We tried Vinga, a new Catalan (region of Spain around Barcelona) place, last night. Lots of interesting-sounding unusual dishes, including five or six variations on paella. We had a cold (raw?) salt-cod and bean salad ($5), some simple sauteed mushrooms with garlic ($5), and an "arros negre," a paella-like rice dish with squid, cuttlefish, squid ink, and lots of garlic ($40 for two)--all delicious. There's a remarkable selection of hard-to-find wines from the area, including expensive rarities e.g. 1994 Clos de l'Obac ($70) but also less fancy ones for $18-21. The list also has great rare wines from other areas, like several items from Vega Sicilia and some really old Riojas, plus a good selection of sherries, and a full bar. Prices are moderate to expensive, depending on what you order. The paella was so huge I'd rather go with four people and split one and a couple of cheaper entrees. We were the only people there (arrived around 9:15), so I have no idea how the service might be with a crowd. They've only been open a week. It's in a seemingly doomed location on Third St. between Folsom and Harrison (just south of the back side of Moscone, across the street from Mel's), so I plan to go back as often as I can afford to while it lasts. It's a modest walk from the Caltrain station or Montgomery St. BART, and two blocks from SF MOMA.
San Francisco, CA