"Though chefs Carrie and Rupert Blease named Lord Stanley for their favorite British pub, their menu is pretty much as far from pub grub as you can get. The chefs met while working at the Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, England; he’s British, she’s American, and after stints at Per Se (Rupert) and Blue Hill (Carrie), they opened a clean, well-lighted place of their own. On a corner of Russian Hill, their food feels eminently San Franciscan: doggedly seasonal, stunningly beautiful, effortlessly modern. You’ve never truly understood a sweet potato or a mushroom or a leek until you’ve seen it through the Bleases’ eyes. White sweet potatoes are transformed into charred pastalike ribbons; grilled trumpet mushrooms arrive on skewers, to be dipped into an earthy almond paste; and a deep-flavored vegetable broth might accompany a gently cooked piece of cod. The nearly all-white space provides a subtle background for some of the most original and exciting cooking happening in San Francisco right now. PRO TIP: Both à la carte and a tasting menu are offered. The latter is great for special occasions; the former makes this place totally appropriate to drop into for a bunch of snacks, starters, and a great bottle of wine. THE DETAILS: Reservations recommended." - Condé Nast
