Casanova
Fifth Avenue between Mission Street and San Carlos Street
(831) 625-0501 www.casanovarestaurant.com
It’s tempting to photograph your food (and yourself) in this beautifully decorated, definitively European-feeling restaurant, but it’s just as easy to forget about technological distractions like your smartphone and go back in time. This is an authentic, old-timey French bistro with an elegant (and evolving) menu. It makes a meal into what we all long for: simple, with an emphasis on good hearty food, good wine, good conversation and a comfortable space with excellent service – no amount of selfies could quite capture the all-encompassing sensory experience. The Mediterranean-accented French menu envisioned by the Belgian family that owns the restaurant is executed finely by Exec Chef David Baron with local, fresh, creative ingredients (think olive puree with rabbit, basil seeds with oysters). Best of all, it’s possible to feast here even on a limited budget.