We like to jest that the way to get us out to the Marina/Cow Hollow arrondissement is by promising us a free meal. We kid, of course. But, lo and behold, that's just what The Brick Yard, a new casual California-inspired restaurant, did: invited SFist to the just-opened Marina restaurant for a free dinner. With Eye On Blog's Beth Spotswood as our date, we wiggled out to the Marina for a free dinner, an area we rarely visit. Which is too bad since, during the afternoon, the area is lovely. Almost serene, a calm before the bro-storm.

With price not being an issue, because it was all for free, we plucked items from the menu like pack of vampires coming across a freshly torn-apart body. From Chef Aaron Little's cohesive menu (PDF), we selected the Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Basil and Olives ($9), Truffled Popcorn ($6), Pulled Pork with Salsa Verde ($3), Fig Prosciutto and Watercress with Crumbled Goat Cheese ($10), Grilled Steak and Sweet Potato Green Onion Salad, Shaved Parmesan and Sherry Vinaigrette ($12), and the Proscuitto wrapped Chicken Breast stuffed with Mushrooms and Creamed Polenta ($14).