660759 Mon Oct 19 13:26:37 -0700 2009 13 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 5115048 My friends are getting married and I want to get them a gift certificate for a meal at a nice restaurant. However, they are vegetarians and I don't really know what the best options are. The restaurant doesn't have to be vegan, but I want them to have more than just one or two items as options. Mon Oct 19 13:26:37 -0700 2009 282648 bpressman 1 5115070 Your best choices are Greens (vegetarian, amazing view, pretty good food), Millenium (very fancy vegan food) and Ubuntu (in Napa, so it's a destination from SF, but amazing vegetarian). Mon Oct 19 13:32:39 -0700 2009 5115048 92823 milklady 2 5115198 I wouldn't send them to Greens or Millenium. Ubuntu is a great choice if you think they won't mind driving to Napa. There are several upscale restaurants that do vegetarian tasting menus, including Fleur de Lys, Masa's and The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton. Mon Oct 19 14:12:08 -0700 2009 5115070 10159 Ruth Lafler 3 5115363 Another good option is Manresa. La Folie is another option. My vote would go to Manresa or The Dining Room. I haven't been to Ubuntu yet. Greens and Millenium are...dependable, but nothing really makes me want to go back to either. Mon Oct 19 15:03:56 -0700 2009 5115198 1116797 goBeaglego 4 5115521 great idea to give a gift certificate to a omnivorous restaurant with a vegetarian tasting menu! Mon Oct 19 15:58:15 -0700 2009 5115363 92823 milklady 5 5116088 Try the "Into the Garden" dish at Manresa... Mon Oct 19 20:00:00 -0700 2009 5115521 126639 marilees 4 5117236 The vegetable dishes I had at Manresa were great, and the vegetarians at the next table seemed delighted with their menu. Ubuntu's chef was formerly Manresa's charcuterie guy. Tue Oct 20 09:52:01 -0700 2009 5115363 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 5115304 We loved Greens- didn't find the place dated or the food fussy. The waiters were awesome and every dish we ordered was so tasty. It's the kind of place where you could tell the food was well thought out. Millenium we didn't go to, because the menu was very heavy on Indian-influenced food. Might have been just the nights we looked at the menu though. A friend went to Ubuntu recently and loved it. He said the food was heavier and a little greasier than what was to be expected. Mon Oct 19 14:49:44 -0700 2009 5115070 217807 cheesecake17 2 5115435 "Best" is debatable, but those are the only upscale vegetarian restaurants. Coi has a vegetarian option, doesn't it? Mon Oct 19 15:26:35 -0700 2009 5115070 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 5118292 Coi used to have "either/or" options on their protein courses, but I think the menu is no longer structured that way. However, since the majority of the eleven course menu is produce anyway, someone was looking for a top of the help vegetarian option, should call Coi and ask for clarification. Tue Oct 20 15:47:39 -0700 2009 5115435 11277 Paul H 1 5115620 I second the Ubuntu suggestion. Their food is clever, local, tasty and well-presented. And the setting is gorgeous. La Folie also has a good vegetarian tasting menu - just depends on how much you want to spend... In my experience dining at Greens over a 10 year period, their food has become less inspired, waiters more surly, inexperienced (or both) and is just an overall poor value. To their credit, the wine list remains interesting and bay views unmatched. But seriously, your friends deserve better than this! Mon Oct 19 16:41:48 -0700 2009 5115048 13196 Alba 2 5116175 I will third Ubuntu. My last visit to Coi has too many mis-steps and I completely agree with Alba that Greens has slipped over the years. You want upscale and exciting? Give them Ubuntu -- there is nothing else like it in the country. Mon Oct 19 20:49:43 -0700 2009 5115620 1087059 CarrieWas218 1 5116313 And I will 4th Ubuntu. Greens is a good value for lunch, dinner seems to be overpriced. In a totally different category there's DOSA (not completely but mostly vegetarian), which, while upscale for what it is, is not upscale compared to generally upscale restaurants. Mon Oct 19 22:14:21 -0700 2009 5115048 292347 vulber 1 5118282 Hi all, thanks so much for the suggestions! Tue Oct 20 15:42:10 -0700 2009 5115048 282648 bpressman