Must eat places!

[gooseman]

First time posting here, I tried a different board but I got few responses. I searched the board already but still would like your opinoins.

In a few short weeks, I will be escaping the culinary wasteland that is Tampa, FL and coming to partake in the joys of SanFran. However, the choices are somewhat overwhelming and so I need some help. I will be visiting for about seven days, and have alloted three budget busting meals for myself. Of course, I made the mistake of leafing through the Michelin guide and now have more options than I know what to do with. So, if you could only do three for dinner, which of these restaurants would you pick?

I don't have culinary restrictions except that I dont eat pork. Love Japanese food and sushi/crudo type dishes, vegetables when inspired and creative, and, of course, I appreciate a really fine piece of meat.

Here's the list:

-Ame - read some reviews here and was thinking to do the sitting at the bar thing and order crudo
-Canteen
-Coi
-Fleur de Lys
-Koo sushi
-Gary Danko
-La Folie
-Chez Panisse - requires a trip to Berkley and there's a lot of talk about it not being worth the hype, but so much history and influence that I feel almost shameful not going there
-Michael Mina
-Aqua

If some of these are better for lunch, please let me know.
Thank you!

[Robert Lauriston]

I'd drop Aqua, the chef just left due to the place's finances being in disarray as a result of squabbling among the late owner's heirs.

For raw fish, I'd go to Sebo.

[rworange]

Yeah ... the Michelan guide ... not so much for SF. You have a bunch of people who are not local with a bias toward French cuisine ... let's say that some of it is a little off mark.

If you scroll down the board there is a recent La Folie report and you can see if that is for you.

I have never been a fan of Aqua. Currently they are going through some legal battle, have cut back on lunch hours and I just wouldn't recommend it ... even less at this time.

There's a Michael Mina in Miami. Why go to a restaurant that is relatively near to your home and won't be much different. It is more of a business dinner sort of place, IMO. For great cocktails, you might stop by MM's clock bar to get a feel for the food with the bar snacks.

Here's a link to a list that also has a link to SF fine dining. When you click in the names in those lists it will take you to the restaurant record with lots of linked reports for each of those places.

Visitng SF. Eat like a local not a tourist.
http://www.chow.com/lists/edit/1591

Is there a reason you ruled out The Dining Room at the Ritz? IMO, that would be a much better choice than Danko. Someone else recently said it better that when Danko opened it was something special, but so many places have that formula down these days.

I glance at the Florida board from time to time and you should definately make the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market a stop on Saturday morning. You will weep.

Which reminds me, are you planning to drive to Berkeley if you go to Chez Panisse? If so, you might check out some of the local markets such as Monterey Market and Berkeley Bowl West for an idea of what great produce markets are. They aren't farmers markets, but in season you get up to 30 varieties of a peach or apple or whatever.

If you appreciate simple, straight forward cooking that uses the best quality ingrediants in the Bay Area then, yes, stop at Chez Panisse. I personally would recommend it for at least knowing what it is all about You can also go across the street to check out The Cheeseboard, one of the best cheese shops in the Bay Area.

[celeryroot]

I have been to all except Koo Sushi and Ame. I agree with Robert on Aqua currently. With the exception of Crudo and Canteen the others are more formal. I have been taken to the MM restaurant in Miami , it is nothing like the one in SF, it is a steak house. So I would ignore the comment . For more casual but great you might look at Delfino and Incanto. I think any of your choices would be great. Enjoy yourselves.
Actually, Chez Panisse is casual.......all the ones mentioned use excellent quality local ingredients.

[rworange]

My mistake. I didn't look close enough at the website to see the Miami restaurant owned by this group is Bourbon Steak. The menus for restaurants elsewhere in the country with the name "Michael Mina" seem to have a similar menu to the SF location.

Here is a report posted today by someone who isn't such a fan of the SF location.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/643954

I liked my MM visit long ago when it was the only location and Mina was actually in the kitchen. At that time I was in the minority of locals who liked it. These days I figure my money is better spent at places that aren't upscale chains. I'd even recommend Gary Danko over MM since Danko's only focus currently is that restuarant. In other words, the chef has not left the building.

[Marc Veyrat]

If you're coming in from a culinary desert and looking at only 3 limited chances to sip from horn of plenty, I'd take off your list: Aqua (for the reasons Robert Lauriston raised); Koo (which is lovely -- I was just there -- but is just a B+ and is a bit of a trek to get to; La Folie (too much of an expensive Cirque de Soleil experience); and Canteen. I like Chez Panisse, but have always been put off by the schlep to Berkeley (I'm a city guy), and find that it's not quite the same as it used to be. Stick with Ame, Coi and Danko. You seriously cannot miss with any of them. But make your reservations now.

[gooseman]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm definitley going to drop MM, Aqua, and possible Fleur de lys.
Anyone have any thoughts about Sebu or Incanto? I saw them both on Anthony Bourdain's show and they looked. I've been craving great sushi ever since I got back from Tokyo in 2008. Incanto also seems to do great things with offal..

[rworange]

I'm not a sushi fan but from reading the board, you might consider taking a ferry to Sausalito and try Sushi Ran. I'm sure others will comment.
http://www.chow.com/places/28058

Incanto is a board favorite as is Canteen. Both are unique in there way and not the formula restaurants.

[Shane Greenwood]

Incanto is fantastic. If you like offal it is not to be missed. Even if you don't or are unsure, it's very good and they offer some top notch, non-offal dishes too.

[Robert Lauriston]

I think Chez Panisse is the same as it used to be, it's just not so exceptional now that there are a dozen or more places that do similar farm-to-table, seasonal food. To me, Camino has exceeded the original.

[vulber]

If you're in the mood for something unconventional, Aziza.

[gooseman]

Any places in sanfran serve anything along the lines of molecular gastronomy(like WD50) ? I ate there in NY and thought it was quite cool..

[Robert Lauriston]

Not really:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/605519

[skwid]

The closest would be Coi for this type of food. However a word of warning on Coi, the original Sommelier (Paul Einbund) is no longer there and IMO made the restaurant with his drink pairing which were unparalleled. The food is still great but compared to 6 months ago sometihng has been lost.

[Robert Lauriston]

He's currently consulting at Aziza: http://twitter.com/pauleinbund

[lexdevil]

Across the bay at Commis in Oakland James Syhabout is using some of the techniques, though in a pretty restrained manner. Sample menu is here: http://commisrestaurant.com/#/menu

A recent thread on Commis: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/633013

[whiner]

For me, from this list, this is a no-brainer.

Ame, Coi, La Folie.

I have a very long, very recent review of La Folie here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/639677

[dunstable]

Sebo (assuming you meant Sebo and not Sebu?) kicked all kinds of ass the few times I've been there, I can happily recommend that. Ditto Incanto; I love that place.

I don't really understand the strikes against La Folie and Fleur de Lys; the meals I've had there were amazing. The same cannot be said for Aqua; I had a mediocre (and expensive) meal there long before Manrique left.

When I went to Gary Danko, at the end of the meal I asked for a copy of the menu, and they gave me one signed by Danko himself that came in an elegant envelope. Makes a nice souvenir, if you're into that.

[gooseman]

Thanks for the great replies, I really appreciate it.

[lexdevil]

Last time I ate at Fleur de Lys (admittedly 3 years ago) I found the food fussy, with far too much going on on the plate. Simply too many ingredients. Not an error in execution, but a flaw in design (to my taste). Best dish by far (and it was really excellent) was a trio of soups, which were outstanding and very simple.