Our Monday in San Francisco

Monday was going to be our first full day in San Francisco. The night before had been a small taste of what the city had to offer. What can I say? After just half a day it was lust. Would I fall in love with this place. Would it displace the current love of my life NYC? Highly unlikely, but never say never.

We started our day where most first time visitors find themselves, Alcatraz. Much like the Statue of Liberty, I figured this would be the first and last time I ever go there. I was right. It was a very interesting place but it's like the Statue of Liberty or the Roman Coliseum, once you've been there once I think you check it off your list and move on. Very interesting histories, but do you really need to back for seconds?

After our visit to Alcatraz we went to the Ferry Building Marketplace. Wow. If The Rock is someplace you go one and done, the Ferry Building is on the other end of the spectrum. I could eat at that place every single day. Loaded with a fantastic collection of locally owned artisanal vendors (think Reading Terminal, Quincy Market, North Market, and to a lesser extent West Side Market), this market offers something for everyone.

We went to Boulevard for dinner. Located in the Audiffred Building near the Ferry Building, Boulevard has a very warm and homey interior. For the starter we had Dungeness Crab Salad. It was actually a light way to begin since we both knew that we were going to order entrees that were going to be a little on the heavy side. Her entree was the Berkshire Pork Chop which was wood oven roasted with Melted Sage & Butterball Potatoes, Pancetta Black Mission Figs with Huckleberries, Pinenuts & Chestnut Honey Erbette Chard, Roasted Pork Jus. I had the California Lamb T-Bone wood oven roasted mint, parsley & parmesan stuffing
Fresh Italian Butter Beans with Tomato, Herbs, Garlic & Arugula petite lamb sausage & roasted lamb jus.

For dessert we both had the Warm Valrhona Chocolate Ganache Cake. Wow. The whole dinner was very good. Some people complain that they think that this place is overpriced. It was about what I would have expected considering the location and the high quality of the ingredients.
The food at Boulevard is very solid. It's not a place that you're going to find a bunch of crazy starters and entrees. Some might even say that the food at Boulevard is "safe". That may be, but I think overall there's something for everyone here.

Boulevard
1 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-6084

www.boulevardrestaurant.com