San Francisco 4 July

[miss chicken wing]

Hi,

I am travelling to SF from the UK, arriving Sunday 4 July in the afternoon... any tips on where to go in the evening to eat/drink - I'm with my boyfriend and we'll be pretty tired but would like somewhere lively to go to near Union Square (where we are staying and we don't have a car).
We'll be in SF for 3 days and would love some tips on where to eat. Ideally cheap(ish) places that aren't touristy. Really excited by the Vietnamese and Chinese food scene, would also love some great sushi and some nice brunch places. Nothing too formal, just good food and vibrant atmospheres. Any tips would be hugely appreciated.
We've then booked two nights in Guerneville - any tips on nice places near there? We'll have a car by then so happy to drive for up to an hour to eat out.

Thanks

[miss chicken wing]

Just a quick note to let you know how all the eating was...
Nopalito was the standout meal for us. Lovely laid back place, delicious food, particularly enjoyed sharing the small plates, great beer with salt and lime.
Yank Sing - really good dim sum but horrendously expensive (we eat good dim sum a lot in London and the bill is half what it was there). Great xiao long bao.
Home - not sure where we picked up that recommendation, the food was fine but the place is supremely depressing.
Also not sure where we picked up the Bodega Bistro tip. It was really disappointing. Admittedly I think we ordered badly (everyone else's food looked more appealing), but there was almost nothing redeeming about the dishes we ate. Although the place was packed so clearly they are doing something right.

And... Boon in Guerneville was excellent. Really tasty, fresh dishes using local cheese and meats and homegrown veg. V impressed.

Anyway thanks for all the tips - will be back again one day to check out more places (loved the sound of Bar Crudo, but never made it there)... for now London will have to satisfy my appetite

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Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Bar Crudo
655 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

[miss chicken wing]

Thanks for the tips so far... we did realise July 4 is a holiday when we booked!!! Still no idea what to do in the evening - sounds like it's going to be pretty busy.

So far we've settled on:
Bodega Bistro for Vietnamese
Nopalito for Mexican
City View / Tom Kiang for dim sum (which is better?)
Memphis Minni's / Da Pitt for BBQ (which is better?)

Any tips on good sushi?
And any places near Guerneville would be great.

Thanks... looking fwd to the food already

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Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

City View Restaurant
662 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[Windy]

City View is better than Ton Kiang.

Traditional July 4th food: hot dogs, barbecue, cole slaw. Maybe a pie?

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City View Restaurant
662 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Ton Kiang
5821 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

[miss chicken wing]

Sounds good, where do we go for that?

[Windy]

to a park and find a hot dog cart.

[wolfe]

Does the Crissy Field Warming Hut have hot dogs? The views not bad.
http://www.virtuar.com/ysf2/img/sf/DS...

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Warming Hut
983 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA

[ML8000]

At the fireworks view area near Hyde Street Pier, Ghirardelli Square and that area, they use to have a street fair with hot food vendors, hot dogs, corn, bbq, etc. It runs all day. Not very gourmet but definitely American summer food. I haven't gone in at least 7 years but I'd guess they still have it.

[Ruth Lafler]

Yup. July 4th Waterfront Festival. I know Miss Chicken Wing is going to be tired, but it would be a shame for a visitor to miss out on THE American holiday. Plus, the best way to beat East-West jet lag is to stay up late and go to bed as close to your regular bedtime as possible.

[miss chicken wing]

Okay, we'll check out the festival and hot dogs sound good (can't get a decent one in London for love nor money). Agree staying up is the best way to beat jet lag (though I am a total wimp....)

[Ruth Lafler]

I was reminded today, too, that July 5 is what you would call a "Bank Holiday Monday" so be sure to take that into account (it will, for example, affect public transit schedules).

[Windy]

Not very gourmet is exactly the point.

[CarrieWas218]

I heartily recommend Sushi Aka Tombo in Japantown.

Guerneville is fairly remote, but it does have the Applewood Inn and Restaurant and the highly-rated Farmhouse Inn.

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Farmhouse Inn
7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436

Applewood Inn & Restaurant
13555 HWY 116, Guerneville, CA 95446

Sushi Aka Tombo
1737 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115

[Calvinist]

And don't forget 4th of July is a major holiday. Big fireworks show and crowds along the waterfront. Make sure any place you want to go is open (although I think most would be).

[wolfe]

British still trying to forget that particular colonial holiday.

[Ruth Lafler]

Right. Crowds along the waterfront and the Marina and the fact it's a picnic/BBQ day more than a restaurant day might make Union Square quieter than usual on a summer Sunday. Some of the French places on Belden Place and Claude Lane might be good choices. Or they could take a nap and join the festivities, especially if it looks like it's going to be clear rather than foggy by the time the sun sets.

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Belden Place
44 Belden Pl, San Francisco, CA 94104

[wolfe]

Miss wing, check out the categories on this list that interest you. It will give you a base for the add-ons from other posters.
http://www.chow.com/lists/1591