We started with lunch and drinks at La Mar with a few friends who'd never been. J had the classic pisco sour, which is still our favorite drink. I tried the Chicha la ma, a combination of pisco, passion fruit syrup, and homemade chica morada (some kind of fermented red corn). In the background are the chips and sauces La Mar serves instead of bread. They're all quite tasty, though the sauces could have a little more spiciness to them.
We shared several ceviches (or cebiches, as the Peruvians spell it). This one's a crudo that included uni, scallops, and halibut. Though this dish was a smaller portion than the others (probably because it had more expensive ingredients), it had the best broth. J and I spent a lot of the time spooning up the liquid, which the Peruvians call leche de tigre (tiger's milk!). Rwar, I guess it's supposed to be food for the bold.
I think the overall favorite was the Nikkei, which is Japanese influenced. This dish was tuna with flavors of sesame, cilantro, and nori.
The cebiche criolla came in a classic aji amarillo, or creamy yellow sauce. The criollo style of cooking is what is considered native Peruvian, with some Spanish or African influence.
The cebiche mixto was more of a classic version that you might find at most Peruvian restaurants. What I love about La Mar is that you can get over half a dozen of distinctly different cebiches, which makes the dishes more of a meal and less of an appetizer like they are at other restaurants.
Bu this time, J and I were ready for a second cocktail. We shared a pisco punch, which was like a pisco sour all dolled up with some pineapple juice added. The pisco sour is still my favorite.
Another favorite dish, which J's ordered all three times he's been to La Mar: antichuchos, or grilled octopus. There's no explaining how La Mar gets octopus to be so tender. As odd an image as it may be, every time I eat it I want to say they're like seafood marshmallows. 
Paella chifa. Chifa cuisine is Peruvian cuisine with a Chinese influence. This pretty much tasted like fried rice, but really really good fried rice with plenty of "wok flavor." It was chock full of grilled octopus and calamari rings, and topped with a very tender scrambled egg.
Pasta picante. I thought this looked incredible when I saw someone else with it last time, but it was disappointing. Part of the problem was that it was lukewarm, but I just don't think the sauce had enough kick. The pasta criolla was disappointing last time, so I think I'll be skipping pasta at La Mar from now on.
Another favorite of mine is the passion fruit and coconut bavarian, because sometimes I just like cake more than pudding. I love what Tartine does with all things lemon, and even though this is passion fruit it has a delicious tang of lemon.
On the other hand, I wouldn't say Tartine is great with chocolate. The cake, which I've liked in the past, just isn't great. For this style of dense chocolate cake with ganache, I'd head to Delessio instead.
La Mar: $50 each for lunch and two cocktails per person
Tartine: $30 for three desserts and two lattes
A sunny, carefree day in San Francisco? Priceless.
4 comments:
a $100 lunch??? Crazy expensive & little food, that place is the Biggest Rip-off EVER!
Did u walk to Tartine Bakery? It's all the way in the Mission!
It is expensive, but it's not exhorbitant by SF standards. Bear in mind, we had TWO cocktails each (I know, we're lushes. It was a special day).
Meals at La Mar have been about $30 for food, which is what you'd pay at a number of places--Zuni Cafe, Slanted Door, any Japanese restaurant where you're not just eating maki rolls. And the menu is the same for both lunch and dinner. Plus, I'm no small eater, and I've left La Mar VERY full every time.
And if you think about it, sushi grade, sustainably farmed/caught fish should cost way more than roast chicken (Zuni's staple) or shaking beef and garlic noodles (Slanted door). But it doesn't, which is why it's worth it to me.
Plus, I don't know dinner HAS to be the choice for a fancy meal, and lunch has to be cheap.
Most people would say that $50 for dinner and two drinks is not unheard of (though still not something I do often). Sometimes I want to spend that $50 on lunch and enjoy the sunshine, the lighter crowds, and the pleasure of enjoying an afternoon after a satisfying meal. Then I can eat at home or enjoy a bowl of $6 noodles for dinner.
We took the J Church to Tartine. But I've walked from downtown to Sausalito, so what's a couple of miles? :)
I can't read your blog anymore! It gets me depressed that I wasn't in on the eating action, Wah!
You went to La Mar again?? Haha...so did I. I went on Thursday with co-workers for drinks and a quick snack. I tried a couple other drinks which were good too (none pictured). The bartender was soo nice and gave me a basket of chips and dip.
I love La Mar!
Post a Comment