Barcha Restaurant

"Barcha is a welcome oasis in Downtown San Francisco. It’s one of a handful of reliable dinner spots in the neighborhood. Barcha’s Mediterranean menu is downright tasty, plus it has good Happy Hour deals ($12 cocktails and bites starting at $7). But your focus should be on dinner when you can order from their full menu. Try the tahdig that is satisfyingly crispy, grilled octopus that has just the right amount of char and chew, and seafood tagine that’s acidic, sweet, and savory all at the same time. Take your pick of covered and heated outdoor seating or the narrow dining room, but if you don’t enjoy bumping club music, ask for a seat on the patio. Office workers leave the area deserted after 5pm, so walk-ins and reservations are  easy to get, including on Saturdays. If you need a last-minute date night venue or just happen to be in the area, keep this spot in mind. Food Rundown Persian Tahdig This dish eats like a delicious Russian nesting doll. You get a layer of crusty-bottomed rice, then a coating of aioli-esque sauce, followed by a crispy roasted duck leg, and that’s finished off with an over-easy quail egg, fried shallots, and a dusting of herbs. Rich, shareable, and a must-order. Spanish Octopus Nary a rubbery cephalopod to be found at Barcha. Tender slightly charred tendrils arrive resting on smears of bean puree that you’ll want to lick off the plate. Fattoush Salad When we order a salad, we’d hope it’s one that we couldn’t easily replicate at home. But chopped romaine with pomegranate, feta, and cucumber puts this bland veggie dish in the running for the least interesting dish on the menu. Seafood Tagine A mixed bag of sea creatures. Filets of ling cod are dry while open-mouthed clams are tender and juicy. If you can’t fathom a meal without seafood, give it a shot, but don’t be surprised when some bites are worse than others." - Patrick Wong