My husband and I recently spent a late sunny afternoon on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. We were without reservations, and after hitting a few spots, snagged the last two top at Elite Cafe.
The place is very San Francisco old school (in the style of Tadich Grill). So much so that you’d expect legendary columnist Herb Caen to walk out of one of the enclosed booths. Lots of woods and a ceiling fan.
The food however, is modern and sassy. Their menu has a New Orleans slant with lots of rich meats and fried foods, but all done elegantly.
We started with an order of their legendary Meetinghouse Biscuits. They were warm, fresh, soft and must’ve had buttermilk. Really yummy. I had two in the span of five minutes. Decadent, indeed.
We also shared an order of the Cajun French Fries with Chipotle Mayo. Those were hot and fresh out of the fryer, crispy and delish.
For an entree, I got the Braised Kobe Beef Brisket with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Fried Okra. Those who know me know I don’t hate much in the way of food, but I hate okra. Even fried (which is usually enough for me) I couldn’t eat more than one. Such a shame because I’m sure they’d be tasty to someone else (my hubby is trying to stay away from bread and breaded items).
The beef was rich and had a distinct element of cloves and cinnamon. Along with the light yet distinctly flavored garlic mashed potatoes, it was a hearty, but not heavy meal, perfect for a chilly evening.
My husband had the Slow Roasted Pulled Pork with Garlic Grits and Collard Greens. Though he enjoyed the pork, it were the sides that really impressed us. The pork was moist and tender, but lacked depth of flavor. It was a little one dimentional. The grits and greens were definitely worth having again.
All in all, it wasn’t anything spectacular, but a reliably good meal. It was a bit pricier than we’d like for the kind of food we had (our entrees averaged $30 each), but it was a good meal. And service was attentive and professional.
If you’re in the area, it’s a good reliable choice. But don’t expect it to wow you.
Elite Cafe – 2049 Fillmore St., San Francisco – 415.67.ELITE
Virgo in Wonderland 