Cuisine:

• Others
• Californian

Aurea Description:
This roomy, lobby-level restaurant and lounge within The Stanford Court hotel occupies the choice bit of real estate at California and Powell Streets and features the updated California cuisine of chef Jeffrey Surprise (Quince, Radius). The venue is vastly different from the hotel's former restaurant, Fournou's Ovens; high-backed booths and scattered lounge seating lend the space a modern feel, as do details such as art glass, stylized tableware and lots of curves, including a massive, full bar. Chef Surprise has created a fun menu of upscale bites---delicately seasoned "tater tots" and rich lobster mac 'n' cheese---to reflect the refreshed spirit of the renovated space. Larger plates include seared salmon with cranberry beans, tomato and bacon, and balsamic chicken with Blue Lake beans and tomato confit. Desserts are standard California fare---local gelato, crème brûlée, warm chocolate cake. Despite multiple flat-screen TVs and a somewhat transient hotel atmosphere, the room is creamy and welcoming, service is heartfelt and the wine list is surprisingly strong.


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