Michael Tusk’s Favorite Jackson Square Eats

“A perfect little café just a block from the restaurants,” Tusk says of the spot, known for its creative terrines, pâté en croûte, and aspics. “On Sundays, there’s a line out the door. But during the week, we can pop in for a pastry at any time,” he says, adding that Quince Chef de Cuisine Ethan Hodge previously worked at Nico, so “he shares his special privileges.”

“It has been referred to as a perfect restaurant. Who am I to argue with that assessment?” Tusk says of the award-winning Chinatown spot, which remains difficult to book more than a year after opening.

This female-owned bakery specializes in both laminated pastries and crumbly ones. According to Tusk, it serves “what might be the city’s best pastry: a scallion pancake croissant.”

One of San Francisco’s most respected dining institutions, chef Brandon Jew’s restaurant “is my go-to spot when someone is visiting from out of town,” Tusk says.

This small local chain, with a location near the Transamerica Pyramid, has captured Tusk’s attention, along with that of many San Francisco locals. “It’s a creative offering,” he says, referring to chef Eric Ehler’s Peking duck pizza and other shenanigans.