777 global mile hound
Jul 12, 01, 10:38 pm
Every now and then in my hundred plus nights of hotel stays and frequent dining out around the world each year an exceptional restaraunt comes around that leaves me spellbound.Such is the case of the
the Greek Restaraunt in San Francisco called Kokkari or as the restaraunt states on its business card Contemporary Hellenic Cuisine.Already considered by Zagat Restaraunt survey and others to be amongst the best in the city for food,decor and ambience.As good as Zagat is many times I wonder what the participants could have been thinking. This time they understated the facts.That is a stunning space with dramatic floral arrangements and a fire place in the main room.Casual or dressy fun/festive and yet still a bit romantic in feel.Kind servers abound .They show passion in people and food. Good natured serious pros that are also fun loving souls with outgoing accomodating attitudes, and equally important sensationl dining and product to boot.The room is packed more often then not.I highly suggest a reservation at all dining hours day or night.Weekend as can be expected is usually a tough reservation.
It has always been filled from my 4 experiences with mostly happy joy filled diners that don't want to leave the restaraunt to go back to work after lunch or home after dinner.Kokkari is rare indeed as it truly excels at both lunch and dinner. Very often not the case with the many restaraunts I visit.Tables are close together and leave the option to mingle or not with your neighbors.Some may not appreciate that but I did.(thought it added to the experience)We enjoyed tastes of rice pudding offered to our table by the table seated next to us.We had not even ordered appetizers yet!I dislike rice pudding yet it appeared outstanding.Decided to let my guard down and without hesitation we excepted a sample. Was suprised with how extrodinary in taste & texture it was with cherries and fresh peaches surrounding it.They have converted me.I do not know what to begin to reccomend here because the kitchen has so many stregnths.The dining event starts with bowls of marinated olives on each table which rank amongst some of the best I have ever eaten.Then large size baskets of 2 kinds of perfectly fresh sturdy crusted bread freshly cut on a table from loaves out of huge baskets in front of the fireplace.Don't miss any kind of Lamb especially on the shank bone @ dinner. Prepared from the Gods .Tender melt in the mouth variety. Not Lamby or gamey think rich decadent and beefy.Every dish sampled chicken charcoal grilled to perfection on skewers or seafood was equally up staging and ranked very good to excellent.Only the Spinach salad came in as satisfactory or unexceptional.Deserts soar and continue the winning streak by breaking new ground in the usual way one thinks about Greek Pastry.Sweetness takes the back seat. True quality & ingredients come shining through letting the pastry nuts and honey take center stage as they should.Martha Stewart herself would approve indeed! Have run into her at a small # of restaraunts in my travels! Hope that is a good thing! Bring your other half,date or just come yourself. They even treat singles exceedingly well too.If you don't walk out with a smile on your face you probably have had a real bad day.
Plotting a September return as we speak.Anyone have a good diet plan in the meantime to ready myself?!!
Bon Apetit Happy Travels!
------------------
American Airlines & Starwood Hotel Platinum,
Hilton Diamond Marriott Platinum
United Airline Premier Executive
[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 08-03-2002).]
the Greek Restaraunt in San Francisco called Kokkari or as the restaraunt states on its business card Contemporary Hellenic Cuisine.Already considered by Zagat Restaraunt survey and others to be amongst the best in the city for food,decor and ambience.As good as Zagat is many times I wonder what the participants could have been thinking. This time they understated the facts.That is a stunning space with dramatic floral arrangements and a fire place in the main room.Casual or dressy fun/festive and yet still a bit romantic in feel.Kind servers abound .They show passion in people and food. Good natured serious pros that are also fun loving souls with outgoing accomodating attitudes, and equally important sensationl dining and product to boot.The room is packed more often then not.I highly suggest a reservation at all dining hours day or night.Weekend as can be expected is usually a tough reservation.
It has always been filled from my 4 experiences with mostly happy joy filled diners that don't want to leave the restaraunt to go back to work after lunch or home after dinner.Kokkari is rare indeed as it truly excels at both lunch and dinner. Very often not the case with the many restaraunts I visit.Tables are close together and leave the option to mingle or not with your neighbors.Some may not appreciate that but I did.(thought it added to the experience)We enjoyed tastes of rice pudding offered to our table by the table seated next to us.We had not even ordered appetizers yet!I dislike rice pudding yet it appeared outstanding.Decided to let my guard down and without hesitation we excepted a sample. Was suprised with how extrodinary in taste & texture it was with cherries and fresh peaches surrounding it.They have converted me.I do not know what to begin to reccomend here because the kitchen has so many stregnths.The dining event starts with bowls of marinated olives on each table which rank amongst some of the best I have ever eaten.Then large size baskets of 2 kinds of perfectly fresh sturdy crusted bread freshly cut on a table from loaves out of huge baskets in front of the fireplace.Don't miss any kind of Lamb especially on the shank bone @ dinner. Prepared from the Gods .Tender melt in the mouth variety. Not Lamby or gamey think rich decadent and beefy.Every dish sampled chicken charcoal grilled to perfection on skewers or seafood was equally up staging and ranked very good to excellent.Only the Spinach salad came in as satisfactory or unexceptional.Deserts soar and continue the winning streak by breaking new ground in the usual way one thinks about Greek Pastry.Sweetness takes the back seat. True quality & ingredients come shining through letting the pastry nuts and honey take center stage as they should.Martha Stewart herself would approve indeed! Have run into her at a small # of restaraunts in my travels! Hope that is a good thing! Bring your other half,date or just come yourself. They even treat singles exceedingly well too.If you don't walk out with a smile on your face you probably have had a real bad day.
Plotting a September return as we speak.Anyone have a good diet plan in the meantime to ready myself?!!
Bon Apetit Happy Travels!
------------------
American Airlines & Starwood Hotel Platinum,
Hilton Diamond Marriott Platinum
United Airline Premier Executive
[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 08-03-2002).]