We leave on Thursday night for our 10 day California trip. All of us are really excited and I am working on the details to be sure we get the most out of our short time.

Have read repeatedly not to eat in FW due to poor quality of restaurants. So perhaps you Fodorites could help me. Where would you go after a 10:15 a.m. Alcatraz tour for lunch with a family of 4 (kids ages 10 and 12 and not picky eaters). We plan to walk (I think) back through North Beach and Chinatown.

Thanks!

I would recommend lunch over dinner at FW. A little overpriced, but you are a tourist. Many of the restaurants do have special lunch prices.

ccrosner
I would recommend lunch on Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf also. The Pier is full of activity and I had some wonderful clam chowder there. The barking sea lions (seals) are huge and totally fun to watch. FW is cheesy but full of life and I loved it. Also, the kids will be hungary by the time you get back and we all know what grumpy, hungary kids are like.

I'm guessing that by the time you get back to the Wharf it will be between 1 and 2 and the kids are going to be hungry (as well as the adults). I would eat at the wharf rather than start your walk back. FW food will not make any Michelin Guide but it is fine when you are on vacation with the family.

Boudins restaurant is good (abeit a bit overpriced) for lunch. Facing the bay it will be on your left about 1.5 blocks down from the ferry exit.

Bubba Gumps at Pier 39 is a fun restaurant.

I'm in SF at the present time and once again, have had several locals tell me the best place to eat along Fisherman's Wharf is Scoma's -- out of the tourist parade and supposedly really good food. Now that I think about, maybe we'll try that today for lunch. We've been avoiding FW like the plague.

I'm not sure if you can hold out that long, but if you're walking to North Beach, Mama's Washington Square at the Northeast corner of Washington Square Park is wonderful -- and family friendly. Great place for huge breakfasts as lunch or lunch itself.

We ate at Fisherman's Wharf after our visit to Alcatraz, mostly because we were quite hungry by the time we got back! We ate at a pizza place on the second level. I don't recall the name of it, but it wasn't too bad. The best thing about it was our booth in front of a huge open window with great views.

Tracy

Thanks for all of the suggestions. They were a good reminder that not ALL meals on a 10 day trip need to be memorable. Sometimes a good, fast bite to eat will do--and will certainly save on some calories to be redeemed at dinner!