Oh, Hog Island, how I love thee. I've been here a few times before and I'm not sure why I've never blogged about it before. While I know the Ferry Building is a bit touristy, it's still very popular with locals and it's still one of my go-to spots when I'm in SF. It's just such a calming place for me and it's right by the water with gorgeous views of the Bay. Hog Island might be my 2nd favorite oyster place behind Maison Premiere and it's a very close second.
I stopped by the restaurant after the conference was over on Tuesday and got there right before the crowds really started to settle in. I got a nice seat at the bar and was immediately torn about what to order. I wasn't super hungry even though I could have easily eaten everything on the menu. Even though I was on a corporate card, I couldn't really bring myself to go too crazy with the ordering. I settled on 1/2 dozen bar mix of oysters ($20) and the steamers ($15). I've always preferred West Coast oysters over East Coast oysters and this definitely confirmed my love for them. I don't remember the exact types but they were all amazing - hearty, briny and delicious. If they weren't so expensive here, I would have ordered another 2 dozen of them. I was a bit surprised that they didn't have a Happy Hour special but I guess they get such great business that they don't really need it to bring in a crowd. If you are in to oysters, definitely get the bar mix so that you can try a little bit of everything. The steamers were also great - piled high with Manila clams, corona beans, fennel sausage, and leeks in a buttery white wine broth. I was pleased with the amount of food in it given that I had opted not to get it with pasta. The broth was such buttery goodness that I was sopping it all up with the crusty delicious bread that I was trying to stay away from but couldn't (it comes from next door - Acme Bread).
Overall, this is the kind of place that has a spot place in my heart because it's super casual but serves amazingly fresh seafood at a price that isn't too hard to swallow. Everyone there was super friendly and tourist place, be damned, it's totally worth it no matter if you are a local or a visitor. Total bill: $45 with tax and tip
Photo Credit: Yelp
No comments:
Post a Comment