DINE
A N I N S I D E R ’ S G U I D E TO R E S TAU R A N T S I N M A R I N
EDITED BY CHRISTINA MUELLER
Fairfax’s dining scene serves up excellent burgers (Stillwater) and brunch (Barefoot Café, The Hummingbird). There are plentiful options for beer and bites — Way Station, The Lodge, Split Rock Tap & Wheel and the brand new HenHouse Brewing. What Fairfax restaurant do you love the most? using organic, non-GMO blue corn to make its handmade tortillas. The beer and wine lists highlight local California microbreweries and wineries. It’s all available to enjoy on the shaded patio. 31 Bolinas Rd, 415.529.5444
Oysters with grilled lemon at Stillwater, Fairfax
Sorella Caffe Italian Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sister” in Italian, serves fresh Italian with a northern influence. Customer favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli and Pollo alla Sorella. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padano cheese. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520
FAIRFA X Amelie French Stop in for a quintessential French breakfast of coffee and a croissant at this outpost of the original San Francisco wine bar. Stay to enjoy plates of Cal-French escargot with garlic butter, salad Niçoise with pickled egg or slow-baked steelhead with persillade and radishes at lunch and dinner and an extensive French wine list. A petite street-side patio features dining atop wine barrels. 71 Broadway, 628.253.5161
Barefoot Cafe American Tony Senehi prepares fresh California dishes with local organic ingredients from sustainable sources. A popular brunch spot, this quaint restaurant in the heart of Fairfax serves locals and tourists everything from eggs Benedict to panna cotta. 1900 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.460.2160 HenHouse Brewing Co. American This West County Pub’s menu of small bites, handhelds and shareables go head-to-head with an expansive, locally
brewed beer menu. Pick your style — barrelaged, IPA/DIPA, Belgian, stout — and enjoy it alongside hand-foraged mushroom toast, garden pickle mélange “charcuterie” board or a brat-in-a-blanket at one of the long, beer hall-style tables (we are suckers for the ones with banquettes). 765 Center Blvd, Fairfax; 415.485.1005 Mas Masa Mexican Chef and owner Patrick Sheehy focuses on the ancient technique of corn nixtamalization,
Split Rock Tap & Wheel American The former Fairfax Cyclery space, which had been operating as just a bike shop, has been reconfigured and now also serves food and an assortment of beers. Menu items include pizzas and sandwiches, as well as snacks like citrus-marinated olives or house-made pickles. Beers on tap are almost all exclusively local favorites. 2020 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.721.7644 Stillwater Californian Fairfax native Margaret Ruiz and her life and business partner, David, joined forces with chef Cameron Myers to bring the bounty of the
county to the table. Appetizers and salads feature local cheeses, oysters and produce, while the cheeseburger with Stemple Creek beef topped with house-cured pork belly has already developed a cult following. Two patios provide ample outdoor eating space. 23 Broadway, 415.524.8478 The Hummingbird American This New Orleans–style restaurant serves up Creole staples like fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, po’boys, gumbo and beignets. Opt for the spicy syrup or homemade hot sauce to get that Cajun kick. Cash only. 57 Broadway, 415.457.9866 The Lodge American The menu is designed to power up the many riders who swing by, featuring all-American eats like a breakfast burrito stuffed with eggs, spinach and salsa; share plates like a sausage board served with Lodge tots and slaw; and pour-over coffee and draft beer for riders and hikers alike. Beer, cider and wine are available to go in growlers and cans and can be sipped in the backyard where shaded picnic tables await. 1573 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.456.8084
Village Sake Japanese Lucky for Fairfax, beloved former Sushi Ran chef Scott Whitman opened an izakaya, a Japanese-style community pub. In the compact space with six outdoor tables, you’ll find sushi and skewers, salads and small plates, plus great sake and craft beers. The daily waitlist opens online at 5 p.m. The adjoining sake bar, Sake Bin, has a separate menu and is currently closed, but takeout bento boxes are available. 19 Bolinas Rd, 415.521.5790 Way Station American Barbecue from a trailer embedded into the wall is the main attraction at this mechanic’s shopturned-eatery, where tall sliding windows frame washed concrete floors and a craft beer garden with fire pit. The ‘cue gets all the love but salads, flatbread pizzas and a wide selection of tapped and bottled beers plus wines round out the menu. It’s also kid- and dog-friendly with outdoor seating. 2001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.300.3099
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