I am planning a trip to SF in December. What are the best restaurants in Carmel/SF for the following?

German
Steak
Italian
Seafood
View

Don't meant to be snide, but for clarification, you're spending some time both in SF and Carmel, right? I mean, you know how far apart they are, right? (I've been surprised by some posters...)

For Carmel, here is a favorite of mine:

RIO GRILL

101 Crossroads

Carmel, California
(408) 625-5436


Very fun Southwestern atmosphere, California cuisine, good prices and booths


For San Francisco:

Lulu's-- continental/American cuisine
served family style- Great bar
bar scene...wonderfully priced food.

The Avenue- AWESOME continental food- romantic setting ==on the 5th floor of the Palomar Hotel....

Aqua- The BEST seafood in SFO-Very very expensive

Italian Breakfast- Villa Florence Hotel Lobby restaurant called Kuleto's

Carmel area: FANDANGOS in Pacific Grove is great.

BAHAMA BILLYS in the Barnyard Shopping Center is fantastic. This is across the street from Rio Grill recommended by other poster.

CASANOVAS in Carmel. Atmosphere and well known in the area.

SF area: POSTRIO.

Another tip: Just ask the guy in your hotel. Both towns are full of great places. We live here and still never get to all of them.

In San Francisco for authenic Italian (owner/chef is from Venice) I recommend Pane E Vino at Steiner & Union. (415-346-2111). Check out their garden where they grow their vegtables and herbs.

Please, Tell me about Bouchee

Bodi: Bouchee is a new restaurant/wine bar in Carmel--Rafaello used to be in that space. Although I have not yet been there, I hear it's a beautiful place with excellent food. The chef comes from Patina in L.A. and the owners have wine experience with The Lodge at Pebble Beach and Highlands Inn. You can hang out at the wine bar or have dinner, or both. If you're going to Carmel, I'd be sure to check this one out.

Hi! For the best view restaurant my vote would go to the California Market or the Pacific Edge both located at the Highland's Inn. The CM is casual fare and Pacific Edge is fine dining. Both have excellent food.

For steaks, I would give the vote to The Whaling Station on Cannery Row. I also have heard good things about The Chop House in Carmel owned by Kurt Grasings who also owns Grasings. I am hoping to try one of these places next month.

The Old Bath House is very good and a romantic restaurant. The White House has received good reviews lately and I will be trying it also next month.

There is a place in downtown Carmel called Portabella that does not receive much attention. It is in a cottage-type building and we had lunch there a couple of years ago. There is an indoor firelplace and a back heated patio that is very pretty. The service was very good (the hostess even gave me a small cup of broccoli-cheddar soup to sip on while we waited since it was raining) and the food was also very good.

For seafood we like Dominico's or Cafe Fina on the wharf. Dominico's has very nice views of the marina and the fish (I believe I had the sand dabs) was very fresh.

I have not had Italian or German in this area. I hope you have a wonderful time in this beautiful area! ***kim***

Domenico's Cioppino! Ok, the wharf is a bit touristy, but it's fun and the locals go there too. Domenico's does have great bay and bird views, a certain elegance, very nice wines AND the best cioppino. It's their sauce--not the usual plain tomato, but so rich and complex, my mouth waters just thinking of it.

Out at the end of the wharf is Abalonetti's seafood Trattoria, a casual, fun place owned by John Pisto (of the Whaling Station & others). They do calamari here in lots of different ways and it's all good.

I have yet to try Cioppino, but will try it at Domenico's next month. So far, I have Bouchee, The White House and Grasings or the Chop House on my list. I love calamari but have yet to find a place as good as The Sea Chest in Cambria for fresh calamari.

We're headed over there tomorrow for a day trip!! ***kim***

Oh, how lucky can you get? I love Cambria too, haven't gone to the Sea Chest yet, but have heard good things --next time, for sure. Would you report back, I'm overdue for that area.

Your Carmel/Monterey/Pacific Grove list sounds fab, but I could be a little biased IMO, those are some gooooood places, but not having eaten at all of them yet, you've gotta give us the scoop.

I don't know if you indulge in such things, but just in case, across the street from Bouchee is the Patisserie Boissiere (sp?), a Carmel classic and old favorite of mine--their authentic French pastries are magnifique! The lemon chiffon cheesecake w/ raspberry glaze, unbelievably light. The tiny dining room has a charming fireplace and they also serve good soups, salads and small entrees at reasonable prices.

I will definitely check out the pastry shop. I am a big fan of excellent desserts. Sounds like we should take some of these back to our room at the Highland's!!

We will be trying the Black Cat in Cambria for dinner if it is open. I have heard excellent reviews about this place. Now does this bakery make cannoli? We had some very good canolli at a bakery in Carmel a couple of years ago and when we went back last year they had stopped making it!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Trying new places should be a lot of fun. ***kim***