Advice please...1st wedding anniversary in SF

[parkinkent]

I'm looking for a knock-your-socks-off restaurant in SF to celebrate my 1st wedding anniversary. To give you some perspective on our tastes, my wife and have tried a few of the nicer restaurants in the area and here is our take: Chez Panisse (decent), Gary Danko (utterly underwhelmed), and Ubuntu in Napa (amazing). I'm looking for something romantic, with creative and utterly delicious cuisine (emphasis on this last part).

We're open in terms of region / style of cuisine, and are most interested in having one of those "i cant believe food can taste this good" moments. If this were your one requirement, where would you go?

Thanks!

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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558

Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

Gary Danko
800 N Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[cavolonero]

Commonwealth or Coi

[wolfe]

Aziza for romantic. My wife and I liked our meals but we are not in the "I can't believe food can taste this good" school of dining.

[wolfe]

Recent Aziza report.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7407...

[skwid]

You should be able to get something really good at The Dinning Room at the Ritz Carlton and I think this would be the most romantic of any of the restaurant mentioned. Ron Siegel is an excellent chef (if there is lobster on the menu by all means get it and see why Mr. Siegel won Iron Chef Lobster on the original show in Japan).

[Rapini]

I thought of the Dining Room as well; but if the OP didn't enjoy Chez Panisse or Gary Danko, I hesitate to refer him to some of the other recognized restaurants in the area.

[skwid]

Chez Panisse is quite a bit different than The Dinning Room in both food and setting. I've never been to Gary Danko so I can't speak to that. The problem here is that places like Ubuntu typically aren't very romantic (someone mentioned Frances).

Note that I've been to Ubuntu (not with the new chef though) and for a wedding anniversary The Dinning Room should blow Ubuntu away, particuarly in the ambiance part of the meal as long as the original poster isn't averse to formal settings (I will say I thought Ubuntu was good but not spectacular for food).

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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558

Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

Gary Danko
800 N Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[Justin L]

TDR is closed sundays I think OP was lookin at that day

[CarrieWas218]

I would steer him away from Chez Panisse as well. It is far too informal and -- frankly (as quantified by their slipping rating this year -- not the grand temple of gastronomy it once was.

I would counter with either Cyrus or Meadowood and ordering heavily from the vegetable side of the menu. Even those of us who are meat eaters are seeing local chefs make more daring and innovative dishes with vegetables while the protein courses are remaining somewhat lax.

I ate at French Laundry on Labor Day and split the vegetable course and meat course with a fellow diner and with the exception of one scallop dish, the vegetables were far more intriguing. This has also been the case at Nombe, but that atmosphere (while the food is stunning) isn't quite anniversary worthy.

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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

Nombe
2491 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Rapini]

I haven't been, but from friends and others, I've heard nothing but good things about Frances--and it's open on Sunday.

[vis]

Frances is excellent but has a casual neighborhood feel to it - so i might skip that if you are looking for something more grand.
La Folie is great and romantic. You may also try the new Michael Mina restaurant - I haven't been but it's a beautiful room.

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La Folie
2316 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109

[CarrieWas218]

Saison.

You will spend a little money, but if you are a happy Ubuntu customer (like me), than Saison is your place. If you want to spend a LOT more money, book the chef's table. Regardless, you won't be disappointed.

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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558

Saison
2124 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA 94110

[parkinkent]

Awesome. Thanks so much CarrieWas218! Looking forward to it.

[parkinkent]

Argh! Saison is closed on Sundays (the day of my anniversary). Any other suggestions from Ubuntu-loving gourmands?

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Saison
2124 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA 94110