Gialina: We ate there and loved it

Emanuel (son) and I went out to eat at Gialina's Pizzería (see post back awhile). We had a three cheese pizza, a glass of chianti (me) and blood orange soda. We loved the pizza, it reminded me very much of Italy (I used to live there). $24 for this meal and we left happy.

Chenery Park Restaurant

Here is another pretty well known restaurant in "downtown" Glen Park, right up from the Higher Grounds Coffee Shop.

At Chenery Park, we’re devoted to robust, contemporary American cuisine. Taste is our foremost priority. Our expert chefs inventively combine local ingredients to produce flavorful, satisfying meals. Our menu is regularly updated to reflect fresh, seasonal supplies. We also offer an ample selection of fine wines, champagnes, aperitifs and specialty cocktails.

We’re nestled in one of the City’s nicest little neighborhoods, Glen Park. It’s easy to find us, and parking is generally plentiful. If you prefer public transit, we’re just 2 blocks from the Glen Park BART station, as well as 4 different SF Muni bus lines.

Children are welcome, especially on Tuesday evenings at our Kids Club. And if you’re on the go, feel free to call ahead and order anything on our menu to take out.

Artful interiors and comfortable tables await you at Chenery Park. Dedicated to providing a memorable dining experience at a moderate price, we’ve become a favorite destination for patrons near and far. In fact, SF Weekly named us the City’s “Best Neighborhood Restaurant” for 2006!

Reservations are recommended. Call us at 415 337 8537 or reserve online.

Hours
Tuesday–Thursday, 5:30–9:15 PM
Friday–Saturday, 5:30–9:45 PM
Sundays, 5:30–8:45 PM

Address
683 Chenery Street at Diamond San Francisco, California 94131

Destination Bakery

Up a block from Diamond/Chenery (the heart of Glen Park) is Destination Bakery. My son's mother (Maria) works there in the evenings. The owner is Joe, a very friendly guy. Mostly a bakery, but they do sell coffee and great baked items. Very unassuming but nice locale.

"Hidden away on Chenery Street, this bakery has some of the best scones and tarts. Like any other junkie, I've had to change my route, take the bus and impose a restraining order on myself so that I don't give in to the italian coffee cake. It's rich, buttery taste with just the right amount of sweetness still calls out to me. I may have to move away."


Do you know that incredible sensation? The one that begins when the smell of baking butter and croissant dough enters your body, speeds to your brain, considers orgasmic-like gestures, moves on to other pleasure centers, then makes your mouth water? That's what Destination is all about. They make their croissant dough, and everything else, from scratch, and use very seasonal ingredients/preparations. For instance - their pies reflect the fruits in season. And as a great lover of pies, I must tell you they have the greatest strawberry rhubarb pie I have ever tasted. They also make hot cross buns around easter, with fruit they candy themselves. *Everything* here is outstanding. The chocolate and fruit tartletts will make you smile. The chocolate crossiants, with their outstanding coffee will make you feel like curling up in their sunny window seats and snuggle with strangers. Their baguettes are the best in the city, in my opinion, and the pies...mmmmmmmm.....they might make you cry if you love them like I do. In my opinion, Destination is actually better than Tartine. AND their service is outstanding - incredibly friendly folks who know this is a neighborhood joint. Lots of locals and regulars who adore the place and would probably be upset if they knew I was sharing this secret. (But you deserve the joy this place wil provide...you really do...)

They some of their baked items in the Canyon Market as well.

598 Chenery Street
(between Castro St & Natick St)
San Francisco, CA 94131
(415) 469-0730

Higher Grounds Coffee Shop

This is really a great place to go have a coffee, an omelette, or an amazing crepe. Just as this reviewer says:

"A great little coffee spot with amazing crepes. They have numerous options from Italian - Indian or you can build your own. Plus the owner/operator is awesome. If you come by more than twice he will probably remember your name and your order!"

It can get really crowded there on the weekends and it is amazing to see the speed with which the owner churns out the orders. On Sundays there is often music playing on the sidewalk.



Higher Grounds Coffee House
(415) 587-2933
691 Chenery St
San Francisco, CA 94131

New Restaurant Gialina Pizzeria

Glen Park is experiencing a mini boom in new businesses. This is a new pizza restaurant that replaced a rather simple, cheap and not so good one. This is definately much more upscale. I have seen families with kids in there. It is a small, "cozy" place. I haven't been yet.

Here is a review:

Every neighborhood needs good pizza. San Francisco's Glen Park has a new place for pizza pie with Gialina's Monday opening.
The narrow storefront space is the brainchild of chef-owner Sharon Ardiana, who named it after her Italian nonna, Lina. Ardiana was previously executive chef at Lime, Dine, the Last Supper Club and the Slow Club.
The pizza is Neapolitan style, with a thin crust and light toppings such as clams brightened with fresh parsley and chiles and dandelion greens with sausage and fontina. An antipasto plate includes marinated mushrooms and Fra'Mani salumi, and salads can be ordered in half or full portions.
Dessert features lemon ice and a chocolate hazelnut pizza with mascarpone. Ten Italian wines can be ordered by the glass, carafe or bottle. Second courses and lunch service will be added soon.
Gialina, 2842 Diamond St. (at Kern), S.F.; (415) 239-8500 or www.gialina.com. Dinner nightly. Starters, $7-$14; pizzas, $9-$16; desserts, $6-$9.

Gialina
2842 Diamond Street
San Francisco, CA 94131
415.239.8500

Gialina is located on the corner of Diamond Street and Kern Alley,
across from the Glen Park BART station.

Great Place to Eat: La Corneta Taquería

We love our taquería. If you haven't been to SF before, or even if you have, I bet you didn't have a "Mission Style" burrito. They are large, full of whatever Mexican style or "gringoized" Mexican style food, and very good. Very popular with kids. Very, very popular in the evenings. Here is their website. They have a location in Glen Park, in front of the market, on Diamond St., which is only 3 blocks from our house. My son's favorite:

http://www.lacorneta.com/MenuPage.aspx