Advise Needed for SF Restaurants
 

My husband and I will be traveling to SF in three weeks. Can you help us choose some restaurants? Nothing super high end - also, my husband is not a "nouveau" food type of guy. We are interested in the North Beach, Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf areas. I've done a quick search, and other people have recommended the following:

Crab House and Pier Market on Pier 39
Rose Pistola, Stinking Rose and Trattoria Contadina in North Beach
Plumpjack's in the Marina

Also, we love good pizza. Is there a special pizza place in SF? We are from the East Coast, and enjoy the Wooster Street pizza in New Haven, CT.

Thanks.

Try posting your question- or looking on www.chowhound.com .Great place for food advice!

In North Beach, try Mama's for brunch. One of the best places in the city. It is a small place so it is easier to get seated on a weekday then weekend. I think they are open until 3 p.m.

I am one of the people that hates Stinking Rose. Nice ambiance but not nice food IMHO.

I'd also leave The Stinking Rose off your list. If you want good Italian in that area, go across Columbus to Steps of Rome, or for fun family-style Italian there's Michalangelo's a block or two away.

I was also underwhelmed by Plumpjack (good wine list, so-so food IMO). Rose Pistola and Contadina are both good.

Stinkin' Rose was a kick when it first opened but has lost some of it's luster, IMHO.

Walked by Mama's last Saturday and will def have to go back. Looked and smelled good and it had a small line waiting to get in.
Mrs Kal and her gang ate there awhile back and liked it.

We had a good meal at The Original US Restaurant on Columbus last Friday night.
Friday is Calamari Day and it used to be a House of Kal tradition to go down 3-4 times a year for calaamri and veggies/pasta then bum around NB Friday night.
Then the original owners sold out until they reopened a few doors down from the orignal location.
Great antipasti platter, too. Nothing fancy. You may even share a table with another customer.

Washington Sq Bar and Grill is still putting out a good plate. Good steaks too and not at House of Prime Rib/Alfred's/Harris' prices. SF Bartending institution Mike McCourt works weekdays.
Ate there about 4x this year.

Cafe Pescatore next to the Tuscan Inn in FW area.
Fog City Diner's a few blocks down <now serving breakfasts>.
McCormick & Kuletos' at Ghiradelli Sq. for the great view.

If you want to go out to Plumpjacks you may consider Brazenhead?

Pier 23 is pretty eclectic. Good view out back and live music sometimes.

We ate a Cafe Bastille last Sat night and had a very good meal.

Last time I had a pizza in SF, I was in high school and we stopped at FW on the way back from a Stanfoo football game.
Me? Without a SF pizza!?!?! =-O
I better take care of that next time down.
Kal

Alan64--YES!! Michaelangelo's is fantastic! I'm glad someone else out there likes it! My only complaint is the wine list (inexpensive but I have never had one I like) but I found out last week their corkage is only $9. A quick stop at Coit Liquors on the corner for a bottle of red and I am one happy woman!

Kal made me think of steak now! Izzy's in the Marina serves up some great steaks. Try the Izzy's potatoes and creamed spinch. Reasonably priced for steak ($20-$30 entree w/ two sides).

I have been racking my brain for a good pizza place and can't think of one (I am a Round Table sort of girl). Maybe Extreme Pizza? They have bizarre (in a good way) toppings and a great crust.

Before I made my first visit to San Francisco this past August, I ran a copy of the "Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants" (address link below). While it is about a 50-page report, it came in handy. You might enjoy using the article to look up some of the restaurants mentioned here as well.

Paul

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../CM100REST.DTL

Will second all of the above post. The North Beach neighborhood has great food at great prices. Other areas of the city are one or the other (and please don't eat at Fisherman's Wharf area which has bad food at inflated prices). I would just wander the North Beach area and look at posted menus a half hour before you plan to eat. Don't limit yourself to Columbus avenue - the restaurants on the side streets off Columbus are a little less expensive than those on the main drag.

Avoid Hawthorne Lane like the plague!!! Zagats and the SF papers can praise it to high heavens. It is still the rip-off king of SF. So-so food - bad managers - poor service - exorbitant prices. Simply a rude, crude situation. No, there is no hope for this dive!!! We talked with management and complained in writing as well. They sent me a free ice cream coupon for my next meal there. I thought that was wonderfully thoughtful. But I still have to say this place stinks!!!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post with suggestions. Michelangelo's intrigues me. I've read some reviews on line, and it sounds like a popular spot. Alan64 and Kikahead, would there be a long wait on Fri. or Sat. nite? We usually eat late, and don't mind a reasonable wait if the line moves. Some reviews said it is small and the line is always out the door (just like some of the places here in Boston in the North End). Also, thanks for the advice on the Stinking Rose! Anyway, sounds like it's a good idea to walk around and check out the places in North Beach and then make a decision.

One of my favorite places anywhere, for both the saloon-style ambience and the great but plain food is Tommy's Joynt at the corner of Geary and Van Ness on Cathedral Hill.I make a stop there evertime I'm in SFO and am never disappointed.

If you are looking for a really good steak, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is just up the street on Van Ness.

Michalangelos has only room for 1 or 2 people to wait inside, so a 'line out the door' could just be a single party of 4. I've usually waited about 15 minutes (always bring a jacket because it can get cool out on Columbus). It's never been more than a 20-25 minute wait. They don't take reservations but Steps of Rome does.

another vote for Steps of Rome. We really enjoyed this place a lot. Ask to be seated upstairs in their "romantic" section overlooking the street below. Excellent food, great service, and a great place for dinner.