"Mister Jiu’s serves traditional Chinese dishes remixed with Californian twists, like dutch crunch pork buns and uni cheong fun. They recently switched to a five-course tasting menu ($145) in the main dining room, which feels like the new generation’s version of a grand traditional banquet hall. But the tasting menu can be hit or miss. We prefer scooting into a bar stool, where you can pick and choose the hits from the a la carte menu, like puffy sourdough scallion pancakes and the whole Peking duck with peanut butter hoisin. When you’re done, head upstairs to their sister cocktail bar Moongate Lounge, the sexiest place in the neighborhood for a nightcap spiked with lapsang or orange blossom. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, lani conway
Carly Hackbarth