At some point in a day spent in San Francisco, one must find a respite from the bustle that draws us in the first place.
My niece Nicole and I are in the city to buy a special occasion dress. First, we enjoy our favorite French toast brunch at Colibri, then engage in clothes-changing aerobics at Macy’s. Next, we maneuver the crowds to the mall, shop, and drink coffee. Finally, our Fitbits reward us with a fireworks display — 10,000 steps!
We exit the mall, cross Market Street and head back to Union Square. Clanks and beeps clash with boombox music and blaring religious admonishments, their collective echoes held captive by the towering buildings.
Saturday is slow to give up her star billing in San Francisco.
“C’mon,” Nicole says, hooking my arm in hers. “Let’s go to ENO and kick back for a while.”
ENO – We’ve Got a Crush on Wine
Entering the wine bar halts our senses.
Indoors flat lines in comparison to outdoors. It’s calm and quiet — an apt environment for a wine bar in daylight. But it has an elegance I can already tell will be a hot spot come evening. Plush settees and chairs compliment wooden seats in arrangements that say, hey, stay a while, there’s no rush here. Oh, and feel free to bring your friends!
The server seats us at a table next to the fireplace. Tall flames flicker in a long row behind a glass wall.
“Ooh, you get the best seat in the house!” says a dark-haired woman near the picture window. Her male companion nods and takes a slow sip from a frosted glass filled with something white and bubbly. They people-watch and nibble on cheese and other tidbits. Nestled in their chairs, I suspect they’ve been here a while.
I take a chance and order a red wine flight with reds not of the Cabernet Sauvignon type, lured by the Mourvedre. It’s not bad, but Nicole’s Cabernet flight proves a much better choice.
The menu is fairly typical for such an establishment — but they celebrate a trio: Wine, cheese, and chocolate. Outside this emphasis, they serve olives, almonds, deviled eggs, bruschetta, charcuterie, and flatbread.
We chose the Coppa Flatbread ($14) topped with caramelized onions, coppa, aged gouda, and arugula. Delicious! Crisp, gooey, aromatic — a savory dish. Really, one of the best.
Red Wine Flights
Coppa Flatbread
ENO is a wonderful place to park yourself and relax.
Hip and vibrant, even their music selection inspires. I Shazamed a few songs to capture the vibe and created a Spotify playlist. It’s easy breezy music with a beat.
Check out my ENO Vibe playlist!
I’ve been listening all week. I hope you enjoy it!
Cheers, my friends!
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Address: 320 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (between Mason St & Powell St)
Phone: (415) 678-5321
Noteworthy because: Casual, hip and comfortable ambiance. Excellent menu that includes one of the best flatbread. It also includes chocolate. While I didn’t sample the chocolate, it’s a menu item not usually available at wine/beer bars. I can’t wait to go back and try it!