The Progress

Located around the corner from the epoch-making Fillmore Theater, this sunny NorCal-meets-Nordic destination is as disarming as it is ambitious. The space is two stories of wood, stone and tile with greenery and skylights throughout, and an eager crowd flocks here for all occasions. Colorful, vibrant dishes designed for sharing rise to the formidable task of tasting as good as they look, so order with abandon. Original, boldly seasoned plates, like burrata with fried butter beans and Yerena Farms strawberries, or seaweed noodles with brown butter and dashi, are promising starts. Somebody has to order the Liberty Farms duck, a show-stopping feast complete with a mountain of crispy, peanut fried rice that draws eyes as it moves through the dining room.