Where To Eat And Drink In San Francisco And Beyond: March 2024

If you’re wondering where you should be eating in and around San Francisco, here are five of the most news worthy restaurants to check out right now. From a female-driven chef series celebrating Women’s History Month to the peninsula’s newest steakhouse to the city’s most exciting brunch spots, these are places that making waves in the Bay Area’s dynamic food scene this month.

The Culinary Institute Of America At Copia

In honor of Women’s History Month, Napa Valley’s Culinary Institute of America at Copia is continuing their Chef Takeover Series featuring multiple accomplished female alumni to collaborate with their own Chef de Cuisine, Deborah Mullins ’97, for special curated dinners throughout the month of March.

Established in 1946 by visionaries Frances Roth and Katharine Angell, the CIA at Copia proudly continues to showcase the resilience and leadership of forward-thinking women in the culinary world.

Guest chefs include Laura Ozyilmaz, current Top Chef contestant & co-owner of James Beard Foundation nominated Dalida; Daniela Vergara, Executive Chef at Estiatorio Ornos who is also the youngest and only female executive chef in Michael Mina’s restaurant empire; Jennifer Jasinski, James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef and owner of Rioja and other renowned restaurants in Denver; Dara Yu, youngest-ever MasterChef winner and creator of the acclaimed pop-up “Congee & Crullers” in Los Angeles; and Sue Zemanick, Executive Chef at Zasu, named one of the Top Ten Best New Chefs in America by Food and Wine Magazine.

Book your tickets here.

Early To Rise

Early to Rise marks the launch of Chef Andrew McCormack’s first full-service restaurant and brunch haven. After operating as a successful pop-up for six years, including the height of the pandemic, this new restaurant isn’t new to serving up breakfast favorites to San Francisco locals. Early to Rise celebrates quality ingredients and simple homestyle meals made from scratch using house-made ingredients like hand-paddled butter, Hollandaise, hot sauce and preserves.

Looking to bring Southern Hospitality to the city, the menu features innovative brunch dishes like tri-tip steak & eggs ”en meurette” with poached eggs in red wine with sliced tri-tip, grilled country bread, stew of red wine, bacon, pearl onions and mushrooms; roasted asparagus salad with sorrel, charred baby onions, lemon and julienned molasses ham; and the samusa potato pancake with peas, roasted carrots, scallions, tamarind, lime yogurt and garam masala.

On the sweet side guests can enjoy tangerine pudding with almond cookies, olive oil and dark chocolate; blueberry-ricotta pancakes; apple butter French toast with caramel apple syrup and toasted hazelnuts; the blueberry ricotta pancakes house-made ricotta, blueberry syrup and almond crunch and incredibly delicious, small batch sugar rolled donuts in seasonal flavors like earl grey.

The Vault

The Vault Garden recently announced the launch of their first ever brunch service. Available every Saturday from 11:30am-3:00pm, diners can now enjoy an innovative brunch experience in the Vault Garden’s al fresco dining space. Spearheaded by Chef Ryan Cerizo, the new brunch program has been carefully curated with both sweet and savory dishes ranging from classics like steak and eggs and a stacked breakfast sandwich to more decadent options like lobster tartine and winter squash-mushroom polenta ragout.

Also on the brunch menu is a raw bar, featuring a fresh variety of shellfish, caviar, and oysters, along with an array of savory options like their famous potato pave tots topped with a dollop of Hackleback Caviar, or the salmon Benedict and Vault burger. For those with a sweet tooth, they can indulge on the ginger-sugar dusted beignets, pancakes with Vermont maple syrup, or seasonal waffles topped with spiced honey.

Izzy’s On The Peninsula

After a seven-month renovation, beloved family-run dining destination, Izzy’s on the Peninsula is now open with a new look and an elevated, sophisticated ambiance. This classic American steakhouse offers 7,500 square feet of stunning interiors, a dynamic menu of elevated steakhouse favorites complemented by Izzy’s classic sides and dishes, as well as an inventive cocktail program, robust wine list, dynamic private dining spaces, an alfresco garden and more.

Menu highlights include Dungeness crab hushpuppies; jumbo prawn cocktail and french dip sliders on house-made buns; the fresh daily crudo; “the Gomez,” a 10oz prime rib served alongside Izzy’s own potatoes and creamed spinach; as well as the Izzy’s smash burger; and house-made desserts like the made-to-order glazed crullers and roasted pear bread pudding. Innovative craft cocktails by WestBev vary from the legacy martini to the margarita del mar with blanco tequila, mezcal, aloe, makrut lime and nori salt, among others.

Camino Alto

Situated in Pacific Heights, Camino Alto flies under the radar when it comes to seasonal neighborhood restaurants worth checking out. Serving California cuisine with Mexican influences, owner Josh Copeland has spent years building relationships with local farmers and purveyors, making it a priority to highlight the quality of each ingredient in simple yet standout seasonal dishes.

Camino Alto is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Brunch menu highlights include Klingeman Farm pork belly with oached pastured eggs, Mexican polenta, frisee, salsa verde, queso cotija; blueberry masa waffle with cultured coconut; taco plates with Larry’s beans, coconut basmati rice, pico de gallo featuring proteins like 4 hour roasted heritage pork shoulder and roasted chicken; and more.

On the dinner menu, standouts include the pasture wagyu NY strip steak with Japanese sweet potato and smoked salsa; local halibut, cannellini beans, braised escarole; Brussels requisite with Beeler’s bacon, crispy rice and arugula; and the Morro bay tuna ceviche. Camino Alto’s all-natural wine list has a strong European focus and compliments the restaurant’s cuisine whether breakfast or dinner or somewhere in between.