Exceptional dining in San Francisco
 

DH and I have one night, 4/27, to spend together in our favorite city, San Francisco. We want to have a lovely dining experience that evening. Currently, we are waitlisted at Gary Danko (my favorite), which is fully committed. We have an 8:45 reservation at Fleur de Lys, which we've not yet tried, and have asked that we be notified if something earlier opens up.

Where else might I try for a 7:30ish reservation where we could have an exceptional/special evening?

Thanks!

The SF Sunday Magazine just published this year's Top 100 - perhaps that will give you some ideas, as I was going to suggest Gary Danko. sfgate.com

Thanks PJTravels!

Haven't been out on the town in "Bagdhad by the Bay" in some time (now living in San Diego) - but Fleur de Lys was always a favorite.

There are still presumably a lot of good choices - so just keep googling away if you are not satisfied.

Both La Folie and Acquerello show availabilities at 6:30 and 8:30 on opentable.

Stu Dudley

Coi has an opening at 7:30

Stu Dudley

Wow! I've never heard of Coi! Though it's not our cup of tea, it looks interesting!

Would you go to Chez Panisse or do you want to be IN the city?

We have such a short time, I think I'd like to remain in the city.

Aziza looks interesting!

Rethinking Chez Panisse. We've never been. It doesn't look like they have availablity that evening, though.

Did you look upstairs in the Cafe? We prefer it there to downstairs.

Also, we ate here and it was very intimate, authentic french food in The Castro:

http://www.ardoisesf.com/

Maybe Frances, also in The Castro, but chances are no ressies avail as they book pretty much 1 month ahead when dates open.

http://www.frances-sf.com/

CALL Chez Panisse, they don't put all availability on Opentable. I would also suggest that for any place that doesn't show availability on OT.OT is great for convenience of booking online, but most restaurants keep tables for phone reservations.

Deb, I've been looking online at Chez Panisse. Can you tell my why you prefer upstairs?

>>Aziza looks interesting!<<

It is! It's one of our favorites. We're dining there this Saturday. However, the ambiance is not as "elegant & refined" as Gary Danko, Fleur de Lys, La Folie, Acquerello, etc. You'll see lots of jeans & minimal "dressing-up".

Stu Dudley

Thanks, Stu. Elegant and refined is not necessarily a requirement, though a pleasant ambiance is. We will prefer a place where tables are not on top of one another, and which is not so loud we can't carry on a conversation; I'm easily distracted and my hearing stinks!

The food at Aziza is outstanding and it's a very pleasant place. I hate very noisy restaurants and I don't recall this one being terrible (we've only been once, at Stu's suggestion). It's quite small, so the tables are pretty close together, although I've certainly seen worse. Also, it's out in the avenues, so depending on where you're staying, not that easy to get to.

There are 3 "general" seating areas at Aziza. There is a large room that you see as soon as you enter the restaurant, a smaller "alley" type room to the left & close to the bar, and another room "in the back". Only the "alley" room is exceptionally noisy, IMO.

Stu Dudley

And that's where we were seated, so I would say it's not bad at all on the "bells" scale.

I like upstairs because there are choices on the menu; downstairs is a set menu and if you don't like it [and you don't know what it is until the beginning of that week] you are stuck. Prices are less upstairs as well.

I also like upstairs as it is less formal feel to it. If you book upstairs -- ask for a table in the little front room. Quiet and very romantic.

I tagged you in some pictures of CP on FB, iregeo.