387348 Sun Apr 01 19:31:13 -0700 2007 18 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2441447 I have a award "prize" to eat in any restaurant in S.F. for two people. We've narrowed it down to 2 places. Which do you recommend Aqua or Farallon? Or if you have a strong "other suggestion" feel free. We can probably spend about $200 and we do like tasting menus... meaning I am more into the food rather than having spectacular restaurant interior design. Thanks for your advice! Sun Apr 01 19:31:13 -0700 2007 81896 boomer13 1 2441488 I haven't been to Farallon, but my suggestion would be not Aqua. I've never had a memorable meal there. Sun Apr 01 19:49:23 -0700 2007 2441447 13525 JasmineG 1 2441496 i love love love aqua, and did not like farollon at all. Sun Apr 01 19:53:36 -0700 2007 2441447 13235 lotta_cox 2 2442253 We thought Farallon was pretty bad. Very mediocre food at very high prices. I can't believe the Chronicle ranks it in the top 100 every year. Mon Apr 02 07:10:32 -0700 2007 2441496 35409 uptown jimmy 3 2502137 yeah, what gives with that? the service was poor, the atmosphere seemed somehow not authentic (?) or maybe trying too hard, and the food was ok, but nothing to write home about. Sat Apr 21 09:52:28 -0700 2007 2442253 13235 lotta_cox 4 2502174 The decor's intentionally unique, so authenticity doesn't really enter into it. Definitely way over the top, like dining on a movie set. Sat Apr 21 10:17:31 -0700 2007 2502137 11369 Robert Lauriston 5 2502327 I'd describe it more as "where the adults go while the kids go on the disney submarine ride". Sat Apr 21 11:48:20 -0700 2007 2502174 16770 psb 1 2441570 I think they both have arrogant service but I'd give the food edge to Aqua. Ritz Carlton Dining Room is going to ring in above $200 for the tasting menu [although I think Aqua will too], but I think they are waaay better. I havent been to Campton Place since that Humm fellow left but that was also an excellent meal and service. Of course there is Boulevard. Sun Apr 01 20:20:45 -0700 2007 2441447 16770 psb 1 2441699 Aqua is beautiful on the inside, particularly the flowers. I prefer it to Farallon, but agree with the suggestion of the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton. Have fun! Sun Apr 01 21:31:32 -0700 2007 2441447 44765 dinnerout 2 2441803 Farallon ... though neither is a favorite of mine. What did you like about what you've read about those restaurants to put these at the top of your choices? I hear Farallon has a good pastry chef right now. Sun Apr 01 22:39:29 -0700 2007 2441699 10264 rworange 3 2443127 Emily Luchetti has been the pastry chef at Farallon since it opened. http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/menus_recipes/dessertmenu.html Mon Apr 02 11:12:04 -0700 2007 2441803 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 2445187 I think we were trying to narrow it down to places for seafood. Since we are going with about $200 wine selection is secondary in selecting a restaurant, since I will probably have to spend the money on the food. (and consider supplimenting with my own funds for beverage) Another thought was to perhaps splurge on a nice lunch if there are any places that do something like a tasting menu midday. Can someone suggest any places in S.F. that is notable? Tue Apr 03 00:56:38 -0700 2007 2441803 81896 boomer13 1 2441967 As between the two, Aqua. If you like wine all of these places will come in more than $200 (although Boulevard and Farallon not by much). Ritz way way above $200. I'd go with Boulevard or maybe Ame. Mon Apr 02 02:24:12 -0700 2007 2441447 50041 whiner 2 2443145 Farallon has bottles from $20--exceptionally low for a place with $35-40 entrees. http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/menus_recipes/wine_list.html Mon Apr 02 11:15:35 -0700 2007 2441967 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 2442468 We had the tasting lunch at Farallon a couple of years ago and it was fantastic. It was part of the January Dine About Town program with a prix fixe menu. Great value as well as quality. We got one order of the accompanying tasting wines and shared them, which was still plenty of wine, also quite reasonably priced. So I have very fond memories of it. Mon Apr 02 08:18:41 -0700 2007 2441447 19542 Karen_Schaffer 1 2447005 I have been very disappointed with both. Farallon you're paying purely for decor, and Aqua is overrated/has gone downhill in my opinion. If you're looking for other recommendations, with tasting menus, with an emphasis on tasting menus - I'd recommend Ame for sure. Tue Apr 03 13:11:56 -0700 2007 2441447 27927 mrsricho 1 2502412 My votes for Aqua. I've been to Farallon a few times and like a lot of others have said it really does feel like you are paying for the decor and the service does not meet the prices you're paying for the food. The timing of this post is funny because someone just gave me the Farallon cookbook as a present and after looking through it, I recognized a few of the dishes that I've ordered in the past, but none that I would really consider recreating at home. Nice coffeetable book though. Sat Apr 21 13:01:24 -0700 2007 2441447 43515 adrienne156 2 2579419 I never tried Farallon, and now I'm glad I didn't given the comments. I had lunch at Aqua a week ago. It was a special occasion with 3 tables and a predetermined selection. The first course was tuna tartare. There must have been nearly a cup of tuna. The tuna melted in your mouth. It was excellent. Course #2 was foie gras quickly seared and served in kumquat reduction and the oils from the liver. I was lucky to have two servings since one at my table didn't eat organ meats. The livers were not large but the flavor made up for the size. The third item was a salmon on a bed of greens and course four was seared ahi tuna. This was not as good as the others perhap because we were in hour 2 of lunch and it may have sat too long. Dessert was the volcano cake, I know they called it something different. Nevertheless it was very rich with dark thick chocalate and a light cup cake like outer. No one left any behind. I would definetely go back. The service was excellent. Perhaps it was because one of the guests was Kathleen Turner. Thu May 17 16:30:04 -0700 2007 2502412 17611 bluecheesewiz 3 2583456 After making 2-3 different reservations for the Dining Room at Ritz Carlton, Aqua, and Acquerello, I finally endend up doing the tasting menu w/ wine pairing at Acquerello based on the recommendation from fellow CHers. Excellent meal, way more wine that I could possibly drink. (I was rolling out of there by the time we finished over 5 glasses of wine!) For the $110 price for 5 courses (one being a amuse bouche) with wine; this is an excellent value that is a real treat. Great service, couldn't be happier. Some highlights were the roasted pork spicy ravioli (pasta course) and the guinea fowl (main course). Thanks for the suggestion. Fri May 18 21:55:47 -0700 2007 2579419 81896 boomer13