Looking for Wine Bar or Really (yes really) good

[masnole]

restaurants (bigname ones even) that allow dining at the bar and have a relaxed time.

Will be travelling solo on business and will be in SF 1/16-19.

Love very creative/inventive food, great wine selection by the glass, good crowd to enjoy food & socialize.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Calvinist]

Incanto's bar is small but I've had my best meals sitting there rather than at the tables.

[Lori SF]

second on Incanto..great food and interesting wine list. I have only sat at a table and I typically enjoy sitting at the bar my perception would be that the bar seems kinda cold and the space does not seem so inviting for a solo diner.

[masnole]

Can you eat at the bar at Aziza? Menu looked interesting online.

Thanks!

[Carrie 218]

You might want to peruse this recent thread on dining solo in SF. Many great recommendations with bar dining.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/468544

[masnole]

Windy - You make a good point, I sppose I should have narrowed down more. One thing is that I'm open to practically any cuisine, so was hoping to see something new/different to pique my interest.

Carrie - Thanks for that link.

Overall, Seafood (inc. Sushi), Inventive/Eclectic Cuisine, and Italian are most what I'd be looking to find.

[Lori SF]

Bar Crudo would be a good option, the space is small and fun. The crudo and other raw fish dishes are fantastic. Best to sit at the bar and to watch them make the food.
A16 for Italian as another option, lost of excellent Italian wines.
Coi has a lounge menu-http://www.coirestaurant.com/menu-lou...

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Coi
373 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

Incanto Restaurant & Wine Bar
1550 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94131

A16
2355 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94123

Bar Crudo
655 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

[evileva]

Nopa would be a great choice.

[masnole]

I may have mispoke..... I want great food first, tied with great wine selection and fun atmosphere/great scene.

Threw out the term wine-bar, not sure how to phrase what I want.

FWIW - I live in NOLA currently, though spent most of my life in metro NYC. Have done all the good spots in both places and from travels, most cities in the US and in several around the world...

I hope this helps redefine....

[Windy]

The trouble is your description applies to at least 100 restaurants in this city, possibly twice that many. Even if they're hard to get into, most have bar seating and almost all have a fine selection of wines by the glass. In the past year, a wine bar has opened in nearly every neighborhood.

So unless you're more specific about price point, cuisine, and neighborhood, you'll get somewhat random advice--personal favorites of people posting including the fine recommendations above.

[Paul H]

Great food and a great wine selection, excellent scene = Boulevard at the dinner bar overlooking the kitchen.

Take a look at the menu and wine list here: http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com

[chutney]

Bix
Hidden Vine - cheese plates, duck breast, chorizo plates tues-sat. free cheese night on thursday with some really nice offerings.

[Lori SF]

Cav Wine Bar & Kitchen-1666 Market St was very good I have not been there for about 6 months, I heard the chef left so I am not sure how it is today, good wine list. Around the corner or behind in the alley near Zuni is Hotel Biron very cool spot but they only have cheese, olives and that sort. Great atmosphere.
EOS is in Cole Valley- 901 Cole St. the food is interesting along with good wines.
Hidden Vine- is a cozy spot no food except a cheese board on Thursday.
I would go to A16 and sit at the bar, great Italian wines and great food.

Bacar- great wine list but have not been in such a long time.

[Cary]

Gary Dankos
Myth
Piperade -communal table
Range