Good North Beach Lunch Ideas?

[Lexma90]

Hubby and I are in S.F. right now, having a wonderful time and eating a lot of great food, most of which ideas came from CH. Here's a brief review:

Dim sum at Mayflower Seafood: Fresh shrimp, we liked pretty much everything, and the menu card allowed us to try some items that we wouldn't have known about if we were just pointing out items on a cart. (The steamed turnip cake, I wouldn't order again; I guess I've had fried turnip cake in the past.) Husband can't stop talking about this place.

Burma Super Star: I ate solo here, my first time with Burmese food. I really enjoyed it; liked the difference from Indian (which I'm very familiar with, as husband's family is Indian). I can't stop talking about the tea leaf salad.

Dinners at Farallon and Boulevard: Despite the noise levels at both places, we really liked them both. I thought Boulevard was more creative on all fronts.

Upcoming on the schedule: dinners at the French Laundry and Perbacco; I'll have lunch in the Mission of pupusas. Probably more dim sum for another lunch.

Now, to my question. One weekend lunch is undecided; husband will be done with his meetings, so it will be the two of us. He'll be coming from Moscone, I'll be coming from the Ferry Building and farmer's market. Husband is really fixated on lunch in North Beach. He says he wants "simple northern Italian food," partly because all of our dinners are and will be on the fancy side (he vetoed SPQR for lunch as too fancy and "weird"). Neither of us like red-sauce southern Italian. I'm thinking I can stop at Naked Lunch and get a fois gras sandwich, and just have an appetizer for lunch with husband. I'd like a lunch place kind of in this area, as we hope to tour the Haas-Lillienthal house in the afternoon.

Can anyone recommend any lunch restaurants in North Beach? We've been to Rose Pistola a number of times, and we both like it, but I'd like to go somewhere (anywhere) different.

I keep trying to persuade husband to eat somewhere else; anything ethnic would be fine with me (though I'm really pushing for more Burmese). But he really wants "simple Italian." Help!

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Perbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

Farallon
450 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

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

SPQR
1911 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Mayflower Seafood
6255 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

Super Star Restaurant
4919 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112

[whiner]

I don't know if this has already happened, but if not, I will also cast my vote for L'Osteria del Forno. Without a doubt. Brilliant.

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

[Savory_Girl]

I second L'Osteria Del Forno! This is one of our favorite places in North Beach...small and unassuming but delicious with a charming atmosphere. They cook everything in an oven here (no stove-tops)...which is kind of fun as well.

[Robert Lauriston]

Just don't go to L'Osteria del Forno if you're craving pasta. They typically have only one or two baked pastas, such as crespelle and lasagne.

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

[Lexma90]

Thank you all for the suggestions - I now have some other possibilities to suggest to the husband. As for the meaning of "simple northern Italian," I think he means food that's not as complicated as most of those we're eating for dinner, and more from northern Italy in terms of the kinds of pastas and sauces. Though he mentioned pizza, too, which of course is NOT northern!

For an update on our day, i had some great pupusas at Acaxutla Restaurant; the only pupusas I'd had previously are those sold occasionally from our local Whole Foods, made on-site at lunchtime. These were better, and more importantly, the curtido and the salsa had much more spicy flavor. I also enjoyed the refreshing tamarind drink.

Husband ate at Yank Sing; I joined them for a few minutes at the end of their meal. Has this place gotten more expensive? $96 for a handful of dishes, not a big selection as the carts didn't seem to be rolling very frequently, and I think the group didn't want to bother with ordering from the menu (except for my husband, not so much into what they eat). Upscale ambience, but that's not what I'm looking for when I have dim sum.

Dinner was at the French Laundry, and was superb, of course (we've been lucky enough to eat there previously). Little touch that I appreciated: I was a little chilly in my sleeveless dress, and they had a selection of pashminas for me to drape over my shoulders during dinner.

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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

Acaxutla
2282 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Robert Lauriston]

Yank Sing has a pretty wide price range on their dishes. Order a few $20 specials and the tab adds up quickly. Menus are available on request.

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Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

[BernalKC]

If its simplicity you seek, the panini at Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store are a long-time favorite of mine. Somewhat more substantial, Cafe Delucchi's lunch menu is quite good.

[bbulkow]

I think you should go to Tony's and have pizza. I haven't been myself, but it might be in the zone that the husband and you would both enjoy.

[chocolatetartguy]

For a casual meal, you could try Il Pollaio. Run by very friendly Italians/Brazilians. Their griddled chicken has crispy skin and tender flesh flavored by herbs and very little salt. Their salads are very refreshing and they make a mean batch of french fries. They also serve steaks and chops and in the past rabbit. I absolutely love this place and have for years.

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Il Pollaio
555 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

[LeGastronomer]

From the quality of your other restaurant choices it is clear you like good restaurants. Consider North Beach Restaurant. This is very good Italian food and the selection of Sonoma County Petroni wines is superb. Owned by Lorenzo Petroni, you are assured of old world service as Lorenzo is on-site. Chef is Bruno Orzi who has been in charge of the kitchen for years. Classy, excellent dishes, large variety with specials and very good service. Valet parking as well and that is critical in North Beach.

[Robert Lauriston]

You might want to read some of the reports on North Beach Restaurant in the archive here before planning a lunch there.

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North Beach Restaurant
1512 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Robert Lauriston]

I'm not sure what "simple Northern Italian" means, but Cotogna is not southern or red-sauce Italian like most of the Italian places in North Beach, and it's not Frenchified like SPQR.

The Haas-Lillienthal House is on the other side of Russian Hill, on Franklin near Washington. Helmand Palace is a few blocks from there.

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Helmand Palace
2424 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109

Cotogna
490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

[wolfe]

Try for a walk away snack in Washington Sq. Park from Liguria Bakery.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7609...

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Liguria Bakery
1700 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Lexma90]

Thanks for both suggestions (we do need to pick up some Mother's Day chocolates for the MIL) - that's already in the plans. I usually go for an early-morning run along the Bay, and usually stop to pick up something in Chinatown. But one morning, I'll go to Liguria instead (or in addition). My notes say they open at 8 on weekdays, and 7 on the weekends. Is that correct?

[wolfe]

Sounds right and remember closing is when the bread runs out.

[Cynsa]

L'Osteria Del Forno
http://www.losteriadelforno.com/

or, a slice of pizza at Tony's Pizza Napoletana
the take-out slices are next-door at
1570 Stockton St at Union St.
San Francisco, CA 94133-3306

last stop: Xox Truffles at 754 Columbus Avenue near Filbert Street
[phone]

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

Tony's Pizza Napoletana
1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133