VinDivine - Living it Up John & Janine Style

Hotel Biron - Hayes Valley

No, it's not a hotel, it's a teeny, tiny wine cave-like place to get some good vino before you hit Zuni, Sauce or Paul K. Not a destination place but an OK stop-by.  They have some fun wines from all over the world. We had a Gruner and a Flying Horse Sauv Blanc (not so good) but the Gruner was poured in a HUGE glass and went down like buttah.

They are trying to bring a touch of Paris to SF, with a left bank feel. Well they nailed that with the folding bistro chairs and cramped quarters so much so that you feel like you're drinking your neighbor's wine. The only thing missing is the rude Parisian blowing smoke in your face! Man I miss Paris. They really did a great job with the spacial limitations, but the design of it is missing something. They make up for it with the extensive vino selects.

Oh, and if you sit at the tall copper bar tables, watch out for your knees smacking into the table legs. Every time Johnny moved in his seat he added another bruise. Ouch, sorry John.

Hotel Biron
45 Rose St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-703-0403

Sauce - Hayes Valley

What a great idea, shared dipping food! It's diptastic! Chef Ben coined the term "Social Cuisine" I say the more condiments the happier a life you lead, variety hmmmmmmm?

Go there after 8 on a Saturday night - the place gets jammed with Opera/Symphony goers. Then it clears out a bit with more of a fun party crowd'.

OK, Robert Kohler, our bud, is a part owner of this place. Got Best New Restaurant (SF Mag). We took our friend Candida there for her birthday and it rocked! She's a veggie and we're carnivores so it's always a little tricky with shares. Not here. The portabello mushroom fries might make us convert.  The coconut shrimp and the crab pillows were unreal. and the beggars purses with chicken more than covered for the lack of meat on the table. 

Usually "share" means "put as few things on a really really really small plate so it looks like a lot but they'll have to order about 10 more plates". Not here. The helpins are slammin' and you don't feel ripped off.

Kudos to Kohler, Trip, Ben and team. And, Kohler: who knew a lawyer and dot-com biz dev guy could turn up a place like this?

Keep 'em comin and keep 'em dippin'.

Sauce
131 Gough St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-1369