AT CITIZEN CAKE, lunchtime diners are coaxing the last crumbs of dessert onto their forks. Owner Elizabeth Falkner, named pastry chef of the year by San Francisco magazine, wears a pensive look beneath her spiky blond hair. Her conumdrum: too name four favorite resaurants.
"It's all about the food, " she declares, "and we have amazing food in San Francisco. I absolutely love Zuni Cafe'. The location, the building, the interior. Zuni executes everything consistently. Like their soup. They make just the best stock! The wine list is always well thought out.
"House is Asian fusion but not crazy, " Flakner says. "The food's clean and simplified - Hawaiian butterfish served with mashed potatoes with a wasabi cream sauce. House has a great wine list and fablulous desserts. The Thai tea panacotta is really cool.
"They Phamon is the best Thai restaurant in San Francisco. The salads are spicy, sweet, and sometimes served with marinated beef (rare) and fresh greens. And the fish is good, such as whole grilled fish with coconut curry sauce.
"I really like this small resaurant called Florio. It has a cozy interior with mustard yellow walls, a great walnut bar, and marble tile floors. It's standard French bistro fare. I usually order a steak, pomme frites, and a bottle of one of my favorite Zinfandels, a Rafanelli."

Tue-Fri: 8am-10pm

Sat: 10am-10pm

Sun: 10am-5pm