5 New San Francisco Restaurants Offering Something Different

Photo credit: Courtesy of China Live
Dongbei Pot Stickers At China Live's Market Restaurant

San Francisco is often known for its cuisine and unique restaurant concepts. From dining in the dark to a café with a laundromat, San Francisco restaurants often break free of the traditional restaurant experience. Check out five of the city’s newest restaurants that offer a taste of something a little bit different.

Over Proof

This reservation-only bar in the Mission District is the mezzanine of ABV, a popular cocktail bar at 3174 16th St. Over Proof offers food and cocktail menus as four or more courses. Every three months the restaurant changes its menu and décor. Menus focus on a type of spirit and food is made from the region or regions where the spirit was crafted. The bar-inside-a-bar concept was created by partners Todd Smith, Ryan Fitzgerald and Erick Reichborn-Kjennerud.

Rooh

Photo credit: Courtesy of Rooh

This Indian-inspired restaurant at 333 Brannan St. offers a seven-course tasting menu available Monday to Saturday with an optional wine paring. Smaller a la carte options also are available. Rooh combines Indian ingredients with California produce and provides a fine dining experience. The restaurant also offers Sunday brunch. Chef Sujan Sarkar runs the kitchen, and the restaurant is owned by Vikram and Anu Bhambri.

China Live

Photo credit: Courtesy of China Live
China Live owner George Chen

The 30K SF China Live in Chinatown is a culinary destination complete with a marketplace, a casual restaurant, and cocktail and tea bars. The second and third floors will include a fine dining restaurant Eight Tables (expected to open during the summer), a bar and a banquet area for up to 200 people. China Live, which is owned by George Chen, is being called Chinatown’s version of New York’s Eatly.

Uma Casa

A dish at Uma Casa

San Francisco’s first Portuguese restaurant at 1550 Church St. offers traditional cuisine with California ingredients. Dishes are meant to be shared and most of the wine will be from Portugal. The Noe Valley restaurant is the culmination of a 15-year dream of partner and co-owner Telmo Faria, who is a native of Portugal’s Faial Island.

Alba Ray's

Photo credit: Photo by Zak Wu courtesy of Alba Ray's
Alba Ray’s Creole chicken and pork jambalaya with tomato, holy trinity and spices served tableside

Alba Ray’s in the Mission District at 2293 Mission St. offers traditional Cajun/Creole fare of crawfish, shrimp, jambalaya and beignets. This is the third restaurant from Alvin Garcia and chef Adam Rosenblum, who once worked with chef Donald Link in New Orleans.

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