Steeped in history, Fog City – SF get’s Reinvented

The Fog City Diner which began in 1985 has been reinvented into the new Fog City restaurant serving modern, eclectic San Franciscan cuisine. The site of 1300 Battery Street was a docking point for ships during the Gold Rush Era feeding hungry sailors before their departure to serve in WWII. In 1985 it became the Fog City Diner which some compared to Westernized dim sum; it was the State Bird Provisions of the 80s. Now owned by renowned Chef Bruce Hill, it offers modern eclectic San Franciscan cuisine, with an emphasis on wood-fired meats, fresh seafood and desserts that include house-made custard and French crullers. After visiting there myself, I would say – this one is a winner! 

The long bar in the center of the restaurant is open and inviting and there are tables lining both sides of the bar. It’s a fun energetic atmosphere whose style is clearly San Franciscan. The service was friendly and hip; the exact recipe for a good time. We arrived a bit early for our reservation so we garnered a couple seats at the bar for drinks and an appetizer. Their drink menu contains a nice list of interesting cocktails so I went for The Vodka Fix – made with Square One Basil Vodka, Carpano Bianco, lemon, honey and Proseco. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it was the perfect amount of sweet and sour with a nice smooth flavor.

The appetizer we started with was their Local Oysters on the Half Shell served with oak barrel aged hot sauce and shallot mignonette. The delicate, fresh oysters were yummy and the sauces complimented them without overpowering, so the flavor of the oyster was dominant as it should be.

At this point, we were enjoying our repartee with the bartender and were perfectly comfortable at the bar, so we decided to continue our dining experience there rather than moving to a table. Our next selection was their Broccoli di Cicco which was broccolini that was flame grilled with lemon, garum (fish sauce), Fiordolio olive oil (from Umbria on the Tuscan border of Italy) and garlic chips. One might think that broccolini by itself is without reward, however, I can tell you that this was simply delicious! Tender crisp coated in a scent of lemon and a perfectly aromatic olive oil with a blast of garlic every so often. Yum!

Next up was the Short Rib Kimchi Tacos. They were fantastic! The meat was tender and succulent pairing wonderfully with the mild kimchi topped with sesame seed. An inventive departure from a standard taco and supremely done!

Last up; an impressive display of Wood Oven Clams garnished with sweet corn, shishito peppers, cherry tomatoes, scallions and sake butter. Served with toasted crostini’s to soak up the delicious broth. The hint of smoked wood in this dish added to it’s elegance. For the first time in several restaurant experiences, my shellfish was all open and available to procure! Kudo’s to the chef in ensuring a perfect specimen for an amazing entree.

Combining the experience with the food, I would say that this might have ranked my top choice for this trip to San Francisco. If I were local, it would definitely become a regular spot for me. Living three hours away is a bit of a hindrance, but you can be assured that I will return!