advice/reccomendations needed dining with family staying near fishermans wharf

[xplant2mi]

hi everyone, any reccomendations for dining with 6 and 8 yrs olds but places that my grandmother in her 90's would like? :D the kids are very well behaved they have eaten with me at more nice restaurants than i have with my husband (the key is distractions and if all else fails the mp3 players) my grandmother eats small portions either sharing or just having an appetizer and dining takes at least an hr but probably more i would hate for her to feel rushed preferably where they can serve her a cocktail (manhattan's are one of her favorites) preferably not over touristy and we plan on taking some taxis so distance is not as much of a restriction - we will be visiting golden gate park+museums+japanese tea garden, chinatown and exporatorium or aquarium at the bay, will have to see if theres time for more; the cable car museum, maritime park or . . .

we will be in town arriving lunch time on sun and leaving midday on wed, i have previously taken her to french or italian fine dining but that was mostly before i had my kiddos. the biggest thing is not having her feel rushed out the door which is why i have to try off hours or not the quickie/iffy service at tourist joints i would really love to impress her with my skill at choosing a great restaurant again :)

[c oliver]

I've racked my brain and was finally able to come up with L'Osteria del Forno in North Beach. I've not eaten there but it's one of Alan Barnes favorites and he's pretty knowledgeable. And it has a bar :)

http://losteriadelforno.com/

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L'Osteria del Forno
519 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Robert Lauriston]

Wow, L'Osteria del Forno has hard liquor?

Unfortunately It's tiny and there's a long wait on the sidewalk at peak times. Great place but not a good fit for this request.

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L'Osteria del Forno
519 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

[c oliver]

According to their website they have a "tiny" bar. I just looked; didn't realize no reservations. Not a good fit, for sure. Thanks for the followup.

[Robert Lauriston]

They don't have a physical bar in the sense of a counter with stools. In the phrase, "as tiny as it is, there is a full bar at L'Osteria del Forno," "it" refers to the restaurant, which has eight tables and a kitchen so tiny there's no room for a range.

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L'Osteria del Forno
519 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

[whiner]

Agreed with the above veto for L'Osteria. To be sure, it is one of my favorite restaurants in SF. Just completely inappropriate relative to OP's request.

[xplant2mi]

thank you everyone or all of the amazing advice. hopefully i will have a chance to get back into the city the beginning of august *fingers crossed*

Unfortunately my grandmother fell ill the day after we arrived and i brought her takeout (from the grocery store that is within a block) soup for much of our trip. we ate in the basic 'spressi' restaurant in the hotel one evening it was basic and unmemorably but edible they do offer a martini menu and a variety of other alcoholic beverages
the last night at my grandmothers insistance we ate at Aliotos, the food was all right if i could do it over i would have worked on the planning further in advance and found someplace to enchant my grandmother, her comment was that it certainly was nothing like she remembered
sorry i couldn't offer any opinions on our eats
the good news i suppose is that she enjoyed the trip overall and wants to travel there with us again - it turns out everyone loved our afternoon at the tea garden

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Alioto's Restaurant
8 Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco, CA 94133

[rworange]

It is nice to get an update on Alioto's. Sort of my experience except for the creme brulee. I prefer Scoma's.

What was the hotel where you ate?

Should you need it again on a future trip, Waiters on Wheels delivers from many restaurants.
http://beta.waitersonwheels.com/resta...

When I had a cold or something, I'd order soup from SF Soup Co thru WOW. That was quite a while ago, but I was always happy with them.

If you don't have online access, they have their free restaurant magazine available at a lot of street magazine stands or in restaurants.

PS: For San Franciscans. WOW seems to have a restaurant of the month that offers free delivery.

[Robert Lauriston]

Anybody been to Albona recently? Northeastern Italian. Nice place. No full bar, though.

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Albona Ristorante Istriano
545 Francisco St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[whiner]

It isn't the greatest restaurant ever, but within your parameters, considering you are on the Wharf, considering your grandmother probably does not want some place too loud, considering both she and your children might not be adventurous eaters, considering your grandmother might be wowed by ambience, considering you want very good food... Ana Mandara.

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Ana Mandara Restaurant
891 Beach St., San Francisco, CA 94109

[rworange]

It's been a while since I've been to Ana Mandara. Have you been recently? It just doesn't sound like the type of restaurant that would be a good fit for this group.

[whiner]

I've not been in a while, either. I just thought it *would* be a good fit, given the parameters. Vietnamese food is not scary to young children, the place isn't too loud for people in their 90's and the food is good. It isn't as good as Slanted Door, but that would not work for this group, imo.

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Slanted Door
Ferry Slip, San Francisco, CA 94111

[xplant2mi]

having spent way too much time on the internet today and talking to the family that is going on the trip - Aliotos used to be one my grandmothers favorites and Scoma's sounds rather promising, since we are going to be out at golden gate park at least one day (maybe 2) we are looking at the cafe in the academy of sciences and/or sutros
i'll have to see if i get the time to dig up some more finds from the boards here thanks to you all for the help so far

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Alioto's Restaurant
8 Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco, CA 94133

[celeryroot]

what abt the Cliff House? The Cafe at AS is very good. Near you......Waterbar and Epic Steak House , great views and early specials , take Trollys . Also, Boulevard might meet your needs. All very good.
In North Beach , the North Beach Restaurant is fine. My 80 year old mom loved it. Ask for lower dining room not main.
I love Gary Danko , but it is more formal , not sure you will appreciate with kids as it is a long drawn out affaire.
Have a wonderful time

[lrealml]

I don't know about the Bistro, but I found the food a Sutro's at the Cliff House to be quite disappointing (actually downright bad by my standards); although, that was a little over a year ago.
I'd go back for a drink and with a good view, but I'd never eat anything there again without reading some stellar reviews about a new chef.

[rworange]

Yeah ... it has been over a year since I've been to the Bistro, but it is a consistant restaurant ... it consistantly sucks.

[celeryroot]

The Bistro has a very good burger......and the food is not bad at all. I was last there 6 months ago , a nice place to go for a great view if all clear. No it does not consistantly suck , how many times have you been there if at all?

[rworange]

Since it re-opened ... three ... at the Bistro. I also went to Sutro's when it had a good chef and had a memorably bad Thanksgiving brunch there. Here was my first report.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/424696

I'd be MORE than happy to dredge up that brunch post as it still ticks me off years later.

Here is the search on the other reports by other posters about the Cliff House
http://www.chow.com/search?query=%22C...

I don't see your report, but perhaps I missed it.

The food not being bad, is different than being good.

It is way over-priced. You are paying for the view.The food is the creation of Sysco ... or tastes it. The OP has enough restaurants like that right near Fisherman's Wharf with great views, without having to throw money for cab fare to eat at an inconsistant, mediocre restaurant.

If someone MUST go to the Cliff House, then just get drinks in the lounge or downstairs bar and enjoy the view. I'd quite frankly eat at the museums.

[rworange]

Alioto's probably hasn't updated the decor since the last time your grandmother dined there. It is a little tired. While there is an elevator to the dining room, there are steps to negotiate in the restuarant. The waiters are also a little tourist-jaded. Except for the creme brulee, I like the food better at Scoma's which has its own fishing fleet. It is the only FW restaurant I revisit occasionally.

I would go to Scoma's for lunch though. There is a great three course special which has reasonable portions. The lunch special is good until 3 pm. At dinner the prices are high and the entrees are really too large and need to be shared. While the sides are average, the fish is stellar-fresh. It would also be a place to please a picky eater since it is a pretty straight-foward menu. Given how long the place has been in business, they would serve a correct manhattan.

Boulevard, as mentioned, might be a great choice.

While there have been some marginal good reports on North Beach Restaurant, it was so god-underwhelming on my long ago visit that I have no desire to pay those exhorbitant prices for culinary roulette.

Has anyone been to Rose Pistola's lately? Watching the food being cooked and the leaping flames in the ovens might amuse the kids and there is lots of people-watching at the window seats.
http://www.rosepistolasf.com/

[bbulkow]

Rose Pistola recently closed for a few weeks for freshening, opened back up last week. My source said no chef changes. Out of my usual flight path, so I can't say the new quality.

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Rose Pistola
532 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133-2802

[Kathleen M]

I was at Rose Pistola about six months ago. My fish entree (I've forgotten exactly what it was) was quite good, but my friend's pasta was quite mediocre. Service was very good and certainly we did not feel at all rushed. I understand that seafood is the specialty, so it might be a good choice here.

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Rose Pistola
532 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133-2802

[wolfe]

Quick slightly date don't list.
http://www.chow.com/lists/359

[xplant2mi]

thanks for the link to lists - very helpful hopefully i will make my own list of our possible choices and then get some opinions atm it looks like gary dankos looks pretty good for all of us (especially 'Grandmother') can any tell me if i need to get a reservation

[prima]

Here's the online form you can fill out to see Gary Danko has availability for your dates:
http://www.garydanko.com/site/forms/reservations.html

If you decide you'd like to take your Grandmother out for seafood near the Fisherman's Wharf, I like Scoma's the best of the bunch (have tried their cioppino, crab cake, crab louis). Not saying it compares in any way to Gary Danko's (apples and oranges), but it's a decent option for seafood in that part of town, and clam chowder is on the menu. They also have a kids' menu. Portions are generous.
http://www.scomas.com/?page=menus
the actual location on wharf: http://www.scomas.com/?page=directions (location on CH map is inaccurate)

Tadich Grill is another option for seafood that your Grandmother might like, which also has clam chowder on the menu.

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Tadich Grill
240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

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

Scoma's Fisherman's Wharf
47 Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133

[c oliver]

Do you think Gary Danko's is an appropriate place to take young children? Just asking.

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

[prima]

Depends on whether these particular children know how to behave in a resto like Gary Danko's, and whether these children would be likely to find something they'd like to eat on the menu.

The children are 6 and 8. Since the OP says they're "very well behaved they have eaten with me at more nice restaurants than i have with my husband", and she mentions she thought GD looked "pretty good for all of us", I'm guessing the OP is ok with the price point & menu.

I've known some kids who would be fine at a place like Gary Danko's, and I've known some 40somethings who would have a hard time behaving or finding anything to order on the menu :-)

I'd be much more likely to take the Californian children I know to Scoma's or Tadich Grill ;-)

That being said, I don't have any children. Maybe some SF CHs with kids would like to pipe in?

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Tadich Grill
240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

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

[c oliver]

Per Gary Danko's website re dress code:

"Elegant, dressy attire is requested."

[prima]

Not sure I'd read into the dress code that bringing children would be inappropriate. If bringing children to GD is not appropriate, I would hope that GD would mention that on the website.

Could also depend on whether these particular 6 + 8 yos like to get dressed up, and whether mom & dad have been buying them GD-appropriate, elegant clothes ;-)

[xplant2mi]

gary dankos has been nixed for this trip since it is comming up so soon
attire would not have been a problem

the kiddos have been to a number of fine dining establishments as well as high tea at the drake hotel in chicago they know how to behave

my daughter is a less adventerous eater but we have always been able to find her something

[c oliver]

Welcome to Chowhound first of all! I hate to seem to be copping out but if you will first do a search on this board for Fishermans Wharf you will get just a ton of threads. Also adjacent to FW is North Beach, the Italian nabe, so you can expand your search to that. Also Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, etc. Once you get some ideas, you can ask about specific places and probably get just a ton of help. Your itinerary covers an awful lot of the City and it's hard to recommend. Also are there any foods you'd rather not have either because someone dislikes it or because you can get it at home. PS: You're going to have a great time :)

[xplant2mi]

i did a quick search before posting :) but i hadn't found too many posts that helped my unique situation. we will be staying about 4 days and plan to cram in as much as my grandmother can handle (she still travels very well) - when i have traveled with her previously i've worked hard to find special places to eat with her but this trip to SF was sprung on me last minute, we tend to eat italian and japanese food with her a lot she also likes clam chowder and seafood the main thing she doesn't eat is mexican hehe as she is the hardest to please i always try to find places to suit her taste

[c oliver]

Tons of Italian, Japanese and seafood in SF. I'm sure she'll have a good time.

[xplant2mi]

she used to live in SF during WW II - it is one of her favorite places, she has taken me there a few times when i was growing up golden gate park and the carousel were always some of my favorite places and now i love that she wants to take my children (most recently she has been there with my aunt and has not had as good a time as she remembers, so i want to be sure she really enjoys her time with us there)