Diners and foodies in the Sausalito area looking for farm-to-table cuisine have finally found their restaurant of choice with the opening (and subsequent settling period) of the new Plate Shop restaurant on Caledonia St. Farm fresh produce grown in the restaurant’s own on-premise gardens, fresh locally caught seafood, and an eclectic and rustic menu combine to offer up an experience that is winning new fans and bringing a steady stream of critics back through the doors once again.

One of the newest additions to Sausalito’s dining scene, Plate Shop has had diners and critics alike talking since before its opening when rumors and speculation abounded about the haute cuisine and avant-garde stylings of the original executive chef and the mission and theme of the restaurant. Within the last few months, the restaurant seems to have hit its stride and is living up to the speculation and talk.

Auspicious Beginnings

From the initial announcement of the restaurant’s proposed opening through the long opening process that seemed as though it might never end, critics and San Francisco Bay Area foodies were anxiously awaiting the new eatery. Well known chef Kim Alter (who has an impressive resume from Aqua, Manresa, Ubuntu, and other Bay Area hotspots) was signed as the executive chef and promised an artful and unique menu following the nose-to-tail dining concept.

Critics argued that while a dining experience such as the one offered by Alter might thrive in San Francisco proper, it would not fare well in Sausalito. After several months of critical praise but an apparent lack of local acceptance, Alter left the business and it has since reshaped itself and its menu.

An Elegant and Different Sausalito Dining Experience

Finally living up to the expectations and anticipation that preceded the original opening of the restaurant, Plate Shop is now faring extremely well with a new executive chef, a revamped menu, and the farm-to-table rustic menu intact. The wood and concrete dining room, complete with metal napkin rings and stark décor offers diners a decidedly more metropolitan ambiance than anything currently available, and backs up the image with a dining experience to remember.

Fresh produce from the restaurant’s 14 on-premise raised vegetable beds dominates the menu, as it should. Paired with fresh locally caught seafood and an impeccable array of meats and interesting dishes, the farm-to-table concept not only remains intact but flourishes. An impressive wine list, inventive cocktails, and an attentive staff round out the experience and make Plate Shop a worthwhile and welcome addition to Sausalito’s dining scene.

From rabbit liver crostini and little gem salads to braised rabbit and stuffed vegetable dishes, the restaurant offers an exciting and fresh menu with a distinctly San Francisco feel. It is worth mentioning as well, that any produce not cultivated on the premises, and all of the meats, are farmed by local organic producers and brought in as fresh as possible.

The next time you are out on the town in Sausalito and looking for a new restaurant to try that is both different and pleasantly comfortable, stop by the Plate Shop and take a look at the ever-changing menu to see what they have in store for you.

 

Plate Shop
39 Caledonia St.
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415)887-9047
www.plateshop.net