Gridskipper

What the educated local thinks of when the call of meatloaf whistles in with the fog. The crowd is cool and pretty, the food is deee-lightful, and the bloody Mary bar on weekends also fails to suck, especially for… those needing a little TLC for their hangover. [link]

The Blue Plate's back garden under the heaters is the perfect place to canoodle over Nieman Ranch delicacies and organic garlic mashed potatoes. The menu changes on a whim, the staff are just the sweetest, and the… wine list is way better than the boxes mom keeps in the fridge. For really bad days or PMS (or both), go for the full four-course blowout, and don't forget to order dessert (yum). Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is splendid. [link]

So a chef from Rubicon announces he's done one day, and he goes off to found his own tiny, tiny comfort-food emporium. That's what happened with Canteen, a cute little place in Nob Hill headed by former Rubicon… chef Dennis Leary. Mr. Leary is all by himself behind the counter, but he consistently dishes up amazing offerings with a slight Mediterranean flair. Get there early; the staff is lovely, but the space is teeny. There are only three seatings a night, which adds to its exclusive flair. [link]

The 1980s established the fact that a restaurant is automatically cool if its name is a single letter. That being said, Q is also worth going to for the food, and you'll look fabulous doing it. They specialize in… homestyle barbecue, have a knowledgeable bartender, and indulge in whimsy once in a while with the food as well as the decor. Load up on meat, meat, more meat, and some meat. It's cold out there. [link]

What is it with cozy restaurants in teeny, tiny spaces? Zoya is very wee, but the location and the quirkiness of the building offset the fact that the view is of the Days Inn next door. It's literally a mom &… pop joint, with mom being the hostess and pop crafting the cookery. The restaurant, in fact, is named after their daughter Zoya. They offer their own spins on traditional winter fare, and they do it well. [link]

Suppenkuche is an excellent place to stoke up on carbs and protein before a randy night dancing, but more often than not you accidentally make friends with the smart and interesting people sitting next to you. This… is especially true when you've had a few jars of what has become known in this household as Comfort Beer. Suppenkuche is modeled on a traditional Bavarian gasthaus, except cool, and the attentive and excellent staff are people you'd definitely want to party with after they get off work. [link]