Joel Teitelbaum behind the new bar at the Starlight Room; photo from Kimpton.
Looking for a great landmark location, but also quality beverages? Visiting with a group of boozehounds ready for a night on the town? Harry Denton’s Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel will be offering summertime cocktails for groups on their new Bottles and Bowls menu on Thursday evenings from 6pm–10pm until August 31st (it all starts Thursday June 28th). They will be pouring house-bottled and carbonated cocktails in a variety of summery combinations, including gin with housemade tonic. Each bottle is 750 ml and serves up to four sippers. If your group is larger, go for a bowl of Peach Pimm’s Punch or Sangria de Nona, which will serve up to six people.
There will also be group-friendly snacks (in, yes, bowls) like truffle popcorn and French fries. Open Tue-Sat at 6pm; “Sunday’s A Drag” brunch shows every Sunday at 12pm and 2:30pm (doors open at 11am).
Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 21st floor, 450 Powell St. at Sutter, 415-395-8595.
Summer's also the perfect time for barbecue. Cue the ‘cue on Saturday June 30th for High on the Hog at EPIC Roasthouse. The alfresco patio will serve as the stage; the bay views, the backdrop for an afternoon of wine tasting, barbecue, and live music from locals Joey Altman and the Soul Peppers. Executive chef Jan Birnbaum will be serving slow-roasted fennel porchetta, maple-roasted pork legs, roasted Manila clams with pork jowl and white beans, molasses-honey-roasted pork spare ribs, and homemade maple ice cream cones with bacon brittle. Meaty indeed. The menu will play opposite pinot noirs from Freeman, Flowers, Calera, Cobb, Miura, Kutch, Goldeneye, Freestone, and more. 1pm–4pm. $75 (includes tax and gratuity).
Marcia Gagliardi writes a popular insider weekly e-column about the SF dining scene, “the tablehopper.” Subscribe for free at www.tablehopper.com.
