Ack! I am SO last minute on this. My friend is going to San Francisco on Wednesday while her BF is at a conference. I want to get her a $30-40 gift certificate, which she can opt to use while on her own or with the BF. The problem is, she is an omnivore and he is a picky eater! I thought about Plouf, but he doesn't like mussels. I thought about Hog Island Oyster Co. but he sort of doesn't care for oysters. I mentioned Slanted Door and Café Claude and he shrugged. Any suggestions? Maybe I should get a certificate from Crustacean or Thanh Long since I know she'll love the crab?

I'm no SF expert, but based on my recent trip in Sept, some ideas:
- try seeing if you can get a GC for the Ferry Building Market, then she could use it at any of the establishments there. If she's a foodie this would be perfect!
- if she's adventurous, how about a GC for bike rental from Blazing Saddles. She could spend a day riding across the bridge to Sausalito and taking the ferry back. I wouldn't worry about doing it alone and its lots of fun.
- how about Chinatown? See recent posts for ideas. We thought House of Nanking, just outside of the official Chinatown area, was wonderful.

Personally, we ate at Curstacean with 'locals' and didn't care for it. I love my olive oil and garlic more than most people, but together with the crab it was just too greasy.

Thanks, those are great ideas! I guess my other problem is that I have too many favorites in SF....you could buy me a certificate to just about anything and I'd be happy!

Hi MelissaH, just a thought, how about giving your friend a card with cash inside of it. They could than go where they wanted to and they wouldn't feel pressured to go to somewhere that didn't please one of them or where it was location wise at meal time when they were half away across town.

Mels -- you are so sweet and thoughtful!

Awww thanks!

LI, that would be practical, but I come from the "old school" of needing to give a gift certificate to a specific place....mentally, I just can't get past it!

What about giving her a gift cert. for a mani/pedi, massage, facial, etc..

While her BF is in his conference, she can relax and take care of herself.

Maybe try Nordstrom's or another high-end store, to see if they have a salon. Then, if she wants to, she could buy an item in the store instead.
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