Snacks at Bocadillos

I had dinner at Bocadillos earlier this year and really enjoyed it, so on one of the gorgeous sunny days last week I popped by during the afternoon just for a snack and a glass of wine. The menu is naturally a bit more limited than at dinner and I was slightly disappointed their amazing $2 deviled eggs with shrimp were not on the menu, but nonetheless had a couple of other nice bites. You can choose any two bocadillos for $9 which is a nice deal. Options include Serrano ham with tomato rub, fried chicken with spicy cole slaw, a hot ahi tuna melt, a lam burger, BBQ pulled pork and a BLT with Eden Farms bacon. I wasn't super hungry so opted for a really tasty salad with charred corn, jicama, piquillos and fried poblanos. The combination works really well together and was accented by a light ranch-like dressing which was really tasty. There are also daily tapas and soup specials as well as vegetable sides and cheese and cold cuts on the menu. It's a really cute place to pop into and the charming ambiance and friendly service add to the experience. Enjoy.

Bocadillos

710 Montgomery Street in San Francisco

Dinner at Sodini's in North Beach

There are certainly quite a few options for Italian dining in North Beach, and Sodini's on Green Street is a perfect choice if you want a tasty dinner featuring huge portions of food and authentic and fresh ingredients, as well as a cozy, dimly-lit ambiance with red and white checkered tablecloths, lots of candles, huge bottles of vinegar and wine for decoration, and Sinatra or Sinatra-esque tunes in the background. The menu features abotu 10 antipasti including gooey and delicious cheese bread and steamers (you can choose clams or mussels) cooked in a white wine broth and served with garlic bread, as well as lots of varieties of pastas with various sauces, meat entrees including a gorgeous Pepper Steak and Chicken Alla Sodini (grilled chicken topped with ham, mozzarella and cream sauce served with linguine alla casa), and lots of pizza options. The wine list is fairly short but certainly covers all the bases. I had a Sauvignon Blanc from Napa which was crisp and tasty. Others had the same as well as a delicious and velvety Valpolicella. We started with the Bruscetta, which is six large and nicely toasted pieces of bread covered with heaping portions of diced tomatoes mixed with garlic, basil and olive oil. The garlic flavor was quite strong but everyone enjoyed the start to the meal. Per usual, I had the Chicken Caesar Salad for my entree. It's probably enough for 2 to 3 hungry folks. Heaps of crisp romaine lettuce are topped with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese and large, moist chunks of grilled chicken breast. The dressing is delicious and I enjoy that there are anchovies in the dressing as it adds that distinct rich and nutty flavor without having the filets directly in the dish. Others had the special of the day, which was Grilled Prawns with Linguini in a pesto sauce, and Tortellini Con Pesto, or beef-filled tortellini in a creamy basil and garlic sauce. The rich, verdant green in the sauces was appealing and the flavors were all delicious. There wasn't much beef in the tortellini but the creamy cheese inside was flavorful and even a bit piquant. All in all a casual and enjoyable meal in a true North Beach institution.

Sodini's

510 Green Street in San Francisco

Happy Hour at Citizen Thai and the Monkey Bar

Located in the heart of North Beach and just up the street from The Saloon, Citizen Thai and the Monkey Bar is a fun and festive spot with good drinks, tasty food and happy hour from 5 to 7pm seven days a week. During happy hour there are no drink specials, but you receive a complimentary appetizer of the day. We were there on Sunday and the appetizer was fried corn balls served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce loaded with fresh ginger, cilantro and sliced red onion. I am not much of one for fried food, so it was just another plate for my friends to enjoy. The wine list is short but well-thought-out given the strong flavors and sometimes very spicy food items on the menu. For wine, I chose to ahve Dr. von Basserman-Jordan Estate Gruner Veltliner from Germany. I thought all Gruner Veltliner's came from Austria, but apparently there are a few producers in Germany as well. The wine was light and refreshing and had a silky finish on the palate - perfect for the evening. Most folks ordered other food items as the evening went on. Favorites included the Fresh Garden Noodle Roll with chicken and shrimp served with spicy lime sauce, Chicken or Beef Satay with peanut sauce, Salt & Pepper Calamari served with sweet & sour sauce, Duck Salad tossed with red onion, chili flakes parched rice and spicy lime dressing, Lath Nah Rice Noodle in rich gravy sauce with broccoli, and various Wok Dishes whereby you choose chicken, beef or tofu as well as a sauce, the favorite for me being Broccoli with Oyster Sauce. The dish was hearty but not huge, the sauce was savory and delicious and the vegetables were all fresh and bright and nicely julienned for presentation. The group really enjoyed the evening, and I would pop back into the Monkey Bar again for any fun and casual occasion.

Citizen Thai and the Monkey Bar

1268 Grant Avenue in San Francisco

http://www.citizenthai.com/