Famished Girl
The Slanted Door, Embarcadero
This entry is long overdue — because The Slanted Door is an oldie but goodie. Despite being around for over a decade, the place still manages to be a scene. As soon as the doors open for dinner, there’s a line at the hostess stand and plenty of people at the bar/lounge waiting for a chance for a table.
And these people — as well as those of us who plan ahead and book a reservation — will be well-rewarded. Even though I’ve dined here dozens of times, there’s always something fresh/new on the menu that impresses me. During my most recent visit, I loved the manila clams and the abalone appetizers.
And perhaps the restaurant’s most popular dish, the shaking beef, is a must-order. The lamb rack is also delicious. And the claypot chicken and caramelized shrimp remind me of my mom’s Vietnamese cooking, so I recommend these entrees as well. (Psst … There are a good number of tasty, veggie options if you’re not big on meat.)
With everything served family-style, that means you get to sample plenty of dishes. But do save room for dessert. I usually favor the ice cream or sorbet trios; they were recently offering mint, ginger and chocolate scoops of ice cream and peach, mango and strawberry sorbets. If you do fill up on other menu items, you can still order a pot of Blue Bottle coffee or — my personal preference — a Vietnamese iced coffee. Then sit back and enjoy the view of the bay, with the sailboats and ferries passing by.
The Slanted Door
1 Ferry Building, #3
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 861-8032
