Some nice choices:

Around the corner from your hotel:

Colibri (not-your-usual-tacosandenchiladas-Mexican) .2 miles

A little farther than your 1.0 mile walk:

Prospect (sister restaurant to Boulevard) 1.3 miles
Kokkari (upscale very good Greek) 1.2 miles
Cotogna (one of those places it's impossible to get a reservation) 1.1 miles

another vote for Colibri

If you want something more casual and neihborhoody - Uncle Vito's Italian, up the bill but a short walk from Union Sq
Adventurous - Borobodur on Post is a few blocks away but more towards the Tenderloin
There's also Grand Cafe which is upscale but hit and miss

Or you could go to Perbacco's next door sister -- Barbacco.
I met your at a GTG at John's Grill, right?

sf7307 - did you get your chef's knife in San Mateo?

We really enjoyed meals at:

One Market
Fifth Floor
Campton Place

Shanghainese: I met your at a GTG at John's Grill, right?

Don't believe so. Think you met me at the John's Grill - you also met DebitNM at John's Grill. Unless it was some other GTG, which is very possible, since i don't track all of them.

BTW, yk, DebitNM has given you the best recommendations.

Maybe you two should meet, two of the nicest Fodorites. One speaks Cantonese and the other Shanghainese - you're going to need an interpreter.

Forgot to add: I'd suggest going towards Union Square on Powell, rather than going down along Market Street.

There are plenty of places in and around Union Square - there's all kinds of famous restaurants around/close to Union Square.

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=restaurants+near+union+square&find_loc=Union+Square%2C+San+Francisco%2C+CA

I was thinking of Farallon, if you like seafood.

Or you could look up Maiden Lane and see if one of those restaurants suit your tastes.

I almost never eat downtown but make an exception for Cotogna. Not technically downtown but close enough for me.

If you want really casual Barbacco's great (in fact I like it better than Perbacco).

Not crazy about One Market but have enjoyed Campton Place and Fifth Floor in the past.

To clarify, Canteen is close to you and really good (small menu though), but not open Su/Mo nights.

We love Barbacco, especially for our first night when we want to dine a bit earlier. On our last trip, we really liked Park Tavern and we walked from the Embarcadero area. We also walked to Cotogna. Not so close, but a place we absolutely loved was State Bird Provisions.

I'm also not a huge fan of One Market, but it's very popular.

We had a really nice lunch there, and given it was during DAT, I figure that it must be even nicer when it is a non-DAT meal. I will yield to the locals.

OK, this is also a must do on every trip for us. I know there are those that disagree, but we have to go to Tadish for cioppino. If you go around 5 or 5:30 on Monday and be willing to sit at the counter, you won't have too bad of a wait. We always do that and it is so much fun to sit there. The one time we sat at a table, it was not nearly as fun a meal.

Hi DebitNM, it's Tadich Grill, one door west of Perbacco.

easytraveler -- yk speaks Cantonese? I owe you an email, be patient ...

It is, and Barbacco is one door east - respectively, 240, 230 and 220 California St.

S'hainese: easytraveler -- yk speaks Cantonese?

I believe that she and her brother, rkkwan, both are Cantonese speakers, although yk speaks opera better than she speaks Cantonese. (Just kidding, yk!)

S'hainese: no problem about the email. Anytime at your leisure. I am a very patient person - BUT, that XLB urge may overwhelm my patience.

yk: sorry for hijacking your thread. Do you have a preferred cuisine? That might help narrow things down a bit, besides the one mile radius. Or if you were willing to take a taxi. A taxi ride of $5 or $10 could really extend your radius.

One of my relatives who lives in San Francisco told me of a restaurant they recently went to: Keiko a Nob Hill, which is famous for its foie gras. Too bad California's ban on foie gras starts this Sunday. Keiko has a prix fixe dinner for $80/person which is supposedly really worth it, but the foie gras is their signature dish. Anyhow, just wanted to give you an example of what's possible with a greater radius. There are always so many good restaurants starting up in SF.

Hey - thanks for the great reading/dining tips for an "ex-pat" from "Frisco".

I can remember yeeeeears ago - when we (Starndard Oil Computer Dept lads and lasses) - used to love to go to Maiden Lane for lunch and this small restaurant - In the Alley? - had the best Cannelloni. Just marvelous.

And here is a Yelp page for current Maiden Lane restaurants:

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Maiden+Lane+Restaurants&find_loc=San+Francisco%2C+CA

Or was In the Alley on Belden Place? Oh the years - how they dim the memory. http://www.belden-place.com/

Actually - it was Belden Lane/Alley/Place where In the Alley was located - but we also enjoyed places on Maiden Lane.

Back in the 70's - the lunches were tres reasonable - even at the Old Poodle Dog.

http://www.belden-place.com/view/directions/

Tomsd: you were with Standard Oil computer dept in SF?

Maybe our paths have crossed. I used to work for a computer company here in Silicon Valley and one of the customers in "my territory" was Standard Oil. I also had Bechtel...interesting.

yk: my apologies again for hijacking your thread.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. I haven't had a chance to look at each restaurant's website & menu yet. Once I do, I'll try to narrow down the choices and get more opinions from all of you. Thanks again!

Yup - the Standard Oil of Californias (back then - the 6th largest corp in the world) Computer Dep in SF - in the Business Applications section/group. There was also a Systems group, a Chevron Chemical Group and an Engineering divison within the computer Dept - and we worked with them all/pretty much all knew each other.

I was called a Systems Analyst - and was there from April 1970 (after my MBA) until Sep 1972 when I left to go to UC Hastings.

We had a good group of people, and also worked closely with IBM's large computer reps, who also worked with Bechtel - who was just down Market Street. I was on the "fast track" management program - but had enough geek in me to understand computers (at least a little bit, and they wanted you to be in the tech side for a few years before you became an upper level manager

However, I decided to go to law school. Simple really - law school was 3 years and a Doctorate in Psychology was 5 - so law school it was.

BTW Easyt - what was your company's name.

And yk - hope we provided some useful info for you - in addition to our trip down memory lane.

yk and rkkwan are siblings????? I didn't know that!!

Easy mentioned Farallon, where DD and I had a meal two years ago or so. The dinner was good, but the Happy Hour menu is better. It is offered every day, until 7 p.m. It makes a good meal in itself. Hope this menu is useful:

S I X U N T I L S E V E N
Available before 7 pm in the Jellyfish Lounge & Oyster Bar
$6 per selection




ORGANIC BABY SPINACH
swanton strawberries, irish white cheddar, white balsamic vinaigrette
TRUFFLED KENNEBEC FRENCH FRIES
parmesan, aioli
HALF DOZEN DRAKE’S BAY OYSTER
champagne mignonette
CRISP YUKON GOLD POTATO CROQUETTES
cavedoni balsamico, basil pesto
STEAMED LITTLENECK CLAMS
chorizo, toasted levain, fumet
STERLING SILVER FARMS BEEF SLIDERS
kennebec fries, arugula, aïoli
SHAVED SERRANO HAM
petite salad, cornichons, grilled levain




Russian Standard Moscow Mule
Caipirinha
Hemingway Daiquiri
Classic Margarita
Sparkling, Törley, Gála Dry, Hungary NV
Chardonnay, Glen Carlou, Paarl, South Africa 2009
Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo, Gran Sasso, Italy 2009
Hinano, Tahiti
An 18% Gratuity will be added
to all parties of five or more persons

http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/index.php

Some other choices: Slanted Door at the Embarcadero, and Fog City diner (try the red curry mussel stew). I don't know if they are within the desired distance though.

I love the decor at Farallon but haven't been there in years.

Any of the restaurants at Belden Place. Or Mocca on Maiden Lane.

Thanks again for all your input. I've checked the websites/menus and consulted with DH. We have decided on Cotogna and Farallon for our 2 dinners. [Barbacco looks good too, but we don't want Italian on both nights.]

Great choices! Have you made a reservation at Cotogna? They're very hard to come by!

yk - do you already have a hotel? IF not - http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/san-francisco-hotel-deal.cfm

Wow, sf is right - no reservations at Cotogna until 7/31!! Looks great though.

I've only had lunch there and it is great. Deb, when will you be in SF?

Yes, I made reservations at both places. We'll eating dinner a bit on the early side, but that's okay with us.

Cotogna can be visited last-minute if you're flexible. Call or check opentable when you want to head over. If it's not prime time you should be able to sit at the bar at least (nice bar). It is usually easy to waltz in at around 3pm for lunner. I do that when I want to pretend I am on vacation. Have never made a rez there more than a few hours in advance, but if you have limited time definitely make a Plan B.

Had a really good late lunch at Barbacco yesterday. Got off work early and met some friends from out of town. They were pleased!

Oops, yk, we were cross posting. Have a great trip and enjoy your meals.

August 14 to 23,sf.

Great choices, yk!

Enjoy!

Would you like to go XLBing with Shanghainese and myself when you're in town? You two should definitely meet!

easytraveler, we have such a short time in SF on this trip that I'm afraid we won't have time! Can you take a rain check?

One more question

To walk to/from our hotel and Cotogna, should we stick with Market St & Montgomery street? I know Market St is pretty flat, but is there a hill up Montgomery to get to Cotogna? I just need to figure in extra time if we have to hike up a hill.

Also, is that the best/safest route to walk, esp at night after dinner back to the hotel? Thanks!

TTT

Can anyone help with my question above?

it's a bit of a hill and a bit of a hike. It'll safe but very quiet after dinner.

It's not a steep hill up Montgomery, more like a long incline. I'd say the walk will take maybe half an hour. You could also take BART to Montgomery Street station either before or after dinner if you wanted to shave some time off your walk.

<<<You could also take BART to Montgomery Street station either before or after dinner if you wanted to shave some time off your walk>>>

But that would only be one stop (Powell to Montgomery)- not really worth the "savings". In fact, a taxi from your hotel to the restaurant would probably cost the same as two BART fares.

I live right in this neighborhood and would suggest Wayfare Tavern (http://www.wayfaretavern.com/) and Wexler's. They are both excellent and in the same price point that you speak of. Some of the other comments mention Prospect and Kokkari which are also favorites of mine. I think Wexler's and Wayfare Tavern will be a little closer for you though.

bookmarking thanks!

yk - we walked to and from Cotogna and the Hyatt Embarcadero. It was very quiet on the streets while walking back, but okay.

I was very interested in reading this thread before our recent trip to San Francisco. We decided to give Barbacco a try and were so glad we did - our dinner was excellent! I'm just thankful that it wasn't there when I worked two blocks away as they do take-out and lunches!! I would have been as big as a house... Try the Sicilian meatballs!

yk: sorry for not answering - this thread dropped so quickly...

Not a problem. I'll take a raincheck any time - maybe even in Boston, if I ever get out there

Enjoy your trip and your dining!

Kathie21, glad to hear you had a great meal!

I've had those meatballs and they are delicious!

How was Farallon?

PeaceOut -

Below is cut & paste on Farallon from my TR
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/yk-ate-her-way-through-bay-area-sonoma-county-july-2012.cfm

--------------------------------------------

We then went to dinner a few blocks away at Farallon, known for "coastal cuisine."

The interior decor is quite intriguing; the entrance and bar area is quite art nouveau. A mosaic arched ceiling graces the main dining room. It turns out that this used to be the swimming pool for the Elks Club back in the early part of 20th century.

I had the Dungeness crab salad appetizer. At $17, it had a generous serving of crab meat. For my main dish, I again chose pasta (tho this was the primi portion) - truffled corn tortellini in corn brodo. DH had duck breast prosciutto followed by Pacific spearfish. I didn't care for the fish; it's similar to swordfish in texture. I thought the food at Farallon was pretty good but a bit pricey for the portions (I'm sure we were paying for its convenient location.) BTW, I don't drink alcohol so I ordered their blood orange lemonade. It was one of the best lemonades I've had!

Farallon
450 Post Street, San Francisco