Continuing the parade of national print media praise for our local food scene, Esquire magazine has released their Best New Restaurants list for 2011 which, among other things, includes food writer John Mariani's Restaurant of the Year honors for chef Michael Mina's flagship outpost. Although Mina's rise from local chef to nationwide empire builder might seem like a turnoff for the foodie set, Mariani lays on the praise for the chef's return to his roots at the former Aqua space: more ›

After a long day at work, you know what's nice? Alcohol. You know what else is nice? Not having to decide what to eat. Which is why we love a comparatively easier prix fixe menu. And with that, BlackboardEat will offer $65 and $55 at 25 Lusk and Bourbon Steak, respectively. On Thursday, 8/18, they're announcing a six-course prix fixe at 25 Lusk for $65 that's centered around a strawberries and champagne theme. Sexy! And then, next Tuesday, they will have a three-course prix fixe menu at Michael Mina's joint for a comparatively scant $55 featuring loads of meat. Manly! more ›

Noted food critic Josh Sens of San Francisco Magazine recently compared noted chef Michael Mina to Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, one of the worst-reviewed musicals of all time. Sens writes: more ›

Big Red, the intimidating crane looming over the Transbay Terminal, started swinging it's wrecking ball this morning, which probably ruined the dustless process that so delighted Da Mayor last week. Likewise, Willie himself spent the week swinging all over town and kicking up dust with the various ladies in his life. Only one of them, however, would bring him to "a great short rib experience." more ›

Michael Mina, the eponymous restaurant from chef Michael Mina that was formerly at the Westin St. Francis (that space has now become Mina's steakhouse concept Bourbon Steak) has relocated to the former Aqua (252 California) and just reopened this week. more ›

If you follow SFist on Twitter, you can win a chance to win a dinner for two at Michael Mina's wine bar, RN 74. The meal, which includes wine, is for either October 7 or October 9—just follow SFist on Twitter and retweet this message to win! Courtesy of the new Lexus IS—Wield Precision. more ›

Readers responded with light speed and razor-sharp accuracy (more or less) when it came to detailing last night's devastating -- body-wash-plummeting-to-the-earth devastating! -- 5.6 quake. We will all look back on October 30, asking ourselves, where were we when the great 5.6 quake of '07 hit? Well, after sending out the we-hope-you're-still-alive-and-kicking call to the SFist team at large, they responded. Here are a few of the shattering moments in the lives of some... more ›

The bay area Michelin Guide 2008 is out, and there’s not much changed from last year: the French Laundry is the only place with 3 stars (the most) in the wider bay area. Aqua and Michael Mina are the only 2 stars in the city. Those Michelin guys are so stingy with stars, Chez Panisse’s Alice Waters still clutches her lonely one. Jean-Luc Naret, the director of the Michelin guide, was handing out press copie this morning at a brunch at Bloomingdale’s. He was ebullient. We asked him about last year belly dancers controversy, and he was like, but they were there, the inspector saw them! It was “a writing error,” he added, “not a rating error.” We do writing errors all the time too! We can totally relate. more ›

1833 Page St., SF. more ›

The new Michelin was stingy with stars for San Francisco: no 3 stars restaurants (the only one in the wider bay area being the French Laundry in Napa), two 2 stars (Aqua and Michael Mina), and a 12 one stars (Fleur de Lys, La Folie, the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Rubicon, Bushi-Tei, Quince, Range, Acquerello, Masa's, Gary Danko, Boulevard, Fifth Floor). Alice Waters got only one tiny puny star for her Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Spanked! more ›

If we were to name our column again, we'd go with "the SFist on the table" or Get ur food on or whatever witticism we did not come up with when we settled on Gastronomique. Snacks on a plate? We'd try to convey what we attempt to do: inform and show off our camera phone food pictures and maybe squeeze in a joke here and there. We assume that restaurant owner face the same conundrum, trying to achieve the right balance in how they name their place. more ›

So last night the best reality show on television came to an end for this season. It was down to the final two -- perhaps there was a little controversy, perhaps one of the other contestants should have been there in some viewers' minds -- but on this program, the final two gave it their all in a stunning performance so see who would go home with the prize. Cripes -- what are we supposed to do until next season? more ›

Well, okay, let's be honest - it isn't just the Cares department here that loves the boozin'. We're not really snooty but we know what we like and we like good wine so we're saving our pennies to be able to go to the San Francisco Wine Auction on April 29th. Tickets are $250, so if anyone is thinking that they'd like to get SFist a really early Christmas present we could probably find something appropriate to dry-clean. more ›

We know he gets a bad rap, but we love Martin Yan. It's so easy! Look at this! The Chron pays for a meal to get the interview, and it doesn't bother us one bit. GraceAnn Walden totally bites Doyle, leading with troubles at Michael Mina. Been reading SFist lately, GraceAnn? Also, enough caucasians have discovered pho (pha? phur? phuh?) to warrant an introduction by the Chron. SFist has been curing hangovers and colds with pho since high school. more ›