Robin's Michael Huffman on dim sum for breakfast
Prior to opening Robin six months ago, Michael got his start at Aaxte in San Francisco (now closed), The Advocate in Berkeley, and owned his own restaurant and bar in Portland. His first job in San Francisco was bartending at Dosa. Can I Speak to the Manager sat down with Michael to discuss his San Francisco favorites and beyond.
On breakfast soup:
I usually eat pho or dim sum for breakfast. The best pho is Miss Saigon in Soma; their broth is the best in the city. It opens early in the morning. Another great place for dim sum is Ton Kiang in the Inner Richmond - you can get fantastic dim sum any day of the week there.
Robin
On what’s next for Michael:
We’re opening a restaurant called Che Fico (which translates to “How cool!” in Roman) on Divisadero with David Nayfeld, the sous chef from Eleven Madison Park and Matt Brewer from Chicago’s Hogsalt Hospitality (think Au Cheval, Maude’s Liquor Bar, and Bavettes). Angela Pinkerton from Eleven Madison Park (and most recently consulting for Craftsman & Wolves) is also on board. Eventually, Angela is going to run a small pastry shop underneath called Theorita. Theorita will also serve lunch and dinner; the idea is elevated comfort food.
On his go-to beer spots:
I’m a big fan of the craft beer scene. When I first moved to SF, it was still coming into its own, but now there are so many fantastic places. Black Sands Brewery on Haight is a relatively newer brewery with a cool kitchen. There’s a fantastic Chef there named Marco and they have all kinds of delicious snacks and beers. In the Dogpatch, there’s Serpentine by the same people as Slow Club. It's a fantastic all-day restaurant with one of the best burgers in San Francisco.
On the happy hour move:
My little secret is to go to Salumeria and get a sandwich or charcuterie plate and then sit in the dining room at Central Kitchen and order a glass of wine before it’s open for dinner. Trick Dog really does have awesome cocktails and awesome people. It’s always packed and almost undoable on the weekends; better to go there during the week.
Michael Huffman
On finding the tropics in SF:
I like Hawker Fare on Valencia,with Chef James Syhabout from Commis in Oakland, who also used to work at Manresa. Fantastic fine dining from Northern Thailand/Laos, which is different than your average Thai restaurant. There is a hidden bar upstairs that's really cool. It’s affordable, delicious and it’s fun to sit at the bar. Grilled meat, sticky rice, and ice cold beer - what could be better?
Liholiho Yacht Club is still a favorite of mine. I like the wine list and the excellent customer service. Cool flavors that don't exist anywhere else.
On his classic lunch spots:
For lunch, I like going to restaurants that are unique to SF (classics), but places you can go for breakfast or late in the afternoon before they close and there is no longer a huge line. Swan Oyster Depot comes to mind. I love the raw bar and enjoying an ice cold Anchor Steam. House of Prime Rib is also a favorite. If I do end up there for dinner, I’m getting prime rib and martinis.
On his East Bay favorites:
Comal in Berkeley has excellent margaritas and a beautiful patio. It’s a restaurant I have a lot of respect for, with great hospitality and service. They don’t take reservations, but you should sit at the bar and get yourself some chips and salsa.
Prizefighter in Emeryville is my favorite East Bay Bar. At night it becomes a who’s who of restaurant industry people, but it’s also a great mixture of a neighborhood bar and very unpretentious. They take craft beer seriously.
I also like Pizzaiolo. Great wood-fired pizza, really nice bar and fresh oysters.
On the incessant search for tacos:
Tacos, tacos, tacos. Tacos all the time. I started my career in Portland and there’s just not great Mexican food there, so I’m constantly trying to find the best tacos in the Bay. The absolute best place for tacos is El Paisa in Oakland. It feels like you are stepping into Mexico City. Make sure you get 4 different kinds.
Robin Sushi
On what’s really good:
I just got married at the Ace Hotel Palm Springs. It was fantastic; pool time and relaxation and an easy weekend trip from San Francisco. I’m planning a trip to Morocco for next year.
On his tunes:
Something that a lot of people might not know about me is that I collect vinyl records. My wife and I make breakfast and drink coffee and listen to records before we go on with our days. Music is huge for me - I blast my Spotify playlists on the way to work. It keeps me happy and is a way to blow off steam. We try to see as many concerts as possible. We both love My Morning Jacket and just saw Arcade Fire - it was a crazy rock show.
On what’s awesome about Robin:
At Robin, we set out to create a sushi experience unlike any in the world. We wanted to create a fun restaurant with an amazing staff and great drinks, too, so it’s a good time for everyone.
