San Francisco Favorites
 

After reading Stu Dudley's magnificient thread on visiting San Francisco, I still have some questions

a. Please name your favorite ice cream shop.

b. Please name your favorite bar or restaurant with a Bay view.

c. Please name your favorite independent women's clothing shop (looking for classic women's clothing, not cutting edge or teen appropriate).

Thanks very much.

a. Depends on your own tastes. I like Bi Rite Creamery, Humphrey Slocombe, Bombay Ice Cream and Mitchell's, but for different reasons.
b. The porch at the back of Bloom's Saloon on Potrero Hill is one of my favorite views, but for a restaurant I'd go with Green's in Fort Mason.
c. Can't help you there, sorry.

Greens has been recommended to me by a couple of folks. sounds like a winner.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Ice cream Bi-Rite, salted carmel.

Restaurant in SF with Bay View, Slanted Door; bar Pier 23.

Oh, boy--San Francisco! when are you going?

You can also "take out" at Greens and have a picnic with a view. We stopped there on our hike from Cliff House to Fisherman's Wharf.

Slanted Door has excellent food but is a bit noisy, with a young trendy vibe. It is not directly on the water; there is a wide walkway in between, and the view is mostly wharves and maybe the Bay Bridge? Waterfront might have a better view if you just want a glass of wine and appetizer; I don't know how the food is there.

I'd vote for the Cliff House Restaurant though the view is of the ocean and not SF Bay.

We live up north in Sonoma County so can't help you with your other two requests.

Have a wonderful time in The City--such a beautiful place to vacation.

Cliff house - like you are on a ship if you are by the window.

Spinnaker (Sausalito) - view of San Francisco. This restaurant is close to ferry and bus stops.

Forgot one more - Forbes restaurant, it's an "island" off pier 39.

Oh thanks, this is a great list. Salted carmel sounds very good.

Enzian, meeting eleven friends from high school for a few days in early April. Three of them have local roots so I expect they will have a lot of suggestions, but I can't risk bad ice cream, missing a great view, or passing on a super shop.

I appreciate the suggestions.

Another big vote for salted caramel at Bi Rite!!!!

Today we had sandwiches which we purchased at the Marina Deli on Union & Steiner, & took them to Ft Point below the GG Bridge & ate them there. Fantastic views. Not much surf today - so there were no surfers - except 1 body surfer. Is that considered a bar or restaurant with a view???

Cliff House is best when there is no fog, and before nightfall. We had dinner at Scoma's in Sausalito last night - which has great views & my Sand Dabs were better than I expected - not overcooked. My wife's hazelnut crusted Mahi Mahi & scalloped potatoes were excellent also. Lots of tourists.

Stu Dudley

a. Bi Rite [but I didn't love the salted caramel, sorry]

b. We had a lovely view from Top of The Mark; went after dinner for a after dinner drink and dessert.

http://www.intercontinentalmarkhopki...p_of_the_mark/

c. sorry, not on my radar.

http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/bes...arlor_3sf.html

Greens has an awesome view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the food is delicious and enjoyed by non-vegetarians as well.
Waterfront should have a good view but I was underwhelmed -twice. Perhaps it depends on your table location.

Women's clothing: well, maybe. Babette on Sutter does have some basic, classic pieces but also a number of edgier designs. Maybe you'd have to try Saks or Neiman Marcus.

<<<a. Bi Rite [but I didn't love the salted caramel, sorry]>>>

Debit, another matter on which we agree -- I so wanted to love the salted caramel, but just didn't.

I do love the view from the Slanted Door even with the walkway -- that's part of the view as far as I'm concerned. I haven't been to Waterfront in years, and don't really remember the view, but the views from the Water<i>bar</i> and Epic Roasthouse are spectacular (food is good, not great, quite overpriced IMHO)

Hey sf, sorry you don't love salted carmel ice cream at Bi-Rite, just leaves means more for me and Stu!!! Thanks for sticking up for the view from Slanted Door!!! I agree re Waterbar and Epic.

OP Re: Clothing-- lots of boutiques in Hayes Valley and Union Street. You might take a look at Margaret O'Leary, a SF designer with a number of stores, one of which is on Claude Lane downtown.

SF believes in the old adage mostll...you either get a great view or great food but not both...the CLiff House seems to be the best of both. I LIKE greens OK but so many places have surpassed it, plus I don't find the actual room that comfortable. It's quite noisy. I also dont like the tables outside Ft MAson if you get takeout - too many seagulls and bird poop.

For icecream I would look for three twins ice cream dad's cardamom." I've had ALL the great icecreams here and that is still my absolute favorite.

If you like natural , well made clothing I LOVE the cut loose outlet....
http://www.cutloose.com/retail.shtml

Cut Loose Outlet
1218 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

This is just great. While I will definitely taste test the salted carmel, it sounds like BiRite's the place for ice cream.

I appreciate the information you shared. sf, I have seen Margret O'Leary's line in a few small boutiques here in NC. It is very pretty and well constructed. I'll check it out. We have Neimans, Nordies, etc, so I like to focus on locally owned, independent boutiques when I travel. mzartery, the cut loose clothing looks like it would work for several of the women in my group. thanks.

Food at the WATERFRONT RESTAURANT is very good. We live across the street. The views are also great.

A fun place for "regular" food is GOTT'S. It is located in the FERRY BUILDING in the front. Burgers, sandwiches and beer. Outside seating to watch the crowds on the Embarcadero. The SLANTED DOOR RESTAURANT is on the same end of the building, just with the water view.

The Margaret O'Leary store on Claude Lane has the added benefit of being next to Cafe Claude for a French bistro lunch and near Gitane for great cocktails and dinner.

Went to the Babette website, very interesting. Thank you for mentioning it.

These suggestions are wonderful. I appreciate them very much.

It is more of a livley brew pub serving good food these days, but I love the Beach Chalet on Ocean Beach in GG Park. The views are great from the room upstairs and if you're a beach walker like I am you can walk off lunch on a nice stretch of beach. It is a historic building with spectacular WPA era murals too, if that is of interest.

Sounds like your west coast sojourn is shaping up nicely!