San Francisco Restaurants
 

My husband and I will be in S.F. in late June. We are from NYC and we are looking for some really fabulous restaurants. We enjoy sushi, italian, american, and fine dining. What would be your two recommendations. Prefer not to wear a jacket etc...

Plouf for lunch - french seafood bistro. And Swan Oyster Depot (go at 11:20 a.m.) - on a stool with white by the glass. You will not be disappointed by either. Ciao.

Missy, <BR>I have spent a great deal of time rating SF restaurants in the rant and rave section, as have a few other locals. I encourage you to take a look at those. <BR> <BR>That said, if you are into fine dining, here are my top fine dining recommendations in order of preference: <BR> <BR>1. Campton Place <BR>2. La Folie <BR>3. One Market (atmosphere is not as elegant, is a bit more trendy, but still fine dining by California standards) <BR>4. Masa's <BR>5. Ritz Carlton Dining Room <BR>6. Fringale <BR>7. Fifth Floor <BR>8. Hawthorne Lane <BR>9. Jardinière <BR> <BR>Honorable mention: <BR>Restaurant Gary Danko <BR>Charles (on Nob Hill) <BR>(I have not yet been to either, but trusted sources say they are wonderful) <BR> <BR>Favorite Italian: <BR>* Rose Pistola <BR>* L'Osteria del Forno <BR> <BR>Favorite Sushi: <BR>* Sushi Groove <BR> <BR>Favorite casual, yet wonderful: <BR>* Pastis <BR>* MC2 <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Oh, and I forgot 2 other casual, yet wonderful: <BR>* Restaurant Lulu <BR>* Zuni Cafe (I love this one!) <BR> <BR>If you have the opportunity to go the the East Bay, there are more fine dining options: <BR> <BR>Chez Panisse, etc... <BR> <BR>This is my favorite link for Restaurant ratings: <BR>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../06/FD100Z.DTL

As one who has dined all over SF, I can confirm many of Sharon's choices - these are first rate: Campton Place, La Folie, Fringale, Ritz DR - and the two Italian places and Pastis are good. Based on meals and friends, I would skip Masa's french cuisine unless you wish to spend $500 plus (for less money in NYC you can do better, and actually La Folie is a much better deal). Above all else, dining at Hawthorne Lane is just asking for PROBLEMS (problems in their kitchen, wait staff, the original chefs split up, and it's very expensive). Many like Zuni Cafe, a stand-by. And Plouf recommended above is excellent, for lunch especially. Enjoy SF.

Have hear that Masa's is much improved. They hired the chef from Charles Nob Hill and have redecorated and changed the menu. Haven't been yet.

You can enjoy SF, even coming from Manhattan, if you are careful. The SF Zagat's is unreliable in part because it raves about places like Hawthorne Lane and Boulevard, both of which are ordinary but crowded and costly. I must tell you that Hawthorne is ok sometime, not so ok others. Friends recently had a bad meal there, and the HL front desk management was not all all sympathetic with the problems they had. I did read one of the owners left to start a new place elsewhere in the Bay area. I do agree that Lulu is terrific - you'll find it near Moscone Center, and it's a good place for lunch. We try to arrive a bit early to avoid the crowds. Have a fun time in a wonderful city.

Ooops. Almost forgot... <BR> <BR>Favorite Thai and Vietnamese... <BR> <BR>Malee (Cow Hollow) on Lombard