Famished Girl
Sauce, Hayes Valley
Serving up sophisticated takes on traditional comfort foods, Sauce manages to be both hip and homey at the same time. You can have a perfectly good time just hanging out in the bar, ordering a few delicious cocktails and appetizers (mmm … crispy, crab wontons). Or, you can head into the dining room and go three rounds with a full-on meal.
I recently did the latter: I started with the tomato bisque, followed with the meatloaf, and wrapped things up with the PB&J and doughnut desserts. (I couldn’t decide between the two.) The soup was served with white-truffle grilled cheese that was buttery and perfectly crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside. The meatloaf was wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon and, really, what doesn’t taste good when wrapped in bacon? I had to go easy on the entree — which came with mashed potatoes and green beans — because I knew the main attraction of the evening was going to be the desserts.
The desserts here are worth every single calorie. The PB&J is a seared sponge cake that’s spread with strawberry preserves and Frangelico-infused peanut butter. Vanilla ice-cream is sandwiched between. (No, this is not your mom’s PB&J. It’s 10x better!) The cinnamon-sugar doughnuts, which arrived at the table piping hot, are served with a vanilla-bourbon dipping sauce. The combination is addictive.
While San Francisco magazine’s readers voted it one of the best new restaurants in 2004-2005, Sauce also garnered best-bartender honors (thanks to Trip Hosley’s fine work). So whether you’re looking to get “sauced” (I couldn’t resist!) or need a good pre-symphony/opera dinner, stop in and make yourself comfortable here. With its warm and cozy interior, super-friendly staff and fantastic menu, this could easily become your new neighborhood spot.
Sauce
131 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 252-1369
