Can anyone recommend some good restaurants in San Francisco that allow casual attire? We'd like to stay away from the typical tourist places, but don't necessarily want to do the hip and trendy scene every night either.

Well this is as casual as it gets and probably more of a lunch place than dinner, but I vote for Mo's Gourmet Burgers. I still talk about their burgers three years later! Don't remember where it is. Maybe someone else can help.

San Francisco in general (as well as all of California), is a casual attire affair. Maybe if you could define casual to me, I could recommend places better. In San Francisco, very few restaurants would turn you away if you are wearing a nice pair of jeans. There are about 3 restaurants that require jackets (don't know any that require tie).

What type of food are you interested in?

Just the other day I responded to a post asking for San Francisco restaurants. You can search for it and see what I and others said.

Also, the rants and raves section has a great number of recommendations.

Almost anywhere in North Beach would fit your request. One special one is Osteria del Forno on Columbus at Stockton. Another you might like is Swan Oyster Bar. Mo's is on Grant near Columbus in North Beach.

Try Cha-Cha-Cha's in Haight Ashbury. Very good Spainsh-inspired dishes. It's small and casual. GREAT Sangria.

Just a suggestion, made by others as well: do some research, for cryig out loud!!! There have been at least two major restaurant threads in May about SF ... what a waste, an imposition, for posters not to look first, before asking. And what, may I ask, is this constant fixation on dressing down in a city like SF? Truly, do all your casual dining at home ... wear your underwear for all you meals before you leave on vacation. Wear 'em to the fast food joints. Then, when you travel, at least when it's to a major city, try dressing up a bit. Lets not dumb down every living thing and experience in this world, shall we. It would be such a joy to see someone actually ask about places where one may dress up a bit and make a special time of it. Oh, I give up. What we have on Fodor's these days is too much failure of imagination. They want to be casual, but god forbid, don't send them anywhere they might meet their fellows. By your plaids shall we know ye. LOL, and ciao. Leone

My my, Leone.
Who took a formally dressed pee in your corn flakes this morning?

How mean spirited. Must be one of those SF Liberal hypocrites we in the East hear about.
Just go and have a good time, Ms Vivian.
SF is not full of Leone-types.

Hey now! Don't go accusing us San Franciscans of harboring intolerants like L. Remember, we're the "live and let live" types up here. Plus, there are always new restaurants popping up in the city that gain their following through word of mouth. So, definitely, go ahead and ask! Let's not allow the "old school" posters ruin it for newcomers or intermittent visitors who want a fresh opinion on things. The board belongs to everyone, not just those who have been posting regularly. Also, the term "casual" is relative. To L "casual" seems to mean underwear. To me, it means nice slacks and a sweater!

Take a look at Paragon in the Mission. It's nice, yet still qualifies as a neighborhood eatery. They serve wonderful dishes at very reasonable prices. I believe that you can get a three course gourmet dinner for $25. They have a website and have garnered fairly decent reviews from Zagats and some of the other online sites. There are a lot of other good restaurants in the neighborhood as well. Make sure you cab it door to door since some parts of the neighborhood can be a little scary at night.

Hello,
What about Tadich's? Old time SF restaurant. Mostly locals with some tourists.

Kuleto's on Powell. Gordon Biersh's.The relocated US Restaurant on Columbus/No Beach. Very laid back Italian.
Caesar's on Bay. Cityscapes on top of the Hilton. Nice view, too.

Buena Vista Cafe. Very cas, view and good Irish Coffees.

Amy,
I hope these suggestions are helpful. As I said, most of San Francisco is casual. However, a bit more "snappy" casual than a t-shirt would suggest (unless it was a solid black t-shirt worn with nice
shoes and a pair of nice jeans). So these are restaurant recommendation at which a t-shirt would not
stand out:

L'Osteria del Forno - Italian
519 Columbus

Malee - Vietnamese and Thai
1450 Lombard

Cafe de la Presse - French bistro
352 Grant

Cafe Bastille - French
22 Bleden Place

Cafe Claude - French
7 Claide Lane

Ti Couz - Crepes
3108 16th Street

Tommy's - Mexican
5927 Geary Blvd.
(best margarita in town!)

Indian Oven
223 Fillmore

Chez Nous
1911 Fillmore

Sushi Groove
1916 Hyde Street

Suppenkuecke - German
(Best beer selection)
525 Laguna

Ton Kiang - Chinese (especially dim sum)
5821 Geary Blvd.

House of Nanking - Chinese
919 Kearny

Swan Oyster Depot - Seafood
1517 Polk

In case you are willing to loose the t-shirt, here are a few places that do not require that you dress up, but a t-shirt would stand out (worth loosing the t-shirt for these - or at least adding
some jewelry to dress it up a wee bit)

* Lulu - California - French
* Pastis - French
* Plouf - French Seafood
* Zarzuela - Spanish Tapas
* Fringale - Italian
* Antica Tratoria - Italian
* Rose Pistola - Italian
* Yabbies - Seafood

I have more if you would like, but I think this is a good start.

Sharon

PS
Amy I sent this response to you via email as you requested, but I wanted to post it here for others to see as well.

How about the Gold Spike in North Beach. A casual, funky, local place with great Italian home cooking!

Oh, come on, I'm really not mean and intolerant ... aks my mom and others who know me. It's just that I do care about how people dress in cosmopolitan locales. Anyway, it's good to get a different opinion now and then, or do you think not? Perhaps you don't need to be so quick to cry intolerant and utter names if you see one offer a different perspective. If it upsets you, be upset, but keep it light, and try to remember, you're not the only game in town. BTW, don't you get tired of everybody exhibiting a WDW attitude when it comes to travel? That's where I'm coming from ... how about you? Ciao

Please provide us with your mom's email address and at least 2 others "who know you" so we can verify your statement because you seem pretty cranky and rude in some replies.

Back to charm school, GOOD bye!

Well, tough about that, but I did try to address your points. Just shows sometimes people get stuck "ad hominem" and just cannot lighten up. Yes, what about that charm. Have a good weekend - perhaps we'll exchange more pleasant messages on some future thread. Ciao

I forgot. You are the arbiter of "lightening up".
Happy Trails 2U

L, perhaps intolerant is a bit too harsh a characterization. however, the point i was merely trying to make is that the tone of your post was a tad bit sarcastic and extremely condescending. yes, we all appreciate differing viewpoints, but wasn't your "do some research for crying out loud!!" statement inferring that we really don't want to hear any new opinions or points of view? just that WE who have been on the board this month have already bestowed our pearls of wisdom, and that anyone else's new thoughts on a matter are inconsequential? by no means was the poster's question an "impositon" or a "waste" to me, as i am interested in what others have to say.

furthermore, as for "lightening up", i think that accepting what others choose to wear, so long as the restaurant considers it proper attire, shows far more flexibility and tolerance than being critical. if i don't like it, i can avert my eyes. we in the city pride ourselves on our individuality. what my "goth" style neighbor considers a nice outfit for going out, i would not. but it's all in one's point of view. understanding that people are different and will clothe themselves in a manner which makes them feel good, AND accepting that - now that's tolerance. enough said.

Yes, InASnit, you make some good points. But my exasperation about research was a bit different than your interpretation: I though that people should look at what had already been posted, and not ask people to take their time to post the same advice twice. That's clearly what I was saying. If others wished to add or even repeat, fine, but first, I thought they should use what had been said as a starting point, not an ending point, out of respect possibly. And certainly your words about accepting others' style make sense ... I do agree with you. But isn't it just possible I actually do end up accepting what others wear, regardless of what I hold or decsribe as a position? If it came across as nothing but intolerant, excuse, and mea culpa. If it sounded a bit sarcastic, yes, as intended. But damned if I don't believe in a certain style, and for once, I'd like to hear someone ask about dressing up, not dressing down. So, thanks for your ideas ... they had merit. But possibly I still disagree a bit. No harm. Ciao