San Francisco - March 20, 2009

The Froggy City

Midi Restaurant Opens

Bonjour, class. Welcome to French 101. Let’s begin with some translations.

Joie de Vivre: the luxury hotelier and owner of Union Square’s newest brasserie.

Midi: new home of executive chef Michelle Mah (Ponzu), which opens for lunch and dinner today.

La décoration: a Moulin Rouge-inspired wall mural, sleek downstairs bar with projection screen, cozy upstairs dining room with banquettes, recessed ceiling lighting, dark woods, and rainbow colored mirrors.

Boisson: cocktails include the Lavender French 75 and the Dark & Foggy.

Hors d’oeuvre: grilled jumbo asparagus for lunch and warm seafood salad or pork rillette with dinner.

Plat principal: lunch entrees include a grass-fed beef burger with fries; dinner selections like duck leg confit, hangar steak (best with frites), and a pan-fried skate wing.

Chocolate pot de crème: heaven.

Midi, 185 Sutter Street, at Kearny Street (415-835-6400 or midisanfrancisco.com).