The House

On the hunt for something new I had expanded my search to include the neighbouring areas of Union Square.  I was rewarded with this interesting find which showed up with 4.5 stars on Yelp! from 2700 reviews.  Users raved online about their 'top' Asian fusion fare and about their top-notch seafood specialities.  I clearly had to try The House right away!



I walked about a mile from my hotel to get to this part of San Francisco, discovering a part of the city I had not seen before.  San Francisco, with its old brick and mortar buildings intermingling with newer steel and glass towers, has a lived-in feel. I remember my first impressions of the USA several years back when I got into Durham, NC; the towns with their fresh new houses of painted wood walls looked as artificial to me as one in a film set.  Having lived in India, with its cities dating back thousands of years, that was a big contrast. San Francisco, like New York, Boston or Philadelphia, have more character in my eyes.



I finally arrived at The House, a small restaurant that shared space in a building with an adult store and near a topless speakeasy. Incidentally, speakeasies began as places that sold liquor illegally during the Prohibition era - the name came from the notion that you didn't speak loudly about these places in public. I guess patrons now refer to these places discreetly only because they don't want it known they were in a strip club.





There were a few people waiting outside when I reached The House and after giving the hostess my name, I joined them on the pavement.  Thankfully, they were able to get me a table pretty fast.  I recommend making reservations and getting there on time - they apparently give away your table if you are more than 10 minutes late!



I nibbled on the pickled cucumbers and nursed a glass of Californian Pinot as I waited for my starters.   I had chosen their daily special: Soft Shell Crab Tempura with a side of bibim guksu, cold Korean sesame noodles.  The crab was fantastic, very crispy outside and juicy inside.





My mains was a Miso Marinated Cod with a California Roll.  Another clear winner!  The cod was melt-in-the-mouth delightful and a medley of flavours.  The unusual combination of cod with sushi worked for me too.



Overall, I was delighted with the food at this little restaurant.  I could see why so many locals seem to go gaga over their food. Other fan-favourites are the Wasabi Noodles, and the Flat Iron Steak.  Always remember to ask for their daily specials - they have a long list of them in addition to the items on the menu.