This town could use more date night restaurants, and Stones Throw fits the bill nicely. The room is nice, the service is good, and the wine flows. It’s happening but not excessively loud or crazy. It’s also an oasis in a somewhat restaurant-barren Russian Hill. If you’re looking for a spot for a First/Early In The Game Date or just a solid neighborhood hang, Stones Throw gets it done, apostrophes be damned.
The food is solid, as well. It’s an inventive but not overly-challenging take on French classics, with some modern American twists thrown in. Does that sentence mean anything, really? Nope. Basically they serve duck pate and pork belly.
We have to give some special mention to the squid ink pasta, because 80% of the time, at other restaurants, it tastes a lot like standard pasta. Not at Stones Throw. It’s a seafoody bomb of deliciousness that we’d like to eat until the end of our days. In fact, next time we’re rolling nearby, we’re going to drop in for a bowl.
The rest of the menu is a slate of stuff that no one’s going to be upset about. Is it the most memorable meal you’ll have all year? We doubt it. But that’s okay. Stones Throw is a good addition to the SF lineup, and, who knows, maybe you'll see Om Malik there.
Food Rundown
It’s a nice appetizer, and who doesn’t like a fancified pretzel roll? It’s not a must-order, but you’ll probably enjoy it.
Damn, this is crazy good. We recommend one bowl per pair of people. And you’re going to want to move on the seafood early. This is food worth stealing from your date, as I have.
We love us some fatty pig bits, but these didn’t really come together with the grilled peaches, onions, and mustard on the plate. The pork belly was also kind of dried out, and mostly fat. Don’t do this, people.
A nicely cooked rare piece of duck, which had
to stand up to whatever was going on with the duck taquito (a rolled tube of starch encasing some delicious ducky filling). Can we get these in taquerias everywhere?
We applaud Stones Throw’s efforts in gussying up the desserts of our childhood. What is there to say? You’re gonna like it.
