cferrb

We have started threads on where to eat like a local/favorite restaurants for the Los Angeles area and New York City. The San Francisco Bay Area seems like a natural addition. The idea is that as travelers, we frequently would like to eat in the places that local eats, rather than in the places that cater to tourists.

Aduchamp suggested the following guidelines for NYC. They seem like a good start:

Please tell all your favorite within these very simple guidelines:

Each category could be any cuisine in any area. The amount should not include the tip, tax, or any drinks. When you list you favorites, please be terse in the description but provide the type of cuisine, neighborhood, and favorite dish, if any. And please only submit only those restaurants where you have eaten in the previous twelve months. No second hand or outdated recommendations.

Thank you.

Categories:

Under $25 per person

$25-$50 a person

Over $50 a person

Stratospheric prices or places for special occasions.

I would define the Bay Area as anywhere in the general area that BART covers, plus all the way down to Silicon Valley and up to Marin County. That would mean generally the counties of San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara.

sf7307

I'm happy to participate - for this area in particular, do you think we should include Napa/Sonoma and or Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove or leave those to their own threads?

mztery

Is seems like way too much work but more to the point a way too large geographic area

iamq

I can think of two favorites of ours in Palo Alto.

Sushi House in Town and Country Shopping Center. The sushi is fresh and very good. My go-to eats are the Ebi Fry bento box with a chicken kaarage appetizer. Under $25 per person.

Osteria in downtown Palo Alto. Nothing fancy Italian is a dependable standby that we've been eating at for years. The polenta appetizer with mushroom ragu is good as are any of the pasta dishes. $25 - $50 per person.

cferrb

Thank you iamq for contributing a couple of ideas. That's exactly what we're looking for: Places that locals eat that might be good for travelers to visit as well when they are looking for a good meal at a reasonable price without a horde of people lined up at the door.

mztery

Again, to be helpful to tourists especially, the difference between San Rafael and Santa Clara is way too large esp if they are using SF as a base.Locals will understand distances but not necessarily visitors.

sf7307

So in addition to your suggestions, it would be helpful to state whether it's in the city of San Francisco, or outside the city. Iamq's first two suggestions are in the city of Palo Alto, home of StanfordnUniversi and Facebook (and iamq), about 20 miles south of the city.

For anyone staying near SFO, these recommendations are in the suburb of Burlingame - a lot of the airport hotels are also in Burlingame: Mingalaba (excellent Chinese and Burmese), Copenhagen (very good American/Scandinavian, best burger in town). These are our two "go to" places - where we eat on a very regular basis.

Query- are we only supposed to list the places we like, and not offer negative reviews of those we don't?

sf7307

Oops, forgot to mention prices - both of those would come in under $25 per person, in fact, they likely come in around $15, before drinks, tip and taxes.

iamq

FWIW I did mention that the restaurants are in Palo Alto.

cferrb

I agree that it would be helpful to say where the restaurants are. There is a similar thread on the LA area, and so far we have a bunch of places that are listed as being in Pasadena and a bunch of places from the Culver City area, plus the San Fernando Valley. If you want to see how that list has worked it is headed "Places to eat like a local in Los Angeles."

cferrb

Yes, SF2707, the point is to list places that you do like, not to offer negative reviews of places that you don't. Maybe you can offer some alternatives instead.

Michael

Almost any restaurant in Noe Valley, up and down 24th St. and along Church St. depends on locals more than tourists.

shanek

Have any of you SF locals eaten at Burgermeister on Columbus. It seemed to be a local hangout even though we were tourists.

Awesome Bugers and Sublime Fries!!!!

sf7307

Iamq I gave more info on Palo Alto because mztery seems to think non-Bay Area people won't know it's not in or near the city.

mlgb

I like Mingalaba in B'game also, but be warned that there can be a 30 minute or more wait for a table, so if you are on a layover at SFO allow LOTs of time.

iamq

I'm not sure I like playing this game.

hazel1

I'd recommend starting this inquiry over on www.chowhounds.com - you will be flooded with replies from dozens of locals.

sf7307

>>

Definitely, and every night of the week! That's why we mostly get takeout.

SAB

The only places that really cater to tourists are at Fisherman's Wharf, which is why you will rarely find locals eating in them or recommending them. Other than that "locals" eat in many places that tourists visit--North Beach, Union Square, Embarcadero, etc. BTW I'm not sharing my personal favorite 'cos I want to still be able to get in!!!

BillJ

Tadich Grill, 240 California St. About the end of the California Street cable car line.
A San Francisco institution since 18 something. No reservations, so you stand in line for a while for a table, but can also eat at bar, which sometimes is less wait, and a lot more fun.
When in SF, we never miss it.