Rosalie and I have a favorite haunt on "Union Street" that we see as our "virtual" blog headquarters. Our office is really the first 2 bar stools on the left, but this magic has to start somewhere. Our favorite waiter at this secret location suggested this latest blog find, "Nopalito". We may make him a permanent employee with these kinds of recommendations!
Napolito has a double meaning in San Francisco.
(noh-pah-lee-toe) noun
1: a slice of nopal (cactus leaf) used in Mexican cooking
2: a San Francisco restaurant serving traditional Mexican cuisine
Nopalito is a traditional Mexican restaurant that boasts it's sustainable, organic fare and it is delish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They have 2 locations and both are usually packed. You can't make reservations, but you can access the wait list in person or by phone. There's a community table and open-bar seating, but if you prefer a private table, you can always join the line in front of Fallettis Plaza.
It's worth the wait and this place is set up to seat you as soon as they can, without feeling rushed once you are seated and enjoying your "Bebedas Hechas en Casa" (housemade beverages) & "Cerveza"!
(popsicle, anyone?)
Our staff photographer and I started with our beverages (strawberry lemonade for Rosalie and Tacate' with salt and a lime for me) and an order of "Totopas con Chile" (chips with salsa de arbol, cotija cheese, crema and lime).
OMG!!!!!!
Moving on..........Rosalie wanted to try something less traditional, to spice up the blog, so she ordered the "Machaca de Camaron con Huevo y Salsa" (smashed shrimp, egg, Serrano pepper tomato, onion, cilantro, refried black beans and salsa ligera de jitomate). I ordered the very traditional "Carnitas" (braised pork, orange, bay leaf, milk, cinnamon, beer, cabbage salad, pickled jalapeno and salsa de tomatillo).
That's right! Delish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At the end of our food fiesta, our waiter brought 2 almond cookies, rolled in powdered sugar - the perfect bite-sized treat of sweetness & butter.
This little haven has drawn me back several times since our first visit. Once for Margaritas & crispy pork belly Quesadillas with my sister-in-law, who was visiting from CT.
I even stopped on my way home the other night and ordered the "Pazole Rojo" from "Nopalito's" most convenient take-out counter. Absolutely fabdelish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Definitely 2 thumbs 3 fingers up on this one!
I think I see Burmese food in our future. Have you heard about "Burma Superstar"? Rosalie is packing her camera gear and we're off to investigate more fab finds for you, our faithful and patient followers.
I wonder how you say Adios in Burmese?
