Hello all !!!

Leaving for our 1st anniversary trip to San Fran, Carmel, Santa Barbara, & San Diego in 2 weeks. Just looking for some last minute suggestions on restaurants / bars to go to. We love long, romantic dinners, and good wine! Any help....especially in Carmel is appreciated!

Casey

Casey, Re SF...If you want a view and money is no object, try the Carnelian Room at the top of the Bank of America Bldg or Cityscapes at the top of the Hilton, near Union Square.

Some decent bar/restaurants, Moose's, Fior de Italia, Washington Square Bar & Grill, all located in North Beach across from Washington Sq.

Scoma's at Fisherman's Wharf still puts out a good plate and has a decent view.

Have you thought about driving up to Sonoma/Napa Valleys? Great restaurants/vino/very romantic!
Carmel: Casanova's
Monterey has some decent grub, too and it's right next door to Carmel.
Congrats on the 1 year mark!
Kal

In Carmel try Katy's for a great breakfast, for a light supper Pattisserie Boissiere (sp?) serves an outstanding French Onion Soup. Casanova is a good choice for a romantic dinner serving french-italian food. My wife and I also recommend La Boheme for reasonable pre-fixe dinners. They serve one meal each evening, you can check their web site for a monthly menu, laboheme.com. Have fun.

It's been a few years since I've been to this restauarnt, but it was real "foodie" paradise...exceptional food & service.

Downey's
1305 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-0260
Phone: 805 966 5006

Try Fresh Cream in Monterey,and in Carmel, Sans Souci, Anton and Michel, and La Boheme but BEWARE---reservations should be made at all popular restaurants immediately! Especially true of San Francisco. You can get SF info at sfgate.com.A beautiful (designed by popular Pat Kuleto) and popular bar is at Farallon on Post Street, but the restaurant is noisy and very expensive. Another good bar at Kuleto's on Powell St. and Absinthe, near the opera/symphony hall. A very pretty view from McCormick and Kuleto's in Ghirardelli Square as well as good brunch and good seafood. Not particularly romantic but great wine at very good prices and trendy food is Plumpjack Cafe. Entrecote on Union Street is where Ted Danson and Whoopi used to go and if your cholesterol is OK the food is wonderfully rich French. And, just my 2 cents, but a dinner at Scoma's is not my idea of long and romantic!

For a great view and even better food you can't beat Pacific's Edge, in the Highlands Inn in Carmel Highlands. It sits high above the ocean, lots of glass to maximize the view and the atmosphere is sedate and romantic.

Hi Casey!

In SF, I enjoyed Vesuvio's on Columbus, a bar right next to City Lights Bookstore that was a hangout for the beats. The Greens at Fort Mason is a wonderful vegetarian restaurant overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge (you must make reservations well in advance to eat here). I have not spent much time in Carmel, but on your trip down to Santa Barbara, I recommend visiting the Bonny Doon winery in Santa Cruz. The eccentric owner and his quirky wines make this winery an interesting stop. In Big Sur, there is a wonderful restaurant at the Ventana Inn. I do not know the name as it has changed since I have been there (reservations necessary here as well). Also along the way, you must have lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur. The food is average, but the views are absolutely spectacular. There are a great many good wineries in the Santa Barbara area. You can get a listing and a map from the Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association (805-688-0881). Enjoy your trip!!!

Thank you all so very much for your input!! We will try as many of these place as we can! Looks like I should anticipate for some weight gain on this trip!

In San Diego, go to either Laurel's - which is downtown and very good - or El Bizcocho at the Inn at Rancho Bernardo in North County. This is lovely, romantic, and with incredible food. Dick

For a fabulous atmosphere, good food (although not gourmet), and my favorite restaurant on the Monterey Penninsula, go to the Mission Ranch Restaurant. It has the best sunset view over the Pacific, quiet jazz piano bar, great casual ambience, good food, and an occasional appearance by Clint Eastwood. Definately our favorite and we visit Carmel once a year.

I have to disagree on the Carnelian Room in SF. We have had some mediocre food there. It does have a fabulous view and I have enjoyed brunch there. Go for a drink and watch the sunset, then go elsewhere for dinner. Stars is a favorite of ours, also Tommy Toys which has beautiful atmosphere and French/chinese cuisine. We celebrated my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary there. Aqua's is well known for innovative seafood, also, but I haven't been there yet.

As far as San Diego goes, this suggestion is not romantic at all, but excellent Mexican food: Old Town Mexican Cafe, order the carnitas. Milton's Restaurant in Del Mar has incredible NY deli style food if you happen to be up that way - also not romantic, but great food.

We love the Rio Grill in Carmel. Montrio and Tarpey's Road House, in the Monterey area, have the same owner and are great also. Clint Eastwood and his party once waited while we finished dinner at the Rio Grill. We were told that he was waiting but were not rushed. Casual restaurant with great food.

Hello Casey. Some of the newest darlings of San Francisco are: Absinthe on Hayes Street near the Opera, B44, Fifth Floor, Gary Danko, Jardiniere, Hawthorne Lane. Boulevard continues to be a big favorite, but there are so many in San Francisco. In Santa Barbara I would vote for Citronelle.

Try Roy's at the Spanish Bay Inn on the 17 mile drive in Carmel. The bag piper comes out at sunset and walks the area. It is the same Roy that is famous in Hawaii. Tell them at the entrance gate to the 17 mile drive that you have reservations and they do not charge the $7.50 entrance fee to drive.

Visit the town of Pacific Grove while you are on the Monterey Peninsula. It is what Carmel used to be. A great small town with some excellent restaurants on the beach and in town. Just down the road from Monterey.