low-key first night in SF near Union Square?

[JessR]

Hi, I'll be arriving in SF on a Friday afternoon in July from the UK so will likely be pretty jet-lagged. I'm staying at Campton Place, has anyone got any recs for somewhere low-key and relaxed to have dinner?

Would like somewhere near the hotel, probably 'American' food or something 'typically SF' maybe? Would prefer not Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indian.

Any thoughts would be excellent - I was wondering whether Farmer Brown might be one?

Thanks.

[rworange]

Campton Place itself has both a nice and relaxed restaurant as well as a bistro
http://www.tajhotels.com/Luxury/Campt...

I haven't been since the latest chef change, but this hotel has a reputation of launching the careers of various chefs.

[fdb]

Do you like seafood? If so, you may want to check out Bar Crudo. It's a few blocks up from your hotel. They have very delicious crudo (sashimi) and chowder. The place is tiny so reservation is a must.

http://www.barcrudo.com/

[Absonot]

I agree on Bar Crudo!

It is uniquely San Francisco. It's a small, cozy space with a bar and loft seating. Really interesting crudo and salads. Plus they have a killer beer list if that appeals to you. If you go, get the chowder!

[JessR]

Love seafood, and Bar Crudo was on my list! So might be an option for that night, thanks.

[Carrie 218]

Canteen. quintessentially the best "typically SF" meal you could possibly get in the city and decidedly low key. A reservation will be required though, since seating is limited. But if you are by yourself, eating at the counter is a lot more fun anyway.

[JessR]

thanks, will look at Canteen and Scalas.

[JasmineG]

Canteen would be perfect, and it's fun to eat at the counter there.

[Giselle]

I second Scala's. No wandering west and south! Talk with concierge about that.

[whiner]

Farmer Brown might work. I've not been there; the one thing I'd say is just to take notice that you don't go wondering around the neighborhood immediately west of it at night.

I've heard a couple of nice things about Roots Restaurant http://www.therootsrestaurant.com/ -- I've also not been there.

For some reason, I find Scala's Bistro http://www.scalasbistro.com/ to be very relaxing and easy. It is a little pricey because of its location. But I always feel very comfortable and relaxed when I'm there...

[Ruth Lafler]

I think Farmer Brown might be a little too noisy to be considered "low key."

We had a nice dinner at Fish and Farm the other night. It's very quiet, and the menu concentrates on local, seasonal offerings. It's just off Union Square (on the back side of the Hilton), although in a quirk of San Francisco geography, that neighborhood quickly goes downhill.

-----
Fish and Farm
339 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

[JessR]

Maybe Farmer Brown is best for another night when noisier would be better, then, thanks. I suspect that after a long flight I'm just going to want somewhere relaxed.

[Xiao Yang]

Farmer Brown might be one of the very few truly "American" options but therein lies my problem with Farmer Brown. They make a lot of noise about "local," "sustainable" and supporting African-American farmers, but the menu is peppered with things like Hand Cut Kennebeck Fries, Grilled Berkshire Spare Ribs, Oregon Bay Shrimp Cakes and Chesepeake Bay Blue Crab Puffs. It's a bit TOO "sea to shining sea" to be credible.

[Robert Lauriston]

Berkshire is one of the heirloom breeds favored by most sustainable pig ranchers. Kennebec potatoes are grown locally.