Down South in SoMA

I recently ate at South Food + Wine Bar, an Aussie-Kiwi restaurant in the South of Market (SoMA) neighborhood of San Francisco. I think I fell more in love with the space than the food. Our lunch was pretty tasty (especially the fried barramundi fish with chunky chips), but I found the design even tastier.

The restaurant design is a clever "mod nod" to life down under with faux ostrich leather banquettes in a rich navy blue and gorgeous cork floors that recall the dry wilderness of the Outback.

I liked the long communal table that welcomes conviviality among strangers and functions as an intermediary zone between the lively bar area and seated diners. South F+W Bar has a great wine list that is categorized by characteristic rather than grape blend or region, an approachable way of offering wines to guests at this casual establishment. Local interior design group Redmond Aldrich created this space, but it looks like they primarily do fun home interiors in a "chic kitsch" style.