Absinthe

Absinthe is a great place for a nice lunch and mid-afternoon cocktail. The food is French-Californian, with great Old-World technique but quality, locally-sourced ingredients. We had some excellent fresh-from-the-bay oysters (you can judge their freshness by the amount of liquid in the shell) which were among the best I've ever had, and a popular order judging by the tables around us. We also got spicy pork meatballs with parmesean crostinis, and a perfectly-cooked steak frite. The draw, besides the outsanding food, are the cocktails: modern updates on turn-of-the-century drinks, all featuring the joint's namesake green liqueur.