Zuni Cafe

Zuni Cafe at 1658 Market Street, on the edge of Hayes Valley in San Francisco, California, opened in 1979 and became one of the most influential restaurants in American California cooking. Chef Judy Rodgers led the kitchen for many years and shaped its simple, ingredient-led approach. The cuisine is Californian-Mediterranean, built around a wood-fired brick oven and a grill. The signature dish is the wood-oven roast chicken for two with warm bread salad, which takes about an hour to prepare and is ordered at the start of the meal. Other classics include the Caesar salad, oysters, the burger and seasonal salads, pastas and grilled dishes. The building has a triangular, light-filled dining room with tall windows, a zinc-and-copper bar, tiled floors and a mix of tables on two levels. The atmosphere is relaxed but polished, noise levels are moderate to loud when full, and dress is casual to smart casual. The beverage programme includes a well-regarded Californian and European wine list, cocktails and an oyster bar tradition, and many regulars sit at the bar for a drink and oysters before dinner. Service is lunch from Friday to Sunday and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, and the restaurant is closed on Mondays. Reservations are recommended and can be made through the restaurant's website, with the bar available for walk-ins. For the roast chicken, diners should place the order when seated so the kitchen can time it. Prices run about $45 to $75 per person at dinner, with lower costs at lunch for lighter dishes. The location near Market Street and Octavia Boulevard puts it a short walk from Hayes Valley's shops and the performing arts venues.