We need some ideas for dining out for lunch and dinner. I've noticed most of the comments in this area mention the best/most expensive places where locals frequent. However, being a tourist and spending lots of money on lodging, airfare, etc., we would like to dine in good restaurants serving good food, with reasonable prices. We will be staying in the Fisherman's Wharf area but welcome any suggestions. Thanks.

Check the recent long article in the SF Chronicle on the 100 best restaurants of the Bay Area. Prices should be listed. Go to wwww.sfgate.com Give us some ideas on what we want to eat.what your budget is and how adventuresome you are.

One problem is that the inexpensive but good places that the locals frequent are often far removed from tourist areas. There are a lot of great neighborhood restaurants but I don't know of much near Fisherman's Wharf.

The Swan Depot Oyster Bar has great fresh fish, crab, etc. at very reasonable prices (it's a very down-to-earth diner-style place). It's not near the Wharf but if you're in that area (Polk St (between California and Sacramento Sts.) it's worth a visit for great lunches (no dinner).

Hunan Restaurant (Sansome just north of Broadway) is close to North Beach and has excellent Chinese food and reasonable prices.

Pretty much what Alan said, if you want an inexpensive value for your money, you have to get away from Fisherman's wharf.
I personally think that while most of the restaurants in the Chronicle guide are really good, they're also mostly quite expensive.

Delancey St cafe is probably the closest place I can think of. It's reasonable and nice. American food, I think.

Ti Couz (16th St @ valencia) Fench Crepes with sweet or savory fillings, good bar Dalva across the street

Slanted Door (in a temporary location on Brannan St, near PacBell Park) upscale VietNamese.

Chow in the Castro, or Park Chow near Golden Gate Park, contemporary American

Thep Phenom (near Haight & Fillmore) Thai

India Oven Indian (near Haight & Fillmore) Lower Haight, Indian, but with nice ambiance.

You should be able to get some reasonable pasta in North Beach. The only place I can't recommend is the Stinking Rose. You could try Moose's as well.

We like seafood, american, italian, and would like to try some good chinese food. We won't have a car until we travel to Monterey for 2 days. What is the average price for a moderately priced restaurant in SF?

Check out the SF recommendations on chowhound.com. They've got some real avid foodies out there...

Two North Beach Italian places that have good food and aren't expensive are Steps of Rome and Michalangelo's. The later doesn't take reservations so there's usually a small queue at the door.

Here's the SF Chronicle article on the top 100 restaurants:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../CM100REST.DTL

We ate at Cafe Pescatore in the FW area. It's att. to the BW Tuscan Inn on North Point. Not too expensive and if the weather is good you can sit at a sidewalk table. Breakfast is served there, too.

Ceasar's is an old time FW area retaurant on Bay. A simple plate of pasta of get the prix fixe 7 course meal. Lotta Fooda.

A short walk down the Embarcadero is Fog City Diner. Good grub and fairly inexpensive. Great meatloaf and burgers.

Also not too far away in NoBeach on Columbus is my fave little hole in the wall Italian place is the
US Restaurant. Friday is Calamari Special day! Very inexpensive.
Also at Columbus and Green is O'Reilly's. Serves a mean breakfast, too.
Good luck.
Kal

Highly recommend Pane e Vino at 3011 Steiner (and Union)--tel. 415-346-2111. The charming chef is from Venice and the food is absolutely fabulous and very reasonable. The herbs and salads are grown in the garden in back of the restaurant (take a peek--it's worth it), so you know they're fresh.

Enjoy!

The Wharf restaurants are overpriced and not very good, generally speaking. Try some of the restaurants in North Beach and Russian Hill, both of which are close to FW. In North Beach, I'd recommend Trattoria Contadina for reasonably-priced Italian. In Russian Hill, I'd recommend Allegro's for Italian, Zarzuela's for Spanish (there's always a wait - but you can drink their delicious sangria while you wait), and Hyde Street Bistro for French bistro fare. All "local" spots with wonderful, reasonably priced food. If you want to splurge, Restaurant Gary Danko is near the Wharf and is absolutely DIVINE. Worth every penny, in my opinion. Enjoy your visit!

There is Pasta Pomodora at 655 Union Street in North Beach area. The Cheesecake Factory is located on the top floor of Macy's, Union Square area. There is also The California Pizza Kitchen in that area. All these are very reasonable in price.

Blue Plate (The Mission) very casual,american comfort food

Plouf(the financial district) wonderful mussels and fries

Osteria Del Forno(North Beach) Italian..no reservations

Yank Sing(the Embarcadero) great Dim Sum

Chow and ParkChow are good recommendations.

Trattoria Contadina!
It is located on the corner of Union and Mason. I recommend this every time.

From Fisherman's Wharf you can take the cable car (maybe 5 mins) and then walk back (all downhill - approx 15 mins.)

Dinner for 2 without wine (we don't drink) plus sharing one dessert costs around $35 including tip. The food is outstanding and the service is very good.

Call the night before or during the day to make a reservation. If you call during the day, you will leave the request on an answering machine and one of the owners always calls back to confirm. He will leave the message on your hotel voice mail if you aren't there.

I hope you get chance to go there and enjoy the food. We always get the gniocchi (superb!) and then one other dish which we vary on each visit.

The Franciscan Restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf is good--it also has great views of the bay ($15-30 entree). Izzy's Steakhouse ($25-$30 entree) is a great casual place for dinner (be sure to try the creamed spinich) and fairly close to FW (short cab ride or long walk). North Beach has TONS of great restaurants. I am partial to Michaelangelo's on Columbus ($15 entree) but most are very good--again very casual friendly restaurant. Also be sure to stop by Buena Vista in Fisherman's Wharf for a drink. I agree with other posters--AVOID STINKING ROSE!!!!!!! Your concierge will probably suggest it--don't go!!!!!!

My wife and I just spent a week in SF and stayed at the Tuscan Inn at the Wharf. Scoma's restaurant on Pier 47 has a great menu with very fresh fish. Also, try Roy's which is just south of Market around mission I think. This is Hawaiian fusian cuisine, very interesting and unique. We had originally tried Roy's in Hawaii last year. www.roysrestaurant.com)
The last recommendation I have is the Stinking Rose in North Beach. This a a very good garlic restaurant and is in waling distance from the wharf. www.thestinkingrose.com). Have the pork chop and the garlic ice cream.