Fisherman's Wharf restaurants
 

We are going to take the adventure cat and want to finish with a great meal. Any suggestions?

Alioto's.

I like Alioto's also. I have read some disparaging comments about it on this form but I have always enjoyed both its food and its old-time Italian service.

Scoma's! Hands down!

Most locals think the food at the Wharf is pretty bad. I have lived in SF or very close by for over 30 years, and I have dined there only once - with my in-laws who wanted to eat at the Wharf. View was great, food was pretty sloppy. I'm guessing here, but I suspect that 95% of the customers at the Wharf restaurants are tourists and the food is aimed at them - fish not as fresh as it should be, and very often overcooked.

Gary Danko's is on the same block as the Buena Vista, and it's one of the 5 best restaurants in SF according to the Zagat guide, our local food critic, and me.

Stu Dudley

If you are talking about Fisherman's Wharf in SF--Stu is correct, no SF resident would recommend a Wharf restaurant for a great meal except for Gary Danko's--which is not a typical Wharf restaurant i.e. not selling you a view. If it has to be the Wharf area and Gary Danko's is out, Ana Mandera (Vietnamese) is good and so is Cafe Pescatore (Italian). Again not selling a view.

DH and I are big tourists and we ate at Scoma's for lunch and spent $80. We had wine and dessert so that added to price. The tiramisu was the best I've ever had. Our entrees were very good but not the best I've ever eaten. DH had a crab salad that was soooo huge he couldn't finish. I'd give it a B+. nnrobnz, what did you have there? It was highly recommended to us btw.

We ate at Scoma's, Fisherman's Wharf, a few weeks ago w/ a group of expense account junkies (one a repeat diner), accustomed to fine dining on someone else's nickel. Everyone enjoyed the experience, though Scoma's would not rate a Michelin star. The service was very good and the food good. It's entertainment, part of which is "the view," and part ambience, presentation, food and service quality.

I had excellent halibut lunch at Scoma's while visiting with a Bay Area friend but it was a couple of years ago - there are so many good (& many new) restaurants in SF - I'd try something new myself (altho I always love going back to Greens at Ft. Mason) every visit.

What's the "adventure cat?"

Oh, just get some chowder in a sourdough bowl and enjoy the "low life" of touristy (gasp!) Fisherman's Wharf.

Go elsewhere for "fine dining" - but do enjoy what Fisherman's Wharf has to offer!

And, while you are being a tourist, have an Irish Coffee at Buena Vista, and chocolate at Ghirardelli.

Just my thoughts. I think my new screen name will be "proudtobeatourist".

Whether you are a tourist or not, but you will not have a great meal, as you asked for, at Fisherman's Wharf.

I can be proud to be a tourist, as I am outside of my NYC and Bay Area residences, but I like to eat well, too. Just like Stu wrote, go to Gary Danko's - it's not on the Wharf but it's close enough.