Consensus best Italian, seafood, Asian

[terrycatch]

Will be visiting in October and was looking for some kind of consensus around the best restaurants for dinner in the city: one Italian; one seafood; one Asian.

Location not a major issue, as we can take taxis from our downtown hotel. Cost is flexible, providing the consensus is that a higher-priced restaurant recommended is definitely worth the bill. Ideas?

[Robert Lauriston]

I don't think there's any consensus, but here are some discussions:

Italian: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/390807

seafood: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/508456

Thai: http://www.chow.com/places/38942

Chinese:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/44845
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/604653

sushi: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/508841

Korean: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/490903

[vulber]

I don't think you'll get much argument that Acquerello is the best Italian in the city. If price is an issue, Delfina.

Best "Asian" is extremely vague.

[bobpantzer]

Agree on Acquerello, for sure as the top Italian. Delfina is also a fine choice but also consider Incanto and La Ciccia (Sardinian) and also Perbacco. Tadich Grill is a good seafood choice--one of the oldest restaurants in the City--no reservations. Asian, as vulber, said is pretty vague as it covers Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, etc. Can you be more specific?

[terrycatch]

Apologies for the vagueness. As to "Asian," was looking for inspiration, not specificity. A sort of "you gotta try THIS" response. Could be Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, fusion...

Also, the Tadich Grill web site is preparing to launch (re-launch?). Also, would prefer a place that takes reservations, given travel and time restraints.

[bobpantzer]

You'll likely get a number of responses recommending Slanted Door for Vietnamese. I think it's good but not as good as it used to be. Nice venue, though, in the Ferry Building. Lers Roi (Thai) also gets a lot of favorable reviews but it's not in the greatest of areas.

[vulber]

You might want to consider The House for Asian, I haven't been there though. And then there's also Poleng Lounge, I went there recently and was very impressed, although it's definitely still more of a bar than a restaurant and very noisy.

At one point, Aqua would have been the hands-down pick for seafood, but that restaurant is in a huge mess right now.

I felt ripped off at Out the Door and have no desire to try The Slanted Door.

Also, while it's more of an Italian restaurant with a seafood-heavy menu than a seafood restaurant, you could also consider Sotto Mare.

[Robert Lauriston]

Acquerello might be the best French-Italian fusion in the city (I haven't been to Quince to compare).