Ladies Dinner for 9?

[Patsgal]

Hello Bay Area Chowhounders!

I am coming to the west coast from Boston in May with 8 lady friends and we are looking for some fun, affordable recs. Specifically, we are celebrating a special milestone with a day of wine tasting in Sonoma and then coming back to have dinner in the city. (Read: we will be tipsy.) We are staying in the Union Square area but recs in any location would be great. Looking for something that's fun, high energy, and not over the top pricey. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[bbulkow]

Lots of places like that - San francisco's a fun town. What's your definition of pricey?

Any particular kind of food you like?

[Patsgal]

I would prefer a restaurant where the entrees are $20 and under. And we love all types of food but would probably lean away from sushi or chinese on this particular night. I was thinking Mexican could be fun?

[CarrieWas218]

Maya on the Sonoma Square is a perfect choice!
http://www.mayarestaurant.com/

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Maya Restaurant
101 E Napa St, Sonoma, CA 95476

[Patsgal]

Thanks Carrie but we are having dinner in San Francisco, not Sonoma...anything along the lines of Maya in the city? Thank you!!!

[bbulkow]

There is a Maya in the city, but it was great a decade ago. It's actually priced right, but was always a little formal.

Mexico DF, perhaps. Comes in right at your price point. In general, san francisco is not good at sit-down mexican.

Take a look at the menu at Salt House. There's a lot of places similar to that (ie, Town Hall, Slow Club, Aziza, Foreign Cinema, NOPA) where the entrees are "in the 20's" (one or two below, most mid, one higher). All of these places are modern, fun, with good food. For mid-20's you can eat just about anywhere recommended here.

If you want to up-weight style and cocktails over food, consider Heaven's Dog. The food's OK, but the style and cocktails are first rank.

[Ok, NOPA might be in your range, but it's notoriously loud.]

[sugartoof]

Nopalita (owned by the Nopa people, but Mexican) or Chilango.

Both are a great match for a Sonoma trip.

After that, maybe Poc Chuc (a lot more casual, good for groups, but despite the reputation on CH as a bargain eats, it's on the pricey side).
Maybe Colibri which is closer to your hotel, or Contigo Kitchen (Spanish).

[Keesey]

Cha Cha Cha's in the Mission? Tapas place.. loud, high energy, good sangria. Quite affordable. Food is decent. I would make a reservation for your large party though.

[vis]

Maybe try Le Colonial

[CarrieWas218]

Personally, if I were to go tasting in Sonoma for the day, I would stay there for dinner; Girl and the Fig, La Salette, or La Haye Cafe would be great choices.