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| Photo by Patrick |
Golden Boy Pizza, Dinner, North Beach
May 8, 2016
P:
Combination
J:
Clam Garlic
Notes:
Our fourth and final food stop for the day was at Golden Boy Pizza, because we wanted to finish the day right.
Golden Boy has been around in North Beach since 1978. It's a hole in the wall and it's fabulous. We've both been here a number of times, but this was our first visit together. This is mostly a by-the-slice joint, with the available offerings on display in the front window.
They make only Sicilian-style pizza here, though they don't characterize it as such on their website, so I'm sure someone out there doesn't appreciate such a reference. But it's the only one I have, so let's move on. As I was saying, Sicilian-style, you know, the square slice, the thick, doughy crust. Well, I don't typically like that kind of pizza (because "thick, doughy crust"), but at it's different at Golden Boy. The crust is pillowy soft and airy with a crispy, crunchy base. It's amazing.
Except, I don't know why I'm going on about their crust, because there is only one thing to talk about here, and that's the clam garlic slice. This thing is out of control good, and it's the reason we stopped here. This pizza has only a thin layer of tomato sauce, and it's topped with an insane amount of chopped raw garlic, clams, and parsley. It's bursting with flavor from the toppings, the parsley and garlic slightly charred by the smoking hot oven, and it's all brought together by the soft, crispy-bottomed crust. This is not for you if you have any misgivings about garlic breath. Or clam breath. But it is SO good, and one of my favorite things on earth.
Patrick will have to tell you about the combination slice, since I know only one thing.
CLAM GARLIC.
15 Romolo, Drinks & Snacks, North Beach
May 8, 2016
P&J:
Steak Tartare - kobe sirloin, cornichons, capers, horseradish-mustard, quail egg
Grilled Octopus - smoked paprika, buttered potatoes, preserved lemon, parsley
Charred Padrons - olive oil fleur de sel
Pimm's Cup and Fimm's Cup
Notes:
After sending off one of our two visiting friends, we looked for a place to sit and talk, and maybe have a beer or two. A couple of friends of mine have a restaurant in North Beach, so we headed that way, not knowing until we got there that they were closed. Thankfully, there was a great place I'd only heard about just a few steps away, 15 Romolo.
Our friend was in love with this place. It was dark, quiet, and you felt hidden away. We had just eaten (twice), so we were really only in the mood to chat over a drink. I went for the Pimm's Cup, a refreshing drink with gin, cucumber, lemon, mint, ginger and soda (there might be something else, but those are the important parts). Patrick went for the Fimm's Cup, their non-alcoholic version of the drink. Both were quite lovely. The Pimm's Cup is sold by the pitcher, and had I not been drinking (Pimm's) alone, it would have been ours.
After a couple of hours, we decided to try a bit of their menu. We first gravitated to the charred Padron peppers, always a great choice with a drink. Little, wrinkled peppers are tossed whole in a screaming hot pan until some of their skin blackens and blisters and they're served with a generous sprinkling of fleur de sel (fancy sea salt). They're tender, flavorful, and you never know if you're gonna get a spicy one. The grilled octopus was succulent, nicely charred and served with smashed and crispy baby potatoes. I loved the flavors at work here with the smokey heat and salty preserved lemon. The steak tartare was also very good, a nice balance of fresh cut beef and piquant capers and pickles, though the serving was a little smaller than I would have liked.
Overall, we weren't blown away by anything, but it was all very good. And beautiful - this is not your average bar food. But their menu has much more for us to try, and I love their Pimm's Cup. We'll be back.
