Also, the restaurant itself is very discreetly set back from the street with blacked-out doors so it is a bit of a surprise at first to walk straight into the small dining area on arrival, with a full view of the chef's station along one side of the room and a lot of staff milling around the small space. I believe the sommelier was at the French Laundry before coming to Californios. All opinions Closed now Features redit cards accepted No outdoor seating Booking Updated on: Nov 10, 2022 Weve dined at Taco Maria in Costa Mesa and at Pujol, Quintonil, and Biko in Mexico City, and this was rightup there with the best of them. Whats really fun to watch is the code-worded communication between all of them (think Peyton Manning as hes communicating with the offense pre-snap). Their essay on pandemic fine dining domes was featured in the 2021 Best American Food Writing anthology. I hope the staff there is doing okay during this time. Graduation Dinner San Francisco. And instead of that granola bar you snuck in your bag for intermission, youll be treated to an extravagant meal thats a performance in its own right. Seven great spots, yes, including Burma Superstar. Dishes come out at an even pace, so youre not left waiting long after you clean each plate; the expediter in the kitchen has a camera trained on the dining room for that express purpose. 236 Townsend St, San Francisco. Nowwalking into the restaurant, it's like walking into someone's kitchen with the dining area right in the same spot. Well worth every penny, This was our second visit to Californios and it was even better than our first. Elevated Mexican fare with a variety of meats, sauces, etc. Der User kann diesfalls keine Ansprche stellen. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Does this restaurant offer table service? We were each given a 'gift', which was the evening's menu in an envelope so we could choose whether or not to see what was coming (we chose not to 'sneak peak', and each dish was introduced separately by the staff as it arrived). It is much more intimate and closer, and the area where 4-5 chefs work seems almost cramped (but I dont say this negatively). I have no qualms about recommending Californios, both for the singular experience of its 17-course tasting menu and its top-notch but personable service style. Its also emblematic of the restaurants mission to give Mexican cuisine its due. Two single-stall restrooms. We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Click the link in the email we sent to to verify your email address and activate your job alert. .css-gdccrc{font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-condensed);font-weight:700;font-size:1rem;line-height:0.9;letter-spacing:0.08em;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-0);margin-left:var(--chakra-space-0);margin-right:var(--chakra-space-0);margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-0);text-transform:uppercase;}@media screen and (min-width: 20rem){.css-gdccrc{line-height:0.9;}}@media screen and (min-width: 23.4375rem){.css-gdccrc{line-height:0.9;}}@media screen and (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-gdccrc{line-height:1;}}Julia Chen & Lani Conway.css-1a7ccww{font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-body);font-weight:400;margin:var(--chakra-space-0);padding:var(--chakra-space-0);font-size:0.6875rem;letter-spacing:0.1em;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase;}@media screen and (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-1a7ccww{font-size:0.75rem;letter-spacing:0.12em;}}March 1, 2023. Every dinner begins with several spreads of one-bite dishes. I would have posted 12 or so pics, but this website freezes every time I try, so you just get text from me I guess.More, Three of us dined here one evening over the Christmas period, and it was definitely an 'experience'! We love the buttery kitfo with the tangy housemade cheese, smoothly rich shuro, and berbere-kissed misir wot. But those interested in provocation will find delight in Californios two tacos, a street food that looks like its literally been put on a sleek black pedestal here. Your conversation will also be interrupted constantly by a steady stream of servers presenting and explaining new dishes and refreshing your tableware. When I was cooking in fine dining, there was almost no one cooking with Mexican ingredients and treating them with the respect I thought they deserved, says Californios chef and owner Val Cantu. My visits, in the early summer, reflected the season in its ingredients, along with homegrown garnishes like oxalis and nasturtium. We also each chose to have the drinks pairing with the meal, which was a fascinating selection of wines, cider, champagne, madeira, sakeI really enjoyed trying the different drinks with the dishes, but if you like red wine you may wish to order your own bottle as there was only one glass of red offered in the selection that we had. Whether we actually enjoyed each dish or not is obviously down to personal taste, but very little went back from our table. Be the first to get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation right in your inbox. The original location open at Broadway and Powell Street, Chinatown, San Francisco in 1958 by Alice Chan. Oops. There were many ingredients used that we had never tried before, and with my view of the pass the immense care that the (mostly young) chefs paid to every plate was a joy to watch. Dusted with sumac spiced sugar and resting on a bed of pear sorbet, sumac ice cream, and silky pepita butter, the buuelo is the queen bee of all the desserts, and it shows. Brilliant cooking, should rely on that instead of luxury ingredients. up there with the best of them. we later learned it was the first night they did this; it was a little awkward but I loved it all the same. The food is just as confident as it was in the past. Covid-19 is temporary, but great food is forever. we had to send it back and never received an apology or even an acknowledgment and the bill for four of us was close to a thousand dollars! The courses flowed really well, from the savory tastes, through the vegetables, into the black cod and carne asada and with a beautiful finish of sweet (the churro w/ foie gras was certainly bold and fun, but the apple dessert course is still something burned in y brain). Fancy Mexican Restaurant San Francisco. The aroma of grilled fruit and briny caviar brought to mind the banana leaf barbecue used for dishes like cochinita pibil. Californios took the leading position on our list of top Michelin restaurants. The Mission spot is warm and homey, and feels like youre in a friends apartment, if that friend had a large collection of Ethiopian paintings and art on display in their living room. The infladita (made with black masa and filled with guajillo chile atole and topped with Hokkaido sea urchin) at Californios in SoMa. The restaurant asks, what if we take a Latin American perspective as our baseline, and interpret our ingredients based on that? Californios - a Two MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour! We opted for the wine pairing with special tour, got shown around the kitchen and wine cellar. In that regard, Californios wholehearted embrace of its concept is palpable with each bite that comes out of its kitchen. It comes in bright orange habanero aguachile. They even took note that we hadnt loved the one wine pairing, in particular, and suggested our feedback was the reason they might change it. Ever been tempted to invest in wine? It all starts with fresh corn. Chef and owner Val Cantu, whose parents ran a Mexican restaurant and tortilleria in central Texas, gained plenty of acclaim for his cuisine at the first location of Californios in the Mission District. Dont forget to give a standing ovation on your way out. Is Californias drought finally over? We are looking for a Restaurant General Manager for a long-standing staple in the city. Things they could do that might merit a third Michelin star: staff should be more personally knowledgeable about the menu (the service overall was great, but we've come to expect all servers to know the whole menu). However, this is down to personal opinion and others may think differently! In 2022, they won a Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award from the James Beard Foundation. Impeccable hosting and quality. USA Improve this listing. Im talking about breakout dishes like the slow-poached egg yolk in allium puree at Commis in Oakland and a sticky, air-dried kiwi at the departed Restaurant at Meadowood the devilish stuff that has you calculating how much youd be willing to pay just to have another taste. It is much more intimate and closer, and the area where 4-5 chefs work seems almost cramped (but I dont say this negatively). Several courses but I was not overly full (which was an issue at Benu the previous night). The attention to detail in the dishes was second to none, and it was very reassuring to see the head chef at the top of the pass inspecting every single dish before it went out. Youre not going to get that just anywhere. The wine list, guided by beverage director-owner Charlotte Randolph, is available via QR code or a physical copy. This is Mexican cuisine and imagination taken to a level that won't be matched. See more of what the Californios team creates by watching the video above. Simple. . The plates were put before us in quick succession with no long waits between courses, even so the whole meal took nearly three hours which seemed to whizz by - it was so exciting to see what would come out next. Thanks for subscribing! Also, the restaurant itself is very discreetly set back from the street with blacked-out doors so it is a bit of a surprise at first to walk straight into the small dining area on arrival, with a full view of the chef's station along one side of the room and a lot of staff milling around the small space. Creativity is something thats like an exercise, you have to exercise it, you have to practice it, you have to work on it. Cantus team flexes their creative muscles in dishes like puffed pieces of black masa topped with sea urchin, squab arabe tacos marinated in Lebanese spices, and grilled banana in savory dulce de leche sauce served with a dollop of caviar. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! restaurant is absolutely top tier. he. Wines were presented with what seemed to be rehearsed speeches about what to expect. The dishes themselves were absolutely knock-out amazing; mostly small bites (some were two bites - we were helpfully informed by the waiting staff how many bites to use on each one!). Would I recommend it? Several courses but I was not overly full (which was an issue at Benu the previous night). Wine compliments each serving or select from a wine list the reflects the same degree of perfection. One other thing: The music was too loud. Long story shortsuch a wonderful experience. We absolutely loved it and can not wait to return. Email: soleil@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hooleil, 355 11th St., San Francisco. Californios, the two-Michelin-starred Mexican fine-dining restaurant, is making a big move: After six years in its 24-seat spot in the Mission District, chef-owner Val M. Cantu has signed a lease . Michelin-starred Mexican fine dining destination Californios has reopened in S.Fs SoMa, The Bay Areas most anticipated restaurants opening this spring, Bay Area gets a break from winter storm. Chilis were used in most courses but never at the expense of balance. This temple of culinary fusion in SoMa is where Chef Val M. Cantu turns out a parade of familiar dishes turned complex and deliciously unique.Theradia Two MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour! . By submitting your email, you agree to our, How Two-Michelin-Starred Californios Honors Mexican Cuisine. That is an absolute steal for a 2* Michelin meal in this city or in most places! The fish and beefdishes were amazing and the sommeliers choices were spot on. The Auvergne - Rhne-Alpes being a dynamic, thriving area, modern architects and museums also feature, for example in cities like Chambry, Grenoble and Lyon, the last with its opera house boldly restored by Jean Nouvel. 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