from nyc looking for special SF dinner

[calconscious]

Will be in SF in two weeks. Looking for one special meal. Tend to prefer quieter places. (this will be for a Monday, Tues, or Wed night so I'm hoping I'll be OK making reservations w/i a few days )

1) Which would you recommend for a special meal:

Boulevard
Danko
Mina
Jardiniere
fleur de lys

2)Also went to farallon a few years ago - loved it, is that still good?

3) Partner loves red sauce - so any recommendations for North Beach (I think that's your Italian section?)

4)will be spending an evening in the Castro any favorites?

thanks!

[SteveG]

I'll admit I'm a west coast kid who doesn't really "get" red sauce Italian, but I think the Sausage Factory in the castro does an OK job of it, complete with the big chopped Italian salad served on a pizza plate. I would have serious trouble convincing myself a red sauce dinner was worth the hassle and drunk suburban frat boys of North Beach.

We have a discussion about red sauce Italian on the board pretty regularly, I bet a search would turn up some recommendations. Similarly, there's a fair amount of debate about which of the special restaurants are the best, but of the ones you mentioned I think Boulevard and Danko edge the others because the chefs are still involved instead of distracted by ever expanding empires. I think Boulevard is maybe a bit more uniquely San Francisco/California than Danko, which strives for more of an international haute cuisine experience that you can get in any major city in the world if you're willing to spend the $$$. Someone is sure to recommend La Folie. If you go there, make sure to request the front dining room. The back dining room is an inferior experience at the same price.