San Francisco restaurants
 

Going with another couple to San Francisco August 9-13. Staying at Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf because we got a package deal. Any suggestions on restaurants? Nothing fancy. How about breakfast or brunch? Anything great in the Wharf area?

Also, best place for clam chowder and fish and chips. Thanks

The Wharf area is kinda cheesy, and the restaurants seem to follow suit. There are some decent seafood places there, though, such as Alioto's. Otherwise, there are places like the Hard Rock Cafe and a bunch of places that kind of seem all the same - kind of like all those 3-for-$10 T-shirt places at the Wharf.

WuWuWu
We enjoyed staying in the Wharf area. We found it not so much cheesy, but colorful and we walked everywhere! A favorite restaurant was the Pier Market on Pier 39.(full of harbour seals) We always requested a window seat. The clam chowder was very good. Also good crab cakes. The Pier next to Pier 39 is where you will board to go to Alcatraz which I recommend. You can also take a ferry from there to Sausalito for lunch which I also recommend. From your hotel you can walk to the Howell Mason cable cars and take a ride to Chinatown, Which I also recommend. Have fun!

Powell-Mason

What all is there to do in Sausalito? What about the restaurants there?

Sausalito? Nothing. The boat ride was the highlight of our trip there.

We had lunch at the Thai restaurant. Very good & reasonable. ((b))

Actually Sausalito is a very qaint town with beautiful views. I would highly recommend taking the ferry to Sausalito for the day.

http://www.sausalito.org/

I'm interested too. Do tell more about Sausalito and restaurants in San Francisco - like WuWuWu, I'm looking for something not too fancy.

Our latest find, if you feel like venturing out of the wharf area, are some reasonably priced restaurants on a really cute alley called Belden Place. House of Nan King is an absolutely awesome hole in the wall (literally) Chinese Restaurant (my favorite--and really worthy of the tourist hype). I would think you will do well in the Wharf for your clam chowder and fish n chips faire, though. The wharf has a strong love/hate relationship with people--and, it is obvious from some of the other people's posts. Most locals hate it because they feel the city has many nicer places to spend free time. Tourists who like tourist areas, tend to like it. It is set up to meet the needs of people travelling.

Sausilito is a cute town with cute stores located on the other side of the bay. Actually, the best part of spending a little time in Sausilito is the ferry trip across the bay...it is rather spectacular.

I can also recommend a trip to Sausalito, either over the bridge or by boat. The view back to SF, especially on a sunny day, is pretty spectacular. We ate in a restaurant/bar that is right on the water and, whilst the food was pretty average, the window seats made it very special. It's not often you get to watch pelicans diving for their dinner whilst you eat yours.

Anyone with ideas for breakfast or brunch? How about in any of the hotels near the Wharf?

Is the restaurant in The Tuscan Inn upscale? I've read it is pretty good.
Do they serve breakfast?

Just FYI, there is a grocery store a couple blocks from the Wharf. We shopped there for bagels, banana's and peanut butter. That along with the in-room coffee was our breakfast each day. Nothing needed refrigeration, it was nutritious,economical and actually very good. Plus it gives you a fast start on the day.

A few years back I had a good San Francisco seafood dinner at Scoma's, in the Wharf area. It was more mom-and-pop in feel-- no faux-painted walls with Tuscan objets d'art-- and it wasn't a WOW!!! dining experience, but the food was quite good and it just felt more like a locals-type establishment. Less "touristy", if you know what I mean. I would hope that it's still open. Barring that, grab a cab to North Beach and have Italian!

One of the reasons for the disparity between what tourists recommend and what locals recommend is a question of expectations.

I'm a local, and because I don't visit smaller towns much, I keep forgetting that for lots of folks Cracker Barrel and Marie Callendar's are considered to be a nice meal out. I'm used to a much broader scale of options than that.

Couple that with an audience that is comprised of people who are spending more than they might otherwise, and people who probably won't be back for a number of years and the restaurants in Fisherman's Wharf don't have to try very hard. It's no wonder then, that many SF locals won't recommend places in that area.

Ditto with Sausalito. Very cute town, but very touristy. None of the food there is particularly spectacular and it's expensive for what you get (with the exception of the Lighthouse which makes a fabulous breakfast).

I have a number of restaurants to recommend, but not a one is in FW.

Sorry for butting in WuWuWu, but can you recommend them to me, BayArea? I'm not staying in the FW area and don't mind taxiing anywhere. You can email me at [email protected] but maybe others here would like to know too.

Any recommendations for a good deli? Afternoon tea? My husband and I really don't eat much and have pretty simple tastes. We're not into clams, mussels and the like, or garlic. Just good, fresh food is fine with us. I'd also like to have one dinner somewhere with a knockout view.

Is the view of the Golden Gate Bridge any better on the boat trip over to Sausalito than to Alcatraz?

The Slanted Door....excellent!!!
on Brannon

I'm sorry, but Scomas is very touristy but we enjoy it anyway. There is a Scomas in San Francisco and also one in Sausalito. The one is Sausalito is in a quaint old house on the water and I enjoy it more.

There are lots of Italian Restaurants in the North Beach area. My daughter likes the Stinking Rose.

In Chinatown try Hunan Home or the Great Eastern.

Someone mentioned Belden Lane. It is a fun place to eat outside on a sunny day. Plouf has great mussels. There is also a fast food place on this street so send the kids in there for a burger. I see they are billing this area as the 'French Quarter'. The French consulate is just around the corner as is Le Central, and Cafe Le Presse.

Be sure to step into the Notre Dame des Victoires church on Bush. It is a real gem. Read the history of the church on their brochure. It is patterned after the Basilica of Notre Dame des Fourvieres in Lyon, France.

Went to Belden Place and ate at --I think it is called B44 -- a couple of months ago. Great seafood risotto. Great atmosphere at night.