Slow Food City

by Chelsea Lin - Citysearch Editor - 76 Reviews - 90 Lists

Updated: April 20, 2008

It looks like the food of the past--sustainable, local, organic--will, after decades of destructive, imported and unnatural agriculture, become the food of the future. Skip the Franken-foods and check out local restaurants supporting the slow food movement, or do it on your own with local farmers' markets and CSAs.

On this page:Eating Out: Restaurants Focused on Sustainable, Local Ingredients, Dining In: Bringing the Farm Home with Farmers' Markets and CSAs.

Eating Out: Restaurants Focused on Sustainable, Local Ingredients

  1. 1 4 Star Rating: Recommended Chez Panisse
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    1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709 (map)

    If Alice Waters is the mother of the slow food movement, consider this legendary Berkeley resto its birthplace. The menu may be simple (i.e. a single peach for dessert), but the ingredients are as fresh as they come.

  2. 2 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop
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    3692 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94110 (map)

    Maybe people line up out front of this Mission area ice cream shop because everything is made locally, sustainably and organic, but it can't hurt that the finished products are delicious as well.

  3. 3 4 Star Rating: Recommended B Restaurant and Bar
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    720 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94107 (map)

    The Yerba Buena Gardens location of this popular eatery features upscale farm-to-table dining. It's an especially choice spot for happy hour, when patrons can enjoy a range of bar foods (and $1 oysters) with their cocktails.

  4. 4 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Kara's Cupcakes
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    900 N Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109 (map)

    The city's hippest confection (made with all local ingredients) seeks to satisfy the sweet tooth of Ghirardelli Square shoppers. Stop by this location or the main Scott Street one for a range of tiny cakes made from Gilt Edge milk products, Ghirardelli chocolate and fruits from the Ferry Building.

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Roots Restaurant
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    466 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108 (map)

    Green goes beyond the menu at this Union Square restaurant, where the food, decor and surrounding hotel all radiate with sustainability.

  6. 6 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Blue Bottle Coffee Kiosk
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    315 Linden St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

    What started as a tiny, walk-up coffee counter in Hayes Valley has turned into a city-wide phenomenon. These local artisan microroasters provide organic beans for not only their own cafes, but various restaurants around town.

  7. 7 3.5 Star Rating: Average Pizzaiolo
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    5008 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609 (map)

    This popular pizzeria in Oakland's Temescal district changes the menu daily to reflect what's in season at the local farms that supply their ingredients.

  8. 8 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Tataki Restaurant
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    2815 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (map)

    Sushi goes green (in a good way) at this bare-bones Japanese restaurant with a conscience. The inconspicuous Pac Heights resto even employs a sustainability specialist to keep updated on which fish are OK to serve.

Dining In: Bringing the Farm Home with Farmers' Markets and CSAs

  1. 9 Mariquita Farm
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    142 Linden Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076 (map)

    Become a share-holder in this local farm and get surprised weekly with bags of seasonal, fresh produce delivered to locations through the Bay Area.

  2. 10 Capay Organic Fruits & Vegetables
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    1 Ferry Plaza Ste 21, San Francisco, CA 94105 (map)

    This family-run organic farm stand offers an ever-changing array of seasonal goodies grown in Capay Valley. Their delivery service is one of the city's most popular.

  3. 11 Eating with the Seasons
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    3739 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121 (map)

    Members of this Bay Area CSA choose from a weekly menu of available goods--not just produce but eggs, herbs, honey, nuts and more--that are then delivered straight from the farm.

  4. 12 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Heart Of The City Farmer's
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    1182 Market St Ste 415, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

    Cheaper than the Ferry Building and slightly more eclectic, this bustling market hits Civic Center every Wednesday and Sunday, bringing the typical fare and also a solid selection of Asian veggies, ready-to-eat grub and more.

  5. 13 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Farmer's Market
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    100 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94110 (map)

    Saturdays at this popular Bernal Heights market are a neighborhood affair, with locals perusing shady stalls for fresh fruits and veggies, eggs and flowers.

  6. 14 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market
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    Market St and The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105 (map)

    The daily offerings at this permanent Euro-style market range from salumi to cupcakes and fresh cheeses to wild mushrooms, but Tuesdays and Saturdays bring an unrivaled farmers' market with plenty of fresh produce and flowers as well.