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Tours in San Francisco |
San Francisco is renowned as the restaurant capital of the country, proud to serve the best food in the world from fresh, local ingredients.
We have selected 25 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.
The restaurants below have been divided into four different categories:
$$$$ (over US$70)
$$$ (US$35 to US$70)
$$ (US$20 to US$35)
$ (under US$20)
The prices quoted here are for an average three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include tax or tip.
Restaurant prices are subject to a state tax of 8.5%, which is added to the bill at the end. A service charge is not typically added, unless your dining party includes 6 or more, so it is assumed that diners will tip 15-20% of the total bill. Restaurants may also assess an additional cost for large seatings (usually over 15 guests) to cover overhead expenses. Reservations are recommended wherever possible; in the case of upscale and popular restaurants, they are essential.
Gastronomic
Boulevard
Located in the 1889 Belle Époque Audiffred Building, one of the few heritage sites to have survived San Francisco's 1906 earthquake, Boulevard is the brainchild of an award-winning designer and a noted San Francisco chef, Pat Kuleto and Nancy Oakes. The kitchen is where it rightfully deserves to be – in the centre of the restaurant. Counter seating allows guests to watch the chefs at work while savouring the fragrances of West Coast-French cuisine. Specialities from the vast menu include sautéed foie gras and crispy duck pancake with fresh blackberries in Minus 8 ice wine vinegar and a wood-oven roasted trio of lamb. Advance dinner reservations are essential.
1 Mission Street, Embarcadero South
Tel: (415) 543 6084.
Website: www.boulevardrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Gary Danko
Guests to Gary Danko's Relais & Chateau restaurant make their reservations months in advance for the pleasure of dining in the modern space with stylish dark-wood banquettes. The James Beard award-winning chef focuses on French, Mediterranean and regional American cooking, using seasonal ingredients, free-range meats and local artisan cheese. Dishes might include a risotto appetizer with lobster, rock shrimp, toy box tomatoes and zucchini followed by pan-roasted quail stuffed with wild mushroom ragout and port glazed figs. Desserts include a decadent chocolate soufflé with two sauces and a cholesterol-free mango. Set menus are available for three, four and five courses. Seasonal tasting menus with optional wine pairings selected by wine director Michael Rassmussen are available as well.
800 North Point, Fisherman's Wharf
Tel: (415) 749 2060.
Website: www.garydanko.com
Price: $$$$
McCormick & Kuleto's
One of the Bay Area's most outstanding seafood destinations, McCormick & Kuleto's commands the best views in town, with every seat in the three-tiered dining room overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito. Wood accents, high ceilings, designer light fixtures and hardwood floors add to the elegance of this dining experience. Fresh seafood is flown in daily from around the world, and the 30 fresh selections list reads like a seafood Who's Who. Families, business groups or intimate couples savour such favourites as coconut prawns with papaya mango salsa, or Corvina sea bass flown in fresh from Bali, Indonesia, served oven-roasted with lime cilantro glaze and coconut rice. The signature Dark Chocolate Bag dessert for two is the piece de resistance (or this desistance?), filled with cappuccino mousse and fresh berries.
900 North Point Street, Ghiradelli Square
Tel: (415) 929 1730 or 1 888 344 6861.
Website: www.mccormickandkuletos.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Millennium
Those who believe that vegetarian cuisine cannot be classy or inspiring have not been to Millennium. Take, for example, the Asian udon cake, a 'cake' of seared udon noodles topped with sautéed Asian vegetables, oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu, and kaffir lime in a Thai basil coconut curry. Raw food choices may include the rawvioli, in which sage scented cashew and pine-nut cheese is stuffed between Chiogga beet sheets and served with sundried tomato and olive tapenade, Fuyu persimmon and arugula salad. The restaurant has an open and airy atmosphere. The wine list features organic, vegan and biodynamic bottles and half bottles. Reservations for dinner are recommended.
580 Geary Street, Savoy Hotel, Civic Centre
Tel: (415) 345 3900.
Website: www.millenniumrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
One Market
One Market is located in the Embarcadero district, a perfect locale for an establishment that specialises in fresh seafood. The impressive menu items may include a sea urchin omelette, Maine lobster 'sangria' for two, a rack of veal with oyster mushrooms, along with plenty of fish courses. Its dessert selection includes a caramel-roasted stack of cinnamon-butter cake topped with warm peach sauce and buttermilk ice cream. The decor is elegant and clubby, but the restaurant's most striking visual characteristic is its 90-degree view of the waterfront and historic Market Street. Located directly across from the Hyatt Regency, One Market also offers a catering menu and two private dining rooms with intimate settings. A two-course business lunch or a choice of sandwiches provides several budget options.
1 Market Street, Embarcadero South
Tel: (415) 777 5577.
Website: www.onemarket.com
Price: $$-$$$$
Business
Aqua
Ultra pricey Aqua, never a stranger to the corporate credit card, has gone to even higher acclaim under the reins of chef Laurent Manrique. The upscale seafood restaurant has been consistently credited with offering one of the city's finest meals. Manrique, a Gascon chef who has delighted diners at Campton Place Hotel, continues to tantalize palates with Aqua's signature dishes such as crab cakes and tuna tartare and his special French touches to sea bass and lobster. The professional service, decadent desserts and spectacular wine list are legendary.
252 California Street, Financial District
Tel: (415) 956 9662.
Website: www.aqua-sf.com
Price: $$$$
Café Claude
An intimate touch of Paris is found in narrow Claude Lane, the secluded neighbourhood of Café Claude in the city's French Quarter. The tiny French bistro nestled amongst the urban skyscrapers between Union Square and the financial district is popular for a quick bistro lunch or a discreet rendezvous. Enjoy alfresco dining under colourful umbrellas, or dine inside in cosy banquettes. French prints and large exotic travel posters adorn the walls in bold earth and fire tones. A full-length mirrored bar reflects a modern Parisian atmosphere; while French wait staff serve favourites such as a trio of favourite patés, onion soup gratinee or salade Niçoise. Wines by the glass come in generous, elegant glasses. Local jazz musicians play Thursday through Saturday evenings.
7 Claude Lane, Financial District
Tel: (415) 392 3505.
Website: www.cafeclaude.com
Price: $$-$$$
The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton
The Dining Room offers seasonal modern French cuisine with a Japanese influence in a formal, elegant, candlelit setting. Chef Ron Siegel and sommelier Stéphane Lacroix have put together constantly evolving exquisite tasting menus available with wine pairings, featuring such delectable choices as sashimi, Maine lobster, squab breast and veal tenderloin. Dinners begin with champagne and end with artisan cheese selections and mouth-watering desserts. Dinner only. Closed Sunday and Monday.
The Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton Street, Nob Hill
Tel: (415) 773 6198.
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com
Price: $$$$
Silks
Silks has been at the top of San Francisco's restaurant list for several years. Its excellent Pacific Rim cuisine might include mains like yellow fin sashimi with ponzu truffle vinaigrette and feta foam, or brick pressed barbecue quail with a chilli vinaigrette glaze, Thai chilli jam, and green papaya salad. The restaurant's elegant setting and accessible location in the Mandarin Oriental hotel (see Hotels) means that it caters to both business and luxury clientele. No lunch is served at weekends; however, there is an Executive Lunch Menu during the week.
Mandarin Oriental, 222 Sansome Street, Financial District
Tel: (415) 276 9888 or 1 800 622 0404.
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com
Price: $$$$
Vignette
Fashionable, upscale dining in this charming restaurant attached to the boutique Orchard Hotel draws the Nob Hill crowd for a freshly creative menu inspired by French and Italian influences. Arched windows overlooking Bush Street, gilt mirrors and original paintings of San Francisco characters add to the elegant intimacy. Co-owner and executive chef Jason Yeafoli uses fresh ingredients from small farms and organic growers to create mouth-watering dishes. Pan-seared day boat scallops served with chanterelle mushrooms and snow peas remind one of the close proximity to a constant supply of fresh seafood. Co-owner Stephen Walker, the perfect maitre d', delights in serving wines from many small, individually owned vineyards.
The Orchard Hotel, 665 Bush Street, Union Square/Nob Hill
Tel: (415) 956 2972.
Website: www.vignetterestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Trendy
Eastside West
Located on historic Fillmore Street, this neighbourhood pub is as much known for its inspired jazz performances as its chic West Coast ambience. Eastside West takes fresh seafood to the limit, with its raw bar. Classic raw bar specialities include ceviche (raw fish or seafood cured with lemon) and market fresh oysters on the half shell that are served with a tequila lime sauce and wine mignonette. The restaurant also serves a selection of baked and grilled seafood. A popular Sunday brunch is served on the outside patio when weather permits.
3154 Fillmore Street, Marina/Cow Hollow
Tel: (415) 885 4000.
Website: www.eastsidewest.citysearch.com
Price: $$-$$$
Greens
A popular vegetarian restaurant, with an equally popular cookbook, Greens enjoys a steady clientele of non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians. Housed in a former US military warehouse, among dozens of art galleries, with enchanting views of the San Francisco Bay, the restaurant's 9m- (30ft-) high ceiling and rich, handcrafted wood interior lend further character to its unique setting. Menus change seasonally. Lunch items might include a deep-dish pie of winter vegetables in a mushroom sherry sauce topped with a Parmesan potato crust. Dinner selections might include Mesquite grilled brochettes of assorted vegetables and marinated tofu, served on almond currant couscous. The dessert menu is just as impressive, with selections of gourmet pastries, ices and fresh fruit dishes. Greens' menu always includes vegan recipes. There is also a takeaway menu for those who prefer to dine in the park.
Building A, Fort Mason, Marina
Tel: (415) 771 6222.
Website: www.greensrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Oola
The newest late night dining spot in the popular SOMA district, Oola was voted one of the top 50 hotspots around the country by Bon Appetit magazine in March 2005. The French-influenced California bistro has sophisticated sex appeal, with its exposed brick walls, reclaimed timber, silk flags hung from the soaring 5.5m (18ft) ceiling panelled in metallic gold wallpaper, orange lighting and candlelight. Swedish-born owner and chef Ola Fendert uses local ingredients in favourites such as pear and Roquefort cheese salad and chicken and foie gras ravioli. Cocktails such as the Fresh Watermelon Cosmopolitan, or a choice of 10 different wines by the glass are served at the lively bar, and desserts alone are worth a stop in this cosy nightspot. Oola serves food till 0100 five nights out of seven, and is also a favourite with the late night theatre crowd.
860 Folsom Street, South of Market (SOMA)
Tel: (415) 995 2061.
Website: www.oola-sf.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Rose's Café
The sister property of North Beach's famed Rose Pistola restaurant, Rose's Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its Californian-Italian kitchen is cut from the same cloth, with fragrant sourdough breads, hearty pastas, such as fusilli tossed with anchovies, broccoli and chillies, and many popular seafood dishes, such as roasted mussels or grilled salmon. The casual café setting is a great place for people watching, while taking in a cappuccino and slice of fruit-filled focaccia. There is also heated patio dining, when weather permits.
2298 Union Street, Cow Hollow
Tel: (415) 775 2200.
Price: $$-$$$
Zuni Café & Grill
Open from noon till night, chef Judy Roger's restaurant serves creative Italian-Mediterranean fare at very kind prices, which makes it incredibly popular with the locals. The menu, like the airy and angular setting, is casual and eclectic with roasted-to-order chicken (it can take 45 minutes), a hamburger with Gorgonzola cheese on focaccia, and a Tuscan bread salad. These dishes have become almost famous in their own right and have been documented in Roger's 2002 cookbook. Around these staples are daily changing menu items. A balcony affords people watching and an oyster bar draws hip crowds. Reservations are essential. Closed Monday.
1658 Market Street, Hayes Valley
Tel: (415) 552 2522.
Price: $$$
Budget
Fog City Diner
Possibly the country's most famous diner, Fog City serves an upmarket version of the casual American comfort food. Macaroni and cheese is made sharp and sassy with Gouda, and meatloaf is served with wild mushroom gravy and truffled mashed potatoes, thereby surpassing the culinary cliché. Banana-chocolate brioche bread pudding and chocolate-toffee crunch cake are homemade dessert delicacies. The club car setting with typical diner booths might be a set, stylised with chrome and hardwood, and indeed many movies and television commercials have been shot here.
1300 Battery Street, Embarcadero
Tel: (415) 982 2000.
Website: www.fogcitydiner.com
Price: $-$$
Los Hermanos
Some of the best Mexican food can be found in small, unadorned diners where the locals line up in droves. The food at Los Hermanos ('The Brothers') definitely fits that bill. The beef burrito is an unpretentious blend of sautéed beef, rice, beans and salsa, with optional cheese, guacamole and sour cream. Located in the trendy shopping district of Marina, this place also does take away. Unlicensed.
2026 Chestnut Street, Marina
Tel: (415) 921 5790.
Price: $
Noah's Bagels
A small Bay Area chain, Noah's Bagels offers a variety of wildly flavoured bagels from Asiago cheese to chocolate chip along with some standbys like salt, poppy, and egg. The attractive selection of shmears (cream cheeses) includes garden veggie, maple raisin walnut, and sun-dried tomato and basil, and there are other tasty toppings like smoked salmon ('lox'), hummus, and peanut butter. Hot deli sandwiches at some stores include a corned beef Reuben, or there are paninis, salads and soups. Since this is San Francisco, one can also get an espresso and fresh juices. Limited seating is available. Unlicensed.
Laurel Heights Village, 3519 California Street
Tel: (415) 387 3874.
Website: www.noahs.com
Price: $
Pyramid Ale House, Brewery and Restaurant
A trip to the historic city of Berkeley on the east side of the Bay is a mandatory excursion for some, especially for those who enjoy the East Bay's eclectic entertainments, its bookshops, coffee houses and venues such as this one. Home to one of California's more popular breweries, the Pyramid Ale House features a classic assortment of West Coast draughts, including Pyramid's own wheaten ale and Northwest-style Hefeweizen. Seasonal brews are also available. The restaurant's cuisine is standard American – starters like nachos with jack and cheddar cheese, two kinds of salsa, sour cream and garnishes, and mains like baby back ribs or honey Dijon chicken.
901 Gilman Street, Berkeley, East Bay
Tel: (510) 528 9880.
Website: www.pyramidbrew.com
Price: $
Ti Couz
This little French find, named for the Breton expression for 'old house', serves savoury buckwheat dinner crepes and delicious sweet ones for dessert. Diners can't go wrong with the thin ham and gruyere cheese crepe, folded Brittany-style into a square. For dessert, a lighter batter creates wispy, thin crepes with fillings such as Nutella and orange caramel. French hard cider is the beverage of choice at this very popular spot.
3108 16th Street, Mission District
Tel: (415) 252 7373.
Price: $$
Personal Recommendations
Ebisu
Lines snake around the corner for a table at Ebisu, considered by many to be one of the top sushi restaurants in the Bay Area. Wise patrons attempt a visit at non-peak dining hours for a shorter wait. This plain-Jane neighbourhood spot has been here for about 20 years and is a legend for its creative maki-roll concoctions such as Two Balls No Strikes (Translation: spicy tuna wrapped in thinly sliced avocado with no rice). Diners need not stick to the menu, however. They are welcome to order any combination they'd like or put themselves in the hands of Steve Fuji, the chef and owner, who is happy to bring cuts of the freshest fish in nigiri or delectable maki combinations. Diners need just ask.
1283 Ninth Avenue, near Golden Gate Park
Tel: (415) 566 1770.
Website: www.ebisusushi.com
Price: $$-$$$
Forbes Island
A dining experience fitting for San Francisco – on the world's only floating island. Created as a floating home in 1975 by entrepreneur Forbes Kiddoo, the island was turned into a restaurant in 1999, complete with 12m (40ft) lighthouse, sandy beach and live palm trees. Anchored off Pier 39, within a stone's throw of the barking sea lions, Forbes Island is perfect for that special romantic occasion. A short boat ride to the island, and either dine with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, or descend below water level to the main dining salon, with nautical artefacts, teak woodwork, brass lamps and large portholes with the occasional glimpse of fish swimming by. Wait staff in sailor suits serve French classics and fine local seafood. The rack of lamb in a ginger honey demi-glace, and the filet mignon, are cooked to perfection and worthy of the high price.
Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf
Tel: (415) 951 4900
Website: www.forbesisland.com
Price: $$$$
Jardinière
Although the food is a performance in its own right here, Traci Des Jardin's French-California cuisine is particularly coveted for a pre-theatre meal, given that it is within steps of the Opera House and major theatres. Like many San Francisco menus, Jardinière's changes daily. Guests to this brick landmark building with enormous windows might find a seared foie gras starter with caramelised rhubarb and gingered baklava and such mains as duck breast with cherries, lentils and braised bacon. A six-course tasting menu is also available. Open in the evening only.
300 Grove Street, Civic Hayes/Hayes Valley
Tel: (415) 861 5555.
Website: www.jardiniere.com
Price: $$$$
Moose's
Don't be fooled by the exterior – Moose's is a classy restaurant serving American fare in the expansive jazz-filled dining room that exemplifies San Francisco's Victorian elegance. Ed Moose himself is known as the godfather of the hospitality business. Rub shoulders with City Hall officials or celebrities while you watch the chefs work their magic in the open kitchen, or enjoy the view looking through huge picture windows onto Washington Square. The menu is divided into small plates, allowing diners to savour several delicacies. Sunday Jazz Brunch may include a trio of sweet and tasty oysters, buttermilk pancakes with huckleberries and lemon curd, eggs benedict and a glass of champagne. Moose's provides live jazz seven nights a week and a prix fixe menu is available nightly until 1930.
1652 Stockton Street, North Beach
Tel: (415) 989 7800.
Website: www.mooses.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
The Slanted Door
The upmarket Vietnamese restaurant, formerly in the urban Mission District, now operates in the newly restored Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. The well-prepared food (with a nod to a Westerner's palate) for which it was known now comes at slightly less attractive prices. As ever, though, the menu hits the mark with standard starters, such as cold rice-paper rolls stuffed with thin noodles, pork, shrimp, and mint, served with peanut sauce. Particularly refreshing are the green papaya salad and caramelised catfish in a pot with fresh ginger. The tamarind five-spice chicken and steamed fish dishes (order a side of greens to accompany both) are also good choices. There is a wide selection of green and black teas, plus fresh-squeezed juices and full bar and wine list.
1 Ferry Building no.3, Embarcadero
Tel: (415) 861 8032.
Website: www.slanteddoor.com
Price: $$$
We have selected 25 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.
The restaurants below have been divided into four different categories:
$$$$ (over US$70)
$$$ (US$35 to US$70)
$$ (US$20 to US$35)
$ (under US$20)
The prices quoted here are for an average three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include tax or tip.
Restaurant prices are subject to a state tax of 8.5%, which is added to the bill at the end. A service charge is not typically added, unless your dining party includes 6 or more, so it is assumed that diners will tip 15-20% of the total bill. Restaurants may also assess an additional cost for large seatings (usually over 15 guests) to cover overhead expenses. Reservations are recommended wherever possible; in the case of upscale and popular restaurants, they are essential.
Gastronomic
Boulevard
Located in the 1889 Belle Époque Audiffred Building, one of the few heritage sites to have survived San Francisco's 1906 earthquake, Boulevard is the brainchild of an award-winning designer and a noted San Francisco chef, Pat Kuleto and Nancy Oakes. The kitchen is where it rightfully deserves to be – in the centre of the restaurant. Counter seating allows guests to watch the chefs at work while savouring the fragrances of West Coast-French cuisine. Specialities from the vast menu include sautéed foie gras and crispy duck pancake with fresh blackberries in Minus 8 ice wine vinegar and a wood-oven roasted trio of lamb. Advance dinner reservations are essential.
1 Mission Street, Embarcadero South
Tel: (415) 543 6084.
Website: www.boulevardrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Gary Danko
Guests to Gary Danko's Relais & Chateau restaurant make their reservations months in advance for the pleasure of dining in the modern space with stylish dark-wood banquettes. The James Beard award-winning chef focuses on French, Mediterranean and regional American cooking, using seasonal ingredients, free-range meats and local artisan cheese. Dishes might include a risotto appetizer with lobster, rock shrimp, toy box tomatoes and zucchini followed by pan-roasted quail stuffed with wild mushroom ragout and port glazed figs. Desserts include a decadent chocolate soufflé with two sauces and a cholesterol-free mango. Set menus are available for three, four and five courses. Seasonal tasting menus with optional wine pairings selected by wine director Michael Rassmussen are available as well.
800 North Point, Fisherman's Wharf
Tel: (415) 749 2060.
Website: www.garydanko.com
Price: $$$$
McCormick & Kuleto's
One of the Bay Area's most outstanding seafood destinations, McCormick & Kuleto's commands the best views in town, with every seat in the three-tiered dining room overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito. Wood accents, high ceilings, designer light fixtures and hardwood floors add to the elegance of this dining experience. Fresh seafood is flown in daily from around the world, and the 30 fresh selections list reads like a seafood Who's Who. Families, business groups or intimate couples savour such favourites as coconut prawns with papaya mango salsa, or Corvina sea bass flown in fresh from Bali, Indonesia, served oven-roasted with lime cilantro glaze and coconut rice. The signature Dark Chocolate Bag dessert for two is the piece de resistance (or this desistance?), filled with cappuccino mousse and fresh berries.
900 North Point Street, Ghiradelli Square
Tel: (415) 929 1730 or 1 888 344 6861.
Website: www.mccormickandkuletos.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Millennium
Those who believe that vegetarian cuisine cannot be classy or inspiring have not been to Millennium. Take, for example, the Asian udon cake, a 'cake' of seared udon noodles topped with sautéed Asian vegetables, oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu, and kaffir lime in a Thai basil coconut curry. Raw food choices may include the rawvioli, in which sage scented cashew and pine-nut cheese is stuffed between Chiogga beet sheets and served with sundried tomato and olive tapenade, Fuyu persimmon and arugula salad. The restaurant has an open and airy atmosphere. The wine list features organic, vegan and biodynamic bottles and half bottles. Reservations for dinner are recommended.
580 Geary Street, Savoy Hotel, Civic Centre
Tel: (415) 345 3900.
Website: www.millenniumrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
One Market
One Market is located in the Embarcadero district, a perfect locale for an establishment that specialises in fresh seafood. The impressive menu items may include a sea urchin omelette, Maine lobster 'sangria' for two, a rack of veal with oyster mushrooms, along with plenty of fish courses. Its dessert selection includes a caramel-roasted stack of cinnamon-butter cake topped with warm peach sauce and buttermilk ice cream. The decor is elegant and clubby, but the restaurant's most striking visual characteristic is its 90-degree view of the waterfront and historic Market Street. Located directly across from the Hyatt Regency, One Market also offers a catering menu and two private dining rooms with intimate settings. A two-course business lunch or a choice of sandwiches provides several budget options.
1 Market Street, Embarcadero South
Tel: (415) 777 5577.
Website: www.onemarket.com
Price: $$-$$$$
Business
Aqua
Ultra pricey Aqua, never a stranger to the corporate credit card, has gone to even higher acclaim under the reins of chef Laurent Manrique. The upscale seafood restaurant has been consistently credited with offering one of the city's finest meals. Manrique, a Gascon chef who has delighted diners at Campton Place Hotel, continues to tantalize palates with Aqua's signature dishes such as crab cakes and tuna tartare and his special French touches to sea bass and lobster. The professional service, decadent desserts and spectacular wine list are legendary.
252 California Street, Financial District
Tel: (415) 956 9662.
Website: www.aqua-sf.com
Price: $$$$
Café Claude
An intimate touch of Paris is found in narrow Claude Lane, the secluded neighbourhood of Café Claude in the city's French Quarter. The tiny French bistro nestled amongst the urban skyscrapers between Union Square and the financial district is popular for a quick bistro lunch or a discreet rendezvous. Enjoy alfresco dining under colourful umbrellas, or dine inside in cosy banquettes. French prints and large exotic travel posters adorn the walls in bold earth and fire tones. A full-length mirrored bar reflects a modern Parisian atmosphere; while French wait staff serve favourites such as a trio of favourite patés, onion soup gratinee or salade Niçoise. Wines by the glass come in generous, elegant glasses. Local jazz musicians play Thursday through Saturday evenings.
7 Claude Lane, Financial District
Tel: (415) 392 3505.
Website: www.cafeclaude.com
Price: $$-$$$
The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton
The Dining Room offers seasonal modern French cuisine with a Japanese influence in a formal, elegant, candlelit setting. Chef Ron Siegel and sommelier Stéphane Lacroix have put together constantly evolving exquisite tasting menus available with wine pairings, featuring such delectable choices as sashimi, Maine lobster, squab breast and veal tenderloin. Dinners begin with champagne and end with artisan cheese selections and mouth-watering desserts. Dinner only. Closed Sunday and Monday.
The Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton Street, Nob Hill
Tel: (415) 773 6198.
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com
Price: $$$$
Silks
Silks has been at the top of San Francisco's restaurant list for several years. Its excellent Pacific Rim cuisine might include mains like yellow fin sashimi with ponzu truffle vinaigrette and feta foam, or brick pressed barbecue quail with a chilli vinaigrette glaze, Thai chilli jam, and green papaya salad. The restaurant's elegant setting and accessible location in the Mandarin Oriental hotel (see Hotels) means that it caters to both business and luxury clientele. No lunch is served at weekends; however, there is an Executive Lunch Menu during the week.
Mandarin Oriental, 222 Sansome Street, Financial District
Tel: (415) 276 9888 or 1 800 622 0404.
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com
Price: $$$$
Vignette
Fashionable, upscale dining in this charming restaurant attached to the boutique Orchard Hotel draws the Nob Hill crowd for a freshly creative menu inspired by French and Italian influences. Arched windows overlooking Bush Street, gilt mirrors and original paintings of San Francisco characters add to the elegant intimacy. Co-owner and executive chef Jason Yeafoli uses fresh ingredients from small farms and organic growers to create mouth-watering dishes. Pan-seared day boat scallops served with chanterelle mushrooms and snow peas remind one of the close proximity to a constant supply of fresh seafood. Co-owner Stephen Walker, the perfect maitre d', delights in serving wines from many small, individually owned vineyards.
The Orchard Hotel, 665 Bush Street, Union Square/Nob Hill
Tel: (415) 956 2972.
Website: www.vignetterestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Trendy
Eastside West
Located on historic Fillmore Street, this neighbourhood pub is as much known for its inspired jazz performances as its chic West Coast ambience. Eastside West takes fresh seafood to the limit, with its raw bar. Classic raw bar specialities include ceviche (raw fish or seafood cured with lemon) and market fresh oysters on the half shell that are served with a tequila lime sauce and wine mignonette. The restaurant also serves a selection of baked and grilled seafood. A popular Sunday brunch is served on the outside patio when weather permits.
3154 Fillmore Street, Marina/Cow Hollow
Tel: (415) 885 4000.
Website: www.eastsidewest.citysearch.com
Price: $$-$$$
Greens
A popular vegetarian restaurant, with an equally popular cookbook, Greens enjoys a steady clientele of non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians. Housed in a former US military warehouse, among dozens of art galleries, with enchanting views of the San Francisco Bay, the restaurant's 9m- (30ft-) high ceiling and rich, handcrafted wood interior lend further character to its unique setting. Menus change seasonally. Lunch items might include a deep-dish pie of winter vegetables in a mushroom sherry sauce topped with a Parmesan potato crust. Dinner selections might include Mesquite grilled brochettes of assorted vegetables and marinated tofu, served on almond currant couscous. The dessert menu is just as impressive, with selections of gourmet pastries, ices and fresh fruit dishes. Greens' menu always includes vegan recipes. There is also a takeaway menu for those who prefer to dine in the park.
Building A, Fort Mason, Marina
Tel: (415) 771 6222.
Website: www.greensrestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Oola
The newest late night dining spot in the popular SOMA district, Oola was voted one of the top 50 hotspots around the country by Bon Appetit magazine in March 2005. The French-influenced California bistro has sophisticated sex appeal, with its exposed brick walls, reclaimed timber, silk flags hung from the soaring 5.5m (18ft) ceiling panelled in metallic gold wallpaper, orange lighting and candlelight. Swedish-born owner and chef Ola Fendert uses local ingredients in favourites such as pear and Roquefort cheese salad and chicken and foie gras ravioli. Cocktails such as the Fresh Watermelon Cosmopolitan, or a choice of 10 different wines by the glass are served at the lively bar, and desserts alone are worth a stop in this cosy nightspot. Oola serves food till 0100 five nights out of seven, and is also a favourite with the late night theatre crowd.
860 Folsom Street, South of Market (SOMA)
Tel: (415) 995 2061.
Website: www.oola-sf.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Rose's Café
The sister property of North Beach's famed Rose Pistola restaurant, Rose's Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its Californian-Italian kitchen is cut from the same cloth, with fragrant sourdough breads, hearty pastas, such as fusilli tossed with anchovies, broccoli and chillies, and many popular seafood dishes, such as roasted mussels or grilled salmon. The casual café setting is a great place for people watching, while taking in a cappuccino and slice of fruit-filled focaccia. There is also heated patio dining, when weather permits.
2298 Union Street, Cow Hollow
Tel: (415) 775 2200.
Price: $$-$$$
Zuni Café & Grill
Open from noon till night, chef Judy Roger's restaurant serves creative Italian-Mediterranean fare at very kind prices, which makes it incredibly popular with the locals. The menu, like the airy and angular setting, is casual and eclectic with roasted-to-order chicken (it can take 45 minutes), a hamburger with Gorgonzola cheese on focaccia, and a Tuscan bread salad. These dishes have become almost famous in their own right and have been documented in Roger's 2002 cookbook. Around these staples are daily changing menu items. A balcony affords people watching and an oyster bar draws hip crowds. Reservations are essential. Closed Monday.
1658 Market Street, Hayes Valley
Tel: (415) 552 2522.
Price: $$$
Budget
Fog City Diner
Possibly the country's most famous diner, Fog City serves an upmarket version of the casual American comfort food. Macaroni and cheese is made sharp and sassy with Gouda, and meatloaf is served with wild mushroom gravy and truffled mashed potatoes, thereby surpassing the culinary cliché. Banana-chocolate brioche bread pudding and chocolate-toffee crunch cake are homemade dessert delicacies. The club car setting with typical diner booths might be a set, stylised with chrome and hardwood, and indeed many movies and television commercials have been shot here.
1300 Battery Street, Embarcadero
Tel: (415) 982 2000.
Website: www.fogcitydiner.com
Price: $-$$
Los Hermanos
Some of the best Mexican food can be found in small, unadorned diners where the locals line up in droves. The food at Los Hermanos ('The Brothers') definitely fits that bill. The beef burrito is an unpretentious blend of sautéed beef, rice, beans and salsa, with optional cheese, guacamole and sour cream. Located in the trendy shopping district of Marina, this place also does take away. Unlicensed.
2026 Chestnut Street, Marina
Tel: (415) 921 5790.
Price: $
Noah's Bagels
A small Bay Area chain, Noah's Bagels offers a variety of wildly flavoured bagels from Asiago cheese to chocolate chip along with some standbys like salt, poppy, and egg. The attractive selection of shmears (cream cheeses) includes garden veggie, maple raisin walnut, and sun-dried tomato and basil, and there are other tasty toppings like smoked salmon ('lox'), hummus, and peanut butter. Hot deli sandwiches at some stores include a corned beef Reuben, or there are paninis, salads and soups. Since this is San Francisco, one can also get an espresso and fresh juices. Limited seating is available. Unlicensed.
Laurel Heights Village, 3519 California Street
Tel: (415) 387 3874.
Website: www.noahs.com
Price: $
Pyramid Ale House, Brewery and Restaurant
A trip to the historic city of Berkeley on the east side of the Bay is a mandatory excursion for some, especially for those who enjoy the East Bay's eclectic entertainments, its bookshops, coffee houses and venues such as this one. Home to one of California's more popular breweries, the Pyramid Ale House features a classic assortment of West Coast draughts, including Pyramid's own wheaten ale and Northwest-style Hefeweizen. Seasonal brews are also available. The restaurant's cuisine is standard American – starters like nachos with jack and cheddar cheese, two kinds of salsa, sour cream and garnishes, and mains like baby back ribs or honey Dijon chicken.
901 Gilman Street, Berkeley, East Bay
Tel: (510) 528 9880.
Website: www.pyramidbrew.com
Price: $
Ti Couz
This little French find, named for the Breton expression for 'old house', serves savoury buckwheat dinner crepes and delicious sweet ones for dessert. Diners can't go wrong with the thin ham and gruyere cheese crepe, folded Brittany-style into a square. For dessert, a lighter batter creates wispy, thin crepes with fillings such as Nutella and orange caramel. French hard cider is the beverage of choice at this very popular spot.
3108 16th Street, Mission District
Tel: (415) 252 7373.
Price: $$
Personal Recommendations
Ebisu
Lines snake around the corner for a table at Ebisu, considered by many to be one of the top sushi restaurants in the Bay Area. Wise patrons attempt a visit at non-peak dining hours for a shorter wait. This plain-Jane neighbourhood spot has been here for about 20 years and is a legend for its creative maki-roll concoctions such as Two Balls No Strikes (Translation: spicy tuna wrapped in thinly sliced avocado with no rice). Diners need not stick to the menu, however. They are welcome to order any combination they'd like or put themselves in the hands of Steve Fuji, the chef and owner, who is happy to bring cuts of the freshest fish in nigiri or delectable maki combinations. Diners need just ask.
1283 Ninth Avenue, near Golden Gate Park
Tel: (415) 566 1770.
Website: www.ebisusushi.com
Price: $$-$$$
Forbes Island
A dining experience fitting for San Francisco – on the world's only floating island. Created as a floating home in 1975 by entrepreneur Forbes Kiddoo, the island was turned into a restaurant in 1999, complete with 12m (40ft) lighthouse, sandy beach and live palm trees. Anchored off Pier 39, within a stone's throw of the barking sea lions, Forbes Island is perfect for that special romantic occasion. A short boat ride to the island, and either dine with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, or descend below water level to the main dining salon, with nautical artefacts, teak woodwork, brass lamps and large portholes with the occasional glimpse of fish swimming by. Wait staff in sailor suits serve French classics and fine local seafood. The rack of lamb in a ginger honey demi-glace, and the filet mignon, are cooked to perfection and worthy of the high price.
Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf
Tel: (415) 951 4900
Website: www.forbesisland.com
Price: $$$$
Jardinière
Although the food is a performance in its own right here, Traci Des Jardin's French-California cuisine is particularly coveted for a pre-theatre meal, given that it is within steps of the Opera House and major theatres. Like many San Francisco menus, Jardinière's changes daily. Guests to this brick landmark building with enormous windows might find a seared foie gras starter with caramelised rhubarb and gingered baklava and such mains as duck breast with cherries, lentils and braised bacon. A six-course tasting menu is also available. Open in the evening only.
300 Grove Street, Civic Hayes/Hayes Valley
Tel: (415) 861 5555.
Website: www.jardiniere.com
Price: $$$$
Moose's
Don't be fooled by the exterior – Moose's is a classy restaurant serving American fare in the expansive jazz-filled dining room that exemplifies San Francisco's Victorian elegance. Ed Moose himself is known as the godfather of the hospitality business. Rub shoulders with City Hall officials or celebrities while you watch the chefs work their magic in the open kitchen, or enjoy the view looking through huge picture windows onto Washington Square. The menu is divided into small plates, allowing diners to savour several delicacies. Sunday Jazz Brunch may include a trio of sweet and tasty oysters, buttermilk pancakes with huckleberries and lemon curd, eggs benedict and a glass of champagne. Moose's provides live jazz seven nights a week and a prix fixe menu is available nightly until 1930.
1652 Stockton Street, North Beach
Tel: (415) 989 7800.
Website: www.mooses.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
The Slanted Door
The upmarket Vietnamese restaurant, formerly in the urban Mission District, now operates in the newly restored Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. The well-prepared food (with a nod to a Westerner's palate) for which it was known now comes at slightly less attractive prices. As ever, though, the menu hits the mark with standard starters, such as cold rice-paper rolls stuffed with thin noodles, pork, shrimp, and mint, served with peanut sauce. Particularly refreshing are the green papaya salad and caramelised catfish in a pot with fresh ginger. The tamarind five-spice chicken and steamed fish dishes (order a side of greens to accompany both) are also good choices. There is a wide selection of green and black teas, plus fresh-squeezed juices and full bar and wine list.
1 Ferry Building no.3, Embarcadero
Tel: (415) 861 8032.
Website: www.slanteddoor.com
Price: $$$
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