San Francisco Restaurants
I think you are so lucky to be going to SF in July. It is one of my favorite US cities and I go there as often as I can or I can arrange business.
Although I cannot remember a few names I will try to recommend a few of the newest finds during my last trip in November.
Globe- Not affiliated with the one in NY. Hip, cute little restaurant with a great atmosphere, terrific food and a nice crowd. I cannot remember the street
but they are all in short range of each other like Manhattan.
In the Sir Francis Drake hotel we had a WONDERFUL lunch. I cannot remember the name but it was a bight, colorful Italian restaurant. Very chic, from what we
were told by others. Delicious, Tuscan, I believe. Great wine list, terrific fish, pastas, salads. Different levels of seating and in the lobby of the hotel. It is right in Union
Square.
If your budget allows, I hightly recommend at least having drinks and perhaps fingers foods, if not dinner at the Top of the Mark. This very classy, chic restaurant/bar in
the Mark hotel (the top) is a sight not to miss. Views of the whole city, wonderful wine and champagne list. Terific finger foods, I never had dinner there. It is just a beautiful
place to sit and relax and watch the view.
Lastly, if there is anyway for you to figure out where this place is by the few clues I am about to give, dining here is quite an experience. It is an ocean themed restaurant.
Lots of blue and green and fish. You're supposed to feel like your under water and they serve hip, casual food in a lively environment. It is quite popular. There is a bar in front and a
restaurant in back. The name is something like Fish or Swim, it may be 2 words. I just threw out the managers business card last week, coincidently. I just said to myself that
"Why would I ever need it? HAHA!
Oh, and if you can get to Sausalito, there is a restaurant at the top of the hill, it is in a beautiful hotel called Alta Mura. The view is UNBELIEVABLE, the food is okay . Salads, sandwiches
etc. If you go, it is for lunch. Don't eat dinner, don't bother. It is a must see for the view, or just have drinks. I heard there is a better restaurant up the hill, maybe not as good a view but better food.
Hope I was of some help. Keep checking in, you never know when I will remember more. I try to go there often.
Have a great time.
Michele
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I realize it's months after the fact, but someone else
might read this later and benefit. The great
underwater-themed restaurant Michele's referring to is
called Farallon, and it is indeed well worth a visit:
for the uniquely quirky decor, the hip, relaxed crowd,
and excellent food. The address is 450 Post St.
(between Mason and Powell), just a half-block west of
Union Square. It can be quite expensive if you indulge
(which you always should do in San Francisco!) -
The name of the Italian restaurant in the Francis
Drake Hotel is Scala's Bistro. The food is really
terrific there -- very flavorful and gutsy. If you go
to the Wine Country, it's sister restaurant there
Bistro Don Giovanni is equally wonderful.
Globe's address is : 290 Pacific Ave. (bet. Front &
Battery) 415-391-4132›9 Replies-
re: Gary Cheong
here are some great meals, italian rose pistola, jackson-fillmore, trattoria contadina. the House(on grant), Yank sing for dim sum. in berkley Olivetto. Tommy's is a great mexican/tequilla bar. go to s.f.pizza lombard and gough. buca giovanni. plumpjack cafe, hawthorne lane, Kabuto sushi,Zarzuela tapas, ebisu sushi,Doidges for breakfast/brunch,. this should help.
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re: stephen kaye
Rose Pistola -- I have not been too impressed with it,
but hear both good and bad about it. Actually I hear
more bad comments about it recently. I'd take Scala's
over it any day.
Olivetto's -- agree with you it's very good.
Yank Sing -- dim sum is good enough, but expensive. I
think can do better (food-wise and price-wise) in
Chinatown or in the Richmond district. Have you tried
Harbour Village or Ton Kiang for dim sum ?
PlumpJack Cafe -- it's pretty awesome. Maria's
chocolate souffle is out-of-this-world. Definitely
worth the 20-minute wait for it !!
Hawthorne Lane -- had a disappointing meal there last
time. I think it's very over-rated.
SF is such a wonderful eating town, isn't it ?-
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re: Gary Cheong
the best sushi in the bay area, from personal
experience of eating at about 40 of them, is kirala in
berkeley. there might be a wait though, especially
after 8pm.
actually there's better places but they are small and
little-known, and the regulars would get mighty angry
if i revealed them.Link: http://www.joe.to
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re: joe
Yes, of course ... secrecy. The likelihood
is of course great that we Chowhound stalwarts
would charter a jumbo out of La Guardia,
fly into Oakland and systematically ruin
each of your favorite restaurants one by one
should you happen to be foolish enough to
reveal the names of the sushi bars
you really like.
I believe the poor fellow in Jakarta who
inadvertantly told us where to find his
favorite ayam soto has not yet really
recovered from the shock, though the doctors
all assure us he's going to be fine.
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re: Gary Cheong
I would love some good suggestions on great Chinatown restaurants. I have to entertain 8 people during the restaurant show which will be in SF at the end of August and would like to find a midprice, not too fancy, good Chinese restaurant that foodies would find delicious and authentic.Thanks for the help, if you can.
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