Cassava San Francisco — Restaurant in San Francisco

Located in Richmond, Cassava offers their take on New American cuisine.

We dined here on a Sunday evening during SF Restaurant Week, in which they offered a 3-course meal (each course had at four offerings the diner could select from). They also offer beverage pairings with each dish if you're so inclinded. If you're planning on dining here, I would highly recommend making a reservation (via OpenTable) since the restaurant itself is fairly small in size and limited in terms of seating. They offer three seating options: indoor dining room, heated sidewalk, and heated parklet. The indoor seating was all reserved by the time we made ours, so we elected to go with the heated parklet. Fortunately, the parklet was well heated and buffered us from the SF winds, so no complaints there!

In order to maximize our options, we each ordered a different dish. From the first course, we ordered their blood orange carpaccio, and buttermilk fried chicken. For the main, we went with Kris's creste de gallo (a pasta dish), and the slow braised lamb belly. Not to forget about the dessert, we sampled their chestnut financier, and black sesame panna cotta.

For a quick summary dish-by-dish. The blood orange carpaccio was made with smoked Alaskan Herring and horseradish cream, served atop of orange and blood orange slices. This made for a fairly interesting tasting dish with citrus and sour notes, not my favorite bite of the night; however, it was something new to try and that was my goal of the night to step out of my comfort zone (in terms of food and flavors). The buttermilk fried chicken was everything you would want from a good fried chicken dish. Both of the main dishes were flavorful and very enjoyable overall that I can't even pick a favorite between the two. Last, but not least, the dessert. The chestnut financier was served warm. The cake was light, moist, and full of chestnut flavor, an instant favorite of mine. The black sesame panna cotta was equally good with the silky texture that you're looking for in a good panna cotta.

With its eclectic menu and expertly-prepared food, I would definitely recommend Cassava to anyone who's wanting to try out different food combinations...

🧡Nestled in a charming courtyard café in Jackson Square, Cassava SF captures the art of seasonally driven flavors and thoughtful presentation. 🧡I started with a comforting chai made with oat milk, perfect for those seeking a lactose-free option, while my partner enjoyed a freshly brewed latte. 🧡First up was the Herb Cream Cheese + Smoked Salmon by Gingras Smoked. Served on a crisp slice of bread, the cream cheese was luxuriously creamy, and the smoked salmon had a rich, balanced flavor. 🧡Next, I tried a side from the Poached Scottish King Salmon Bento Simmered Hijiki Seaweed with Carrots and Edamame. The seaweed had a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture, with the carrots and edamame adding a satisfying crunch. 🧡Then came the Chicken Minestrone a hearty, gluten-free, dairy-free soup with house-made chicken sausage, celery root, broccolini, white beans, and chickpeas. It’s light yet deeply flavorful. 🧡The main event was the Poached Scottish King Salmon. Perfectly poached with the skin left on, it had a buttery texture with a slightly crispy, nutrient-rich bite. The asparagus on the side was cooked to perfection not too soft, not too firm adding a fresh, vibrant contrast. 🧡One of my favorites was the Po’-Tama Onigirazu a unique sandwich wrapped in seaweed, filled with house-made spam, tamagoyaki, cabbage, bean sprouts, and red leaf lettuce. It was a satisfying, well-balanced bite, with each ingredient adding its own texture and flavor to the mix. 🧡I ended the meal with the Egg Salad, featuring Wild Planet albacore, market lettuce, cucumber, and creamy kewpie dressing a refreshing contrast to the rich, creamy egg and tuna blend. 🧡Cassava SF is a place where every bite feels like a carefully crafted experience, and the warm hospitality lingers long after you’ve left. 🧡If you’re seeking a world of flavor, elegance, and indulgence one decadent bite and sip at a time Cassava SF is a must-visit....

California Dreaming 💯

Back in the Bay and enjoyed a weekend brunch prior to visiting San Francisco’s Legion of Honor

Cassava is the perfect weekend brunch spot and the fusion dishes reminded me of the creativity and flavors that epitomize why I love living in the California Bay Area

Chef Owner Yuka Ioroi is the consummate hostess and stopped by several times to ask how the dishes were (as well as provide tips on natto that I usually dislike) as well as the news that Cassava is moving to a new home in SF’s North Beach

Chef Yuka runs Cassava with husband Chef Owner Kristoffer Toliao and while their pedigree includes stints with Dominque Crenn, hospitality and friendliness is a key distinguishing factor beyond the amazing food

I feel lucky to have discovered this gem and look forward to checking them out in North Beach

Their Japanese breakfast is easily the best rendition I’ve had stateside and I couldn’t help but order their house-made natto (which I loved!)

📷 Fried Chicken Sando $16 house baked bun, Pete’s live butter lettuce, early girl tomato jam, basil aioli, cilantro, 6 oz buttermilk batter chicken thigh / Japanese Breakfast $17 koshihikari rice, simmered hijiki, pickled cucumbers, miso tomato corn, sake marinated Marin Coast salmon, citrus kosho, Mendocino kombu dashi miso soup with shiitake mushroom, house furikake, soft poached egg, Add House Natto $2 / Slow Braised Lamb Riblets $19 hibiscus barbecue glaze, cilantro blossoms, house pickles / Champagne Cocktail $12 Montsarra cava, sugar cube, Angostura bitters / Red Hot One $11 ~ beer, tomato juice, chili infused Sabe blanco chile, white pepper, lime, pickled cucumber

📍Cassava (San...