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.

We've dined at One market twice - and are currently planning a mid week dinner with friends in Nov. Very nice restaurant & great location. Lulu has bee around forever. Very nice especially their skillet mussels. Very popular. We've dined there 3 times.

Dinner last Sat at delfina:
Me
- Aperitif. Massican Vermouth | soda, lemon, thyme - only OK - I would not order it again
- Appetizer of spaghetti (I rarely/almost never order pasta at a restaurant) with chopped anchovies, pancetta, and something crunchy. Wonderful
- Main. Quail on polenta - again wonderful

wife
- Appetizer. Grilled Monterey Bay Calamari | warm white bean salad. geat.
- main. Grilled Ahi Tuna | umbrian lentils, grilled fennel, salsa verde

Bottle of white wine. Their wines are a little pricey.
Glass of red wine with my quail

no dessert.

Stu Dudley

<i>We don't take taxis too often - but I've not seen many circulating through the Mission to take you home</i>

Just have the restaurant call a taxi.

We ate at Central Kitchen last week. It was in the middle of nowhere and we are adventuresome. It was TOO DARK and too loud. They play music to mask the noise and it made it worse. Even the young couple next to us thought it was too dark. Food was good, though.

>>and too loud<<

Yep - and about 80% of the restaurants in SF are too loud. In many, there is not really music playing - just an amplified "noise" broadcast through speakers - ka-boom, ka-boom, thump thump thump... We seek out the quieter restaurants. The Chronicle's restaurant reviews give each restaurant a noise rating. We don't even consider going places with high noise ratings.

About 20 years ago there was an article in some national newspaper about noise in restaurants. The article said that it is well known by restaurant owners that the louder the place - the more booze people drink and the faster they get through their meals.

Mamacita in the Marina gets my vote for the noisiest restaurant in The City.

Stu Dudley

Mamacita AND it's neighbor The Tipsy Pig. The Pig was <i><b>THEE LOUDEST</i></b> I have ever had a meal in.
You know it's loud when even the young servers are going "what...huh?".

Good food at both places tho. Too bad I won't go back.

Note most resto reviewers give you a noise level rating too.
As does Open Table when they send a follow up.

It was loud, even by SF standards, Stu.

<i>It was TOO DARK and too loud.</i>

We asked them to turn down the music. I wonder if commenting about lighting and noise to the staff might be more successful than on Open Table.

Thank you so much! I'm glad you weighed in, Stu. And Deb and Michael and Kal and all.

I'll look at the new names you've put in the mix, and I'll keep the Delfina reservation. One couple in the party has given it the nod, and the other couple isn't as picky.

Hand out $5 bills to the $25 people.

I have thought of something like that, W. maybe DH and I will pick up the drink tab.

Hey Deb, how does it feel to be in SF and have gorgeous weather?

Anyone been to the recently reopened Tosca yet?

>> I wonder if commenting about lighting and noise to the staff might be more successful than on Open Table.<<

At Osha on Union the music/noise was blasting away when we got there early at 6:30 (so we could possibly dine without the noise). We were the only people in the main dining section. I asked that they turned down the noise. They did. Promptly at 7 they turned it way up again. I complained & they shrugged.

More noise - more profit for the restaurant through more drinks and more turnovers. Hipsters love the noise - I presume.

We're going to the "new" Momacita in the Cole Valley at 6:30 on a week day. Hopefully it will be quieter than the Chestnut Momacita.

Stu Dudley

Stu, thanks for the public transit plan from Delfina back to Union Square. And ice cream recommendation. It's looking like Delfina will be our choice, and we'd cab over and consider your route back, depending on weather and my feet!

>>and my feet!<<

My wife has bad feet too.

Delfina to the Muni Metro stop is slightly less than 2 blocks on 18th st.

Bi Rite is on the same street & block as Delfina, but on the opposite side of the street. Benches inside & also outside. Could be a line outside to buy a cone/cup if on a weekend. Highly recommend the salted caramel.

Stu Dudley

I'm really fine with walking unless I imbibe too much at dinner. Ha.
DH loves to walk, especially after eating.
Will the Metro be running around 11pm?

>>Will the Metro be running around 11pm?<<

Yep - but if your Delfina reservations are at 8 and you linger & also have an ice cream at BiRite (no dessert at Delfina) - you'll get to Muni Metro before 11 - maybe 10:30 or sooner.

Stu Dudley

Inbound trains on the J-Church line are scheduled to run every 20 minutes until about 12:40 a.m., after which they stop til about 4 a.m. Check transit.511.org for schedules and route maps.

I was waiting for the outbound J-Church line at 18th Street on Friday evening about 10:30. At least 8 taxis passed us looking for fares. With 6 people, though, you would likely need 2 taxis. The Muni metro (J) is so convenient--it will take you right downtown for $2 per person (75 cents if you're 65 or over).

Thank you! The other couples will have cars and I know DH will want to wander back via foot and transit.

>> With 6 people, though, you would likely need 2 taxis<<

I forgot - 6 people. I would take the J-Church TO Delfina also. What way you'll be familiar with the turf in case you get too imbibed after dinner. On the J-Church route, you'll start out undergound. You'll emerge and turn left/south & travel on Church St. Good sightseeing along the way. Then you'll do down a steep hill and you'll see the huge Dolores park in front & to the left of you (if you re facing forward) and perhaps some lights on for the tennis courts. That stop will be 18th. Get off & head towards the lights (to the left of the trolly - along Dolores Park).

Stu Dudley

Thank you! We love SF and look forward to being there.