Life Beyond the Food Court
Even the most die-hard shopaholics need a food pit stop.
A tasty meal near the mall can be harder to find than the perfect pair of jeans. And the thought of schlepping your food around on a plastic tray is enough to give you bad flashbacks of middle school. That’s why we’ve canvassed Union Square and plucked dining options with a good vibe and menu options that will keep you fueled for donning all of that denim.
Café de la Presse
The Condy family, along with chef Laurent Manrique, remodeled this former newsstand/cafe into a French-style brasserie, complete with a horseshoe-shaped alder bar and cozy yellow-and-orange walls. Standards like quiche Lorraine, salad niçoise and a variety of croques are perfect lunchtime selections. 352 Grant Ave., 415-398-2680
B44
You don’t have to be European to feel Continental at this alleyway restaurant, with its outdoor, awning-shaded tables and some of the best Spanish food in the city. Everything on the menu tempts, but if you must choose, go with the tapas, which include shrimp bathed in olive oil and caramelized slivers of garlic and the superlative fish cheeks. 44 Belden Pl., 415-986-6287
Medicine
Located in an unlikely modern space off downtown’s Crocker Galleria, this sun-drenched, Zen-inspired Japanese eatery is lined with long communal wooden tables filled with Union Square shoppers indulging their healthy side. 161 Sutter St., 415-677- 4405
Irish Bank Bar & Restaurant
This dark, side-alley nook, with its well-worn wood floors and faintly glowing bottles of single-malt whiskey, might induce you to order your Guinness with a bit o’ brogue. The fish-and-chips are among the best in the city. 10 Mark Ln., 415-788- 7152
Colibri Mexican Bistro
The downtown business set and patrons of the arts head to this cheery Mexican bistro in the Theater District for well-paced sit-down lunches and late-night dinners. Start off with guacamole made tableside and the ceviche veracruzano with red snapper. 438 Geary St., 415-440-2737
The Rotunda
Located in the lofty dome of Neiman Marcus in the shopping mecca that is Union Square, the Rotunda Restaurant is the perfect lunch spot for shopping-weary ladies who lunch in search of a restorative meal. The salads make an excellent light lunch. 150 Stockton St., 415-362-4777
‘Wichcraft
After walking past the seemingly endless rows of boutiques in the new Westfield SF Centre, make your way through Bloomies to Mission Street to find casual but not food-court-level sustenance at the SF outpost of Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio’s upscale NYC sandwich chain. 868 Mission St., 415-593-3895
