Naked Lunch

Named in homage to the neighborhood's beatnik past, this North Beach lunch counter serves up a short but inventive menu that changes by the day. Soups and salads feature farmers' market-fresh ingredients, and a trio of daily sandwich choices address the most common hankerings—for something decadent, hearty, or healthy. Try the artisan foie gras au torchon and duck prosciutto sammy with black truffle salt, or a rustic grilled skirt steak sando with chimichurri and garlic aioli. The cholesterol-conscious will appreciate the curried-carrot and fennel option with chèvre, melted onion, balsamic, and pea shoots. Limited seating is available inside at low, gray counters with white stools, but the outdoor patio includes heat lamps and a view down Kearny Street of the financial district and Transamerica Pyramid.