My husband and I are going to SF this weekend,(we are staying in Union Square), please recommend some restaurants. We prefer casual,- not too expensive - maybe french, itlalian, or seafood, etc. Also we are staying in Sonoma/Napa what do you suggest there? Thank You for your help!

Caren,
I don't know where you're staying around Union Square, but around the corner from Campton Place Hotel (on the alley that is actually called Campton Place) there is a small, exquisite French place called Danjou. It's in a tiny brick building, very nice, not too expensive, and they have some lunch menus that are a real bargain. I mention this place because if you are planning on spending a day shopping around Union Square, it's a terrific place to catch your breath, rest, and get your second wind.

thank you lizbeth, we are staying at the Grand Hyatt.

I believe the restaurant is named Anjou and I second the recommendation. La Scala in the Sir Francis Drake is also recommended. Don't forget Sears Fine Food on Powell, just across Powell St. from the Sir Francis Drake, for fabulous breakfast.

Kuleto's might also be a good choice in the area. On Nob Hill, our fave is Venticello. In Innner Richmond, Chapeau is great French.

We LOVE Venticello a small, neighbourhood place with wonderful wood burning oven, excellent food, lovely atmosphere...a real find. Kuleto's is good too. Also love Mooses' Grill in North beach. It's very bistro-like with a wonderful varied menu, great bar and incredible creme brulee four ways. Don't be deterred by the name. This is NOT a sports bar. We also really like Plumpjack Cafe, though this is a cab ride from where you're staying and more fancy that you may like. All of these require reservations. Have fun.

Yabbie's: great seafood, reasonable $$. This was the real sleeper hit of my last trip

Enrico's: North Beach italian, many dismiss it as touristy but I had the best pork chop in my entire life there. I thought the food was very good

L'Osteria del Forno - no reservations, my wait for one of maybe a dozen tables in the place, the menu is very limited - a few fresh choices each day. I was a little disappointed considering the hype - maybe I just picked an off night

Great Eastern - Chinese, heavy on seafood, fresh fish in tanks, very good, kinda low on ambiance (typical chinatown)

Plouf - French seafood - mussels, mussels mussels - very good - kinda loud and crowded - you'll sit elbow to elbow with neighbors. I had a boullabaise (sp?) which was awesome.

If you like oysters, you must head to Swan Oyster Depot for lunch (not open for dinner), 1st come 1st served counter seating - very casual.

Caren,

Not too far from where you're staying are a couple of wonderful little French restaurants. One is called La Coupole (after the famous Parisien retsaurant). I'm not sure of the exact location (I'm sure your concierge can direct you) but it's between your hotel and Nob Hill. Wonderful food, fairly casual setting (but still nice) and a reasonably priced menu (especially at lunch).

The other French/Continental restaurant is called Mozart's. Again, it is between your hotel and Nob Hill. This one is a little fancier and I believe they are only open for dinner. Very small and romantic with a wonderful menu.

Have a great trip.

Davidcs

My wife and I honeymooned in SF/Napa, and we found some restaurants we loved. We stayed on the Wharf in SF, so the places I'd suggest are all down near that area. In Napa, we stayed in Yountville at the Villagio Inn. By the way, we always ask the concierge for "local" eateries that many people miss, and these were the suggestions that we thought were just great:

Scomas Fisherman's Wharf - the absolute best crab cakes I've ever eaten. The atmosphere was pretty cozy for such a large restaurant. They do a good job of sectioning the place off so you don't feel you're in a cavern.

Buena Vista Cafe - We had breakfast there three times. They have some fabulous sourdough toast. I know it doesn't sound like much, but you really have to eat it to appreciate it. They also claim to have introduced Irish Coffee's to the U.S. I didn't try one, but I hear they're great.

Livefire Grill (in Yountville): Very good food, and we didn't have to wait forever to get a table (like you will at French Laundry) Get a table on the patio....it's quite romantic.

Oakville Grocery: Get sandwhich stuff for lunch (they have ever kind of cheese you'd want, and they're bread is very good). Take it to a winery, buy a bottle of their wine, and they'll be glad to let you eat a picnic on their property (most have patios or park benches).

Enjoy your trip!

Caren,

Just thought of something else. I have never been there (perhaps someone on this forum who has will comment) but there is a place in Napa called The Napa Cafe. It is owned and run by a chef named Ken Franc who owned a top French restaurant in L.A. called "Le Toque." He is a fantastic chef and I would imagine his place in Napa might welll be worth a visit.

By the way, I agree with Brian's recommendation of Scoma's on Fisherman's Wharf. It is absolutely excellent for seafood. Two caveats though, they don't take reservations so be prepared for a bit of a wait and it doesn't fit your "not too expensive" criterea. Hell of a place though.

Davidcs

I must admit, I didnt notice her "not too expensive" requirement. It's definitely not what you'd call cheap.

There is another little place we really enjoyed at The Cannery that is cheaper. It was a little place dedicated to crepes called Crepes a la Carte. The crepes were huge and you could order one in almost any variety (we got a crepe stuffed with Nutella, Strawberries, and Whipped Cream that was great). It was so big we split it. Great for a snack or a meal, and it wasn't too expensive.

Enjoy!

Caren,

I think that it will be next to impossible to find a good quality reasonably priced restaurant in SF. Many of the restaurants in SF are over priced for what you get and I have found the service to be very underwhelming.

For great, moderately-priced French, check out Cafe de la Presse. It's right off Union Square on Grant. Very casual -- they have both a dining room and a cafe with a sidewalk terrace.

You might also try a cpouple of good bistros: Fringale in SoMa or Plouf in the Financial District; Fringale is a little more upscale, but both are well-priced. There's also a great, casual creperie in the Mission called Ti Couz -- check it out. You can do a search on any of these restaurants for more info. Have fun!

Some of my favorites that fit your bill for San Francisco:

Le Charm French Bistro
SoMa
315 Fifth St. (bet. Folsom & Harrison Sts.) San Francisco, CA, 94107-1001 (415) 546-6128
Neighborhood sucks, but food is excellent. Take a cab there and back. I'd also choose indoors rather than patio.
Zagat's says:"Believe the name" insist those enchanted by this "utterly charming" bistro that feels "more like the 8th arrondissement" than SoMa, thanks to "marvelous" "authentic" French fare at "prices that won't leave your wallet empty"; despite the occasionally "annoying Gallic" service and the "plain room" (clearly the weakest link here, though the patio "is a plus"), "cheapskates of the world" concede "it's hard to beat" the "fabulous three-course prix fixe" for $25.

Liberty Cafe & Bakery
Bernal Heights
410 Cortland Ave. (bet. Bennington & Wool Sts.) San Francisco, CA, 94110-5538 (415) 695-8777
Undiscovered by tourists, you'll only find locals here. Lovely neighborhood, but a cab ride is necessary. Great wine bar and Chicken Pot Pies.
Zagat's says: 'Give me Liberty or give me death' remains the marching cry at this 26-seat Bernal Heights New American "loaded with" Victorian "charm"; "eat anything with a crust on it" is the mantra here, be it "the champion chicken pot pies" or the "outstanding banana cream" dessert (but don't miss "the excellent Caesar salad" either); "long waits" are common, so try to "relax at the wine bar/bakery out back".

Absinthe
Hayes Valley
398 Hayes St. (Gough St.) San Francisco, CA, 94102-4421 (415) 551-1590
Wonderful for a special night, without going over the top. Terrific meals!
Zagat's says: "Before or after the symphony", for a "swank night out" this "sumptuous", "chichi", "charming French bistro" with "art deco" decor hits all the right notes, bringing "splendid food", "amazing" cocktails and "Parisian-style glamour" to Hayes Valley; the "constant buzz" of its "hip over-30" bar scene makes it "popular" for "late-night carousing", but it's also "great for a tête-à-tête" brunch, making surveyors sigh Absinthe makes the heart grow "fonder and fonder."


Do let us know where you end up! Always good to hear new input.

Other good options:

Le Colonial
The Meetinghouse
2223 Restaurant

I also used to love The Zodiac Club - a neighborhood bar/restaurant supposeduly designed after a bar in the famous film, "Bell, Book, and Candle" - but I think the food has gone a bit downhill and the entire place is showing a bit of wear and tear since it's initial opening about five years ago.

over on Columbus Ave there is (or was) a really good place called Bocce. Great Italian food. May not be there anymore though.

Thank you for all your recommendations! It will be hard to choose! Thanks so much, Caren

I highly recommend Tadich Grill. It's supposed to be the oldest restaurant in the west. The fish is delicious and comes in generous portions. The prices are pretty reasonable. They only take cash (or at least that's the way it was a few years ago).