Bistro Yoffi on Chestnut Street. www.bistroyoffi.com. It has an inventive menu and if you time it some cool live music. Without the music the food is still very good.

Sorry dmlove...aren't we all early 30s at heart?

How about "cool for any age?"

Cheers!

beanweb, I wasn't offended, just setting the record straight,that's all! (And yes, young at heart!)

Wolfgang Puck's Postrio is excellent and within a few minutes walk of Union Square.

I also am very interested in this thread as we will need a place for dinner on Sat the 21st of this month. We have eaten at Postrio in LV and liked it very much, however my point below somewhat applies even to our beloved Wolfgang....

I would not recommend the Stinking Rose, altho we go there sometimes in LA....b/c it is a chain. It seems that a dinner in SF should be something unique and not an experience you can get elsewhere.

Since you'll in the Union Square area, you have an excellent choice of restaurants right within walking distance.

There's Farallon for seafood.

There's also a number of great restaurants tucked away along Belden Place, the best of which are probably Plouf and Cafe Bastille (you'll probably get an argument over which are the best!)

There's also the higher end restaurants close by like Fleur de Lys, Michael Mina, and Masa's.

There's also Scala's Bistro.

Plenty of great restaurants to choose from!

Have a great trip!

R&G Lounge. By far the best Chinese food and experience you'll ever have. And surprisingly not expensive.

I would second Farallon's; it is gorgeous and we've had good food there.

Love Slanted Door.

Another option is Fog City Diner just north of Slanted Door. Try their red curry mussel stew.

I've heard Gary Dankos is excellent but haven't eaten there myself.

I've also heard Boulevard is great.

Check other threads and do a search; it seems to me there are one or two others that have been mentioned that I am blanking on.

Kokkari

www.kokkari.com/home/

It seems that a dinner in SF should be something unique and not an experience you can get elsewhere

Well, at least the Postrio in San Francisco was the FIRST one

Report on Foreign Cinema -- absolutely love the ambiance, very good service. The food was "fine" -nothing to write home about. I would go back for a second try because I like the place so much (by the way, we loved brunch there).

Medjool is next door to Foreign Cinema and also looks great. We're going to give it a try soon.

really great food at Fior d'Italia. Enjoyed a good lunch on a beautiful afternoon at The Stinking Rose.

You could try the Empress of China on Grant Ave. in Chinatown. The food is not fabulous, but the view is stunning and the restaurant interesting..besides, you can shop in Chinatown for some great bargains while you are there! Call ahead for reservations if on a weekend...

Even though some think it is a bit past its prime, I still really like the Zuni Cafe.

Point well taken, dmlove....I was unaware of Postrio's "roots". No matter how many Spagos he may open, the one in Beverly Hills is always memorable and always worth the price, so I take back my comment on Postrio whereas my advice to skip Stinking Rose still stands.

my advice to skip Stinking Rose still stands.

No argument from me (see above)!