14 | EDIBLE SF WINTER 2025 SUPER MENSCH Super Mensch is what happens when a lifelong pastrami obsessive and a mad-scientist bartender build the kind of delibar mashup only San Francisco could pull off. Owners Adam Rosenblum and Elmer Mejicanos, the duo behind Causwells, channel classic deli institutions through a distinctly SF lens, creating something that’s somehow both fresh and familiar. The food leans comforting, not fussy: crisp, layered latkes with crème fraîche and salmon roe; everything bagels with scallion cream cheese and smoked salmon; and the namesake Super Mensch, a full pound of smoked-and-brined pastrami on house-made rye, built for sharing (or not). The cocktails follow suit, most famously the matzah-ball-soup margarita with its herb-speckled ice “matzah ball” that seasons the drink as it melts. Save room for a massive slice of chocolate cake for two to four. (However big you’re imagining it, it’s bigger.) Only one is baked each day, so go early if you’re serious. (Which you are.) With a marquee menu board and illustrations of beloved delis lining the walls, Super Mensch lands between neighborhood hang and cultural wink: playful, specific, and very much a mensch at heart. supermenschsf.com NOSTALGIA ON RYE, CHUTZPAH IN THE GLASS VIA AURELIA Mission Rock’s newest arrival is a stunner: a Tuscaninspired restaurant from the team behind Che Fico, set right on the waterfront with views stretching toward Oracle Park. Inside, vaulted ceilings, lime-washed walls, soft fresco-like textures, and warm tones of terracotta, olive, and juniper create a vibe that’s Tuscany-meetsSF in the best way: warm, modern, and beautifully restrained. The menu dives into Tuscany with both range and focus. Expect porcini sformato with sunchoke and Parmigiano Reggiano; hand-rolled pici with Sonoma squab ragù and crispy rosemary; and a bistecca alla Fiorentina cut from a porterhouse big enough to make the rest of the city’s steaks pretend they weren’t trying that hard anyway. Dishes will shift with the seasons, but look for seafood, pastas, and vegetable-forward plates informed by Tuscany’s coast, farmland, and forests. A 650-bottle wine list spans standout producers from Italy, France, and California. Whether you go à la carte or opt for the tasting menu, Via Aurelia offers a refined-but-welcoming experience— part Tuscan escape, part Mission Rock standout, whole reason to make a reservation. viaaureliasf.com TUSCANY BY WAY OF THE BAY Photos—Eric Wolfinger Photos—Angela DeCenzo
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