Top San Francisco Restaurant Choices
Jan 27th, 2005, 10:17 AM
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Top San Francisco Restaurant Choices
My husband and I (late 30's) will be visiting SF in late April. Which restaurants should we definitely add to our list? We'll be staying at Villa Florence for about 5 nights. Thanks!
Jan 27th, 2005, 11:06 AM
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Monica
Here is a restaurant write-up I posted a while back on AOL. If you want to splurge a little, eat at Boulevard - it's consistently been at the top of various "best restaurant" lists since the day it opened. It's at the foot of Mission St.
Here’s my list of recommended restaurants in San Francisco. These are the places I frequent, not necessarily the one’s with the highest ratings in the Zagat guide or on the Chronicle’s list of top 100 restaurants. My preference is for neighborhood restaurants, where I can get a unique dinner that I can’t or won’t prepare at home. I also like the neighborhood restaurants because I can rub elbows with SF residents – not tourists or business people on expense accounts. I don’t dine at pasta restaurants (something I can do at home), or at places that feature “seared Ahi Tuna” or “perfectly roasted Chicken” (both popular with our local restaurant critic & two dishes which are very easy to perfect at home). Therefore, I gravitate to ethnic restaurants & places where I can get something a little different. I don’t often dine at “downtown” restaurants like Boulevard, Hawthorne Lane, Aqua - all top-of-the-list spots in the Zagat Guide. These restaurants are all excellent places, but I always seem to walk out of them with a $180 tab & a feeling that I dined in a showplace, instead of a friendly hometown restaurant.
All of these restaurants will run you a tab in the $100-$125 range for 2, with aperitifs, appetizer, entrée, shared dessert, and a full bottle of wine in the mid-price range. If you don’t order wine, the tab will be about $35 less. Most restaurants in The City have wine by the glass. The Asian places on this list will be much cheaper. I usually bring a wine from my cellar with me to dinner & pay the corkage – especially when we’re dining with friends & we will order another bottle from the restaurant’s wine list. My wife will often order two appetizers instead of an appetizer & an entrée – a good way to save a few bucks.
If my Aunt from Denmark were to visit us for 4 days and I wanted to impress her with the diversity & quality if mid-priced restaurants in the city, I would take her to:
Delfina for Italian food
Clementine for French
Thep Phanom for Asian food
North Beach Restaurant, because I think every tourist should dine in North Beach one night.
I would take her to Tadich or to a Dim Sum place for lunch one day,
“The List”
You can find reviews by our local restaurant critic by using this URL
http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/search/food/
Delfina
Italian/California cuisine, although it’s not the same Italian that you find at other Italian places in the City – much better. This is a very popular restaurant that has gained national attention. Reserve several weeks in advance. Parking in this area is impossible – take a cab or Muni.
3121 18th St. between Dolores & Guerrero St 552-4055
Clementine
French. My favorite French place in the City (other than La Folie – if someone else is paying). It’s very authentic & quite popular with the locals. Reserve 1 to 2 weeks ahead on weekends, perhaps later on week days. Parking is difficult. The 38 Geary bus from downtown will get you within 1 block.
126 Clement St between 2nd & 3rd ave. 387-0408
Thep Phanom
In my opinion, it’s the best Thai place in the City. I find myself dining here more than any other spot. It’s very well known. Reserve a couple of days ahead or arrive before 7:00. Jeans are the norm – very casual. Parking is difficult to impossible. Take Muni – the N Taraval will get you close.
400 Waller at the corner of Fillmore 431-2526
Isa
French/Calif/Asian. A “small plates” place that’s quite fun & located in a area where there’s a lot of “yuppies” (do they still call them that). The food is excellent. We often go to the bar in another restaurant on the corner of Fillmore & Chestnut for a drink before dinner. Reserve several days in advance. Park in the garage at Webster & Pixley (look for the sign). It’s an easy walk from the Lombard St motels.
3324 Steiner off Chestnut. 567-9588
North Beach Restaurant
Italian, with a good seafood selection. We always go here with my In-laws. There’s a nice upstairs & downstairs and a room where prosciuttos are aging (quite a smell). It’s in the heart of North Beach and has valet parking. Corkage is very high – I don’t bring my own wine here!
1512 Stockton & Green (just south of Jianna) 392-1700
Café de Paris – l’Entrecote
French/tourist. This is in the heart of the Union St shopping area, so therefore it will suck in a lot of tourists. It’s been around forever, so it’s not trendy anymore. We take a lot of tourist friends here because the menu is large & has something for everyone. I always have their Entrecote (steak) with limitless French Fries (excellent). There’s a glassed in area on the street side where you can watch the Union St crowd walk by. Reserve a day ahead or just walk in on weekdays. Parking is a little difficult, but they have valet parking or you can park at the garage across the street, or the one I mentioned in the Isa review. Short walk from Lombard St motels or you can take the cable car (Hyde St Line) & walk a few blocks, but the walk back will be uphill.
2032 Union St 931-5006
Betelnut
Asian – with nice décor. Just a few doors east of Café de Paris. It’s a fun place, with outside dining. Many unusual (but not strange) combinations of flavors. Very popular. Reserve several days in advance. I don’t think they have valet parking.
2030 Union St 929-8855
Eric’s
Chinese. This is where I go for Chinese food when I don’t do “carry out” The décor is quite nice with a store front window on a corner where you can look outside. It doesn’t have the typical Chinese interior with too many florescent lights & too much Formica. It draws a very loyal neighborhood crowd. Parking is easy, and the J Church Muni Metro (from downtown) stops in front. Jeans are normal. It’s in the Noe Valley. I don’t think they take reservations.
1500 Church & 27th St 282-0919
Sociale
Italian. In the exclusive Presidio Heights district. It’s down a walkway & a little hard to find. You won’t see many tourists here. It will feel like one of those “hidden places”. It has a nice outside dining area with heaters. We’ve been dining at this location for over 26 years, through many different restaurant names & styles. Popular with the neighborhood locals.
3665 Sacramento St 921-3200
Marcello’s
Old time Italian. Waaaay out in the Sunset district of SF. We dined here frequently over 20 years ago, and we went back a couple several times recently. Thing haven’t changed. You get a big bang-for-the-buck here. Lot’s of classics & there is a very inexpensive fixed price menu with salad, pasta appetizer, entrée, & dessert. Very popular with the older local crowd who have probably been living in the neighborhood since they were youngsters. There won’t be a tourist within 5 miles of this place. The L Taraval Muni goes right past this place, but it’s far from downtown.
2100 Taraval & 31St St. 665-1430
www.citysearch.com/sfo/marcello
Can’t forget two classics:
Sams
374 Bush 421-0594
Tadich Grill
240 California 391-1849
Both of these places are in the Financial District & are very similar. They are two of the oldest restaurants in SF. I usually go to Tadich’s for lunch (where you can sit at the counter) and Sam’s for dinner (no counter). Both have private booths & don’t take reservations. Get to Tadich’s by 11:15 if it’s a cold or rainy day & you want a table – Sam’s perhaps 15 to 30 mins later for the same. Stick to the simple seafood preparations. The tarter sauce at Sam’s is superb.
Stu Dudley
Here is a restaurant write-up I posted a while back on AOL. If you want to splurge a little, eat at Boulevard - it's consistently been at the top of various "best restaurant" lists since the day it opened. It's at the foot of Mission St.
Here’s my list of recommended restaurants in San Francisco. These are the places I frequent, not necessarily the one’s with the highest ratings in the Zagat guide or on the Chronicle’s list of top 100 restaurants. My preference is for neighborhood restaurants, where I can get a unique dinner that I can’t or won’t prepare at home. I also like the neighborhood restaurants because I can rub elbows with SF residents – not tourists or business people on expense accounts. I don’t dine at pasta restaurants (something I can do at home), or at places that feature “seared Ahi Tuna” or “perfectly roasted Chicken” (both popular with our local restaurant critic & two dishes which are very easy to perfect at home). Therefore, I gravitate to ethnic restaurants & places where I can get something a little different. I don’t often dine at “downtown” restaurants like Boulevard, Hawthorne Lane, Aqua - all top-of-the-list spots in the Zagat Guide. These restaurants are all excellent places, but I always seem to walk out of them with a $180 tab & a feeling that I dined in a showplace, instead of a friendly hometown restaurant.
All of these restaurants will run you a tab in the $100-$125 range for 2, with aperitifs, appetizer, entrée, shared dessert, and a full bottle of wine in the mid-price range. If you don’t order wine, the tab will be about $35 less. Most restaurants in The City have wine by the glass. The Asian places on this list will be much cheaper. I usually bring a wine from my cellar with me to dinner & pay the corkage – especially when we’re dining with friends & we will order another bottle from the restaurant’s wine list. My wife will often order two appetizers instead of an appetizer & an entrée – a good way to save a few bucks.
If my Aunt from Denmark were to visit us for 4 days and I wanted to impress her with the diversity & quality if mid-priced restaurants in the city, I would take her to:
Delfina for Italian food
Clementine for French
Thep Phanom for Asian food
North Beach Restaurant, because I think every tourist should dine in North Beach one night.
I would take her to Tadich or to a Dim Sum place for lunch one day,
“The List”
You can find reviews by our local restaurant critic by using this URL
http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/search/food/
Delfina
Italian/California cuisine, although it’s not the same Italian that you find at other Italian places in the City – much better. This is a very popular restaurant that has gained national attention. Reserve several weeks in advance. Parking in this area is impossible – take a cab or Muni.
3121 18th St. between Dolores & Guerrero St 552-4055
Clementine
French. My favorite French place in the City (other than La Folie – if someone else is paying). It’s very authentic & quite popular with the locals. Reserve 1 to 2 weeks ahead on weekends, perhaps later on week days. Parking is difficult. The 38 Geary bus from downtown will get you within 1 block.
126 Clement St between 2nd & 3rd ave. 387-0408
Thep Phanom
In my opinion, it’s the best Thai place in the City. I find myself dining here more than any other spot. It’s very well known. Reserve a couple of days ahead or arrive before 7:00. Jeans are the norm – very casual. Parking is difficult to impossible. Take Muni – the N Taraval will get you close.
400 Waller at the corner of Fillmore 431-2526
Isa
French/Calif/Asian. A “small plates” place that’s quite fun & located in a area where there’s a lot of “yuppies” (do they still call them that). The food is excellent. We often go to the bar in another restaurant on the corner of Fillmore & Chestnut for a drink before dinner. Reserve several days in advance. Park in the garage at Webster & Pixley (look for the sign). It’s an easy walk from the Lombard St motels.
3324 Steiner off Chestnut. 567-9588
North Beach Restaurant
Italian, with a good seafood selection. We always go here with my In-laws. There’s a nice upstairs & downstairs and a room where prosciuttos are aging (quite a smell). It’s in the heart of North Beach and has valet parking. Corkage is very high – I don’t bring my own wine here!
1512 Stockton & Green (just south of Jianna) 392-1700
Café de Paris – l’Entrecote
French/tourist. This is in the heart of the Union St shopping area, so therefore it will suck in a lot of tourists. It’s been around forever, so it’s not trendy anymore. We take a lot of tourist friends here because the menu is large & has something for everyone. I always have their Entrecote (steak) with limitless French Fries (excellent). There’s a glassed in area on the street side where you can watch the Union St crowd walk by. Reserve a day ahead or just walk in on weekdays. Parking is a little difficult, but they have valet parking or you can park at the garage across the street, or the one I mentioned in the Isa review. Short walk from Lombard St motels or you can take the cable car (Hyde St Line) & walk a few blocks, but the walk back will be uphill.
2032 Union St 931-5006
Betelnut
Asian – with nice décor. Just a few doors east of Café de Paris. It’s a fun place, with outside dining. Many unusual (but not strange) combinations of flavors. Very popular. Reserve several days in advance. I don’t think they have valet parking.
2030 Union St 929-8855
Eric’s
Chinese. This is where I go for Chinese food when I don’t do “carry out” The décor is quite nice with a store front window on a corner where you can look outside. It doesn’t have the typical Chinese interior with too many florescent lights & too much Formica. It draws a very loyal neighborhood crowd. Parking is easy, and the J Church Muni Metro (from downtown) stops in front. Jeans are normal. It’s in the Noe Valley. I don’t think they take reservations.
1500 Church & 27th St 282-0919
Sociale
Italian. In the exclusive Presidio Heights district. It’s down a walkway & a little hard to find. You won’t see many tourists here. It will feel like one of those “hidden places”. It has a nice outside dining area with heaters. We’ve been dining at this location for over 26 years, through many different restaurant names & styles. Popular with the neighborhood locals.
3665 Sacramento St 921-3200
Marcello’s
Old time Italian. Waaaay out in the Sunset district of SF. We dined here frequently over 20 years ago, and we went back a couple several times recently. Thing haven’t changed. You get a big bang-for-the-buck here. Lot’s of classics & there is a very inexpensive fixed price menu with salad, pasta appetizer, entrée, & dessert. Very popular with the older local crowd who have probably been living in the neighborhood since they were youngsters. There won’t be a tourist within 5 miles of this place. The L Taraval Muni goes right past this place, but it’s far from downtown.
2100 Taraval & 31St St. 665-1430
www.citysearch.com/sfo/marcello
Can’t forget two classics:
Sams
374 Bush 421-0594
Tadich Grill
240 California 391-1849
Both of these places are in the Financial District & are very similar. They are two of the oldest restaurants in SF. I usually go to Tadich’s for lunch (where you can sit at the counter) and Sam’s for dinner (no counter). Both have private booths & don’t take reservations. Get to Tadich’s by 11:15 if it’s a cold or rainy day & you want a table – Sam’s perhaps 15 to 30 mins later for the same. Stick to the simple seafood preparations. The tarter sauce at Sam’s is superb.
Stu Dudley
Jan 27th, 2005, 12:49 PM
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>>>If you go online, the San Francisco Chronicle has a list of the best restaurants and good reviews.<<
Just remember that this list of the "best" restaurants is the opinion of (mostly) one person. If your tastes are the same as his, then the list is just fine.
Stu Dudley
Just remember that this list of the "best" restaurants is the opinion of (mostly) one person. If your tastes are the same as his, then the list is just fine.
Stu Dudley
Jan 27th, 2005, 02:24 PM
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Sams and Tadich Grill are two fantastic true old SF restaurants IMHO.
I also happen to like John's Grill on Ellis Street (just east of Powell St.)
And Scala's on Powell St. (right next to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel) is wonderful also.
Kuletos can be good but sometimes not.
I also happen to like John's Grill on Ellis Street (just east of Powell St.)
And Scala's on Powell St. (right next to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel) is wonderful also.
Kuletos can be good but sometimes not.
Jan 27th, 2005, 02:41 PM
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Great list from Stu. We hated the Tadich Grill when they insisted on adding $20 or so to our bill of about $500 for a group of 5 of us for lunch. It seems they have a food minimum per person and one person not feeling well only ordered soup. The fact that the rest of us were averaging over $4O or so each for food and we spend a couple hundred dollars on wine made no difference to them.
Boulevard and Farallon are my two favorites, and to me border on perfection in every way.
Kuleto's is especially great for breakfast or late at night!
We ate at Delfina's only once and MUST go back. Our night it was half deserted, everyone was in a daze, it was as quiet as a morgue, and one of the chefs didn't show up. Do you think the fact that the date was 9/11/2001 had anything to do with it?
Boulevard and Farallon are my two favorites, and to me border on perfection in every way.
Kuleto's is especially great for breakfast or late at night!
We ate at Delfina's only once and MUST go back. Our night it was half deserted, everyone was in a daze, it was as quiet as a morgue, and one of the chefs didn't show up. Do you think the fact that the date was 9/11/2001 had anything to do with it?
Jan 27th, 2005, 03:12 PM
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Hi Monica - I second Boulevard - especially at lunch. Also love the Tadich Grill. Don't let the wait intimidate you just belly up to the bar and you may want to eat right there.
Other favs:
Walk all the way down Market to the water and our newly refurbished Ferry Center Plaza! Within the Plaza you will find a Vietnamese Place called the Slanted Door which is good and at the very back a counter that serves awesome Clam Chowder and seafood salads.
Restaurant Lulu on 4th and Folsom is still a favorite with me. There food is good and the place is bustling. It can be loud but that is part of the fun.
Not too expensive.
Gordon Biersh brew pub right at the foot of the Bay Bridge is fun and believe it or not their food is decent.
If you really want to splurge on a great brunch go to the Sunday Brunch in the Crystal Court at the Sheraton Palace. It is beautiful.
Oh and go have a drink at Harry Denton's Starlight Room which is on the top floor of the Sir Frances Drake which is right next to Saks Fifth Avenue and up the street from where you are staying. The view of the City is superb.
Have Fun
Other favs:
Walk all the way down Market to the water and our newly refurbished Ferry Center Plaza! Within the Plaza you will find a Vietnamese Place called the Slanted Door which is good and at the very back a counter that serves awesome Clam Chowder and seafood salads.
Restaurant Lulu on 4th and Folsom is still a favorite with me. There food is good and the place is bustling. It can be loud but that is part of the fun.
Not too expensive.
Gordon Biersh brew pub right at the foot of the Bay Bridge is fun and believe it or not their food is decent.
If you really want to splurge on a great brunch go to the Sunday Brunch in the Crystal Court at the Sheraton Palace. It is beautiful.
Oh and go have a drink at Harry Denton's Starlight Room which is on the top floor of the Sir Frances Drake which is right next to Saks Fifth Avenue and up the street from where you are staying. The view of the City is superb.
Have Fun
Jan 27th, 2005, 03:15 PM
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Forgot Dim Sum - Not to be missed.
All my Chinese friends go to Harbor Village located in Embarcadero 4.
It ends around 1pm though so it is a morning thing
Also - I've never been there but everyone loves the Grand Cafe also close to you
I like Absinthe in the Civic Center on Hayes Street. Cool, eclectic shops near the Symphony
All my Chinese friends go to Harbor Village located in Embarcadero 4.
It ends around 1pm though so it is a morning thing
Also - I've never been there but everyone loves the Grand Cafe also close to you
I like Absinthe in the Civic Center on Hayes Street. Cool, eclectic shops near the Symphony
Jan 27th, 2005, 06:29 PM
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Oh yes, Harry Denton's Starlight Room is a wonderful place to finish off an evening!
Patrick, what you and your group had to put up with at Tadichs Grill is terrible. They are known for the crabby waitstaff (considered part of the charm believe it or not) but I too would have very negative thoughts after what you experienced. That is nonsense.
Grand Cafe always seems to have mixed responses. Haven't been their in ages.
Wasn't overly impressed when I was.
Mina's, which is in the St.Francis Hotel is considered evidently to be one of the in places to eat now. I have not eaten there. Am so sick about how they took the beautiful lobby and the former wonderful Compass Room and completely destroyed the ambience that I have no desire to spend any money there.
Do go to www.sfgate.com (the online SF Chronical) if you want suggestions and reviews also. It would give you some ideas about menus, service etc.
Monica, while in SF do go to the wonderful Italian cafe at the east end of Union Sq. Inside and outside tables.
Outside is fun. Have a drink or even order a pastry or a sandwich and enjoy the "people watching". A nice relaxing break in the middle of sightseeing.
Patrick, what you and your group had to put up with at Tadichs Grill is terrible. They are known for the crabby waitstaff (considered part of the charm believe it or not) but I too would have very negative thoughts after what you experienced. That is nonsense.
Grand Cafe always seems to have mixed responses. Haven't been their in ages.
Wasn't overly impressed when I was.
Mina's, which is in the St.Francis Hotel is considered evidently to be one of the in places to eat now. I have not eaten there. Am so sick about how they took the beautiful lobby and the former wonderful Compass Room and completely destroyed the ambience that I have no desire to spend any money there.
Do go to www.sfgate.com (the online SF Chronical) if you want suggestions and reviews also. It would give you some ideas about menus, service etc.
Monica, while in SF do go to the wonderful Italian cafe at the east end of Union Sq. Inside and outside tables.
Outside is fun. Have a drink or even order a pastry or a sandwich and enjoy the "people watching". A nice relaxing break in the middle of sightseeing.
Mar 10th, 2005, 12:59 PM
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Don't overlook the importance of booking ahead. Friends of mine are making their first trip to SF next week. This week they called both Farallon and Boulevard and were unable to get a reservation at either, any of their four nights between 7 and 9. Fortunately there were able to get Beach Blanket Babylon tickets, but their first two choices of times/dates were sold out.
Mar 10th, 2005, 01:00 PM
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Be sure to give Hawthorne Lane a pass -simply an expensive dump serving so-so food and with a mgmt. attitude not to be believed. Our last experinece here was a $500 disaster. Someone in Zagats must be ... well, I won't say it. They keep the place listed.
Mar 10th, 2005, 02:32 PM
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Re: Marcello's in the Sunset District. It's at Taraval and 31st AVENUE, not 31st Street. I don't think there even is a 31st Street in S.F. And 30th Street is a long, long way from the foggy Sunset.
If you are in the neighborhood, also check out the Korean place on Taraval at 30th Avenue, just up from Marcello's. It's always busy, with nary a round-eye in the place most evenings. Not a barbecue place, but mostly Korean home-style noodles, fish, etc. I've eaten there lots of times and still don't know the name of the place!
If you are in the neighborhood, also check out the Korean place on Taraval at 30th Avenue, just up from Marcello's. It's always busy, with nary a round-eye in the place most evenings. Not a barbecue place, but mostly Korean home-style noodles, fish, etc. I've eaten there lots of times and still don't know the name of the place!
Mar 11th, 2005, 10:01 AM
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For easy reservations to many San Francisco restaurants - simply login to opentable.com
Easy searches for which tables and times are still open - information and location - and links to individual restaurant sites.
Easy searches for which tables and times are still open - information and location - and links to individual restaurant sites.
Mar 11th, 2005, 03:19 PM
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Boulevard is a good choice. I can't believe no one has mentioned Gary Danko...the meal we had there was sublime. YOu should make reservations a month in advance for a friday or saturday night reservation.
Everyone I know who has eaten at Michael Mina's loves it...haven't tried it yet.
I also like the Slanted Door even though it is so hyped up. The food is still as good as it used to be at the old locations.
Everyone I know who has eaten at Michael Mina's loves it...haven't tried it yet.
I also like the Slanted Door even though it is so hyped up. The food is still as good as it used to be at the old locations.
Mar 11th, 2005, 03:35 PM
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Pammer and r5 have me drooling for a pork roast at A16 with a carafe of Italian wine suggested by a beautifully tatooed and beautiful waitress.
Out on Chestnut...by an open fire.
About a $7-10 cab ride from VF.
The Grand Cafe just up from the VF is good chow too. Always had a good meal there (sorry l'italy).
Or grab some appies at the bar.
A couple blocks over is Fino. Decent Italian.
For a good view, CityScapes, atop the Hilton...a few blocks west of the VF.
Down and over is Le Central on Bush. "French".
A little further just walk into Belden Lane and you have your pick of a few good 'uns.
Capps Corner in NoBeach. Still a gem.
Fog City Diner....Meat loaf and garlic mashed taters.
Late April may be good ciopinno month!
Ditto kato's suggie...wander down Market to FoMar and graze at The Ferry Building Marketplace.
Out on Chestnut...by an open fire.
About a $7-10 cab ride from VF.
The Grand Cafe just up from the VF is good chow too. Always had a good meal there (sorry l'italy).
Or grab some appies at the bar.
A couple blocks over is Fino. Decent Italian.
For a good view, CityScapes, atop the Hilton...a few blocks west of the VF.
Down and over is Le Central on Bush. "French".
A little further just walk into Belden Lane and you have your pick of a few good 'uns.
Capps Corner in NoBeach. Still a gem.
Fog City Diner....Meat loaf and garlic mashed taters.
Late April may be good ciopinno month!
Ditto kato's suggie...wander down Market to FoMar and graze at The Ferry Building Marketplace.
