After much anticipation and counting down of days and hours, today was finally the day to experience Wayfare Tavern!
For those that don’t know, Wayfare Tavern is Tyler Florence’s new restaurant in San Francisco. The menu features down home classics such as fried chicken, steak and eggs and fresh seafood, all with a classy touch.
Oh, and I love Tyler. Really, I do. He’s from Charleston, too, and once we bonded over our mutual love for buttermilk biscuits. Okay so he probably has no idea who I am, but I swear I did meet him and he’s a super nice guy! Plus, he makes great biscuits.
Naturally, I couldn’t wait to try out his new place. I like to support the South in any way, shape or form and if that means stuffing myself with fried chicken, watermelon and sweet tea, so be it!!!
There were five of us there today and we ate A LOT. Starters included some beautiful fig creation:
Watermelon salad with ricotta salata and fennel
Padron peppers (my love!)
Steak tartare (I hear the collective eeeeewwwwwwwww…it’s an acquired taste and I’m not too big of a fan)
Oh! And a gorgeous heirloom tomato salad but I forgot to take a picture.
For my meal, I ordered the burger. Yes, yes I did.
This was actually not my burger but I couldn’t get far enough away from my own meaty delight to take a photograph since we were all crammed into a small booth. Mine pretty much looked just like this, minus the egg. It was local grass fed beef topped with Mt.Tam cheese (mmmmmm) and bacon on a fresh house made brioche bun. I didn’t eat the bacon because as you can see, this was sort of intense to say the least. I did pick at the fries though!
And drink some vino vino
You only live once, right?? heh heh heh
I obviously don’t eat indulgent lunches like this all the time, but once in awhile it’s a wonderful treat. And heck! I hiked six miles yesterday.
The restaurant had a gorgeous bar—I loved the dark wood and the almost hunting lodge feel to the whole place. Unfortunately I didn’t see T-dog himself, but I doubt he would remember yet another crazy blonde girl throwing herself at him after three glasses of wine at a gala dinner.
Not that that was me or anything…I’m speaking hypothetically of course. Oh wait…I was brunette then so it doesn’t count! Muhahahahaha
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
August 25, 2010 at 6:25 pmI would love to go for that fig starter alone. Oh, and the wine…
Nicole - yuppie yogini
August 25, 2010 at 6:31 pmTyler Florence seems nice–I have a bit of a crush!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing
August 25, 2010 at 6:33 pmOh YUM! So more than worth it!
stepf
August 25, 2010 at 6:37 pmOK, I’m a vegetarian-borderline-vegan, and even I was swooning. I’m also a HUGE fan of Tyler. I interviewed him once, and whoa. Hubba, hubba. Now I sound old.
Love the new spin on the blog, Jenna. We’ve all seen enough photos of oatmeal. This is THE LIFE worth blogging, my dear.
Susan
August 26, 2010 at 9:56 am“We’ve all seen enough photos of oatmeal.” — GREAT comment, Stepf! I could not agree more (which is why I don’t really read oatmeal blogs anymore).
Sana
August 25, 2010 at 6:42 pmThat burger does look like a mouthful!!! Hiking is soo intense- you deff earned that!
Sarah @ Sarah's Shaping Up
August 25, 2010 at 6:48 pmLooks amazing! And I looooove Tyler Florence! 🙂
Coco
August 25, 2010 at 6:50 pmall i can say is….wow.
…and i’m jealous.
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
August 25, 2010 at 6:50 pmOooh that looks so good–minus the stead tartare. Ewwwwwwwww.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
August 25, 2010 at 6:50 pmgirl, i’m the same way…i like to support the south any way i can here in colorado! i would LOVE to have a bite of that burger…i love tyler florence and his super simple but amazing recipes!
Paige @Running Around Normal
August 25, 2010 at 6:56 pmThat place looks so cool! Rustic and Southern yet modern and classy 🙂
Dorry
August 25, 2010 at 6:57 pmI love nothing more than trying new restaurants! Looks fab.
Erin
August 25, 2010 at 7:03 pmGreat decor and those fries look awesome – love going out for a special lunch sometimes. 😀
amber's notebook
August 25, 2010 at 7:03 pmOh glad o hear your positive review! I read the San Francisco magazine review yesterday and it was rather disappointing.
I love Tyler Florence too.
He threw out the first pitch at a Giants game I went to a couple weeks ago…I was so excited!
amber's notebook
August 25, 2010 at 9:14 pmoh and if you ever go back the magazine recommended the deviled eggs (they sounded amazing), and the steak tartar.
Scargosun
August 25, 2010 at 7:06 pmLooks soooo yummy! I have to say, I am TOTALLY in love with Cowgirl Creamery and their Mt Tam most of all. Luckily, Whole Foods carries it here in the area. 🙂
kristina
August 25, 2010 at 7:08 pmhow do you afford to eat out all the time?? i’m just curious. and like kate asks, do you ever get tired of eating out?, i’m just asking because no matter how good the food is, if i am eating out too often, i personally get a little tired of it. your food looks AMAZING!!
eatmovelove
August 25, 2010 at 7:13 pmI actually haven’t seen alot of “eating out” posts lately. And I guess things come and go in phases too right? Plus you only live once and she’s a young gal. Eating out with friends is to be enjoyed 🙂
Jen
August 26, 2010 at 6:00 ameatmovelove,
I won’t go into the merits of dining out vs. meals at home and the expense, experience, etc., but come on… I know you always “defend” Jenna to anyone voicing an opinion but it is just a fact (observed by her blog) that she eats out ALL THE TIME.
It’s not a bad thing, in fact I love eating out and do it with almost the same frequency but it’s almost like if Jenna wore a purple shirt and a reader called it lavender, you’d be on that reply button like white on rice. And, yes, I’m sure I’ve got a reply coming my way from you, too.
Marla
August 26, 2010 at 7:43 amAnd sometimes bloggers get a chance to eat out courtesy of a restaurant-not sure if Jenna ever gets that opportunity? But I think most of us would grab that if offered to us-I would, especially if I am allowed to give my own critique unbiased!
jenna
August 26, 2010 at 9:19 amI’ve acknowledged before the fact that I DO go out to eat a lot. Because food is my job, dining out is important. There’s only been a few times when I’ve dined out at the courtesy of the restaurant (and I’ve always stated that), usually I’m just with friends or it’s for business purposes.
eatmovelove
August 25, 2010 at 7:11 pmI have been addicted to Burgers lately – just like yours! Juicy and raw. The Real Meat. Not veggie.
The food at the restaurants you go to is always so fancy…I wouldn’t know how to eat it…;)!
Kate
August 25, 2010 at 7:13 pmDo you ever get tierd of eating out? Just a thought.
Alexandra
August 25, 2010 at 7:14 pmMt Tam cheese is amazing. I miss Cowgirl Creamery! I’ve only read good things about Wayfare Tavern glad to see it met up to the hype
Karen
August 25, 2010 at 7:15 pmI have been wanting to try this restaurant! The food looks amazing!
Camille
August 25, 2010 at 7:19 pmWhat a gorgeous place! Looks like a fantastic meal!
Nancy @ The Wife of a Dairyman
August 25, 2010 at 7:31 pmI am a steak tartare fan from way back and didn’t even know it at the time….we raised our own beef growing up and when my mom prepared hamburger, I would eat it raw right off the cutting board, can you even imagine?! I also used to eat raw eggs mixed with sugar as a snack…..must be why I now have an iron gut. The restaurant looks fabulous:)
Jen (Running With Cake)
August 25, 2010 at 7:44 pmSo jealous that you got to meet Tyler (even if he doesn’t remember you). He’s such a cutie!
chrissy
August 25, 2010 at 7:48 pmI’ll be there on sunday for my 2 year wedding anniversary! Yummm…can’t wait 🙂
Jill
August 25, 2010 at 7:52 pmYou had me at Mt. Tam.
hippierunner
August 25, 2010 at 8:09 pmOooh, Tyler! And those fries look soo good!
Angharad
August 25, 2010 at 8:50 pmI am a fry fiend. I cannot resist. I can take two bites of an amazing burger and then forget it all over the fries. It’s a problem. Especially if they’re thin cut french style like that. Oh wait, if they’re thick cut British chips it’s a problem too…shoot.
ida
August 25, 2010 at 8:54 pmNo dessert?! those fries look amazing, and I love Mt. Tam cheese.
Suzanne de Cornelia
August 25, 2010 at 9:43 pmWhat brilliant design! Old SF and fresh at once. Reminds me places we went to into The City w/parents when very young and stayed in adjoining suites at the St. Francis. The Beefeater doormen tipping his hat with a white-gloved hand and the Powell Street Cable Car clanging past in front–still there.
I noticed it’s on Sacramento Street that bisects The City from start to end & has its own website: http://www.sacramentostreetshop.com/
What a great spot for lunch. I love TF, too.
Samantha @ Food Edu
August 25, 2010 at 10:14 pmThis all looks quite excellent–I love me a good burger!
Laura (Starloz)
August 25, 2010 at 10:47 pmthat burger looks incredible
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
August 26, 2010 at 3:29 amMmm…I love a good burger and fries now and then. Sometimes you just can’t beat it. 😀
Lauren
August 26, 2010 at 3:59 amTyler is one of my Foodnetwork crushes. I also have a HUGE crush on Dave Liberman. But I don’t see him too much anymore 🙁
All of the food looks awesome!
amanda
August 26, 2010 at 4:09 amThis place looks sooooo yummy! BTW, I have noticed that figs might be the new trend food. I keep seeing them more and more
Katy(The Balanced Foodie)
August 26, 2010 at 9:03 amI think it’s because they’re in season again. I haven’t seen fresh figs at my grocery and now they are stocked with fresh figs! 🙂
Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/
August 26, 2010 at 4:14 amWhat a fun lunch and lots of good eats to try. I love all the appetizers.
Katie
August 26, 2010 at 4:16 amwow this place looks AMAZING!!!!!
I have to come out to the west coast for a vacation full of amazing dining!!!
Chelsey
August 26, 2010 at 4:17 amEven though I’m not a meat eater, it all loooks reeealy good!
Jessica
August 26, 2010 at 4:35 amTyler Florence is the reason I started watching Food Network. He’s a cutie!
Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble)
August 26, 2010 at 4:47 amWow, that looks like one helluva burger, yum!
xo
Kris
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
August 26, 2010 at 6:06 amThe fig appetizer took my breath away, they look both gorgeous and delicious. As for the steak tar tar, you’re incredibly brave. I love a good medium rare steak, but to eat it raw is an immeasurable act of courage.
Everything in this post looks delicious, but I still can’t get over those figs!
R @ Learning As I Chop
August 26, 2010 at 6:08 amLooks delicious. I love indulgent lunches
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf
August 26, 2010 at 6:32 amCan’t say that I would have not eaten the bacon.
But that burger looks incredible!!! I think everything tastes better with fresh made bread!
Andrea
August 26, 2010 at 7:07 amSo funny, we’re on the same blog wave-length. Yesterday Gazpacho and today Tyler. Check out my encounter with Tyler Florence (aka my Sammy) in my post this morning. Too funny!
Deanna
August 26, 2010 at 7:23 amLooks SO good! I agree, love the bar.
Colleen
August 26, 2010 at 7:27 amtotally loving the new tone of your blog, you have a great spirit! made the choc chip cookies and your mom’s version of enchiladas this past weekend + 3 peach pies from my CSA bag, had no problem working with the pie dough, which has always intimidated me a bit. Keep those recipes coming. very much looking forward to your book.
Kelly
August 26, 2010 at 7:43 amMm everything looks so good! I have to be honest, I don’t even know what steak tartar is so I can’t even judge.
I have a question that just popped into my head that I’d love to be answered: How do you hear about all these local food events going on? Is it mostly because of the blog or do you have to go out and do your own research to find them? I’d love to know because it makes me think/wish they had some kind of similar events where I live!
AshleyH
August 26, 2010 at 7:56 amoh Tyler Florence…My fiance knows I am totally smitten with him. so hot!
Katherine
August 26, 2010 at 8:13 ammmmm i don’t know what looks more delicious…those fries, or tyler 😉 creepy? maybe. true? definitely.
i’ve never had fresh figs, and i’m dying to try them, but i can’t find them anywhere!
Sam
August 26, 2010 at 9:12 amI think Tyler is adorable! Looks like a wonderful lunch.
I’ve been meaning to say this for a while, but alas, I’ve been a busy bee…I love what your blog has transformed into! Epically amazing if I do say so myself. 😉 A wonderful breath of fresh air. Fun and inspiring. Yeah I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Keep doing what you’re doing Jenna, because I think it’s freaking fabulous.
Amber K
August 26, 2010 at 9:24 amThere are definitely times when you just gotta live it up! I would be all over those fries! They look delicious!
Sara
August 26, 2010 at 9:29 amOmggg it all looks amazing! I’ve been wanting to try Wayfare Tavern! Tyler Florence lives in my town (Mill Valley) and I see him AT LEAST once a month- in fact I’ve even sold him a cup of iced coffee before (when I worked at a cafe)- he’s definitely one of my favourite food network stars!
Kelly
August 26, 2010 at 11:17 amI adore steak tartare and beef carpaccio. Mmmmm. Making me want some as I type.
Kelley
August 26, 2010 at 11:51 amSo I have a question Jenna. I love, LOVE your food shots, especially those out at restaurants. Do any of the restaurants ever give you a hard time about whipping out the SLR and going nuts? I’ve been tempted to document more of my outings to cool food places but I’m afraid of the evil eye from servers and neighboring tables… Did you have to get over that fear?
jenna
August 26, 2010 at 12:00 pmhaha nope! I’m hoping they just think I’m someone important. heheh
Kelley
August 26, 2010 at 1:52 pmRight on. Thanks!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
August 26, 2010 at 1:17 pmI haven’t eaten red meat in months, but that picture totally has me craving a burger!
Lauren @ 40Apples
August 26, 2010 at 1:20 pmThat meal is beyond words.