Updated: March 2016
I was inspired to write this post since I got a message from a professional contact, a newbie to the Bay Area, on LinkedIn recently commenting on how this blog has helped him get to know the city more. I didn't even know he reads my blog so it came as a surprise! (Hi!)

So without further ado, here are my top 5 picks for the best dessert shops in San Francisco in no particular order:
1. Le Marais: I am so happy that they have expanded next door. I drop by here whenever I'm in the neighborhood for their gateau.

2. DeLise: This little gem in North Beach hits the right spot with its bite-sized pastries and home-made gelato. My hands-down favorite is the green tea cupcake (because I love anything matcha) with a burst of red bean, and the Thai tea gelato.

3. Craftsman and Wolves: They have expanded down under in Los Angeles. Congratulations!

4. B. Patisserie: A hit or a miss if they still have inventory for the day when you get there. But once you do find yourself at B. Patisserie and they DO have pastries left, try multiple items, such as the chocolate vanilla choux below.

5. Dandelion Chocolate: Breath deeply when you enter Dandelion to suck in all that chocolate heavenly scent. Enjoy their iced or hot chocolate drinks. 

B. Patisserie's Chocolate Vanilla Choux with pate choux with sable, choco cremeux, chantilly, sable breton croutons, choco rice pearls

Archived:
theLab (NOW CLOSED): I ogle at their science lab inspired interiors and ogle more at their root beer float, a rich smudge base of Recchiuti extra-bitter chocolate sauce layered with house-made vanilla ice cream, frothed milk and topped with Virgil's root beer! Mouthful, I know, but it tastes as good as it sounds.

Fried chicken from Miss Ollie's plus desserts! What more can you ask for?

I was asked this question when I was talking about my blog to a co-worker, who is new to the city and in the dating market, a few weeks ago. Per his request, here is my hit list:

1. The coffee shop is the default first date spot. You can sip slowly if you like your date or chug your drink if you want the date to end it as soon as possible. Because San Francisco has many neighborhood cafes that, whether we like it or not, speaks volumes of who goes to a particular cafe (i.e. the hippie, the yuppie, the startup guy/gal, the coffee snob, etc.), choose wisely. My picks include the following (coffee chains excluded):
a. Sightglass in SOMA
b. Saint Frank in Russian Hill
c. Jane in Pacific Heights
d. The Station or Reveille Cafe in North Beach
e. Four Barrel in the Mission
f. The Mill in Alamo Square

 

2. Chocolate/dessert shops. Whoever picks such a location is a sweet tooth My picks are B. Patisserie and Dandelion Chocolate during the day time and Candybar during the night time. Check out more options on my article on Top 5 Dessert Shops in San Francisco.

3. There are only a few high-tea shops to choose from in the city: Lovejoy, Samovar or Leland.

4. A much more sophisticated version of a sports bar or brewery is a wine lounge where you can calm your nerves with a glass of wine in hand. The city has many to choose from.

5. Oh, how come no one ever brings up Bubble Tea as a place to go on a date? The same concept applies compared to going to a cafe- Sip slow (date is good) or sip fast (date is bad). Here's my top picks. 

What's your favorite first date spot?

Roe that pops in your mouth.

Part of the vegetarian menu.

Soft and succulent fish.

Asparagus

Pasta with beans

Another fish but I prefer the first one above.

He excels on this food blogger selfie pose.

For those who prefer fruity desserts.

For the chocolate lovers.

Everyone has a story to tell. If you look at the memorabilia decorated inside the space of newbie Kitchen Story in the Castro district, there's really a story behind this restaurant. They have an unassuming environment appropriate for catching up with good friends or, in my case, with family.

You can order family style and share their Asian-inspired dishes with an entire group of hungry diners. Our dinner was filled mostly with fried foods, such as fried chicken, calamari and veggie tempura, but this doesn't mean that Kitchen Story doesn't have anything healthy on the menu. They do. I blame this boo boo on my sister who ordered. Notably, they used similar tasting batter for what you see on the photo below. I'm not complaining though.