Fans of Mourad Lahlou’s Outer Richmond restaurant, Aziza, finally have a transit-friendly option to enjoy the chef’s iconic Moroccan and North African cuisine. The dramatically designed space at the base of the historic PacBell building serves the food well as popular ingredients like harissa, za’atar, and preserved lemons flavor and infuse lamb, poultry, and vegetable mains.
Aster, part of the Daniel Patterson Group, received its first Michelin star after only six months of being open. Once again, the restaurant and chef Brett Cooper received another star for its casual vibe and stellar food. Though Cooper’s seasonal California-focused menu at dinner is priced fair considering the quality and portions, if you really want to enjoy his creations, consider brunch instead. Items like porchetta breakfast sandwich and duck confit hash and eggs elevate the brunch experience to another level.
Al’s Place looks like your friendly neighborhood cafe on the outside, but once inside and seated, you’ll see why everyone’s buzzing about this place. Service is top notch and chef/owner Aaron London has created a California-focused seasonal menu full of vegetable-heavy a la carte dishes organized by cold, hot, sides, and limited availability. Depending on how many shareable dishes you order, you could walk away satisfied and still have enough for your BART ride home. Expect to spend $30 to $50 per person.
Almost three years ago, food blogger Pim Techamuanvivit opened her Thai restaurant, Kin Khao, inside the Parc 55 hotel. Since then, she’s attracted adventuresome diners looking for creative and lesser-known Thai dishes. It’s a casual, bustling place that isn’t defined by its decor, but rather its spicy and playful approach to food and cocktails.
Two-starred Campton Place inside the Taj Hotel is a lovely and quiet oasis from the hustle and bustle of Union Square. For the second year, the restaurant and chef Srijith Gopinathan were recognized with two stars for its inventive take on California-Indian cuisine. The food is a juxtaposition of California fresh with intense Indian spices, executed with traditional French mastery. For under $50 a person, lunch guests can enjoy an appetizer, entree, and dessert and get an introduction to chef Sri’s $129 Spice Route Menu.
Dining with small-plate portions is one of the best ways to explore a cuisine, and La Marcha’smenu offers a wide assortment of authentic Spanish delicacies like octopus, shrimp croqueta, tortilla de patatas, and morcilla sausage. And the paella? Several versions are all worth trying.
Fans of Neapolitan pizza were thrilled when Lucia’s recently opened near the UC Berkeley campus. The owners, who hail from Italy and Brooklyn, installed a wood-fire Italian pizza oven, and are using a lesser known imported flour for that gives the crust a chewy, crispy crust. The pizza is a hybrid of Napoli- and Brooklyn-style, which makes it super unique. Add in an attractive casual, family-style space, and you’ve got yourself a new favorite pizza place.
Located directly across the street from the UC Berkeley campus, Gather offers some of the best representation of NorCal dining. That means vegetable-focused dishes using seasonal ingredients, and meat and seafood sourced from responsible and ethical producers within the Northern California region. Gather’s received accolades from major magazines and newspapers like Food & Wine, Esquire, and the New York Times. Restaurant Week menu highlights include Brussels sprouts, roast chicken, and house-made sorbets.
This restaurant’s charming and eclectic atmosphere fits perfectly with the daily assortment of creole and cajun dishes offered. Several varieties of protein- and vegetarian-based gumbo and etouffee are served on your choice of white or brown rice, and corn bread and sweet bread pudding round out the small menu offering. Communal tables and a huge selection of hot sauces are available for those seeking some heat with their stew.
Whether you're looking for an action flick, rom-com or drama, we’ve rounded up all the movie theaters near BART.
Best theaters to wine and dine