Everything’s coming up roses for The Plant Cafe Organic on Pier 3, Embarcadero – its enviable location, food, service, décor, even the plants.Sunny summers are not typical to San Francisco, but on a warm afternoon there is no better place to dine al fresco than on The Plant’s terrace with a gorgeous view of the Bay.
Fresh air, light sea breeze, and a pleasant selection of songs in Romance languages provide a perfect backdrop for seasonal organic cuisine by the Executive Chef Sascha Weiss, who creates a great deal of raw, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes.
The Plant’s wine list is rich with international choices, but on the day we dined California wines seemed suitable for the array of local produce on our plates.
My freshly shucked oysters and my husband’s crab and tomato timbale with Dungeness crab, avocado, chive oil and chili-lime vinaigrette paired nicely with crisp Navarro Riesling from Anderson Valley.Scott Harvey barbera from a mountain vineyard in Amador County, full of black cherry and blueberry notes, complimented my special pizza with heirloom tomatoes – indulgent, yet light and refreshing.
My husband, an expert on duck preparations (and formerly a duck hunter – way before we met and moved to California) thoroughly enjoyed his simply seared Muscovy duck breast with warm faro tabouli and citrus-sumac oil accompanied by a glass of Domaine Carneros pinot noir.
Desserts at The Plant, created by Suzanne Stampke, harmoniously round up a great meal. Vegan cherry coffee cake was lavishly garnished with coconut chocolate ice cream and cherry coulis, while raw raspberry cashew cheesecake just blew me away.
No cheesecake in the world can even hold a candle to this one – an unbelievably buttery concoction of fresh raspberry and fresh coconut on pecan-date crust and with blackberry pepper sauce. I wouldn’t even call it a cheesecake, but something like heavenly delight, or raspberry revelation…The Plant’s commitment to sustainability shows in everything. Wild daisies and sunflowers from an organic grower decorating the dining room and the terrace are a logical addition to the restaurant’s rooftop solar system, tables made of coconut shell, and cold-processed steel elements – everything here is green, organic, sustainable and recyclable – no paper reservations, business cards or other wasteful uses.
The Plant Cafe Organic is located in the corner facilities of two neighboring historic pier buildings. The main dining room connects to the heated outdoor waterfront terrace, and there is also seating on the private mezzanine, and right on the street on Embarcadero.The Plant on Pier 3 at The Embarcadero is open for lunch Monday through Friday, for brunch on weekends, and for dinner nightly. For reservations, call (415) 984-1973 or visit: www.ThePlantCafe.com.
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