GTong wrote: > > With such a large Latino population here in the Bay Area, I wonder if > there isn't, for lack of a better term, a "higher class" Mexican or South > American restaurant? > > I'm looking for one that doesn't serve enchiladas and tacos but perhaps > something such as pork baked in banana leaves, roast leg of pork in adobo > sauce, chiles in walnut sauce, turkey in mole sauce, etc. Food of this quality can be found in an unlikely spot: Cafe Marimba on Chestnut Street, SF (Marina District). The founder of this restaurant based her concept on Diana Kennedy's deeply researched Mexican cookbooks, and developed her own sources for authentic ingredients from Mexico. Several different moles are offered, among many other specialties. I've had lunch at Cafe Marimba every few weeks for years, and the food is consistently original and fairly priced. You can walk in at lunch and always get a table. Dinner is a bit of a zoo, with a noisy Marina crowd downing margaritas. That's why I go for lunch. LJ
San Francisco, CA