My City: Bars, eateries boasting great food, environments

SAN FRANCISCO — Faves and raves by Kevin Blum.

Personal stats

AGE: 32

YEARS IN THE CITY: 10

NEIGHBORHOOD: Lower Pacific Heights

OCCUPATION: Restaurant marketer and editor of The City Dish (www.sfcitydish.com).

SELF-DESCRIPTION: Want to know what’s cooking in San Francisco? Then I’m your guy.

FAVORITE HAPPY HOUR

Palio D’Asti
WHERE: 640 Sacramento St. at Montgomery Street
WHAT: Free pizza
INFO: 395-9800 or www.paliodasti.com

It’s very rare for a restaurant to give away free food. You’re lucky if you can get free peanuts. That’s why Palio D’Asti’s happy hour is one of the deals in town. If you and a friend order a cocktail, they’ll treat you to a pizza.

FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD SPOT

Solstice Lounge
WHERE: 2801 California St. at Divisadero Street
WHAT: Gorgonzola mac ‘n’ cheese
INFO: 359-1222 or www.solsticelounge.com

Solstice is my go-to spot. I’m always bound to bump in to someone there that I know. It’s like my personal “Cheers.” I love the bartenders and wait staff; the gorgonzola mac n’ cheese is one of the best in The City; and it’s stumbling distance from my house.

MOST UNDERRATED DINING SPOT

Metro Kathmandu
WHERE: 311 Divisadero St. at Page Street
WHAT: Outstanding Nepalese cuisine
INFO: 552-0903 or www.metrokathmandu.com

If you like Chinese and Indian food, then you’ll love Nepalese cuisine. Every time I take people here, they’re always blown away by how tasty and inexpensive the food is.

FAVORITE DEAL FOR WINE

Levende Lounge
WHERE: 1710 Mission St. at Division Street
WHAT: Half-price bottles of wine
INFO: 864-5585 or www.levendesf.com

Every Wednesday, they offer half-price bottles of wine with dinner. Plus, they have karaoke at 9 p.m., so you can embrace your inner Bon Jovi.

MY MOST ROMANTIC SPOT

Carnelian Room
WHERE: 555 California St., #52 at Pine Street
WHAT: The Sunday Supper
INFO: 433-7500 or www.carnelianroom.com

I think people forget how classy and old-school chic the Carnelian Room is. The food and service have never been better. And you’re not going to get a more breathtaking view in all of San Francisco. You can also reserve a private room for just you and your sweetheart. And if you’re looking for a good deal, they just introduced a four-course Sunday Supper for $39. 

BEST DINNER I’VE HAD THIS PAST YEAR

The Tequila-Pairing Dinner at Tres Agaves
WHERE: 130 Townsend St. at Second Street
WHAT: Endless margaritas, tequila tutorials and decadent meals
INFO: 227-0500 or www.tresagaves.com

One Thursday a month, they host a flavorful five-course dinner with all the margaritas you can drink, a live mariachi band and a thorough tequila tutorial, all for $75. But be sure to take a cab there and back and have some Advil handy for the next day.

FAVORITE PLACE FOR DINNER AND A SHOW

Mangarosa
WHERE: 1548 Stockton St. at Columbus Avenue
WHAT: Cheese bread and conga lines
INFO: 956-3211 or www.mangarosasf.com

If you’re looking for a different dining experience, check out Mangarosa on Thursday night. They feature great margaritas and caipirinhias. And their food is an exotic fusion of Italian and Brazilian cuisine. I love their cheese bread! And, every hour on the hour, samba dancers come out and dance on top of the bar and lead diners in conga lines. It’s a blast.

FAVORITE CHEAP LUNCH

Pluto’s
WHERE: Various locations
WHAT: The Farmer’s Salad
INFO: 775-8867 or www.plutosfreshfood.com

If I want to grab a quick, healthy lunch for under $7, I grab a small Farmer’s Salad at Pluto’s. I’m in love with their balsamic vinaigrette. You could drizzle that stuff on cardboard and it would still taste good.

FAVORITE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK 

Pisco Latin Lounge
WHERE: 1817 Market St. at Octavia Street
WHAT: The comfortable noise levels
INFO: 874-9951 or www.picosf.com

It’s refreshing to find a place where you can enjoy sophisticated cocktails and conversation without having to shout over music or drunk frat boys.

BEST DATE SPOT

Gitane
WHERE: 6 Claude Lane at Sutter Street
WHAT: The time warp factor
INFO: 788-6686 or www.gitanerestaurant.com

The decor is unlike any other restaurant in The City. And the food and drinks are top notch. I don’t know what “it” is, but they’ve got it in spades.

FAVORITE BAR

Cantina
WHERE: 580 Sutter St. at Mason Street
WHAT: A Laughing Buddha
INFO: 398-0195 or www.cantinasf.com

Yes, their cocktails are $10. And yes, it will probably take five minutes for them to make it. But once you have a sip of their Laughing Buddha or the Five-Spice Margarita, you’ll realize it was worth every cent.