San Francisco dinner
 

We are looking forward to visiting San Francisco this month. We're staying in Union Square and will meet four adult family members for dinner, on a Saturday night.

From Fodorites' recommendations, I'm looking a these restaurants:
Tadich Grill
Catch
Locanda
Delfino
Perbacco

Budget isn't tight, but we'd like main dishes for $30 or less. We also want a selection of fish and meats. Prefer 'California' style menu, not a particular ethnic menu.

How about some thoughts on these, or others?

Thanks much!

Delfina

We just had dinner at Perbacco. We were just ok with it. Nothing wowed us. It was good, but we found the flavors a bit on the bland side. It isn't particularly fish/seafood oriented.

Tadich - to us, this is quintessential San Francisco dining experience especially for fish/seafood. We eat here EVERY trip. This time it was for lunch. They have THE BEST CIOPPINO in San Francisco, maybe the planet. Their fish is excellent, sand dabs are delish. Biggest issue is that they don't take reservations. We walked right in for lunch. For dinner, we get their early before six and the wait isn't too bad. We also sit at the counter, but with 4, not an good option. The waiters are brusque but it is for show. Our waiter, who has served us on many trips is really nice.

Delfina is nice,but it's Italian so to me, it's more that than Californian.

I find the opposite from the previous poster. We have always enjoyed Perbacco but find Tadich overpriced for what you get. 20 or 30 years ago, I loved Tadich, but just don't care for that style of food anymore. More creative options out there.

Aloha Deb...you were in SF and didn't tell me again. :'(

Aloha Michelle. ;;)

Loved my and The Lovely Mrs Kal's dinners (and service!) at Perbacco but really enjoyed sister resto next door Barbacco.

Scoma's has a good menu for sea food and suprisingly, meat. It's been awhile since we've had the cioppino at Tadich's but Scoma's is hard to beat. Esp the "Lazy Man's" cioppino.

Fog City Diner has reopened as "Fog City" and we can't wait to go back there. One of our hole in the wall faves, esp on a rainy day walking down the Embarcadero.

Aloha Kal! Tried Barbacco a few months back! Really liked it!

we also have enjoyed Perbacco many times. One of our favorites. I highly recommend it. Delfina...I doubt if you could get a reservation this late in the game. Delfina is no where near Union Square. You would need a car to get to it in the Mission if you can get in. Tadich is good but very OLD to me.

How can you go wrong with those damn meatballs and pork sugo?
And the brussell sprouts are dream-worthy!

Another fave is Epic RoastHouse. Get a table by the window and watch the Bay Bridge lights!

Thanks for your comments! I actually was able to snag an 8:00 on Sat night in 2 weeks, for 6 people-- at Delfina. So, I was lucky? They don't book parties for more than 6. (We can cab if needed.)

I might nix Tadish if it is too 'old school'. I don't mind a vintage vibe, unless they serve a tired menu. It sounds great for lunch, though.

Will look into Perbacco and Barbacco menus again.

Is Stu around?

(Deb, did you post a recipe for healthy broccoli soup w/cheese? I made it and liked it a lot.)

(Don't think the recipe was mine)

You have to understand...I live in New Mexico. Fresh seafood and fish is VERY hard to come by, so that is paramount to us. I have had Scoma's lazy man cropping and it doesn't compare in our book. If you are local and can eat at a place whenever, it is much different than someone who visits, even if they are fairly regular visitors.

I respect everyone's own take, and in the end it is our own personal take that matters.

. Tadich has been around for 160 years, that must be doing something right .

You might check their menu out before passing judgment.

http://www.tadichgrill.com/menu.php

Run your cursor over the dishes to see what they prepare.

The Cioppino is a signature dish.

Yes, we have looked at the menu.
I think it's fine. Others want to look further, though.
So I'm opening the field. Budget has shrunk because one couple wants entrees for $25 or less.
Maybe we need to think more casual.

There's and In n Out Burger at Fisherman's Wharf. :O)

:)

>>Delfina is no where near Union Square. You would need a car to get to it in the Mission<<

Good grief - don't drive into the Mission - parking is very difficult. Take BART, or J-Church, or Muni or Taxi. We don't take taxis too often - but I've not seen many circulating through the Mission to take you home - but I don't look real hard because we don't need one. Take a taxi there & after dinner you might consider walking a half-block farther west on 18th to almost Dolores to Bi-Rite Ice Cream on your right (north side of street - there is a Bi-Rite grocery on your left), and have a salter caramel ice cream, and then walk 1 block further west past Dolores park & take the J-Church back to Union Square. We dined at Delfina this past Sat night - great.

Also in the Mission we like Foreign Cinema and Commonwealth (latter might not have a "standard" enough menu for you. Delfina, Foreign Cinema and Commonwealth are the only places in the Mission where we regularly dine.

Tonight we're dining at Farallon before the Carole King musical. Sat night we're dining at Aziza way out on Geary (one of our favorites).

In the downtown area we like Gitane, and La Mar on the Embarcadero - but the latter is Peruvian which might be considered ethnic.

I like Perbacco - but my wife is less "enthused" about it. I have lunch at Tadich about 3-4 times a year. I prefer Sams for dinner if I want an "old San Francisco" atmosphere & seafood.

We like Contigo (Spanish) and Incanto (unusual Italian) in the Noe Valley. You can take the J-Church to both - but I would try to dine close to Union Square if I were you.

Stu Dudley

If you can go to $30 for entree, One Market might work.
http://www.onemarket.com/menus_dinner.html

This will fit budget, food requirements and although it's in SoMa, it is doable. We really liked our meals there.

http://www.restaurantlulu.com/LuLu_Dinner.html

<i>THEE</i> Stuuuuuuu.....>:D<

Had a great nosh last week at One Market while waiting for the Amtrack bus after visiting with some nice people I met from NM.
Plus if you get a warm Oct night in SF you can eat outside. They also have heaters.

Check out http://www.centralkitchensf.com/ We liked it a lot.