staying in nob hill area - is tonga room worth going to? john's grill in union square? cliff house? McCormick and Kuleto's ? Zuni's? Opinions of which have great atmosphere. Thanks

Hi allison, the Tonga Room is fun. If nothing else just go for a drink. I think the band out on the rafts starts around 8:00pm.

I like John's Grill. It is an old SF restaurant with lots of historical photos on the walls.

Scala's on Powell St., (right next to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel) is one of my favorite restaurants.

The Cliff House has fantastic views of course. Haven't eaten there since they remodeled but the review in the SF Chronical didn't have really anthing great to say about their food. You could go there to have a drink and watch the sunset.

Harry Denton's Starlight Room on the top of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel is a wonderful place to have a drink also.

If you have time check out the Ferry Building (at the end of Market St).

The SF Chronical's website is:www.sfgate.com. You can read lots of restaurant reviews there which will give you some other ideas.

Have a fun time in SF!

Hi Allison (that's my name too!),

I'm not quite sure what "a great atmosphere" is to you as it is very relative. However, I'll give you my opinions on one of these. I'm not sure if you are looking for atmosphere and good food or convenience. Also, Nob Hill, unfortunately, doesn't have a lot of great dining options, but you can find good alternatives if you go to Union Square and elsewhere.

The Tonga Room is worth going to if you haven't been. It's supremely kitschy, but it can be fun.

McCormick & Kuletos has great views, but is really not worth the value at all, IMO. It's very touristy and the food is only OK.

Scala's Bistro, which was recommended by the poster above, is a good choice if you stay downtown. I had my rehearsal dinner there in October. It has a lively atmosphere and the food is good and reliable (not fabulous, but very good).

Zuni Cafe is very good and worth a trip.

I like Slanted Door in the ferry building. The food is great and the atmosphere is really nice, IMHO. I'm also in my late 20s and like the hipness of it in its new location. The atmosphere is different (more hip and sleek - more "NY") than the other locations and some people don't like that as much.

Can someone please explain what the new ferry building is? Thank you.

The old ferry building, at the end of Market St. on the Embarcadero, has been recently remodeled and now houses many upscale restaurants and shops. It's also the point of embarcation/debarcation for the Ferries that go to Sausalito and Larkspur.

By the way, Allison, I have always liked McCormick and Kuleto's, but be sure to go to North Beach. My favorite there is Pinocchio's. Have a great visit!

Hi Grasshopper, Pinocchio's closed down.
It was a fun place though.

Allison in North Beach there is a small restaurant called Mona Lisa, owned by a man from S. Italy. All the staff are from Italy. The only place my SIL who was born and raised in Rome will eat at.
Now even they "adjust" their cooking for the American taste, but it is about as close to Italy's cooking as you can get in SF.

North Beach Restaurant is a good place to go to also.

I have to laugh when people talk about a particular restaurant being the only one with really authentic Italian food. Authentic to where? Most of the Italian restaurants are run by Italians who cook the food the way they did in Italy. Because one person who is familiar with the food of Naples finds similar food that she likes in a restaurant, does not mean that another restaurant is not just authentic with their food in the style of Bologna. All Italian food is not created equal, nor does it all taste the same or even similar. That is true whether you are eating it in Italy or in California.

Thanks for all the great info!!! If you think of any other great places - keep them coming!

Another vote for Tonga room. Hawaiian village, rain and thunder start @8 and a boat with a live band sails in. You can dance there. Romantic atmosphere.

Unless Pinocchio's closed down in the last few days it's not closed. I just ate there last week. Are you thinking of Finocchios (the cross dresser review)? Pinocchio's is a great Italian restaurant on the corner of Broadway and Vallejo. Mona Lisa is about 2 blocks down on Broadway (toward the transamerica building).

Tonga room is great for drinks - but the food is overpriced and not that great.

Zuni is always good. Regular favorites around town - Boulevard, The Fifth Floor (only tables 1 or 2), 2223 Market, Le Charm, Mecca.

You can easily make reservations online with Opentable.com

My favorite restaurants in SF are, in order:

-The Slanted Door (Vietnamese, on the Embarcadero near the financial district)
-Bistro Jeanty at Jack's (perfect French bistro, also in the FD)
-Delfina (unbelievable Italian, in the Mission--you'll need reservations for this one)
-Foreign Cinema (sort-of-French cuisine, great outdoor courtyard where they project old Fellini films on the side of a neighboring building; alo in the Mission)

Bon appetit!

Farallon, right off of UNion Sq.

Try a place called Bix... ask for table upstairs it has the feel of a 1940's supper club....

Aussie, Jeanty@Jack's is on your list? Wow! I was there once on a business lunch, will remember their risotto forever! So over-buttered, ewwww... They gotta learn to produce food digestable without wine!

Pressed "post" too soon

Aussie, did you dine across the street from Jeanty at Palio's? This place is great!

We were at the new renovated Cliff House last fall, and ate at Sutro's the more upscale of the two restaurants. The Bistro is more crab salads and clam chowder--Sutros is more green lipped mussles. It's really beautiful and worth a trip for lunch. I think you'd enjoy the view of the ocean waves crashing on the rocks right outside the two-story window. In fact, it's probably better in the daytime that an night, when your view would be sort of limited. The food is good--not spectacular, and rather expensive, like most restaurants with a view.

Faina has premature postulation?

Another vote for The Ferry Building. Good grazing or some muy bueno restaurants. Cable car ride down California and a brisk walk to the Foot of Market Street.

Allison, we can meet Da Kals at Embarcadero! Anybody else wants to join in?