Bistro Aix -- How did I not know?

Dining in the Marina with out all the screeching?  It is possible.

Look, there are a few places in the general Chestnut Street vicinity where you know there's some quality being served up if you're willing to brave the drunk frat boys and screeching women, The Tipsy Pig and Tacolicious being Exhibits A and B.  So you never go.  The establishment is ruined by it's own patrons as a variant of the Yogi Berra rule* sets in.

That's why my first visit to Bistro Aix was such a shocker.  It's a casual but elegant dining experience with near flawless service, very reasonable prices, great food and an impressive wine selection.  And it appears to be patronized by actual adults (in the Marina!).  This was just last night.  Don't get me wrong, the place was packed on a Thursday night and lively. 

A few notes on the meal:

• They have a very nice calamari, very lightly breaded, served on an Asian slaw
• Any place with Unti by the glass is okay by me... their wine list fits on the back of their menu but only with really small font.  I'll go back do delve more deeply into this French heavy list.
• What you see in the photos are a pork chop with fava bean risotto, a little gem salad and coffee that appeared with miraculous speed.
• Spaghetti for $12 bucks?!  (As Rob Sudakow pointed out, sometimes it's harder to pull off the simple things right.)

This place will definitely stay in the rotation. http://www.bistroaix.com  (I must say, their website quite does not quite do them justice or I may have found them sooner.)

*  "Nobody goes there anymore.  It's too crowded." -- Yogi Berra

Unrelated note:  Imagine the best possible interpretation of a Manhattan Milkshake.  Then go have one at the Corner Store on Masonic at Geary.  It was all of that.