Celebrating a friend's 40th while in San Franciso and staying at the Tuscan Inn/Fisherman's Wharf. What would be a trendy but convenient spot for a nice dinner...she doesn't eat seafood (the rest of the group does) and we would like to avoid Italian. Something with a great atmosphere and good bar.

I apologize, but this post just struck my funny bone.

"she doesn't eat seafood"

"we would like to avoid Italian"

This is after all FISHerman's Wharf and the "man" in Fisherman are mostly Italian (or at least started out being Italian).

Try McCormick and Kuleto at Ghirardelli Square. Moderate pricing, great views.

Or Gary Danko's, very expensive. This has stayed one of the best restaurants in SF.

Or Ana Mandara, expensive and Vietnamese. Great decor. Don't know much about their bar.

Scoma's is in a funky location, but I haven't been there in a thousand years, so don't know what it's like any more.

I'm certain other Fodorites can come up with more recommendations.

For "convenient to Fisherman's Wharf" (meaning walking distance) "non-seafood" "non-Italian", I would do Ana Mandara.

"trendy" usually means "filled with locals" - often a younger crowd. Most locals I know (including me, but I'm not young) don't dine at Fisherman's Wharf - except at Gary Danko's (if someone else is paying or it's a special occasion), or at Ana Mandara - like others have stated. No seafood & non-Italian eliminates about 80 of the dinner entres at the Wharf (except Ana Mandara & Gary Danko).

Here is a review of Ana Mandara from a local TV food show.

http://blogs.kqed.org/food/?p=331

Stu Dudley

>>No seafood & non-Italian eliminates about 80 of the dinner entres at the Wharf <<

correction - should be 80%

Stu Dudley

I apologize, but this post just struck my funny bone.

"she doesn't eat seafood"

"we would like to avoid Italian"

Add to these that she wants "trendy." On Fisherman's Wharf?

As someone else said, McCormick and Kuleto at Ghirardelli Square. Every table has a great view because the tables are on tiered levels. The food is very good, or at least was when I was there last. I don't think you, or she, would be disappointed.

I got a chuckle, too. If you really don't want Italian, just walk on over to China Town and do Chinese. Not that far and the walk in on the flat.

You might enjoy the Rose Pistola. Definitely Italian but also has beef dishes and would qualify as 'up-scale':

http://www.rosepistolasf.com

I recently had a wonderful dinner at Kokkari--Greek, with lots of meat as well as seafood. It's not Fisherman's Wharf or North Beach, but not at all hard to get to.
Very pretty restaurant, great service, nice buzz.