Grandma visiting from Boston... Need affordable suggestions!

[sonj818]

Tomorrow, my grandmother is coming in from Boston for almost a week! We'll be spending Saturday night in Sonoma, but will be in the city Friday night, then Sunday-Thursday.

The problem is: I'm 27, most of the spots I go to are too loud/trendy for an 80 year old. So

Any ideas for affordable, unique places to take her? (think approx $30-40/person including drinks/wine.. if possible) She's open to anything, with the exceptions of Chinese (other Asian cuisines are ok) and Mexican.

Note: Geography isn't really an issue... I live in Laurel Heights, my bf in North Beach, and she'll be in the Wharf.

I've already thought of: Tony's Pizza Napoletana, Cafe Ideale, Pizzeria Delfina, Cafe Divine...

We'll probably do something more along the lines of fine dining one of the nights as well, if you have any suggestions. I was thinking Chapeau, Range, Aziza, or something in Belden Alley..

Thanks for your help!

[ML8000]

Take Granny to Hayes St. Grill. It's quiet, you'll be able to have a conversation and the interior is like a nunnery or a church hall in the Scottish countryside.

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Hayes Street Grill
324 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[JasmineG]

If you're thinking about brunch, when I went to Absinthe for brunch I specifically thought that that would be a great place to brunch with a grandma, because the food is good, with both creative ideas and classics, the space is still nice and upscale, and you can make a reservation (I know my grandma does not like to wait around for a table).

La Ciccia would be a nice place to take her -- the service is lovely, the food is great, and it's a nice low key dining room, and not noisy at all.

[vulber]

It's hard for us to help you pick places that would be appealing to your grandmother if you don't tell us what she likes, unless you're looking for places similar to the ones you've mentioned.

Haven't been to Range, but Chapeau and Aziza are both superb. Out of the three though, I would probably pick Chapeau!, the service there is among the best in the Bay Area. I know my grandmother would certainly appreciate a restaurant where they fold the napkin onto your lap when you sit down, as they did.

Furthermore, the $25.50 3-course prix-fixe offered Sun-Thurs. from 5-6pm is an absolute steal.

[sonj818]

She likes basically anything, but especially appreciates unique and modern takes on cuisines she holds most dear: American, Mediterranean, Italian, and Seafood.

(She lives on the Harbor in the North End of Boston... So, if possible, I'd like to bring her to California-style restaurants, especially for Italian and Seafood.. Especially for the weeknight, affordable dinners.)

[vulber]

Go to Delfina but if you do, make a reservation now. Pizzeria Delfina would probably be too noisy.

I haven't been to Sotto Mare, but I've heard unanimously good things about it from people I know who've been there, and that would take care of both seafood and Italian.

Pesce also combines Italian and seafood, but I haven't been and have heard mixed reviews.

Aziza is definitely a unique take on Moroccan cuisine; although I find that Moroccan cuisine, while it could be considered Mediterranean, is different from what I traditionally associate with Mediterranean.

You could do Kokkari.

The problem is that most "unique" or "modern" takes on cuisines are also more expensive than those cuisines traditionally are...

[Robert Lauriston]

I'd use "Kokkari" and "affordable" in the same sentence only with a "not very" in between.

[bbulkow]

Why seafood? It's so much better in boston.

[vulber]

Depends. If you do indeed do seafood, do something unique to the West Coast that you can't get on the East Coast (like dungeness crab)

[bbulkow]

Even as out of season as now?