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parisbully Jun 7, 2011 03:00 PM

Weekday lunch, outdoor seating and easy parking

Is this impossible to find? Any type food. We are not picky, but would like a memorable lunch. Will be in S.F. for a few days and would like a nice lunch after checking out of our hotel and before heading back on the road. Location not an issue. Just need outdoor seating (for the dog) and easy parking......

  1. m
    Mola Jun 10, 2011 10:55 AM

    Slow in Berkeley might be a good option. I've enjoyed all my meals there. Parking on University Ave. is metered during the week but you will definitely be able to find a spot within a block. They have a beautiful rose-filled patio out back that is very dog friendly (you enter through the gate to the right of the restaurant). And then you can grab some chocolates at Chocolatier Bleu and a pretzel croissant at Oktoberfeast before heading back down University to 80.

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    SLOW
    1966 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

    2 Replies
    1. re: Mola
      m
      ML8000 Jun 10, 2011 11:34 AM

      Nice tip on Slow. Didn't know they had a back patio. I never seem to be walking by there at the right time for a meal, this gives a little incentive.

      1. re: ML8000
        wolfe Jun 10, 2011 11:41 AM

        You really should check this board occasionally for pearls. ;-)
        http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7260...

    2. m
      ML8000 Jun 9, 2011 02:58 PM

      Park Chalet is dog and parking friendly...but the weather can be cold and the food is okay to good....and it's on far side of the Avenues. However when the weather is good...it's great.

      Not easy parking but my favorite outdoor location is South Park. Get something to go from Caffe Centro, Butler and Chef or South Park Cafe and sit in the park.

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      South Park Cafe
      108 South Park, San Francisco, CA 94107

      Caffe Centro
      102 S Park St, San Francisco, CA 94107

      1. e
        ernie in berkeley Jun 9, 2011 01:40 PM

        Another Berkeley idea: T-Rex BBQ has outdoor tables and is a short hop off I-80.

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        T-Rex Barbeque
        1300 10th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

        1 Reply
        1. re: ernie in berkeley
          Robert Lauriston Jun 9, 2011 03:42 PM

          Yeah, I just asked last night and dogs are welcome in the ground-level patio.

        2. m
          margieco Jun 7, 2011 08:00 PM

          Slow Club in Potrero has a few tables outside and fairly easy parking. Epic Roasthouse and Waterbar both have large (dog friendly) outside patios and views of the water. Axis cafe has a great large outdoor patio and is dog friendly.

          Piccino (as mentioned below) has a few outdoor tables. But since they've moved around the corner their outdoor spaces aren't as nice as they were before (IMO).

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          Slow Club
          2501 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

          Epic Roasthouse
          369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

          Piccino Restaurant & Coffee Bar
          1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107

          2 Replies
          1. re: margieco
            escargot3 Jun 10, 2011 11:26 AM

            parking all around the Slow Club is impossible during the day.
            but parking around Dogpatch has always been easy for me. I really enjoy Piccino.

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            Slow Club
            2501 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

            Piccino Restaurant & Coffee Bar
            1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107

            1. re: escargot3
              m
              margieco Jun 10, 2011 06:14 PM

              Interesting. We went there for a lunch a few weeks ago and didn't have a problem. Perhaps we just got lucky.

          2. steve h. Jun 7, 2011 04:08 PM

            Zuni Cafe has outdoor (sidewalk) seating, valet parking if you need it (probably won't) and is very dog friendly. Food is pretty good, drinks, too. I confess to being a little jealous of the folk who walk over to Market Street with their doggies and grab an outside table there.

            6 Replies
            1. re: steve h.
              Robert Lauriston Jun 7, 2011 04:30 PM

              Zuni's sidewalk tables are great if the weather is nice, but it can get fairly windy there.

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              Zuni Cafe
              1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

              1. re: Robert Lauriston
                Windy Jun 7, 2011 04:52 PM

                In that area I'd be more tempted to take a picnic onto Octavia Green in Hayes Valley. You can get espresso from Blue Bottle or Ritual, crazy ice cream frozen to order at Bitten, sandwiches at Boulangerie or Arlequin, kebabs from the Kebab place on Laguna and Hayes, fruit from Nabila's, and sit at the picnic tables by the sculptures.

                Easy parking, lots of chairs and tables, very dog friendly, and I think a little pleasanter than Market Street.

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                Blue Bottle Coffee Kiosk
                315 Linden St, San Francisco, CA 94102

                Hayes & Kebab
                406 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

                Arlequin Cafe & Food To Go
                384 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

                1. re: Windy
                  Robert Lauriston Jun 7, 2011 04:56 PM

                  If it's picnic weather. That's not terribly likely in that neighborhood this time of year.

                  1. re: Robert Lauriston
                    Windy Jun 7, 2011 05:00 PM

                    Tell that to the many people siting in the park every day this past week.

                2. re: Robert Lauriston
                  steve h. Jun 7, 2011 05:12 PM

                  Howdy Robert,

                  "Zuni's sidewalk tables are great if the weather is nice, but it can get fairly windy there."

                  Weather happens. It's not unique to Market Street. There is no canyon effect there like you can experience down in the FiDi. Having said that, the location is good for food, doggies, parking and a quick escape from Dodge (the City). I know you're a Zuni fan. This place just might fit the OP's luncheon requirements.

                  --sth

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                  Zuni Cafe
                  1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

                  1. re: steve h.
                    p
                    parisbully Jun 7, 2011 06:00 PM

                    Thank you all for the great ideas. Will have to do some research now. I did call Riva Cucina and the dog is OK.

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                    Riva Cucina
                    800 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710

              2. Windy Jun 7, 2011 03:49 PM

                Piccino Cafe in appropriately enough Dogpatch, about 1 mile south of the ball park off 3rd Street. They have a few outdoor tables, and parking is easy and free. I think their coffee bar (with superb Blue Bottle espresso) may even sell dog biscuits. Or get a scoop at Mr and Mrs. Miscellaneous while you're in the neighborhood.

                Runner up: Skool on the Potrero Hill/SOMA boundary has a gorgeous outdoor patio, great fish, and easy parking. I think your dog would need to stay in the car, but you'd be very close.

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                Piccino Restaurant & Coffee Bar
                1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107

                Skool
                1725 Alameda St, San Francisco, CA 94103

                3 Replies
                1. re: Windy
                  Ruth Lafler Jun 7, 2011 04:37 PM

                  I think that's a great idea! What better place to take your dog than Dogpatch, plus that area is a little more sheltered and sunny than many parts of the city.

                  1. re: Windy
                    Civil Bear Jun 9, 2011 02:24 PM

                    Easy parking in the Dogpatch? That would be a first for me!

                    1. re: Civil Bear
                      w
                      wally Jun 10, 2011 06:43 AM

                      I usually don't have a problem, but I am usually there during the day.

                  2. Robert Lauriston Jun 7, 2011 03:28 PM

                    Which way are you heading? That combination is easier to find outside of SF proper.

                    4 Replies
                    1. re: Robert Lauriston
                      p
                      parisbully Jun 7, 2011 03:36 PM

                      We will ultimately be heading east on 80. But time is not an issue. We can go to 101 in either direction and then find our way back to 80.

                      1. re: parisbully
                        Robert Lauriston Jun 7, 2011 03:40 PM

                        Riva Cucina in Berkeley. They're just a few blocks off 80.

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                        Riva Cucina
                        800 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710

                        1. re: Robert Lauriston
                          e
                          ernie in berkeley Jun 7, 2011 03:48 PM

                          Also in Berkeley, Paisan, but call them about the dog and the patio ( don't know whether the patio is only accessible through the restaurant). And in Emeryville, Bucci's (call here as well).

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                          Bucci's
                          6121 Hollis St, Emeryville, CA 94608

                          Paisan
                          2514 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

                          1. re: ernie in berkeley
                            Robert Lauriston Jun 7, 2011 03:56 PM

                            Oh yeah, Sea Salt has a patio in that complex as well. They're both accessible through the parking lot in the rear.

                            Over on Fourth St., O Chame and Zut have patios.

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                            Sea Salt
                            2512 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702

                            O Chame
                            1830 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

                            Zut
                            1820 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

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