Commonwealth, San Francisco

Commonwealth was not on my itinerary for my trip to California but when I mentioned Frances to Dominique Crenn at the amazing Atelier Crenn she suggested that I should try this place too. No problem, since it's just around the corner from my favorite bookstore in the city, Borderlands. I arrived with no reservation but was immediately seated at the bar which, with a full view of the kitchen, would have been my choice anyway. Home made chips were followed by an amuse of a rice cracker with a single mussel. A delicious start especially with Koshihikari Echigo to wash it down (the same beer is also available at nearby Frances by the way).
Next crushed pea agnolotti, artichoke, black trumpets, fennel cream, fava leaf, flaxseed cracker. This was served with nasturtium flowers too. I'm very into peas at the moment and was delighted that while the pasta frames and delivers them they still tasted of... ok, peas. Super.
Then young hen, asparagus, radish, spring onion, wheat berries, foie gras emulsion. The hen is crispy, very nicely prepared but all about the quality of ingredients.
Finally peanut butter semifreddo with a chocolate ganache and frozen popcorn (actually a sort of cream). An impressive dessert that seemed to be the most popular while I was there. 
Total check was a very reasonable $48 before tip. If you opt for the frankly cheap $65 six course tasting menu, which I got to see as a spectator sport while I dined, then $10 goes to charity.
I was so impressed with this place I bought the related 'cookbook' Mission Street Food which tells the story of the predecessors which lead to this place, and Mission Chinese Food next door, coming about (and indeed of the wider food scene in the area including my beloved Range and Bar Tartine, where I've dined). 
I enjoyed Commonwealth a lot - it's nothing much to look at from the outside but inside the place is electric.