Centralparkgirl

Once again, the dining experiences in SF were mostly wonderful.
There were four of us at most meals and we shared a lot of dishes; so we got to experience a nice variety of what the restaurants were serving.

Lunch:

Hog Island Oysters (2x)
Tadich Grill (2nd time)
Cupola Pizzeria
The Girl and the Fig (2nd time)

Brunch:

Yank Sing (3rd time)
Baker and Banker

Dinner:

Barbacco (2nd time)
Cotogna
State Bird Provisions
Betel Nut (2nd time)
Park Tavern
Chiaroscuro

Cupola was a disappointment - despite having char marks, the dough was not thin enough and was too chewy.
Chiaroscuro - good food, but too pretentious - wouldn't return
Barbacco - still love everything about this place
Tadich - had my first petrale sole - so simple - excellent quality
Girl and the Fig - perfect
State Bird - can't begin to remember what we ate - unusual and wonderful - and the state bird should not be missed; we had a whole one.
Park Tavern - wonderful birthday dinner
Cotogna - despite lamb chops that were too chewy, I'd return; everything else was very good
Baker and Banker - perfect brunch - cramped quarters

Centralparkgirl

FYI Girl and Fig is in Sonoma

Tomsd

Thanks for the report. Left SF years ago ('81) - but loved the Rex Sole at Tadich's - but hard to find that - the King of Sole - anymore? And we also liked Yang Sing - but have to admit - many of the others are "new" to moi.

We also used to go to Swan Oyster depot on Polk.

Centralparkgirl

Is it really called Rex or is that your term?
I got to try sand dabs too - quite good, but the sole was perfect.

DebitNM

Tadich is always on our list of places to eat, every trip. That and Chez Panisse and City Views for Dim Sum.

Appreciate your take on places we haven't eaten at; thanks!

DebitNM

Rex is real name.

Centralparkgirl

Deb - I still think that Farina's pizza is one of the best.

Tomsd

As Debit says - it's Rex Sole and we used to love to go to Scoma's on Fisherman's Wharf, where years ago - they also served Abolone before it became more expensive than Gold.

They didn't officially take reservtions - but if you got to know the gals at the Maitre D stand - no problemo. They also had a great waiter - a tough looking/former boxer who once fought a big name Heavywieght - although he was only a light heavy - and he had one eye that was injured/damaged/looked funny if I may say so.

Clint Eastwood liked him so much - that he let him have a cameo in the movie - Escape from Alcatraz, and the inside joke was in the movie - where at one of the prison dinners - Clint looks across the table at the former boxer - (while Clint and his two amigos were trying to have a quiet conversation about their planned escape) - and says: What are you looking at. You just had to see it in the movie to appreciate it. see: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079116/

Tomsd

Just last summer - found a "new" place for Dim Sum - Gold Mountain on Broadway - that was not expensive and served very good food - but it just shut down I heard - after a 10? year run. Shame. Owning/running a restaurant is a very tough business.

DebitNM

We do love Farinas here in ABQ! Are you heading this way, any time soon?

Tomsd

Fiddely foo - lost a post again. Anyhow - found the former boxer/actor/Maitre D's name - and it was Pat/Patick Valentino - (slightly changed from his birth name Pasquale Guglielmi) - and he once went 8 rounds with Heavyweight chamnp - Ezzard Charles.

Nicest guy in the world but I wouldn't have wanted to go toe to toe with him.

see: http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Pat_Valentino

Centralparkgirl

Deb - either in July or Oct. Farina's meatballs are great too!

DebitNM

July - I'm here; gone in Oct. Keep in touch.

tchoiniere

made me way too hungry. Sounds like a great trip. Did you do anything besides these great restaurants?

Centralparkgirl

This was 6th trip in 3 1/2 years - so I have done a lot before. This time, we did A LOT of walking - two walking tours, explored Hayes Valley and some other neighborhoods, some shopping and did a day trip to southern Napa and Sonoma (tour and tasting at Domaine Carneros) driving back through Petaluma passing beautiful dairy farms. Main purpose of trip was to see both sons - and those conversations get in the way of sightseeing

StuDudley

Centralparkgirl - which walking tours did you take??

Stu Dudley

Centralparkgirl

Stu - We did Nob Hill and Palace Hotel tours through cityguides. The Nob Hill tour was wonderful. Although we were very glad that we got to see the interiors of the the Palace Hotel and learn about it, the guide unfortunately was torture. We have taken three other tours on previous trips.

yk

CPG, thanks for your concise review and I'm so happy to see you back here! your list should prove useful as we may head out to SF/Northern Cal area this summer.

off-topic, hope all is well with you. I emailed you a while back since I haven't seen you around but didn't hear back. In any case, I'm just so happy to see you here!

Centralparkgirl

Hello yk! I don't recall an email. I definitely would have responded. Still remember our walk in the park. I am fine; just on a self imposed sabbatical.