LarryRGV

I will be taking my wife and my sister to San Francisco in June for my sister's 75th birthday. We will be spending 2 nights in the City before going to Napa area for 3 nights. I know there are huge numbers of fine restaurants in the area, but I cannot eat at most of them because of my limited food preferences. I do not eat any vegetables, game or sea food. Any Micheilin rated restaurant is almost automatically eliminated as they are too fancy for this Texas guy. My wife and sis, on the other hand, would be in heaven at a Gary Danko or Thomas Keller type place. I like good restaurants, good wine by the glass, friendly waiters and great ambiance. In fact if a restaurant has all of that I can sometimes get by with a simple salad and an appetizer and enjoy it. But of course I would prefer a good meal to go with it. Right now I am looking at the One Market Restaurant in SF for first night. In Napa I have eaten at Auberge and loved the setting but when I now look at their menus I wonder if there is anything I can eat there. Fixed Price menus usually don't work for me. Anyway, I am open for suggestions. Also our final night will be in the Berkely/Emeryville area. A suggestion there also please. Maybe a fun type place around Cal or even a Thai place to please the two women on our final night. Thanks all.

BigRuss

Please explain this:

"I do not eat any vegetables, game or sea food [sic]."

and

". . . I can sometimes get by with a simple salad and an appetizer and enjoy it."

They seem contradictory.

Rastaguytoday

Below are a few top rated steak houses in the area. They will serve other items, of course.

Press St. Helena: http://www.presssthelena.com/food/

Coles Chop House Napa: http://www.coleschophouse.com/menus.html

Terra in St. Helena, a favorite of mine. May be too exotic for you. http://www.terrarestaurant.com/Terra...ant/menus.html

For the Berkeley area, try the Cafe at Chez Panisse, much more casual than the restaurant itself. It will satisfy their top chef restaurant, as Alice Waters is a chef that is way ahead of the world.

LarryRGV

Thanks, Rastaguy. I was looking at Chop House aleady. Terra looks good also. As long as they have a steak, which does show up on the menu, I will be happy. And menu looks great for my two ladies. I am familiar with Alice Waters so that also looks like a great rec. Thanks so much. Looks like you gave me 3 winners. Have you been to Auberge? I want to take my group there because of the beautiful setting but I don't remember not being able to order something last time I was there. But its possible by the time I finished several glasses of wine on the terrace before going in to dinner I didn't even look at the menu. Any advice on it? What do you think about SF? Should I be considering One Market Restaurant?

Big Russ, not too contradictory. I do eat lettuce. I pretend its not a vegetable (is it?) and pour a lot of dressing on it. Appetizer? Hell, that can be chicken wings, potato skins, or even a few soups that I like. And like I told Rasta, I really mellow out with a few good wines.

By the way, I was considering The Farm at Caneros Inn (think thats the name), because I'm really a fan of Plumpjack wine, but was surprised that they don't even offer that wine by the glass. Though I'm sure they must have it in abundance by the bottle. I will be going way up to see Ferarri Carano, another one of my favorite wines, but also a beautiful winery as I recall. Any suggestions for a good lunch place in that area. Not particularly fancy, just good. Thanks again.

Tomsd

In the square in downtown Sonoma you should find plenty of places to peruse for lunch (even dinner - had a great fois gras there once - if that appeals to you).

As for wineries in that area - Gundlach Bundschu is fun, http://www.gunbun.com/, and if you are a Chard fan - any of the Carneros wineries do good stuff - such as Acacia, and nearby BV (Buena Vista) http://www.bvwines.com/age_gateway?d...ion=node%2F100
has always been one of my favorite cellars to tour - going back what - 40 some years?

Tomsd

When I said BV was nearby - that' relative.

It always seemed close to moi as I knew the way from several directions in the greater Napa/Sonoma area. Used to ride bikes there - and other places - just merrily pedaling along - but now I understand it might be too congested with crazy drivers to safely do that?

starrs

Is there anything on Boulevard's menu you can eat? We loved eating there.

Rastaguytoday

tomsd - too many drugs in the 70's? Napa not Sonoma.

LarryRGV - It's been a while since I've been to Auberge, food was mixed, but latest reviews are excellent.

Funny you should mention Plumpjack. The head of the Plumpjack empire is Gavin Newsom and his wife. The money comes largely from his childhood friends, Gordon Getty's kids.
http://www.plumpjack.com/plumpjack/ There are half bottles at Boon Fly for only $95. Check out their restaurants and wine menus to find what you might want.

starrs - Boulevard is great, but I think LarryRGV wants something in the East Bay.

The Cafe at Chez Panisse (www.chezpanisse.com)provides the wow factor for the ladies, as does the restaurant downstairs. Check when you can make reservations.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of eating at Arzak, in San Sebastian, considered one of the best restaurants in the world. I was asked where I was from. Once I said SF, Elena Arzak couldn't stop gushing over Alice Waters, saying she had several of Alice's cookbooks.

Hiro Sone is the owner of Terra, and has been cutting edge for almost 20 years. It's always a pleasure to go back there.

NewbE

Rasta, Ferrari-Carano is not in Napa, it's near Healdsburg in Sonoma County, which I think is why Tom referred the OP to Sonoma for lunch.

Near F-C is the Dry Creek General Store, a funky high-end deli type place where you can pick up delicious sandwiches and all the accompaniments for lunch on the porch.

If you have time, I'd highly recommend stops at Zichichi and Unti in that same neck of the woods.

Tomsd

Rastag: Hey - perhaps no more drugs back then than you are taking today? A number of people/articles refer to the area as Napa/Sonoma, ok?

And if Gavin Newsome owns Plumbjack - I would boycott it. And did he even bother to get married again?

Glad to hear some of Gordon Getty's trust babies still have some denaro left. BTW - you do know Gordon dabbled in Opera composition - way back in the 70's. Dos

Now - I really do envy your getting over to dine at Elena Arzak's place. I was last over in Spain - yes - in the 70's and hoped to get back before the GREAT ONE closed elBulli. Sad sad sad. http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...086218,00.html

As for Alice Waters - she is a trip but........... not 10 feet tall.............. And I can recall when Chez Panisse opened and was instantly a darling of the foodies. But "Bezerkeley" is too crazy for regular trips.

sf7307

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Rasta, have you eaten at Ame in the St. Regis - it's excellent.