Hi all...I will be traveling with a group of 5 others for a business trip this Friday. We are looking for a unique San Francisco restaurant to celebrate a successful business venture. Would like something possibly kinda of trendy with a fun vibe. Not too dressy or formal. Entrees not to exceed $30.00. We will be staying at the Westin on market street but don't mind taking the trolly to other destinations. Seafood, italian and continental are good. Asian or french are out.

Also, possibly a good bar for drinks beforehand...

Would love to get some suggestions asap so I can get a reservation.

We were in SF last week and wanted a restaurant of the type you describe for a celebratory meal. We went to Park Tavern and really liked it. It was lively, not too dressy, youthful, but adult and most importantly, all four of us loved our meal.

www.parktavernsf.com

We walked from the Hyatt Regency stopping at Tyler Florence's place for a drink along the way. Should you end up there, I can tell you what we ordered and enjoyed.

Have fun! If you click on my name, you can see where else we ate in a short TR.

Check out Perry's on Union St - in the Marina. Classic place, fun bar and good food - and I used to love their French Onion Soup. They filmed part of the movie - Looking for Mr. Goodbar there - with Diane Keaton. http://perryssf.com/

It's also fun to stroll along Union for other places to dine/have an appertif.

And also in the Marina is Chestnut St - on the bay side of Lombard, which also has a number of places - as does North Beach.

Here's the movie - which was a big deal back in '77:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076327/

Tom you have been away from SF a little too long. Perry's does not qualify as trendy on anyone's list.

lisa, take a look at NOPA, Bar Agricole, Flour+Water, Commonwealth for a start. Too bad Asian food is out, one of the hottest places right now is Mission Chinese Food. Just a reminder trendy equals hard to get into.

SAB: Geesh - not even a little "trendy"? How about - classic cool?

Today is Wednesday. I don't think that there is any way a group of 4 will be able to get reservations for this Friday at Commonwealth, Flour & Water, & Park Tavern (I didn't like it). I usually have to book weeks in advance.

Perbacco is a favorite of mine, very popular, trendy & lively, & close to your hotel. Italian food. They have openings on opentable for Friday.

Stu Dudley

BTW - I stopped by Perry's for a nice glass of Chard last fall - and it was still "happening".

I'll probably have to group myself in the passe group as Tomsd. My recommendation for a drink would have been The Viewlounge on the 39th floor of the Marriott which is just around the corner from the Westin.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-view-san...nge%20marriott

Of the restaurants that have availability this Friday night on OpenTable for a party of 6, I would consider Foreign Cinema, Dosa on Fillmore, Salt House, Slanted Door. My first choice would be Cotogna, but I doubt you can get in.

Oops, no Asian, so not Slanted Door.

Asian is out.

That takes out Slanted Door which is Vietnamese and Dosa which is South Indian.

>>>Foreign Cinema, Dosa on Fillmore, Salt House, Slanted Door.

I don't recall the noise level at Foreign Cinema being so bad, but what Stu says is absolutely true about the others (and it's why I didn't recommend Skool, which much be "two bombs"). But if you happen to be here on the weekend, brunch at Foreign Cinema is excellent and a lot quieter.

Keep in mind that although its pretty late in the game for Friday at the trendy spots, and I love using Opentable - restaurants may have availability by calling. OT often shows none when a phone call works.

I second Stu's recommendation for Perbacco, but I also recommend Fish & Farm - had a great meal there a few weeks ago and liked the vibe. Towns' End could be another good choice, but might be a bit loud.

>>

Now that's one I specifically left off my list (along with Skool) because of the deafening noise!

It may be pretty late in the game per Stu's posting, however, if you are staying at a hotel with a good concierge he/she may be able to get you into a hot spot. BTW most trendy spots will be noisy, it is part of the scene.

Personally - I never trust the Concierge. Too many "perks" coming back from places they recommend.

I don't know what OP means by trendy, to me it means new, different, "the" place to go for hipsters and foodies alike. So places like Perbacco, Slanted Door, Foreign Cinema, whilst very good and popular are no longer "trendy " per se; they were when they first opened because they introduced something new and different into the SF Food scene. Two of the trendiest restaurants right now are State Bird Provisions and Mission Chinese Food.