NEVER been to San Francisco (or even California)

[umisquirrel]

I'm planning on going to San Francisco for a long weekend. Does anyone have any must-try recommendations for restaurants and/or bars? Or reputable websites that review San Francisco restaurants?

I'm totally open to any kind of restaurants- hole in the wall, fancy, any kind of cuisine. Am also a big cocktail fan. Just want to know what I should definitely aim for.

Thanks in advance!

[wolfe]

Now that this thread has resurfaced how about the promise to report back or is the trip still in the future?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6867...

[PolarBear]

Gladly, "There is no there, there" Hey Wolfe, how the hell are 'ya? Given limited time and exposure really diggin' HoseMaster and Samantha Sans Dosage

[ML8000]

Tommy Joynt is fine for what it is...inexpensive but hearty hof brau if you happen to be in the area. That was my criteria when I lived in SF...if I happen to be near there and wanted a "winter meal" and only wanted to spend $7-8 bucks, I'd stop. It's honest but not exactly fabulous. Character-wise, it only has character because it's old and dark.

[bbulkow]

Tommy's Joynt is a must-miss in my book. It beggers belief to consider it the "one night" restaurant in San Francisco.

Roast Turkey I can make at home - and better, too. If you want old-school charm, hoof it up to House of Prime Rib. Unless you have exactly ten bucks. Then go down to Tommy's.

Tommy's is *NOT* 3-stars on Frommer's. It's 0 stars. An easy confusion, as they use this funny greyed-out star system. But Frommer's has about 116 SF restaurants which are 1, 2, or 3 starts - thus better than Tommy's. Tommy's garners mention due to its funky charm and uniqueness among SF places, not because it's actually tasty - notice they never mention the food being tasty. Artery clogging, yes. Tasty, no. Read for yourself.
http://bit.ly/bxW8bE - review
http://bit.ly/bbV7fG - SF list

TJ did not make Bauer's Top 100 in san francisco.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/maps/top100/2009sf

Nor did it make Eater's Top 38 Essential SF Restaurants
http://sf.eater.com/archives/2010/01/07/eater_38.php

Nor did it make Bib Gourmand's list of about 60 places, and certainly not Michelin
http://bit.ly/aTxNKk

No list of this sort is perfect (Frommer's says Greens is two-stars, same as Fleur de Lys and Zuni - I'd argue against that), but the fact that Tommy's is on NONE of these lists should make a point.

As pointed out, even though Zagat's has a few of their reviews, it's not Zagat's rated, and it's been pointed out what their last rating was. 14 food is considered rather poor around here.

Yelp is not reputable.

[c oliver]

Good info. I'd add that if one were determined to have THAT type of food, I'd go to Lefty O'Douls. At least it's in a neighborhood where there's something to do before and after.

[bbulkow]

If I had $10 for dinner, I'd get a Rosamunde Sausage and a pint at the Toranado. Or get a curry at Pakwan or Shalimar. Or do the vaunted Mission Burrito. Even factoring in the cheap factor, there's far better places to eat.

[c oliver]

Oh, yeah. Why come to SF and eat something that you can cook better at home?

[wolfe]

Actually if one reads Frommer's correctly the stars are not highlighted and the rating is no stars.
If you doubt it, check the way the stars look at Gary Danko.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/...

[c oliver]

Okay, so flunked Yelp (how does any resto do that?) and Frommers and I've not talked to anyone in some time who hold Zagat in any esteem. Hmm, got me running --- AWAY :) But, hey, if someone who lives in New York wants to stand in line to get a mediocre meal, I'm not gonna stand in their way. I'll be down in the Mission chowing down myself.

[c oliver]

I am SO on the same page with you.

[c oliver]

Bourban and Branch http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/ gets a lot of mention on CH. I haven't been but it sounds like quite the experience.

[SusanaTheConqueress]

Eh... No "news" on their own site since '06-'07...
This week, NPR's "Talk of the Day" did mention a similar theme, in Spain + an intriguing dining experience in pitch darkness, said to be unnerving for some.
Again, the food's to the right & the bar's to the left when entering Tommy's Joynt.
Easy to at least (2) points OP mentioned in one fell swoop.
I'm eager to read of OP's ultimate selections upon return from the adventure. :-)

[c oliver]

This thread has some good options:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/686608

[bbulkow]

San Francisco is an awesome cocktail town. The trick to the 'board search' is switching to 'relevence' mode after your first search fails. These posts were in the first few for 'cocktail bar'.

Cocktails
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/639802
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/567971
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/656574
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/618103

You should also have a Frenet somewhere, sometime if you haven't had one before. SF is the #1 consumer of Frenet - R Bar specializes, but everyone has it. Order a shot later in the evening when things are winding down, ginger back.

Requests for websites are handled on the Media board, but I will say Yelp here is about like Yelp in NYC - terrible.

[SusanaTheConqueress]

We're often there for 1-5 days & enjoy the place on the corner by Cathedral Hill Hotel - Buffalo Stew, Braised Ox Tails~ You can't go wrong - as the crowds lined up attest! "-)
ENJOY!
The rest is fairly can't miss -
We've been everywhere we wanted to be 'cept ONE PLACE ~ it's about 6 blocks up from the water & 5 inland from Fort Mason - very touted, but we've never found parking within 16 blocks of it & always found something to catch our eye while driving in ever-wider loops around, trying to get in the place! lol!
It's never been "meant ot be!"
We've never had a good pizza there since Summer 1969... That's note-worthy!
Hope this helps - FOR SURE: The place on the corner by Cathedral Hill Hotel.

[wolfe]

A joint by any other name,Tommy's Joynt.
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/2374/...

-----
Tommy's Joynt
1101 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109

[c oliver]

I'm sorry. I just can't let the OP think that Tommys Joynt should be a can't-miss place for a weekend trip. Here's the menu, OP:

http://www.tommysjoynt.com/foodmenu.jpg

You can search these boards and find 1000s of places better, I promise. Go the the Mission District and you can spend the entire weekend and never have to drive. Go to Chinatown, North Beach. Search the SF board using those three criteria and you'll come up with scads of choices.

[c oliver]

Here's part of a Mission report from grayelf, a regular visitor:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/669922

Also look at rworange's lists and anything Melanie Wong writes. Many other great posters on the SF board. Fine one you like and follow them around CH :)

[nocharge]

Tommy's Joynt doesn't have a Zagat rating anymore. But it used to. In the 2002 edition, it got 14 for food, 13 for decor, and 13 for service. Couldn't find a whole lot of lower food ratings than that other than the Hard Rock Cafe at 11.

[Melanie Wong]

It's linked on this page, but I'll add a url for the page for Tommy's Joint that accumulates Chowhound discussions, since readers of this site come here looking for that.
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/2374/...

[Robert Lauriston]

Five blocks from Fort Mason would be Union Street. Capannina? Nettie's? Parking is tough around there but there are garages, buses, and sidewalks.

[alanbarnes]

Personally, I think the best general rundown of San Francisco dining is right here on Chowhound: http://www.chow.com/lists/1591

[SusanaTheConqueress]

+1 AlanBarnes Spot-on! :-)

[Robert Lauriston]

Read this board for a few weeks, and get yourself a copy of Patricia Unterman's San Francisco Food Lover's Pocket Guide.

http://www.randomhouse.com/author/res...

[Keesey]

7x7, a magazine about San Francisco, just posted their best 100 dishes for 2010. Can be found here: http://7x7.com/2010-big-eat-sf-100-th...

For cocktails, I'd recomment Cantina for modern cocktails (fruit blends and such), Bix for their classic cocktails (well made martinis), Bourban & Branch (for bourban based cocktails), Nihon Whiskey Lounge, and Rickhouse.

[umisquirrel]

Thank you so much everyone! I will definitely report on my trip.

Does anyone have any suggestions for where to go for a Mission burrito? Also, is there a Vietnamese place you'd suggest? NYC is seriously lacking in that department (IMHO).

[wolfe]

Perhaps this thread will help with burritos.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/422377

[Keesey]

Many enjoy Turtle Tower for their Chicken Pho aka Pho Ga. Awesome fresh flavor! It's just wide noodles with chicken... nothing like a Combo Special #1 with tons of meat and junk.

Or a block away is Bodega Bistro serving Vietnamese dishes with French influences... not your usual pho joint. I like their squab.. they also serve an exceptional Bun Rieu, or Crab Meat Noodle Soup in a tomatoey broth. For bahn mi's the best in all of the Bay Area is Saigon Sandwich on Larkin St. The Tenderloin is just filled with exceptional Vietnamese places.

I also like PPQ Dungeness Island Vietnamese Cuisine in the Richmond District. They're better known for their dungeness crab and garlic noodles. They also make a really great steamed sea bass.

Mission Burritos... I wouldn't know where to start! Just throw a stone blindly in the Mish and enter that restaurant. =) But my go-to is Taqueria Cancun or La Taqueria.

[waldrons]

One thing to note... the Tenderloin pho places are better done during the day.. the area is a little rugged at night. And because of that, some even close at 8 or 9 pm.

Susan

[travelames]

A friend recommended this place for dinner. We had a group of 7 people there last night - a Tues. We had 1 drink each and some small plates to share. I'm not sure about everyone else, but at least 2 of us left starving. The bill was $300, and we $12 - $15 drinks.

The small plates were okay. I didn't do the ordering so not sure of all the names, so going by description:
- bowl of oysters (on fire): tasty, but almost impossible to eat with chopsticks
- bacon wrapped shrimp: nothing special
- broccoli & cauliflower: it tasted like just cooked veggie with some sauce
- kobe beef with some salad: beef was nice
- sashimi: not sure of the type of fish, but very tasty
and maybe 3 more dishes that were not memorable.

If you're looking for a bar with a good atmosphere and drink selection, Nihon is a good pick. However, I would not call this a dinner place. I can't even imagine what it would cost if we ate until everyone was full.

-----
Nihon Whisky Lounge
1779 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

[bernalman]

I'll add a favorite weekend brunch spot in the north Mission-- the Mission Beach Cafe.

[bernalman]

That's too general a request.

Read this board, and check out tablehopper.com for some recommendations on restaurants and bars. See the Chronicle's 100 best restaurants and Bargain Bites list at sfgate.com

Sfweekly.com, sfbg.com, Yelp, Zagat, sf.eater.com among others have restaurant recommendations and links.

[umisquirrel]

Thanks so much!. I knew it was a really broad request, and I do apologize. That's why I asked for websites that I could trust. Also, I had looked at posts, but was a little overwhelmed since I am so unfamiliar with the area.

I would be interested at really cutting edge places as well as ethnic places or specialties only available in San Francisco. I guess it is still broad...

For some more info, I live in NYC and am from Chicago. I will be staying in San Francisco and will not have a car. So anything that's walkable or accessible by public transportation would be appreciated.

Thanks again!

[Ruth Lafler]

Well, you can trust this one! NY/Chicago is pretty helpful info, actually.

SF doesn't really do cutting edge -- everything tends to be influenced by California cuisine ingredient-driven philosophies; local, seasonal, etc. Where SF really shines is in it's low-to-moderate restaurants -- I wouldn't bother with any "fine dining" while you're here.

First, I assume by "long weekend" that you'll be here Saturday morning. The farmers market at the Ferry Building is a must. You can gawk at all the produce, even in mid-winter, and check out the various prepared food stalls. Primavera might be a good choice.

Aziza (Cal-Moroccan) is unique, and might (depending on your schedule) be worth the trek out to the Richmond. Although Asian food in general is no better here than in NY, Burmese food is very strong. There's been a boomlet of Yucatecan places, and an ongoing flourishing of Peruvian places. Regional Italian has been very hot, but I'm not sure it's any different from what's going on in NY.

[chris2269]

Yes, go to the Ferry building on a Saturday. I have visited SF 2 - 3 times a year for the last 10 years and feel I've missed something if I don't make the Saturday Ferry Building Farmers Market. My foodie head is always on a constant swivel and I love having oysters and a grilled cheese sandwich (cheese provided by cow girl creamery a few stalls down) at Hog Island Oyster Company while looking out over the bay. Also I think Coi is pretty cutting edge at least on par with The Bazzar in LA or The Dinning Room at Langham in Pasadina..though maybe a step under WD40 In NY. Please report back on your trip.

[bernalman]

To focus on one ethnic cuisine, you might try Peruvian food while you are in SF-- you can read the NY Times article on SF Peruvian restaurants. La Mar is very scenic, on the Embarcadero, with unusual and good food. Limon and Limon Rotisserie (a bargain for the chicken) in the Mission are great. Piqueos on Cortland Street is quite good if you make it out to Bernal Heights, but it is a little far by transit.

To focus on one area, I highly recommend the Mission as an accessible, affordable area to try a variety of cuisines and cocktails. Beretta on Valencia and 23rd St for food and cocktails, Flour+Water (make a reservation now!) for interesting pasta and pizza, Saison for a fancy meal, Mission Street Food for cheap but interesting food, with proceeds going to charity. Delfina (and its pizza adjunct), Bar Bambino, Farina, Bar Tartine are all quite good. Vegan SF style at Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre. Many places for a classic Mission burrito. Dessert is great ice cream at Humphry Slocombe or Bi-Rite Creamery. Breakfast at the Tartine bakery. Coffee at Four Barrel, Ritual, or Dynamo Donuts. That is just a sampling of one neighborhood!

[c oliver]

Here's the link to Muni, the SF bus and subway line:

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php

I think driving is almost always a hindrance rather than a help. A bus will generally get you closer to your destination than any on or off-street parking you can score. Just as a point of reference for walking, we frequently walk from the north end of North Beach (almost the wharf) to the Union Square area. Plenty of window shopping, wine and cocktail and coffee opportunities.

[Ruth Lafler]

You're right -- not much of a walk for a NYer, either.

[waldrons]

Holy cow, this is a tall order! The topic of "what's the best (fill-in-the-blank) restaurant" in San Francisco has started holy wars, so there are literally as many answers to your question as there are 'Hounds. You might browse past postings to get a general sense of what's been recommended for other folks. And while I know that you're totally open, the more specific guidance you can give us, the more specific our recommendations can be.

To start, where are you coming from? (That way, we don't recommend a Chinese restaurant if you're visiting from Hong Kong.) Where are you staying, and what type of transportation will you be using? (That keeps us from recommending a great place that you couldn't possibly get to.)

Michael Bauer is perhaps our city's biggest name restaurant critic... some people love him, some hate him, but you can read for yourself at www.sfgate.com/food

If you are looking for some "symbols" of San Francisco cuisine, I'd say:
Tadich Grill for old-school, straightforward fish (preferably petrale sole
)Coi for high-end, cutting edge, new-wave molecular gastronomy
Hog Island Oysters for well, fresh oysters
visit the Ferry Building on Saturday morning for the farmers' market (in front and in back) as well as the shops inside

Hope that helps!

Susan