SF Casual Restaurants
 

Hi all,

We're travelling to S.F. and are looking for restaurant recommendations.

We are staying at the Hyatt on Embarcadero and are not sure how far the varying neighbourhoods are.

We would be interested in anything that's more casual, contemporary, neighbourhood, local, etc. rather than more formal or fine dining.

Seafood, Italian, Bistro, - anything -

Thanks for any and all recommendations!

I really like COCO500 and Lulu's both South of Market. Lulu is near Moscone and just has great grilled foods. COCO500 is South of Market and is a small, neighborhood-ish restaurant (medium priced).

Both are about a 10 minute walk from the Hyatt, but a short cab ride.

Boulevard is very close to you - it is typically known as a fancy restaurant, but more than once I have eaten at the bar and have had wonderful times. The bartender recommended great wines to pair with the wonderful food, and service was fast without the formalness in the main dining room.

Also, there is the Slanted Door in the Ferry Building (a must on Saturday mornings for the farmer's market).

One evening head out to the Marina district and walk Union Street (not to be confused with downtown's Union Square) and Chestnut. The area is filled with casual, but trendy, fun, and often very good places. Beetlenut is my favorite!

I second the recommendation for Boulevard -- we, too, had a superb waiter on our last visit, and the food was innovative and excellent. South of Market, we enjoyed Bacar, jazz trio, open plan kitchen, wonderful spicy mussels.

Boulevard is perhaps my favorite restaurant in SF, but is that what travelfly is looking for? I wouldn't think so.

If you like garlic, try the Stinking Rose. Their motto is, "We season our garlic with food." It's somewhat touristy and you'll probably need reservations, but I had the best gnocci in the world there.

I have a suggestion--go to Open Table for SF, look at the listings for neighborhoods such as Noe/Mission/Castro, Cole Valley, Marina, Pacific Heights, SOMA as see if anything appeals to you. Or go to Chowhound for SF.

The following are some of my recent and old time neighborhood favorites: Canteen, Range, Delphina, Becco, Firefly, Eos, Cha Cha Cha, Chez Papa, A16, Chapeau, Le Charm, Citizen Cake, Foreign Cinema, La Suite. None are big time tourist restaurants, although some are extremely popular.

Hello travelfly,
You've gotten some great recommendations here. I concur with the recommendations for CoCo500, Citizen Cake, Eos (try to eat in the Eos wine bar next door to the main restaurant) and Chez Papa. I agree that Boulevard is a bit more "formal" and expensive than what you are looking for.

You are staying at the Hyatt Embarcadero - hop on over to the Ferry Building and find the Hog Island Oyster Company's restaurant. Incredibly fresh shellfish from their own oysterbeds in Tomales Bay as well as select suppliers in Oregon and Washington. They usually have a couple of specials such as monkfish or scallops, too.

If I were to choose one other restaurant, I'd say either Chez Papa or Eos because of the nice, un-touristy neighborhoods they are in. Chez Papa definitely requires a reservation. It's in the Portero Hill neighborhood, which is across the freeway from downtown, so a cab would be the best bet. Eos would be an easy ride on the N-Judah metro line to the intersection of Carl and Cole streets. Remember I told you to try the Eos wine bar rather than the main restaurant. They're right next door to each other. The wine bar is more casual, intimate and serves the full menu from the place next door. You could stop in late in the evening just for wine and cheese or how about chocolate cake and port?

Search under my name for recent reviews of restaurants in the Mission district - home to some of my favorite places to eat.

I think Swan's Oster Depot is near there. Also, the many places at the Ferry Building. Red's Java House is very casual (order at the counter), and is good for Breakfast or lunch. Great view of the Bay Bridge. :-)

I love the restaurants at Belden Place (it's an alleyway near the financial district). You can google it.

Hi travelfly, suze mentioned Belden's Place. You will be walking distance to there. If you like mussels you might check out Plouf's in Belden Place, everyone that I know that loves mussels really likes the various ways that Plouf's serves them, including me.

I also like Chow near Mission and Castro

For dim-sum, try Yang Sing (short walk; a noisy and interesting place. Pick you own dishes as they are rolled by table)
101 Spear St.
San Francisco
(415) 957-9300

For casual Italian, try Umbria (also a short walk). At corner of 2nd and Mission.

More Italian, try Antica Trattoria
2400 Polk St.
San Francisco
(415) 928-5797

For sushi, try Kabuto
5121 Geary Blvd.
San Francisco
(415) 752-5652

and/or more sushi/sashimi, try
Koo
408 Irving St.
San Francisco
(415) 731-7077

For seafood, try Alamo Square Seafood Grill
803 Fillmore St.
San Francisco
(415) 440-2828

For breakfast (beware of possible long line), go to Mama's in North Beach, sorry don't remember address.

Enjoy SF

In the Wharf area, we liked Cioppino's (great Italian food, very reasonable, huge portions).

Also, Boudin Bakery, right by Pier 39, was excellent (sandwiches, seafood, etc) but eat downstairs in the cafe area. After spending $15 for soup in a bread bowl in the restaurant, we realized the same thing was only $7 downstairs. I guess we got $8 worth of ambience ;)

I like the Union Street suggestion. We liked Home Restaurant there, nice service and food (homestyle meets Cal cuisine. It is just a nice place to walk around. :-)

Favorite lunch spot (Cash Only NO charge cards)is Cafe Expresso in Maiden Lane. First stop after dropping off the suitcases at Hyatt. Open lunch only and great for a shopping in Union Square reststop..
Small, true Italian/Mediterean cafe with the Best cold shrimp salad..the olive oil is so virgin and fresh fruit salad. Lots of choices panni, frito misto salad, some portobello lasagna, roasted red peepers from the glass buffet..it is like living in Italy again...you order tho and they serve...giant size cafes as well. If weather nice sit outside and listen to the free acapella (sp) singers.

We also love the Plouf..moules frites wow...CAfe Claude is also a favorite for very nice ambience and reasonable casual not too pricey well cooked French food..

Our new French favorite is
Chapeau! 1408 Clement St At 15th Avenue San Fran 94118 tele 415-750-9787
[email protected]


..

And no place can beat the Ferry Terminal for Farmers Market Saturday crepes from one of the outdoor stands or breakfast items samples from some of the best SF restaurants around.. the outdoor Fresh Yoghurt stand is fabulous..

You can easily ... get a picnic together and go down toward the beach near the St Francis Yacht Club and stare at the Golden Gate Bridge....don't miss the French pastry shop..the French Macaroons (pistachio) are heaven...

Thanks so much to everyone for all the great information.

Much appreciated!