517207 Thu May 08 13:08:21 -0700 2008 12 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 3669317 I will be visiting SF from New York City next weekend and have most of my meals planned out. One lunch is still up in the air, though, so if you had to pick, would you rather go to Aziza, Canteen or Zuni? That same day, we will be going to Primavera at the Farmer's Market for breakfast and Osha Thai for dinner (dinner is a big group thing, venue can't be changed). I am looking for a great, unique-to-San Fran dining experience. The other places on our eating itinerary are: El Farolito, Slanted Door and Bar Tartine for Sunday brunch. Thanks! Thu May 08 13:08:21 -0700 2008 118858 KiwiGirl625 1 3669364 Aziza's not open for lunch. Zuni's one of my favorite places for lunch. One wall is windows so during the day there's lots of light. Thu May 08 13:20:42 -0700 2008 3669317 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 3669365 Aziza doesn't serve lunch, so you're out there. Canteen serves brunch until 2 on weekends, so they will have both breakfasty foods and more lunch foods. I like Zuni a lot, but between the two I would go to Canteen. It's a very unique to SF dining experience, the food is great, and you'll probably spend a lot less than at Zuni. Thu May 08 13:21:11 -0700 2008 3669317 13525 JasmineG 1 3670361 i'll second zuni. very comfortable place. deb and i hit this place up for lunch shortly after we touch down in san francisco. it's automatic now. Thu May 08 18:19:49 -0700 2008 3669317 10627 steve h. 1 3670409 Zuni is great for lunch. They have burgers and pizza from the wood oven (neither is on the dinner menu, but the burger is served after 10 p.m.). But I love Canteen too so you can't go wrong. One big difference is that the Zuni space is beautiful with high ceilings and lots of windows. Canteen is minimal diner decor with little in the way of a view. Thu May 08 18:42:24 -0700 2008 3669317 10157 farmersdaughter 1 3671536 Both Zuni and Canteen offer very pleasant lunch experiences. Zuni has more seating and a larger menu, so I might go there. BTW, consider swapping Taqueria San Jose for El Farolito. I was a devotee of the latter until being pointed to the former. The spit-roasted al pastor is much more flavorful and juicy at San Jose. I also love their marinated grilled chicken. Plus, San Jose gives you the option of black beans. Fri May 09 08:33:54 -0700 2008 3669317 18466 a_and_w 2 3677223 Second the choice of Taqueria San Jose ovee El Farolito. And like others, for a visitor I'd almost always choose Zuni over Canteen. Canteen's menu is very limited because it's such a tiny space. So while everything on it is usually delicious you won't get as comprehensive an understanding of San Francisco's culinary abundance as you will at Zuni. You could easily make a morning of brunch at Zuni: have a tray of oysters and sip a bloody mary while waiting for your roast chicken, then move on to one of their decadent desserts and a cup of coffee. All the while you'll have plenty of interesting people watching: either a view of the street, of the kitchen, upstairs overlooking the bar, etc. At Canteen you're just there to enjoy the food and get out so the next customers can cram in. Sun May 11 15:14:42 -0700 2008 3671536 11577 Pei 1 3671895 If you want a place to relax and bask in your vacation then I'd go to Zuni. Good food, but not "creative." If decor isn't important and you're curious about more interesting food, then Canteen. Fri May 09 10:00:47 -0700 2008 3669317 12327 PegS 2 3671906 I don't think Canteen's food is much more creative than Zuni's. Both are sort of Cal-Italian-French, with Zuni leaning more toward the Italian tradition and Canteen more toward the French. Canteen is tiny and may already be fully booked. Fri May 09 10:03:41 -0700 2008 3671895 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 3672060 Canteen does not take reservations for weekend brunch. Fri May 09 10:39:53 -0700 2008 3671906 13525 JasmineG 4 3673073 What are the waits like? Fri May 09 15:12:23 -0700 2008 3672060 11369 Robert Lauriston 5 3673119 I've been for brunch three times: the first time we walked right in and sat at the counter (party of two) the second time it was about a 5-10 minute wait (party of two), and the third time it was about a 30 minute wait (party of three). So usually not that bad. Fri May 09 15:26:07 -0700 2008 3673073 13525 JasmineG 1 3673144 I wold vote for Zuni, though I dearly love Canteen. Zuni on a weekend lunch day is so wonderful with the sun streaming in the windows and all the people watching. You feel like San Francisco is in your lap. Canteen is more cozy, and the brunch dishes are usually leaning heavier towards "breakfasty" brunch than lunchy brunch. Fri May 09 15:32:41 -0700 2008 3669317 10189 celeste