We're traveling to San Francisco for the first time in late April. What are the best restaurants for people with adventuresome palates who love unique dining experiences?

Chez Panisse in Berkeley

Seamus, you have a bad attitude. I'd like to know also. Is it really a six months wait for the French Laundry?
(Iknow it is not in SF)

Yes, the wait is 6 months for FL, but cancellations do occur regularly. If you're around the area you can snap one up on occasion. If you'll be travelling to SF, start checking for cancellations as your travel dates near.

As for 'best restaurants' in SF, this is a very long subject and you'll hear any of more than a dozen restaurants held up as 'best' by various people.

Start out by checking www.zagat.com
Nice overview there with locations, cuisines, food ratings, prices (loosely applicable).
Also try www.chowhound.com for opinions.
Also, the archives at this site are chock full of opinions about this topic.

Chris, the French Laundry does not take reservations more than two months in advance. What happens is that every morning the phone lines are jammed with people calling to make reservations for the day exactly two months in the future. Lunch is an easier reservation to get than dinner, but still generally booked up on that day two months previous. There is also a possibility of walking into the restaurant on the day you are in town and checking to see if they have cancellations. Those are your only options, my friend!

The Cliff House

Well, the view from the Cliff House dining room is lovely but I wouldn't classify the food as adventuresome or unique. Still, the setting, including the camera obscura and the mechanical museum do make a visit worthwhile.

Restaurant recommendations:

Burritos somewhere in the Mission, especially Pancho Villa Taqueria on 16th Street. If you're really adventuresome and want to order like a native you can get a tongue burrito.

Dim Sum: Ton Kiang on Geary or Yank Sing on Spear Street.

Crustacean for roasted dungeness crab with garlic noodles.

Swan Oyster Depot for sitting at the bar and slurping up lots of bivalves.

Cafe Bastille for French food and a jazz combo and a lovely setting where you can sit outside on a temperate evening. For the adventuresome they have boudin noir (blood pudding).

Tapas are great for trying lots of different things and I'd recommend Cha Cha Cha in the Haight or even Thirstybear Brewing Co. near Union Square where you can get fish cheeks.

Cheers, let me know if you want more! I could eat at a different restaurant in San Francisco every night for a year and never have a bad meal. Bon appetit!

You can eat all day: dim sum on Clement Street, chinatown,crab on the warf...

My picks:

Amazing ambiance and service (and good food to boot): Tommy Toy's (GO HERE)

Best French: Elisabeth Daniel

Best Seafood: Aqua

Best "American": Gordon's House of Fine Eats

Best food: Chez Panisse in Berkeley

You won't go wrong with La Folie. Their discovery menus are fantastic. hey even have one for vegetarians.

Greens is a beautiful vegetarian fine-dining restaurant at Fort Mason.

I am from Australia and have gone out of my way to get to SF each time I travel to the US for business - just so I can eat at Greens!

This restaurant has truly re-defined the way the world sees vegetarian cuisine. I have eaten there 4 times over the last 13 years and have never been disappointed.

Chez Panisse is also fantastic.

Andrea

Ti Couz is a creperie at 16th and Mission. Although the area (the mission) is a little rough around the edges... the food is worth the trip. It's not fancy but perfect for a fun, casual and fantastic lunch or dinner at great prices. Have a savory crepe for your meal and a sweet crepe for dessert. It's the BEST!

sorry, Ti Couz is at 16th and Valencia, NOT 16th and Mission.