Recommended San Francisco Restaurants (on a budget)
Sep 6th, 2006, 07:59 AM
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Recommended San Francisco Restaurants (on a budget)
What are some recommended restaurants in San Francisco for those on a budget? Preferably lunch meals less than $30 and dinner less than $70, for 2 people, no alcohol.
Also, what's a nice, romantic restaurant that'll be around $100 or less? We'll be celebrating an anniversary, but our budget is tight.
Any similar recommendations for Sonoma would be great too?
Thanks in advance.
Also, what's a nice, romantic restaurant that'll be around $100 or less? We'll be celebrating an anniversary, but our budget is tight.
Any similar recommendations for Sonoma would be great too?
Thanks in advance.
Sep 6th, 2006, 12:15 PM
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Chez Panisse.
No, really. Just go to lunch in the Cafe instead of dinner in the main room. I thought it was charming and the service was exceptional.
Lunch for two, shooting the works (we ordered whatever we wanted, money no object, three full courses for two including alcohol by the glass) came to about $120 with the gratuity.
It was one of the best meals I have ever had.
No, really. Just go to lunch in the Cafe instead of dinner in the main room. I thought it was charming and the service was exceptional.
Lunch for two, shooting the works (we ordered whatever we wanted, money no object, three full courses for two including alcohol by the glass) came to about $120 with the gratuity.
It was one of the best meals I have ever had.
Sep 6th, 2006, 12:22 PM
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Hi karmasalas, if you go to the SF Chronical website which is www.sfgate.com and click on under Entertainment (left side of the screen) Food and Dining you will see tons of suggestions including a section called Bargain Bites. I hope this helps you enjoy your time in SF!!
Sep 6th, 2006, 12:39 PM
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It's been a while since we have been in SF, but the most memorable dinner we had was a student "graduation" dinner at the California Culinary Academy. It was incredibly elegant with ice sculptures, 5 course meal, etc. You need to go with low expectations though because these are students. It's located in the Tenderloin district and the phone number is (800) 739-9700. If you go, let me know what you think.
Sep 6th, 2006, 01:10 PM
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For romantic and reasonable, I love Frascati www.frascatisf.com on Russian Hill. Firefly www.fireflyrestaurant.com in Noe Valley is also cute and very reasonable. Of the two, I like Frascati's ambiance better for romantic.
Other cheap eats:
- Burritos (super cheap). You can get these in the Mission and really everywhere. Everyone has their favorites. I like www.burritoeater.com for reviews. I like Zona Rosa in the Haight & La Cumbre, Pancho Villa, El Farrolito, and La Taqueria in the Mission.
- We have a lot of cheap, casual local chains that have good food for lunch:
Askew Grill, Plutos, Pasta Pomodoro, Crepevine
- Go ethnic for cheap eats! Burma Superstar on Clement for Burmese. Thai House Express (two locations - Castro and Tenderloin-ish). Dim Sum is a great option. Everyone has their favorites...Yank Sing, Ton Kiang, etc.
Good luck! Again, check the SF Board at Chowhound.com
Other cheap eats:
- Burritos (super cheap). You can get these in the Mission and really everywhere. Everyone has their favorites. I like www.burritoeater.com for reviews. I like Zona Rosa in the Haight & La Cumbre, Pancho Villa, El Farrolito, and La Taqueria in the Mission.
- We have a lot of cheap, casual local chains that have good food for lunch:
Askew Grill, Plutos, Pasta Pomodoro, Crepevine
- Go ethnic for cheap eats! Burma Superstar on Clement for Burmese. Thai House Express (two locations - Castro and Tenderloin-ish). Dim Sum is a great option. Everyone has their favorites...Yank Sing, Ton Kiang, etc.
Good luck! Again, check the SF Board at Chowhound.com
Sep 6th, 2006, 01:21 PM
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I will have to disagree with the suggestion on having lunch at Chez Panisse Café (upstairs) with a $30 budget for 2. It’s highly improbable. Plus, assuming that you’ll be staying in SF, the BART fare of $4 to Berkeley will have to be considered.
However, I am in the camp that it represents one of the best restaurant value for some excellent dishes anywhere in the world. Hence, with $100 budget, it would be a terrific anniversary dinner – with an appetizer and a main course for each, and a shared dessert. If you are careful about your ordering, you may even be able to squeeze in a glass of wine each. Reservation is always very tough with a 1 month in advance policy.
If you want to go for French, then you should definitely consider CHAPEAU (Clement / 15th Ave). Consistently raved by local critics and loved by locals, the very friendly chef/owner always has very good things in the offerings in this very unassuming, no-dazzle restaurant. You will get by with $100 for 2 here. Another tough reservations, but well worth it.
As for really low cost lunch and dinner options, ethnic restaurants are some of the better choices in the city:
You can try some very good dim sum at City View (Commercial St., and Kearny) or at Yank Sing (they are all over the place).
Burma Superstar (Clement Street) repersent one of the best Burmese restaurant in the country and lunch may be do-able for $30 for the 2of you. If not, then dinner is a must.
Alegria’s of Spain on Lombard St. is one of the better Spanish restaurant in the city (the owner/chef takes a 2 month sabbatical every year to travel back to his native homeland and discover new methods to better his cuisine). An under-the-radar Spanish “go to” by locals in the Marina area. A $60 dinner is more than sufficient, including a couple of glasses of wine.
Limon (Valencia in Mission) is one of the better Peruvian restaurant in the country. The ceviche is one of the best anywhere in the US. Definitely a locals favorite and reservation is a must.
Bon appetit!
However, I am in the camp that it represents one of the best restaurant value for some excellent dishes anywhere in the world. Hence, with $100 budget, it would be a terrific anniversary dinner – with an appetizer and a main course for each, and a shared dessert. If you are careful about your ordering, you may even be able to squeeze in a glass of wine each. Reservation is always very tough with a 1 month in advance policy.
If you want to go for French, then you should definitely consider CHAPEAU (Clement / 15th Ave). Consistently raved by local critics and loved by locals, the very friendly chef/owner always has very good things in the offerings in this very unassuming, no-dazzle restaurant. You will get by with $100 for 2 here. Another tough reservations, but well worth it.
As for really low cost lunch and dinner options, ethnic restaurants are some of the better choices in the city:
You can try some very good dim sum at City View (Commercial St., and Kearny) or at Yank Sing (they are all over the place).
Burma Superstar (Clement Street) repersent one of the best Burmese restaurant in the country and lunch may be do-able for $30 for the 2of you. If not, then dinner is a must.
Alegria’s of Spain on Lombard St. is one of the better Spanish restaurant in the city (the owner/chef takes a 2 month sabbatical every year to travel back to his native homeland and discover new methods to better his cuisine). An under-the-radar Spanish “go to” by locals in the Marina area. A $60 dinner is more than sufficient, including a couple of glasses of wine.
Limon (Valencia in Mission) is one of the better Peruvian restaurant in the country. The ceviche is one of the best anywhere in the US. Definitely a locals favorite and reservation is a must.
Bon appetit!
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:20 PM
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The "Chez" has a three course lunch for $25 and tags on an automatic 18% tip. It's very worth it for your big meal of the day. You can also take BART and come over to that area and have pizza @ Cheeseboard across the street. I'd opt for lunch at CP but the pizza is unlike anything you have ever eaten IMO.
With 18% tip and no ETOH it's within your budget.It would fit the bill for an anniversary.
For new places within SF for dinner look into: The Front Porch which is in the outer Mission(BART and bus will get you there). Also check out: Blue Plate,A 16,Del Forno, Cafe Macaroni.
With 18% tip and no ETOH it's within your budget.It would fit the bill for an anniversary.
For new places within SF for dinner look into: The Front Porch which is in the outer Mission(BART and bus will get you there). Also check out: Blue Plate,A 16,Del Forno, Cafe Macaroni.
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:33 PM
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If you're going to Fisherman's Wharf, lunch at Boudin Bakery is inexpensive and pretty tasty.
We had dinner at North Beach Pizza; there are several locations, but we ate at the one at Pier 39 since we had just finished an Alcatraz tour. It has a nice view of the Bay.
Gold Mountain on Broadway has good, inexpensive dim sum. We fed four of us for about $20.
Lee Ann
We had dinner at North Beach Pizza; there are several locations, but we ate at the one at Pier 39 since we had just finished an Alcatraz tour. It has a nice view of the Bay.
Gold Mountain on Broadway has good, inexpensive dim sum. We fed four of us for about $20.
Lee Ann
Sep 6th, 2006, 04:37 PM
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We don't live in The City anymore but still go back to Hunan Homes on Jackson St. in Chinatown. It sounds like a realty office, but has great Chinese food. Be sure to order Fresh Seasonal Vegetables. Our favorite is Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves. A huge dinner with wine or beer and tax has never been more than $36 with many courses.
Scala's on Powell St, just up from Union Square, has wonderful lunches, big enough to share easily. The gnocchi are memorable. Prices are higher at dinner.
Fino is an Italian restaurant near the theater district, has fun atmosphere and excellent food. Dinner.
Cafe Macaroni is very Italian and reasonable. Fun atmosphere also. Dinner.
Fourno's Oven is EXCELLENT. It is in the lower floor of Stanford Court at Powell and California. The food is very special and you can eat for less than $70 if no alcohol.
Scala's on Powell St, just up from Union Square, has wonderful lunches, big enough to share easily. The gnocchi are memorable. Prices are higher at dinner.
Fino is an Italian restaurant near the theater district, has fun atmosphere and excellent food. Dinner.
Cafe Macaroni is very Italian and reasonable. Fun atmosphere also. Dinner.
Fourno's Oven is EXCELLENT. It is in the lower floor of Stanford Court at Powell and California. The food is very special and you can eat for less than $70 if no alcohol.
Sep 6th, 2006, 04:54 PM
#15
LoveItaly gave me the recommendation of the Mona Lisa and it was excellent. We actually went twice during the week, because the food was good and it was reasonably priced. We went spring 2005. So, hopefully it is still good.
Sep 7th, 2006, 06:44 AM
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I interpret that lunch budget is $30 for the 2 of them.
I'm pretty sure they won't be arrested if they spend $100 on a special gourmet lunch and then pick up a couple of $5 burritos or a slice of pizza for dinner.
See, when you are not totally anal and rigid, you get to eat at the fancy restaurant that you normally couldn't afford because you are eating Lunch in the Cafe section rather than Dinner in the Main Room.
I would also add that if a $4 BART fare is going to blow the day's budget, you should not visit San Francisco at all.
I'm pretty sure they won't be arrested if they spend $100 on a special gourmet lunch and then pick up a couple of $5 burritos or a slice of pizza for dinner.
See, when you are not totally anal and rigid, you get to eat at the fancy restaurant that you normally couldn't afford because you are eating Lunch in the Cafe section rather than Dinner in the Main Room.
I would also add that if a $4 BART fare is going to blow the day's budget, you should not visit San Francisco at all.
Sep 7th, 2006, 07:47 AM
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<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I'm pretty sure they won't be arrested if they spend $100 on a special gourmet lunch and then pick up a couple of $5 burritos or a slice of pizza for dinner.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Oh, of course not, silly, they won't be arrested. I simply stated what their requirements were.
The OP asked for suggestions based on their specific criteria and requirement, i.e. $30 lunch and $70 dinner for 2. It's hard for anybody to pre-suppose their reasons for the specifics. People have their reasons for doing things and for being specific. For example, I and most people that i know, prefer to splurge for dinners than for lunch. Others, just don't have that big appetite to eat a "big" lunch (I know that I don't).
One just simply need to work with the requirement with the goal of not changing them. The suggestion to blow their $100 on a dinner at Chez Pannisse (Upstairs Cafe) than on lunch is definitely a way to work with their requirement. BTW, trust me, if I state that the Dinner offerings at the upstairs Cafe is much, much more better than the lunch. Plus, the extra $8 Bart fare would be put to better use, imho, over dinner.
I don't think that by specifying their requirement and sticking to it, they are being rigid and anal and that they should not visit San Francisco, as you suggested. Especially as other posters were successful in presenting excellent suggestions on how to work with that $30 dollar lunch and $70 dinner requirement.
I'm pretty sure they won't be arrested if they spend $100 on a special gourmet lunch and then pick up a couple of $5 burritos or a slice of pizza for dinner.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Oh, of course not, silly, they won't be arrested. I simply stated what their requirements were.
The OP asked for suggestions based on their specific criteria and requirement, i.e. $30 lunch and $70 dinner for 2. It's hard for anybody to pre-suppose their reasons for the specifics. People have their reasons for doing things and for being specific. For example, I and most people that i know, prefer to splurge for dinners than for lunch. Others, just don't have that big appetite to eat a "big" lunch (I know that I don't).
One just simply need to work with the requirement with the goal of not changing them. The suggestion to blow their $100 on a dinner at Chez Pannisse (Upstairs Cafe) than on lunch is definitely a way to work with their requirement. BTW, trust me, if I state that the Dinner offerings at the upstairs Cafe is much, much more better than the lunch. Plus, the extra $8 Bart fare would be put to better use, imho, over dinner.
I don't think that by specifying their requirement and sticking to it, they are being rigid and anal and that they should not visit San Francisco, as you suggested. Especially as other posters were successful in presenting excellent suggestions on how to work with that $30 dollar lunch and $70 dinner requirement.
Sep 7th, 2006, 06:00 PM
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The slanted Door restaurant is Vietamese food and is outstanding. Emeril Lagasse says it's his favorite restaurant in SF. Mine also, my daughter lives in SF and we always go when I visit. Try the shaken beef dish--outstanding.Two locations, newest is in the Ferry building.
Sep 7th, 2006, 09:11 PM
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Shalimar is one of the best Indian restaurants in America, and is near Union Square. Its a hole in the wall, but delicious. And next door, there is a great breakfast place called Dotties True Blue Cafe
On Chowhound, you can find lots of suggestions, and you can be pretty specific in your search- type of food-neighborhood- etc.
On Chowhound, you can find lots of suggestions, and you can be pretty specific in your search- type of food-neighborhood- etc.
