Cassava Vibrantly Elevates Californian Seasonality And Uplifts Ethical Equity In North Beach

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North Beach's newest must-visit cornerstone is Cassava, delightfully nestled in the heart of the storied culinary neighborhood. Recognizable by its iconic Tiffany blue awning, the former Outer Richmond institution was grandly unveiled on 401 Columbus Avenue on October 12, instantly amassing a flock of devoted patrons both new and longtime.

The interior is just as vividly chic as masterful owner Yuka and husband/Head Chef Kris Ioroi's precisely curated menu, offering a bright and colorful cozy space that perfectly pairs with the seasonally fresh and modern Californian cuisine. Elegant as it is familial, and refined as it is inclusive, Cassava emphasizes a thoughtfully wholesome experience not only through the impeccable cooking, but also in their upholding of ethical principles and exploitation-free ingredient sourcing.

See also: Our Ultimate Day Guide For SF's Eclectic North Beach Neighborhood

Immediately upon entering Cassava's sleek angular space, you are greeted with the absolute kindest service, the radiant smiles matching the luminous fixtures and large wall paintings. The interior is a multicolor feast for the eyes, each bold stroke on the open kitchen-adjacent mural adding to the trendy ambience and underscoring the similarly vibrant flavors to come.

The tight prix-fixe menu is also a fun adventure, with three courses of a first, main, and dessert, and enticing snack, supplements, and wine pairings as well. With multiple options under each category, the entire meal is offered at a generously affordable $52 per guest, further cementing Cassava's devotion to serving their community.

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Since its inception in 2012, Cassava has always been focused on equity, hospitality, and a work environment that is inclusive, progressive, and human-centered, rebuking all "toxic masculinity, racism, homophobia, transphobia." Likewise, a livable city wage for the kitchen crew and servers and responsibly-sourced ingredients have always been top priorities for the caring company, actively being consciously ethical through every fiber of Cassava.

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Such care truly comes through in the quality food they serve, as each artistic dish comes out as a masterpiece that optimally showcases the delicate seasonality of the featured produce, meat, and seafood. The Burroughs Chicken Liver Mousse with pomegranate gelee and fermented cucumber relish is a rich must-order, along with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Meyer lemon aioli and lightly fermented fuyu persimmons.

The Dungeness Crab and Asian Pear Salad, and the tender Nordic Blu Salmon Crudo with compressed melon and mint chive oil are also outstanding orders, especially when paired with their respective beverages for an additional $36+.

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The Supplement of Pan Seared Scallops with crispy fried chickpeas and soft trout roe make for a complex textural experience, which primes you for the main courses that are even more awe-inspiring.

The Grilled Flat Iron Steak with stinging nettle-ricotta gnudi, kabocha squash puree, and port-huckleberry jus is fresh and bright, while the Duck Leg Confit with gypsy pepper romesco sauce, and shungiku greens is perfectly crisp and melt-in-your-mouth.

Dessert and cocktails are unequivocally inimitable at Cassava, with the Poached Red D'Anjou Pear with honeycomb cookie crunch pairing smoothly with their sherry-forward Adonis concotion for the ultimate nightcap.

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Cassava is bright, honest, and genuinely transparent with not only their gleaming open kitchen, but also with their reverence for seasonlity and wholesome mission for ethical equity. If you want a meal and restaurant ambience that will take care of you with elegant finesse, Cassava is your new North Beach home.

Cassava is located on 401 Columbus Avenue and is open from Wednesday to Sunday.