San Francisco
 

Any suggestions for fun restaurants 12-year-old girls in San Francisco? Also suggestions for very fine dining for adults?

Benehana in Japantown would almost meet both requirements {perhaps not VERY fine dining}. Extremely entertaining presentation {they make your dinner tableside, with much flipping of food and utensils!}, reasonable, delicious Japanese food, nice atmosphere.

A great place to take kids is the Rainforest Cafe near Fisherman's Wharf, it's like a Disney version of dining in the jungle complete with rain and roaring animals. Not high class dining though.<BR><BR>Asia SF has great food, asian influenced, tapa's style small and large plates. They have a classy live drag show. It's fun and very San Francisco and okay for 12 year olds.<BR><BR>If the girls like shopping, take them to Union Square for a day of shopping and then have dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on the top floor of Macy's. They have heated outdoor seating overlooking Union Square.<BR><BR>I'd avoid the Hard Rock and Planet Hollywood, they're pretty dull and I wonder how they stay in business in this city of fantastic restaurants.<BR><BR>Other more adult favorites here in the city include Slanted Door (local favorite), Le Colonial(romantic, great atmosphere), Kokari(greek, beautiful decor).

Calling all San Franciscans!<BR><BR>What's the name of the burger joint that's like a 1950's diner, all done up in black and white, that serves burgers in cardboard models of 50's cards? We took our kids there when we were in SF and they loved it. They have juke boxes on the tables, play Elvis music and more. It's a kick.

Do you mean Mel's Drive In? Our favorite is the one on Lombard Street. The jukeboxes are great fun, and they make a fantastic milkshake.

Cindy,<BR><BR>As for the adult fine dining part of your question, the following are a few of our favorites:<BR><BR>Scoma's--Best seafood on The Wharf. No reservations accepted but well worth the wait.<BR><BR>Mozart's--Great little continental restaurant near The Mark. Ten tables, great food.<BR><BR>La Coupole--Wonderful French restaurant near the financial district. Fabulous Sole Meuniere, Choucroute, Steak tartare and desserts.<BR><BR>Harry Denton's--Beautiful after dinner lounge with live music and dancing at the top of the Sir Francis Drake. Incredible views, great champaign list and good appetizers and desserts, too.<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR><BR>Davidcs

The girls would probably love to dine at Cake near Hayes Valley. An incredible display of desserts, plus lovely lunch and dinner items.<BR><BR>Also, dim sum is fun, you can point at what you like from the carts rolling around. Yank Sing or Ton Kiang are great choices.<BR><BR>Get them dressed up and take them for a Shirley Temple at the Top of the Mark for a fabulous view of the city lights. As a young teen I used to love it when my parents took me to the Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel, a tiki bar where it "rains" every hour.<BR><BR>Also, clam chowder in a sourdough bowl down at Fisherman's Wharf is always memorable.

My teenagers enjoyed dinners at Tonga room in Fairmont hotel. Polynesian village setting, live music, rain and thunder after 8 pm.<BR><BR>Are your girls over Chuck-e-chesees age?

Yes, the Tonga Room at the Fairmont!! Great fun. If you're there on a Saturday, don't miss the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building. Lots of stalls from local restaurants cooking good things. A hot fudge sundae at the Chocolate Factory at Ghirardelli---oh yum for both kids and adults. Bepple's Pies on Union Street for a great piece of pie a la mode. Lots of little Italian places in North Beach, just walk around and look at the menus. Mo's Gourmet Hamburgers is an institution on Grant Street---they have more than just burgers. And, yes, try some dim sum at Yank Sing or the Flower Garden Lounge or Ton Kiang (although this is not right in the middle of the tourist area). If you're over on Van Ness, you might want to try Max's Opera Cafe rather than the Hard Rock Cafe. Better food, but still not gourmet. Have a great visit.

The Chinatown night market (every Saturday night) will start up again in May.

For the 12-year-olds, a second vote for the Rainforest Cafe at the Wharf. Also, take them to the Metreon and walk across the street to the bar and grille on the corner for some pub grub. If they're anything like my kids, they care less about the fine dining experience and more about slugging down some food while they're having fun doing something else.

Hello Cindy,<BR>For an outing with your girls, how about one of the Korean BBQ restaurants out in the avenues on Geary? These are places where each table has a grill inset in the middle. The waiter brings a bucket of hot coals and whatever marinated meats you've ordered. Then you grill to your preference. There are usually many plates of garnishes and pickled vegetables accompanying the meal. The food is moderately to very spicy with garlic, peppers and scallions - if your girls have enjoyed Mexican or Thai food, I think they can handle it. It's fun, and different.