Restaurants in San Francisco
 

We are going to S.F. in February and would <BR>like some suggestions on Good Restaurants... <BR>We like French, Continental,Italian.... <BR>We enjoy Gourmet Restaurants ....... <BR>Thanks....

The "Garden Court" in the Palace Hotel. <BR> <BR>A beautiful room reminiscent of the days when people "dressed" to go out to dinner. <BR>Most men are in sports jacket and tie. Let that be your guideline. <BR>Go for lunch -- not dinner. I think they also serve late afternoon tea as well.

message: I always enjoy going to Kuletos when in San Francisco. I forget which street its on, but its in the Union Square area. ( an italian restaurant )

My fave restaurant in SF is Aqua -- expensive and worth every penny. Be sure to make reservations two weeks ahead. Also recommend Plumpjacks.

By all means avoid Hawthorne Lane at 21 Hawthorne Street. A total ripoff - so-so food and rude waiters and management, and horribly expensive food. I know, because we took people to dinner there, and it was a terrible experience. We paid up of course, and then tried to talk with the managers, but they were not in the least interested. We wrote to the owners but they never bothered to respond. This husband-wife team used to cook at another top restaurant, and then opened thier own place - and the dishonest raves in the local SF papers went to their heads. Avoid - you can do so much better in this wonderful city by the Bay.

I once ate at the Palace and although it is indeed a spectacular setting, I found it to be typical hotel food, surrounded with other toursits. Farallon is a great new almost all seafood restaurant that I loved! One of the most spaciously arranged new restaurants I've seen and although some of the combinations are startling to say the least, I found every bite extraordinary with the best cheese course (three outstanding, perfectly chosen and well-balanced cheeses, presented beautifully) I think I've ever had including France and Italy. <BR>Kuletos mentioned above is a fun and boisterous place with good food--much more bisto-ish than fine dining, however. Postrio is still one of the tops in my book also. And once again my last trip I was unable to get into the wonderful Boulevard, where I had one of the best meals ever a couple of years ago, you need to really book ahead there. The intimate Plumpjack, off the beaten track and suggested above, is also a real winner! I also love the "jazz-club" feel and wonderful food and buzz at Moose's in North Beach.

Hello, <BR>Speaking of Moose's, does anybody know how "The Wash Bag" (Washington Square Bar and Grill) is doing? Haven't dropped by in about 2 years. <BR> <BR>We love Kuletos for breakfast. Home made Italian sausage and breads. <BR>It's on Powell b/n Geary and O'Farrell. <BR>

Let me agree wit Kat -- well backwards anyway. My favorite restaurant in San Francisco is Plumpjack. It is associated with the wine store of the same name just a few doors down and they dont gouge you on a bottle of wine. The wait staff is the best I ever encountered, and the food is just as good. <BR>Went to Aqua and found the food excellent, the black mussel soufflé with a sffron sauce was the best thig I ever tasted, but the atmosphere was a bit stiff or formal for my taste. <BR>I recommend both with Plumpjack being easier on the pocket. <BR> <BR>

Just to add more to the mix----I don't particularly like Aqua--it's noisy and overpriced. Farallon has terrible service very often--eratic at best, although their bar is lovely and the service in the bar is genuinely interested. Plump Jack Cafe is consistently good, but not particularly glamorous. Entrecote de Paris on Union Street is an old time brasserie in Pacific Heights that might be of interest to you--wonderful frites, but lots of cholesterol. Massa's is the old time SF French restaurant. We like Jardiniere very much as well as bar food and the funny new cocktails at Absinthe in Hayes Valley. The one we keep coming back to (we live in the Bay area) is Boulevard. It's pretty, comfortable and the food is always very good. I didn't find the waiters at Hawthorne Lane snooty--maybe the above poster is just not used to SF and the overworked waitstaff--it's not NYC, they are actually very stressed. The restaurant scene in SF changes so often that you really have to check reviews day by day. Kuleto's is always a treat, although loud--it's one block down from the St. Francis on Powell on the same side of the street as the hotel. You could have a drink at the bar at Farallon and then a really good dinner at Kuleto's within a short walking distance. Enjoy.

We ate at Massa's on Bush street on our honeymoon and absolutely loved it. Warning, make your reservation now. Hubby thought I was crazy for calling 7 mos in advance but we could only get an 8:30 reservation time. There aren't a whole lot of tables. The wine list or should I say wine phone book was huge and overwhelming, but fun to peruse. We had met the chef in the elevator at our hotel so we thought we were pretty cool when later at dinner he sent out caviar on petite potato pancakes with his compliments. Be prepared to drop some cash. I think our dinner was over $300 but worth every bit for the food and memories!!

Kam - Actually I know SF, well, so that's not the problem. The entire situation at Hawthorne was poor - being seated in the bar after reserving well in advance (they catered to a huge group in the DR) - unable to locate our waiter for 15-20 minutes at a time - poor food, at high prices - the husband-wife team had been doing much better at another restaurant - managers who just didn't care when we asked for help - they just were too busy making more reservations on the phone - what we went through for $450 was good - by any standard, SF, NYC, DC, Philly, you name it. Afterward, I reviewed all of the raves on their website - and they were only from the media in SF. Naturally. I wrote to the owners, and they never bothered to respond. How do you explain that? So, please don't try to explain by resorting to the over-worked waiter approach - in a city as sophisticated as SF, that won't wash. I noticed you dislike Aqua and Farallon, but seem neutral on an over-priced place like Massa. And support Plump Jake and Blvd. - each of which is okay, but nothing special. I don't think your remarks are to be taken all that seriously.

Here is my list of favorites that fit your request (not in order of preference... all are good): <BR>Fringale <BR>La Folie <BR>Plouf <BR>Pastis <BR>MC2 <BR>Zarzuela <BR>Globe <BR>Cypress Club <BR>Rose Pistola (but busy) <BR>Campton Place (the favorite) <BR>Hawthorne Lane <BR>Lulu (loud) <BR>Zuni Cafe <BR>Tommy's Mexican Restuarant (in the Richmond district) <BR> <BR>Enjoy! <BR>

Ooops. Forgot a few... <BR> <BR>Antica <BR>Betelnut <BR>Gary Danko

One of my favorites (small place) is Trattoria Contadina on Union and Mason. The food is wonderful, the staff is INCREDIBLE. You need to make reservations though - every time I've gone in the last 4 years they're packed. It's a nice 'down-to'earth' atmosphere and VERY reasonable for good food. Another good place is the French Laundry in Yountville - definitely need reservations for there.

We had a wonderful meal at Boulevard last August. I had made reservations in advance. If you go there, the soft shell crab appetiser is wonderful. We also had dinner at Rose Pistola and it was a disappointment (food average, service poor, noisy).

My most recent delicious dinner in San Francisco was at Oritalia on Bush St. [December 2000]I had the best risotto I have ever had. My son's salmon was cooked to perfection. The service was quiet, un snooty and adept with good advice. Be sure to book ahead though. <BR> <BR>I'm also a fan of Scala Bistro in the Drake Hotel. But it's been a few years since I've been there. <BR> <BR>We also ate at Rubicon. a while back. It was *excellent* and although they gave us a "lousy" table [on the stairway] - we loved it for people watching:) The service was, again, attentive and helpful and the food was excellent.

Hit "post" too fast. Ate at Betelnut last December also and was underwhelmed. The food was good, but it wasn't *that* good or special. I also felt that I was being hurried. I realize Betenut attracts a different crowd than, say, Oritalia, but you hurry me when I'm eating and you ain't seen sloooooooooow...

I second the suggestion of PLOUF - a wonderful small french seafood bistro. Go before the lunch crowd - it can get crowded. Their whites by the glass are superb. Ate here twice a year ago and really loved it a lot. Located a couple blocks off Market, in the Financial District. I believe you can look in Zagats for a few details. No one has suggested La Folie, I believe. That was supposed to be a very good, small french place - never ate there, so cannot recommend. I too had a bad experience at Hawthorne Lane - there are so many others that are better, and not so crowded or expensive. Anyone like Swan Oyster Bar - you need to get there before noon to get a seat at the counter. Just wonderful oysters - and Hogue sauvignon blanc by the glass. What a great place for lunch. And people rave about their crab salad too.

You should try First Crush. It is a fairly new restaurant, opened by a Chef who had been at Aqua. Their food is wonderful and their prices are great. They have a website which shows the sophisticated interior.

Jcameron, I suggested La Folie. Always a favorite spot for me.

Sorry, Sharon - didn't see.

I have such fond memories of Scala Bistro at the Drake Hotel. It's been a few years but the wonderful Italian fare, friendly and professional wait staff, great wine list and warm atmosphere made it a great experience. Good people watching too. There kitchen is open later than most.

To the top.

I would disagree with the recommendation for First Crush. I went based upon recommendations found online, and although the service was excellent and atmosphere nice, the food was practically inedible - some dishes tasted bland, some dishes tasted downright strange. I've never had to say that about any nice restaruant. I don't know, perhaps it was just an off night for the kitchen. But if you only have a few nights in the city, I wouldn't chance it. <BR> <BR>Boulevard is an excellent choice and Aqua has great food. Other than that Kokkari for Greek is fantastic.

No one has mentioned New Delhi or Gaylords for Indian. New Delhi is on Ellis and Gaylord is in Ghiradelli Square. I adore Blvd. and Kuletos.....No one mentioned Tadiches, down near the Embarcadero...great for lunch but crowded.

I also ate recently at Scala's Bistro and thought the food and atmosphere, as well as the price, were great.

ROSE PISTOLA - a definate stop in San Fran.'s Italian district. My husband works as a chef, and he just loves going to Rose Pistola when we are in town. Very hip - menu changes daily, great wine list, and servers know what's up.

Had what we thought was a rather odd experience at Tadiche Grill. There were five or six of us, mainly eating lots for lunch and drinking several bottles of wine, but one guy with us wasn't feeling too well and only wanted bisque, so that's all he ordered. Although our total bill for the table for lunch was over $350, they charged the one guy something like $20 for his soup. When we pointed it out to the waiter he showed us on the menu it said that there was a minimum of $20 per person for food. The total bill made no difference. We found that odd, especially at a place for lunch and with the amount of money we spent at the table.