solo dining in SF

[tito]

I need a great foodie-centric spot to eat solo, peferably a great restaurant where I can dine at the bar.

A good wine list is a must!! Any price point will do!!

thanks in advance.

[bobpantzer]

Lots of choices. These are just a few:

Boulevard (not the bar to the right as you enter, but the one in the center of the restaurant near the expeditors station)
Perbacco
Michael Mina
Barbacco
Gary Danko
Wayfare Tavern
SPQR (chef's counter)
Coco 500
Lafitte

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Perbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

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

SPQR
1911 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Barbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Wayfare Tavern
558 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

[scarmoza]

I'd also add Bar Bambino and Bar Tartine to that list.

If you go to Bar Bambino and you like coffee, you should order an espresso there. They have one of the best restaurant espresso programs around.

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Bar Bambino
2931 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Bar Tartine
561 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Nopa]

I would avoid Boulevard. Their customer service is terrible. I went there a month ago and had two issues, one they sat us 45 mins after our reservation and the appetizers were cold. When I complained, they sent over a "linebacker" manager that told us, to "just accept it, tonight was very busy". In my 68 years of SF dinning, this was one of my worst experiences. I asked if I could talk to Nancy Oaks and they said she is rarely there......

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Boulevard Restaurant
1 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105

[DavidT]

This subject gets discussed multiple times each year on this board. Here is one past thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/644519?tag=search_results;results_list

Here is another past thread, with further links:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7246...

[Nopa]

Try NOPA

[pauliface]

The other suggestions made thus far are good.
I'll add:

I'm not a fan of Frances, but if you're going to do it, the way to go is solo and sit at the bar seat that has the direct view down the hall into the kitchen.
They leave the bar seats unreserved. Perhaps, as a chef, you can get them do a favor and save that one best seat for you.

Kiss Seafood. He makes the most lovely omakase, and if you sit at the bar you can watch him make everything. Best seat is the one from the side, I feel. Not wine, but they have a nice sake list.

L'Ardoise has bar seating with a little view towards the kitchen I believe. Like many French Bistros, they have smart wine choices. Things that are good but not too pricey.

Bar Crudo. I loved their wine list because they had some light sicilian reds which go great with seafood.

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Bar Crudo
655 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

Kiss Seafood
1700 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94115

L'Ardoise
151 Noe Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

[tranewreck]

Incanto

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Incanto Restaurant & Wine Bar
1550 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94131