San Francisco restaurants
 

Will be there on business and have time for one great meal. Which restaurant would you suggest. Money doesn't matter but I want outstanding food and service in an atmosphere where we will easily be able to carry on a conversation.

Pacific Cafe

The Slanted Door!!

Gary Danko

Ditto Gary Danko.

Slanted Door is good, but very, very, noisy. Pacifc Cafe is a noisy, no reservations, seafood restaurant out in the Richmond, good for a family night out, but certainly not someplace one goes for one outstanding meal.

Other good business dinner restaurants: Boulevard, Michael Mina, and Acqua

Quince.

Chez Spencer.

Both places where you can have a conversation as well as a meal. Both places with a degree of chic as well as great food.

Quince is on the edge of Japantown going towards Pacific Heights. Lovely little building that used to be a apothecary.

Chez Spencer is in a grittier, more industrial neighborhood at 14th St. and Florida. It's like a little oasis of French elegance hidden away down there.

Both are conducive to romance, if it matters. I've dined at both places with a beloved friend who has a significant hearing disability - and we had no problems chatting during the meal.

If money doesn't matter, then go to Gary Danko. No other places mentioned above even compare.

It's a cut above that you definitely pay for.

Quince.

Would you suggest Gary Danko over places like Jardiniere and Chez Panisse?

To your last post, I'd pick Gary Danko over Jardiniere. Chez Panisse is wonderful but is in Berkeley so probably no one suggested as your original post said San Francisco. As a side note in case you're curious, both Gary Danko and Chez Panisse each received one Michelin star recently along with several other SF restaurants. Acqua and Micheal Mina received 2 stars (although there was some controversy over the ratings, especially the fact that Chez Panisse only received one star).

The best restaurant meal I have ever had in California was at Chez Panisse - - - more memorable than the meal I had at the French Laundry (same trip).

If you are a foodie, I would recommend going to Chez Panisse because it is such an institution with fabulous food and great service. If you are a picky eater, you might keep in mind that it is a set menu and different each night so you don't know what you will be offered. Whatever is fresh from the garden is what you will be served.

If you don't want to venture to Berkeley (it's not that far to get there), I would suggest Gary Danko.

Bix, upstairs.

www.bixrestaurant.com

Yet another vote for Gary Danko. I had such a wonderful experience there recently--every aspect of it was truly outstanding.

And I actually thought Gary Danko was an excellent value--not inexpensive of course but I thought their prices were very fair for the quality of the food and the experience.

Interesting that Aqua received 2 Michelin stars vs. Gary Danko 1--I would definitely reverse that (but that's just based on having had one meal at each).

Jardinere is one of my favorite restaurants, but I still recommended Gary Danko because you asked about one great meal in an atmosphere where you could easily carry on a conversation. If you dine at Jardinere on a performance night (i.e. symphony, ballet, or opera night) it can get a little noisy if you are seated on the ground level. Just my experience. I also love Chez Panisse, but as a previous poster stated you asked about SF restaurants, so I did not recommend it. You really can't go wrong with Chez Panisse. It's a question of whether you have time to go to Berkeley.

Based on many of your recommendations we went to Gary Danko and it was fabulous. A great meal and while definitely very very expensive we both felt it was worth every penny. Thanks for the suggestions.

Gloria, thank you for coming back to post! How did you like San Francisco?