Famished Girl
Luna Park, The Mission
Five years after opening to rave reviews, Luna Park is still a Mission District hot spot. Sure, the bar — which is usually packed in the evenings — makes an excellent mojito. But it’s the friendly service and wonderful, well-priced food that has people (myself included) coming back again and again.
The menu is American comfort cuisine — with Italian, Asian and French influences. Luna Park’s signature starters are the ahi tuna poke served with fried wonton chips, and a goat-cheese fondue served with thinly sliced apples and grilled chunks of bread. (The latter is my favorite appetizer.)
Although entree-deliberation can be tough, my all-time favorite dish here is the breaded pork cutlet, stuffed with gruyere and mushrooms. It comes with a side of mashed potatoes, string beans and apple-cranberry sauce. Yum. (At $16.50, it’s at the high end of the menu.)
Be sure to save room for dessert, all of which are generous enough to share. And they’re as fun as they are delicious: s’mores that you create yourself, caramel apples that you dip in the sauce and roll in toasted almonds. If you’re not in the mood for a DIY dessert, try the seasonal fruit crisp or chocolate cake.
If you walk in without a dinner reservation, there will likely be a wait. Bide your time at the bar, where you can order up a “You’re a Pepper Too” — a cocktail that consists of an individual bottle of Dr. Pepper accompanied by Absolut Vanilla, organic vanilla syrup, and Dr. Pepper Jelly Bellys. You mix the potions to create your perfect drink.
TIP: Given its popularity, the restaurant can be a bit loud. If you plan to make a reservation, ask about the more secluded booths in the back.
Luna Park
694 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 553-8584
