san fransico restaurant
 

looking for a "must do" restaurant in San Fransico and Sausalito.

What price for entree? Cuisine?
As you can imagine, there are so many, a bit more info from you would help.

Tadish - quintessential San Francisco restaurant.
Zuni Cafe
Frances
Perbacco
Boulevard
Delfina
Flour & Water

Those are just off the top of my head. LOTS more

As many on this forum already know (Deb and I have agreed to disagree), I think the food at Tadich's is generally garbage - soggy and overcooked.

:)

I also agree with sf7307, but many love Tadich and feel it is a must.

Slanted door? Gary Danko?

In fact, my cousin from Brazil was visiting SF with her fiancé. They are big food snobs, but they loved Tadich.

I'm with sf7307. Not a fan of Tadich and detest the "attitude " there. So many great ones. Boulevard and Slanted Door two of my favorites.

La Ciccia for Sardinian food.

We had an excellent Chef's Pick ($89 per person and only for the entire table) at Rich Table

Our favorite in The City right now is Nico on Sacramento. Un-stuffy French. We spend 2 months in France every year, and dine at around 30-40 restaurants while there. We try to hit the Michelin 1 stars. Nico is just as good, or better than many of the places we've dined at in France - at half the cost.

Stu Dudley

I tried https://www.yourlocalcousin.com and got customized recs for my SF trip - def worth a shot!

Thank you for all the recommendations! I should have been more specific with price and cuisine. We are looking for a great atmosphere, SF staple restaurant, nice, but not 5 star steakhouse as we will have been sightseeing all day. Good food and drinks but not asian unless it is an eclectic type asian infused. No Chinese or Vietnamese. Also, what about at fisherman's wharf to grab a quick bite? So, looking for something in Sausalito, Fishermans wharf, and something close to Union square or financial district.

Thanks again!!

Nopa sounds like it would fit the bill. I was impressed by the food. Sort of California gastropub, I think.

Nico may be a bit more formal that what you're looking for but Stu is right. I walked out of there thinking "pure culinary magic". Btw- I don't think I ever did post my trip report, which means I may have forgotten to say- thank you, Stududley!! Nico was a memorable meal, and not something I would have found on my own:) I'm a pretty decent cook and I eat out a lot- it's very rare that I walk out of a restaurant feeling like that.

Fisherman's wharf area:
Scoma was ok if you like the classic stalwart seafood place. Not really my thing, but my grandmother would have approved.

I liked the blue mermaid at the argonaut. I thought the chowder was delicious and it's a cute place. Not blown away, but probably tops my fisherman's wharf list.

Vaguely in the same area- actually, ft Mason- I was VERY impressed by Greens. Food, decor, view. But it's veg, and that may not be your thing!

I don't think Nico is formal at all.

We've lived in San Francisco or 20 mins away since 1975. None of our friends, neighbors, work associates, etc ever go to Fisherman's Wharf for dinner - except Gary Danko's or 20 years ago to a Vietnamese place that was partially owned by Don Johnson, or some TV star like that (now "long gone").

Stu Dudley

I get what you're saying. If I was local, I'd probably feel the same way- but I'm assuming the OP is planning to eat in that area for the same reason I did- it's convenient.

By formal, I mean expensive. Not for what it was- but generally for what I'd spend on dinner, unless it was a treat.

Stu-that was Anamandara. Neat atmosphere but definitely had gone downhill between my first and 2nd(last) visit.

kwar didn't mention anything about where he/she is staying. If he/she is staying near Union Square, Embarcadero at Market, or SOMA - then Fisherman's Wharf is not convenient. FW restaurants are certainly not "typical San Francisco restaurants" - it's a "tourist mecca" with lots of "theme restaurants", IMO (Scoma at FW is OK). The ones DebitNM mentioned are more "typical San Francisco". If kwar is staying at FW - I would he/she walk to Union St and dine at one of the 50 or so places on Union, Fillmore, and Chestnut St. We had New Year's Eve dinner at ISA in this latter area, and Mamacita is a good "new "Mexican" place, Balboa Cafe is an "old time" hangout, Capannina good Italian, and there must be 20 outside/atmospheric burger places for a "quick bite". I go to Roses Cafe for lunch several time a year.

Stu Dudley

>> I would suggest he/she walk to Union St <<... west of Gough. Or take the Cable Car south on Hyde from FW to Union St (not all the way to Union square), get off, walk around under the trees on Hyde and dine at Frascati (Italian) or Zarzuela (Spanish) on Union St or one of the 20 or so other restaurants on Hyde or Polk. For a "splurge", dine at La Folie on Polk where I had my birthday dinner last year. There are thousands of restaurants in San Francisco that I think are more rewarding than those at Fisherman's Wharf (except Gary Danko)

Stu Dudley

I am staying close to the airport, we will be flying out at 7am Sunday so wanted to be close. We will be in the city from 3pm on tomorrow and all day on Saturday. We have a tour scheduled tomorrow at 6 pm that starts at Market and New Montgomery st. Our flight lands at 12:30 so we are hoping to get into the city by 3/3:30, possibly go see China town, eat an early dinner and meet at those streets at 6:00. We will have 3:00-abt 4:15 open so I thought I should try to fit China town in there. Our time here is very limited so just trying to timeless and logistically make it all work. That is when I want the dinner recommendation for. As far as the french restaurant goes, prob not with my kids. Maybe something with steak, seafood, pasta etc and great atmosphere and cocktails. The next morning we have a 9:00 alacatraz tour. We plan on having a quick casual lunch around fisherman's wharf afterwards and the we will rent bikes to go to sausalito. Would like recommendation in Sausalito for dinner. This sound like its all gonna work? We know it will be rushed but it will allow us to see the main hilts of SF before we head to Hawaii to relax! Also, my daughter loves full house so would like to show her the house from that show if possible? Any other suggestions/advise is greatly appreciated!

>>Also, my daughter loves full house so would like to show her the house from that show if possible?<<

1709 Broderick at Pine St (not on Alamo Square as the show implies). I've heard that the house now has a new front door.

I would dine at Scoma's in Sausalito. Try to get the front room with a view. You can make reservations at www.opentable.com

Stu Dudley