foodie's » San Francisco, CA

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When life brings you fabulous events, Michael Mina is the place to celebrate. Both sumptuous and understated, it’s located in one of the most beautiful rooms in town and has one of San Francisco’s most famous chefs. He brings his gift for complicated preparation to this eponymous restaurant. The high-ceilinged room, done in restrained celadon and beige, fades into the backdrop when you see the constructions on the plate. Each component sits like an island on a bit of sauce in the middle of a white porcelain plate or shallow bowl. Dishes tend to come in trios. Pork, for example, arrives as pork loin, cheeks and belly served with spatzle. Pork belly at these prices, you might wonder? Yes, but the lusciousness of that dish is worth every dollar. Among signature dishes are warm mussel soufflé, lobster pot pie and miso-glazed black cod. When it comes to dessert, you might try the root beer float or a chocolate or apple trio. Count on at least two hours, or more likely three, to savor this elaboration and bask in the quiet attention from a cadre of wait persons. They will never allow the water in a glass to drop below the proper level, or a stray crumb to mar the white cloth. But all of this attention is delivered quietly and without bustle.

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