Extra crispy

Minnie Bell’s, best steakhouses, Potrero Hill listings, Che Fico, Monterey burritos, Kauai dining upgrades, reader survey, MORE

Sep 04, 2024

∙ Paid

RESTAURANTS • First Person

Fillmore birds

There's a hot new contender for top-notch fried chicken in San Francisco. Known for her rosemary-laden recipe, chef Fernay McPherson had been frying some of the best bird in the Bay out of a stall in the Public Market Emeryville. She brought it all back to the Fillmore in April, opening Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement in the same neighborhood her family has lived for three generations.

Right after opening, people waited more than an hour to try Bell’s bird. Fortunately, the lines have simmered down a bit — because the chicken lives up to the hype and is seriously good. It’s buttermilk-brined until juicy, fried until extra crispy, and has a whiff of fresh rosemary for a Cali twist.

It’s definitely a neighborhood spot, filled with friends and families chatting and catching the Giants game at the bar. Nods to the historic neighborhood, once the center of the city’s music scene, include a big black-and-white photo of the neighborhood back in the 1960s on one wall, and a mural of McPherson’s great aunt Minnie and grandmother Lillie Bell on another. Gold light fixtures, velvet curtains, and house plants all add jazzy touches.

In addition to the trademark chicken, rack it up with all the sides: mac and cheese with extra cheese melted into the top, earthy and bitter collards slow-cooked until silky, and a sweet and rich slab of brown butter cornbread. (Yes, it’s worth adding some hot honey butter on that.)

There’s a damn fine sweet tea, too. And on the local-leaning wine list, plenty of bubbles by the glass, the ultimate pairing with fried chicken and an apt way to celebrate the return of another new San Francisco classic, not a moment too soon. –Becky Duffett

→ Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement (Fillmore) • 1375 Fillmore St • Tues-Thurs 4-9p, Fri & Sat 4-10p • No reservations.

Photo: Citizen Film

WORK • Feedback Loop

Take our survey, please

We kicked off the first FOUND reader survey last week. If you missed it, you can find it here. It should take just a minute or so to complete. As a thank you, we’re offering a couple of annual paid subscriptions and also our sincere gratitude for your commitment to the cause.

In the early days of a startup, feedback can be tricky. Anecdotal reactions can have an outsize effect on mood and direction, if you’re not careful. Somebody casually mentions they heard someone’s sister’s husband isn’t a fan of x feature and all of the sudden you’re questioning your entire existence, wondering if it’s time to get a real job, probably something with a formal annual review process.

So some of the early work is just keeping your head down and doing the work that you set out to do. I’ve read the jacked-up LinkedIn posts about the value of constant user-testing and probing, which makes sense for some businesses, but not exactly for media and definitely not for the media we’re trying to build — or the kind of business that we want to be running. It’s not meant to be for everybody (just you, of course).

But today, we’ve got enough foundation that we’re ready to hear it all. The early results are in, and it’s been extremely edifying to learn about FOUND’s (very accomplished) readers and rewarding to get the feedback (we see you, “I literally read every one top to bottom.”) — even the constructive criticism, most of which we’ve registered without existential dread.

Of course we’re going to use some of the responses to sell some fancy luxury advertising (inquiries to sales@itsfoundsf.com!), but also to shape the product. Watch this space. And please, dear FOUND reader, do fill out our reader survey. –Josh Albertson

SF RESTAURANT LINKS: In the Marina, The Brixton has reopened • Merchant Roots has moved from the Fillmore to SoMa • Nopa Fish to open next year in the Ferry Building • Florida chef to open two spots in plum Transamerica Pyramid locations • Why caviar is on so many Bay Area menus.

REAL ESTATE • On the Market

Screen time

Is it always sunny in Potrero Hill, or does it just seem that way? The neighborhood’s pleasant weather is probably one of the reasons so many TV shows and movies have filmed on location there, from Bullitt to Copycat to Ant-Man and the Wasp. Those fantastic views of the city skyline also help — and the two factors make real estate in the area especially desirable.

With a mix of new construction and turn-of-the-century classics up for grabs, the market in the area’s been healthy, with 20 homes and 31 condos changing hands in the past year, per Compass. The median price for the former is around $1.66M, and $1.05M for the latter. Here, three listings ready for their close-ups:

→ 927 Kansas St (Potrero Hill, above) • 3BR/2.1BA, 2300 SF condo • Ask: $2.595M • Two-level new construction with private yard and EV-ready garage • Days on market: 15 • Agent: Joshua J. McAdam, Sotheby’s.

→ 1236 Wisconsin St (Potrero Hill) • 3BR/2BA, 956 SF home • Ask: $895K (reduced from $999 to $995K on 7/25, then by another $100K on 8/23) • Original owner 1984 home with fully remodeled kitchen and bathrooms • Days on market: 52 • Agent: Erik Richard Dale Throm, City.

→ 594-598 Vermont St (Potrero Hill) • 3BR/2.2BA, 2400 SF mixed-use • Ask: $1.49M (reduced from $1.85M on 4/9) • Two-level residence above ground-level storefront/office • Days on market: 206 • Agent: Maggie Radoslavova, eXp.

SF WORK AND PLAY LINKS: SF’s oldest house finally sells for $2M • Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco moves downtown • Danville’s landmark Behring estate snagged by Tahoe-based buyer • What do the olds think about Gen Z workers? Quite vexing… but maybe they’re right!

WORK • Wednesday Routine

Rolling out

JAZMINE FENTON • chef de cuisine • Che Fico
Neighborhood you live in: Western Addition/NOPA

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
We have deliveries rolling into the restaurant from 7 a.m. and onward. I start my day by saying good morning to each person in the building and asking how their workload looks, and if they need support with anything. Then I organize my day and begin rolling sfoglia. This is a traditional technique of hand mixed, hand-rolled and hand-cut pasta which will become our tagliatelle al ragu dish — a true labor of love. The process takes a few hours and brings me great joy.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
My fiancé has literally just called and asked me to meet him for lunch at Art's Cafe in the Inner Sunset. Get the hash brown sandwich! This weekend I'm having dinner at HOPR (House of Prime Rib) which, if you haven't been, you haven't truly lived yet. Get a martini — trust me on this one.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I'll be cheering on the Giants at Oracle Park — arguably the best ballpark in the country. Another favorite event to put on the calendar for May of next year is "R&B and Ribs" a day party of music, dancing, good food and great vibes that by two restaurant industry friends, Kelvin Castellanos (DJ Knowpa Slaps) and Eric Ehler (owner of Outta Sight Pizza).

Any weekend getaways that have been memorable lately?
My fiancé and I have been doing weekend getaways to Monterey, where his family lives, and it's always such a wonderful time. Monterey is absolutely gorgeous, has incredible amounts of history and the people who live there are so friendly and kind. Eating El Charrito burritos with a view of the ocean is an absolute must. The aquarium is also an immersive and exciting experience no matter how many times I go.

What was your last great vacation?
My last great vacation was to Portugal last year, specifically Lisbon and Porto. Every single thing about this trip was better than I could have ever imagined — the food, the scenery, the history of the country — just amazing. I cannot wait to go back.

What store or service do you always recommend to people?
Not a store but one restaurant that I NEVER stop talking about and eat at monthly is Rintaro. The food, service and atmosphere are unmatched! They also released a cookbook last year that I gifted to three different people for Christmas.

GETAWAYS • Kauai

Garden Isle dining

Kauai’s food offerings have often taken a back seat to its stunning landscape, but the dining scene on Kauai has never been better than it is right now. The island’s marquee mid- to upscale restaurants are always reliable, with their headliner chefs or killer views (see: Bar Acuda, JO2, The Beach House, Eating House 1849, and Merriman’s), but here are three somewhat newer spots that warrant your attention.

Yes, the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay (above) is certainly White Lotus material, but its 1 Kitchen is not just another hotel restaurant in a majestic setting. From house-made bucatini with Kauai shrimp, to a kanpachi crudo with finger lime vinaigrette, the food is uniformly fresh and compelling. Don’t miss the cocktails either, especially a quirky Angostura bitters-driven Hanalei Sour.
→ 1 Kitchen (Hanalei Bay) • 5520 Ka Haku Rd • Daily 7a-10p.

Fish Bar Deli in Kapa’a is indeed a bar, deli/market and restaurant that focuses on fish — really good, local fish. Mid-afternoon is the perfect time to swing by for a post-beach session complemented by a truly special ahi bruschetta and the almost-foot-tall cornmeal-crusted island catch sandwich.
→ Fish Bar Deli (Kapa’a) • 4-1380 Kuhio Hwy • Wed-Sun, 12-7p.

Poipu’s Red Salt at the Ko’a Kea Resort is a triple-threat: excellent sushi bar, terrific restaurant, and destination-worthy breakfast spot. Chef Noelani Plana’s fine dining menu is inspired by island gardens and the nearby ocean, and its Madagascar vanilla bean-seared mahi mahi is considered one of the gold standards in an area filled with superb local fish dishes. –Trevor Felch
→ Red Salt (Koloa) • 2251 Poipu Rd • Daily 7-11a and 5-830p.

GETAWAYS LINKS: On the market: Mount Tamalpais’s Mountain Home Inn • Fences banned at Stinson • Watch for bears in South Tahoe • Lantern Room restaurant opens in Monterey Beach Hotel • Dominique Crenn’s first Paris restaurant shutters • First look inside the new Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto • Is Clear still worth it?

CULTURE & LEISURE • Gala Affairs

S.F. Heritage 2024 Gala • War Memorial (Civic Center) • Thurs @ 5p • VIP, $250 per
Mk.gee • Fox (Oakland) • Fri @ 8p • LOGE, $78 per
Sophie Ellis-Bextor • The Fillmore (Fillmore) • Sat @ 8p • GA, $48 per

ASK FOUND

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Three FOUND subscriber PROMPTS for which we are seeking intel:

Where are you excited about dining this fall?
What’s your favorite bookstore in the Bay Area?
Which spa are you booking to escape the chaos of the season?

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RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Steakhouses

The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of the Bay Area’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundsf.com. For the full archives, click here.

Miller & Lux (Mission Bay, above), Tyler Florence’s mid-century-styled steakhouse in Chase Center