I left my heart there oh, so many years ago, but it's been over eight since I last set foot in the City by the Bay. And I will be doing a business/romance combo (my Sweetie, who has NEVER been to San Francisco-- and has lived in southern CA for 40 years!!--, will be accompanying me!!) in late March. We will be staying at the Crowne Plaza on Union Square. Given the meetings I'll be attending, we will only have Friday and Saturday evenings, flying back home (JetBlue!!) on Sunday early afternoon.

I manage to travel to places that have officially been Done to Death, so I won't ask the usual garbage ("Is Fisherman's Wharf touristy?" etc.). I can do the usual searches, I have the Fodor's Guide.... But I want some of the latest scuttlebutt.

1. Let's talk breakfast. What's fun? Funky? Yummy? Is Saturday Dim Sum at the "usual suspects" places a good choice, or will we be hip-deep in other tourists?

2. If you had a leisurely Saturday to spend with your Love, what would be your highlights? I don't need constant "Wow!" things-- I prefer the "give each other That Look and Smile" kind of things (although a few "Wows!" would be cool too). I think I'm making myself clear. Aren't I?

3. I'd like Friday or Saturday night to have a "Wow!" dinner. Or both. We like fine dining, we will spend for it (we did tapas this past Saturday night and managed to spend $150 for two-- and ALL OF OUR LIQUOR WAS COMP'ED BY THE MANAGER!!! Bigg's in Belmont Shore, by the way-- sublime tapas!!)-- but it doesn't have to break the bank. Is Farallon still good? How about Gary Danko's in (horrors!) The Wharf? Slanted Door? Give me your latest raves!

Everything else should be covered-- I just would appreciate a bit of help in the above areas. Thanks in advance, you wonderful Fodorites, you!

Gary Danko and Farallon would be very romantic restaurants. I've heard, however, that more proposals are made at Fleur du Lys. However, I like Gary Danko's food more than Hubert Keller's (Fleur du Lys). I would not call Slanted Door "romantic" because of the noise - it's a very loud restaurant.

A romantic evening with a very nice dinner would be to take the Hyde St Cable Car (make sure you don't get on the Taylor line) to Russian Hill and get off at Vallejo & Hyde. Walk along the pretty tree lined Hyde St, window shop (as far North as Filbert), then have dinner at either Luella or Frascati on Hyde. After dinner, from Hyde walk east 3 blocks on Vallejo to Jones St. Cross Jones and walk up the stairs to continue east on Vallejo st. This is the top of Russian Hill, and it's a very nice, romantic, low traffic area. Continue to the end of the block and you will be rewarded with a lovely view from the top of Russian Hill looking down on North Beach, Chinatown, and downtown.

Continue east by walking down the stairs to the right of the place with the great view. This will get you to Taylor St. Walk across Taylor through another park with great views, and walk down another set of stairs to Mason St. Walk another 2 1/2 blocks to North Beach and have a late night expresso at one of the Italian cafes. Then pick up the Taylor Cable Car at the corner of Mason & Columbus to get back to Union Sq. If you don't want an expresso, when you first get to Mason St, hop on the Cable Car back to Union St.

Stu Dudley

I would not describe Gary Danko as "romantic". It was so loud there we decided to go elsewhere.

We love Boulevard. Not quiet, but not too awfully loud.

ttt and request for breakfast ideas...!

Thanks to Stu and djkbooks for the good suggestions.

Hi, rjw!

Welcome to Northern California!

I've read many of your wonderful and very informative posts on Southern California, and also taken your recommendation of La Cachette restaurant!

So, to return your great favor with a few little suggestions:

For romance, go to The Spinnaker restaurant in Sausalito. The restaurant sits on piers jutting out over the water and it offers panoramic views back towards San Francisco. Make a reservation and ask for a corner table over the water (there are only two). You'll need a car. You'll be in for a beautiful experience.

Then return to San Francisco for after dinner drinks. There are several places which offer views of the city. Probably the more interesting is the revolving restaurant, the Equinox, up at the top of the Hyatt Embarcadero. Another place for view and drinks is the top of the Marriott on Fourth and Mission.

The Farallon is very thematic and a great place for seafood, so is Aqua - both not much in terms of city views but lots of the human kind. Go to these restaurants if it's a rainy day or if the fog blows in to block your view at the Spinnaker.

For dim sum, try Yank Sing which is the most friendly for round-eyes. Otherwise, in Chinatown, try New Asia on Pacific - mostly locals. Not very romantic but very authentic. You have to know what to order as the cart-pushers don't speak much English. When you enter and are seated just tell the waiter you want "gog-bow" tea - which is a dim sum tea with chrysanthemum flowers. If you want your tea caffeine free, then just order "gog-fa" which is just the chrysanthemum flowers with no tea leaves. Both are favorite teas for dim sum.

I'm certain other Fodorites will chip in with other suggestions.

Happy Valentine's Day! and again, welcome!

Oh, forgot to add:

Just had breakfast/brunch at the renovated Cliff House - terrific view but the popovers were a bit soggy. Have not had dinner there yet, but the restaurant overlooks the entire San Francisco beach.

Just a few steps up the cliff is Louie's, which offers better breakfast food, but no romance. It's just a hole-in-the-wall diner.

Another great place for a drink is the Carnelian Room on top of the B of A building. And you've got to get out on the Bay. Brunch on the Hornblower? Or maybe just the ferry to Sausalito for your leisurely Saturday.

Breakfast: Dottie's True Blue Café.
google "breakfast, SF" for more options.

For dinner for two, I would choose La Folie, which can also be googled.

I second the breakfast rec for Dottie's True Blue cafe. You may stand in line outside, but the line moves fast and the wait is worth it! Stay away from Lori's Diner - Dottie's is much better.

Thanks to the great suggestions so far (so you liked La Cachette, easytraveler? I'm delighted!) and ttt for more!

ttt and fishing for comments on:

Betelnut in Cow Hollow. Still good? Past its prime? Fun? Cool? Not? Huh?

Yep - still good. It gets very loud & noisy, so I would not call it ROMANTIC.

Stu Dudley

I have a more funky breakfast place, though I do like Dotties'. Red's Java House, near the Embarcadero. Great views and wear your Jeans and sneakers.
If you are in Cow Hollow/ Marina district, I like Home Restaurant. Think home style food meats California Cuisine. My other fave is Zazie in Cole Valley. A casual French Bistro. Great brunch and dinners. Swan's Oyster Depot for seafood. Again casual, and you can probably tell, I don't like to get out of my jeans, LOL.

What do you do to not look like a tourist yourself when you go to all these places?

Are you directing the comment to me Intrepid? I just dress how I dress, LOL.

Romantic luxury dinner - Fifth floor restaurant. Reserve either table one or two. Both are secluded booths with partial privacy curtains.

Great food. Great service. Lush atmosphere.

Ferry ride to Tiburon? Do they still have those? Since it will be chilly, lots of cuddling, rjw!

I think Caprice in Tiburon is romantic. I will leave it to others to give recent comments on the quality of food, as it has been a while since I was there.

Marking for our trip in late April. Only much longer time since DH and I have been - 20 years.

Hope you have a wonderful trip rjw and look forward to hearing about it when you return in a few weeks.