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Quince

San Francisco

A modern celebration of Californian terroir

Movin' on up: Quince began in a cosy San Francisco space in 2003 when chef Michael Tusk and his wife, Lindsay, gained a following for his confident cooking of Californian produce and her hospitality mastery. Moving to Jackson Square in 2009, the sleek, multi-room space went through refreshes and ever-increasing awards. During the 20th anniversary in 2023, it underwent a massive remodel, with walls torn down, a romantic bar and lounge added, plus a shorter tasting menu, a la carte bites and cocktails on offer.

Pasta master: Tusk's pasta prowess is renowned. His tortellini, historically served in a rolling pin, surpasses even some of the best in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. But the creative pastas also wow, like his iconic vivid red beetroot spaghetti in yuzu, vodka and Tsar Nicoulai caviar sauce. Likewise, the passionfruit risotto with urchin, espelette pepper, Meyer lemon and sea beans.

More than pasta: Heavy on Italy, California and Champagne, the global wine list offers hundreds of world-class labels. Pasta is glorified, but so is everything else on the ever-changing menus. Quince's squab is sourced from legendary Philip Paine, decadent with black truffle and mirto liqueur. Amuse bouches hold some of Quince's most joyous bites, like a celery root tube laced with dill and black truffles, recalling nostalgic Chicken in a Biskit crackers.

Thoughtful touches: Showing off northern California bounty from seafood to produce, Quince partners with Fresh Run Farm in the idyllic San Francisco Bay-side town of Bolinas, making the most of over 40 varieties of fruit, vegetables, and flowers produced exclusively for the restaurant. Start right with the champagne cart, ranging from luxury brands to grower labels, a vintage amaro and spirits cart makes a brilliant dessert finish, and you'll still be sent home with a cup of rich hot chocolate or a cool tea on warm days.

Lunch time: Unlike Europe, it's rare to find fine-dining restaurants open for lunch in the US. But Quince serves lunch tasting menus on Fridays and Saturdays. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows and effusive light under the gaze of the Transamerica Pyramid makes for an idyllic lunch spot.

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