Support Season 15 Restaurants

Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 premiere airs Thursday, April 2 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

We’re not throwing away our shot to kick off Season 15 with a bang! The stars of San Francisco’s Hamilton join Leslie to turn the world upside down with their favorite city eateries. Mourad is an elegant, Michelin-starred spot in SoMa where modern North African cuisine shines under the guidance of its visionary chef. Next, it’s off to the Design District, where high-quality steaks are elegantly crafted with a Japanese twist at Niku Steakhouse. Finally, we raise a glass to all-star cheeseburgers at Causwells, an intimate American joint in the Marina.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and cast members from Hamilton on the set of season 15 episode 1. (Cecilia Phillips/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Mourad (San Francisco)

* Niku Steakhouse (San Francisco)

* Causwells (San Francisco)

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

Paula Kornell Brut Sparkling Wine Méthode Champenoise

California, $22

When I heard Paula Kornell was launching her eponymous bubbly brand, I couldn’t stop smiling. First, because it’s sparkling wine and that always makes me happy. But more importantly, because Paula is a rare breed in California. Her father, Hanns Kornell, is a legendary pioneer of sparkling wine production in Napa Valley since 1958. After decades of dormancy, she has brought the family name back to where it belongs—on a bottle and in a flute. This stylish sparkler with citrus aromas and juicy flavors is primarily chardonnay with pinot noir. It’s vivacious and full of personality... just like Paula herself.

2019 Raeburn Rosé

Russian River Valley, California, $15

With a deep respect for nature and family, Derek Benham founded Raeburn Winery in 2012. His mother was a devoted naturalist, and he grew up in California with his hands in the dirt. Raeburn is an old English term meaning “the river where one goes to drink,” and drink you will. This is a refreshingly fruity and appealingly affordable pink. The rosé is a blend of grapes, including pinot noir and grenache, made in a Provençal style that captures lightness and brightness.

2017 Eden Rift Estate Pinot Noir

Cienega Valley, California, $48

As someone who has visited well over a thousand worldwide wine...