Pair California Wines With Tapas-Style Dishes At A SF Wine Bar That Boasts The City’s Largest All-CA Wine Collection

First Crush

Boasting the largest all-California wine collection in San Francisco, First Crush Restaurant & Wine Bar - located in the heart of Union Square - pairs an impressive selection of carefully curated California wines with mouthwatering, tapas-style dishes that highlight local, organic ingredients.

First Crush

First Crush has garnered numerous accolades for its wine selection, including the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence that it has received since 2001. Upon browsing the wine menu, I was not only impressed by the comprehensive, all-California wine list that fully captured the beauty of the wines grown in this region, but also by the whimsical names given to the wine flights. Don’t the names like Bouquet of Rose andPleasure of Pinot just tickle your tongue for more?

While First Crush is best known for its wines, I also enjoyed the food menu featuring New American cuisine with a Californian influence. I would highly recommend ordering the wine flights and small plates to share - as a caveat, the portion for these “small plates” are rather large!

Fritto Misto ($14)

Think of this plate as everyone’s beloved fried calamari, but with an addition of rock shrimp as well as jalapeno, Fresno chili, and green onion for an extra layer of spiciness. While I would have preferred the the sauce to be on the side to prevent the shrimp and the calamari from becoming soggy, the sweet and spicy sauce really made the Fritto Misto special.

Roasted Trio of Organic Beets ($15)

Chunky pieces of juicy gold and red beets with ornamental kale, pistachios, Laurel Chenel goat cheese, tangerine pieces, and watermelon radish were tossed in white balsamic vinaigrette to create this plate of fresh, colorful beets salad. I loved the interplay of different textures, from the creamy goat cheese to the crunchy pistachios.

Cabernet Marinated Mini Lamb Lolipops ($20)

Even though it was cooked a bit too well done for my liking (I personally prefer my red meat to be rare), the lamb lollipop had beautiful sear on the outside on top of creamy, triangular piece of polenta with mushroom bits and micro greens. The lamb was glazed with Cabernet-infused demi glace to accentuate the rich flavor.

Ahi Tuna Tartare ($18)

Fresh chunks of tuna sashimi was mixed in with avocado, cucumber, red onion, jalapeno, Meyer lemon, and daikon sprouts, and then topped with a dollop of wasabi caviar over a bed of green seaweed. The side of crispy taro root chips and a drizzle of wasabi aioli on the plate complemented the tuna tartare perfectly.

Fresh, Sustainable Seafood at Scoma's, a San Francisco Dining Landmark at Fisherman's Wharf

Down a nondescript alley in Fisherman's Wharf sits a famed San Francisco dining landmark that has been in operation for 50 years. Scoma's Restaurant - located at its own private dock on the water - specializes in fresh, sustainable seafood. This family-owned and operated restaurant compiles with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program, whose mission is to "empower consumers and businesses to make choices for a healthy ocean."

Butternut Squash Soup ($6/cup, $8/bowl)

While an unlikely start at a seafood restaurant, the Butternut Squash Soup is an absolute must. This healthy, vegan option is a creamy puree of butternut squash topped with fall vegetable, lemon zest, and crispy sage with a drizzle of olive oil on top. You will be licking the bowl to get the last bit of this amazing soup.

Spinach Salad ($11) and Beet Salad ($9)

The refreshing duo of the Blomsdale 'Curly' Spinach Salad and the Organic Roasted Beet Salad is the perfect way to ramp up your appetite. The fresh spinach is tossed in aged balsamic vinaigrette with warm, crispy polenta croutons, spring onion tops, garden herbs, and shaved parmesan, while the salt roasted red and golden beets are complemented by creamy avocado slices and orange with a drizzle of aged balsamic and fresh, grated horseradish.

Grilled Wild King Salmon ($34) and Seared Atlantic Cod ($32)

The entrees highlight fresh, local, and seasonal seafood. The Grilled Wild King Salmon is topped with lightly fried, julienne zucchini with sweet corn underneath. The Seared Atlantic Cod features beautiful golden beet salad and micro greens on top with savory wild mushroom reduction at the bottom.