Good Taste celebrates the world-class Bay Area food scene. This week, we’re coming through with fun brunch recs for you.
Adventurous prix fixe: Tanzie’s
My close friends recently treated me to an incredible Thai prix fixe brunch at Tanzie’s, where you will likely meet Tanzie some time during your generously portioned and beautifully plated meal. The menu has probably changed since that visit; it alternates between small individual bites, like Ap Ong Owe, a duo of pork brain custard and mousse in a Northern curry, and family-style dishes such as Nam Prik Pla Tu, a dip made of pounded smoked sturgeon and served with caviar and crudités. But I’m sure the elegant choreography is in the same vein.
Whether going for the prix fixe or grazing from the à la carte menu (get the famous lava eggs for the table at least), reservations are highly recommended—unless you like the experience of waiting in line and meeting people? I’m also looking forward to trying Nudi Blue, their new afternoon tea spot.
Tanzie’s, 1453 Dwight Way, Berkeley. www.tanziescafe.com
Family-friendly and casual: ‘ammatka cafe
While we’re talking about Berkeley, I think a super fun idea for families with young kids who want to do something active and educational is to take them to the Lawrence Hall of Science on a weekend and eat at the new casual ‘ammatka cafe. Opened earlier this year by Cafe Ohlone’s Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino, younger eaters will gravitate to ‘ammatka’s grilled cheese sandwiches, tater tots with Ohlone aioli, and Dino nuggets.
Adults are going to love the Ohlone salad, with blackberries, dried strawberries, gooseberries, and seasonal greens, and the grilled cheese with mozzarella, Wagon Wheel cheese, blackberry jam, and jalapeños. But the real boss move here is to order the smoked duck sandwich with Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam triple cream cheese and homemade rose hip jam on Acme bread.
If you haven’t been there since you were a kid on a field trip, there’s so much to appreciate as an adult, especially now that Ohlone education is at the forefront. Plus, there are some really awesome animatronic dinosaurs in the rapidly evolving backyard, where thousands of Ohlone plants are greening up the hill.
Pàng
Described as “a cross-generational collaboration between immigrants and ABCs [American Born Chinese],” Pàng just recently completed its soft opening in the Inner Sunset. The black sesame noodles with 24-hour tenderloin is one of the most memorable dishes I’ve had in California this year, and I’m excited to return with a friend to try more group-friendly dishes, such as a DIY scallion pancake set. This is the kind of place that will have you mentally planning your next visit while you’re still eating. I suspect early arrival (before 11 a.m. weekend opening) will minimize the line, as it has so far on weekdays.
1309 Ninth Avenue, San Francisco. www.pangsf.com
Fiery rooftop vibes: Chotto Matte
The weekend Terraza brunch at the Japanese-Peruvian rooftop restaurant Chotto Matte offers tropical drinks in Tiki glasses, signature sushi flamed tableside, and some really lovely steak and eggs for those weekend surf and turf disco hazes. If you always wondered what it was like to enjoy the views from atop the former Macy’s Men’s building, it’s actually pretty fabulous! My hosted brunch visit included some unexpectedly impressive DJ accompaniment as well, and I’m picky!
Chotto Matte, 50 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco. chotto-matte.com/sanfrancisco/
