Sweet Woodruff, 798 Sutter Street, Lower Nob Hill (EOPB)

And how sweet it is at "Sweet Woodruff", the sister restaurant of  Nob Hill's, Michelin starred "Sons & Daughters".  "Sweet Woodruff" is located right downtown at Sutter & Jones.
There's a substantial amount of counter seating, but they offer take-away so you need never leave empty handed, even when the place is packed.
The menu is equally small, but bursting with unique combinations of flavors that have been "artfully" designed by chef/owners Teague Moriarty and Matt McNamara.

The staff is extremely friendly and although they don't take reservations, it's well worth the wait or you can opt for a late lunch and avoid the lines.

The food is great and there's a really nice vibe about this place!
The large open kitchen is a main attraction at this high-end counter service restaurant, and the magic begins when you place your order at the counter.  You can take a daily menu from the "order here" area or make your choices from the large chalk boards that announce the fab fare of the day.

Rosalie ordered the "Artichoke Grilled Cheese" with green olive, Gruyere & white cheddar.  After a lot of deliberation, I finally settled on the "Cardwell", Berkshire ham, applewood bacon, aged cheddar and their wonderful homemade pickles.  Both sandwiches where served with lovely fresh arugula that was lightly dressed and the combination was really fabdelish!  Everything on this menu is sourced from local providers and all the breads, condiments, etc. are made in-house.  "Sweet Woodruff" shares their off-site herb and vegetable garden with their famous next-of-kin, "Sons & Daughters".  This is the garden where they grow all their veggies and the "sweet woodruff herb" that has proved to be a perfect ingredient and a perfect name for this fabdelish eatery.

 

Not that we're that famous or anything (well, maybe a little), but our staff photographer was snapping shots like "Henri Cartier-Bresson"!
The restaurant staff was sure Rosalie had to be a famous photographer, and as a result, we were awarded a lovely surprise at the end of our delightful lunch!

Delish!!!!!!!!! 

The food is fabdelish and the pedigree is proven.
I wish more great chefs and chef/owners had the vision and forethought to create "downward-compatible" restaurants.
"Quince" did it with "Catogna" in the financial district, as well, so we know it works.  We really hope this trend will continue.
Not everyone can afford to dine at "Sons & Daughters", but you can experience and enjoy the same expertise, great ingredients and unique combinations of flavors at "easy on the pocketbook" prices at "Sweet Woodruff".

Even the "Sons &Daughters" pastry chef is creating special desserts for their sister restaurant.

Here are a few examples:

"Vanilla Pot de Crème" (shortbread cookie & berries)

"Lemon Curd Pinenut Cookie"

"Pelt Bread Pudding" (golden raisin & chocolate sauce)

"Strawberry Panna Cotta" (balsamic, pistachio & chocolate)

OMG!!!!!!!

Now, if you want to enjoy one of those fab "Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies", either take Rosalie and her camera with you or go on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon between 2pm and 5:30pm.  (They're on the "Sweet Woodruff Afternoon" menu.)

We think that when you blend these daily menus, the unique ever-changing wine and micro brew lists, added to the cool décor of steel blue paint and reclaimed wood, you define "The Sweet Woodruff Success"!

 

So......... go, enjoy, relax, indulge!  This casual spot is not to be missed!!!!! 

Rosalie and I were so impressed, we are awarding "Sweet Woodruff" one "Mula Star".  This is the "More is Less Mula's"  hallmark of fine dining quality award.  (Hope Michelin is open to some competition!)

So CONGRATULATIONS to our first award winning restaurant! 

 

And now...............these 2 ex-PI bloggers are off to investigate for you, our faithful and fabulous followers, more divine finds that are either "EOBP" or "BDYW", giving you options for whatever strikes your pallet and purse.

 

Footnote:

"Henri Cartier-Bresson": (August 22, 1908 – August 3, 2004) was a French photographer considered to be the father of modern photojournalism. He was an early adopter of 35 mm format, and the master of candid photography.  He has always been a big influence in Rosalie's photography career.

 

 

 

 

Nettie's Crab Shack, 2032 Union Street, The Marina (EOPB)

Okay......This is a DIVINE seafood find!!!!!!  "Nettie's Crab Shack" is not a place you just blog about. It's a place where you quickly become a "regular"!



"Nettie's" has a great patio, right on Union Street and the inside is reminiscent of an East Coast fish house, with huge chunky wood tables & chairs and a large open-kitchen. There are tons of windows so that even though you're inside, it feels like you're still outside.  It's hard to explain how they did this, but go see for yourself!
Rosalie and I were there on a bright sunny day in this city by the bay, and..................while there is never an empty table on that patio when the sun shines, it really was our lucky day!  We got the primo spot!!!
Just to get you in the crab shack mood....... think of oysters, buckets of mussels or clams, crab rolls, even fried oyster po'boys and fresh fish BLT's with fried green tomatoes...... just to name a few of the fabdelish offerings on this mouthwatering menu.

Our staff photographer and I started with a celebratory beverage as we marveled at our "lucky seating".  I had a lovely light & fresh Savignon Blanc and Rosalie enjoyed a perfect, cold & bubbly Presecco.


Deciding what to order was not easy.  Every dish that went by (delivered to another table) looked more scrumptious then the one before.  Finally I settled on the "bucket o' mussels" with andouille sausage in a flavorful broth that was to die for!  Rosalie had the fried oyster po'boy,  fully dressed, with Nettie's famous rosemary shoestring potatoes, that she found delish!!!!!!  I also indulged in numerous slices of fresh-baked sourdough with cold creamy butter, and as a result, these ex-PI's had to pass on dessert, but will definitely return to reinvestigate the unique dessert menu at "the shack". 


Even though we were stuffed it was not an easy decision to walk away.  Why, you ask???????  Try.....dark chocolate & pumpkin cake with hot fudge sauce, a good ol' chocolate chip skillet cookie (a la mode) or warm apple & pear crisp with brown sugar streusel..........  I won't even bring up that butterscotch pudding!!!!!!!!!!  


 The owners of this divine crab shack say it was their dream to create a restaurant that........"would feel completely open and airy by day, but glow with candlelight and wine glasses by night. It would be filled with people that like to eat and drink, people that cared about where their food came from and the people that ate it. A serious place that didn't take itself too seriously."

They certainly succeeded with this casual, friendly and absolutely fabdelish restaurant!!

So.....Imbibe!  Soak up the "crab shack" ambiance! Delight in the local seafood and indulge in "Nettie's" vast and unique selection of beers and wines.

One last look at the po'boy!

Rosalie and I will be back on the streets looking for more great places for you, our faithful followers, to enjoy more for less mula!  However........... according to the "Private Investigator's Code of Ethics", Rosalie and I have an obligation to always investigate anything "fishy", so we'll probably see you at "Nettie's" when you get there!