If you were to splurge for one meal in San Francisco, what would be the one place you wouldn't miss?

What's your budget?

The one absolute splurge meal I wouldn't miss is Sunday brunch at the Ritz Carlton.

mi mi mi miiiiiii

C'mon Kal, is that the best Meatloaf impersonation you can come up with?

As we live in the mountains in Central Mexico, I would vote for Scoma's.
The very fresh Dungeness Crab and Halibut in late March were world class.
M

Chez Panisse in Berkeley is an experience one should have, IMHO.

Gary Danko's is my splurge restaurant in SF; Chez Panisse in the Bay Area; and French Laundry in "wine country."

not a splurge necessarily but i really like the atmosphere & restaurants at Belden Place www.belden-place.com

Boulevard for a semi-splurge.

-Bill

Difficult question to answer since SF has so many wonderful restaurants. Would have to agree with Gary Danko's. Would also add Fleur de Lys and The Fifth Floor to that list. It partly depends on what you are looking for, type of food, atmosphere, etc. Tell us more and I am certain you will get some great recommendations.

p.s. I would not recommend Scoma's. Despite being old line SF, its really just a tourist trap, crowded and noisy, and the food is only average.

Gary Danko was exceptional... just don't book 9:30 reservations on your first night in from the east cost. although the lobster&shrimp risotto is unreal.

michael mina in the st francis would be my other choice

obviously the french laundry is the grandaddy of splurge meals, but it is next to impossible to get a reservation...

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yeah, I guess "splurge" for different people means different pricing. For us it would be up to about $50-70/person. I want atmosphere - not much into super gourmet dishes (probably wouldn't like them). Maybe that helps some.

Dinner at Melting Pot is a splurge meal for us, as far as cost is concerned. I would like to keep it to $40-50 each.

Gary Danko or French Laundry...though the later you will need months of notice to get on the list

I think the OP already stated his/her budget and it's safe to say that all those recommendations for Gary Danko's, Boulevard, FL, Fifth Floor, Fleur de Lys and Michael Mina are not going to work.

R&G Lounge on Kearny in Chanatown (a most excellent Chinese restaurant) or Italian food in Kuleto's in Union Square would be within the budget.

Sorry pianograd for not understanding your definition of "splurge". $40-50 with wine, tax and tip, would be for many SF and Bay Area residents a moderately priced meal. I think some of the most reasonably prices restaurants in town are the french bistros like Le Charm, Chapeaux, Cafe Claude, La Suite or Chez Papa.

I live in the city...
For your price range and tastebuds, I would check out Boulevard. If you can get into Berkeley, Chez Panisse would be a good bet for you, too...although, I remember dinner for two at Chez Panisse to be around $200...

We are going to Gary Danko this summer but, I have been to the all the other mentioned restaurants...we love Belden Place for the atmosophere and well-prepared food (lots of restaurants on that strip). The price is well within your means, too. My favorite in Belden Place is B44.

My favorite restaurant of all time is French Laundry but that is an hour outside of the city and very $$$$$.

PS- My favorite restaurant in the city is in your price range and comes with incredible views of the Bay. The Slanted Door, located in the Ferry Building, is very upscale Vietnamese cuisine (AMAZING)!

pianograd: Does your $50-$70 pp include wine, tax, tip etc. If so I'm afraid none of the places (or almost none) recommended so far are w/i your price range.

Many of them will run around $100 pp and some more. And w/ a good wine - the sky's the limit.

The French Laundry can run $300 or more for two. Chez Panisse's set menus (depending on the night) are about $65 to $90 w/o wine/tax etc. Gary Danko is I think in the $75-$100+ pp plus wine.