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How much does it cost in SF

Appx how much should I budget for meals in San Francisco for 5 days for 2 adults. We like to eat at nice restaurants with maybe one great dinner. Speaking of, any restaurant suggestions for a nice meal where he doesn't have to wear a jacket and tie? Also, how much is gas in California. Thanks for everyone's help, I love this site!

Bonnie, Even though this is a tough question to answer with any accuracy I'll give it a shot. Obviously, much of this is going to depend on variables that I don't know, like how much you two drink, whether you have one, two or three meals a day, whether you order wine with your meals, how expensive your tastes are, etc... Assuming that you are fairly typical (in that you have a couple of cocktails with dinner--maybe a glass of wine with lunch) I'll attempt to quote prices without including bottles of wine and the like. Keep in mind that these are "guesstimates" based on our dozen or so trips there and that we generally eat at independent places (we try to avoid Denny's, etc. when we're on vacation). I am also taking into account the fact that you said you like to eat at nice places. We'll start with breakfast. Standard breakfast for two adults (including coffee ) are going to run you anywhere from $20 - 30--not including tip. While I'm sure there are cheaper places, we found that braekfast plates generally ran from about $7 - $12 per person. As for lunch, I would up that to about $25 - $50. We have enjoyed wonderful lunches in Chinatown for $25 and fancier lunches elsewhere for up to $50. We have also eaten fresh seafood from the vendors on The Wharf for much less. Again, it all depends. Ahhh, dinner (my favorite meal). This is perhaps the toughest to call. For example dinner for two at The Carnelian Room (I heard it closed, anyone know for sure?) could easily run you $150 for two--not including wine and tip ( we tend to do the whole nine yards for dinner including, appetizers, soup or salad, entree and dessert). The same could be said for Scoma's (great seafood restaurant on The Wharf) especially if you order their $54 a plate abelone steak. I guess what I'm saying is I would expect to pay about $200 for your "one great dinner" but it isn't difficult to cut that in half (or more) and still eat great food on the other nights you're there. By the way, VERY few places in San Francisco require a jacket and tie (Fairmont dining room perhaps and The Carnelian Room--if it's still open). Hope I haven't done more harm than good. Now I'll turn it over to the plethora of people who may disagree with me. Hope this helps< Davidcs

David, I was hesitant to answer this question for the same reasons you stated. I think you did a good job. Bonnie, it is possible to eat for less or find bargain eats, but since that wasn't your question I will concur with David's assessment. Gas? Lordy, welcome to California. Remember, you don't need a car in SF. And gas in the city is more expensive by a few cents a gallon than elsewhere. Gas is less expensive in southern California versus northern. Prices fluctuate, of course, but expect to pay more for gas here than anywhere else in the country. Why? I don't know.

I would agree with David's figures. Expect dinner at a 'nice' restaurant to easily be over $100. What's a jacket and tie??? Seriously, this is California and there are very few that would require that. Gas is running about $1.69 a gallon for regular unleaded in the LA area. It's been my experience that the Bay area can be 10-20 cents higher. On a side note, does anyone know if Nonna Rose at Fisherman's Wharf is still around? I loved their garlic roasted crab!

Great answer by David! I would just add that if you want to eat a filling meal and not spend too much, be sure to check out China Town in San Francisco. You can do very well there. :o)

Patty, here is Nonna's web: http://www.bestofsanfrancisco.net/nonnaroseentrees.htm it has address, pictures, menu, etc.

Thanks, Faina. Funny they don't list the roasted crab on the menu.

Is Nonna's garlic roasted crab better than Crustacean's?

Gas is currently anywhere from $1.69 - $1.89 for unleaded, but as mentioned above, cars are not necessary. The public transportation system is really good and *much* easier than trying to find a parking space! As for food options, one of the best things about San Francisco is the plethora of restaurants. With a bit of looking, you can find something great in just about any category. I'd suggest trying a few of the cheap, funky places and then splurging on one or two special meals. When I'm looking for someplace new/interesting to try, I often search citysearch.com, especially their "Best Of..." categories. It can be a bit hit or miss, but there are often some good ideas. However, take the user reviews with a grain of salt - I've often got the impression that many are fake (either positive or negative reviews). Some of my favorite places to grab a bite are: Zona Rosa, 1797 Haight St. -- best burritos in the city. the food is excellent, the decor somewhat lacking, but you can easily feed two hungry people for $15 Nirvana Restaurant, 544 Castro St. -- nice area to browse around (catch a flick at the marvelous Castro Theater with the live pipe organ before the show) and DIVINE noodle dishes. Depending on drinks and appetizers, I'd say dinner for $15-20/per person. Definitely worth it!!! Arizmendi Bakery, 1331 9th Ave. -- out in the Richmond, near Golden Gate park. This is home to some of the best pizza I've ever had. The pizza selection changes daily and often sounds odd/unusual, but take the plunge -- I haven't had a bad slice yet. Wonderful! The pizza is sold by the slice (less than $2 for a generous slice), so you can easily have a nice lunch on the cheap. The neighborhood is nice -- a few good bookstores around the corner on Irving as well as some fun shops like Wishbone and Tutti Frutti. Einstein's Cafe, 1336 9th Ave. -- This is also in the Richmond. Home to hearty soups and large sandwiches on fresh-baked breads. Most sandwhiches are under $5 and there are many combo soup/salad/sandwhich options for under $10. Great place for lunch if you don't get pizza (though I really do recommend the pizza).

Thanks everyone for your help! With all the great sounding restaurants in San Francisco we will need to eat 10 times a day. I know a car is not necessary in SF but we are going to Yosemite as well. I really appreciate knowing I don't have to limit my restaurant selections due to a dress code. Thanks again!

can we really find our way around witout a car? Would it be more expensive to rent a car for a 3 day trip than to take public transportation? consider that we have to get to and from the airport from fishermans wharf, and spend one day in Nappa thanks