Behold the Pacific Dungeness crab! Crab season has officially arrived out west. Beginning in November and continuing through June 30, 2013, crabs are plentiful in coastal waters. True blue Californians hold vigorous debates over who has the best recipe for homemade varieties of this succulent, sustainably caught item, sometimes referred to as San Francisco crab. Alternatively, you can leave it to the chef at a classic restaurant at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Alioto’s
Family-owned and operated since 1925, Alioto’s Restaurant has been serving Sicilian dishes from its beginnings as a shack on Fisherman’s Wharf. Four Alioto generations later, restaurant-goers enjoy the same fresh food, attentive service and a picture-postcard view. Menu highlights include Alioto’s famous Dungeness crab cakes, which is my favorite birthday meal, and crab cioppino, the San Francisco seafood stew that owes its origins to fishermen from Italy’s Ligurian coast. The kitchen takes advantage of fresh-as-can-be daily crustacean deliveries direct from the restaurant’s own warehouse on the wharf. On the first floor, I like Alioto’s Waterside Café for spectacular views from the terrace on those clear blue sky afternoons that do pop up at any time of year. Alioto’s Crab Stand serves fresh cracked crab accompanied by another local favorite, sourdough bread, a San Francisco must-try. When visiting the piers, you can’t miss the fish-shaped logo at 8 Fisherman’s Wharf facing San Francisco Bay’s fishing boats in the harbor at the foot of Taylor Street.
Pescatore
As they say in Tuscany, salute! The newly renovated Pescatore puts an Italian accent on seafood and shellfish from its location midway between Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square and North Beach. The restaurant prides themselves on utilizing sustainably harvested Dungeness crab that comes plain or not-so-plain in dishes prepared by longtime Chef Raffa Mayoral and his culinary team. Fans of plain may order a whole or half roasted crab, while others fancy the Dungeness crab raviolis with leeks and wild arugula in lemon cream sauce. In true Italian style, there’s a pasta menu and a wood-fired pizza oven, making it an ideal family place. Grownups go for Happy Hour, sampling locally made beers or Northern California wines, as well as six splendid signature cocktails. My favorite is a vodka, lemon, honey and amaretto concoction called “Figgedaboutit.” You may be pleased to see they’ve shared the recipe online. Visitors and locals alike grab a sidewalk table and chairs when the California sun shines to enjoy dining al fresco in trattoria style at this corner location at Mason Street and North Point Street. Pescatore is located at 2455 Mason Street, easily reached on foot, on a bicycle, by cable car or, like me, by simply catching a ride on the SFMTA 43 bus which stops right across the street.
