Tell me where to eat/drink in San Francisco!
 

My DH and I will be in SF in mid October (I'm running in the Nike Women's Marathon) for a long weekend, and since we have never been, I am trying to put together a few things for us to do/see while there. Does anyone have any recommendations for restaurants/bars? I'll tell you what we like: we prefer laid-back, non-frou frou places with good food and drink. Something more local than touristy, maybe seafood? While we are by no means gourmet foodies, we do appreciate good food, and are willing to pay. That being said, do y'all have any suggestions? Oh yeah, we will be staying at the Sir Francis Drake, and will either be on foot or taxi (no rental car)! Thanks~

Best place in SF right down the street from the Sir Francis Drake is
Lefty O'Doul's..across from the St. Francis..classic piano bar from the 1900's...it is one of the best!
They serve a cafeteria style food option that actually is decent and cheap.
I see a lot of baseball players when I am there..it is a blast.

Fog City Diner

ttt

www.belden-place.com

This is an entire alleyway of interesting restaurants in the financial district area.

Suze, thanks for the website. B44 looks really good~have you by chance eaten there?

Seconding suze's Belden Lane recommendation. Plouf is the most popular seafood option - you must have a pot of mussels if you go there -it's what they do best. If it's a warm dry October night (very likely) there will be outdoor tables all down the length of the block and it becomes very festive.

For seafood, I like Bar Crudo which is very close to your hotel. "Crudo" means raw, and the menu has many sashimi-style options, great oysters, and probably the most incredible seafood chowder available in the city.

For a lively restaurant with a terrific small-plates menu, try Cortez. If there are still the Korean-inspired short ribs on the menu, order them. The portions are big enough to share but not meal sized, so you can order a good variety of things.

Zuni Cafe is a great classic San Francisco spot. Probably the best roast chicken in town.

Reservations essential at all of the above.

http://www.barcrudo.com/

http://www.cortezrestaurant.com/

http://www.zunicafe.com/

Toronado.

Scoma's for seafood - little touristy and pricy.

Market Bar at the Ferry Building

Sorry to be a naysayer, but I'm not a fan of Market Bar, Scoma's or Lefty O'Doul's! I think you'll enjoy Belden Alley -- it's not that the food is so great, it's good, not great, but the atmosphere is very European. I also second the recommendation for Cortez -- delicious food (albeit a little pricey) and fabulous decor.

I love the Belden Place.

You walk toward the Belden Alley for your dinner. The streets seem to be rather deserted. You start to wonder if you have made a right choice. You turn on to the Belden Place and ... surprise - an alley full of dinners - one restaurant after another - like what you find on pedestrian streets in Europe.

nickn,
Great description - that's exactly what it's like.

Thanks, y'all! Belden Place sounds like a lot of fun~maybe we'll be able to have some of the same foods we have experienced in Europe (without having to travel so far). Is it located near Union Square? Will it be too cold to sit outside in mid-October? Has anyone been to B44 (Spanish restaurant)?

Amy, you never know about the weather in October -- it can be raining and low 60s or sunny and in the 80s! It isn't in Union Square, but it's definitely just a nice walk. From the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, it's probably only 4-5 blocks.

My fave on Belden is Plouf. Love the mussels in coconut broth! it's just 4 blocks from your hotel.

Right downstairs, you have Scala's Bistro...if you are shuffling around after the marathon, that's a nice option for dinner.

The Ferry Building has many yummuy places to eat and shop.
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

Catch the Bart to Bar Tartine for dinner. www.tartinebakery.com reservations needed, I think.

Melissa, the FerryBuilding looks great, as I LOVE to check out different markets every place we go! Do you know if it is walkable from SFD?

I second Toronado. There's no place else that I'd rather have a beer...or to people watch.

No food. If you're hungry, go next door for sausages, then bring 'em back to Toronado to enjoy.

Where is Tornonado? Is it just a bar?

Amy, the Ferry Building is a long but nice walk from SFD (I work across the street from the Ferry Building, and have walked up to Union Square many times -- probably a 20-minute leisurely walk)

amydelta,
B44 serves the cuisine of Catalunya. Paellas of different kinds, vegetable dishes, fish, and of course a terrific selection of Spanish wines and sherries. Many of the paellas come in one-serving dishes, so you can order a couple of different ones. The flan (or crema Catalunya) was good too as I recall.