3 Chefs/3 Nights......we need help

[tito]

We will be in town for 3 nights and I am looking for good food.

We don't have to go to the big boys (Coi, Aquarello etc) but I am looking for good ingredients, and good foo well prepared.(with a decent wine list!!)

Price point $100 per person or less.

Does Delfina fall in that catagory??

Thanks in advance for your help!

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Delfina Restaurant
3621 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[betwylok]

Spruce does have a nice bar where you can eat.
Also, Zuni Cafe is a fun, lively place to eat!

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Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

[betwylok]

Bushi-tei in Japantown - small, good wine list, good food - however may be too quiet for you if you're looking for a night out on the town.

House in North Beach may be a good place - in the middle of North Beach, good food.

Prospect or RN74 is downtown... but I think RN74 will probably run over $100 per person if you drink a lot of wine.

If you're looking for less gourmet places and willing to go a bit further...
Tommy's Mexican on Geary has great Margaritas!

Have fun!

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Tommy's Mexican Restaurant
5929 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

RN74
301 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

[saffrongold]

but only great Margaritas. Food is meh and you'd be missing the wine list requested.

[cavolonero]

I would consider Commonwealth, Range, Bar Tartine, Aziza, Incanto, and Cotogna and also Boulette's Larder for lunch

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Bar Tartine
561 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Cotogna
490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

[tito]

You guys are awesome.......I just looked at the menu on the Frances website.......looks deeelish!

Does anyone know how far in advance they take ressies??

[ML8000]

I'd just call them and say you're 3 chefs from out of town. They might extend professional courtesy.

[AnonymousWaitress]

If they don't extend a reso as a courtesy they open up reservations 2 months in advance on OpenTable so check today or in the next couple days to reserve.

[steve h.]

Quince would be my first choice. Cotogna, the Quince annex, is a less expensive option. Both Quince (V 2.0) and Cotogna are newly opened. What the Tusks and wine steward David Lynch have put together near Jackson Square is pretty special. You can walk there from your hotel if the weather is ok.

Consider SPQR (spawn of A16) for a taste of current San Francisco dining at a moderate price point. The wine selection is wonderful, seating is cramped. I like this place a lot.

Bar Crudo will meet your price point: it's small, it's flawed but it keeps calling me back. Go there when you're running low on cash but not food expectations. Sit at the bar. The beer selection is surprisingly good. Wine selection is ok.

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Cotogna
490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Robert Lauriston]

Since you mention Coi, you might consider Daniel Patterson's new place, Plum in Oakland.

[bbulkow]

Strong recommendation for Plum. Right near bart. Take cocktails at Flora down the block beforehand. Plum is very convivial for sitting and talking. The food is very well put together in general, and very much so for the price point. For 3 people you can simply order the entire menu.

[JasmineG]

And, depending on when they're in town, they could do the Plum Oakland restaurant week menu that's $40 a person (that's the last week of January).

[tito]

jasmineG........we are in town for the Chef to Chef Conference at the Fairmont hotel March 6-8th.

How late and how often does the BART run?

If we wanted to do 1 big night out, what would you all recommend??

Thanks to all for the help!!!! We

[Robert Lauriston]

Last BART train back from Oakland is 12:49 am.

[bbulkow]

If you want a full night out, you should hop place to place for appetizers at multiple bars. COI lounge, Barbacco, NOPA, Wayfare, Gitane, BarCrudo, a good taqueria alone should keep you busy. If you still have stomach at the end, a good late night landing spot is The Globe.

I don't know if Commonwealth or Spruce or Benu or Qunice Annex has a nice bar area, just haven't been down there yet. Frances is supposed to, but I think it packs up early because it's the no-reservation part of the house.

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Coi
373 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

Gitane Restaurant & Bar
6 Claude Lane, San Francisco, CA 94108

Barbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[kmah]

Yes, the 'bar' at Frances can fill up- it's very small- more like a corner. I went with no reservations and was able to get a seat there, but it was pretty uncomfortable. Great food and service, though.

[saffrongold]

Try your luck at Frances, Canteen and/or Range.

[pauliface]

I'm a Frances detractor.
(http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6784...
)and also was unimpressed by Coi (which is out of budget anyhow).

For exciting food that's relatively new on the scene, < $100 pp, and very SF, I recommend these two:

Lolo's in the mission (mexican/turkish),
Kappou Goumi in the outer richmond (japanese)

[Robert Lauriston]

Lolo topics:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/444530
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/497164

[zin1953]

FWIW, I significantly prefer Frances to Plum . . .