The full sized Horse Sculpture named Urban made by Arizona artist Doug Owen is still striking as the centerpiece of the restaurant. We sat at one of the comfortable booths but saw many other happy guests at the communal table, as well as the marble bar.

We ordered cocktails to start. The Cosmopolitan made with Grey Goose Vodka and a Cucumber Mint Martini made with Square One Organic Cucumber Vodka, mint, lime and fresh cucumber were perfect to sip on while we looked at the new menu. The Cosmo was ordered "strong" and it was ideal. We were pleased to see that there were small plates, starters and entrees that were all very reasonably priced. We try not to eat too much bread but enjoyed the Acme Rolls that came with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

The Appetizers that we tried were all delicious. We really loved the Baked Oysters O'Farrell made with lacinato kale and parmesan cheese. The oysters were warm, delicious and an original interpretation of Oysters Rockefeller. Another excellent choice is the Potted Egg soufflé made with Bellwether Farms ricotta cheese, free range organic egg, topped with sautéed Chanterelle mushrooms. This was amazing and very unusual! We also loved the Fruits De Mer with calamari, shrimp, citrus, quinoa anchoiade, fennel and pancetta crisp. It had great flavors and was perfect to share. We had to try the Chili made with Painted Hills Ranch grass fed all natural beef and Rancho Gordo Beans. It was actually very light, spicy and delicious but should have had a little more beef. Our next course was the Tavern Green Salad which was made with local lettuce, golden beets, toasted walnuts and a luscious green goddess dressing. They have a special talent for salads so be sure and try them!

The Entrees feature fresh fish, a variety of meats as well as unique pasta dishes. We loved the Duck Confit which came with Quinoa pilaf, cranberries, rose and frisee. The duck was very tender and the quinoa was a delicious alternative to rice. The Whiskey Roast Pork Shoulder which came with kabocha squash, roasted Brussels sprouts and a molasses glaze was also a hearty entrée and quite tasty.

The Wine list features over 100 local California Wines with many available by the glass. We chatted with Sommelier / General Manager Steven Kleinfeld who helped us with our wine choices. Our favorite white wine was the 2009 Gamble Family Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It was a perfect Sauvignon Blanc for our taste as it had citrus notes and was bright and effervescent and paired well with our starters. Our favorite red wine was their Urban Tavern custom bottled 2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel made by winemaker Jeff Morgan which was bold and paired well with our entrees.

We managed to save room for Desserts and were glad we did. Our favorite dessert was the Butterbourbon Pudding which is made with dark chocolate and black pepper Madeleine. If was so fantastic that we got a dessert high! Can't wait to have it again! The Urban Tavern Peanut Butter Cup which came with Sea Salt Brittle and Peanut Ice Cream was also delicious. A 2010 EOS Tears and Dew Late Harvest Paso Robles Mescato and a double espresso were the perfect pairings and finish to our excellent dinner.

Urban Tavern continues to be one of our favorites for Downtown San Francisco Eating, Meeting and Drinking as it is close to shopping and the Theater District and has 5 hour free validated parking while dining. The menu has something for all tastes and the service is friendly and professional. We are pleased to report that Executive Chef Colin Duggan was recently promoted after working at Urban Tavern for over four years. He brings a wealth of local and international experience and has now been able to refresh the menu using his own flair.

Urban Tavern- San Francisco
333 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA. 94102
415-923-4400
www.UrbanTavernSF.com


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