Recommendation for quiet date restaurant in SF for 2 w/ total bill $60 that has gift certificates?

[morabbiton]

I want to buy my engaged roommate a gift certificate to a nice restaurant for dinner as a thank you for taking me to the ER at 1 AM.

I've been looking on yelp but I can't seem to find a place that fits the bill. I'm hoping not to spend more than $60, but can go up to $75.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

[Windy]

Tajine (Moroccan)
Piccino Cafe - just got a great writeup in the Chron, so it will be busy for a while
Skool?
Namu?
Chapeau on Clement might cost them a few extra dollars with drinks if they don't go for the early prix fixe but is well worth it. Ditto for Pasion (upscale Peruvian).

If the restaurant doesn't have a gift certificate or gift card, you can buy one through Open Table. Or just get a Visa/Mastercard/Amex gift card.

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

Skool
1725 Alameda St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[jman1]

Another pizza option would be Pizzetta 211. It would be a nice, casual date and in your price range (although, they may have to limit dessert or wine).

Sample menu: Two pizzas, one salad, one chocolate cake, two glasses wine (guessing $6 each), two espressos plus tax and tip for $71.00.

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Pizzetta 211
211 23rd Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

[bbulkow]

Skool, Chapeau are both in the $20 entree, $10 app area, which means staying under $60 means an entree and no bev and no desert. Namu's harder to judge since it has small plates.

I feel pretty good when I can get a full decent meal for $80 to $100 out the door (2 people). Dio Deka this last week was "date night" and ended up $100/pp. I would strongly consider going up to $75, but they'll have to kick in a little if they order heavy.

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Namu
439 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

Dio Deka
210 E. Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030

Skool
1725 Alameda St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[Windy]

Chapeau's early prix fixe, which I noted would stretch the budget, is $28. $75 would cover most of a very good meal, especially since they don't drink.

There's no need to get entrees at Skool. The small plates are decent sizes, and generally more interesting.

[bbulkow]

I've really been meaning to get to Skool. I haven't seen a report since near opening - do you have any recent opinions?

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Skool
1725 Alameda St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[nocharge]

I think it's an interesting challenge to try to find a nice date restaurant where the total bill for a full dinner for two would be $60. Anyway, here is what I would do if I wanted to go on a budget date at a place with tablecloths: Perry's Embarcadero on a Saturday night. Saturdays are usually quiet and bottles of wine are half price. I'd try to get a table near the windows on the Embarcadero side where the view is quite nice. The food is nothing fancy, but most entrees are priced in the teens and pretty good value and I don't think they do a Healthy SF surcharge. Plus, they sell gift certificates.

[Passadumkeg]

Pacific Cafe. We had a very enjoyable meal there last March w/ my cousin. We stayed w/ him and he was a great host. He had first eaten at Pacific Cafe when it first opened in the 70's. A very relaxed atmosphere and great fresh seafood. We got him a gift certificate in thanks.
http://www.pacificcafesf.com/pacificc...

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Pacific Cafe
7000 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

[Robert Lauriston]

I don't think Pacific Cafe's a great date restaurant unless you're into standing in line for an hour.

[Passadumkeg]

Sorry, we had no line, only a great time.

[Robert Lauriston]

That's unusual. Usually there's a wait of over an hour, and free wine while you're waiting.

[Passadumkeg]

No line, but we had the free glass inside in the waiting area; 5 minute wait. My cousin ate at Pacific the 2nd night it was opened. He has since moved to Walnut Creek and the return was a pleasant surprise. It was my wife's physician, in Albuquerque, trained a USF, who recommended it. I got my cousin a nice gift certificate; he very much appreciated it.

[morabbiton]

Thanks for all the responses! I will look into them!

[susancinsf]

I think Troya would work, and is quite good...I noticed on their website that they are having a mezes happy hour...entrees are in the teens, so no need to just stick to mezes. and they are on Open Table so you could get a certificate that way as Windy notes above. Best dolmas ever, lovely service.

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Troya
349 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

[Robert Lauriston]

Second on Troya, nice place, good food.

Several other places that are on the nice side for their price range: Bodega Bistro, Helmand, Maykadeh, La Ciccia, Angkor Borei, Capannina.

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La Ciccia
291 30th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131

Angkor-Borei Restaurant
3471 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Maykadeh Persian Cuisine
470 Green St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Helmand Restaurant
430 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

Troya
349 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

Capannina
1809 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123

[Windy]

La Ciccia would be challenging at $30 (or about $22 before tax and tip) per person. I've rarely spent less than $50-60 each there, much of it wine.

Helmand Palace is always delicious.

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La Ciccia
291 30th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131

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

[Robert Lauriston]

Yeah, you're right. La Ciccia's second courses are $22-24 so that would be outside of the price range.

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La Ciccia
291 30th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131

[ML8000]

Le Chapeau's prix fixe dinner is $38 for 3 courses...or $28 for the early bird special. Quiet, romantic, etc...should hit the classy/frenchy vibe.

[morabbiton]

Thanks again! Would it help if the total bill excluded alcohol? I don't think my roommate and her fiancee are big drinkers.

[jman1]

That's helpful. No wine will save you quite a bit; for example, $20 pre tax and tip at Piccino.

Another example bill, at Piccino: Two pizzas, appetizer, side dish, two desserts, two coffee + tax and tip: $70. (take off one dessert and you're close to $60).

BTW, I think that Piccino takes credit cards (and Pizzetta 211 does not).

Most places have a sample menu online, so you could confirm by building a sample meal for two before arranging.

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Pizzetta 211
211 23rd Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

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

[Windy]

It does help, although I didn't include more than a beer in my estimates.

And no need to worry too much. A $60 or $70 night out is a thoughtful gift. If they end up deciding to spend a few more dollars, I'm sure they'll still be very appreciative.