San Francisco Restaurant & Sites Recommendations
 

Looking for San Francisco restaurant recommendations (range from very nice to budget).

Will be at Hyatt Reg Jan 1-3 (w/teen sons), for 1st time in many years. May take an Alcatraz tour if weather permits. Any recommendations? Any other recommended activities?

I'll check back while traveling.

Thanks and have a happy, safe, prosperous and exciting 2009!

A budget suggestion, perfect for feeding hungry teenaged boys:
** Tommy's Joynt, a longtime San Francisco spot, full of character, hof brau-style, very inexpensive and delicious (corner of Van Ness and Geary)

There are many many restaurants in the neighborhood; if you wanted to, you could eat every night within walking distance of the Hyatt.

Wonderful Italian restaurant just up the block from the Hyatt - Perbacco.

Also in the neighborhood:

Aqua - very $$$$ fish (I personally don't think the food justifies the cost)

Tadich's - very old time fish. No reservations. Very popular (not my favorite, but others love it).

Slanted Door - across the street in the Ferry Bldg. - excellent upscale Vietnamese. Don't miss the ginger lemonade.

Boulevard - expensive, highly-regarded "California" cuisine
One Market - same, but I personally like the food at Boulevard much better
Chaya - less expensive
Osha Thai - upscale Thai immediately next door to the Hyatt
Ozumo - on Steuart Street, less than a block away
Perry's - old time SF bar/restaurant, recently moved to thsi location on Steuart Street
Sens - in Four Embarcadero. I don't like it, so I'll let others comment.
LaMar - I haven't been yet, but its getting great reviews

There are so many!

North Beach and Chinatown are both nearby (actually walking distance if the weather is good).

The nearby Metreon, on 4th St., has an IMax theater and dining including a great steak sandwich place my kids adore. There is also a huge food court at the SF Shopping Centre.

They can go ice skating and bowl nearby: http://www.skatebowl.com/

Of course, The Exploratorium is fun: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ If they are into art, there is nearby SFMOMA.

Happy New Year!

Boulevard and Farallon are both very nice choices for meals while in San Francisco. ***kim*** ((f))

I'd take your sons to the California Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park. It is an amazing new building complete with a great planetarium and a rainforest biopsohere. Have lunch at the Beach Chalet afterward.

I assume you were here today. The Academy of Sciences has been selling out....they told my cousins today that they should get there at 8 a.m. tomorrow to get tickets when it opens at 9:30, and that by 11, they will likely stop selling tickets. Alternatively, they sell tickets in advance, but not within 24 hours, so if you are looking at this tonight, you could still get tickets for the 3rd of January.