San Fran restaurants, we're foodies, brother and wife are not, hmmmm

Is $25-35 the price of the whole meal, or the entree price (makes a huge difference of course). If the latter, I (and a lot of other posters on here) recommend Perbacco for Italian, on California Street. There's not much great food you can get in San Francisco for $25-35 for the whole meal --- any middling restaurant will run you at least $125 a couple.

I loved A16 - and so did my stepdaughter... not sure if it is "foodie' worthy but it came highly recommended off here and was excellent.

Whichever restaurant you choose there will (almost) always be a steak dinner for them. I'm just mentioning this so you don't compromise too much while you have a chance at some of the great restaurants in SFO.
I did love our lunch at Tadich's Grill and it would suit most everyone (except maybe a vegan!) because it's seafood and steak. It's not cheap, but it isn't ridiculous considering the quality and it's a great experience.
They don't have a website but I found a nice article:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/28/FDGFEES3F81.DTL

My in-laws cringe at menus that have "weird stuff" on them. Once (many moons ago) they even got up & walked out of the restaurant we had chosen. So I have some experience with trying to satisfy non-foodies.

Last night we dined at Perbacco (Italian - see above). We dined there about 1 year ago with friends, but we spent so much time chatting & drinking with our friends that we did not really concentrate on the menu offerings. Last night we dined there again and it was one of the most memorable meals that we've had in San Francisco (we're 34 year residents). My wife had a marinated sardine bruchetta with a hard boiled egg & salsa verde. She is a BIG sardine lover, and she said these were the best she has had - by a long way. I had grilled squid - smokey & perfect. Her main was Halibut with Lobster mushrooms, corn relish, & tarragon. I had a perfectly cooked rabbit - it was moist & jucy. Often it is overcooked when I've had it in the past at other restaurants. Side was Brussel Sprouts with capers & mustard.

Couple sitting next to us had a (boring) salad and (boring) pasta.

Story line. If your friends won't cringe when they see squid, sardines, quail, rabbit, etc on the menu - they can order the (boring) salad & (boring) pasta. There was also a Hanger Steak on the menu (tell your friends it is a fillet mignon)

Very nice atmosphere & service. Wine can be ordered by the glass, 1/4 liter, 1/2 liter, & bottle.

Our friends who we dined with 1 year ago, dine at Perbacco quite frequently - and they have to travel from Oakland to get there.

Stu Dudley

We are fairly adventurous eaters and found Perbacco's tajarin or pappardelle pastas anything but boring. Delicious.

Visit the Ferry Building. It has something for everybody.

dishdelish - was the pasta (water, egg, flour) delicious, or was the topping delicious??? I usually don't order pasta as a main course in restaurants, but if it is served to me (at someone elses house for dinner), I usually find myself picking out the topping & leaving much of the pasta behind.

Stu Dudley

Stu Dudley - at Perbacco both the fresh pasta and sauce are delicious. The pasta is tender and lovely while having a bit of "toothiness" that gives your teeth something to fight. The pasta is dressed with the sauce somewhat sparingly in such a way that reminds me of pasta dishes I have had in Rome and Piedmont. The pasta and the sauce become one and are are hard to separate. The tajarin (an eggey pasta common in Piedmont) is especially good.

Stu, since cost seems to be an issue for the BIL and his wife, would you mind posting "around" what your meal cost last night? I think it would be helpful to the OP.

I was going to recommend A16 as well. We are "foodies" and met my sis's family there for dinner when they were in town. Everyone was very happy. They have great pizzas in addition to very good food. It also has a pretty nice atmosphere.

Here is Perbacco's website which of course includes their menu and prices.
http://www.perbaccosf.com/

Perbacco has been a favorite of mine since it opened, but I wouldn't take someone who is not into food there. Why? Because I did and it was a big mistake. The family friend kept saying that it wasn't her idea of a real Italian restaurant, where was the spaghetti and meatballs, the osso buco, etc. I felt like I was in a scene from the movie Big Night. I have since learned not to take people for whom Italian means large quantities of pasta and red sauce and cheese to places like Perbacco (or Incanto). I now take them to North Beach Restaurant, which does Italian/American very well, so even though I don't get to have the type of Italian that I really like, I can have really good food.

SAB, I agree, and it's why I "hesitate" to refer to a restaurant like Delfina as "Italian" (of course, Delfina DOES have spaghetti on the menu!)

She wouldn't have like Delfina either sf--too frou-frou!! I've learned to accept that people have different palates and interests in food, so I usually try to discover what someone likes or is used to before taking them to some place that I think they should like!!!!

A16 is one of my all time favorite places I have gone... If I could get the Mozzarella burrata with olive oil, sea salt and crostini every single day I would be a happy woman

Delfina is a great restaurant but good luck in getting a reservation on such short notice. You might try Farina in the mission and Orson on 4th. Both good and low key with interesting environments. Thanks also for good reports on Perbacco. My DH has eaten there and loves it - he is very picky about Italian food and he gives this one a thumbs up. Going next week with friends.

I know this is just one person's opinion, but I really didn't like Orson -- the atmosphere was nice and the service was good and friendly, but the food -- some was just okay, some ridiculous. Seriously, pop rocks in my salad? (or was it dessert -- I don't know, it seemed like they were on everything).

wow! great great advice! I will look all of these place up and narrow it down.

Thanks for the wonderful advice!

My opinion:

Person A is a foodie and wants to experience all the wonderful culinary delights SF has to offer.

Person B is not interested in "cutting edge" food - a Swansons TV dinner is fine for them.

Solution:
Dine at Perbacco, and order 2 drinks for person B before dinner. Person A has a small glass of wine.

Order Sardines, Squid, or Tripe for person A as an appetizer. Followed by Dourade, John Dory, Halibut, Rabbit, or Quail.

Find a pasta with the most red sauce for person B - or even let person B have 2 desserts. Who cares about the creativity of the dishes - person B doesn't. He/she is "looped" by the time dinner arrives.

Our dinner costs for Sat night:
2 appetizers at $10 each
2 entrees at $25 each
1 brussel sprouts at $5

2 Makers Mark Manhattans at $10 each
1/2 liter of white = about $28
1/2 liter of red at $35

Slept very soundly.

Very warm evening.

We spent almost the entire day today (Sunday) in the City. Took a City Guides walk - Rising steel - extremely interesting. Nice to be in the Financial District on a Sunday - admiring all the wonderful architecture. Niners came close to winning.

Stu Dudley

We were in San Francisco for a wedding at Stearn's Grove yesterday, it was gorgeous there! We really enjoyed our brunch at The Grand Cafe @ the Hotel Monaco. There were 9 people in our group and everyone loved what they ordered. Quiche, Artichoke Appetizers, French Onion Soup, Salads, Hamburgers (Kobe Beef) French Toast and Eggs Benedict were some of the items ordered. It's a gorgeous room and our service was excellent. I hope you enjoy your time this wonderful city! ***kim***

Did I miss something, did someone ask for a brunch recommendation?

Whoa! SAB, was that a flashback to your days as jr. high hall monitor? kimamom, are you out of your class without a pass?

Never went to junior high!!!!

LOL..
Anyone remember Adolph's in North Beach?
Damn, they made a killer caesar and classic Northern Italian dishes..
Ferry Building might do the job..
Don't you hate when your the food lovers and you have to spend most of your eating and drinking in SF with people who just don't get it..I feel for you beachkomer!!
$25-$35 is not very realistic but you could take them to Lefty's in Union Square and you could leave them there while you dine at Boulevard, Gary Danko's, Slanted Door and finish it up with Irish Coffee's at Buena Vista..
Tadich Grill for a bowl of chowder and some oysters and listen to Fritz talk about his dog 'snitzel'..
Maybe Scoma's or Kuleto?

Rocco's Cafe. Featured on DD&D. Great little spot very good prices. The Chef Don Dial makes the best pasta dishes and home made polenta.

If you want to be safe and do a "local" beef, try

House of Prime Rib on Van Ness

http://houseofprimerib.ypguides.net/

or

Ruth's Chris Steak House, also on Van Ness

http://www.ruthschris.com/Steak-House/3099/San%20Francisco

Ruth's Chris has a more varied menu.

What do you mean by "Chinese"? or better yet, what kind of "Chinese" are you used to eating?

Perbacco. My boyfriend is a foodie and I am not. He had duck or quail or some such thing and I had "boring pasta." The wine was incredible and the cheese plate for dessert was a wonderful surprise... We were both happy.

It is not pretentious at all, the service is wonderful, the food is excellent and their will be nothing for them "not to like!"

I would second the restaurant A16. I had a great meal there in July and agree with MomDD that the mozzarella burata was fantastic there.

I also had a meal at SPQR which is a sister restaurant to A16 and it was great too!

www.beldenplace.com is an alleyway of restaurants in the financial district. it's a great place with a number of excellent choices.

oops sorry there's a dash in the address www.belden-place.com

Thanks for all of the recommendations! I will definately write down these recommendations! $25ish was for the entree. (not whole meal)

As to "Chinese and local: not too toursity," I'd stay out of Chinatown and head out to the Richmond District. My personal favorite is Ton Kiang, known for its Dim Sum, but I primarily go there for their full plates (dinner time). Although they don't have Chop Suey or Egg Fu Yung, they have a fair amount of "safe" dishes for the less adventurous, as well as a wide variety of authentic Hakka cuisine.

There's no shortage of chinese restaurants in San Francisco, of course, so I'm sure you can get other recommendations.

I should have reversed that statement (they have a wide variety of authentic Hakka cuisine, as well as a fair amount of "safe" dishes for your brother-in-law and his wife). Don't want to give the impression that the restaurant caters to unadventurous eaters, as it has something for everyone.

Try Slanted Door at the Ferry Building at the foot of market. But make a res if you go for dinner. Outstanding seafood and veggies, along with creative drinks.

Beach: As a native San Franciscan and a foodie, my easy answer is to get some new traveling companions. Part of the enjoyment of a food-centric town like SF is to try as many things as you can in as short a period as there is available. But then, sometimes blood is thicker than water and they may have other virtues. SF has lots of restaurants with a bit of history or some other diversion that your friends might find interesting. Here are some suggestions to suit everyone: Fog City Diner--something for everyone with a updated twists. Small plates are easy on the wallet. Instead of Tadich's, go to Sam's on Bush St.; similar seafood dishes without the hustle and bustle. Belden Alley is a good choice, especially Tiramisu or Cafe Bastille, Italian and French, respectively. Rose Pistola's in North Beach can be pricy, but good. Also, in North Beach, you might want to try the pizzas at Tomasso's; woodburning oven dates back to the 30's or Tony's Pizza Napolitana where Tony is a nine-time world champion pizza tosser. For Chinese, its a litle more tricky because of some exotic dishes, but the R&G Lounge on Kearny, Yank Sing (several locations) or Heaven's Dog (Stlanted Door's new place) might be good. Good luck.

Just would like to note that Slanted Door is Vietnamese and Heaven's Dog is more a bar with Asian Fusian cuisine, definitely not a destination for the food only which is more expensive than what you could get at an average food restaurant.

thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm starting to get...that feeling when you have too many options! ha.
It's a good problem!

Well, went to Perbacco tonight!

The reading of the menu went over like a lead balloon...
the waitress explained the dishes and I did as well. I didn't
think it was going to be a success....

they ordered an app (rock shrimp dish) and the monk fish to share. We ordered the short ribs, the pasta with the pork, rock shrimp, salad, brussel sprouts.

The meal was a big hit! Sister in law even had the waitress bring her out what my dh was eating!

woo hoo! I was soo nervous! But it was fine!

Thanks everyone!

Glad you enjoyed it - and next time they'll know they can be a little more adventurous!

Now for tonight....LOL

Have you picked something for tonight, and you're worried about their reaction, or you haven't even picked a place yet?

Tonight, we just ordered Uncle Vito's pizza to the condo. The "condo" is the Wyndam Canterbury on Sutter....OMG, fabulous place!

pizza was good!

Perbaccooooooooos....

We tried to get into Uncle Vito's but we had about 12 people and I think we confused them with that many but it smelled soooo darn good.