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The Best Meal in North Beach…and Possibly the City

December 4th, 2007 by amy c

Before I lapse into a delicious food coma, I need to write about the sumptuous meal I just devoured at North Beach’s The House. Usually, Asian fusion cuisine doesn’t thrill me, but the Unagi appetizer, the soy glazed salmon resting in a bath of spicy miso soup, and the inventive island twist on creme brulee provided non-stop sensory bliss and put The House at the top of my favorite eats in the Bay Area.

My dad and I were looking for an inexpensive place we hadn’t tried yet, so we headed to North Beach. The corner of Columbus and Broadway alone offers a wide variety of unique restaurants in a charming SF neighborhood. Each restaurant oozes warmth, charm, and a unique take on the flavors of the area: Italian and Asian.

Neighboring North Beach classics, such as The Stinking Rose and The Steps of Rome is this hidden gem. Zagat rated The House extremely high for its food and service. And it’s no wonder why: when I asked if I could sort of combine two dishes I couldn’t choose between by getting the soy glazed salmon in the miso soup instead of the bonito sake broth, the waiter responded with not only yes, but “that sounds even better than the original.” The salmon was cooked to perfection and blended deliciously with the spicy miso soup broth that was both comforting and surprising in its kick of spicy flavor.

I didn’t think it could get any better and because I was pleasantly full, I almost didn’t even look at the dessert menu. But, there’s no harm in just looking, right? Well “just looking” soon turned into savoring the most unique twist on creme brulee I have ever had. Anyone who has ever met me probably knows of my intense enthusiasm, bordering on passion, for creme brulee. And I’m quite the creme brulee snob, but this dish mastered the high-maintenance dessert: a creamy, light custard with a slight coconut flavor, under a smooth golden carmelized “ice skating rink.” And to top it off, the passionfruit puree that lightly coated the top transported me to an island vacation as it seeped on to the custard at first crack. This isn’t just a dessert: it’s an experience…one that I want to repeat over and over again.

The food is the only ambiance this restaurant needs. Main courses take on art form in sculptures that blend color, smell, and taste and make up for the uninspiring decor and small quarters. While the unassuming, plainly decorated corner restaurant doesn’t offer up a lot of “scene” with their dishes, the location in the heart of North Beach provides all the ambiance needed for a fun San Francisco night.

Not only is North Beach home to a meal I will dream about until my next San Francisco vacation, but it is full of Italian charm, literary history, and Asian influences. While in the area check out the Beat Museum, City Lights Books, or stop in one of the gelatarias or coffee shops for an Italian pastry and cappuccino.

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One Response to “The Best Meal in North Beach…and Possibly the City”

  1. On Feb 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm Go San Francisco Travel Blog Blog Archive » Visiting San Francisco’s North Beach said:

    […] House, which serves up mouth-watering, dream-inducing Asian fusion cuisine—you may remember my gushing review of this place a few months […]

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