Fine-ish dining - Tenderloin / Union Square

[alanbarnes]

Barb and I are making a spur-of-the-moment trip into the city tomorrow. We'll be staying at the Clift (Geary & Taylor), and are looking for someplace nearby to have dinner. Nothing too fancy or expensive - Fleur de Lys and Masa's are out - but suitable for a date that's a minor celebration.

We love Canteen, but reservations are limited, and besides, it's time to branch out and try new things. Saha receives quite a bit of love on other sites, but not much press here. Gitane's a distinct possibility, too. Or we could go all French and do the prix fixe at Le Charm or Jeanne D'Arc. And that's just what's on the radar so far.

Innovative or traditional, exotic or familiar, chef-driven or ingredient-driven, we're just looking for a great meal, and welcome any assistance you might be able to provide in finding it. Thoughts?

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Canteen
817 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Le Charm French Bistro
315 Fifth St., San Francisco, CA 94107

Saha Arabic Fusion Restaurant
1075 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Fleur De Lys
777 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94109

Masa's Restaurant
648 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

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

Jeanne D'Arc
715 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108

[c oliver]

Have y'all done any of the places on Belden? It's such a fun place and so many types of food.

Or Cafe Claude? Daughter Amanda likes it.

http://www.cafeclaude.com/

Puccini & Pinetti:

http://www.pucciniandpinetti.com/

We've had lunch there a number of times and had terrific pizza.

Just to get the balll rolling.

BTW, not that it should be an issue for y'all this trip, but the CA St. cable car is shut down for several more months, I believe.

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Cafe Claude
7 Claude Lane, San Francisco, CA 94108

Puccini & Pinetti
129 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

[Jeff]

Gitane's a great idea, if you can get it. Had a nice meal at Fish & Farm last week, which is just around the corner from the Clift.

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

[c oliver]

I couldn't think of Fish & Farm for the life of me :) I haven't eaten there but have wanted to for several years.

[alanbarnes]

The location of Fish and Farm is ideal. Recent reviews here are pretty mixed, though. Glad to hear you had a good meal last week - mind sharing what you ordered?

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Fish and Farm
339 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

[Jeff]

Not at all. I had an asparagus soup to start, which was pretty good, although it needed some salt. Entree was the pork chop with grits and some greens that I don't recall. This was fantastic. It was a double chop; I ended up separating the two bones and gnawing on them.

[alanbarnes]

Thanks. So many people rave about the burger, and I'm sure it's good, but probably not what I'm looking for on a "night out." Good to have recent input on another front.

[pamf]

+1 on Gitane, they have tables outside and with the nice weather we have been having that could be nice.

Had a very nice dinner at Cafe Claude a couple of weeks ago. Nothing unusual but very solid, delicious food, reasonably priced wine list, good service. On Friday evening they had a jazz/blues combo playing live music, if you like that sort of thing (our group enjoyed it). They have tables outside too.

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Cafe Claude
7 Claude Lane, San Francisco, CA 94108

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

[bobpantzer]

Haven't been there in awhile and it's had it's ups and downs, but Grand Cafe is just across the street from the Clift in the Hotel Monaco. It's a beautiful space.

I've been to Fish and Farm three times and have always had the fried chicekn and have never been disappointed. I think they may have had an ownership change since I was last there, though.

And I concur with Gitane if you can get in and don't mind the short walk.

[whs]

Avoid the Redwood Room in your hotel. Truly ghastly on a Sunday night. $26.50 for two cocktails.

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Redwood Room
495 Geary St, San Francisco, CA

[alanbarnes]

Thanks for the heads up. We'll stroll over to Bourbon & Branch instead. Too late to get a reservation, but the library's not a terrible option.

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Bourbon & Branch
501 Jones St, San Francisco, CA

[mrs bacon]

Some of the Bourbon and Branch folks have opened a new place, temporarily named Mr. Lew's Win Win Bar & Grand Sazerac Emporium at 441 Jones. No reservations required.

[c oliver]

What a wonderful name :)

[alanbarnes]

Even better - thanks!

[Justin L]

maybe Sons & Daughters? I have only been once, there were some hits and misses but overall I enjoyed it.

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Sons & Daughters
708 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108

[alanbarnes]

Thanks, everybody! We're going to give Fish & Farm a try. Lots of interesting possibilities, but it got extra points for proximity.