San Francisco, fun, unique, good value restaurants?
 

San Francisco moderately priced restaurants for dinner? We are looking for good value, perhaps fun or different experiences. Any ideas? Thank you! SG

Moderate means different things to different people. What is your dollar amount/range for entree? What type of food? Fun or different - can you elaborate?

The very upscale Farallon restaurant in Union Square is a uniquely designed place. Its dinner menu is expensive, BUT they have an awesome happy hour menu, called "6 until 7", available every day. It makes a very good meal, actually. Service is at a table, hopefully in the front window, with complimentary bread, too.

http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/6until7.html

S I X U N T I L S E V E N
Available before 7 p.m. in the Jellyfish Lounge & Oyster Bar
$6 per selection
  
TRUFFLED YUKON GOLD FRENCH FRIES
parmigiano-reggiano, aïoli
HALF DOZEN DRAKES BAY OYSTERS
champagne mignonette
STAR ROUTE FARMS MIXED LETTUCES
Sierra Beauty apples, toasted pistachios,
cider- whole grain mustard vinaigrette
CREEKSTONE FARMS BEEF SLIDERS
yukon gold fries, aïoli
STEAMED LITTLENECK CLAMS
silva chorizo, shaved garlic, grilled levain toast
YUKON GOLD POTATO CROQUETTES
basil pesto, tondo balsamic
CONFIT OF DUCK GIZZARDS
fennel seed, kirsch
TODAY’S SOUP
  
Traditional Rye Manhattan
Hemingway Daiquiri
Classic Margarita
Pinot Grigio, La Fiera, IGT, Veneto 2009
Grenache, Core Wine Company, Santa Barbara County 2007 9.00
Napa Smith Brewery, Organic IPA, California, Draft

I normally recommend the Bargain Bites section of the SF Chronicle's website:
http://www.sfgate.com/bargainbites

Two come to mind -
If you haven't eaten at the Cliff House, be sure to go for this wonderful waterfront dining experience -
http://www.cliffhouse.com/

If you are trying to save some money instead of the Slanted Door at the Ferry Building -
http://www.slanteddoor.com/
get a meal to go behind it at "Out the Door" -
http://www.outthedoors.com/
and have a picnic.

Wander the Ferry Building shops for the makings of a picnic -
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

If you are there on Tues, Thurs or Sat, wander the stalls of the farmer's market for other great offerings -
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace....ers_market.php

I enjoyed afternoon tea at http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/ in the Noe Valley. I enjoyed the City Guides walking tour less, but I think our guide was brand new.

What is "different experiences" for you? What are your experiences??

Have you dined at many ethnic restaurants?? - If so, what type??? We have a bundle of them here.

Stu Dudley

Thank you, all! I consider spending under $50 ish for 2 people a "moderately priced" meal. Is that reasonable for San Francisco? Yes, we love the ethnic restaurants - all of them, especially Mexican.

OK, now does the under $50 for 2 mean all in - tax, tip, drinks, appetizer, dessert and main? If so, eating at ethnic restaurants is really going to be your best bet. There are a few places that will have Prix Fixe, that might get you close to your price.

I would also suggest that maybe you eat your "fancier" meal at lunch when the prices are cheaper, and then eat light for dinner.
http://www.ploufsf.com/06_prixfixe.html

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc...rancisco%2C+CA

What time of year is this trip? San Francisco has restaurant weeks, that have some good prix fixe lunches. June 1st to 15th.
http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/taste/dineabouttown/

www.belden-place.com

It's an "alley" of restaurants in the Financial District. They are all very good. It's a fun place to go.

starrs, thank you for the information about the farmers' market. I will be there from Monday to Wednesday and thought that I would totally miss the farmers' market.

When I'm in SF on business, we're usually having dinner somewhere that wouldn't fit your good value description. A favorite is The House of Prime Rib on Van Ness. Old Sf haunt that probably doesn't fit what you're looking for. But, it is good.

The colleagues I go with and I always carve out time for a lunch at the really good burger spot in the Ferry Building. Can't remember the exact name but it's something Automatic. If looking for a lunch spot on the Embarcadero near Market, that could be a good option.

AGM, I'm glad you will get to go. It's a great experience!

I'll assume that your $50 is the total tab for dinner (including $6 tip & $4 tax), leaving $40 for food. No drinks - except water.

My wife & I have lived in San Francisco and the Bay Area for 36 years, and we are major foodies - dining at all types of restaurants in The City and also in France. One of our favorites (acually my wife's VERY favorite) restaurant in the City is within your price range, and is also perhaps the best value in San Francisco.

Pomelo at the end of Church St in the Noe Valley. From downtown, take the J-Church to get there - there's a stop just in front of the restaurant just north of 30th st. Save your transfer when you get on the J-Church because you can probably return to downtown using this ticket. Sit on the east side of the car (side you board the car on if you get on at one of the downtown stations,) and sit in a seat facing north (facing the rear of the train when you get on). This will give you a great view of the SF skyline as you leave Dolores park.

Pomelo is perhaps classified as "world food". My favorite appetier at Pomelo is the Red Snapper (fish) soft-shell tacos with mango salsa (called the Cabo San Lucas). There are two of them, so you can split this appetizer. My favorite main is the Havana - which is black beans, plantains, chipoltes, ginger, avacado, cilantro and then a marinated & grilled skirt steak on top - wonderful. The appetizer is $8.50 and the main is 16.50 - so if you split the appetizer and have the havana (or another simiar main) - the tab for food will be $42. There are other selections that are less expensive. My wife often orders 2 appetizers - and we have witnessed many guests just ordering soup. We have dined at Pomelo around 25-30 times. We had Valentines Day dinner there. After dinner and while you are returning on the J-Church, get of the train at the 18th street stop, walk 1 1/4 blocks east to BiRite ice cream, and order a salted caramel (or other flavor) for dessert. Dinner at Pomello and dessert at BiRite will be the ultimate San Francisco Experience. Pomelo does not take reservations, but if you get there at 7pm - you won't have any problems getting in.
http://www.pomelosf.com/

I've never considered Mexican to be ethnic food - but a good choice might be Tropisueno on Yerba Buena Ln downtown.
www.tropisueno.com

For Asian in your price range, try Burma Superstar. This is a very popular restaurant & has excellent dishes. They don't take reservations and there is usually a line to get in. We've dined there twice, and always got there just as they opened for dinner
www.burmasuperstar.com

Stu Dudley

>>good burger spot in the Ferry Building. Can't remember the exact name but it's something Automatic<,

It was called Taylor's Automatic Refresher, but was re-named last year to Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet. Excellent burgers & fries. Very popular with the Financial District lunch crowd. Get there by 11:45 (everyday except Sunday) - or wait in line.

Stu Dudley

Oh sorry, I didn't see the $50 limit.

That's probably not enough for two people to eat at the Belden Place restaurants I mentioned (if that $50 means total bill needs to include beverage, entree, tip, tax).

All good! Thank you! Thank you so much for your time!

We like going to Mamacita on Chestnut, a few doors down from A16

http://www.mamacitasf.com/

I will warn you that you should get reservations, and keep in mind that it gets VERY lively with the under 40 set the later you go. But it is fun, has great food, and is moderately priced. But LOUD!

Also -- forgot to mention, parking is relatively easy in the evening (less so weekends, but you can still find a place), or if you're staying at a hotel downtown (this is in the Marina district) you can get on the number 30 electric bus off Stockton/Columbus, and it will drop you off right in front of the place.

City View for Dim Sum
Mona Lisa for Italian

<<<parking is relatively easy in the evening>>>

Really? :-)